Patents by Inventor Ken Iguchi
Ken Iguchi 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).
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Publication number: 20210041816Abstract: A fixing unit includes a heater, a fixing member, a press roller, a sensor, a processor, and a memory. The fixing member is heated by heat generated by the heater. The press roller forms a nip portion through which a medium having a fixing target material transferred thereto passes, between the press roller and the fixing member. The sensor measures a temperature of the fixing member. The processor controls the temperature of the fixing member so as to be a target value by acquiring the temperature detected by the sensor in a first period, and also acquires the temperature detected by the sensor in a second period shorter than the first period. The memory records the temperature acquired in the second period.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventor: Ken Iguchi
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Publication number: 20210011401Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material that is not thermally decolorizable; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material that is thermally decolorizable; a fixing device which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a controller which controls the fixing device so that a temperature of the fixing device is lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material when the second recording medium reaches the fixing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Yoshiaki KANEKO, Minoru YOSHIDA, Osamu TAKAGI, Takahito KABAI, Hiroyuki TAGUCHI, Ken IGUCHI
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Patent number: 10852673Abstract: A fixing unit includes a heater, a fixing member, a press roller, a sensor, a processor, and a memory. The fixing member is heated by heat generated by the heater. The press roller forms a nip portion through which a medium having a fixing target material transferred thereto passes, between the press roller and the fixing member. The sensor measures a temperature of the fixing member. The processor controls the temperature of the fixing member so as to be a target value by acquiring the temperature detected by the sensor in a first period, and also acquires the temperature detected by the sensor in a second period shorter than the first period. The memory records the temperature acquired in the second period.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Iguchi
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Patent number: 10816922Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material that is not thermally decolorizable; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material that is thermally decolorizable; a fixing device which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a controller which controls the fixing device so that a temperature of the fixing device is lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material when the second recording medium reaches the fixing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignees: KABUSHIKI TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshiaki Kaneko, Minoru Yoshida, Osamu Takagi, Takahito Kabai, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Ken Iguchi
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Patent number: 10737893Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second sheet storages, a sheet conveyer, an image reading unit configured to read a surface of a sheet conveyed from the first sheet storage by the sheet conveyer, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet conveyed from the image reading unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an amount of a color material appearing on the surface of the sheet based on image data generated by the image reading unit, determine one of the image forming unit and the second sheet storage as a sheet feeding destination, based on the determined amount of the color material and a threshold value that is associated with at least one of a type and content of an image to be formed on the sheet, and control the sheet conveyer to convey the sheet to the sheet feeding destination.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Iguchi
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Publication number: 20200207138Abstract: A decoloring apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit, a scanner, a decoloring unit, and a controller. The decoloring unit decolors the image on the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying unit. The decoloring unit is positioned downstream of the scanner in a sheet conveying direction. A distance along the sheet conveying direction between the scanner and the decoloring unit is shorter than a length of a first predetermined sheet size and longer than a length of a second predetermined sheet size. A controller determines whether the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit is the first predetermined sheet size or the second predetermined sheet size. The controller performs a mode limiting process if the sheet size is determined to be the first predetermined sheet size.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventor: Ken IGUCHI
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Publication number: 20200207139Abstract: A decoloring apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit, a scanner, a decoloring unit, and a controller. The decoloring unit decolors the image on the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying unit. The decoloring unit is positioned downstream of the scanner in a sheet conveying direction. A distance along the sheet conveying direction between the scanner and the decoloring unit is shorter than a length of a first predetermined sheet size and longer than a length of a second predetermined sheet size. A controller determines whether the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit is the first predetermined sheet size or the second predetermined sheet size. The controller performs a mode limiting process if the sheet size is determined to be the first predetermined sheet size.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventor: Ken Iguchi
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Patent number: 10698348Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heater and a controller. The heater includes a plurality of heater elements arranged in a main scanning direction to fix an image on a sheet passing a nip. The controller is configured to determine image-forming regions and non-image-forming regions among sheet regions of the sheet divided in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction based on image data of the image. The controller is further configured to determine, as heating regions, the image-forming regions and a first part of the non-image-forming regions satisfying a predetermined condition, and determine, as non-heating regions, a second part of the non-image-forming regions not satisfying the predetermined condition. The controller is configured to energize one or more of the heater elements corresponding to the heating regions, selectively at timing when the heating regions pass the nip.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Iguchi
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Patent number: 10670987Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a printer unit and a control unit. The printer unit forms an image on a sheet using a developer, and includes a predetermined driving member related to supply of the developer. The control unit acquires driving information regarding continuous driving of the driving member, acquires correction information regarding on correction of an amount of the developer used in accordance with the driving information, and estimates a remaining amount of the developer on the basis of the driving information and the correction information.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Iguchi
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Publication number: 20200142336Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heater and a controller. The heater includes a plurality of heater elements arranged in a main scanning direction to fix an image on a sheet passing a nip. The controller is configured to determine image-forming regions and non-image-forming regions among sheet regions of the sheet divided in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction based on image data of the image. The controller is further configured to determine, as heating regions, the image-forming regions and a first part of the non-image-forming regions satisfying a predetermined condition, and determine, as non-heating regions, a second part of the non-image-forming regions not satisfying the predetermined condition. The controller is configured to energize one or more of the heater elements corresponding to the heating regions, selectively at timing when the heating regions pass the nip.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventor: Ken IGUCHI
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Patent number: 10618336Abstract: A decoloring apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit, a scanner, a decoloring unit, and a controller. The decoloring unit decolors the image on the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying unit. The decoloring unit is positioned downstream of the scanner in a sheet conveying direction. A distance along the sheet conveying direction between the scanner and the decoloring unit is shorter than a length of a first predetermined sheet size and longer than a length of a second predetermined sheet size. A controller determines whether the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit is the first predetermined sheet size or the second predetermined sheet size. The controller performs a mode limiting process if the sheet size is determined to be the first predetermined sheet size.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Iguchi
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Patent number: 10599079Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus encompasses a heat roller, a lamp, a use amount acquisition section, a switching controller and a cycle controller. The heat roller heats a sheet printed with a toner image. The lamp heats the heat roller. The use amount acquisition section acquires a use amount of the lamp. The switching controller repeats a processing from a moment at which the lamp is charged until the lamp is charged next after the lamp is not charged in a predetermined control cycle. The cycle controller sets the cycle based on the use amount.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Iguchi
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Publication number: 20200064761Abstract: According to an embodiment, a fixing device includes a heater, a fixing member, a press roller, a sensor, a processor, and a memory. The fixing member is heated by heat generated by the heater. The press roller forms a nip portion through which a medium having a fixing target material transferred thereto passes, between the press roller and the fixing member. The sensor measures a temperature of the fixing member. The processor controls the temperature of the fixing member so as to be a target value by acquiring the temperature detected by the sensor in a first period, and also acquires the temperature detected by the sensor in a second period shorter than the first period. The memory records the temperature acquired in the second period.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventor: Ken Iguchi
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Publication number: 20190369535Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material that is not thermally decolorizable; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material that is thermally decolorizable; a fixing device which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a controller which controls the fixing device so that a temperature of the fixing device is lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material when the second recording medium reaches the fixing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Yoshiaki KANEKO, Minoru YOSHIDA, Osamu TAKAGI, Takahito KABAI, Hiroyuki TAGUCHI, Ken IGUCHI
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Patent number: 10496020Abstract: According to an embodiment, a fixing unit includes a heater, a fixing member, a press roller, a sensor, a processor, and a memory. The fixing member is heated by heat generated by the heater. The press roller forms a nip portion through which a medium having a fixing target material transferred thereto passes, between the press roller and the fixing member. The sensor measures a temperature of the fixing member. The processor controls the temperature of the fixing member so as to be a target value by acquiring the temperature detected by the sensor in a first period, and also acquires the temperature detected by the sensor in a second period shorter than the first period. The memory records the temperature acquired in the second period.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Iguchi
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Patent number: 10429779Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heater and a controller. The heater includes a plurality of heater elements arranged in a main scanning direction to fix an image on a sheet passing a nip. The controller is configured to determine image-forming regions and non-image-forming regions among sheet regions of the sheet divided in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction based on image data of the image. The controller is further configured to determine, as heating regions, the image-forming regions and a first part of the non-image-forming regions satisfying a predetermined condition, and determine, as non-heating regions, a second part of the non-image-forming regions not satisfying the predetermined condition. The controller is configured to energize one or more of the heater elements corresponding to the heating regions, selectively at timing when the heating regions pass the nip.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Iguchi
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Publication number: 20190294092Abstract: According to an embodiment, a fixing unit includes a heater, a fixing member, a press roller, a sensor, a processor, and a memory. The fixing member is heated by heat generated by the heater. The press roller forms a nip portion through which a medium having a fixing target material transferred thereto passes, between the press roller and the fixing member. The sensor measures a temperature of the fixing member. The processor controls the temperature of the fixing member so as to be a target value by acquiring the temperature detected by the sensor in a first period, and also acquires the temperature detected by the sensor in a second period shorter than the first period. The memory records the temperature acquired in the second period.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventor: Ken Iguchi
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Patent number: 10423104Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material that is not thermally decolorizable; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material that is thermally decolorizable; a fixing device which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a controller which controls the fixing device so that a temperature of the fixing device is lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material when the second recording medium reaches the fixing device.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshiaki Kaneko, Minoru Yoshida, Osamu Takagi, Takahito Kabai, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Ken Iguchi
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Patent number: 10336117Abstract: An image erasing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a sheet supply portion that supplies a sheet and an ejector. A first conveying path conveys the sheet from the sheet supply portion toward the ejector. A reader arranged on the first conveying path reads an image on the sheet. A second conveying path branches from the first conveying path at a downstream of the reader on the first conveying path and merges with the first conveying path at an upstream of the reader on the first conveying path. An erasing unit is arranged on the second conveying path. A conveying path changing portion is arranged at a branching portion. An operating portion receives a setup of the processing to the sheet. A controller changes a conveying path of the sheet in accordance with the setup received by the operating portion before the sheet is supplied from the sheet supply portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ken Iguchi, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Kikuo Mizutani, Hiroyuki Taki, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Chiaki Iizuka
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Patent number: 10301131Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second sheet storages, a sheet conveyer, an image reading unit configured to read a surface of a sheet conveyed from the first sheet storage by the sheet conveyer, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet conveyed from the image reading unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an amount of a color material appearing on the surface of the sheet based on image data generated by the image reading unit, determine one of the image forming unit and the second sheet storage as a sheet feeding destination, based on the determined amount of the color material and a threshold value that is associated with at least one of a type and content of an image to be formed on the sheet, and control the sheet conveyer to convey the sheet to the sheet feeding destination.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2018Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Iguchi