Patents by Inventor Kanako Kikuchi

Kanako Kikuchi 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: 11868060
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing current detecting portion, a control portion, and a deviation detecting portion. The developing current detecting portion detects a developing current that flows between a developing device and a photoconductor drum during development of an electrostatic latent image. The control portion causes the exposure device to form electrostatic latent images of at least two patch images at different positions from each other and at different timings from each other in a main scanning direction. The deviation detecting portion detects deviation of one of the exposure device and the photoconductor drum with respect to the other based on a detection timing at which the developing current is detected during development of the electrostatic latent images of the at least two patch images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masaru Watanabe, Kanako Kikuchi, Yasuaki Sakamoto, Ayato Morikami, Yuki Nakaiwa, Keisuke Oba, Koji Uno, Takuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11849094
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a first acquisition processing portion, a second acquisition processing portion, and an adjustment processing portion. The image forming portion forms an image on a sheet. The first acquisition processing portion acquires a captured image of the sheet. The second acquisition processing portion acquires a specific value that indicates a difference between a gradation value of a pixel that, among pixels included in the captured image acquired by the first acquisition processing portion, corresponds to a higher part of an outer surface of the sheet, and a gradation value of a pixel that, among the pixels included in the captured image, corresponds to a lower part that is lower than the higher part. The adjustment processing portion adjusts an image forming condition of the image forming portion based on the specific value acquired by the second acquisition processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kanako Kikuchi, Akihiro Kondo, Keisuke Oba
  • Patent number: 11815839
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer processing portion, a detection processing portion, a correction processing portion, and an adjustment processing portion. The transfer processing portion transfers a detection toner image to outside an output area of a transfer object to which a toner image as an output target is transferred from an image-carrying member. The detection processing portion detects a density of the detection toner image that has been transferred to the transfer object by the transfer processing portion. The correction processing portion corrects a detection result of the detection processing portion based on an amount of toner transferred from the image-carrying member to the output area at a transfer timing when the detection toner image is transferred. The adjustment processing portion adjusts an image forming condition based on the detection result after correction by the correction processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Keisuke Oba, Masaru Watanabe, Yasuaki Sakamoto, Kanako Kikuchi, Ayato Morikami, Yuki Nakaiwa, Koji Uno, Takuji Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20230213880
    Abstract: A processor causes a printing portion to execute, when first conveying processing is executed, test print processing for executing processing of forming a plurality of test toner images on a sheet under a print condition that differs for each of the plurality of test toner images. The processor acquires a plurality of first sensing densities when the first conveying processing is executed. The processor causes the printing portion to execute the test print processing when second conveying processing is executed. The processor acquires a plurality of second sensing densities when the second conveying processing is executed. The processor compares the plurality of first sensing densities and the plurality of second sensing densities to adjust the print condition in the print processing when the second conveying processing is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Masaru Watanabe, Kanako Kikuchi, Yasuaki Sakamoto, Ayato Morikami, Yuki Nakaiwa, Keisuke Oba, Koji Uno, Takuji Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20230080093
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer processing portion, a detection processing portion, a correction processing portion, and an adjustment processing portion. The transfer processing portion transfers a detection toner image to outside an output area of a transfer object to which a toner image as an output target is transferred from an image-carrying member. The detection processing portion detects a density of the detection toner image that has been transferred to the transfer object by the transfer processing portion. The correction processing portion corrects a detection result of the detection processing portion based on an amount of toner transferred from the image-carrying member to the output area at a transfer timing when the detection toner image is transferred. The adjustment processing portion adjusts an image forming condition based on the detection result after correction by the correction processing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Keisuke Oba, Masaru Watanabe, Yasuaki Sakamoto, Kanako Kikuchi, Ayato Morikami, Yuki Nakaiwa, Koji Uno, Takuji Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20230051298
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing current detecting portion, a control portion, and a deviation detecting portion. The developing current detecting portion detects a developing current that flows between a developing device and a photoconductor drum during development of an electrostatic latent image. The control portion causes the exposure device to form electrostatic latent images of at least two patch images at different positions from each other and at different timings from each other in a main scanning direction. The deviation detecting portion detects deviation of one of the exposure device and the photoconductor drum with respect to the other based on a detection timing at which the developing current is detected during development of the electrostatic latent images of the at least two patch images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Masaru Watanabe, Kanako Kikuchi, Yasuaki Sakamoto, Ayato Morikami, Yuki Nakaiwa, Keisuke Oba, Koji Uno, Takuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10921729
    Abstract: A mode controller outputs a characteristic value according to a DC component of a developing current measured by an ammeter at a predetermined measurement timing. The measurement timing is defined as a timing at which a non-image forming region of a surface of a photosensitive drum is located opposite to a developing roller in the entirety of an axial direction and an electric field in a direction in which a toner moves from the photosensitive drum toward the developing roller by a potential difference between a surface potential of the photosensitive drum and the DC component of a developing bias is formed in a developing nip part. A determining section determines an execution timing for a charge amount acquisition operation according to the characteristic value output by the mode controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Yasushi Imanishi, Satoshi Sunayama, Kazuhiro Nakachi, Ai Takagami, Kanako Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20200103785
    Abstract: A mode controller outputs a characteristic value according to a DC component of a developing current measured by an ammeter at a predetermined measurement timing. The measurement timing is defined as a timing at which a non-image forming region of a surface of a photosensitive drum is located opposite to a developing roller in the entirety of an axial direction and an electric field in a direction in which a toner moves from the photosensitive drum toward the developing roller by a potential difference between a surface potential of the photosensitive drum and the DC component of a developing bias is formed in a developing nip part. A determining section determines an execution timing for a charge amount acquisition operation according to the characteristic value output by the mode controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu SHIMIZU, Yasushi IMANISHI, Satoshi SUNAYAMA, Kazuhiro NAKACHI, Ai TAKAGAMI, Kanako KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100222275
    Abstract: Provided are a pharmaceutical product capable of treating vitiligo by thickening the epidermis at a vitiligo-affected site, which has been thinned, to thereby accelerate pigmentation, and a method of accelerating pigmentation by thickening the epidermis. Vitiligo can be treated by using a compound having an epidermis thickening action, for example, a therapeutic agent for a skin ulcer which is used in the treatment of burn ulcer, crural ulcer, diabetic ulcer or post-operative ulcer, or a therapeutic agent for bedsore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Kunihiko Tamaki, Kanako Kikuchi, Mayumi Komine, Seiki Fujimoto