Patents by Inventor Shinji Katagiri

Shinji Katagiri 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: 11971666
    Abstract: An image forming operation forms an image on a transfer target in a state in which a developing member is located at a first position where a developer is supplied to an image bearing member and a first charging voltage is applied to a charging unit. The image forming operation is followed by: a first rotating operation of rotating the image bearing member in a state in which the developing member is located at the first position and a second charging voltage smaller in absolute value than the first charging voltage is applied; and a second rotating operation of rotating the image bearing member in a state in which the developing member is located at a second position where the developer is not supplied to the image bearing member and a third charging voltage smaller in absolute value than the second charging voltage is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroko Katagiri, Shinji Katagiri, Koji An, Takashi Mukai
  • Patent number: 11971670
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt, an outer roller, a power source, and a regulation member. The outer roller transfers a toner image onto a recording material. The power source applies a voltage to the outer roller. The regulation member regulates orientation of the recording material. Information is acquired regarding a timing at which orientation of a recording material first portion, passing through the transfer portion that is located between the outer roller and the regulation member, can change to move closer to the intermediate transfer belt. Based on the acquired information, a transfer voltage target value for transfer onto the recording material is changed between a first target value of a period anterior to the timing and a second target value of a period posterior to the timing that is larger in absolute value than the first target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji An, Shinji Katagiri, Shuichi Tetsuno
  • Publication number: 20240094661
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member and a rotatable developing member to carry developer made up of toner particles and carrier particles adhered to surfaces of the toner particles. Where a pressing force pressing the developing member against the image bearing member is F1, a total number of the carrier particles interposed between the toner particles and the image bearing member is N1, and an adhesion Ft between a carrier particle and a toner particle, measured when the carrier particle is pressed against the toner particle with F1/N1 that is a pressing force per unit carrier particle, and an adhesion Fdr1 between the carrier particle and the image bearing member, measured when the carrier particle is pressed against the image bearing member with F1/N1, satisfy Ft?Fdr1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Shuichi Tetsuno, Shinji Katagiri, Koji An, Hiroko Yokoyama, Wataru Takahashi, Shohei Ishio, Takayuki Tanaka, Tomonori Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11934117
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediate transfer belt, and a contact member. The intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer, a surface layer formed on an outside of the base layer, and an inner surface layer formed on an inner side of the base layer. A position at which the contact member and the intermediate transfer belt contact is arranged on a downstream side of the intermediate transfer belt in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt. Rv>Rs1 and Rs2>Rs1, and Rs2/Rv?40 are satisfied where Rv (?) is a volume resistance value of the intermediate transfer belt in a thickness direction, Rs1 (?) is a first surface resistance value of the inner surface layer side in a surface direction, and Rs2 (?) is a second surface resistance value on the surface layer side in a surface direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Ishizumi, Shinji Katagiri, Koji An
  • Publication number: 20240085827
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a transfer member that primarily transfers a developer image from an image bearing member onto an intermediate transfer belt by applying an electric current to an intermediate transfer belt in a circumferential direction, a control unit which executes a first mode in which to rotate the intermediate transfer belt and a second mode in which to rotate the intermediate transfer belt at a rotation speed higher than that in the first mode. The control unit performs control such that an absolute value of a second voltage to be applied to the transfer member in a case of performing primary transfer in the second mode is less than an absolute value of a first voltage to be applied to the transfer member in a case of performing the primary transfer in the first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Hiroko KATAGIRI, Shinji Katagiri, Koji An
  • Publication number: 20240069490
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member, a power source, a detecting portion, a controller, an environment detecting portion, and a contact member. In a case that an absolute water content acquired on the basis of environmental information is a predetermined threshold or more, the controller sets a limit voltage on the basis of a detection result of the detecting portion in a state in which the recording material is absent in a transfer portion, and the controller controls the power source so that an absolute value of a voltage applied from the power source to the transfer member during contact of the recording material with the transfer member and the contact member is an absolute value of the limit voltage or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Koji An, Shinji Katagiri
  • Patent number: 11846899
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member and a rotatable developing member to carry developer made up of toner particles and carrier particles adhered to surfaces of the toner particles. Where a pressing force pressing the developing member against the image bearing member is F1, a total number of the carrier particles interposed between the toner particles and the image bearing member is N1, and an adhesion Ft between a carrier particle and a toner particle, measured when the carrier particle is pressed against the toner particle with F1/N1 that is a pressing force per unit carrier particle, and an adhesion Fdr1 between the carrier particle and the image bearing member, measured when the carrier particle is pressed against the image bearing member with F1/N1, satisfy Ft?Fdr1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Tetsuno, Shinji Katagiri, Koji An, Hiroko Yokoyama, Wataru Takahashi, Shohei Ishio, Takayuki Tanaka, Tomonori Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11841676
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member, a power source, a detecting portion, a controller, an environment detecting portion, and a contact member. In a case that an absolute water content acquired on the basis of environmental information is a predetermined threshold or more, the controller sets a limit voltage on the basis of a detection result of the detecting portion in a state in which the recording material is absent in a transfer portion, and the controller controls the power source so that an absolute value of a voltage applied from the power source to the transfer member during contact of the recording material with the transfer member and the contact member is an absolute value of the limit voltage or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji An, Shinji Katagiri
  • Patent number: 11841649
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a transfer member that primarily transfers a developer image from an image bearing member onto an intermediate transfer belt by applying an electric current to an intermediate transfer belt in a circumferential direction, a control unit which executes a first mode in which to rotate the intermediate transfer belt and a second mode in which to rotate the intermediate transfer belt at a rotation speed higher than that in the first mode. The control unit performs control such that an absolute value of a second voltage to be applied to the transfer member in a case of performing primary transfer in the second mode is less than an absolute value of a first voltage to be applied to the transfer member in a case of performing the primary transfer in the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroko Katagiri, Shinji Katagiri, Koji An
  • Publication number: 20230359139
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member, an acquiring portion, an applying portion, and a controller. When a transfer voltage is subjected to constant-voltage control so that the transfer voltage applied to the transfer member by the applying portion is substantially constant, in a case that the transfer voltage when a toner amount used for a toner image is a first toner amount is a first voltage, the controller controls the applying portion so that the transfer voltage is a second voltage smaller lower in absolute value than the first voltage in a case that the toner amount is a second toner amount ager greater than the first toner amount. The acquiring portion acquires toner amount information on the toner amount for each toner image transferred onto a single recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Koji AN, Shinji KATAGIRI
  • Patent number: 11747754
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member, an acquiring portion, an applying portion, and a controller. When a transfer voltage is subjected to constant-voltage control so that the transfer voltage applied to the transfer member by the applying portion is substantially constant, in a case that the transfer voltage, when a toner amount used for a toner image is a first toner amount, is a first voltage, the controller controls the applying portion so that the transfer voltage is a second voltage lower in absolute value than the first voltage in a case that the toner amount is a second toner amount greater than the first toner amount. The acquiring portion acquires toner amount information on the toner amount for each toner image transferred onto a single recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji An, Shinji Katagiri
  • Patent number: 11656564
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt including a base layer and an electroconductive layer positioned on an inner peripheral surface side of base layer and forming an inner peripheral surface of the belt, and a roller provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the belt and including a roller portion around which the belt is wound and which is formed of a metal material. The electroconductive layer contains a binder resin, an electroconductive agent, and a copper compound, and has surface resistivity of 5.0×106?/? or less. The roller portion includes a base material of a first metal material comprising a first metal, and a coating layer which forms a surface contacting the electroconductive layer formed of a second metal material comprising a second metal. A difference in standard potential between the second metal and copper is smaller than that between the first metal and copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohei Ishio, Keisuke Ishizumi, Shinji Katagiri, Eiichi Hamana, Noriaki Egawa
  • Publication number: 20230092158
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member, a power source, a detecting portion, a controller, an environment detecting portion, and a contact member. In a case that an absolute water content acquired on the basis of environmental information is a predetermined threshold or more, the controller sets a limit voltage on the basis of a detection result of the detecting portion in a state in which the recording material is absent in a transfer portion, and the controller controls the power source so that an absolute value of a voltage applied from the power source to the transfer member during contact of the recording material with the transfer member and the contact member is an absolute value or less of the limit voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Koji An, Shinji Katagiri
  • Publication number: 20230082217
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediate transfer belt, and a contact member. The intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer, a surface layer formed on an outside of the base layer, and an inner surface layer formed on an inner side of the base layer. A position at which the contact member and the intermediate transfer belt contact is arranged on a downstream side of the intermediate transfer belt in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt. Rv>Rs1 and Rs2>Rs1, and Rs2/Rv?40 are satisfied where Rv(?) is a volume resistance value of the intermediate transfer belt in a thickness direction, Rs1(?) is a first surface resistance value of the inner surface layer side in a surface direction, and Rs2(?) is a second surface resistance value on the surface layer side in a surface direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Keisuke Ishizumi, Shinji Katagiri, Koji An
  • Publication number: 20230072629
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a transfer member that primarily transfers a developer image from an image bearing member onto an intermediate transfer belt by applying an electric current to an intermediate transfer belt in a circumferential direction, a control unit which executes a first mode in which to rotate the intermediate transfer belt and a second mode in which to rotate the intermediate transfer belt at a rotation speed higher than that in the first mode. The control unit performs control such that an absolute value of a second voltage to be applied to the transfer member in a case of performing primary transfer in the second mode is less than an absolute value of a first voltage to be applied to the transfer member in a case of performing the primary transfer in the first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroko KATAGIRI, Shinji Katagiri, Koji An
  • Publication number: 20230075235
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is used, including a rotary member, on which a developer image by a developer is formed, a collection unit for collecting the developer by a blade member from a surface of the rotary member, and a control unit for controlling an image forming operation on the surface of the rotary member and a supply operation for supplying the developer to a contact portion between the rotary member and the blade member, wherein, assuming that the supply operation for supplying the developer to inside of a printable area is a first supply operation and the supply operation for supplying the developer to outside the printable area is a second supply operation, the control unit controls such that the first supply operation and the second supply operation are performed at different timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Shohei Ishio, Keisuke Ishizumi, Shinji Katagiri
  • Patent number: 11599059
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a belt, a development unit having a development member in contact with the image bearing member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member using toner, and a collection unit having a contacting member in contact with the belt to collect toner remaining on the belt adjacent to the contacting member. If condensation is detected inside the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus performs predetermined control to separate the development member from the image bearing member and drive the belt in such a manner that the belt moves at a second surface speed different from a first surface speed while driving the image bearing member in such a manner that the image bearing member rotates at the first surface speed in a state where the image bearing member is in contact with the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Katagiri, Shuichi Tetsuno, Keisuke Ishizumi, Yuichiro Inaba
  • Patent number: 11537066
    Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt has a first region and a second region in an outer circumferential surface thereof that is in contact with a blade. The first region has a first dynamic friction coefficient in a belt conveyance direction, and the second region has a second dynamic friction coefficient. The distance of the second region in the belt conveyance direction is less than the distance of the first region and is greater than the distance of a contact portion in which the blade is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Ishizumi, Shohei Ishio, Shinji Katagiri, Takayuki Tanaka, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Shuichi Tetsuno
  • Publication number: 20220397845
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member, an acquiring portion, an applying portion, and a controller. When a transfer voltage is subjected to constant-voltage control so that the transfer voltage applied to the transfer member by the applying portion is substantially constant, in a case that the transfer voltage when a toner amount used for a toner image is a first toner amount is a first voltage, the controller controls the applying portion so that the transfer voltage is a second voltage smaller in absolute value than the first voltage in a case that the toner amount is a second toner amount larger than the first toner amount. The acquiring portion acquires toner amount information on the toner amount for each toner image transferred onto a single recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Koji An, Shinji Katagiri
  • Publication number: 20220357686
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt including a base layer and an electroconductive layer positioned on an inner peripheral surface side of the belt than the base layer and forming an inner peripheral surface of the belt, and a roller provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the belt and including a roller portion around which the belt is wound and which is formed of an aluminum material. The electroconductive layer contains a binder resin, an electroconductive agent, and a copper compound, and has surface resistivity of 5.0×106?/? or less. The roller includes an alumite layer forming a surface contacting the electroconductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Shohei Ishio, Keisuke Ishizumi, Shinji Katagiri, Eiichi Hamana, Noriaki Egawa