Patents by Inventor Masaaki Yamaura

Masaaki Yamaura 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: 11092908
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding unit that holds an image that is formed of a developer, the image being intended to be transferred onto a medium, and an image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium, a transfer unit that transfers the image that is intended to be transferred onto a medium onto a medium, a removing unit that removes the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium from the image holding unit, and a forming unit that forms the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium onto the image holding unit by using a developer and that has a first forming mode for a first medium and a second forming mode for a second medium that has a transfer sensitivity lower than a transfer sensitivity of the first medium, the forming unit being configured to use a larger amount of the developer in formation of the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium in the first forming mode than in the second forming mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamaura, Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Kotaro Araki, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11086250
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an image, a developing unit that applies a developing voltage to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer, a transfer unit that electrostatically transfers the image onto media of different types, and a development controller that controls a developing operation of the developing unit. The development controller has a first control mode for a first medium, and a second control mode for a second medium having a lower transferability than the first medium. In the first control mode, the developing unit applies the developing voltage according to a first developing condition. In the second control mode, the developing unit applies the developing voltage according to a second developing condition in which a developing property is reduced as compared with the first developing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Masaaki Yamaura, Kotaro Araki, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11042110
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier unit, an image display control unit, and a forming unit. The image carrier unit holds images formed from a developer. The images include an image intended to be transferred to a medium and an image unintended to be transferred to the medium. The image display control unit causes a display unit to display an image asking whether the image unintended to be transferred is to be formed when a predetermined condition for forming the image unintended to be transferred is satisfied. The forming unit forms the image unintended to be transferred to the medium when a command of forming the image unintended to be transferred to the medium is input to a display on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Jun Kuwabara, Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Masaaki Yamaura
  • Patent number: 11029625
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier configured to carry an image; a transfer unit configured to transfer the image to a medium; and a cleaner configured to remove deposits on a surface of the image carrier after passing through a position of the transfer unit, in which when a type of a medium to be used is a first medium, the cleaner improves an ability to remove the deposits from the image carrier as compared with a case where the medium to be used is a second medium having a lower transfer sensitivity than the first medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
    Inventors: Kotaro Araki, Masaaki Yamaura, Yoshinori Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Ayumi Noguchi, Takeshi Yasuda, Masahiro Katahira
  • Patent number: 10955773
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holding section; a transfer section that includes a transfer member, applies a transfer electric-field to a transfer region between the image holding section and the transfer member, and electrostatically transfers an image held by the image holding section onto a recording medium; a contact section that acts as an electrode to ground while being in contact with the recording medium when the recording medium passes through the transfer region; a first resistance detection section; a second resistance detection section; a comparison section that compares a first system resistance detected by the first resistance detection section with a second system resistance detected by the second resistance detection section; and a switching section that switches between constant voltage control and constant current control for the transfer electric-field produced by the transfer section depending on a result of comparison by the comparison section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamaura, Satoshi Shigezaki, Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Jun Kuwabara
  • Publication number: 20210080854
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an image, a developing unit that applies a developing voltage to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer, a transfer unit that electrostatically transfers the image onto media of different types, and a development controller that controls a developing operation of the developing unit. The development controller has a first control mode for a first medium, and a second control mode for a second medium having a lower transferability than the first medium. In the first control mode, the developing unit applies the developing voltage according to a first developing condition. In the second control mode, the developing unit applies the developing voltage according to a second developing condition in which a developing property is reduced as compared with the first developing condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TOMINAGA, Masaaki YAMAURA, Kotaro ARAKI, Ayumi NOGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210072694
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier configured to carry an image; a transfer unit configured to transfer the image to a medium; and a cleaner configured to remove deposits on a surface of the image carrier after passing through a position of the transfer unit, in which when a type of a medium to be used is a first medium, the cleaner improves an ability to remove the deposits from the image carrier as compared with a case where the medium to be used is a second medium having a lower transfer sensitivity than the first medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Araki, Masaaki Yamaura, Yoshinori Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Ayumi Noguchi, Takeshi Yasuda, Masahiro Katahira
  • Publication number: 20210072658
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding unit that holds an image that is formed of a developer, the image being intended to be transferred onto a medium, and an image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium, a transfer unit that transfers the image that is intended to be transferred onto a medium onto a medium, a removing unit that removes the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium from the image holding unit, and a forming unit that forms the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium onto the image holding unit by using a developer and that has a first forming mode for a first medium and a second forming mode for a second medium that has a transfer sensitivity lower than a transfer sensitivity of the first medium, the forming unit being configured to use a larger amount of the developer in formation of the image that is not intended to be transferred onto a medium in the first forming mode than in the second forming mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki YAMAURA, Yoshiyuki TOMINAGA, Kotaro ARAKI, Ayumi NOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10928772
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holding section; a transfer section that has a transfer member, applies a transfer electric-field to a transfer region between the image holding section and the transfer member, and electrostatically transfers an image held by the image holding section onto a recording medium; contact sections that act as electrodes to ground while being in contact with the recording medium; a humidification section that is provided upstream of the transfer region and humidifies the recording medium; a first control section that performs control without humidification by the humidification section; a second control section that performs control to cause the humidification section to humidify the recording medium; and a selection section that selects the first control section or the second control section depending on a type of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Masaaki Yamaura, Jun Kuwabara
  • Publication number: 20200301359
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holding section; a transfer section that has a transfer member, applies a transfer electric-field to a transfer region between the image holding section and the transfer member, and electrostatically transfers an image held by the image holding section onto a recording medium; contact sections that act as electrodes to ground while being in contact with the recording medium; a humidification section that is provided upstream of the transfer region and humidifies the recording medium; a first control section that performs control without humidification by the humidification section; a second control section that performs control to cause the humidification section to humidify the recording medium; and a selection section that selects the first control section or the second control section depending on a type of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TOMINAGA, Masaaki YAMAURA, Jun KUWABARA
  • Publication number: 20200292957
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holding section; a transfer section that includes a transfer member, applies a transfer electric-field to a transfer region between the image holding section and the transfer member, and electrostatically transfers an image held by the image holding section onto a recording medium; a contact section that acts as an electrode to ground while being in contact with the recording medium when the recording medium passes through the transfer region; a first resistance detection section; a second resistance detection section; a comparison section that compares a first system resistance detected by the first resistance detection section with a second system resistance detected by the second resistance detection section; and a switching section that switches between constant voltage control and constant current control for the transfer electric-field produced by the transfer section depending on a result of comparison by the comparison section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki YAMAURA, Satoshi SHIGEZAKI, Yoshiyuki TOMINAGA, Jun KUWABARA
  • Patent number: 10705444
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer unit that holds an image to be transferred onto a recording medium, a base image formation unit that forms a planar base image onto the intermediate transfer unit by using an opaque base image forming agent, the base image being brought into contact with and disposed onto an entire surface of the recording medium or a partial region of the surface of the recording medium, a transparent image formation unit that forms a transparent image onto the intermediate transfer unit by using a transparent image forming agent, a first control unit that performs control for transferring a monochromatic or polychromatic image including the base image formed on the intermediate transfer unit by the base image formation unit onto the recording medium, a second control unit that performs control for superposing a monochromatic or polychromatic image including the base image formed by the base image formation unit onto the transparent image formed on the intermediate
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Masaaki Yamaura, Jun Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 10635038
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit that transfers a toner image to a transfer body; a guide unit disposed upstream of the transfer unit in a direction in which the transfer body is transported, the guide unit guiding the transfer body; a supply unit that supplies a transfer voltage to the transfer unit; and a setting unit that sets the transfer voltage supplied by the supply unit so that a transfer current supplied to the transfer unit is within a predetermined range at the time when the transfer body becomes separated from the guide unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamaura, Satoshi Shigezaki, Yoko Miyamoto, Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Noboru Hirakawa, Jun Kuwabara
  • Publication number: 20200096890
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer unit that holds an image to be transferred onto a recording medium, a base image formation unit that forms a planar base image onto the intermediate transfer unit by using an opaque base image forming agent, the base image being brought into contact with and disposed onto an entire surface of the recording medium or a partial region of the surface of the recording medium, a transparent image formation unit that forms a transparent image onto the intermediate transfer unit by using a transparent image forming agent, a first control unit that performs control for transferring a monochromatic or polychromatic image including the base image formed on the intermediate transfer unit by the base image formation unit onto the recording medium, a second control unit that performs control for superposing a monochromatic or polychromatic image including the base image formed by the base image formation unit onto the transparent image formed on the intermediate
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TOMINAGA, Masaaki YAMAURA, Jun KUWABARA
  • Patent number: 10527973
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding unit, a transfer unit, a first-resistance detection unit, a second-resistance detection unit, and a selection unit. The image holding unit holds an image. The transfer unit includes a transfer member and a counter member. The transfer member is disposed in contact with an image holding surface of the image holding unit. The counter member is disposed across the image holding unit from the transfer member. The counter member is connected to a transfer power supply to cause a transfer electric field to act on a transfer region between the image holding unit and the transfer member. The transfer unit causes the image held by the image holding unit to be electrostatically transferred onto a recording medium transported to the transfer region. The first-resistance detection unit detects system resistance of the counter member, the image holding unit, and the transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamaura, Satoshi Shigezaki, Toshiaki Baba, Yoshiyuki Tominaga, Jun Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 10429771
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a holding body that holds a toner image and to which a first tension and a second tension, which is smaller than the first tension, are applied, a transfer body that transfers the toner image to a recording medium while transporting the recording medium between the transfer body and the holding body, and a setting portion that sets tension applied to the holding body to the second tension when a mass of a toner of an uppermost toner layer constituting the toner image and disposed on the holding body is equal to or exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Shimodaira, Masaaki Yamaura, Toshiaki Baba, Satoshi Shigezaki
  • Patent number: 10359719
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer member that transfers a toner image to a continuous sheet, the transfer member having a lower hardness than a member opposed thereto with the continuous sheet therebetween when the continuous sheet is transported; and a moving unit that moves the transfer member in a direction intersecting the direction in which the continuous sheet is transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamaura, Satoshi Shigezaki, Yutaka Kanai, Masayo Higashimura, Toshiaki Baba
  • Publication number: 20190187599
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit that transfers a toner image to a transfer body; a guide unit disposed upstream of the transfer unit in a direction in which the transfer body is transported, the guide unit guiding the transfer body; a supply unit that supplies a transfer voltage to the transfer unit; and a setting unit that sets the transfer voltage supplied by the supply unit so that a transfer current supplied to the transfer unit is within a predetermined range at the time when the transfer body becomes separated from the guide unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki YAMAURA, Satoshi SHIGEZAKI, Yoko MIYAMOTO, Yoshiyuki TOMINAGA, Noboru HIRAKAWA, Jun KUWABARA
  • Patent number: 10324405
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a holding body that holds a toner image; a transfer body that presses a recording medium against the holding body with a first pressing force or a second pressing force, which is smaller than the first pressing force, to transfer the toner image to the recording medium while transporting the recording medium between the transfer body and the holding body; and a setting portion that sets a pressing force exerted on the recording medium at the second pressing force when a mass of a toner of an uppermost toner layer constituting the toner image and disposed on the holding body is equal to or exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamaura, Satoshi Shigezaki, Yoshiki Shimodaira, Toshiaki Baba
  • Publication number: 20180364629
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a holding body that holds a toner image; a transfer body that presses a recording medium against the holding body with a first pressing force or a second pressing force, which is smaller than the first pressing force, to transfer the toner image to the recording medium while transporting the recording medium between the transfer body and the holding body; and a setting portion that sets a pressing force exerted on the recording medium at the second pressing force when a mass of a toner of an uppermost toner layer constituting the toner image and disposed on the holding body is equal to or exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki YAMAURA, Satoshi SHIGEZAKI, Yoshiki SHIMODAIRA, Toshiaki BABA