Patents by Inventor Osamu Takagi

Osamu Takagi 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: 10859952
    Abstract: A heater includes a heat-resistant insulating substrate, a plurality of heat generating members arrayed on a first surface of the insulating substrate, and a heat radiating body disposed on a surface different from the first surface of the insulating substrate corresponding to gap portions among the plurality of heat generating members and configured to actively or passively radiate stored heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • Publication number: 20200363758
    Abstract: A heating device according to an embodiment generally includes heat generating parts and temperature sensors. The heat generating parts are divided into a plurality of blocks, so that the plurality of heat generating parts are arranged with a gap therebetween on a substrate in each block. With a temperature detection region provided in each block, the temperature sensors are provided corresponding to the heat generating parts with the gaps being avoided. The temperatures of the heat generating parts are detected by the temperature sensors that are less in number than the plurality of heat generating parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Chie Miyauchi, Osamu Takagi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10816922
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material that is not thermally decolorizable; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material that is thermally decolorizable; a fixing device which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a controller which controls the fixing device so that a temperature of the fixing device is lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material when the second recording medium reaches the fixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kaneko, Minoru Yoshida, Osamu Takagi, Takahito Kabai, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Ken Iguchi
  • Publication number: 20200333734
    Abstract: A heating device includes a belt, a heater that is in contact with an inner surface of the belt and divided into heater blocks in a width direction thereof, a pressing member that presses a sheet against the belt, a temperature sensor disposed on each of a number of the heater blocks that is at least one-half of the total number thereof, and a processor configured to select one or more of the heater blocks based on a width of the sheet, and select one or more temperature sensors disposed on one or more of the selected heater blocks having the non-paper passing region and control electric power supplied to said one or more of the selected heater blocks to protect against an excessive temperature rise in the non-paper passing region based on temperatures detected by the temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Chie MIYAUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Ryota SAEKI
  • Publication number: 20200292975
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a roller, an endless belt, and a heat generating member disposed in a space inside the endless belt, extending in a width direction of the endless belt, and pressing the endless belt against the roller. A sheet is passed through a nip formed between the roller and a portion of the endless belt pressed by the heat generating member, such that an image on the sheet is fixed thereto. The heat generating member includes first and second heat generating portions that are adjacent to each other along the width direction, and the first portion heat generating is independently operable from the second heat generating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventor: Osamu TAKAGI
  • Patent number: 10775722
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes an endless belt, a pressure element, a heating member, an adjustment mechanism, and a controller. The pressure element conveys and presses a sheet to the endless belt. The heating member is on the inner side of the belt and has a heat generating element for heating the belt. The adjustment mechanism moves the heating member or the pressure element to adjust the nip width between the heating member and the pressure element. The controller controls the adjustment mechanism so that A>B?N is satisfied, where A is the nip width during a fixing process in which a colored material is fixed to the sheet, B is the nip width during a heating process conducted before the fixing process, and N is the length of the heat generating element in the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Osamu Takagi, Chie Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 10768559
    Abstract: A heating device according to an embodiment generally includes heat generating parts and temperature sensors. The heat generating parts are divided into a plurality of blocks, so that the plurality of heat generating parts are arranged with a gap therebetween on a substrate in each block. With a temperature detection region provided in each block, the temperature sensors are provided corresponding to the heat generating parts with the gaps being avoided. The temperatures of the heat generating parts are detected by the temperature sensors that are less in number than the plurality of heat generating parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chie Miyauchi, Osamu Takagi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20200264543
    Abstract: A heater includes a heat generating element and a protective layer. The protective layer covers the heat generating element, and at least part of a surface thereof has a convex surface that is convex toward the heat generating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200257228
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a heater, comprising an insulator substrate, a first member, a plurality of electrodes, and a second member. The first member is configured to generate heat on an upper surface of the insulator substrate across a first direction. The first member has a first end opposite a second end. The plurality of electrodes are formed on both the first end and the second end of the first member, respectively, and each electrode is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second member is configured to store heat. The second member comprises a latent heat material having latent heat in a target temperature zone. Furthermore, the latent heat material is fixed to a side surface or a bottom surface of the insulator substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Osamu TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20200249607
    Abstract: A heater includes an insulator substrate, a heat generating section in which a plurality of divided regions are formed in a longitudinal direction on a first surface of the insulator substrate, electrodes formed at both end portions of the heat generating section to correspond to the plurality of divided regions, and electric conductors connected to at least one of the electrodes and formed over a surface different from the first surface of the insulator substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOSHIBA HOKUTO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20200249606
    Abstract: A heater according to an embodiment generally includes resistive members and a first pole-side electrode. The plurality of resistive members are arranged in a first direction. The first pole-side electrode is connected to one ends of the resistive members in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and configured to divide the plurality of resistive members into a plurality of blocks and to cause the plurality of resistive members to generate heat by the block. The first pole-side electrode includes a first pole-side first electrode provided in a first block including the resistive members arranged successively in the first direction, extending across the one ends of the resistive members in the first block, and connected to the one ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Osamu TAKAGI, Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Chie Miyauchi
  • Publication number: 20200249598
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes an endless belt, a pressure element, a heating member, an adjustment mechanism, and a controller. The pressure element conveys and presses a sheet to the endless belt. The heating member is on the inner side of the belt and has a heat generating element for heating the belt. The adjustment mechanism moves the heating member or the pressure element to adjust the nip width between the heating member and the pressure element. The controller controls the adjustment mechanism so that A>B?N is satisfied, where A is the nip width during a fixing process in which a colored material is fixed to the sheet, B is the nip width during a heating process conducted before the fixing process, and N is the length of the heat generating element in the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • Patent number: 10732550
    Abstract: A heating device includes an belt, a heater contacting the belt and divided into heater blocks, a pressing member pressing a sheet against the belt, a temperature sensor disposed on a number of the heater blocks being at least one-half of a total number of the blocks, and a processor configured to select heater blocks based on a width of the sheet, select first temperature sensors on the selected heater blocks not having a non-paper passing region and control electric power supplied to the heater blocks so that temperatures detected by the first sensors are within a predetermined range, and select second temperature sensors on the selected heater blocks having the non-paper passing region and control electric power supplied to the heater blocks having the non-paper passing region to protect against an excessive temperature rise in the non-paper passing region based on second temperatures detected by the second sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chie Miyauchi, Osamu Takagi, Ryota Saeki
  • Publication number: 20200236742
    Abstract: A heater according to an embodiment generally includes a base, a protrusion, a heat generating layer, a first protective layer, and an electrode layer. The protrusion protrudes from the base. The heat generating layer is disposed on the protrusion. The first protective layer is disposed on the heat generating layer. The electrode layer is disposed on the base to drive the heat generating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Osamu TAKAGI, Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Chie MIYAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200209790
    Abstract: A heating device includes an belt, a heater contacting the belt and divided into heater blocks, a pressing member pressing a sheet against the belt, a temperature sensor disposed on a number of the heater blocks being at least one-half of a total number of the blocks, and a processor configured to select heater blocks based on a width of the sheet, select first temperature sensors on the selected heater blocks not having a non-paper passing region and control electric power supplied to the heater blocks so that temperatures detected by the first sensors are within a predetermined range, and select second temperature sensors on the selected heater blocks having the non-paper passing region and control electric power supplied to the heater blocks having the non-paper passing region to protect against an excessive temperature rise in the non-paper passing region based on second temperatures detected by the second sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Chie MIYAUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Ryota SAEKI
  • Patent number: 10698350
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a roller, an endless belt, and a heat generating member disposed in a space inside the endless belt, extending in a width direction of the endless belt, and pressing the endless belt against the roller. A sheet is passed through a nip formed between the roller and a portion of the endless belt pressed by the heat generating member, such that an image on the sheet is fixed thereto. The heat generating member includes first and second heat generating portions that are adjacent to each other along the width direction, and the first portion heat generating is independently operable from the second heat generating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • Publication number: 20200201222
    Abstract: There is provided a heater according to an embodiment including a heat generating unit configured to generate heat by electric conduction; and a plurality of electrodes configured to be respectively disposed at facing side edges of the heat generating unit so as to be electrically connected to the heat generating unit and at least one side of the side edges is formed by cutting out a part thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventor: Osamu TAKAGI
  • Patent number: 10678173
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a heater, comprising an insulator substrate, a first member, a plurality of electrodes, and a second member. The first member is configured to generate heat on an upper surface of the insulator substrate across a first direction. The first member has a first end opposite a second end. The plurality of electrodes are formed on both the first end and the second end of the first member, respectively, and each electrode is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second member is configured to store heat. The second member comprises a latent heat material having latent heat in a target temperature zone. Furthermore, the latent heat material is fixed to a side surface or a bottom surface of the insulator substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 10663892
    Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes an endless belt, a pressure element, a heating member, an adjustment mechanism, and a controller. The pressure element conveys and presses a sheet to the endless belt. The heating member is on the inner side of the belt and has a heat generating element for heating the belt. The adjustment mechanism moves the heating member or the pressure element to adjust the nip width between the heating member and the pressure element. The controller controls the adjustment mechanism so that A>B?N is satisfied, where A is the nip width during a fixing process in which a colored material is fixed to the sheet, B is the nip width during a heating process conducted before the fixing process, and N is the length of the heat generating element in the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Osamu Takagi, Chie Miyauchi
  • Publication number: 20200125016
    Abstract: A heater includes a heat-resistant insulating substrate, a plurality of heat generating members arrayed on a first surface of the insulating substrate, and a heat radiating body disposed on a surface different from the first surface of the insulating substrate corresponding to gap portions among the plurality of heat generating members and configured to actively or passively radiate stored heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventor: Osamu TAKAGI