Patents by Inventor Nao KATO

Nao KATO 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: 20240091597
    Abstract: To improve repulsion performance when a ball is hit by a racket. Grommets each include a strip-shaped portion and a cylinder portion protruding from one surface of the strip-shaped portion. The cylinder portion includes a plurality of ribs extending along an extending direction of a central axis of a cylinder main body. The plurality of ribs is constituted of first ribs protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder main body toward both sides in the extending direction of the strip-shaped portion, and second ribs protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder main body toward both sides in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the strip-shaped portion. Two or more of the first ribs are formed on each of the both sides in the extending direction of the strip-shaped portion, and one or more of the second ribs are formed on each of the both sides in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the strip-shaped portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: YONEX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi KATO, Hiroki NISHIYAMA, Koji NAGASAWA, Nao INOUE
  • Patent number: 11093183
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an interface, a first load device, a battery, a controller, and a plurality of power transmission paths including first to third power transmission paths, wherein the controller is configured to start up the controller with power having a first power amount from an external device via the interface, request a second power amount greater than the first power amount to the external device, determine whether it is possible to receive power supply of the second power amount from the external device, supply power to the first load device via the second power transmission path to start up the first load device, and supply the power to the battery via the third power transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Kato, Masaki Ohtake, Hajime Usami
  • Publication number: 20200310705
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an interface, a first load device, a battery, a controller, and a plurality of power transmission paths including first to third power transmission paths, wherein the controller is configured to start up the controller with power having a first power amount from an external device via the interface, request a second power amount greater than the first power amount to the external device, determine whether it is possible to receive power supply of the second power amount from the external device, supply power to the first load device via the second power transmission path to start up the first load device, and supply the power to the battery via the third power transmission path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Nao KATO, Masaki OHTAKE, Hajime USAMI
  • Patent number: 10670993
    Abstract: A developing device includes a first developer transport path, called as first path hereinafter; a first transport screw that transports a developer in the first path; a first conveyance roller that is thicker than a shaft of the first transport screw, attracts by magnetic force the developer at a downstream end portion of a second developer transport path arranged next to the first path, and conveys the developer to an upper portion located upstream of the first path; a first scraping wall that scrapes and sends the attracted developer; and a first guide columnar body that is adjacent to the first conveyance roller, has a peripheral surface continuous to the first conveyance roller, receives, using the peripheral surface, and guides the sent developer to an upstream end portion of the first path, and has a length that the guided developer is not attracted by the magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao Kato, Masayuki Shimoda
  • Publication number: 20200096908
    Abstract: A developing device includes a first developer transport path, called as first path hereinafter; a first transport screw that transports a developer in the first path; a first conveyance roller that is thicker than a shaft of the first transport screw, attracts by magnetic force the developer at a downstream end portion of a second developer transport path arranged next to the first path, and conveys the developer to an upper portion located upstream of the first path; a first scraping wall that scrapes and sends the attracted developer; and a first guide columnar body that is adjacent to the first conveyance roller, has a peripheral surface continuous to the first conveyance roller, receives, using the peripheral surface, and guides the sent developer to an upstream end portion of the first path, and has a length that the guided developer is not attracted by the magnetic force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao KATO, Masayuki SHIMODA
  • Patent number: 10359734
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing roller, a biasing member, and a fluctuation preventing member. A latent image is formed on the image carrier. The developing roller is provided to face the image carrier and develops the latent image on the image carrier. The biasing member is provided on an outside of an end portion of the developing roller and biases the image carrier and the developing roller in a direction where the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other. The fluctuation preventing member is interposed between the image carrier and the developing roller and prevents, along with the biasing member, a fluctuation in a distance between a surface of the developing roller and a surface of the image carrier in a region where the image carrier and the developing roller face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao Kato, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Kenji Hayamizu, Shota Makita, Shinichi Oba, Iori Togu
  • Patent number: 10203629
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image of the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Makita, Shinichi Oba, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Nao Kato, Iori Togu
  • Patent number: 10185248
    Abstract: A developing device includes a housing including a container that holds a developer containing toner and a magnetic carrier, a feed port member that allows toner or a magnetic carrier to pass therethrough to be fed into the container, a rotary member spaced apart by a gap from a surrounding portion of the housing including the feed port member, the rotary member transporting the developer while holding the developer on an outer circumferential surface of the rotary member to cover the gap when a developer level of the developer inside the container exceeds a reference level, and a developer-level adjusting magnetic pole that holds the developer and that is located at the same level as an end of the gap located downstream from the feed port member in a rotation direction of the rotary member or located downstream from the end of the gap in the rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nao Kato
  • Publication number: 20180267431
    Abstract: A developing device includes a housing including a container that holds a developer containing toner and a magnetic carrier, a feed port member that allows toner or a magnetic carrier to pass therethrough to be fed into the container, a rotary member spaced apart by a gap from a surrounding portion of the housing including the feed port member, the rotary member transporting the developer while holding the developer on an outer circumferential surface of the rotary member to cover the gap when a developer level of the developer inside the container exceeds a reference level, and a developer-level adjusting magnetic pole that holds the developer and that is located at the same level as an end of the gap located downstream from the feed port member in a rotation direction of the rotary member or located downstream from the end of the gap in the rotation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nao KATO
  • Patent number: 10042285
    Abstract: Provided is a developing system including a developing device that includes a replenishing unit that replenishes toner into an accommodating portion of a developer including toner and a carrier, via a replenishing port, a receiving unit that includes a transport member that transports received toner to a discharge port, a connecting member that has an internal space that is formed with an inlet connected with the discharge port and an outlet connected with the replenishing port, and a rotating member that is rotated in the internal space, and includes a blocking surface portion that closes the inlet and the outlet while passing over the inlet and the outlet, and a transport surface portion that receives or discharges the toner while passing over the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao Kato, Masayuki Shimoda
  • Patent number: 9989891
    Abstract: A developing device includes a storage unit that stores developer to be used to form a developer image on an image carrier, the developer containing toner and carrier, an auxiliary storage unit that stores the developer and is connected to the storage unit via a first opening from which the developer is supplied into the storage unit and a second opening from which the developer in the storage unit is taken in, a first transport member provided at the first opening to transport the developer in the auxiliary storage unit into the storage unit, a second transport member provided at the second opening to transport the developer in the storage unit into the auxiliary storage unit, and a supply unit that has an opening opposed to the first transport member and supplies toner to the developer transported from the auxiliary storage unit into the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao Kato, Takashi Nakamura, Kenji Hayamizu
  • Patent number: 9983504
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image on the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Makita, Shinichi Oba, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Nao Kato, Iori Togu
  • Publication number: 20180088487
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image on the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota MAKITA, Shinichi OBA, Mutsumi KIKUCHI, Nao KATO, Iori TOGU
  • Publication number: 20180088488
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image of the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota MAKITA, Shinichi OBA, Mutsumi KIKUCHI, Nao KATO, Iori TOGU
  • Patent number: 9880491
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image of the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Makita, Shinichi Oba, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Nao Kato, Iori Togu
  • Publication number: 20180024463
    Abstract: Provided is a developing system including a developing device that includes a replenishing unit that replenishes toner into an accommodating portion of a developer including toner and a carrier, via a replenishing port, a receiving unit that includes a transport member that transports received toner to a discharge port, a connecting member that has an internal space that is formed with an inlet connected with the discharge port and an outlet connected with the replenishing port, and a rotating member that is rotated in the internal space, and includes a blocking surface portion that closes the inlet and the outlet while passing over the inlet and the outlet, and a transport surface portion that receives or discharges the toner while passing over the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao KATO, Masayuki SHIMODA
  • Patent number: 9841700
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that holds a developer image, a developer transport unit that transports a developer to the image carrier by performing a rotational movement, a voltage application unit that applies, between the developer transport unit and the image carrier, a voltage, which includes a direct-current (DC) voltage component and an alternating-current (AC) voltage component and which is used for moving the developer from the developer transport unit to the image carrier, and a density correction circuit that detects variations in a distance between the image carrier and the developer transport unit from variations in a waveform of an AC component of the voltage, which is applied by the voltage application unit, and that generates a control signal that causes the DC voltage component to change in such a manner that density variations due to the variations in the distance are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao Kato, Yusuke Kaji
  • Publication number: 20170307998
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing roller, a biasing member, and a fluctuation preventing member. A latent image is formed on the image carrier. The developing roller is provided to face the image carrier and develops the latent image on the image carrier. The biasing member is provided on an outside of an end portion of the developing roller and biases the image carrier and the developing roller in a direction where the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other. The fluctuation preventing member is interposed between the image carrier and the developing roller and prevents, along with the biasing member, a fluctuation in a distance between a surface of the developing roller and a surface of the image carrier in a region where the image carrier and the developing roller face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao KATO, Mutsumi KIKUCHI, Kenji HAYAMIZU, Shota MAKITA, Shinichi OBA, Iori TOGU
  • Publication number: 20170277066
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that holds a developer image, a developer transport unit that transports a developer to the image carrier by performing a rotational movement, a voltage application unit that applies, between the developer transport unit and the image carrier, a voltage, which includes a direct-current (DC) voltage component and an alternating-current (AC) voltage component and which is used for moving the developer from the developer transport unit to the image carrier, and a density correction circuit that detects variations in a distance between the image carrier and the developer transport unit from variations in a waveform of an AC component of the voltage, which is applied by the voltage application unit, and that generates a control signal that causes the DC voltage component to change in such a manner that density variations due to the variations in the distance are corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao KATO, Yusuke KAJI
  • Publication number: 20170227890
    Abstract: A developing device includes a storage unit that stores developer to be used to form a developer image on an image carrier, the developer containing toner and carrier, an auxiliary storage unit that stores the developer and is connected to the storage unit via a first opening from which the developer is supplied into the storage unit and a second opening from which the developer in the storage unit is taken in, a first transport member provided at the first opening to transport the developer in the auxiliary storage unit into the storage unit, a second transport member provided at the second opening to transport the developer in the storage unit into the auxiliary storage unit, and a supply unit that has an opening opposed to the first transport member and supplies toner to the developer transported from the auxiliary storage unit into the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nao KATO, Takashi NAKAMURA, Kenji HAYAMIZU