Patents by Inventor Satoshi Himeno

Satoshi Himeno 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: 20230288849
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet storage, a sheet feed roller, an image forming device, a fixing device, a motor, a sensor, and a controller having a processor. The sheet storage is configured to store a sheet. The sheet feed roller is configured to feed the sheet stored in the sheet storage into the conveyance path. The image forming device is configured to form an image on the sheet. The fixing device includes a fixing belt and a pressure roller abutting on an outside of the fixing belt, and is configured to fix the image formed on the sheet. The motor is configured to drive and rotate the fixing belt by rotating the pressure roller. The sensor is configured to measure the drive current in the motor. The processor is configured to control a conveyance speed of the sheet based on the measured drive current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi HIMENO
  • Patent number: 11550245
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet storage, a sheet feed roller, an image forming device, a fixing device, a motor, a sensor, and a controller having a processor. The sheet storage is configured to store a sheet. The sheet feed roller is configured to feed the sheet stored in the sheet storage into the conveyance path. The image forming device is configured to form an image on the sheet. The fixing device includes a fixing belt and a pressure roller abutting on an outside of the fixing belt, and is configured to fix the image formed on the sheet. The motor is configured to drive and rotate the fixing belt by rotating the pressure roller. The sensor is configured to measure the drive current in the motor. The processor is configured to control a conveyance speed of the sheet based on the measured drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Patent number: 10996599
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a fixing device, for fixing a toner image formed on an image receiving medium to the image receiving medium, including: a pressure rotation member; a pressure member against which the pressure rotation member is pressed across the image receiving medium; a heating roller separated from the pressure member and configured to rotate around a rotation axis thereof; an annular belt wound around the heating roller and the pressure member; a belt regulating member configured to include an opening into which the heating roller is loosely fitted and an abutting surface abutting against the annular belt; and a stopper arranged to face an outer edge of the annular belt contacting the heating roller across the belt regulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Publication number: 20210088950
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a fixing device, for fixing a toner image formed on an image receiving medium to the image receiving medium, including: a pressure rotation member; a pressure member against which the pressure rotation member is pressed across the image receiving medium; a heating roller separated from the pressure member and configured to rotate around a rotation axis thereof; an annular belt wound around the heating roller and the pressure member; a belt regulating member configured to include an opening into which the heating roller is loosely fitted and an abutting surface abutting against the annular belt; and a stopper arranged to face an outer edge of the annular belt contacting the heating roller across the belt regulating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi HIMENO
  • Patent number: 10698351
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a fixing device comprises a fixing belt configured to heat a toner image on a sheet to which the toner image is attached to fix the toner image to the sheet using heat; a heating roller, arranged to internally contact the fixing belt to carry the fixing belt, configured to heat the fixing belt; and a plurality of support rollers each configured to abut against a portion that does not abut against the fixing belt at an end in a longitudinal direction of the heating roller to support the heating roller, and have an outer diameter smaller than that of the portion that does not abut against the fixing belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Publication number: 20200201217
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a fixing device comprises a fixing belt configured to heat a toner image on a sheet to which the toner image is attached to fix the toner image to the sheet using heat; a heating roller, arranged to internally contact the fixing belt to carry the fixing belt, configured to heat the fixing belt; and a plurality of support rollers each configured to abut against a portion that does not abut against the fixing belt at an end in a longitudinal direction of the heating roller to support the heating roller, and have an outer diameter smaller than that of the portion that does not abut against the fixing belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Patent number: 10234799
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating member configured to transport a sheet in a sheet transporting direction, a pressing member configured to form a nip with the rotating member, a peeling guide, and an adjusting device. The peeling guide is disposed on a downstream side of the rotating member in the sheet transporting direction, has a longitudinal side extending along an axial direction of the rotating member, and is configured to separate the sheet from the rotating member. The adjusting device is controlled to move the peeling guide to adjust a gap between an intermediate portion of the peeling guide and the rotating body by a greater amount than gaps between longitudinal ends of the peeling guide and the rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Patent number: 10203659
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a fixing device configured to enable an image to be fixed on an image receiving medium passing through a nip between a heating section and a pressurizing section through heat of the heating section and pressurization of the pressurizing section; and a conveyance roller arranged at the downstream side of the fixing section in a conveyance direction of the image receiving medium and initially convey the fixed image receiving medium. The conveyance roller comprises an axis part; a plurality of large-diameter parts each configured to have an outer diameter larger than that of the axis part; and a plurality of small-diameter parts each configured to have an outer diameter which is larger than that of the axis part and smaller than that of the large-diameter part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Publication number: 20180181034
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating member configured to transport a sheet in a sheet transporting direction, a pressing member configured to form a nip with the rotating member, a peeling guide, and an adjusting device. The peeling guide is disposed on a downstream side of the rotating member in the sheet transporting direction, has a longitudinal side extending along an axial direction of the rotating member, and is configured to separate the sheet from the rotating member. The adjusting device is controlled to move the peeling guide to adjust a gap between an intermediate portion of the peeling guide and the rotating body by a greater amount than gaps between longitudinal ends of the peeling guide and the rotating body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventor: Satoshi HIMENO
  • Publication number: 20180067453
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a fixing device configured to enable an image to be fixed on an image receiving medium passing through a nip between a heating section and a pressurizing section through heat of the heating section and pressurization of the pressurizing section; and a conveyance roller arranged at the downstream side of the fixing section in a conveyance direction of the image receiving medium and initially convey the fixed image receiving medium. The conveyance roller comprises an axis part; a plurality of large-diameter parts each configured to have an outer diameter larger than that of the axis part; and a plurality of small-diameter parts each configured to have an outer diameter which is larger than that of the axis part and smaller than that of the large-diameter part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Patent number: 9836022
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a fixing device configured to enable an image to be fixed on an image receiving medium passing through a nip between a heating section and a pressurizing section through heat of the heating section and pressurization of the pressurizing section; and a conveyance roller arranged at the downstream side of the fixing section in a conveyance direction of the image receiving medium and initially convey the fixed image receiving medium. The conveyance roller comprises an axis part; a plurality of large-diameter parts each configured to have an outer diameter larger than that of the axis part; and a plurality of small-diameter parts each configured to have an outer diameter which is larger than that of the axis part and smaller than that of the large-diameter part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Publication number: 20170023893
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a fixing device configured to enable an image to be fixed on an image receiving medium passing through a nip between a heating section and a pressurizing section through heat of the heating section and pressurization of the pressurizing section; and a conveyance roller arranged at the downstream side of the fixing section in a conveyance direction of the image receiving medium and initially convey the fixed image receiving medium. The conveyance roller comprises an axis part; a plurality of large-diameter parts each configured to have an outer diameter larger than that of the axis part; and a plurality of small-diameter parts each configured to have an outer diameter which is larger than that of the axis part and smaller than that of the large-diameter part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Patent number: 9389557
    Abstract: A fixing device of an exemplary embodiment includes a fixing belt, an induced current generation section, a first auxiliary heat generation section, and a second auxiliary heat generation section. The fixing belt includes a conductive layer. The induced current generation section opposes the fixing belt in a thickness direction. The induced current generation section performs electromagnetic induction heating on the conductive layer. The first auxiliary heat generation section opposes the induced current generation section with the fixing belt interposed therebetween. The first auxiliary heat generation section opposes a sheet passing region of the fixing belt in a width direction and contains ferrite. The second auxiliary heat generation section opposes the induced current generation section with the fixing belt interposed therebetween. The second auxiliary heat generation section opposes a sheet non-passing region of the fixing belt in the width direction and contains a magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Patent number: 9250583
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a fixing device comprises an induction current generating section, a heating section and an auxiliary heating section. The induction current generating section generates induction current. The heating section generates heat through the induction current. The auxiliary heating section increases the calorific value of the heating section based on the induction current as it is moved closer to the heating section, but does not generate heat itself through the induction current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Himeno
  • Patent number: 8036559
    Abstract: A fixing unit that heat-fixes the toner image onto the sheet, has an information acquisition section that acquires information concerning a factor causing the input voltage which is supplied to a heater for heating the heating roller to vary; a temperature setting section that sets a target temperature of the heater based on the information acquired by the information acquisition section; and a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the heater such that the heating roller becomes the target temperature set by the temperature setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Takai, Satoshi Himeno
  • Publication number: 20110222942
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a conveying roller includes a rotatable first cylindrical portion which is provided with a groove on the surface thereof, a second cylindrical portion which is provided with a groove on the surface thereof, the second cylindrical portion having external diameter the same as that of the first cylindrical portion, and provided on the axis the same as that of the first cylindrical portion outside diameter as the first cylindrical portion, and a third cylindrical portion which is provided with a flat and smooth surface, the third cylindrical portion having an external diameter the same as that of the first and second cylindrical portions, and provided on the axis the same as that of the first and second cylindrical portions between the first and second cylindrical portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi HIMENO
  • Publication number: 20110091232
    Abstract: A fixing unit that heat-fixes the toner image onto the sheet, has an information acquisition section that acquires information concerning a factor causing the input voltage which is supplied to a heater for heating the heating roller to vary; a temperature setting section that sets a target temperature of the heater based on the information acquired by the information acquisition section; and a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the heater such that the heating roller becomes the target temperature set by the temperature setting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Takai, Satoshi Himeno
  • Publication number: 20110058860
    Abstract: A support mechanism includes a coil spring that generates a tensile force, a hook, and a support member. The hook includes a first position extending from the coil spring, an open end, and a second position that is closer to the open end than the first position. The support member includes a first edge facing the first position and a second edge facing the second position. The second edge is convex in a direction away from the first edge, the direction crossing a plane passing through the first edge, the first position, and the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi HIMENO
  • Patent number: 7881631
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus contains an image forming section; a fixing unit configured to heat the toner image by a heater to fix on the sheet; a power source section; an acquisition section configured to acquire a voltage value of the input power source; a sensor configured to detect a temperature of the fixing unit; and a controller configured to control the heater to stabilize the temperature at a first temperature upon acquiring a first voltage value as the voltage value by the acquisition section, and configured to control the heater to stabilize the temperature at a second temperature upon acquiring a second voltage value as the voltage value by the acquisition section, the first voltage value being lower than the second voltage value, the first temperature being higher than the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Takai, Satoshi Himeno
  • Publication number: 20100202791
    Abstract: A fixing unit that heat-fixes the toner image onto the sheet, has: an information acquisition section that acquires information concerning a factor causing the input voltage which is supplied to a heater for heating the heating roller to vary; a temperature setting section that sets a target temperature of the heater based on the information acquired by the information acquisition section; and a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the heater such that the heating roller becomes the target temperature set by the temperature setting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Takai, Satoshi Himeno