Patents by Inventor Seiji Taira

Seiji Taira 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: 20220113667
    Abstract: A decurling device includes: a pair of decurling units configured to correct curl of a recording medium by sandwiching the recording medium; a switching unit configured to switch the pair of decurling units between a first state in which a pressure contact force is relatively large and a second state in which the pressure contact force is smaller than that in the first state; a release unit configured to release a pressure contact between the pair of decurling units; and a restricting unit configured to restrict release of the pressure contact between the pair of decurling units when the pair of decurling units are in the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shingo AKIYAMA, Hiroaki OKUMA, Masakatsu EDA, Seiji TAIRA
  • Patent number: 11279147
    Abstract: A decurling device includes: a first transporter including a transport roller, the first transporter that sandwiches a transported sheet and transports the transported sheet further downstream; and a second transporter including an endless belt that is in contact with the transport roller. The transport roller has an elasticity that, when the belt is pressed against the transport roller, allows the belt to bite into the transport roller by a bite amount corresponding to a pressing force, the second transporter includes an abutting member disposed inside the belt, the abutting member includes an upstream protrusion, an downstream protrusion, the upstream protrusion and the downstream protrusion being provided at positions away from each other at an upstream portion and a downstream portion in a sheet transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shingo Akiyama, Nobuyoshi Komatsu, Shogo Kamiya, Seiji Taira
  • Patent number: 11249433
    Abstract: A decurling device includes: a first transport unit including a transport roller, the first transport unit that sandwiches a transported sheet and transports the transported sheet further downstream; and a second transport unit including an endless belt that is in contact with the transport roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Komatsu, Shingo Akiyama, Shogo Kamiya, Seiji Taira
  • Publication number: 20210302896
    Abstract: A decurling device includes: a first transport unit including a transport roller, the first transport unit that sandwiches a transported sheet and transports the transported sheet further downstream; and a second transport unit including an endless belt that is in contact with the transport roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Komatsu, Shingo Akiyama, Shogo Kamiya, Seiji Taira
  • Publication number: 20210300066
    Abstract: A decurling device includes: a first transporter including a transport roller, the first transporter that sandwiches a transported sheet and transports the transported sheet further downstream; and a second transporter including an endless belt that is in contact with the transport roller. The transport roller has an elasticity that, when the belt is pressed against the transport roller, allows the belt to bite into the transport roller by a bite amount corresponding to a pressing force, the second transporter includes an abutting member disposed inside the belt, the abutting member includes an upstream protrusion, an downstream protrusion, the upstream protrusion and the downstream protrusion being provided at positions away from each other at an upstream portion and a downstream portion in a sheet transport direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
    Inventors: Shingo AKIYAMA, Nobuyoshi KOMATSU, Shogo KAMIYA, Seiji TAIRA
  • Patent number: 9864308
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus. A transferring unit transports a recording medium while transferring an image onto the recording medium by a transfer voltage being applied thereto. A fixing member fixes the transferred image onto the recording medium. A conductive member forms a nip portion in which the recording medium is nipped between the fixing member and the conductive member and has a conductive property. A guiding unit is disposed between the transferring unit and the nip portion, guides a leading end of the recording medium which is being transported by the transferring unit to the nip portion, and has a conductive property. An applying unit applies, to the transferring unit, a transfer voltage which is higher than that applied before the recording medium is put into the nip portion, after the recording medium transported by the transferring unit is put into the nip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji Taira
  • Publication number: 20170192376
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus. A transferring unit transports a recording medium while transferring an image onto the recording medium by a transfer voltage being applied thereto. A fixing member fixes the transferred image onto the recording medium. A conductive member forms a nip portion in which the recording medium is nipped between the fixing member and the conductive member and has a conductive property. A guiding unit is disposed between the transferring unit and the nip portion, guides a leading end of the recording medium which is being transported by the transferring unit to the nip portion, and has a conductive property. An applying unit applies, to the transferring unit, a transfer voltage which is higher than that applied before the recording medium is put into the nip portion, after the recording medium transported by the transferring unit is put into the nip portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji TAIRA
  • Publication number: 20130266350
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a fixing member fixing a toner image onto a recording medium and a fixation pressing member coming into pressure contact with the fixing member to form a fixation pressing area, through which the recording medium passes, between the two members; a transport unit transporting the recording medium output from the fixing unit; and a guide unit disposed between the fixing and transport units and having a substantially arc-shaped transport path along which the output recording medium is guided and transported toward the transport unit. The guide unit has a substantially rib-shaped guide extending along the transport path and coming into contact with the recording medium at a predetermined position of the guide to guide the recording medium, and a recess provided downstream, in a recording-medium transport direction, of the predetermined position and recessed inward from the substantially arc-shaped transport path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki NAGATA, Seiji TAIRA, Tomofumi SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7429995
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording material transporting path that extends in a direction from below upward and that transports a recording material, a fixing device provided on the way of the recording material transporting path, the fixing device having a rotatable heating member that has a heating source provided inside thereof and a rotatable pressure member that forms a fixing nip in pressure contact with the heating member, and a detaching member that contacts the heating member in the vicinity at a downstream side of the of the fixing nip in the rotation direction of the heating member and detaches the recording material from the heating member. The detachment member has a detachment guide surface extending from a contact point with the heating member, and a tilt of the detachment guide surface toward the pressure member side in relation with a vertical line including the contact point is not more than 2.5°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Sato, Kenji Hara, Yumiko Onuma, Yoshiaki Tainaka, Seiji Taira, Noriyuki Miyoshi, Keita Yano, Masakatsu Eda, Tomofumi Suzuki, Keiji Miba
  • Patent number: 7299000
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording material transporting path that extends in a direction from bottom to top of a body of the image forming apparatus and transports a recording material, a fixing device provided on the recording material transporting path, which includes a rotatable heating member that has an internal heat source and a rotatable pressure member that forms a nip area with the heating member by being located in contact with and pressed against the heating member, to nip the recording material for carrying out a fixing process, and an ejection guide member that guides a recording material ejected from the nip area to the outside of the image forming apparatus. The ejection guide member has a guide surface formed to intersect a tangent line of the heating member at the most downstream point of the nip area, and the guide surface intersects the tangent line at an obtuse angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Taira, Kenji Hara, Keiji Miba, Yoshiaki Tainaka, Yumiko Onuma, Keiichiro Sato, Noriyuki Miyoshi, Masakatsu Eda, Keita Yano, Tomofumi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20060092258
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording material transporting path that extends in a direction from bottom to top of a body of the image forming apparatus and transports a recording material, a fixing device provided on the recording material transporting path, which includes a rotatable heating member that has an internal heat source and a rotatable pressure member that forms a nip area with the heating member by being located in contact with and pressed against the heating member, to nip the recording material for carrying out a fixing process, and an ejection guide member that guides a recording material ejected from the nip area to the outside of the image forming apparatus. The ejection guide member has a guide surface formed to intersect a tangent line of the heating member at the most downstream point of the nip area, and the guide surface intersects the tangent line at an obtuse angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Seiji Taira, Kenji Hara, Keiji Miba, Yoshiaki Tainaka, Yumiko Onuma, Keiichiro Sato, Noriyuki Miyoshi, Masakatsu Eda, Keita Yano, Tomofumi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20060092259
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording material transporting path that extends in a direction from below upward and that transports a recording material, a fixing device provided on the way of the recording material transporting path, the fixing device having a rotatable heating member that has a heating source provided inside thereof and a rotatable pressure member that forms a fixing nip in pressure contact with the heating member, and a detaching member that contacts the heating member in the vicinity at a downstream side of the of the fixing nip in the rotation direction of the heating member and detaches the recording material from the heating member. The detachment member has a detachment guide surface extending from a contact point with the heating member, and a tilt of the detachment guide surface toward the pressure member side in relation with a vertical line including the contact point is not more than 2.5°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Keiichiro Sato, Kenji Hara, Yumiko Onuma, Yoshiaki Tainaka, Seiji Taira, Noriyuki Miyoshi, Keita Yano, Masakatsu Eda, Tomofumi Suzuki, Keiji Miba