Patents by Inventor Hideki Kuge

Hideki Kuge 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: 11945216
    Abstract: A transport device includes: a first rotating body including a shaft portion, a cylindrical portion on an outer periphery of the shaft portion, and a recessed portion in an outer surface of the cylindrical portion; a second rotating body capable of moving from the first rotating body while contacting an outer surface of the first rotating body and nipping a recording medium; a transport unit that includes a holding portion that holds the recording medium, and that transports the recording medium by moving the holding portion in a rotation direction of the first rotating body while the holding portion is disposed in the recessed portion; and a moving mechanism including a cam portion on a side of the cylindrical portion and a contact portion connected to the second rotating body and that comes into contact with the cam portion to separate the second rotating body from the first rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ukawa, Kei Tanaka, Hideki Kuge, Norio Ogawahara, Takayuki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11934135
    Abstract: A recording medium transport device includes: a circulating member that forms a part of a transport path for transporting a recording medium; a holding member that is fixed to the circulating member and thereby circulates and holds a front end portion of the recording medium; plural transport cylinders around which the circulating member is suspended and having a recessed part in which the holding member is stored; and a selection part that selects any one of the plural transport cylinders. A mode for stopping the selected one of the plural transport cylinders so that the recessed part of the selected one of the plural transport cylinders is located at a maintenance position is prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ukawa, Mitsuhiro Matsumoto, Hideki Kuge, Takayuki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11835893
    Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes: a first member that rotates; a second member that rotates, the first member or second member having a recess, the first member and second member forming a nip area therebetween and transporting a recording medium while nipping the recording medium in the nip area; a gripping member that grips the recording medium; a separating member that separates the recording medium having passed through the nip area from the first member or the second member; and a control mechanism that controls opening and closing of the gripping member and movement of the separating member such that the gripping member is opened so as to release the recording medium in a state in which the gripping member is located in the recess, and the separating member lifts the recording medium from a state in which the tip of the separating member is located in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuge, Takayuki Ukawa, Norio Ogawahara
  • Patent number: 11835892
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a medium; a heating unit that is provided on a downstream side in a transport path from the image forming unit and that is configured to heat a medium being transported in a non-contact manner; a fixing unit that is provided on a downstream side in the transport path from the heating unit and fixes the toner image on the medium; a shielding unit to which force is applied so as to be inform a closed state in which the heating unit is shielded; and an open state forming unit configured to receive power supply to drive the shielding unit so as to form an open state in which the heating unit is opened, and maintain the open state while the power is being supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuge, Norio Ogawahara, Kouichi Kimura, Mitsutoshi Hongo
  • Patent number: 11703779
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heating unit configured to heat a medium to be conveyed along a conveyance path by radiation; and a shielding unit made of non-metallic material, the shielding unit being configured to form a shielding state in which radiation from the heating unit is shielded and a non-shielding state in which radiation from the heating unit is not shielded, in which the shielding unit being expanded in a direction intersecting the radiation in the shielding state and is stored in the non-shielding state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Hongo, Norio Ogawahara, Hideki Kuge, Kouichi Kimura, Takayuki Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20230067911
    Abstract: A transport device includes: a first rotating body including a shaft portion, a cylindrical portion on an outer periphery of the shaft portion, and a recessed portion in an outer surface of the cylindrical portion; a second rotating body capable of moving from the first rotating body while contacting an outer surface of the first rotating body and nipping a recording medium; a transport unit that includes a holding portion that holds the recording medium, and that transports the recording medium by moving the holding portion in a rotation direction of the first rotating body while the holding portion is disposed in the recessed portion; and a moving mechanism including a cam portion on a side of the cylindrical portion and a contact portion connected to the second rotating body and that comes into contact with the cam portion to separate the second rotating body from the first rotating body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takayuki UKAWA, Kei TANAKA, Hideki KUGE, Norio OGAWAHARA, Takayuki YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20230061548
    Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes: a first member that rotates; a second member that rotates, the first member or second member having a recess, the first member and second member forming a nip area therebetween and transporting a recording medium while nipping the recording medium in the nip area; a gripping member that grips the recording medium; a separating member that separates the recording medium having passed through the nip area from the first member or the second member; and a control mechanism that controls opening and closing of the gripping member and movement of the separating member such that the gripping member is opened so as to release the recording medium in a state in which the gripping member is located in the recess, and the separating member lifts the recording medium from a state in which the tip of the separating member is located in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Hideki KUGE, Takayuki UKAWA, Norio OGAWAHARA
  • Publication number: 20230068115
    Abstract: A recording medium transport device includes: a circulating member that forms a part of a transport path for transporting a recording medium; a holding member that is fixed to the circulating member and thereby circulates and holds a front end portion of the recording medium; plural transport cylinders around which the circulating member is suspended and having a recessed part in which the holding member is stored; and a selection part that selects any one of the plural transport cylinders. A mode for stopping the selected one of the plural transport cylinders so that the recessed part of the selected one of the plural transport cylinders is located at a maintenance position is prepared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takayuki UKAWA, Mitsuhiro MATSUMOTO, Hideki KUGE, Takayuki YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 11550244
    Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes: a rotating first and second member, the first and second member forming a nip area therebetween and transporting a recording medium while nipping; a gripping member that grips the recording medium; a separating member that separates the recording medium passing through the nip area from the first or second member; and a control mechanism that controls contact and separation between the first and second member and opening and closing the gripping member where, in a first section, the gripping member passes between the first and second member, the first and second member are separated, and the gripping member is opened to release the recording medium until the first and second member come into contact with each other and, in a second section subsequent to the first section and before the recording medium reaches the separating member, the gripping member opens wider than the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuge, Takayuki Ukawa, Kei Tanaka, Masataka Momma, Norio Ogawahara
  • Publication number: 20220075298
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a medium; a heating unit that is provided on a downstream side in a transport path from the image forming unit and that is configured to heat a medium being transported in a non-contact manner; a fixing unit that is provided on a downstream side in the transport path from the heating unit and fixes the toner image on the medium; a shielding unit to which force is applied so as to be inform a closed state in which the heating unit is shielded; and an open state forming unit configured to receive power supply to drive the shielding unit so as to form an open state in which the heating unit is opened, and maintain the open state while the power is being supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Hideki KUGE, Norio OGAWAHARA, Kouichi KIMURA, Mitsutoshi HONGO
  • Publication number: 20220075297
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heating unit configured to heat a medium to be conveyed along a conveyance path by radiation; and a shielding unit made of non-metallic material, the shielding unit being configured to form a shielding state in which radiation from the heating unit is shielded and a non-shielding state in which radiation from the heating unit is not shielded, in which the shielding unit being expanded in a direction intersecting the radiation in the shielding state and is stored in the non-shielding state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi HONGO, Norio OGAWAHARA, Hideki KUGE, Kouichi KIMURA, Takayuki YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 10747153
    Abstract: A belt-type transport device includes a belt, a pressure unit, a nip forming unit, a belt stretching roller, an inclination controller, a contact unit, and a support unit. The belt is an endless belt, has an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface, and is to be rotated. The pressure unit is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the belt. The nip forming unit presses the belt against the pressure unit so as to form a nip through which a recording medium is to be transported. The belt stretching roller is disposed inside the belt and stretches the belt. The inclination controller controls inclination of the belt stretching roller. The contact unit is provided along a width direction of the belt and is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the belt. The support unit supports the contact unit such that the contact unit is able to follow inclination of the belt which is changed due to the inclination of the belt stretching roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Hongo, Kouichi Kimura, Hideki Kuge, Kei Tanaka, Noboru Hirakawa, Takashi Matsubara, Takashi Ohashi, Takashi Ochi, Toshimasa Toyama
  • Publication number: 20200218184
    Abstract: A belt-type transport device includes a belt, a pressure unit, a nip forming unit, a belt stretching roller, an inclination controller, a contact unit, and a support unit. The belt is an endless belt, has an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface, and is to be rotated. The pressure unit is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the belt. The nip forming unit presses the belt against the pressure unit so as to form a nip through which a recording medium is to be transported. The belt stretching roller is disposed inside the belt and stretches the belt. The inclination controller controls inclination of the belt stretching roller. The contact unit is provided along a width direction of the belt and is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the belt. The support unit supports the contact unit such that the contact unit is able to follow inclination of the belt which is changed due to the inclination of the belt stretching roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi HONGO, Kouichi KIMURA, Hideki KUGE, Kei TANAKA, Noboru HIRAKAWA, Takashi MATSUBARA, Takashi OHASHI, Takashi OCHI, Toshimasa TOYAMA
  • Patent number: 10281839
    Abstract: A developer supply device includes a container body that receives and contains a developer with which a toner cartridge is filled and that has a supply port used for supplying the developer, which is contained in the container body, to a developing device, a sensing member that detects the developer contained in the container body, a first transport member that is rotatably disposed in the container body and that transports the developer at a first transport speed by rotating, and a second transport member that is rotatably disposed in the container body in such a manner as to face the sensing member and that transports the developer at a second transport speed that is higher than the first transport speed by rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tanaka, Atsushi Funada, Hideki Kuge, Seigo Shinozaki, Takayuki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20180253027
    Abstract: A developer supply device includes a container body that receives and contains a developer with which a toner cartridge is filled and that has a supply port used for supplying the developer, which is contained in the container body, to a developing device, a sensing member that detects the developer contained in the container body, a first transport member that is rotatably disposed in the container body and that transports the developer at a first transport speed by rotating, and a second transport member that is rotatably disposed in the container body in such a manner as to face the sensing member and that transports the developer at a second transport speed that is higher than the first transport speed by rotating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori TANAKA, Atsushi FUNADA, Hideki KUGE, Seigo SHINOZAKI, Takayuki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20180217523
    Abstract: A container for powder detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a discharge channel and a wall member. The discharge channel has an upper end. Powder is discharged through the discharge channel. The wall member is disposed such that a gap is formed between the wall member and the upper end of the discharge channel. A transport part that transports the powder toward the discharge channel is provided in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyohito HORII, Seigo SHINOZAKI, Atsushi FUNADA, Hideki KUGE, Makoto KANNO, Shinichiro FUJIMORI, Daisuke NAKAI
  • Patent number: 9958808
    Abstract: A container for powder detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus body includes a discharge channel and a wall member. The discharge channel has an upper end. Powder is discharged through the discharge channel. The wall member is disposed such that a gap is formed between the wall member and the upper end of the discharge channel. A transport part that transports the powder toward the discharge channel is provided in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyohito Horii, Seigo Shinozaki, Atsushi Funada, Hideki Kuge, Makoto Kanno, Shinichiro Fujimori, Daisuke Nakai
  • Patent number: 9766573
    Abstract: A developer vessel includes a container that includes a discharge port through which developer is discharged, and a transport portion that rotates to transport the developer toward the discharge port, a first protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the container, a second protrusion that protrudes from the outer surface at a position on an opposite side to the first protrusion with a virtual line being interposed between the first and second protrusions, the virtual line passing through a rotational axis of the transport portion and on a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the transport portion and being parallel to the discharge port, and an extending portion that is disposed at an outer end of each of the first and second protrusions on the plane and that extends in a direction intersecting with the respective first and second protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seigo Shinozaki, Keisuke Kubo, Hideki Kuge, Makoto Kanno
  • Publication number: 20170261885
    Abstract: A developer vessel includes a container that includes a discharge port through which developer is discharged, and a transport portion that rotates to transport the developer toward the discharge port, a first protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the container, a second protrusion that protrudes from the outer surface at a position on an opposite side to the first protrusion with a virtual line being interposed between the first and second protrusions, the virtual line passing through a rotational axis of the transport portion and on a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the transport portion and being parallel to the discharge port, and an extending portion that is disposed at an outer end of each of the first and second protrusions on the plane and that extends in a direction intersecting with the respective first and second protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seigo SHINOZAKI, Keisuke KUBO, Hideki KUGE, Makoto KANNO
  • Patent number: 9684266
    Abstract: A developer transport device includes a cylinder member including first and second cylinders in which a transport path, through which a developer is transported, is formed, a transport member disposed in the transport path so as to transport the developer by rotating, a to-be-fastened member that is formed on one of the first and second cylinders and that has a first surface formed in a downstream end portion thereof in a direction in which the second cylinder is fastened to the first cylinder and a second surface extending in the direction, and a fastening member that is formed on another one of the first and second cylinders and is to be fastened to the to-be-fastened member, the fastening member having first and a second fastening surfaces that respectively face the first and second surfaces when the fastening member is fastened to the to-be-fastened member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuge, Atsushi Funada, Kiyohito Horii, Makoto Kanno