Patents by Inventor Kota Aoki

Kota Aoki 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: 20250049382
    Abstract: Cognitive function evaluation system (100) includes motion detector (20), answer detector (30), and evaluator (40). Motion detector (20) generates frames representing three-dimensional coordinates of joints of subject (SJ) who is performing a predetermined task. The predetermined task includes a physical task and a cognitive task that requires subject (SJ) to answer questions on a cognitive examination. Motion detector (20) capture images of subject (SJ) to generate the frames. The frames are a series of frames generated in time order. Answer detector (30) detects answers to questions on the cognitive examination by subject (SJ). Evaluator (40) outputs motion features based on the frames and evaluates a cognitive function of subject (SJ) based on the motion features and the answers by subject (SJ). The motion features represent a feature of a spatial positional relationship and a feature of temporal variations, of the joints of subject (SJ) in the captured images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Applicant: OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yasushi YAGI, Shuqiong WU, Fumio OKURA, Yasushi MAKIHARA, Kota AOKI
  • Patent number: 11698603
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a heating portion and a removal unit to remove a particulate dust generated due to vaporization of a parting agent by heat in the fixing unit. The removal unit includes a sheet-like filter provided with a base layer and a collecting layer laminated on the base layer for collecting dust. The removal unit includes a holding unit to hold the filter in a cylindrical shape with the base layer outside and the collecting layer inside. The removal unit includes a fan connected to one of opening end sides of the filter held in the cylindrical shape and generates an air flow inside of the cylindrical shape which causes air passing from outside of the filter to inside to flow toward the one of the opening end sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Patent number: 11543771
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a heating portion, a duct with a suction opening and an exhaust opening, a fan connected to the exhaust opening and a sheet-like filter provided with a base layer and a collecting layer laminated on the base layer. The filter is disposed so that the collecting layer is inside and the base layer is outside and the filter becomes a convex shape to the outside from the suction opening. When a width of the suction opening is d1, and a maximum height of the filter from an imaginary surface passing through an edge portion of the suction opening is L, the filter satisfies 0.003<L/d1<5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Publication number: 20220291629
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a heating portion and a removal unit to remove a particulate dust generated due to vaporization of a parting agent by heat in the fixing unit. The removal unit includes a sheet-like filter provided with a base layer and a collecting layer laminated on the base layer for collecting dust. The removal unit includes a holding unit to hold the filer in a cylindrical shape with the base layer outside and the collecting layer inside. The removal unit includes a fan connected to one of opening end sides of the filter held in the cylindrical shape and generates an air flow inside of the cylindrical shape which causes an air passing from outside of the filter to inside to flow toward the one of opening end sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Publication number: 20220291628
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a heating portion, a duct with a suction opening and an exhaust opening, a fan connected to the exhaust opening and a sheet-like filter provided with a base layer and a collecting layer laminated on the base layer. The filter is disposed so that the collecting layer is inside and the base layer is outside and the filter becomes a convex shape to the outside from the suction opening. When a width of the suction opening is d1, a maximum height of the filer from an imaginary surface passing through an edge portion of the suction opening is L, the filer satisfies 0.003<L/d1<5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Patent number: 11294311
    Abstract: A printer 1 including an image forming portion using toner containing a wax, a transfer portion for transferring an image onto a sheet, a belt unit and a pressing roller which heat the sheet in a nip, a duct including an air suction port for sucking air from a sheet inlet, a filter provided on the duct and for collecting dust, and a fan provided on the duct and for sucking the air includes a detector for detecting a temperature in the neighborhood of the belt unit and a control circuit portion for effecting control so that an air flow rate of the fan is weakened in the case where the temperature in the neighborhood of the belt unit is high during an image forming process and so that the air flow rate of the fan is weakened in the case where the temperature is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Publication number: 20210055678
    Abstract: A printer 1 including an image forming portion 7 using toner S containing a wax, a transfer portion 12a for transferring an image onto a sheet P, a belt unit 101 and a pressing roller 102 which heat the sheet in a nip 101b, a duct 52 including an air suction port 52a for sucking air from a sheet inlet 400, a filter 51 provided on the duct and for collecting dust D, and a fan 61 provided on the duct and for sucking the air includes a temperature detecting means 67 for detecting a temperature in the neighborhood of the belt unit and a control circuit A for effecting control so that an air flow rate of the fan is weakened in the case where the temperature in the neighborhood of the belt unit is high during an image forming process and so that the air flow rate of the fan is weakened in the case where the temperature is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Patent number: 10191417
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first rotatable member configured to heat, in a fixing nip, an unfixed toner image formed on a sheet with a toner having a parting material. A second rotatable member cooperates with the first rotatable member to form the fixing nip. A cleaner is configured to clean the first rotatable member, and a covering member is configured to cover the first rotatable member over a range from the cleaner to an entrance of the fixing nip along a rotational direction of the first rotatable member with a gap D of not less than 0.5 mm and not more than 3.5 mm. In addition, the gap D (mm) between the covering member and the first rotatable member and the peripheral speed V of the first rotatable member (mm/s) satisfy 0.5?D?0.0059×V+0.72.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Publication number: 20170108805
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first rotatable member configured to heat, in a fixing nip, an unfixed toner image formed on a sheet with toner comprising the parting material; a second rotatable member cooperative with the first rotatable member to form the fixing nip; a cleaner configured to clean the first rotatable member; and a covering member configured to cover the first rotatable member over a range from the cleaner to a neighborhood of an entrance of the fixing nip along a rotational direction of the first rotatable member with a gap of not less than 0.5 mm and not more than 3.5 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Patent number: 9501008
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: first and second rotatable members configured to heat-fix, at a nip therebetween, a toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a heating portion, provided opposed to an outer surface of the first rotatable member, configured to heat the first rotatable member through electromagnetic induction heating; a holding portion configured to hold the heating portion; and an extended portion configured to extend from the holding portion so as to close a gap between itself and the first rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabuski Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Patent number: 9465360
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: first and second rotatable members configured to fix, at a nip therebetween, a toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a casing provided with a sheet introducing opening and a sheet discharging opening and configured to include the first and second rotatable members; a fan; a duct configured to guide air from the fan toward one longitudinal end portion of the first rotatable member; and a cover member configured to cover an outer surface of the first rotatable member. The cover member extends inside the casing from a neighborhood of the sheet introducing opening to the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kota Aoki, Koji Nojima
  • Patent number: 9383696
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: first and second rotatable members configured to heat-fix, at a nip therebetween, a toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a heating portion, provided opposed to an outer surface of the first rotatable member, configured to heat the first rotatable member through electromagnetic induction heating; a holding portion configured to hold the heating portion; and a suppressing portion configured to suppress air flow in a space between the first rotatable member and the holding portion. The suppressing portion extends from the holding portion toward the first rotatable member and is provided so that a free end portion thereof is in a position of 0.5 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less from the outer surface of the first rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Publication number: 20160098009
    Abstract: A fixing device includes first and second rotatable members configured to fix, at a nip therebetween, a toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a casing provided with a sheet introducing opening and a sheet discharging opening and configured to include the first and second rotatable members; a fan; a duct configured to guide air from the fan toward one longitudinal end portion of the first rotatable member; and a cover member configured to cover an outer surface of the first rotatable member, wherein the cover member extends inside the casing from a neighborhood of the sheet introducing opening to the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kota Aoki, Koji Nojima
  • Patent number: 9250578
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second rollers forming an image fixing nip, the second roller being disposed below the first roller; a casing accommodating the first and second rollers and having a sheet introduction opening and a sheet discharge opening; a suppression portion provided at a position, away by not less than 0.5 mm and not more than 3.5 mm, from a surface of the first roller in a space extending from the sheet introduction opening to the sheet discharge opening and configured to suppress scattering of particles of predetermined particle sizes resulting from the parting material adjacent the sheet introduction opening; and a substantially closed chamber provided above the casing and having an entrance for permitting entering of the particles guided to the outside of the casing by the suppression portion to stagnate the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kota Aoki
  • Patent number: 9207452
    Abstract: A light scanning apparatus, including: a light source configured to emit a light beam; a light deflector configured to deflect the light beam emitted from the light source so that the light beam scans a photosensitive member; a housing which contains the light source and the light deflector, and which is provided with an opening portion through which the light beam deflected by the light deflector passes; a transparent member mounted on the housing to close the opening portion and configured to transmit the light beam deflected by the light deflector; and a fixing member having an elastic portion configured to cover an outer circumferential portion of the transparent member, the fixing member being configured to fix the transparent member to the housing by pressing the elastic portion to the transparent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kota Aoki, Yasuaki Otoguro
  • Publication number: 20150268596
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: first and second rotatable members configured to heat-fix, at a nip therebetween, a toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a heating portion, provided opposed to an outer surface of the first rotatable member, configured to heat the first rotatable member through electromagnetic induction heating; a holding portion configured to hold the heating portion; and an extended portion configured to be extended from the holding portion so as to close a gap between itself and the first rotatable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Publication number: 20150268605
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: first and second rotatable members configured to heat-fix, at a nip therebetween, a toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a heating portion, provided opposed to an outer surface of the first rotatable member, configured to heat the first rotatable member through electromagnetic induction heating; a holding portion configured to hold the heating portion; and a suppressing portion configured to suppress air flow in a space between the first rotatable member and the holding portion, wherein the suppressing portion is extended from the holding portion toward the first rotatable member and is provided so that a free end portion thereof is in a position of 0.5 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less from the outer surface of the first rotatable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Koji Nojima, Kota Aoki
  • Publication number: 20150086234
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second rollers forming an image fixing nip, said second roller being disposed below said first roller; a casing accommodating said first and second rollers and having a sheet introduction opening and a sheet discharge opening; a suppression portion provided at a position, away by not less than 0.5 mm and not more than 3.5 mm, from a surface of the first roller in a space from said sheet introduction opening to said sheet discharge opening and configured to suppress scattering of particles of predetermined particle sizes resulting from parting material adjacent said sheet introduction opening; and a substantially closed chamber provided above said casing and having an entrance for permitting entering of said particles guided to a outside of said casing by said suppression portion to stagnate the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Kota Aoki
  • Publication number: 20110305314
    Abstract: A field emission type electron emitting device includes a cathode including a mixture of a lanthanum oxide and a molybdenum oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shin Kitamura, Naofumi Aoki, Yoichi Murakami, Kota Aoki, Takeo Tsukamoto