Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Akita

Hiroshi Akita 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: 20110097116
    Abstract: Provided is a developing device employing a two-component developer where a good image can be obtained by preventing the influence of scratching caused by a magnetic brush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita
  • Publication number: 20110058843
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a latent image forming device; a developing device; an electrode which faces to the image carrier; an electric power source, a toner contamination detecting device for detecting toner contamination onto the electrode; an electrode cleaning device for cleaning the electrode; and a controlling section, wherein the control section controls the electric power source to apply at least an alternating current voltage to the electrode so that toner image is rearranged by reciprocally moving toner of the toner image between the image carrier and the electrode control section and allows the electrode cleaning device to clean the electrode when the toner contamination detecting device detects toner contamination on the electrode, and performs the toner rearrangement by the electrode from which the toner contamination is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Akita, Seiko Itagaki, Natsuko Minegishi, Hiroyuki Saito
  • Publication number: 20110052222
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a development apparatus that includes: a developer storing part; a developer supply mechanism; and a surplus developer removing section; wherein the developer supply mechanism includes: a toner storing part; a carrier storing part; a developer conveying path and a conveying mechanism, both are arranged between the toner storing part and the developer storing part, and between the carrier storing part and the developer storing part; wherein the developer conveying path includes a toner ejection outlet through which a toner stored in the toner storing part is ejected and a carrier ejection outlet through which a carrier stored in the carrier storing part is ejected, and a supplying developer ejection outlet through which a supplying developer is ejected to the developer storing part; and wherein the conveying mechanism is adapted to convey the toner and the carrier while stirring them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tatsuya FURUTA, Toshiki MASUDA, Hiroyuki TOKIMATSU, Hiroshi AKITA
  • Publication number: 20100266297
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a toner reallocation electrode to carry out a reallocation of a toner of a toner image, a toner detection section to detect a toner amount of the toner image and a control section to calculate a toner amount adhered to the toner reallocation electrode or a density distribution of the toner image based on the detected toner amount and to control an AC component of an applied voltage based on the calculated toner amount or density distribution, and the control section decides a maximum value of the AC component of the applied voltage based on the toner amount or decides a minimum value of the AC component of the applied voltage based on the density distribution, and the control section controls the AC component within a control range of smaller than or equal to the decided maximum value or greater than or equal to the decided minimum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko ITAGAKI, Hiroshi AKITA, Hiroyuki SAITO, Natsuko MINEGISHI
  • Patent number: 7801470
    Abstract: A developing apparatus, comprises an endless belt shaped donor member; a developer supporting member to carry developer including toner and magnetic carrier and to form a toner layer on the donor member; a first supporting member arranged in the inside of the donor member with a predetermined gap against the developer supporting member and to strain the donor member; a second supporting member arranged in the inside of the donor member with a predetermined gap against the developer supporting member and to strain the donor member; a toner supply bias applying section to apply onto the first supporting member a toner supply bias for supplying toner from the developer supporting member to the donor member; and a toner recovery bias applying section to apply onto the second supporting member a toner recovery bias for recovering toner from the donor member to the developer supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Natsuko Minegishi, Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita
  • Publication number: 20100086323
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a supplying section for supplying developer; a first developing roller including plural magnetic poles and a first sleeve arranged rotatable to the first developing roller; a second developing roller including plural magnetic poles and a second sleeve arranged rotatable to the second developing roller, the second developing roller arranged adjacent to the first developing roller and parallel to the same; an electrode arranged between the first and second developing rollers; and a voltage applying unit for applying bias voltages each having different electric potential corresponding to the first developing roller, the second developing roller and the electrode, wherein an absolute value of the bias voltage to be applied to the electrode is larger than that of the bias voltage to be applied to the first developing roller and smaller than that of the bias voltage to be applied to the second developing roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SAITO, Seiko ITAGAKI, Hiroshi AKITA, Natsuko MINEGISHI
  • Publication number: 20090290913
    Abstract: Described is a developing roller, which makes it possible to appropriately peel developer off the developing roller, even if the developing roller is a small-sized. The developing roller includes a non-magnetic developing sleeve and a magnetic member installed into an inner space of the developing sleeve and having plural magnetic poles including a peeling magnetic pole. When a reference position is defined as such a position that exhibits a maximum value of magnetic flux density to be generated in a normal direction by the peeling magnetic pole, a magnetic-flux density flat region within which the magnetic flux density is kept at substantially a constant value being closely approximate to the maximum value of the magnetic flux density and the reference position is included, exists while fulfilling an Equation indicated as follow: Z?7° where numeral Z indicates an angle of the developing roller in the magnetic-flux density flat region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko ITAGAKI, Hiroshi AKITA
  • Patent number: 7512351
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying body; a latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrying body; a developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image carrying body to form a toner image, the developing unit including a developing agent carrying body to carry a developing agent in a development region, and a direct-current power supply and an alternating-current power supply, both applying a developing bias voltage to the developing agent carrying body, the developing bias voltage generated by superimposing a direct-current voltage to an alternating voltage; a printing rate detecting unit to detect a printing rate; and a control unit to control the alternating-current power supply, wherein the control unit controls an output of the alternating-current power supply based on a detection result of the printing rate detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita, Isamu Miura
  • Publication number: 20080253811
    Abstract: A developing apparatus, comprises an endless belt shaped donor member; a developer supporting member to carry developer including toner and magnetic carrier and to form a toner layer on the donor member; a first supporting member arranged in the inside of the donor member with a predetermined gap against the developer supporting member and to strain the donor member; a second supporting member arranged in the inside of the donor member with a predetermined gap against the developer supporting member and to strain the donor member; a toner supply bias applying section to apply onto the first supporting member a toner supply bias for supplying toner from the developer supporting member to the donor member; and a toner recovery bias applying section to apply onto the second supporting member a toner recovery bias for recovering toner from the donor member to the developer supporting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Natsuko Minegishi, Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita
  • Publication number: 20080213645
    Abstract: A composite porous membrane comprises a porous matrix and a polymer. The porous matrix contains a fiber woven fabric, a fiber nonwoven fabric, a porous metal material, or a porous inorganic material, and the polymer forms a three-dimensional network structure in the porous matrix. The composite porous membrane may be obtained by impregnating the porous matrix with a solution of the polymer, and by solidifying while stretching the polymer. Preferred examples of the porous matrix include glass fiber nonwoven fabrics, and preferred examples of the polymer include polybenzimidazoles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akita
  • Patent number: 7362990
    Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus for forming a high-density image by using the reversal developing method and suppressing an occurrence of irregularities. The apparatus includes an image bearing member, a latent image forming device to form an electrostatic latent image, a magnetic field generating device to generate a magnetic field and a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image so as to form a toner image on the image bearing member. At a developing region, the developer bearing member moves in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the image bearing member and the magnetic field generating device has a developing pole to form a magnetic brush for developing the electrostatic latent image. Further, an outer diameter R (mm) of the developer bearing member and a magnetic flux density Br1 (mT) of the developing pole fulfill the relationship of Br1?R×4.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita, Isamu Miura
  • Patent number: 7356289
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developing device which applies a developing bias voltage obtained by superimposing an AC bias voltage onto a DC bias voltage to a photoreceptor, and develops a latent image on the photoreceptor with a developer to form a toner image. The apparatus has a toner forced discharge mode for forming a toner image for forced discharge in a first image formation area provided in a non-image formation area other than a second image formation area on the photoreceptor to forcibly discharge a toner from the developing device. When the mode is selected, an AC bias voltage at a frequency lower than that in the second image formation area is applied to the first image formation area to develop a latent image for forced discharge, to form a toner image, and a toner of the toner image is collected by a cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita, Isamu Miura
  • Patent number: 7340189
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying member; a latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrying member; a developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image carrying member to form a toner image; a forcible discharge unit to forcibly discharge the toner from the developing unit; a toner supplying unit to supply toner by the discharged quantity; and a fog-detection unit to detect fog of the image, wherein the forcible discharge unit forcibly discharges the toner from the developing unit based on a detected result of the fog-detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita, Isamu Miura
  • Patent number: 7294685
    Abstract: A polyphosphazene derivative and an aromatic ring compound are bonded to one another to obtain an intermediate product. Subsequently, anhydrous sulfuric acid is added in such an amount that the molar ratio is 2 to 8 with respect to a repeating unit of the intermediate product. Further, SO3 and the intermediate product are reacted with each other to sulfonate the intermediate product. The sulfonation is performed under a condition in which the temperature range is ?20 to 0° C. and the total time is 5 to 30 hours. Accordingly, a sulfonated polyphosphazene derivative is obtained, in which the number average molecular weight is not less than 25,000 and the ion exchange capacity exceeds 3.0 mmol/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akita
  • Patent number: 7251442
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an intermediate transfer body in which color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer body is disclosed. Additionally, the toner image potential may be suppressed in areas with large toner electrostatic charge of the toner layer on the intermediate transfer body, while the toner image potential is left as such in the low toner adhesion areas. The image forming apparatus with a neutralizing charger is capable of yielding satisfactory second transfer images without causing image roughness or toner scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yotaro Sato, Takenobu Kimura, Hiroshi Akita
  • Patent number: 7251440
    Abstract: A development apparatus has: a housing in which a developer supplying/collecting unit and a developer stirring unit are arranged with a circular passage for carrying developer; a developer carrying member placed at a front side of the developer supplying/collecting unit; a developer supplying/collecting section for carrying the developer; and two developer stirring sections arranged in the front-and-rear direction so as to face, wherein, a toner supplying opening is formed above a position where the two developer stirring sections face and at an upstream side in a developer carrying direction, the two developer stirring sections are rotated at the facing position to move peripheries in a forward direction, the developer carrying direction by the two developer stirring sections is substantially opposite to one by the developer supplying/collecting section, and developer carrying capability of the two developer stirring sections is set to be made equal to that of the developer supplying/collecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunio Shigeta, Hiroshi Akita, Seiko Itagaki
  • Publication number: 20060228125
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developing device which applies a developing bias voltage obtained by superimposing an AC bias voltage onto a DC bias voltage to a photoreceptor, and develops a latent image on the photoreceptor with a developer to form a toner image. The apparatus has a toner forced discharge mode for forming a toner image for forced discharge in a first image formation area provided in a non-image formation area other than a second image formation area on the photoreceptor to forcibly discharge a toner from the developing device. When the mode is selected, an AC bias voltage at a frequency lower than that in the second image formation area is applied to the first image formation area to develop a latent image for forced discharge, to form a toner image, and a toner of the toner image is collected by a cleaning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita, Isamu Miura
  • Publication number: 20060198644
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying member; a latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrying member; a developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image carrying member to form a toner image; a forcible discharge unit to forcibly discharge the toner from the developing unit; a toner supplying unit to supply toner by the discharged quantity; and a fog-detection unit to detect fog of the image, wherein the forcible discharge unit forcibly discharges the toner from the developing unit based on a detected result of the fog-detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita, Isamu Miura
  • Publication number: 20060177234
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying body; a latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrying body; a developing unit to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image carrying body to form a toner image, the developing unit including a developing agent carrying body to carry a developing agent in a development region, and a direct-current power supply and an alternating-current power supply, both applying a developing bias voltage to the developing agent carrying body, the developing bias voltage generated by superimposing a direct-current voltage to an alternating voltage; a printing rate detecting unit to detect a printing rate; and a control unit to control the alternating-current power supply, wherein the control unit controls an output of the alternating-current power supply based on a detection result of the printing rate detecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita, Isamu Miura
  • Publication number: 20060133857
    Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus for forming a high-density image by using the reversal developing method and suppressing an occurrence of irregularities. The apparatus includes an image bearing member, a latent image forming device to form an electrostatic latent image, a magnetic field generating device to generate a magnetic field and a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image so as to form a toner image on the image bearing member. At a developing region, the developer bearing member moves in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the image bearing member and the magnetic field generating device has a developing pole to form a magnetic blush for developing the electrostatic latent image. Further, an outer diameter R (mm) of the developer bearing member and a magnetic flux density Br1 (mT) of the developing pole fulfill the relationship of Br1?R×4.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Seiko Itagaki, Hiroshi Akita, Isamu Miura