Patents by Inventor Satoshi Kinouchi

Satoshi Kinouchi 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: 6900419
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus an aspect of the present invention includes, a heating object which generates the heat by a magnetic flux produced from a coil which generates a predetermined magnetic flux by electromagnetic induction in accordance with a frequency of an input current, and a pressurization mechanism which can provide a predetermined pressure to the heating object, and a coil of the heating object is formed of a litz wire obtained by twisting the number of conductors having a small cross section which are not affected by the skin effect caused due to the frequency of the input current, the number of which allows passage of a quantity of current to be inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi
  • Patent number: 6898409
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing device configured to, by allowing a sheet having a developing agent image on it to pass between a heating roller and a pressing roller set in contact with the heating roller, fix the developing agent image in which at least one of the heating roller and pressing roller is configured to have an inner elastic layer and a conductive layer formed on a surface side of the elastic layer and the elastic layer is bonded to the conductive layer by a heat-resistant adhesive having a heat-resistant temperature of over 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsueda, Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 6889018
    Abstract: A fixing device of the present invention has first and second thermistors which detect the temperatures at predetermined positions in the longitudinally direction of a heating roller, first and second coils which can increase independently the temperatures at the center and the end of the heating roller, a driving circuit which supply power alternately to the coils, first and second switching circuits which supply a predetermined power to each coil, a control unit, and a temperature detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi
  • Publication number: 20050063726
    Abstract: A DC circuit 110 is provided to convert the voltage of a commercial AC power supply 100 into a DC voltage having a fixed level and output the DC voltage irrespective of the level of the voltage. The rectifier circuit 110 includes contacts 117, 118 and 119 and functions as one of a full-wave doubler voltage rectifier circuit and a full-wave rectifier circuit according to the opening and closing of each of the contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 6871041
    Abstract: A heat roller is configured to have a heat insulating member 4 and a metal member formed on the heat insulating member. Coils 21, 22 and 23 are provided outside the heating roller 2 to induction-heat the heating roller 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 6868249
    Abstract: A DC circuit 110 is provided to convert the voltage of a commercial AC power supply 100 into a DC voltage having a fixed level and output the DC voltage irrespective of the level of the voltage. The rectifier circuit 110 includes contacts 117, 118 and 119 and functions as one of a full-wave doubler voltage rectifier circuit and a full-wave rectifier circuit according to the opening and closing of each of the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 6868250
    Abstract: In a fixing mechanism which heats a fixation member by generating heat in an endless member by using an induction current obtained from a current flowing through an induction coil, the present invention is characterized in that the induction coil is divided into a plurality of coils in a direction vertical to a moving direction of the fixation member and a coil to which power is supplied is switched according to needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi
  • Patent number: 6861630
    Abstract: A CPU detects a temperature of a central part of a heating roller. If the detected temperature does not exceed 180° C., the CPU drives a central coil or a side-end coil for 0.4 second in accordance with a temperature difference between the central part of the heating roller and a side-end part of the heating roller. Then, the CPU drives the side-end coil or central coil for 0.2 second. Thereafter, the CPU detects the temperature of the central part and repeats the driving control until the detected temperature reaches 180° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi
  • Publication number: 20050031389
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing device configured to, by allowing a sheet having a developing agent image on it to pass between a heating roller and a pressing roller set in contact with the heating roller, fix the developing agent image in which at least one of the heating roller and pressing roller is configured to have an inner elastic layer and a conductive layer formed on a surface side of the elastic layer and the elastic layer is bonded to the conductive layer by a heat-resistant adhesive having a heat-resistant temperature of over 200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsueda, Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Publication number: 20050029252
    Abstract: A CPU detects a temperature of a central part of a heating roller. If the detected temperature does not exceed 180° C., the CPU drives a central coil or a side-end coil for 0.4 second in accordance with a temperature difference between the central part of the heating roller and a side-end part of the heating roller. Then, the CPU drives the side-end coil or central coil for 0.2 second. Thereafter, the CPU detects the temperature of the central part and repeats the driving control until the detected temperature reaches 180° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi
  • Publication number: 20050031365
    Abstract: In a fixing mechanism which heats a fixation member by generating heat in an endless member by using an induction current obtained from a current flowing through an induction coil, the present invention is characterized in that the induction coil is divided into a plurality of coils in a direction vertical to a moving direction of the fixation member and a coil to which power is supplied is switched according to needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi
  • Publication number: 20050025516
    Abstract: An electrophotographic fixing device allowing a flow of an AC current through an electromagnetic induction coil arranged close to a heating roller having a metal layer formed of a conductor and allowing the heat generation of the heating roller to heat a to-be-fixed member, in which the fixing device comprises a circuit board for outputting the AC current from an output terminal and passing the current through the electromagnetic induction coil, a conductive plate metal having one end side fixed by a fastening screw to the output terminal of the circuit board, a male-side connection terminal provided on the other end of the plate metal, and a female-side connection terminal provided at an end of a leader line of the electromagnetic induction coil and detachably connected to a male-side connection terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Hisaaki Kawano, Hiroshi Nakayama, Kenji Takano, Taizo Kimoto, Noriyuki Umezawa, Masahiko Ogura
  • Publication number: 20050008413
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to the present invention ensures a nip width larger than a certain value by a heating roller which has a thin film metal conductive layer, and a foamed rubber layer which is bonded to the end part of the metal conductive layer, formed with a gap in a center part, and not bonded to the metal conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone
  • Publication number: 20040265021
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention has a heating member which is heated by induction heating, a pressing member which supplies a predetermined pressure to the heating member, and induction heating mechanisms which supply a predetermined magnetic field to the heating member. The induction heating mechanisms have a plurality of coils. By arranging the adjacent coils and adjacent coils to overlap, the temperature distribution in the length direction of the heating member can be made uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone
  • Publication number: 20040222216
    Abstract: A heating apparatus includes first and second coil members, first and second temperature detectors and an output controller. The detectors detect temperatures of the coil members. The output controller supplies the first coil member with a first specified output until the first temperature detector detects that the first coil member heats the object. The second coil member is not supplied with a second specified output during this time. When the object reaches a specified temperature, the first specified output stops being supplied to the first coil member and the second specified output is supplied to the second coil member. The temperature of an area heated by the second coil member reaches a specified temperature. A comparison is made between temperatures detected by the first and second temperature detectors. The coil members are alternately supplied with first and second specified outputs to heat the object's area indicating a lower temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 6813456
    Abstract: An electrophotographic fixing device allowing a flow of an AC current through an electromagnetic induction coil arranged close to a heating roller having a metal layer formed of a conductor and allowing the heat generation of the heating roller to heat a to-be-fixed member, in which the fixing device comprises a circuit board for outputting the AC current from an output terminal and passing the current through the electromagnetic induction coil, a conductive plate metal having one end side fixed by a fastening screw to the output terminal of the circuit board, a male-side connection terminal provided on the other end of the plate metal, and a female-side connection terminal provided at an end of a leader line of the electromagnetic induction coil and detachably connected to a male-side connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Hisaaki Kawano, Hiroshi Nakayama, Kenji Takano, Taizo Kimoto, Noriyuki Umezawa, Masahiko Ogura
  • Publication number: 20040208664
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device and a digital photocopier which can shorten the time from an instruction of starting image formation to end of fixing. The fixing device is provided in a cylinder made of metal and having a small thickness, and includes a magnetic excitation coil. When the power source is turned on, all the electric power defined by subtracting an electric power amount consumed by components other than the fixing device is supplied to the magnetic excitation coil to perform heating. As the structural components of the photocopier and auxiliary devices added to the photocopier operate, the electric power defined by subtracting, from the maximum input electric power, the electric power consumed by the structural components of the photocopier and the auxiliary devices is supplied to perform heating. In this manner, the heat roller of the fixing device is heated, in a short time, to a temperature which enables fixing, so that the time required for first copying can be shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA and TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Umezawa, Taizo Kimoto, Kenji Takano, Hisaaki Kawano, Hiroshi Nakayama, Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Masahiko Ogura
  • Publication number: 20040184852
    Abstract: A heat roller is configured to have a heat insulating member 4 and a metal member formed on the heat insulating member. Coils 21, 22 and 23 are provided outside the heating roller 2 to induction-heat the heating roller 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone
  • Publication number: 20040179874
    Abstract: A DC circuit 110 is provided to convert the voltage of a commercial AC power supply 100 into a DC voltage having a fixed level and output the DC voltage irrespective of the level of the voltage. The rectifier circuit 110 includes contacts 117, 118 and 119 and functions as one of a full-wave doubler voltage rectifier circuit and a full-wave rectifier circuit according to the opening and closing of each of the contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi
  • Publication number: 20040173603
    Abstract: A CPU detects a temperature of a central part of a heating roller. If the detected temperature does not exceed 180° C., the CPU drives a central coil or a side-end coil for 0.4 second in accordance with a temperature difference between the central part of the heating roller and a side-end part of the heating roller. Then, the CPU drives the side-end coil or central coil for 0.2 second. Thereafter, the CPU detects the temperature of the central part and repeats the driving control until the detected temperature reaches 180° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi