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).
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Patent number: 8050610Abstract: A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. At the room temperature, the outer diameter of the elastic roller is smaller than the inner diameter of the metal belt. On the other hand, when the elastic roller is thermally expanded, the metal belt and the elastic roller fit onto each other in a state in which the metal belt fastens the elastic roller.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Tetsuo Kitamura, Hiroshi Nakayama, Yohei Doi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Masanori Takai, Toyoyasu Kusaka, Toshihiro Sone
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Patent number: 8050612Abstract: A technique of reducing temperature unevenness in a heating member which heats a heating target member while reducing heat capacity of the heating member in a fixing device for an image forming apparatus is provided. The fixing device has a heating member having diamond fine particles dispersed and contained at least in its surface layer, a pressurizing member which is pressed in contact with the heating member and nips and carries a sheet in collaboration with the heating member, and a heating unit which heats the heating member.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2009Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Mitsuaki Kouyama, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Toshihiro Sone
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Publication number: 20110262194Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a heat uniforming member, which has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of a hollow member and in which thermal deformation generated by thermal expansion remains, is set in the inside of the hollow member having a center axis, support members are set to both ends of the hollow member to enable supporting of ends of the heat uniforming member, and an endless body having a uniform thermal distribution is formed by heating the hollow member, the heat uniforming member and the support member at a specified temperature for a specific time and causing the heat uniforming member to adhere closely to an inner wall of the hollow member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Toshihiro Sone, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Satoshi Kinouchi
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Patent number: 8045876Abstract: A fixing device of this invention enables variable control of power to be supplied to a heat roller side or a press roller side in accordance with the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller while each mode is carried out. In a copy mode, the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller is finely controlled. In a copy standby mode, only the power required for maintaining a set temperature is supplied.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone
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Patent number: 8036556Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention controls, using a CPU and a temperature comparator, an inverter circuit that supplies electric power to an induction heating coil and performs temperature control for a heat roller. The CPU adjusts and controls a power value supplied by the inverter circuit. When the adjustment and control of the power value by the CPU is late, the inverter circuit is ON-OFF controlled by the temperature comparator.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2007Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Tetsuo Kitamura, Hiroshi Nakayama, Yohei Doi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Masanori Takai, Toyoyasu Kusaka, Toshihiro Sone
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Patent number: 8036557Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat roller having a degaussing alloy material, an induction heating member for exciting the heat roller, an inverter circuit for giving power at a predetermined frequency to the induction heating member, and a control unit, and when driving at a first drive frequency and fixing small size sheets by continuous passing, a local temperature rise occurs at an end part of the heat roller, and the end part approaches the Curie temperature, and when impedance of the inverter circuit reduces and an excessive current flows in the circuit, the fixing device drives at a higher second drive frequency, thereby increases a resistance of the heat roller by an epidermal effect of magnetic flux, increases an apparent resistance of the inverter circuit, makes it possible to use a flowing current within a normal range, heating a central part of the heat roller, and continues the fixing.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone, Koichiro Saito
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Publication number: 20110217096Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt comprising a first metal heat generating layer, a pressurizing unit which faces an outer circumference of the fixing belt, an induced current generating coil located within a hollow part of the fixing belt, a nip forming member which pressurizes the fixing belt to the pressurizing unit, and an auxiliary heat generating member located in a periphery of the fixing belt and comprising a second metal heat generating layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Satoshi Kinouchi, Shuji Yokoyama, Hiroyuki Kunugi, Hiroshi Nakayama, Yoshiaki Okano, Setsuo Takada, Toshihiro Sone
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Publication number: 20110199447Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus has an image forming unit, a heat pump, and a blow-out port. The image forming unit forms an image on a medium. The heat pump generates air of a decreased low humidity. The low-humidity air generated by the heat pump is blown from the blow-out port to the medium on which the image is formed by the image forming unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nobuaki Takahashi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Satoshi Kaiho
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Publication number: 20110199448Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a tray, a heating mechanism, a blower, and a body casing. The image forming unit forms an image on an image forming medium. The tray stacks the image forming medium, having an image formed thereon by the image forming unit, on the tray. The heating mechanism warms air. The blower sends out the air warmed by the heating mechanism. The body casing has a discharge opening. The discharge opening is used to discharge the air sent from the blower to the image forming medium stacked on the tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Kaiho, Satoshi Kinouchi, Nobuaki Takahashi
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Patent number: 8000623Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the present invention includes a heating roller 2 that is a cylindrical member having a center axis, a pressurizing roller 3 that exerts pressure on the heating roller 2, and a temperature detecting element 6 that detects the temperature of the heating roller 2. The outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 2 is induction heated on the basis of the temperature information detected by the temperature detecting element 6. The fixing apparatus thus utilizes induction heating. The present invention is characterized in that the temperature detecting element 6 is placed in an area located vertically below the center axis of the heating member 2 and vertically below the outer peripheral surface of the heating member. The temperature detecting element 6 is thus provided at a position where it is unlikely to suffer thermal convection from the heating roller 2.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2010Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshinori Tsueda, Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
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Patent number: 7995957Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a heat uniforming member, which has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of a hollow member and in which thermal deformation generated by thermal expansion remains, is set in the inside of the hollow member having a center axis, support members are set to both ends of the hollow member to enable supporting of ends of the heat uniforming member, and an endless body having a uniform thermal distribution is formed by heating the hollow member, the heat uniforming member and the support member at a specified temperature for a specific time and causing the heat uniforming member to adhere closely to an inner wall of the hollow member.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihiro Sone, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Satoshi Kinouchi
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Publication number: 20110170918Abstract: A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. At the room temperature, the outer diameter of the elastic roller is smaller than the inner diameter of the metal belt. On the other hand, when the elastic roller is thermally expanded, the metal belt and the elastic roller fit onto each other in a state in which the metal belt fastens the elastic roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Tetsuo Kitamura, Hiroshi Nakayama, Yohei Doi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Masanori Takai, Toyoyasu Kusaka, Toshihiro Sone
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Publication number: 20110142510Abstract: To provide a technique for preventing a temperature rise in a non-sheet passing areas in a fixing device. The fixing device includes: a heating rotational member that includes at least one roller and heats a toner transferred on a sheet; a pressing roller that nips and carries the sheet in cooperation with the heating rotational member; a heating device that heats the heating rotational member; and heat pipes arranged, on the inside of at least one of the roller of the heating rotational member and the pressing roller, in ranges on both the sides in an axial direction of the roller from positions closer to the center in the axial direction than both the ends of a minimum sheet passing range in the axial direction of the roller of the nipped and carried sheet to positions further on the outer sides in the axial direction than both the ends of a maximum sheet passing range.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2011Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihiro SONE, Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda
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Publication number: 20110135358Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt comprising a first metal heat generating layer; a pressure section facing an outer periphery of the fixing belt; an induction current generating coil situated near a peripheral surface of the fixing belt; a nip forming member situated inside the fixing belt and applying pressure to the fixing belt toward the pressure section; and an auxiliary heat generating member situated inside the fixing belt, comprising a second metal heat generating layer, extending to a position facing the induction current generating coil, and comprising a projecting portion contacting the fixing belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Shuji Yokoyama, Hiroyuki Kunugi, Hiroshi Nakayama, Yoshiaki Okano, Setsuo Takada, Toshihiro Sone
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Publication number: 20110135359Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes: a fixing belt comprising a first metal heat generating layer; a pressing unit opposing to the outer circumference of the fixing belt; an induction-current generating coil presented near the circumferential surface of the fixing belt; a nip forming member present on the inner side of the fixing belt and configured to press the fixing belt against the pressing unit; and an auxiliary heat generating member present in a heating region by the induction-current generating coil on the inner side of the fixing belt, having a second metal heat generating layer, and extending to the outer side of the heating region by the induction-current generating coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Satoshi KINOUCHI, Shuji YOKOYAMA, Hiroyuki KUNUGI, Hiroshi NAKAYAMA, Yoshiaki OKANO, Setsuo TAKADA, Toshihiro SONE
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Patent number: 7957662Abstract: According to an embodiment, a heating device having a plurality of heating members which heat the heating roller, a first thermoelectric converting section having a plurality of thermoelectric converting elements, each of which has a heat-absorbing surface and a cooling surface and generates electromotive force by difference in temperature between the heat-absorbing surface and the cooling surface, and formed along a curved surface of the heating roller, in which the heat-absorbing surface is disposed with a predetermined space from an outer circumferential surface of the heating roller, an auxiliary power supply charged with electric power generated by the first thermoelectric converting section, and a switching section which switches the apparatus between a first state in which electric power is supplied from utility power to the heating members and a second state in which electric power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply to the heating members, based on a predetermined signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihiro Sone, Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda
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Publication number: 20110091231Abstract: A fixing device of the invention detects a temperature of plural positions of a heat roller by a multiple non-contact temperature sensor at the same time and controls the temperature of plural heat source members The non-contact temperature sensor and a contact temperature sensor detect the temperature of the same position. According to the detection result, maintenance is performed or a temperature conversion table is corrected, the non-contact temperature sensor is maintained with high precision, and the heat roller is controlled the temperature with high precision.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone
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Patent number: 7925197Abstract: A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. At the room temperature, the outer diameter of the elastic roller is smaller than the inner diameter of the metal belt. On the other hand, when the elastic roller is thermally expanded, the metal belt and the elastic roller fit onto each other in a state in which the metal belt fastens the elastic roller.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Tetsuo Kitamura, Hiroshi Nakayama, Yohei Doi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Masanori Takai, Toyoyasu Kusaka, Toshihiro Sone
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Publication number: 20110081156Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser including, a first endless member into which fluid, which retains heat, can flow, a second endless member configured to apply pressure to the first endless member, a fluid moving mechanism configured to move the fluid to the first endless member and move the fluid from the first endless member, and a heat source configured to raise temperature of the first endless member to a predetermined temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Toshihiro Sone, Ryota Saeki, Koji Tanimoto
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Publication number: 20110081175Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser including, a first endless member including a gel-like silicone material and configured to apply heat to an object, a second endless member configured to apply pressure to the first endless member, and a heat source configured to raise temperature of the first endless member to predetermined temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshihiro Sone, Satoshi Kinouchi, Ryota Saeki