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).

  • FIXING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20100014899
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi KINOUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Mitsuaki KOUYAMA, Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Toshihiro SONE
  • FIXING DEVICE OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20100014882
    Abstract: The fixing device of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with a heat transfer probe which contacts the heat roller and a surface temperature of the heat roller is transferred thereto. The erroneous detection of the surface temperature of the heat roller caused from materials adhered to the heat roller is prevented, induction heating coils is regulated at a high level of accuracy using the highly precious detection result obtained from the heat transfer probe, the temperature control of the heat roller is promoted and a fixed image of high quality is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiro Sone, Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda
  • FIXING DEVICE, TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD OF FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20100014880
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heated body having a metal conductive layer, a pressing body to permit a sheet to pass through between the heated body and itself, a sheet detection portion to detect the sheet conveyed between the heated body and the pressing body, an induction heating coil to generate an induced current in the metal conductive layer, and a controller, on the basis of the detection results of the sheet detection portion, to detect a first boundary where a part of the sheet in contact with the heated body is switched to a part not in contact with the heated body and a second boundary where the part of the sheet not in contact with the heated body is switched to the part in contact with the heated body and when the first boundary and second boundary face the induction heating coil, changing the power value to be supplied to the induction heating coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Heating apparatus, heating apparatus control method and noncontact thermal sensing device
    Patent number: 7641385
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a non-contact temperature detecting element 81 allocated in non-contact with a heat roller, the sensing element detecting a temperature of the heat roller. The non-contact temperature sensing section 81 includes a thermopile P which detects a target temperature Pt of a heat roller 2, a temperature element CPU 100 which estimates an ambient temperature at the periphery of the thermopile P and computes an estimated ambient temperature SQt, and a thermister Q which detects an ambient temperature Qt at the periphery of the thermopile and outputs the ambient temperature Qt at an output voltage of a predetermined rate with respect to a total output voltage value corresponding to the estimated ambient temperature SQt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Sone, Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda
  • FIXING APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN IMAGE
    Publication number: 20090317159
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to the invention comprises an elastic member, a heating roller including a conductive metal layer on the outside of the elastic member, a pressurizing roller for supplying a predetermined pressure to the heating roller, and a driving mechanism for rotating the heating roller through the conductive metal layer, wherein a member for connecting the driving mechanism and conductive metal layer is made of material that is not twisted and deformed by the rotation of the heating roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshinori TSUEDA, Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Fixing device of image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 7623804
    Abstract: The fixing device of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with a heat transfer probe which contacts the heat roller and a surface temperature of the heat roller is transferred thereto. The erroneous detection of the surface temperature of the heat roller caused from materials adhered to the heat roller is prevented, induction heating coils is regulated at a high level of accuracy using the highly precious detection result obtained from the heat transfer probe, the temperature control of the heat roller is promoted and a fixed image of high quality is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Sone, Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda
  • Fixing device for image forming apparatus to control power of heating source
    Patent number: 7623802
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone
  • Image formation apparatus and heat roller adjustment support method
    Patent number: 7613410
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus is provided for supporting adjustment of the distance between a heat roller and a heating unit for heating the heat roller, thereby supporting adjustment of supplied power to the heating unit. The image formation apparatus includes a heat roller for clamping paper with a toner image formed thereon with a pressurization roller; a heating unit being placed facing the heat roller for heating the heat roller; a power supply unit for supplying power to the heating unit; an acquisition unit for acquiring a power value based on the power supplied from the power supply unit; a comparison unit for making a comparison between the power value acquired by the acquisition unit and a predetermined power value; and a display unit for displaying information concerning adjustment of a distance from the heat roller to the heating unit based on the comparison result of the comparison unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Doi, Hiroshi Nakayama, Tetsuo Kitamura, Masanori Takai, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Toyoyasu Kusaka, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Fixing apparatus for forming an image
    Patent number: 7603068
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to the invention comprises an elastic member, a heating roller including a conductive metal layer on the outside of the elastic member, a pressurizing roller for supplying a predetermined pressure to the heating roller, and a driving mechanism for rotating the heating roller through the conductive metal layer, wherein a member for connecting the driving mechanism and conductive metal layer is made of material that is not twisted and deformed by the rotation of the heating roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsueda, Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
  • FIXING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20090245844
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsueda, Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
  • HEATING APPARATUS AND INDUCTION HEATING CONTROL METHOD
    Publication number: 20090238593
    Abstract: A fixing device of an image forming apparatus of the present invention enables induction heating coils for a 100 V power source to set a ratio of inductance L to load resistance R of a heat roller to L/R<35×10?6 (H/?) and coil impedance Z? to Z<10? and supplies a drive current at a high frequency of 40 to 70 kHz. By doing this, an eddy current generated in the heat roller is concentrated upon a metallic conductive layer by the skin effect and the heat generation efficiency of the heat roller is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone
  • FIXING DEVICE AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING METHOD
    Publication number: 20090226201
    Abstract: To provide a temperature control technique that can keep temperature distribution in a rotation axis direction of a heating member such as a belt or a heating roller substantially constant more easily than in the past. A fixing device includes: plural heaters that heat plural areas different from one another in the rotation axis direction on a belt; a temperature-information acquiring unit that acquires temperature information concerning temperatures of areas on the belt heated by at least two among the plural heaters; and a heating control unit that alternately drives the respective plural heaters and sets, on the basis of the information acquired by the temperature-information acquiring unit, driving time for the heater that heats a second area having temperature lower than that of a first area among the plural areas longer than driving time for the heater that heats the first area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Hiroshi Nakayama, Toshihiro Sone
  • FIXING DEVICE, TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20090226202
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heat member; a press member; a plurality of heat source members; temperature detectors; temperature control units that control outputs from the respective heat source members so that detected temperatures that the respective temperature detectors detect become preset controlled temperature; a processing target determining unit that determines whether at least one sheet to be subjected to the fixation includes a medium size sheet; and a controlled temperature determining unit that sets the controlled temperature of the heat source member corresponding to the temperature detection target area where the sheet does not pass to a temperature higher than the controlled temperature of the heat source member corresponding to the temperature detection target area where the sheet passes if it is determined that the medium size sheet is included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Satoshi KINOUCHI, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Hiroshi Nakayama, Toshihiro Sone
  • Fixing device for image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 7583924
    Abstract: In a fixing device for an image forming apparatus of the invention, circumferences of both side parts of an elastic layer are made larger than a circumference of a central part, and the expansion of a foamed rubber layer is absorbed by space between the elastic layer and a metal conductive layer. Thereby, the hardness of a heat roller at the time of fixing is made nearly uniform across the entire length in the shaft direction. The contact area of a core member and the elastic layer in the both side parts of the heat roller is made larger, and the stress per unit area generated in the elastic layer due to contact with the pressure roller is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsueda, Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Fixing device for image forming apparatus and control method thereof
    Patent number: 7580649
    Abstract: 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. The heating range of a first induction heating coil on the heat roller side and the heating range of a first halogen lamp heater on the press roller side are set differently. In a copy mode, the temperature of the heat roller and the press roller is controlled in detail, and also controlled in accordance with the size of a sheet paper. In a copy standby mode, only the power required for maintaining a set temperature is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone
  • FIXING DEVICE OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20090175646
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, in arrival timing of a temperature falling area of a heat roller passing a nip at opposite position ? of an induction heating coil from temperature detection position ? by an infrared temperature sensor around the heat roller, according to detection results by the infrared temperature sensor, controls an output value of the induction heating coil under control of an inverter circuit, heats and returns the heat roller in real time to a fixable temperature, and realizes energy conversation. At the time of arrival at the nip, the heat controller is always set to a fixed fixable temperature, thus in a fixed image, a high image quality free of ripple marks can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Satoshi KINOUCHI, Osamu TAKAGI, Yoshinori TSUEDA, Toshihiro SONE
  • Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 7558499
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsueda, Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Fixing apparatus and image processing apparatus
    Patent number: 7546051
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a heating roller for providing heat to a developer holding medium holding a developer image, a pressurizing roller which comes in contact with the heating roller, a heater having heating members for heating the heating roller, a non-contact temperature detector which includes a non-contact temperature detection element for detecting a first temperature of the heating roller in an area between a position heated by the heater and a position to contact the pressurizing roller with heating the heater, from detection positions in the longitudinal direction of the heating roller, and a detection range adjustment member which is placed between the non-contact temperature detection element and the heating roller, and has openings to set a detection range wider for far detection positions, compared with a range for near detection positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Sone, Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Yoshinori Tsueda
  • Image forming apparatus and fixing apparatus
    Patent number: 7529515
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a heating roller 2 fixed at a predetermined position, a pressurizing roller 3 press-fitted to the heating roller 2 by a pressurizing mechanism 4 to be movable, and a hardness change detecting mechanism 310 which becomes electrically conductive when the pressurizing roller 3 moves due to thermal expansion of the heating roller 2, and which detects a hardness change of the heating roller 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsueda, Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Fixing device of image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 7522854
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, in arrival timing of a temperature falling area of a heat roller passing a nip at opposite position ? of an induction heating coil from temperature detection position ? by an infrared temperature sensor around the heat roller, according to detection results by the infrared temperature sensor, controls an output value of the induction heating coil under control of an inverter circuit, heats and returns the heat roller in real time to a fixable temperature, and realizes energy conversation. At the time of arrival at the nip, the heat controller is always set to a fixed fixable temperature, thus in a fixed image, a high image quality free of ripple marks can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Osamu Takagi, Yoshinori Tsueda, Toshihiro Sone