Patents by Inventor Kei Ishida

Kei Ishida 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: 20120251138
    Abstract: A fuser unit includes: a cylindrical member; a heat generator; a nip member; a backup member, which configures a nip part between the cylindrical member and the backup member with the cylindrical member; a conductive member, which is arranged to cover the heat generator at the inside of the cylindrical member; a temperature detection unit; a wiring; a first frame having insulation, which is arranged at an opposite side to the heat generator with respect to the conductive member being interposed therebetween at the inside of the cylindrical member, and which extends along the conductive member; and a second frame, which is arranged at an opposite side to the conductive member with respect to the first frame being interposed therebetween at the inside of the cylindrical member, and which extends along the first frame, wherein the wiring is arranged between the first frame and the second frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei ISHIDA, Noboru SUZUKI, Takuji MATSUNO, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20120251207
    Abstract: A fuser unit includes: a cylindrical member having flexibility; a heat generator, which is arranged at the inside of the cylindrical member; a plate-shaped nip member, which is arranged to slidingly contact an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member and receives radiation heat from the heat generator; a backup member, which is configured to configure a nip part between the cylindrical member and the backup member with the cylindrical member, by nipping between the backup member and the nip member; a temperature detection unit, which is arranged to face an opposite surface that is opposite to the surface of the nip member slidingly contacting the cylindrical member at the inside of the cylindrical member and detects a temperature of the nip member, and an urging member that urges the temperature detection unit toward the nip member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei ISHIDA, Noboru SUZUKI, Takuji MATSUNO, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI
  • Patent number: 8240347
    Abstract: A cutting board provides support to large pieces of wood during cutting or shaping. The cutting board supports a piece of wood across its surface area to prevent the wood from bending, cracking, or breaking as it is cut. This allows the wood to be cut accurately and safely by a single person. The cutting board may include a generally planar work surface and have one or more openings. The one or more openings may be configured to reduce weight, allow clamps to be easily installed, and allow sawdust to escape. The cutting board may be placed on a variety of supporting structures or surfaces. In one or more embodiments, the cutting board may be modular to allow a plurality of cutting boards to be connected together to form a larger work surface. Other materials may be cut or shaped on the cutting board as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Katsumasa Kei Ishida
  • Publication number: 20120195651
    Abstract: A fuser unit includes a cylindrical member that has flexibility; a nip member that is disposed to slidingly contact with an inner surface of the cylindrical member; and a backup member that is driven by a driving force and configures a nip region between the backup member and the cylindrical member on the nip member, wherein the cylindrical member includes folded-back portions formed at outer sides of a recording-sheet conveyance region in a recording-sheet width direction by folding back entire circumferences of both ends of the cylindrical member outward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kei ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20120163885
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a flexible tubular member, a nip member, a backup member, and a leaf spring member. The flexible tubular member is circularly movable in a moving direction and has an inner peripheral surface. The nip member is disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the tubular member. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member upon nipping the tubular member between the backup member and the nip member. The leaf spring member is disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member and is configured to urge the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member outward in a radial direction of the tubular member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kei ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20120068403
    Abstract: A pair of conveyor rollers arranged in an image forming apparatus to convey a recording is configured to be shiftable relative to the body between a first position and a second position. A first holding member is configured to support one of the conveyor so that the supported conveyor roller is swingable around a pivot to allow the pair of conveyor rollers to be shifted between the first position and the second position. The first holding member including a sheet guide portion which provides a variable-position guideway extending from a position located upstream along the sheet conveyance path toward a peripheral surface of the supported conveyor roller, where the sheet guide portion moves to a position suitable to guide the recording sheet to be nipped by the pair of conveyor rollers at least when the pair of conveyor rollers is shifted to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kei ISHIDA
  • Patent number: 8113507
    Abstract: A pair of conveyor rollers arranged in an image forming apparatus to convey a recording sheet which has been subjected to a fixing process toward outside of a body of the apparatus is configured to be shiftable relative to the body between a first position and a second position. A first holding member is configured to support one of the conveyor rollers in such a manner that a conveyor roller supported by the first holding member is swingable around a pivot located adjacent to a sheet conveyance path upstream of the supported conveyor roller to allow the pair of conveyor rollers to be shifted between the first position and the second position. The first holding member comprises a sheet guide portion which provides a variable-position guideway extending from a position located upstream along the sheet conveyance path toward a peripheral surface of the supported conveyor roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Ishida
  • Publication number: 20110211881
    Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a nip member, a backup member and a restricting member. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an outer peripheral surface opposite to the inner peripheral surface, the tubular flexible member defining an axis extending in an axial direction. The nip member is disposed within the internal space. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru SUZUKI, Kei ISHIDA, Yasushi FUJIWARA, Tsuneo FUJIWARA, Estuko Fujiwara, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI, Tomohiro KONDO
  • Publication number: 20110211882
    Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a nip member, a backup member and a restricting member. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an outer peripheral surface opposite to the inner peripheral surface, the tubular flexible member defining an axis extending in an axial direction. The nip member is disposed within the internal space. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru SUZUKI, Kei ISHIDA, Yasushi FUJIWARA, Tsuneo FUJIWARA, Etsuko FUJIWARA, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI, Tomohiro KONDO
  • Publication number: 20110206406
    Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member and a backup member. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed within the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed within the internal space and is configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member, and the nip member being electrically conductive and the tubular flexible member being grounded via the nip member. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru SUZUKI, Kei ISHIDA, Yasushi FUJIWARA, Tsuneo FUJIWARA, Yasushi FUJIWARA, Etsuko FUJIWARA, Yoshihiro Miyauchi, Tomohiro KONDO
  • Publication number: 20110206409
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: a heater; a nip member; a stay; a tubular flexible fusing member; a pair of frame members; a backup member; and a ventilator. The heater is configured to radiate radiant heat. The nip member is configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater. The stay has an inner surface confronting the heater and an outer surface in opposition to the inner surface. The stay is configured to cover the heater and to support the nip member. The tubular flexible fusing member has end portions in an axial direction and an inner peripheral surface. The fusing member is configured to surround the heater, the nip member and the stay. The pair of frame members is disposed at the end portions. One of the frame members is formed with an inlet opening. Remaining one of the frame members is formed with an outlet opening. The inlet opening and the outlet opening are in fluid communication with a space defined between the inner peripheral surface and the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro KONDO, Kei ISHIDA, Noboru SUZUKI, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI, Yasushi FUJIWARA, Tsuneo FUJIWARA, Etsuko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20110188908
    Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction including: a tubular flexible fusing member; a heater; a nip member; a resiliently deformable backup member; and an adjustment mechanism. The tubular flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and configured to radiate radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater. The inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip member. The resiliently deformable backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the fusing member upon nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip member. The adjustment mechanism is configured to move the backup member between a first position and a second position different from the first position in the sheet feeding direction to adjust the sheet feeding direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei ISHIDA, Masahito KAJITA
  • Publication number: 20110170919
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular fusing film, a heater, a nip member, a backup member, a first supporting member, and a second supporting member. The heater may be disposed inside the tubular shape of the fusing film. The nip member may be disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the fusing film and heated by the heater. The backup member may form a nip portion between the backup member and the fusing film with the fusing film between the backup member and the nip member. The first supporting member may be configured to support the nip member. The second supporting member may be configured to support the heater and movably support the first supporting member so that the nip member moves relative to the backup member and the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi FUJIWARA, Noboru SUZUKI, Kei ISHIDA, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI, Tomohiro KONDO, Tsuneo Fujiwara, Etsuko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20110170920
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular fusing film, a heater, a nip member, a backup member, a backup member, first supporting member, and a second supporting member. The heater may be disposed inside the tubular shape of the fusing film. The nip member may be disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the fusing film and heated by the heater. The backup member may form a nip portion between the backup member and the fusing film with the fusing film between the backup member and the nip member. The first supporting member may be configured to integrally support the heater and the nip member. The second supporting member may be configured to movably support the first supporting member so that the nip member moves relative to the backup member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi FUJIWARA, Noboru SUZUKI, Kei ISHIDA, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI, Tomohiro KONDO, Tsuneo Fujiwara, Etsuko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20110164906
    Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction includes: a tubular flexible member; a nip member; a heater; a reflection member; a backup member; and a temperature sensor. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and has one surface and opposite surface. The inner peripheral surface is in contact with the one surface. The heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip member in a confronting direction. The reflection member is configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member. The temperature sensor is disposed in the internal space and is configured to detect a temperature of the nip member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei ISHIDA, Yasushi FUJIWARA, Noboru SUZUKI, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI, Tomohiro KONDO, Tsuneo Fujiwara, Etsuko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20110164905
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating element disposed inside a flexible fusing member, a nip member disposed to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member, a reflecting plate for reflecting radiant heat from the heating element toward the nip member, and a backup member for nipping the flexible fusing member with the nip member. The reflecting plate includes a central reflecting portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the heating element at least in a region corresponding to along a heat generating portion of the heating element, and end reflecting portions stationarily provided on both ends of the central reflecting portion. The end reflecting portions are disposed in positions longitudinally outward of the heat generating portion and each has a reflecting surface tilted with respect to the longitudinal direction of the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro KONDO, Yasushi FUJIWARA, Kei ISHIDA, Noboru SUZUKI, Takuji MATSUNO, Tsuneo Fujiwara, Etsuko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20110158715
    Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes a tubular flexible fusing member, a nip plate, a heater, a reflection plate, and a backup member. The tubular flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an axis defining an axial direction. The nip plate is disposed in the internal space, and the inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip plate. A heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip plate in a confronting direction. The heater includes a glass tube, a heat source provided in the glass tube, and a gas sealed in the glass tube. The glass tube includes a glass tube body and a tip portion protruding radially outwardly from the glass tube body for sealing the gas in the glass tube body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru SUZUKI, Yasushi FUJIWARA, Tsuneo FUJIWARA, Etsuko FUJIWARA, Kei ISHIDA, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI, Tomohiro KONDO
  • Publication number: 20110158718
    Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, includes: a flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable; a heating element; a nip member disposed in such a manner as to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member; a reflecting plate configured to reflect radiant heat from the heating element in a direction toward the nip member; a backup member configured to nip the flexible fusing member with the nip member to thereby form a nip portion for the recording sheet between the flexible fusing member and the backup member; and a stay configured to support both end portions of the nip member. The reflecting plate has at least one flange portion, and the flange portion is held and supported between the nip member and the stay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi FUJIWARA, Tsuneo Fujiwara, Etsuko Fujiwara, Kei ISHIDA, Noboru SUZUKI, Takuji MATSUNO, Tomohiro KONDO, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20110158719
    Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member, a reflection plate, a backup member, a stay and a temperature sensor. The flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed in the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed in the internal space, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member. The reflection plate is configured to reflect the radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member, the reflection plate having an outer profile. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI, Yasushi FUJIWARA, Tsuneo FUJIWARA, Etsuko FUJIWARA, Noboru SUZUKI, Kei ISHIDA, Tomohiro KONDO
  • Publication number: 20110158717
    Abstract: A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction includes a tubular flexible fusing member, a nip plate, a heater, a reflection plate, and a backup member. The tubular flexible fusing member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an axis defining an axial direction. The nip plate is disposed in the internal space, and the inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip plate. A heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip plate in a confronting direction. The heater includes a glass tube, a heat source provided in the glass tube, and a gas sealed in the glass tube. The glass tube includes a glass tube body and a tip portion protruding radially outwardly from the glass tube body for sealing the gas in the glass tube body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru SUZUKI, Yasushi FUJIWARA, Kei ISHIDA, Yoshihiro MIYAUCHI, Tomohiro KONDO, Tsuneo Fujiwara, Etsuko Fujiwara