Patents by Inventor Kiyotaka Murakami

Kiyotaka Murakami 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).

  • Patent number: 12124195
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a belt, and a heater configured to heat the belt and including a substrate and a heating layer that is formed on the substrate, and a controller configured to shut off the heater if no current flows through the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Doi, Eiji Shinohara, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Sasuke Endo, Masaya Tanaka, Ryota Saeki, Kousei Miyashita, Ryosuke Kojima, Yuki Kawashima, Kiyotaka Murakami
  • Publication number: 20240337975
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a toner image on a sheet and a fixing device to heat the toner image. The fixing device includes a cylindrical belt, a heater within the interior region to heat a region of the belt. A first and a second heat conduction member are also within the interior region. The heater is between the first heat conduction member and the belt, and also between the second heat conduction member and the belt. The second heat conduction member has a recess facing the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventor: Kiyotaka MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20240329578
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotatable film, a heater disposed inside the film and including a substrate that extends along a first direction and having two surfaces opposite to each other, and a heater element on one of the surfaces of the substrate, and a heat conductor including a first portion contacting the other surface of the substrate, and a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not contact the other surface of the substrate. A width of the second portion is wider than the heater element in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Sasuke ENDO, Masaya TANAKA, Ryota SAEKI, Kiyotaka MURAKAMI, Kousei MIYASHITA, Ryosuke KOJIMA, Yohei DOI, Yuki KAWASHIMA, Eiji SHINOHARA
  • Patent number: 12055878
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotatable film, a heater disposed inside the film and including a substrate that extends along a first direction and having two surfaces opposite to each other, and a heater element on one of the surfaces of the substrate, and a heat conductor including a first portion contacting the other surface of the substrate, and a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not contact the other surface of the substrate. A width of the second portion is wider than the heater element in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Sasuke Endo, Masaya Tanaka, Ryota Saeki, Kiyotaka Murakami, Kousei Miyashita, Ryosuke Kojima, Yohei Doi, Yuki Kawashima, Eiji Shinohara
  • Patent number: 12044993
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a toner image on a sheet and a fixing device to heat the toner image. The fixing device includes a cylindrical belt, a heater within the interior region to heat a region of the belt. A first and a second heat conduction member are also within the interior region. The heater is between the first heat conduction member and the belt, and also between the second heat conduction member and the belt. The second heat conduction member has a recess facing the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Murakami
  • Publication number: 20240201619
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a medium and write data to a wireless tag attached to the medium, includes a fixing device including a heater and configured to fix the image formed on the medium by heat, and a controller configured to control the fixing device to heat a first region of the medium to which the wireless tag is not attached at a first temperature, and control the fixing device to heat a second region of the medium to which the wireless tag is attached at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventor: Kiyotaka MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20240103414
    Abstract: A fixing unit or device that can be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first heater element that is formed of a material that increases in electrical resistance with increases in temperature. A controller of the fixing unit is configured to vary a duty ratio of electric power applied to the first heater element during a start-up operation in which the temperature of the first heater element is raised to a target operating temperature. By varying the duty ratio during the start-up operation, changes in the resistance of the first heater element with the heating can be compensated. For example, the duty ratio can be increased during the course of the start-up to achieve the target operating temperature faster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Kiyotaka MURAKAMI, Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Sasuke ENDO, Masaya TANAKA, Ryota SAEKI, Kousei MIYASHITA, Ryosuke KOJIMA, Yohei DOI, Yuki KAWASHIMA, Eiji SHINOHARA
  • Publication number: 20240076153
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet conveyance device includes a plurality of conveyance rollers, a sheet sensor, and a control unit. The conveyance rollers convey a sheet on a conveyance path. The sheet sensor is provided at least at a first position and a second position on the conveyance path for the sheet and senses passage of a front end of the sheet and passage of a rear end of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Murakami
  • Patent number: 11868067
    Abstract: A fixing unit or device that can be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first heater element that is formed of a material that increases in electrical resistance with increases in temperature. A controller of the fixing unit is configured to vary a duty ratio of electric power applied to the first heater element during a start-up operation in which the temperature of the first heater element is raised to a target operating temperature. By varying the duty ratio during the start-up operation, changes in the resistance of the first heater element with the heating can be compensated. For example, the duty ratio can be increased during the course of the start-up to achieve the target operating temperature faster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Murakami, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Sasuke Endo, Masaya Tanaka, Ryota Saeki, Kousei Miyashita, Ryosuke Kojima, Yohei Doi, Yuki Kawashima, Eiji Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11849922
    Abstract: The invention provides medical or industrial light source devices, for example, an endoscope. A light source device includes: a light source emitting a light beam; a concentrator including a pair of Fresnel lenses with corrugated surfaces and concentrating the emitted light beam, the corrugated surfaces of the Fresnel lenses facing each other, and a light guide guiding the concentrated light beam. The corrugated surfaces of the pair of Fresnel lenses may be in contact with each other and one end of the light guide may be disposed at a focal point of the concentrated light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: ARS Co., Ltd., SBI Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Tanaka, Kiyotaka Murakami
  • Publication number: 20230393501
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a belt, and a heater configured to heat the belt and including a substrate and a heating layer that is formed on the substrate, and a controller configured to shut off the heater if no current flows through the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Yohei DOI, Eiji SHINOHARA, Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Sasuke ENDO, Masaya TANAKA, Ryota SAEKI, Kousei MIYASHITA, Ryosuke KOJIMA, Yuki KAWASHIMA, Kiyotaka MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 11774887
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a fixing belt, and a heater configured to heat the fixing belt and including a substrate and a heating layer that is formed on the substrate, and a controller configured to, upon detecting an absence of a current flowing through the fixing belt, control the heater to not generate heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Doi, Eiji Shinohara, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Sasuke Endo, Masaya Tanaka, Ryota Saeki, Kousei Miyashita, Ryosuke Kojima, Yuki Kawashima, Kiyotaka Murakami
  • Publication number: 20230259058
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotatable film, a heater disposed inside the film and including a substrate that extends along a first direction and having two surfaces opposite to each other, and a heater element on one of the surfaces of the substrate, and a heat conductor including a first portion contacting the other surface of the substrate, and a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not contact the other surface of the substrate. A width of the second portion is wider than the heater element in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Sasuke ENDO, Masaya TANAKA, Ryota SAEKI, Kiyotaka MURAKAMI, Kousei MIYASHITA, Ryosuke KOJIMA, Yohei DOI, Yuki KAWASHIMA, Eiji SHINOHARA
  • Publication number: 20230190085
    Abstract: The invention provides medical or industrial light source devices, for example, an endoscope. A light source device includes: a light source emitting a light beam; a concentrator including a pair of Fresnel lenses with corrugated surfaces and concentrating the emitted light beam, the corrugated surfaces of the Fresnel lenses facing each other, and a light guide guiding the concentrated light beam. The corrugated surfaces of the pair of Fresnel lenses may be in contact with each other and one end of the light guide may be disposed at a focal point of the concentrated light beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicants: ARS Co., Ltd., SBI Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihito TANAKA, Kiyotaka MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 11669033
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotatable film, a heater including a substrate that extends along a first direction and having two surfaces opposite to each other, and a heater element on one of the surfaces of the substrate, and a heat conductor having first and second surfaces and including a first portion contacting the other surface of the substrate, and a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not contact the other surface of the substrate. A thickness of the first portion of the heat conductor from the first surface to the second surface is greater than a thickness of the second portion from the first surface to the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Sasuke Endo, Masaya Tanaka, Ryota Saeki, Kiyotaka Murakami, Kousei Miyashita, Ryosuke Kojima, Yohei Doi, Yuki Kawashima, Eiji Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20230021033
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a toner image on a sheet and a fixing device to heat the toner image. The fixing device includes a cylindrical belt, a heater within the interior region to heat a region of the belt. A first and a second heat conduction member are also within the interior region. The heater is between the first heat conduction member and the belt, and also between the second heat conduction member and the belt. The second heat conduction member has a recess facing the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventor: Kiyotaka MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20220206422
    Abstract: A heating device includes a rotatable film, a heater including a substrate that extends along a first direction and having two surfaces opposite to each other, and a heater element on one of the surfaces of the substrate, and a heat conductor having first and second surfaces and including a first portion contacting the other surface of the substrate, and a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not contact the other surface of the substrate. A thickness of the first portion of the heat conductor from the first surface to the second surface is greater than a thickness of the second portion from the first surface to the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Sasuke ENDO, Masaya TANAKA, Ryota SAEKI, Kiyotaka MURAKAMI, Kousei MIYASHITA, Ryosuke KOJIMA, Yohei DOI, Yuki KAWASHIMA, Eiji SHINOHARA
  • Publication number: 20220171314
    Abstract: A fixing unit or device that can be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first heater element that is formed of a material that increases in electrical resistance with increases in temperature. A controller of the fixing unit is configured to vary a duty ratio of electric power applied to the first heater element during a start-up operation in which the temperature of the first heater element is raised to a target operating temperature. By varying the duty ratio during the start-up operation, changes in the resistance of the first heater element with the heating can be compensated. For example, the duty ratio can be increased during the course of the start-up to achieve the target operating temperature faster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Kiyotaka MURAKAMI, Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Sasuke ENDO, Masaya TANAKA, Ryota SAEKI, Kousei MIYASHITA, Ryosuke KOJIMA, Yohei DOI, Yuki KAWASHIMA, Eiji SHINOHARA
  • Publication number: 20220163910
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form a toner image on a sheet and a fixing device to heat the toner image. The fixing device includes a cylindrical belt, a heater within the interior region to heat a region of the belt. A first and a second heat conduction member are also within the interior region. The heater is between the first heat conduction member and the belt, and also between the second heat conduction member and the belt. The second heat conduction member has a recess facing the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventor: Kiyotaka MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20220155710
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a fixing unit including a fixing belt, and a heater configured to heat the fixing belt and including a substrate and a heating layer that is formed on the substrate, and a controller configured to, upon detecting an absence of a current flowing through the fixing belt, control the heater to not generate heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Yohei DOI, Eiji SHINOHARA, Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Sasuke ENDO, Masaya TANAKA, Ryota SAEKI, Kousei MIYASHITA, Ryosuke KOJIMA, Yuki KAWASHIMA, Kiyotaka MURAKAMI