Patents by Inventor Masahiro Kawano

Masahiro Kawano 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: 10185252
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a transfer unit, and a controller. The transfer unit transfers a developer image formed by the image forming unit onto a transfer object. The controller controls each of the image forming unit and the transfer unit on a basis of printing data. The controller performs a printing control to cause a first printing operation and a second printing operation to be executed. The first printing operation forms a first developer image directed to an entire pixel region of a print image and transfers the first developer image onto the transfer object. The second printing operation forms a second developer image directed selectively to a high-gradation pixel region and transfers the second developer image onto the transfer object. The high-gradation pixel region is a pixel region, having a gradation value equal to or greater than a threshold, of the print image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawano, Teruaki Kuroda, Yoshiaki Kusakabe
  • Publication number: 20190002229
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention has: an apparatus main body whose external appearance is configured from an upper casing, a lower casing, and a link casing that vertically links the upper casing and the lower casing and that has a paper discharge opening for discharging paper on one side face; a paper discharge portion that is formed as a space between the upper casing and the lower casing and that is to store paper discharged from the paper discharge opening; and an operation panel portion that is disposed in a vertically tiltable manner on a front face of the upper casing. When viewing the apparatus main body from the front side, an open space that allows paper discharged to the paper discharge portion to be viewed is provided between the operation panel portion and the link casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro KAWANO, Takashi MATSUDA, Naoki SAITO, Kenji OHTA
  • Patent number: 10093509
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention has: an apparatus main body whose external appearance is configured from an upper casing, a lower casing, and a link casing that vertically links the upper casing and the lower casing and that has a paper discharge opening for discharging paper on one side face; a paper discharge portion that is formed as a space between the upper casing and the lower casing and that is to store paper discharged from the paper discharge opening; and an operation panel portion that is disposed in a vertically tiltable manner on a front face of the upper casing. When viewing the apparatus main body from the front side, an open space that allows paper discharged to the paper discharge portion to be viewed is provided between the operation panel portion and the link casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawano, Takashi Matsuda, Naoki Saito, Kenji Ohta
  • Publication number: 20180234563
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a short-range wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a mobile terminal that is in proximity; an operating portion that receives operational instructions from a user; and an operation panel having a communication area of the short-range wireless communication unit and an operation area of the operating portion on the same surface. The operation panel is constructed such that the communication area of the short-range wireless communication unit is arranged around a corner portion on the near side of the operation area where the operating portion of the operation panel is arranged, as viewed from the user side who operates the operation panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Megumi IDO, Yasuhiro INOUE, Yosuke KASHU, Masahiro KAWANO, Toshiyuki KONISHI
  • Publication number: 20180132809
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to prevent the risk when the wire-rope that is hanging an X-ray irradiation element including an X-ray tube breaks. The X-ray imaging apparatus to solve the above problem comprises a wire-ropes 17, 18 that hang and support an X-ray irradiation element 5 and have a different fatigue strength each other, wherein the different between the fatigue progressions of the wire-ropes 17, 18 takes place, the wire-rope 17 or the wire-rope 18 having a weaker fatigue strength breaks first and both wire-ropes 17, 18 never break simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Goro HIRATA, Masahiro KAWANO
  • Publication number: 20180085082
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus comprises a distance detector 23, a distance calculation element 37 and a visible light source control element 33. The distance calculation element 37 calculates the distance from the visible light lamp 19 to the body surface of the subject based on the distance measured by the distance detector 23. The visible light source control element 33 controls a light intensity of a visible light emitted from the visible light source based on the calculated distance by the distance calculation element 37. The operator visually recognizes a brightness of the exposure field of the visual light, and can easily confirm that the visible light lamp has shifted to a suitable position for the X-ray imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro KAWANO
  • Patent number: 9897949
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: an image formation device which forms a developer image on a medium; a storage device which stores medium information concerning the medium; a fixation device which fixes the developer image to the medium by heating the developer image while causing the medium to travel; a first detector which detects a stop or a speed reduction of travel of the medium in the fixation device; a second detector which detects a temperature of the fixation device; a cooler; and a controller which, when the first detector detects the stop or the speed reduction of the travel of the medium, stops an operation of the fixation device, and operates the cooler based on the medium information and the temperature of the fixation device, thereby cooling the medium stuck in the fixation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawano, Teruaki Kuroda, Yoshiaki Kusakabe
  • Publication number: 20170285534
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a transfer unit, and a controller. The transfer unit transfers a developer image formed by the image forming unit onto a transfer object. The controller controls each of the image forming unit and the transfer unit on a basis of printing data. The controller performs a printing control to cause a first printing operation and a second printing operation to be executed. The first printing operation forms a first developer image directed to an entire pixel region of a print image and transfers the first developer image onto the transfer object. The second printing operation forms a second developer image directed selectively to a high-gradation pixel region and transfers the second developer image onto the transfer object. The high-gradation pixel region is a pixel region, having a gradation value equal to or greater than a threshold, of the print image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro KAWANO, Teruaki KURODA, Yoshiaki KUSAKABE
  • Publication number: 20170185011
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: an image formation device which forms a developer image on a medium; a storage device which stores medium information concerning the medium; a fixation device which fixes the developer image to the medium by heating the developer image while causing the medium to travel; a first detector which detects a stop or a speed reduction of travel of the medium in the fixation device; a second detector which detects a temperature of the fixation device; a cooler; and a controller which, when the first detector detects the stop or the speed reduction of the travel of the medium, stops an operation of the fixation device, and operates the cooler based on the medium information and the temperature of the fixation device, thereby cooling the medium stuck in the fixation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro KAWANO, Teruaki KURODA, Yoshiaki KUSAKABE
  • Patent number: 9618877
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier for carrying an electrostatic latent image, a developer carrier for developing the electrostatic latent image of the image carrier with a developer, a developer regulating member that regulates a thickness of a layer of the developer held by the developer carrier, and a supply member that supplies the developer to the developer carrier. An absolute value of a voltage applied to the developer regulating member is larger than an absolute value of a voltage applied to the supply member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kusakabe, Teruaki Kuroda, Masahiro Kawano
  • Patent number: 9592015
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a radiographic apparatus that allows suppression of needles radiation exposure to a subject. Specifically, the disclosure includes an X-ray tube, a collimator, and a visible light source. The spread of visible light beams through the collimator opening too largely may not possibly conform to the spread of radiation. Such a situation may occur when the apparatus is provided with the X-ray tube that emits narrow radiation. In order to avoid such a situation, the disclosure sets an upper limit of a degree of opening as an upper limit of a degree of opening of the collimator. With a construction of the disclosure, there is no need to perform further radiography. This achieves the radiographic apparatus that allows suppression of needless radiation exposure to a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawano, Tomoharu Okuno
  • Publication number: 20160274487
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier for carrying an electrostatic latent image, a developer carrier for developing the electrostatic latent image of the image carrier with a developer, a developer regulating member that regulates a thickness of a layer of the developer held by the developer carrier, and a supply member that supplies the developer to the developer carrier. An absolute value of a voltage applied to the developer regulating member is larger than an absolute value of a voltage applied to the supply member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KUSAKABE, Teruaki KURODA, Masahiro KAWANO
  • Patent number: 9411297
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes development devices placed in stations and configured to sequentially start development in an order according to the arrangement order of the stations, and a power supply unit. Each development device includes a development unit, a supply unit to supply a developer to the development unit, and a regulation member to regulate an amount of the developer on the development unit. The power supply unit applies voltages to each regulation member and each supply unit such that a first development device has a greater differential voltage when the first development device is placed in a first station than when placed in a second station in which the development is started earlier than in the first station, where the differential voltage denotes a voltage obtained by subtracting the absolute value of the supply unit's voltage from the absolute value of the regulation member's voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Teruaki Kuroda, Masahiro Kawano, Yoshiaki Kusakabe
  • Publication number: 20160216679
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes development devices placed in stations and configured to sequentially start development in an order according to the arrangement order of the stations, and a power supply unit. Each development device includes a development unit, a supply unit to supply a developer to the development unit, and a regulation member to regulate an amount of the developer on the development unit. The power supply unit applies voltages to each regulation member and each supply unit such that a first development device has a greater differential voltage when the first development device is placed in a first station than when placed in a second station in which the development is started earlier than in the first station, where the differential voltage denotes a voltage obtained by subtracting the absolute value of the supply unit's voltage from the absolute value of the regulation member's voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Teruaki KURODA, Masahiro KAWANO, Yoshiaki KUSAKABE
  • Patent number: 9223248
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the invention includes a light source, an image carrier, a developer carrier, a supply member, and a controller. The light source emits light in accordance with printing data. The image carrier carries on a surface thereof a latent image based on the emitted light out of the light source. The developer carrier develops the latent image carried on the image carrier. The supply member supplies a developer to the developer carrier. The controller controls a voltage between the developer carrier and the supply member in accordance with a light emitting amount of the light source at a prescribed use amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawano, Takeshi Ishii
  • Publication number: 20140341348
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a radiographic apparatus that allows suppression of needles radiation exposure to a subject. Specifically, the disclosure includes an X-ray tube 3, a collimator 3a, and a visible light source 9. The spread of visible light beams through the collimator 3a opening too largely may not possibly conform to the spread of radiation. Such a situation may occur when the apparatus is provided with the X-ray tube 3 that emits narrow radiation. In order to avoid such a situation, the disclosure sets an upper limit of a degree of opening as an upper limit of a degree of opening of the collimator 3a. With a construction of the disclosure, there is no need to perform further radiography. This achieves the radiographic apparatus that allows suppression of needless radiation exposure to a subject M.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawano, Tomoharu Okuno
  • Publication number: 20140333020
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention has: an apparatus main body whose external appearance is configured from an upper casing, a lower casing, and a link casing that vertically links the upper casing and the lower casing and that has a paper discharge opening for discharging paper on one side face; a paper discharge portion that is formed as a space between the upper casing and the lower casing and that is to store paper discharged from the paper discharge opening; and an operation panel portion that is disposed in a vertically tiltable manner on a front face of the upper casing. When viewing the apparatus main body from the front side, an open space that allows paper discharged to the paper discharge portion to be viewed is provided between the operation panel portion and the link casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Masahiro KAWANO, Takashi MATSUDA, Naoki SAITO, Kenji OHTA
  • Patent number: 8820731
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention has: an apparatus main body whose external appearance is configured from an upper casing, a lower casing, and a link casing that vertically links the upper casing and the lower casing and that has a paper discharge opening for discharging paper on one side face; a paper discharge portion that is formed as a space between the upper casing and the lower casing and that is to store paper discharged from the paper discharge opening; and an operation panel portion that is disposed in a vertically tiltable manner on a front face of the upper casing. When viewing the apparatus main body from the front side, an open space that allows paper discharged to the paper discharge portion to be viewed is provided between the operation panel portion and the link casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawano, Takashi Matsuda, Naoki Saito, Kenji Ohta
  • Patent number: 8670699
    Abstract: A developing device that is provided in an image forming device that forms an image includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developer carrier that is configured to form a developer image on a surface of the image carrier by attaching developer on the electrostatic latent image; and a contact member that is configured to contact the developer carrier. The contact member contacts the developer carrier and exerts a contact pressure per unit area thereon, the contact pressure per unit area being based on charging characteristics of the developer being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawano, Atsushi Ohta, Toshiharu Sato
  • Publication number: 20140037313
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the invention comprises a light source for emitting light in accordance with printing data, an image carrier carrying on a surface thereof a latent image based on the emitted light out of the light source, a developer carrier for developing the latent image carried on the image carrier, a supply member for supplying a developer to the developer carrier, and a controller for controlling a voltage between the developer carrier and the supply member in accordance with a light emitting amount of the light source at a prescribed use amount, for suppressing occurrences of image failures even where using different developers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro KAWANO, Takeshi ISHII