Patents by Inventor Satoshi Tsuruya

Satoshi Tsuruya 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: 9851681
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a secondary transfer roller to pass a current from the secondary transfer roller to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takayuki Tanaka, Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Shinichi Nishida, Takeshi Fujino
  • Publication number: 20170146943
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a secondary transfer roller to pass a current from the secondary transfer roller to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takayuki Tanaka, Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Shinichi Nishida, Takeshi Fujino
  • Patent number: 9588465
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a secondary transfer roller to pass a current from the secondary transfer roller to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takayuki Tanaka, Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Shinichi Nishida, Takeshi Fujino
  • Patent number: 9501000
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by consecutively superposing toner images that have been formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums, on an intermediate transfer member or a transfer medium. The image forming apparatus is made compact and operates at a low cost. Since a current supply member supplies a current in a rotational direction of an intermediate transfer belt, multiple first transfer portions do not need corresponding voltage sources. Even in the case where a charging member supplies a current, the potential of the intermediate transfer belt is maintained at a predetermined potential by a constant-voltage element connected to support rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takeshi Fujino, Takahiro Kawamoto, Takayuki Tanaka, Osamu Iwasaki, Kazunari Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20160097994
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a secondary transfer roller to pass a current from the secondary transfer roller to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takayuki Tanaka, Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Shinichi Nishida, Takeshi Fujino
  • Publication number: 20160070194
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by consecutively superposing toner images that have been formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums, on an intermediate transfer member or a transfer medium. The image forming apparatus is made compact and operates at a low cost. Since a current supply member supplies a current in a rotational direction of an intermediate transfer belt, multiple first transfer portions do not need corresponding voltage sources. Even in the case where a charging member supplies a current, the potential of the intermediate transfer belt is maintained at a predetermined potential by a constant-voltage element connected to support rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takeshi Fujino, Takahiro Kawamoto, Takayuki Tanaka, Osamu Iwasaki, Kazunari Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 9229400
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a secondary transfer roller to pass a current from the secondary transfer roller to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takayuki Tanaka, Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Shinichi Nishida, Takeshi Fujino
  • Patent number: 9217962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by consecutively superposing toner images that have been formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums, on an intermediate transfer member or a transfer medium. The image forming apparatus is made compact and operates at a low cost. Since a current supply member supplies a current in a rotational direction of an intermediate transfer belt, multiple first transfer portions do not need corresponding voltage sources. Even in the case where a charging member supplies a current, the potential of the intermediate transfer belt is maintained at a predetermined potential by a constant-voltage element connected to support rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takeshi Fujino, Takahiro Kawamoto, Takayuki Tanaka, Osamu Iwasaki, Kazunari Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 9058010
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a current supply member contacting the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt to pass a current from the current supply member to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takayuki Tanaka, Satoshi Tsuruya
  • Patent number: 9052677
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a current supply member contacting the intermediate transfer belt to pass a current from the current supply member to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus generating electric discharge on the upstream side of each of primary transfer sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Yoshikuni Ito, Takayuki Tanaka, Satoshi Tsuruya
  • Publication number: 20140321891
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by consecutively superposing toner images that have been formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums, on an intermediate transfer member or a transfer medium. The image forming apparatus is made compact and operates at a low cost. Since a current supply member supplies a current in a rotational direction of an intermediate transfer belt, multiple first transfer portions do not need corresponding voltage sources. Even in the case where a charging member supplies a current, the potential of the intermediate transfer belt is maintained at a predetermined potential by a constant-voltage element connected to support rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takeshi Fujino, Takahiro Kawamoto, Takayuki Tanaka, Osamu Iwasaki, Kazunari Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20130195519
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a secondary transfer roller to pass a current from the secondary transfer roller to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takayuki Tanaka, Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Shinichi Nishida, Takeshi Fujino
  • Publication number: 20130188981
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a current supply member contacting the intermediate transfer belt to pass a current from the current supply member to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus generating electric discharge on the upstream side of each of primary transfer sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Yoshikuni Ito, Takayuki Tanaka, Satoshi Tsuruya
  • Publication number: 20130188980
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a current supply member contacting the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt to pass a current from the current supply member to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takayuki Tanaka, Satoshi Tsuruya
  • Patent number: 7020419
    Abstract: A color printer has multiple developing-agent-containing cartridges each having storage units, and a cartridge holding unit for rotatably holding the developing-agent-containing cartridges. With one of the multiple developing-agent-containing cartridges positioned at an image formation position, a latent image on an image carrying member is developed by the developing agent contained in the developing-agent-containing cartridge. An access position where the storage units of the developing-agent-containing cartridges are accessed is a position other than the image formation position. This provides an image formation device and a control method thereof whereby storage units provided to developing-agent-containing cartridges can be accessed in a precise manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Tsuruya, Shinichi Tsukida, Katsuhiro Sakaizawa, Takehiko Suzuki, Seiichi Shinohara, Masahiro Shibata
  • Publication number: 20050163532
    Abstract: A color printer has multiple developing-agent-containing cartridges each having storage units, and a cartridge holding unit for rotatably holding the developing-agent-containing cartridges. With one of the multiple developing-agent-containing cartridges positioned at an image formation position, a latent image on an image carrying member is developed by the developing agent contained in the developing-agent-containing cartridge. An access position where the storage units of the developing-agent-containing cartridges are accessed is a position other than the image formation position. This provides an image formation device and a control method thereof whereby storage units provided to developing-agent-containing cartridges can be accessed in a precise manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Tsuruya, Shinichi Tsukida, Katsuhiro Sakaizawa, Takehiko Suzuki, Seiichi Shinohara, Masahiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 6915094
    Abstract: A color printer has multiple developing-agent-containing cartridges each having storage units, and a cartridge holding unit for rotatably holding the developing-agent-containing cartridges. With one of the multiple developing-agent-containing cartridges positioned at an image formation position, a latent image on an image carrying member is developed by the developing agent contained in the developing-agent-containing cartridge. An access position where the storage units of the developing-agent-containing cartridges are accessed is a position other than the image formation position. This provides an image formation device and a control method thereof whereby storage units provided to developing-agent-containing cartridges can be accessed in a precise manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Tsuruya, Shinichi Tsukida, Katsuhiro Sakaizawa, Takehiko Suzuki, Seiichi Shinohara, Masahiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 6885473
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which each of the plurality of image forming station includes an image bearing body, a developer for developing latent image on the image bearing body by toner, and a cleaner for effecting cleaning of toner on the image bearing body. The toner image on the image bearing body is transferred to a carrying member side; toner on the carrying member is collected by the cleaner via the image bearing body. A volume of the cleaner of first image forming station of the plurality of image forming station to contain toner made is larger than a volume of cleaners of other image forming stations to contain toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Tsuruya
  • Patent number: 6751423
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer; a developer regulating member regulates an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member; and a controller for controlling a potential difference between the developer carrying member and the developer regulating member such that the potential difference is larger in at least a part of non-developing operation than in a developing operation when the developer carrying member carries the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakaizawa, Satoshi Tsuruya, Seiichi Shinohara, Masahiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 6611669
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a flexible charging member, which forms a nip portion between itself and an image bearing member. The charging member charges the image bearing member and is applied with a voltage when the charging member at least charges the image bearing member for an image formation. The nip portion is provided with an electrically conductive particles developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member with a developer. The developing device executes a developing operation and, at the same time, executes a collecting operation for collecting a residual developer on the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Suzuki, Satoshi Tsuruya, Katsuhiro Sakaizawa, Masaru Shimura