Patents by Inventor Masahiro AKATSUKA

Masahiro AKATSUKA 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: 10691050
    Abstract: A pressure-applying device includes a pressure-applying portion that applies pressure to a pressure-receiving object and a pressing portion that presses the pressure-applying portion toward the pressure-receiving object, the pressing portion having a hardness higher than a hardness of the pressure-applying portion. The pressure-applying portion includes plural projections that project from a back surface of the pressure-applying portion that faces the pressing portion toward a pressing surface of the pressing portion that faces the pressure-applying portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Yagi, Kazuaki Iikura, Noriaki Kishi, Masahiro Akatsuka
  • Publication number: 20200166878
    Abstract: A pressure-applying device includes a pressure-applying portion that applies pressure to a pressure-receiving object and a pressing portion that presses the pressure-applying portion toward the pressure-receiving object, the pressing portion having a hardness higher than a hardness of the pressure-applying portion. The pressure-applying portion includes plural projections that project from a back surface of the pressure-applying portion that faces the pressing portion toward a pressing surface of the pressing portion that faces the pressure-applying portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyuki YAGI, Kazuaki IIKURA, Noriaki KISHI, Masahiro AKATSUKA
  • Patent number: 10457511
    Abstract: A rotating member includes a rotating-member body, identification information, and a holding member. The rotating-member body having a cylindrical or columnar shape has one end portion and an outer circumferential surface and is to be rotated. The identification information is provided at the one end portion on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating-member body. The holding member is provided at the one end portion of the rotating-member body, holds the rotating-member body, and has an inner circumferential surface in part of which a space not to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the rotating-member body is provided. The identification information is disposed in the space of the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Sato, Jun Sawamura, Yoshiro Konishi, Yasuhiro Kato, Takayuki Ukawa, Masahiro Akatsuka, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10175618
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member, a second fixing member that fixes a toner image transferred to a recording medium onto the recording medium by transporting the recording medium while holding the recording medium between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, a first support member that supports the first fixing member, a forcing member that supports the second fixing member and presses the second fixing member against the first fixing member, and a restricting member disposed on the first support member to fix a position of the first support member at an attachable member to which the first support member is attached, and to restrict a position of the forcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Sato, Jun Sawamura, Yoshiro Konishi, Yasuhiro Kato, Takayuki Ukawa, Masahiro Akatsuka, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10175621
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a roller member that rotates and a belt member including an endless belt that moves circularly while being in contact with the roller member, a pressing member that is disposed in a space enclosed by the endless belt and that presses the endless belt against the roller member on both a downstream side and an upstream side relative to a direction of rotation of the roller member, and a rotation hindering member that is disposed in the space enclosed by the endless belt and that hinders the pressing member from rotating as a result of receiving a reaction force. The roller member and the endless belt nip a sheet that has been transported while holding a toner image on the sheet and cause the sheet to pass between the roller member and the endless belt, so that the toner image is fixed onto the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Konishi, Jun Sawamura, Hideki Sato, Takayuki Ukawa, Yasuhiro Kato, Masahiro Akatsuka, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20180305150
    Abstract: A rotating member includes a rotating-member body, identification information, and a holding member. The rotating-member body having a cylindrical or columnar shape has one end portion and an outer circumferential surface and is to be rotated. The identification information is provided at the one end portion on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating-member body. The holding member is provided at the one end portion of the rotating-member body, holds the rotating-member body, and has an inner circumferential surface in part of which a space not to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the rotating-member body is provided. The identification information is disposed in the space of the holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki SATO, Jun SAWAMURA, Yoshiro KONISHI, Yasuhiro KATO, Takayuki UKAWA, Masahiro AKATSUKA, Yusuke SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20180203385
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a roller member that rotates and a belt member including an endless belt that moves circularly while being in contact with the roller member, a pressing member that is disposed in a space enclosed by the endless belt and that presses the endless belt against the roller member on both a downstream side and an upstream side relative to a direction of rotation of the roller member, and a rotation hindering member that is disposed in the space enclosed by the endless belt and that hinders the pressing member from rotating as a result of receiving a reaction force. The roller member and the endless belt nip a sheet that has been transported while holding a toner image on the sheet and cause the sheet to pass between the roller member and the endless belt, so that the toner image is fixed onto the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiro KONISHI, Jun SAWAMURA, Hideki SATO, Takayuki UKAWA, Yasuhiro KATO, Masahiro AKATSUKA, Yusuke SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20180196379
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member, a second fixing member that fixes a toner image transferred to a recording medium onto the recording medium by transporting the recording medium while holding the recording medium between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, a first support member that supports the first fixing member, a forcing member that supports the second fixing member and presses the second fixing member against the first fixing member, and a restricting member disposed on the first support member to fix a position of the first support member at an attachable member to which the first support member is attached, and to restrict a position of the forcing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki SATO, Jun SAWAMURA, Yoshiro KONISHI, Yasuhiro KATO, Takayuki UKAWA, Masahiro AKATSUKA, Yusuke SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 9897955
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatably-supported first fixing member and a second fixing member pressed against the first member. The second member includes a belt-shaped component, a support component, and a pressing component. The belt-shaped component extends in a width direction of a medium passing through a contact region between the belt-shaped component and the first member. The support component is disposed opposite the first member with the belt-shaped component interposed therebetween. The pressing component has a base end supported by the support component and a free end extending toward the contact region and presses the belt-shaped component against the first member. The pressing component has biasing portions arranged apart in the width direction and elastically deformable in correspondence with the medium thickness. The biasing portions are connected in the width direction by the free end. The free end is disposed at an upstream side in a medium transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Sato, Jun Sawamura, Yoshiro Konishi, Yasuhiro Kato, Takayuki Ukawa, Masahiro Akatsuka, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9886000
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that includes a pressing unit and a heating unit provided facing the pressing unit, an image-forming-apparatus body in which the fixing device is housed and to and from which the fixing device is attachable and detachable, a fixing-device-attachment-detachment-detecting member that detects attachment or detachment of the fixing device to or from the image-forming-apparatus body, and a controller that controls, if the fixing-device-attachment-detachment-detecting member detects the detachment of the fixing device from the image-forming-apparatus body, the image-forming-apparatus body to take a position where the pressing unit and the heating unit are to be pressed against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kato, Hideki Sato, Jun Sawamura, Yoshiro Konishi, Masahiro Akatsuka, Takayuki Ukawa, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20170261922
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that includes a pressing unit and a heating unit provided facing the pressing unit, an image-forming-apparatus body in which the fixing device is housed and to and from which the fixing device is attachable and detachable, a fixing-device-attachment-detachment-detecting member that detects attachment or detachment of the fixing device to or from the image-forming-apparatus body, and a controller that controls, if the fixing-device-attachment-detachment-detecting member detects the detachment of the fixing device from the image-forming-apparatus body, the image-forming-apparatus body to take a position where the pressing unit and the heating unit are to be pressed against each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KATO, Hideki SATO, Jun SAWAMURA, Yoshiro KONISHI, Masahiro AKATSUKA, Takayuki UKAWA, Yusuke SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 9760057
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover that opens and closes an opening of an apparatus body, a unit removable from the apparatus body through the opening, a latch that is included in the unit and that is rotatable about a rotation fulcrum, the latch including a hook that is latched onto a latched portion of the apparatus body from downstream in a mounting direction of the unit to fix the unit onto the apparatus body and an operating portion that opposes the hook across the rotation fulcrum and that is operable through the opening, and a hindering portion that is included in the cover and that interferes, when the hook rotates in a separating direction in which the hook is separated from the latched portion in a state where the cover closes the opening, with the operating portion and hinders the hook from rotating in the separating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Sawamura, Hideki Sato, Yoshiro Konishi, Yasuhiro Kato, Takayuki Ukawa, Masahiro Akatsuka, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20170255148
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatably-supported first fixing member and a second fixing member pressed against the first member. The second member includes a belt-shaped component, a support component, and a pressing component. The belt-shaped component extends in a width direction of a medium passing through a contact region between the belt-shaped component and the first member. The support component is disposed opposite the first member with the belt-shaped component interposed therebetween. The pressing component has a base end supported by the support component and a free end extending toward the contact region and presses the belt-shaped component against the first member. The pressing component has biasing portions arranged apart in the width direction and elastically deformable in correspondence with the medium thickness. The biasing portions are connected in the width direction by the free end. The free end is disposed at an upstream side in a medium transport direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki SATO, Jun SAWAMURA, Yoshiro KONISHI, Yasuhiro KATO, Takayuki UKAWA, Masahiro AKATSUKA, Yusuke SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20170219993
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover that opens and closes an opening of an apparatus body, a unit removable from the apparatus body through the opening, a latch that is included in the unit and that is rotatable about a rotation fulcrum, the latch including a hook that is latched onto a latched portion of the apparatus body from downstream in a mounting direction of the unit to fix the unit onto the apparatus body and an operating portion that opposes the hook across the rotation fulcrum and that is operable through the opening, and a hindering portion that is included in the cover and that interferes, when the hook rotates in a separating direction in which the hook is separated from the latched portion in a state where the cover closes the opening, with the operating portion and hinders the hook from rotating in the separating direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun SAWAMURA, Hideki SATO, Yoshiro KONISHI, Yasuhiro KATO, Takayuki UKAWA, Masahiro AKATSUKA, Yusuke SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 9588468
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: an image forming portion that forms an image on a medium; a fixing device removably mounted to an apparatus body to fix the image to the medium, the fixing device including a first rotator that contacts the medium, a second rotator that contacts the first rotator, a movable member movable in first and second directions in which the first and second rotators are moved closer to and away from each other, respectively, an urging member, a first end of which is mounted to the movable member and which urges the movable member in the first direction, and a first support portion that supports a second end of the urging member; a cam member that moves the movable member in the second direction; a shaft member to which the cam member is mounted; and a second support portion that supports the shaft member and the first support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Sawamura, Takayuki Ukawa, Hideki Sato, Yoshiro Konishi, Yasuhiro Kato, Masahiro Akatsuka
  • Publication number: 20170031281
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: an image forming portion that forms an image on a medium; a fixing device removably mounted to an apparatus body to fix the image to the medium, the fixing device including a first rotator that contacts the medium, a second rotator that contacts the first rotator, a movable member movable in first and second directions in which the first and second rotators are moved closer to and away from each other, respectively, an urging member, a first end of which is mounted to the movable member and which urges the movable member in the first direction, and a first support portion that supports a second end of the urging member; a cam member that moves the movable member in the second direction; a shaft member to which the cam member is mounted; and a second support portion that supports the shaft member and the first support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun SAWAMURA, Takayuki UKAWA, Hideki SATO, Yoshiro KONISHI, Yasuhiro KATO, Masahiro AKATSUKA
  • Patent number: 9541874
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit, an endless belt body that follows rotation of the heating unit, and a pressing unit that faces the heating unit with the endless belt body interposed therebetween. The pressing unit includes a retaining body that rotatably retains the endless belt body, a pressing-area-forming portion that is a part of the retaining body, and a pressing member provided on an upstream side of the retaining body with respect to the pressing-area-forming portion in a direction of rotation of the endless belt body, the pressing member being a metal plate that is bent along a line extending in a longitudinal direction thereof. The pressing unit is movable relative to the heating unit between a position where a pressing area is formed by the pressing-area-forming portion and the pressing member and a position where the pressing area is formed by the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Akatsuka, Hideki Sato, Jun Sawamura, Haruhiko Nishida, Yoshiro Konishi, Yasuhiro Kato, Takayuki Ukawa
  • Publication number: 20160274518
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit, an endless belt body that follows rotation of the heating unit, and a pressing unit that faces the heating unit with the endless belt body interposed therebetween. The pressing unit includes a retaining body that rotatably retains the endless belt body, a pressing-area-forming portion that is a part of the retaining body, and a pressing member provided on an upstream side of the retaining body with respect to the pressing-area-forming portion in a direction of rotation of the endless belt body, the pressing member being a metal plate that is bent along a line extending in a longitudinal direction thereof. The pressing unit is movable relative to the heating unit between a position where a pressing area is formed by the pressing-area-forming portion and the pressing member and a position where the pressing area is formed by the pressing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro AKATSUKA, Hideki SATO, Jun SAWAMURA, Haruhiko NISHIDA, Yoshiro KONISHI, Yasuhiro KATO, Takayuki UKAWA
  • Patent number: 9423742
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion and a fixing device. The image forming portion forms a developer image on a recording medium. The fixing device is removably mounted to an image forming apparatus body, and fixes the developer image formed by the image forming portion to the recording medium. The fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, and a pressing mechanism. The second rotator contacts the first rotator to form an interposition region in which the recording medium is interposed between the first rotator and the second rotator. The pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The image forming apparatus further includes a change mechanism that changes a force with which the pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The change mechanism is mounted to the image forming apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Nishida, Jun Sawamura, Takayuki Ukawa, Hideki Sato, Yoshiro Konishi, Yasuhiro Kato, Masahiro Akatsuka
  • Publication number: 20160238977
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion and a fixing device. The image forming portion forms a developer image on a recording medium. The fixing device is removably mounted to an image forming apparatus body, and fixes the developer image formed by the image forming portion to the recording medium. The fixing device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, and a pressing mechanism. The second rotator contacts the first rotator to form an interposition region in which the recording medium is interposed between the first rotator and the second rotator. The pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The image forming apparatus further includes a change mechanism that changes a force with which the pressing mechanism presses the first rotator and the second rotator against each other. The change mechanism is mounted to the image forming apparatus body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruhiko NISHIDA, Jun SAWAMURA, Takayuki UKAWA, Hideki SATO, Yoshiro KONISHI, Yasuhiro KATO, Masahiro AKATSUKA