Patents by Inventor Kazushi Nishikata

Kazushi Nishikata 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).

  • Publication number: 20240027943
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according includes: a heater that includes a substrate, a heating element provided on the substrate, and an electrode provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the heating element; and a power supply member that includes a first member bonded or coupled to the electrode to supply power to the heating element and a second member bonded or coupled to an opposite surface of the first member to a surface, which is bonded or coupled to the electrode, of the first member, wherein the heater generates heat by power supplied via the power supply member, and an image formed on a recording material is heated by heat of the heater; and a liner expansion coefficient of the first member is different from a liner expansion coefficient of the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Kazushi Nishikata
  • Patent number: 11809111
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according includes: a heater that includes a substrate, a heating element provided on the substrate, and an electrode provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the heating element; and a power supply member that includes a first member bonded or coupled to the electrode to supply power to the heating element and a second member bonded or coupled to an opposite surface of the first member to a surface, which is bonded or coupled to the electrode, of the first member, wherein the heater generates heat by power supplied via the power supply member, and an image formed on a recording material is heated by heat of the heater; and a liner expansion coefficient of the first member is different from a liner expansion coefficient of the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Kazushi Nishikata
  • Patent number: 11747756
    Abstract: At least an electrode of a first electrode group and at least an electrode of a second electrode group are formed in a region nearer to one edge portion of a substrate than to a center of the substrate in a longer-side direction of the substrate, and the electrode that is nearest to the second electrode group in the longer-side direction among the first electrode group formed in the region nearer to the one edge portion and the second electrode group are provided with a space between the electrode and the second electrode group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Nishikata, Ryota Ogura, Takafumi Suzuki, Seiji Obata, Koichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20220326644
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according includes: a heater that includes a substrate, a heating element provided on the substrate, and an electrode provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the heating element; and a power supply member that includes a first member bonded or coupled to the electrode to supply power to the heating element and a second member bonded or coupled to an opposite surface of the first member to a surface, which is bonded or coupled to the electrode, of the first member, wherein the heater generates heat by power supplied via the power supply member, and an image formed on a recording material is heated by heat of the heater; and a liner expansion coefficient of the first member is different from a liner expansion coefficient of the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Kazushi Nishikata
  • Patent number: 11397395
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according includes: a heater that includes a substrate, a heating element provided on the substrate, and an electrode provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the heating element; and a power supply member that includes a first member bonded or coupled to the electrode to supply power to the heating element and a second member bonded or coupled to an opposite surface of the first member to a surface, which is bonded or coupled to the electrode, of the first member, wherein the heater generates heat by power supplied via the power supply member, and an image formed on a recording material is heated by heat of the heater; and a liner expansion coefficient of the first member is different from a liner expansion coefficient of the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Kazushi Nishikata
  • Publication number: 20210373472
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according includes: a heater that includes a substrate, a heating element provided on the substrate, and an electrode provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the heating element; and a power supply member that includes a first member bonded or coupled to the electrode to supply power to the heating element and a second member bonded or coupled to an opposite surface of the first member to a surface, which is bonded or coupled to the electrode, of the first member, wherein the heater generates heat by power supplied via the power supply member, and an image formed on a recording material is heated by heat of the heater; and a liner expansion coefficient of the first member is different from a liner expansion coefficient of the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Kazushi Nishikata
  • Publication number: 20210223728
    Abstract: At least an electrode of a first electrode group and at least an electrode of a second electrode group are formed in a region nearer to one edge portion of a substrate than to a center of the substrate in a longer-side direction of the substrate, and the electrode that is nearest to the second electrode group in the longer-side direction among the first electrode group formed in the region nearer to the one edge portion and the second electrode group are provided with a space between the electrode and the second electrode group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Kazushi Nishikata, Ryota Ogura, Takafumi Suzuki, Seiji Obata, Koichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 11009818
    Abstract: A heater of the invention includes a substrate; a first conductive element and a second conductive element which are provided on the substrate along a longitudinal direction of the substrate; a heat generating element which is provided between the first conductive element and the second conductive element and generates heat with power supplied via the first conductive element and the second conductive element; and an electrode to which a conductive member for suppling power is connected, in which a heat generation amount of a region corresponding to a position at which an electrode of the heat generating element is provided is set to be greater than a heat generation amount of other regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryota Ogura, Kazushi Nishikata, Masato Hisano, Fumiki Inui, Kazuhide Kudo
  • Patent number: 10996598
    Abstract: At least an electrode of a first electrode group and at least an electrode of a second electrode group are formed in a region nearer to one edge portion of a substrate than to a center of the substrate in a longer-side direction of the substrate, and the electrode that is nearest to the second electrode group in the longer-side direction among the first electrode group formed in the region nearer to the one edge portion and the second electrode group are provided with a space between the electrode and the second electrode group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Nishikata, Ryota Ogura, Takafumi Suzuki, Seiji Obata, Koichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10884364
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater that includes a substrate having a longitudinal direction arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which a recording material is transported, a heat-generating element provided in the substrate, and an electrode configured to feed electric power to the heat-generating element, and a terminal to be electrically connected to the electrode, wherein an image formed on the recording material is heated by heat from the heater. A conductive intermediate member including at least one layer is provided between the terminal and the electrode, and a first fixing region in which the electrode and the intermediate member are fixed and a second fixing region in which the terminal and the intermediate member are fixed are shifted from each other in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Kazushi Nishikata, Kenichi Nakao, Makoto Komatsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20200192260
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater that includes a substrate having a longitudinal direction arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which a recording material is transported, a heat-generating element provided in the substrate, and an electrode configured to feed electric power to the heat-generating element, and a terminal to be electrically connected to the electrode, wherein an image formed on the recording material is heated by heat from the heater. A conductive intermediate member including at least one layer is provided between the terminal and the electrode, and a first fixing region in which the electrode and the intermediate member are fixed and a second fixing region in which the terminal and the intermediate member are fixed are shifted from each other in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Kazushi Nishikata, Kenichi Nakao, Makoto Komatsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20190391516
    Abstract: A heater of the invention includes a substrate; a first conductive element and a second conductive element which are provided on the substrate along a longitudinal direction of the substrate; a heat generating element which is provided between the first conductive element and the second conductive element and generates heat with power supplied via the first conductive element and the second conductive element; and an electrode to which a conductive member for suppling power is connected, in which a heat generation amount of a region corresponding to a position at which an electrode of the heat generating element is provided is set to be greater than a heat generation amount of other regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ryota Ogura, Kazushi Nishikata, Masato Hisano, Fumiki Inui, Kazuhide Kudo
  • Publication number: 20190369534
    Abstract: At least an electrode of a first electrode group and at least an electrode of a second electrode group are formed in a region nearer to one edge portion of a substrate than to a center of the substrate in a longer-side direction of the substrate, and the electrode that is nearest to the second electrode group in the longer-side direction among the first electrode group formed in the region nearer to the one edge portion and the second electrode group are provided with a space between the electrode and the second electrode group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Kazushi Nishikata, Ryota Ogura, Takafumi Suzuki, Seiji Obata, Koichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10444681
    Abstract: A heater of the invention includes a substrate; a first conductive element and a second conductive element which are provided on the substrate along a longitudinal direction of the substrate; a heat generating element which is provided between the first conductive element and the second conductive element and generates heat with power supplied via the first conductive element and the second conductive element; and an electrode to which a conductive member for supplying power is connected, in which a heat generation amount of a region corresponding to a position at which an electrode of the heat generating element is provided is set to be greater than a heat generation amount of other regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryota Ogura, Kazushi Nishikata, Masato Hisano, Fumiki Inui, Kazuhide Kudo
  • Patent number: 10429782
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film a pressing member, and a preventing member including a preventing surface configured to prevent movement of the film in a longitudinal direction, and a film rotation guiding surface. As viewed in the longitudinal direction of the film, the preventing surface includes first and second regions positioned downstream and upstream, respectively, of a nip center line with respect to a recording material feeding direction. The first region retracts from a longitudinal film end surface relative to the second region. The second region continuously extends in the recording material feeding direction from a portion upstream of the nip center line to a portion downstream of the nip center line, and has a length, with respect to a rotational direction of the film, that is greater at the portion upstream of the nip center line than at the portion downstream of the nip center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Honke, Satoru Taniguchi, Masaki Hirose, Taisuke Minagawa, Keita Nakajima, Kazushi Nishikata, Fumiki Inui, Koichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10386760
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes a fixing portion including a rotatable heating member and a rotatable pressing member, a feeding portion including a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member, a main assembly, an openable member rotatably provided to the main assembly through a shaft and a bearing portion, an urging member, an engaging portion, and a portion to be engaged. The openable member has a rotation center provided at a position at which a direction of moment acting on the openable member by an urging force of the urging member is the same as a direction in which the openable member opens. The bearing portion includes an elongated hole having a long axis extending along an urging direction of the urging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Nakajima, Fumiki Inui, Kazushi Nishikata, Koichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20190204768
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, and a plate heater including an electrode portion provided outside of an end portion of the film with respect to a longitudinal direction of the film at an end portion of the heater, with a lubricant being applied in a region where the heater contacts the film. A supporting member supports a surface of the heater. In addition, a sealing member contacts a surface of the heater where the electrode portion of the heater is provided, and is provided at a position closer to a center of the heater than is the electrode portion. Further, the sealing member includes an engaging portion engaging with an end portion of the supporting member with respect to a widthwise direction of the heater, and a cantilever contact portion contacting a surface of the heater where the electrode portion is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Hirohiko Aiba, Satoru Taniguchi, Takashi Honke, Masaki Hirose, Mahito Yoshioka, Taisuke Minagawa, Fumiki Inui, Keita Nakajima, Kazushi Nishikata
  • Patent number: 10254691
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable cylindrical film, a contact member, a nip forming member, and regulating member. The regulating member includes an inner surface regulating surface that contacts and regulates a position of an inner surface of the film, and that, with respect to a rotational direction of the film, includes a first region remotest from a nip and a second region closer to the nip than the first region, the second region being positioned in a side upstream of a center of the nip with respect to a recording material feeding direction. The inner surface regulating surface is inclined so as to be spaced from the inner surface of the film toward a longitudinal center of the film, and a degree of inclination of the inner surface regulating surface is greater in the first region than in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Hirose, Satoru Taniguchi, Takashi Honke, Hirohiko Aiba, Keita Nakajima, Kazushi Nishikata, Fumiki Inui, Koichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10241453
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording material onto the recording material. The fixing device includes a heater contacting an inner surface of the film, a supporting member for supporting the heater, the supporting member being provided in a hollow space, a first portion for preventing lateral movement of the film in a generatrix direction of the film, the first portion being supported by a frame of the fixing device and holding the supporting member, and a second portion opposed to a surface of the heater where the heater contacts the film and elongated along a widthwise direction of the heater, the second portion being provided at the same position with the generatrix direction of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohiko Aiba, Satoru Taniguchi, Takashi Honke, Masaki Hirose, Mahito Yoshioka, Taisuke Minagawa, Fumiki Inui, Keita Nakajima, Kazushi Nishikata
  • Publication number: 20180224780
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes a fixing portion including a rotatable heating member and a rotatable pressing member; a feeding portion including a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member; a main assembly; an openable member rotatably provided to the main assembly through a shaft and a bearing portion; an urging member; an engaging portion; and a portion-to-be-engaged. The openable member has a rotation center provided in a position where a direction of moment acting on the openable member by an urging force of the urging member is the same as a direction in which the openable member opens. The bearing portion includes an elongated hole having a long axis extending along an urging direction of the urging member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Keita Nakajima, Fumiki Inui, Kazushi Nishikata, Koichi Yamada