Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Kikuchi

Kazuhiko 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).

  • Image forming apparatus configured to determine amount of power supplied to heating elements based on measured temperatures
    Patent number: 10928755
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a fixing belt having a surface to which a lubricant is applied, a heater contacting the surface and including heating elements arranged along a width direction of the belt and including first end second end heating elements and a central heating element, and a pressing roller capable of pressing and rotating the belt, a power supply configured to supply power to the heating elements, and a controller configured to determine a first amount of power to be supplied to the central heating element and a second amount of power to be supplied to each end heating element such that the first amount is greater than the second amount, and control the power supply to supply the first and second amounts to the central heating element and each end heating element before controlling the pressing roller to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • Image forming apparatus and image forming method
    Patent number: 10884360
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a heater including a heating element, a fixing belt having a surface to which a lubricant is applied and contacting the heater through the lubricant, and a pressing roller capable of pressing and rotating the fixing belt, a power supply configured to supply electric power to the heating element, a first thermometer configured to measure temperature of the heating element, and a controller configured to determine a first amount of electric power to be supplied to the heating element based on the temperature of the heating element, and control the power supply to supply the determined first amount of electric power to the heating element, before controlling the pressing roller to start rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • Heating apparatus having a guide member for guiding a cylindrical film
    Patent number: 10877410
    Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film, a pressing roller capable of pressing and rotating the cylindrical film to convey a medium through a nip formed between the cylindrical film and the pressing roller, a plurality of heating elements arranged inside the cylindrical film along a longitudinal direction thereof, wherein the heating elements are arranged closer to an upstream end of the nip than a downstream end of the nip, and a guide member arranged inside the cylindrical film and including a first end portion. The first end portion contacts the cylindrical film on a downstream side with respect to the upstream end of the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING LENGTH OF INTERPOSING AND PRESSURIZING REGION BY FIXING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20200387091
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes an endless belt, a pressure element, a heating member, an adjustment mechanism, and a controller. The pressure element conveys and presses a sheet to the endless belt. The heating member is on the inner side of the belt and has a heat generating element for heating the belt. The adjustment mechanism moves the heating member or the pressure element to adjust the nip width between the heating member and the pressure element. The controller controls the adjustment mechanism so that A>B?N is satisfied, where A is the nip width during a fixing process in which a colored material is fixed to the sheet, B is the nip width during a heating process conducted before the fixing process, and N is the length of the heat generating element in the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • HEATING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200363758
    Abstract: A heating device according to an embodiment generally includes heat generating parts and temperature sensors. The heat generating parts are divided into a plurality of blocks, so that the plurality of heat generating parts are arranged with a gap therebetween on a substrate in each block. With a temperature detection region provided in each block, the temperature sensors are provided corresponding to the heat generating parts with the gaps being avoided. The temperatures of the heat generating parts are detected by the temperature sensors that are less in number than the plurality of heat generating parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Chie Miyauchi, Osamu Takagi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • HEAT REFLECTION USING REFLECTOR IN FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200310311
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, a roller, a heater, and a reflector. The belt is rotatable in a rotational direction. The roller is positioned to be in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt so as to form a nip between the roller and the belt. The heater is disposed within an inner circumference of the belt. The reflector is disposed within the inner circumference of the belt. The reflector includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is in contact with and protrudes outwardly the belt at a first region downstream with respect to the nip in the rotational direction. The second portion is configured to reflect heat generated by the heater toward an inner surface of the belt at a second region upstream with respect to the nip in the rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10780709
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a first heating unit, a second heating unit, and a print controller. The first heating unit includes a first heat source that generates heat with alternating current power. The second heating unit includes a second heat source that generates heat with direct current power. The print controller is configured to control printing using either the first heating unit or the second heating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and method for adjusting length of interposing and pressurizing region by fixing device
    Patent number: 10775722
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes an endless belt, a pressure element, a heating member, an adjustment mechanism, and a controller. The pressure element conveys and presses a sheet to the endless belt. The heating member is on the inner side of the belt and has a heat generating element for heating the belt. The adjustment mechanism moves the heating member or the pressure element to adjust the nip width between the heating member and the pressure element. The controller controls the adjustment mechanism so that A>B?N is satisfied, where A is the nip width during a fixing process in which a colored material is fixed to the sheet, B is the nip width during a heating process conducted before the fixing process, and N is the length of the heat generating element in the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Osamu Takagi, Chie Miyauchi
  • Heating device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10768559
    Abstract: A heating device according to an embodiment generally includes heat generating parts and temperature sensors. The heat generating parts are divided into a plurality of blocks, so that the plurality of heat generating parts are arranged with a gap therebetween on a substrate in each block. With a temperature detection region provided in each block, the temperature sensors are provided corresponding to the heat generating parts with the gaps being avoided. The temperatures of the heat generating parts are detected by the temperature sensors that are less in number than the plurality of heat generating parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chie Miyauchi, Osamu Takagi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • HEATER, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200264543
    Abstract: A heater includes a heat generating element and a protective layer. The protective layer covers the heat generating element, and at least part of a surface thereof has a convex surface that is convex toward the heat generating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD
    Publication number: 20200257225
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a heater including a heating element, a fixing belt having a surface to which a lubricant is applied and contacting the heater through the lubricant, and a pressing roller capable of pressing and rotating the fixing belt, a power supply configured to supply electric power to the heating element, a first thermometer configured to measure temperature of the heating element, and a controller configured to determine a first amount of electric power to be supplied to the heating element based on the temperature of the heating element, and control the power supply to supply the determined first amount of electric power to the heating element, before controlling the pressing roller to start rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI
  • HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200257223
    Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film, a pressing roller capable of pressing and rotating the cylindrical film to convey a medium through a nip formed between the cylindrical film and the pressing roller, a plurality of heating elements arranged inside the cylindrical film along a longitudinal direction thereof, wherein the heating elements are arranged closer to an upstream end of the nip than a downstream end of the nip, and a guide member arranged inside the cylindrical film and including a first end portion. The first end portion contacts the cylindrical film on a downstream side with respect to the upstream end of the nip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD
    Publication number: 20200257226
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a fixing belt having a surface to which a lubricant is applied, a heater contacting the surface and including heating elements arranged along a width direction of the belt and including first end second end heating elements and a central heating element, and a pressing roller capable of pressing and rotating the belt, a power supply configured to supply power to the heating elements, and a controller configured to determine a first amount of power to be supplied to the central heating element and a second amount of power to be supplied to each end heating element such that the first amount is greater than the second amount, and control the power supply to supply the first and second amounts to the central heating element and each end heating element before controlling the pressing roller to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI
  • HEATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200257227
    Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film, a plurality of heating elements arranged inside the cylindrical film along a longitudinal direction thereof, a plurality of thermometers each configured to measure temperature of one of the heating elements, a power supply, a controller configured to control the power supply to supply electrical power to the heating elements according to the temperature measured by the thermometers, and a plurality of thermostats each configured to measure temperature of one of the heating elements and configured to interrupt the electrical power supplied to the heating element when the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined value. The thermometers and the thermostats are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI
  • HEATER AND HEATING DEVICE FOR DIVIDING RESISTIVE MEMBERS INTO BLOCKS AND CAUSING RESISTIVE MEMBERS TO GENERATE HEAT BY BLOCK
    Publication number: 20200249606
    Abstract: A heater according to an embodiment generally includes resistive members and a first pole-side electrode. The plurality of resistive members are arranged in a first direction. The first pole-side electrode is connected to one ends of the resistive members in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and configured to divide the plurality of resistive members into a plurality of blocks and to cause the plurality of resistive members to generate heat by the block. The first pole-side electrode includes a first pole-side first electrode provided in a first block including the resistive members arranged successively in the first direction, extending across the one ends of the resistive members in the first block, and connected to the one ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Osamu TAKAGI, Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Chie Miyauchi
  • FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING LENGTH OF INTERPOSING AND PRESSURIZING REGION BY FIXING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20200249598
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes an endless belt, a pressure element, a heating member, an adjustment mechanism, and a controller. The pressure element conveys and presses a sheet to the endless belt. The heating member is on the inner side of the belt and has a heat generating element for heating the belt. The adjustment mechanism moves the heating member or the pressure element to adjust the nip width between the heating member and the pressure element. The controller controls the adjustment mechanism so that A>B?N is satisfied, where A is the nip width during a fixing process in which a colored material is fixed to the sheet, B is the nip width during a heating process conducted before the fixing process, and N is the length of the heat generating element in the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • HEATER AND HEATING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20200236742
    Abstract: A heater according to an embodiment generally includes a base, a protrusion, a heat generating layer, a first protective layer, and an electrode layer. The protrusion protrudes from the base. The heat generating layer is disposed on the protrusion. The first protective layer is disposed on the heat generating layer. The electrode layer is disposed on the base to drive the heat generating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Osamu TAKAGI, Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • Heat reflection using reflector in fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10705460
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, a roller, a heater, and a reflector. The belt is rotatable in a rotational direction. The roller is positioned to be in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt so as to form a nip between the roller and the belt. The heater is disposed within an inner circumference of the belt. The reflector is disposed within the inner circumference of the belt. The reflector includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is in contact with and protrudes outwardly the belt at a first region downstream with respect to the nip in the rotational direction. The second portion is configured to reflect heat generated by the heater toward an inner surface of the belt at a second region upstream with respect to the nip in the rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and method for adjusting length of interposing and pressurizing region by fixing device
    Patent number: 10663892
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes an endless belt, a pressure element, a heating member, an adjustment mechanism, and a controller. The pressure element conveys and presses a sheet to the endless belt. The heating member is on the inner side of the belt and has a heat generating element for heating the belt. The adjustment mechanism moves the heating member or the pressure element to adjust the nip width between the heating member and the pressure element. The controller controls the adjustment mechanism so that A>B?N is satisfied, where A is the nip width during a fixing process in which a colored material is fixed to the sheet, B is the nip width during a heating process conducted before the fixing process, and N is the length of the heat generating element in the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Osamu Takagi, Chie Miyauchi
  • Fixing apparatus for fixing toner onto a sheet
    Patent number: RE48153
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a first roller; a second roller that forms a nip between the second roller and the first roller and presses a sheet passing through the nip against the first roller; a heater that heats at least one of the first roller and the second roller, a heating range of the heater being greater than a maximum printing width of a predetermined maximum sheet width, and a heat-uniformizing member that distributes heat of the heater along a longitudinal direction thereof, an effective length of the heat-uniformizing member in the longitudinal direction being the same as, or greater than, the predetermined maximum sheet width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Maruyama, Takaho Watanabe, Kazuhiko Kikuchi