Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Ootsubo

Hiroaki Ootsubo 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).

  • Image forming apparatus and toner refilling method therefor
    Patent number: 8666264
    Abstract: In a new printer, a toner cartridge is mounted in the state where there is no toner in a reserve tank, and toner of the amount of filling toner D therein is supplied with the amount of full accommodation toner E for filling up the reserve tank by a toner supply mechanism. The toner of the amount of remaining surplus toner F remains in the toner cartridge. The amount of toner consumption G is measured by a dot counter during a printing execution. In the case where a toner density sensor detects a toner decreasing, the toner is supplied to a developing unit from the reserve tank. When it becomes G>F, it display-informs a user of “toner cartridge exchange is allowed”. Hereby, it enables to exchange the toner cartridge without stopping operation of the main body of the image forming apparatus using a two-component developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Casio Electronics Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Shimazu, Tetsuya Abe, Hideki Ando, Hiroaki Ootsubo, Chihiro Toyama, Yuichiro Iegaki
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TONER REFILLING METHOD THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20110299860
    Abstract: In a new printer, a toner cartridge is mounted in the state where there is no toner in a reserve tank, and toner of the amount of filling toner D therein is supplied with the amount of full accommodation toner E for filling up the reserve tank by a toner supply mechanism. The toner of the amount of remaining surplus toner F remains in the toner cartridge. The amount of toner consumption G is measured by a dot counter during a printing execution. In the case where a toner density sensor detects a toner decreasing, the toner is supplied to a developing unit from the reserve tank. When it becomes G>F, it display-informs a user of “toner cartridge exchange is allowed”. Hereby, it enables to exchange the toner cartridge without stopping operation of the main body of the image forming apparatus using a two-component developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicants: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD., CASIO ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumio SHIMAZU, Tetsuya Abe, Hideki Ando, Hiroaki Ootsubo, Chihiro Toyama, Yuichiro Iegaki