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).

  • HEAT REFLECTION USING REFLECTOR IN FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200012217
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt having a cylindrical shape, a roller, a heater, and a reflector. 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 the belt. The reflector is disposed within the inner circumference the belt and in contact with the belt and configured to reflect heat generated by the heater toward an inner surface of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI
  • Heat reflection using reflector in fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10459380
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt having a cylindrical shape, a roller, a heater, and a reflector. 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 the belt. The reflector is disposed within the inner circumference the belt and in contact with the belt and configured to reflect heat generated by the heater toward an inner surface of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    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: 20190294085
    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: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10365595
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotator, a belt, and a second rotator. The belt forms a nip by abutting onto a surface of the first rotator. The second rotator is disposed to abut onto an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The second rotator presses the belt against the first rotator such that the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
  • HEAT REFLECTION USING REFLECTOR IN FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20190212677
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt having a cylindrical shape, a roller, a heater, and a reflector. 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 the belt. The reflector is disposed within the inner circumference the belt and in contact with the belt and configured to reflect heat generated by the heater toward an inner surface of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and method for adjusting length of interposing and pressurizing region by fixing device
    Patent number: 10345744
    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 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Osamu Takagi, Chie Miyauchi
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10209652
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a transfer section, a fixing section, and a controller. The transfer section includes a transfer rotating body for conveying a sheet at a first linear velocity, and transfers a toner image onto the sheet. The fixing section forms a nip sandwiching the sheet with a first rotating body and a second rotating body, and a heating section for heating the sheet onto which the toner image is transferred. The controller executes a sheet acceleration and deceleration control for setting a linear velocity of the first rotating body to a second linear velocity from the first linear velocity before the tip of the sheet reaches the nip, and decelerating the linear velocity of the first rotating body from the second linear velocity to the first linear velocity at the time the tip of the sheet reaches a predetermined range in a sheet conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Sasuke Endo, Takaho Watanabe
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20180335735
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotator, a belt, and a second rotator. The belt forms a nip by abutting onto a surface of the first rotator. The second rotator is disposed to abut onto an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The second rotator presses the belt against the first rotator such that the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
  • FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING LENGTH OF INTERPOSING AND PRESSURIZING REGION BY FIXING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20180259887
    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: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • Fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10061239
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotator, a belt, and a second rotator. The belt forms a nip by abutting onto a surface of the first rotator. The second rotator is disposed to abut onto an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The second rotator presses the belt against the first rotator such that the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD FACILITATING FIXING TONER TO SHEET
    Publication number: 20180210379
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus of an embodiment includes a sheet supply unit, a printer unit, a sheet transport unit, a fixing unit, a fixing roller driving unit, and a control unit. The control unit controls the fixing roller driving unit so as to decelerate a second linear velocity to a fourth transport velocity and to switch to a third transport velocity when a first control time elapses after the leading edge of a sheet starts to be transported from a registration position, if the sheet is transported at a first linear velocity before transfer. Alternatively, the control unit controls the fixing roller driving unit so as to decelerate the second linear velocity to the fourth transport velocity and to switch to the third transport velocity when a second control time that is shorter than the first control time elapses, if the sheet is accelerated before transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Junichi Nakamura, Takaho Watanabe
  • FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20180210381
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotator, a belt, and a second rotator. The belt forms a nip by abutting onto a surface of the first rotator. The second rotator is disposed to abut onto an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The second rotator presses the belt against the first rotator such that the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and method for adjusting length of interposing and pressurizing region by fixing device
    Patent number: 9989896
    Abstract: In general, 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 a sheet while interposing the sheet under pressure between the same and the endless belt. The heating member is provided on the inner side of the endless belt and has a heat generating element for heating the endless belt. The adjustment mechanism moves at least one of the heating member and the pressure element in such a direction as to bring the one closer to or away from the other, to adjust the nip width which is the length of an interposing and pressurizing region in a sheet conveyance direction, the interposing and pressurizing region being formed by the heating member and the pressure element to interpose the endless belt under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Osamu Takagi, Chie Miyauchi
  • FIXING BELT AND FIXING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20180067429
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a fixing belt comprises a non-magnetic metal layer and a magnetic metal layer, wherein a thickness of the magnetic metal layer is larger than that of the non-magnetic metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • HEATER AND HEATING DEVICE FOR DIVIDING RESISTIVE MEMBERS INTO BLOCKS AND CAUSING RESISTIVE MEMBERS TO GENERATE HEAT BY BLOCK
    Publication number: 20170364001
    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: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Osamu TAKAGI, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Chie Miyauchi
  • HEATER, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170364005
    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: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • HEATING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170363999
    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: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Chie MIYAUCHI, Osamu Takagi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • HEATER AND HEATING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20170367152
    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: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    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: 20170363996
    Abstract: In general, 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 a sheet while interposing the sheet under pressure between the same and the endless belt. The heating member is provided on the inner side of the endless belt and has a heat generating element for heating the endless belt. The adjustment mechanism moves at least one of the heating member and the pressure element in such a direction as to bring the one closer to or away from the other, to adjust the nip width which is the length of an interposing and pressurizing region in a sheet conveyance direction, the interposing and pressurizing region being formed by the heating member and the pressure element to interpose the endless belt under pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • Image forming apparatus for controlling a traveling trajectory of a belt
    Patent number: 9727013
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a nip pad, a press roller, a driving portion, and a heat generation source. The fixing belt has an endless shape. The nip pad is located on an inner circumferential side of the fixing belt. The nip pad presses the fixing belt. The press roller presses the fixing belt along with the nip pad. The driving portion moves the press roller toward the nip pad. The heat generation source causes the fixing belt to generate heat. A control section controls an image forming section and the fixing device. The nip pad includes a protrusion. The protrusion protrudes toward an outer circumference of the fixing belt and a downstream side of the nip. The control section changes a movement amount of a protrusion to the press roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kikuchi