Patents by Inventor Kouichi Etou

Kouichi Etou 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: 5189476
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a monocomponent developing device including a developing sleeve for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor by supplying a toner to the electrostatic latent image. The developing sleeve contains a whisker with 0.1 .mu.m to 1 .mu.m outside diameter at least in a surface layer thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Anno, Hiroshi Mizuno, Kouichi Etou, Eiichi Sano
  • Patent number: 5140373
    Abstract: A developing apparatus is accommodated in an image forming apparatus to develop an electrostatic laten image formed on an electrostatic latent image support member, using two-component developer of toner and magnetic carrier. The developing apparatus is provided with a developing sleeve opposed to the electrostatic latent image support member, a magnetic roller disposed inside the developing sleeve to hold the carrier on a peripheral surface of the developing sleeve, a toner hopper accommodating the toner and having an opening at its one end, a toner supply roller rotatably disposed in the opening of the toner hopper and opposed to the developing sleeve, a bristle height adjusting member opposed to the developing sleeve on the downstream side of a developing region and on the upstream side of a toner supply region in a direction of movement of the carrier held on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihito Ikegawa, Hiroshi Mizuno, Hiroshi Murasaki, Kouichi Etou
  • Patent number: 5117259
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring developer density comprising, a container containing a developer constituted by a toner and a carrier, a rotary member agitating the developer in the container with its rotation, a transparent detection window facing the container, and having an electrically conductive film on its surface facing the developer, a measuring section measuring developer density in container on the basis of reflected light from developer illuminated through the detection window, an electrode which is supported by the rotary member, and is rotated together with the rotary member such that a gap between the electrode and the detection window is maintained at a predetermined value, the electrode being made, at least at one portion facing the detection window, of electrically conductive material, at least one magnet which is supported by the electrode, retains the developer, so that the magnet makes the developer to be brought into contact with the detection window with rotation of the rotary member, and a bias
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouichi Etou, Naoyoshi Kinoshita, Hideo Kitakubo
  • Patent number: 5012285
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a photosensitive drum positioned in confronting relation to a developing sleeve. A toner accommodating tank is provided for supplying toner to the developing sleeve. The toner accommodating tank is divided into a small chamber and a supplementary chamber which are separated from one another by a partition which permits toner to be supplied from the supplementary chamber to the small chamber but which prevents the return of toner from the small chamber to the supplementary. A movable shutter selectively permits and prevents toner from being supplied from the supplementary chamber to the small chamber in accordance with operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tateki Oka, Naoki Toyoshi, Tomoaki Yokoyama, Hiroshi Mizuno, Hiroshi Murasaki, Akihito Ikegawa, Kouichi Etou, Shuichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 4987452
    Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing apparatus includes an agitating member accommodated in a casing, a roller member accommodated in a front of the casing, and a blade contacting under pressure with an outer circumferential portion of the roller member, which is arranged in the casing. Toner held on the outer circumferential portion of said roller member being supplied to develop an electrostatic latent image on the basis of rotation of the roller member while being regulated by the blade. The apparatus includes a partition member arranged between the roller member and the agitating member at an upper stream side of said blade corresponding to a rotary direction of the roller member. The casing has a space defined among the partition member, the blade, and the outer circumferential portion of the roller member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Nakagawa, Hiroshi Murasaki, Akihito Ikegawa, Kouichi Etou, Hiroshi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 4973540
    Abstract: This invention relates to a developer for developing electrostatic latent images formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier, which comprises a toner including;a resin,a colorant, andan inorganic fine particle with at least both a negatively chargeable polar group and a positively chargeable polar group on the surface of the inorganic fine particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Machida, Masashi Yamamoto, Ichiro Demizu, Kouichi Etou
  • Patent number: 4947212
    Abstract: An electrophotographic copying apparatus includes a main body, a developing system, removably mounted on the main body, provided with a developing device having the developing sleeve holding a carrier on the outer surface, and a toner cartridge having a toner supply roller which confronts the developing sleeve. A voltage-adjusting device adjusts the bias voltage to be supplied respectively to the developing sleeve and the toner supply roller depending on a toner color so as to generate a predetermined electric potential between the developing sleeve and the toner supply roller. The voltage adjusting device adjusts the bias voltage difference between the developing sleeve and the toner supply roller according to a saturation charge amount which is different depending on the toner color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihito Ikegawa, Hiroshi Mizuno, Hiroshi Murasaki, Kouichi Etou
  • Patent number: 4924806
    Abstract: A developing apparatus is disposed adjacent to an electrostatic latent image support member in an image forming apparatus, and includes a rotatable developing sleeve confronting the electrostatic latent image support member, a magnetic roller disposed inside the developing sleeve for holding magnetic carrier on a peripheral surface of the developing sleeve, and a plurality of toner supply units confronting the developing sleeve for supplying toner to the developing sleeve. The magnetic roller accommodates a plurality of magnetic poles extending in a direction of its axis. Each toner supply unit is provided with a toner supply roller rotatable in contact with a magnetic brush held on the developing sleeve and a toner storing portion for storing the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mizuno, Hiroshi Murasaki, Akihito Ikegawa, Kouichi Etou
  • Patent number: 4851872
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing sleeve provided rotatably at a side of an electrostatic latent image support member, a supply member for supplying developer to the developing sleeve, a bristle height regulating member which confronts an upper portion of the developing sleeve so as to adjust an amount of the developer transported to a developing region and a plurality of magnets provided in the developing sleeve. The magnetic poles of the magnets not only extend in an axial direction of the developing sleeve but are arranged in a circumferential direction of the developing sleeve. The magnetic poles include a weak magnetic pole disposed adjacent to the upper portion of the developing sleeve and two strong magnetic poles between which the weak magnetic pole is interposed. The strong magnetic poles have a polarity different from that of the weak magnetic pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Murasaki, Hiroshi Mizuno, Akihito Ikegawa, Kouichi Etou
  • Patent number: 4819027
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller confronting an image support member for generating an electrostatic latent image on its surface, an accommodating tank for accommodating developing material therein, and a supply roller disposed to confront the developing roller so as to supply the developing material accommodated within the accommodating tank onto the developing roller, and is characterized in that a developing material supply width of the supply roller is smaller than the effective developing width of the developing sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Murasaki, Hiroshi Mizuno, Akihito Ikegawa, Kouichi Etou
  • Patent number: 4809034
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing sleeve which is provided with a plurality of magnets so as to transport a two-component developer composed of toner and carrier to a developing region where the developing sleeve and a member bearing an electrostatic latent image confront each other, a toner reservoir, a toner supply roller for supplying the toner to the developing sleeve, which is disposed at an end portion of the toner reservoir so as to be brought into contact with the toner in the toner reservoir, a rotary member which is rotatably provided in the toner reservoir so as to be rotated in contact with the toner supply roller and a charge erasing member for erasing electric charge of electrically charged toner transported to the toner reservoir by the toner supply roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Murasaki, Hiroshi Mizuno, Akihito Ikegawa, Kouichi Etou
  • Patent number: 4786936
    Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing device including a developing sleeve which is so provided as to confront a support member for supporting an electrostatic latent image, a toner reservoir for accommodating toner, which is formed, at its one portion, with an opening and a rotatable toner supply roller which is provided in the opening so as to confront the developing sleeve. The toner supply roller is formed, on its outer peripheral surface, with a plurality of first minute recesses and is further formed, in the first minute recesses, with a plurality of second minute recesses finer the first minute recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihito Ikegawa, Hiroshi Mizuno, Hiroshi Murasaki, Kouichi Etou