Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Kawarazuka

Hiroshi Kawarazuka 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: 9002239
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears an electrostatic latent image; a developer container containing developer; a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member with the developer; a tubular transport-path forming member that forms a transport path through which the developer is transported from the developer container to the developing unit; a transport member that is disposed inside the transport-path forming member and transports the developer from the developer container to the developing unit; and a control unit that performs control such that, when the transport-path forming member is used for the first time or when the developer container is replaced, an operation to fill the developer into the transport-path forming member is performed by driving the transport member after the image forming operation is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawarazuka
  • Publication number: 20130279942
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears an electrostatic latent image; a developer container containing developer; a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member with the developer; a tubular transport-path forming member that forms a transport path through which the developer is transported from the developer container to the developing unit; a transport member that is disposed inside the transport-path forming member and transports the developer from the developer container to the developing unit; and a control unit that performs control such that, when the transport-path forming member is used for the first time or when the developer container is replaced, an operation to fill the developer into the transport-path forming member is performed by driving the transport member after the image forming operation is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi KAWARAZUKA
  • Patent number: 8238767
    Abstract: A visualizing agent quantity display control system includes a first container, a second container, a detection unit, a display unit, a control unit. The second container, which is replaceable, contains the visualizing agent to be supplied to the first container. The detection unit detects a quantity of the visualizing agent contained in the second container. The control unit causes the detection unit to detect a remaining quantity of the visualizing agent in the second container except the visualizing agent which decreases when an operation of supplying the visualizing agent in the second container to the first container has first been executed. The control unit causes a display unit to display information indicating that the remaining quantity of the visualizing agent in the second container is full regardless of the quantity of the visualizing agent which decreases when the operation has first been executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawarazuka, Hiroaki Kumai
  • Publication number: 20080273047
    Abstract: A visualizing agent quantity display control system includes a first container, a second container, a detection unit, a display unit, a control unit. The second container, which is replaceable, contains the visualizing agent to be supplied to the first container. The detection unit detects a quantity of the visualizing agent contained in the second container. The control unit causes the detection unit to detect a remaining quantity of the visualizing agent in the second container except the visualizing agent which decreases when an operation of supplying the visualizing agent in the second container to the first container has first been executed. The control unit causes a display unit to display information indicating that the remaining quantity of the visualizing agent in the second container is full regardless of the quantity of the visualizing agent which decreases when the operation has first been executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawarazuka, Hiroaki Kumai
  • Patent number: 7174110
    Abstract: With an image forming device, with respect to a set image density S (default mode), the modes of: increasing or decreasing the variation amount (slope) of the set image density in accordance with a usage amount of a developing device (m1, m2); increasing or decreasing the limit value (m1, m2); changing the initial value (usage amount=0); not changing the setting in accordance with the usage amount (m4); and changing, for example, the initial value but not changing the setting in accordance with the usage amount (m5); etc., are provided as operation modes that differ from an operation mode accommodating a genuine product and are enabled to be selected by a user when a toner cartridge containing a toner that is a product other than a genuine product is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroh Soga, Kiyoshi Nagamine, Hiroshi Kawarazuka, Hideaki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20050254831
    Abstract: With an image forming device, with respect to a set image density S (default mode), the modes of: increasing or decreasing the variation amount (slope) of the set image density in accordance with a usage amount of a developing device (m1, m2); increasing or decreasing the limit value (m1, m2); changing the initial value (usage amount=0); not changing the setting in accordance with the usage amount (m4); and changing, for example, the initial value but not changing the setting in accordance with the usage amount (m5); etc., are provided as operation modes that differ from an operation mode accommodating a genuine product and are enabled to be selected by a user when a toner cartridge containing a toner that is a product other than a genuine product is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroh Soga, Kiyoshi Nagamine, Hiroshi Kawarazuka, Hideaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6349183
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner supply for supplying toner to the developing unit; a toner supply control device for determining the final amount of toner supply, on the basis of the standard amount of toner supply corresponding to image coverage and a change in the amount of toner supply corresponding to the density of an image, thereby controlling the toner supply; a toner supply history storage device for storing a history concerning the amount of toner supplied; a toner consumption status determination device for determining whether or not an excessive amount of toner is consumed, on the basis of the toner supply history information; and development property stabilization device which interrupts formation of an image when the toner consumption status determination device determines that an excessive amount of toner is consumed, thereby causing the toner supply to supply toner and causing the developing unit to agitate and blend a developing agent or to temporarily agitate and blend a developin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Nagamine, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Toru Ishikawa, Hiroshi Kawarazuka