Patents by Inventor Shinichi Kuramoto

Shinichi Kuramoto 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: 11506995
    Abstract: A developing device includes a transporting member that transports a developer in an axial direction while rotating, a developing unit that hands over the developer to an image holder, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, while rotating, and develops the electrostatic latent image, a pumping unit that has a rotation member rotating in a circumferential direction, pumps the developer transported by the transporting member with a magnetic force, and supplies the pumped developer to the developing unit by releasing the developer in a tangential direction of the rotating rotation member, and a changing unit that changes a flowing direction of the developer, which is released in the tangential direction of the rotating rotation member and is to be supplied to the developing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshifumi Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20220019158
    Abstract: A developing device includes a transporting member that transports a developer in an axial direction while rotating, a developing unit that hands over the developer to an image holder, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, while rotating, and develops the electrostatic latent image, a pumping unit that has a rotation member rotating in a circumferential direction, pumps the developer transported by the transporting member with a magnetic force, and supplies the pumped developer to the developing unit by releasing the developer in a tangential direction of the rotating rotation member, and a changing unit that changes a flowing direction of the developer, which is released in the tangential direction of the rotating rotation member and is to be supplied to the developing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shinichi KURAMOTO, Tomoyuki YOSHII, Norihiro TAMAZAWA, Yoshifumi OZAKI
  • Patent number: 11181854
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of temperature-influence members, a first-point temperature acquisition unit, a second-point temperature estimation unit, and a controller. The plurality of temperature-influence members have influence on a temperature of a recording medium on which an image is formed. The first-point temperature acquisition unit is configured to detect or estimate a temperature of the recording medium at a first point. The second-point temperature estimation unit is configured to estimate a temperature of the recording medium at a second point, based on a detection result of at least one of a temperature of the recording medium at a point different from the second point and a temperature of a member or atmosphere. The controller is configured to control the plurality of temperature-influence members, based on an acquisition result from the first-point temperature acquisition unit and an estimation result from the second-point temperature estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: RICOH COMPANY, LTD., TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kaori Hemmi, Koichi Kato, Kimiharu Yamazaki, Kazuyoshi Fushinobu, Shunsuke Kawasaki, Shinichi Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 10996588
    Abstract: A powder transport apparatus includes a first transport path disposed in the first transport path, a second transport path connected to the first transport path through a first connection port and a junction port, a third transport path connected to the second transport path through a second connection port, a second transport member that is disposed in the second transport path and includes a first shaft provided with a first spiral blade that transports powder toward the first connection port, a second spiral blade that is provided in a portion of the first shaft between the first connection port and the junction port and that has a transport force smaller than a transport force of the first spiral blade in the one direction, and a third transport member disposed in the third transport path. The third transport member transports the powder toward the second connection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Kato, Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Norihiro Tamazawa, Shigemi Murata, Takashi Ochi
  • Publication number: 20210088948
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of temperature-influence members, a first-point temperature acquisition unit, a second-point temperature estimation unit, and a controller. The plurality of temperature-influence members have influence on a temperature of a recording medium on which an image is formed. The first-point temperature acquisition unit is configured to detect or estimate a temperature of the recording medium at a first point. The second-point temperature estimation unit is configured to estimate a temperature of the recording medium at a second point, based on a detection result of at least one of a temperature of the recording medium at a point different from the second point and a temperature of a member or atmosphere. The controller is configured to control the plurality of temperature-influence members, based on an acquisition result from the first-point temperature acquisition unit and an estimation result from the second-point temperature estimation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicants: Ricoh Company, Ltd., TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kaori HEMMI, Koichi KATO, Kimiharu YAMAZAKI, Kazuyoshi FUSHINOBU, Shunsuke KAWASAKI, Shinichi KURAMOTO
  • Patent number: 10921733
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a housing having a first transport path through which developer is supplied, a second transport path adjoining the first transport path with a first partition wall therebetween, and a first communication path communicating with the second transport path on a downstream side in a developer transport direction in the first transport path; a first transport member disposed in the first transport path and having an axially rotatable first rotary shaft and a first spiral blade projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the first rotary shaft; a second transport member disposed in the second transport path and having an axially rotatable second rotary shaft and a second spiral blade projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the second rotary shaft; and a first blade member projecting from the outer circumferential surface of the first rotary shaft, at a position facing the first communication path, the blade member discharging the developer onto the second transport
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Tomoyuki Yoshii
  • Patent number: 10908528
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier on which an attraction region is set, the attraction region being a region that attracts developer including toner and a carrier, and that carries, in the attraction region, the developer that is to be supplied to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a regulation member that regulates the developer so that a predetermined amount of the developer is carried by the developer carrier; and a forming unit that is located upstream of the regulation member and that forms, in the attraction region, a first region that restricts a flow of developer supplied to the developer carrier and a second region that is located between the first region and the regulation member and that does not restrict a flow of the developer compared with the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO.. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nakajima, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Masanori Kato, Shinichi Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 10877400
    Abstract: A developing device includes a development roller, a housing, a suction device, and a discharging device. The development roller rotates to pass a developer to an image carrier. The housing includes an opening, which allows the development roller to face the image carrier therethrough, and a flow-in path, which is a gap formed to allow air to flow therethrough between the development roller and an edge of the opening downstream in a rotation direction of the development roller. The suction device has a suction path having a distal end serving as a suction port that is open to an outside of the housing, and sucks air through the suction port. The discharging device includes a through-hole, which extends through the housing to connect an inside to an outside of the housing, and a discharge path, which extends from the through-hole to the suction port. The discharge path merges with the suction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Norihiro Tamazawa, Tomoyuki Yoshii
  • Publication number: 20200310280
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier on which an attraction region is set, the attraction region being a region that attracts developer including toner and a carrier, and that carries, in the attraction region, the developer that is to be supplied to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a regulation member that regulates the developer so that a predetermined amount of the developer is carried by the developer carrier; and a forming unit that is located upstream of the regulation member and that forms, in the attraction region, a first region that restricts a flow of developer supplied to the developer carrier and a second region that is located between the first region and the regulation member and that does not restrict a flow of the developer compared with the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka NAKAJIMA, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Masanori Kato, Shinichi Kuramoto
  • Publication number: 20200301310
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a housing unit that has an opening and houses a developer; a conveying member that is installed within the housing unit and conveys the developer; a first rotating member that has an outer peripheral surface to which the developer conveyed by the conveying member adheres; a regulating unit that protrudes above a movement path of the developer that adheres to the outer peripheral surface and moves due to rotation of the first rotating member, and regulates movement of some of the developer on the outer peripheral surface; and a second rotating member that is installed in the opening and has supplied thereto the developer that has moved through a gap between the first rotating member and the regulating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KURAMOTO, Yoshifumi OZAKI, Masanori KATO, Yoshitaka NAKAJIMA, Norihiro TAMAZAWA, Tomoyuki YOSHII, Shigeru INABA
  • Patent number: 10739699
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier that carries a developer to be supplied to an image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image, a supply unit that supplies the developer containing toner and a carrier to the developer carrier by transporting the developer while agitating the developer along a circulation path formed through rotation of each of plural rotary members, and a delivery unit that receives a collected developer, which is the developer collected from the developer carrier, transports the collected developer by another rotary member different from the plural rotary members of the supply unit, and delivers the collected developer to the circulation path of the supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Kato, Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Norihiro Tamazawa
  • Patent number: 10613454
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a container for accommodating developer, the container having an exhaust port; and a merging section where airflows directed from the interior of the container to the exhaust port join together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ayumi Noguchi, Shinichi Kuramoto, Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Masanori Kato, Ryota Tomishi
  • Publication number: 20200096901
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a container for accommodating developer, the container having an exhaust port; and a merging section where airflows directed from the interior of the container to the exhaust port join together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ayumi NOGUCHI, Shinichi KURAMOTO, Norihiro TAMAZAWA, Yoshitaka NAKAJIMA, Tomoyuki YOSHII, Masanori KATO, Ryota TOMISHI
  • Patent number: 10496012
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a container for accommodating developer, the container having an exhaust port and an opening; an air flow path having an inlet of air directed to the exhaust port and through which the air passes; a cylindrical rotation member disposed at the opening in the container and is rotated such that a portion thereof facing the interior of the container moves upward; a transport member that rotates about a rotation axis extending along the rotation member and transports the developer inside the container; and an attachment magnetic pole that is disposed inside the rotation member and that allows the developer transported by the transport member to attach to the rotation member. The inlet of the air flow path is located above the attachment magnetic pole in a top-bottom direction. The inlet is located farther from the attachment magnetic pole than the rotation axis of the transport member is in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 10496010
    Abstract: A developing device includes an accommodating section that accommodates a developer; a developing section; a transporting section that is disposed below the developing section in a gravitational direction; a flow channel portion that extends from an inner side to an outer side of the accommodating section; a first wall portion that extends towards the transporting section at an end portion on an inner side of the flow channel portion; and a second wall portion that extends towards the transporting section at the end portion on the inner side of the flow channel portion, a distance from the second wall portion to an outer peripheral edge of the transporting section being greater than or equal to a distance from the first wall portion to the outer peripheral edge of the transporting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20190294077
    Abstract: A developing device includes an accommodating section that accommodates a developer; a developing section; a transporting section that is disposed below the developing section in a gravitational direction; a flow channel portion that extends from an inner side to an outer side of the accommodating section; a first wall portion that extends towards the transporting section at an end portion on an inner side of the flow channel portion; and a second wall portion that extends towards the transporting section at the end portion on the inner side of the flow channel portion, a distance from the second wall portion to an outer peripheral edge of the transporting section being greater than or equal to a distance from the first wall portion to the outer peripheral edge of the transporting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KURAMOTO, Ayumi NOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10162284
    Abstract: A developing device includes a container that contains developer; a rotating body that rotates while carrying the developer and supplies the developer to a latent image formed on an image carrier; a channel through which air in the container is discharged out of the container; a first member that is positioned downstream of a position at which the developer is separated from the rotating body in a rotation direction of the rotating body and with which the developer separated from the rotating body comes into contact; and a second member that is positioned downstream of the first member in the rotation direction of the rotating body and with which the developer separated from the rotating body comes into contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Ayumi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 10088771
    Abstract: A developing device includes a storage container that stores a developer, a developer carrier that holds a developer and rotates to develop an image held on an image carrier, a transporting member that transports a developer, an outlet flow path that allows air inside the storage container to be discharged therethrough, and a partition disposed between an air inlet of the outlet flow path and the developer carrier, the partition having an end located at a level of or below a lower end of the developer carrier in a direction of gravity and above an upper end of the transporting member in the direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kuramoto
  • Publication number: 20180267427
    Abstract: A developing device includes a container that contains developer; a rotating body that rotates while carrying the developer and supplies the developer to a latent image formed on an image carrier; a channel through which air in the container is discharged out of the container; a first member that is positioned downstream of a position at which the developer is separated from the rotating body in a rotation direction of the rotating body and with which the developer separated from the rotating body comes into contact; and a second member that is positioned downstream of the first member in the rotation direction of the rotating body and with which the developer separated from the rotating body comes into contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KURAMOTO, Yoshitaka NAKAJIMA, Ayumi NOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 9804524
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier that opposes an image carrier and rotates while carrying developer on a surface thereof; and a container that supports the developer carrier in a rotatable manner and contains the developer, the developer containing toner, first carrier subjected to frictional charging together with the toner, and second carrier having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first carrier and an electrical resistance lower than an electrical resistance of the first carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Ryota Tomishi, Junichi Uchiyama, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Norihiro Tamazawa