Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Komakine

Hiroshi Komakine 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: 6148167
    Abstract: In order to provide a developing apparatus in which the toner thin layer regulating capability and the toner charging capability can be enhanced by a developer regulating member of a simple structure, a development roller can be rotated with a small driving force, toner is prevented from adhering and development can be performed with high accuracy, the developer regulating member of the developing apparatus is provided with a surface constituting a step in a direction vertical to the direction of the rotation axis of the development roller, a pressed surface that is pressed against the development roller in the downstream side of the step and an opposed surface formed so as to be opposed to the development roller with a predetermined space therebetween in the upstream side of the step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Komakine, Keizou Takeuchi, Kazumasa Hayashi, Shigemitsu Tani, Takumi Kitano, Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6049688
    Abstract: A toner layer forming device is used for a developing device of an electrophotographic device, in which a toner holding member rotates in a predetermined direction while holding on its surface a nonmagnetic toner containing a detachant. A rotary toner layer control member whose surface rotates in the reverse direction to the surface of the toner holding member while contacting the surface with the surface of the toner holding member is provided in order to control the nonmagnetic toner layer. A toner removing member partially contacts with the surface of the rotary toner layer control member in order to scrape off the nonmagnetic toner held on the rotary toner layer control member, so that the toner on the rotary toner layer control member can be removed smoothly and a stable toner layer can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Hayashi, Akinori Toyoda, Hiroshi Komakine
  • Patent number: 5648839
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a developing electrode, at least a magnet disposed in the developing electrode, and a developer. The developing electrode is reciprocally movable against a rotation axis of the photoconductor. Thus, a setting angle of a magnetic pole of the magnet is not varied, even when the developing electrode is moved for cancelling decentering and deflection of the photoconductor and the developing electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Koshino, Kazumasa Hayashi, Hiroshi Komakine, Kenji Asakura, Katsutoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5640648
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrophotographic apparatus capable of producing a high-quality image free from image defects such as fine line dropouts. A photoconductor drum is used that has a magnet mounted therein in immovable fashion. After an electrostatic latent image is formed, the image is brought into contact with magnetic developer in a developer reservoir, causing the developer to be attracted to the photoconductor surface by magnetic force. When the photoconductor drum is rotated past an electrode roller to which an AC voltage is applied, toner is left only in image areas and the latent image is developed into a visible image. A sheet-like sealing member contacting the photoconductor is disposed on the upstream side of the developer reservoir in the rotating direction of the photoconductor drum. A conductive layer is provided on the surface of the sealing member opposite the surface thereof contacting the photoconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Komakine, Kazumasa Hayashi, Katsutoshi Ogawa, Kenji Asakura, Toshiharu Koshino
  • Patent number: 5550619
    Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus includes a photoconductor drum, also known as an electrostatic latent image holding member, with a magnet placed therein. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the magnetic drum. Then, the drum is brought into contact with a magnetic developer, or toner, in a developer reservoir to have the magnetic developer attached to the photoconductor drum surface by a magnetic force. A removing roller, having an AC voltage applied thereto, is passed in close vicinity of the magnetic drum with the resultant development of images because toner remains at image areas only. In the electrophotographic apparatus, the photoconductor drum, the removing roller or both include two magnetic poles. A device for increasing friction force of the surface of the photoconductor drum, of the removing roller or both may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Komakine, Hiroshi Terada, Hajime Yamamoto, Kazumasa Hayashi, Masahiro Aizawa
  • Patent number: 5539502
    Abstract: A developing unit for use in image forming apparatus includes a unit housing divided in three chambers, i.e. a toner applying chamber facing a photoreceptor and first and second toner replenishing chambers, by respective partition walls each having an opening as a passage for toner. The first and second chambers have rotation frames, respectively. Each frame has a radially extending arm to the end of which a toner transporting sheet is connected. Each sheet is provided with a friction film. When each frame rotates, the sheet with the friction film is pulled by the frame for its rotation under the toner so as to be deformed in the form of a circular arc. The toner is transported forwardly by the friction force of the friction film. When the amount of toner is reduced in each chamber, each sheet may resiliently restore to its original shape to contact the inner surface of the corresponding chamber so that a small amount of toner on the bottom of each chamber can be carried forwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Koshino, Masahiko Nakamura, Toichi Matsumura, Hiroshi Komata, Kazumasa Hayashi, Kenji Asakura, Hiroshi Komakine, Katsutoshi Ogawa