Patents by Inventor Shinsuke Kobayashi
Shinsuke Kobayashi 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).
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Patent number: 10948844Abstract: A controller which causes a light emitting element to continuously perform minute emission for a plurality of dots in a level in which toner is not attached to a non-image section on an image bearing member is provided. The controller controls a first driving current for an image section and controls a second driving current used to perform the minute emission by the light emitting element in the non-image section several times in one job. In the image section, a driving current obtained by adding the first driving current to the second driving current is supplied so that the light emitting element emits light.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kiyoto Toyoizumi, Masaru Shimura, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Hideo Nanataki, Shinji Katagiri, Yasunari Watanabe, Hideaki Hasegawa, Masahiro Tambo
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Publication number: 20210063920Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a transfer member, a transfer power source, and a control unit. At a start time of a start-up operation at the time of starting an image forming operation, on the surface of the photosensitive member, a first position coincides with a charging position, and a third position coincides with a transfer position. During a period in which an area on the photosensitive member located between the first position and the third position in a rotation direction of the photosensitive member passes the transfer position, the control unit performs control of applying a first voltage having the same polarity as a normal charging polarity of toner to the transfer member by the transfer power source, and, at a predetermined timing, changing a voltage from the first voltage to a second voltage having an absolute value less than that of the first voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Shinsuke Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Funatani, Kensuke Umeda, Takanori Watanabe, Ai Suzuki
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Patent number: 10838323Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a notification portion configured to notify replenishment information for prompting replenishing a developing container with developer in a case where an index is equal to or larger than a preset threshold value. The index is set such that the index increases in accordance with rotation of the developer bearing member and decreases in accordance with replenishment of the developing container with the developer. An amount of increase of the index per predetermined amount of rotation of the developer bearing member is larger in a case where an amount of the developer in the developing container is smaller. An amount of decrease of the index according to the replenishment of the developing container with the developer is larger in a case where an amount of replenished developer is larger.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kensuke Umeda, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takanori Watanabe, Ai Suzuki, Kazuhiro Funatani
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Publication number: 20200292960Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image, a developing container configured to accommodate developer comprising toner, a developing member configured to develop the electrostatic latent image born on the image bearing member into a toner image by using the developer in the developing container, a transfer member configured to transfer the toner image born on the image bearing member onto the recording material, and a notification portion configured to notify replenishment information for prompting replenishing the developing container with the developer. The notification portion is configured to notify the replenishment information in a state in which an index correlated with a ratio of an amount of paper dust mixed in the developer in the developing container to an amount of the developer in the developing container has not exceeded a preset threshold value of the index.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: Ai Suzuki, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Kensuke Umeda, Takanori Watanabe, Kazuhiro Funatani
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Publication number: 20200292966Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a notification portion configured to notify replenishment information for prompting replenishing a developing container with developer in a case where an index is equal to or larger than a preset threshold value. The index is set such that the index increases in accordance with rotation of the developer bearing member and decreases in accordance with replenishment of the developing container with the developer. An amount of increase of the index per predetermined amount of rotation of the developer bearing member is larger in a case where an amount of the developer in the developing container is smaller. An amount of decrease of the index according to the replenishment of the developing container with the developer is larger in a case where an amount of replenished developer is larger.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: Kensuke Umeda, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takanori Watanabe, Ai Suzuki, Kazuhiro Funatani
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Publication number: 20200272069Abstract: A charging member which is driven so that the surface of the charging member has a speed difference from the surface of an image bearing member. In a cleaning operation for cleaning the charging member by transferring toner adhering to the surface of the charging member from the charging member to the image bearing member and collecting the transferred toner with a developing member, a first charging voltage forming a potential difference between the charging member and the image bearing member is applied to the charging member, and then a second charging voltage having the same polarity as that of the first charging voltage and an absolute value greater than that of the first charging voltage is applied. The potential difference is in a direction in which electrostatic force directed from the charging member to the image bearing member acts on the toner charged to normal polarity.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Shinsuke Kobayashi, Kensuke Umeda, Takanori Watanabe, Ai Suzuki, Kazuhiro Funatani
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Patent number: 10642199Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes a toner image on a transfer material at a fixing portion by applying an AC voltage from an AC power source to a fixing unit and includes a conductive pre-transfer guide on a position at which the transfer material nipped by a transfer portion and the fixing portion is in contact therewith. A capacitor and a Zener diode which is connected to the capacitor in parallel and maintains the pre-transfer guide at a predetermined voltage in a state in which a toner image is transferred to the transfer material nipped by the fixing portion and the transfer portion are arranged between the pre-transfer guide and the ground.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kensuke Umeda, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Ai Suzuki
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Patent number: 10444673Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a configuration in which a voltage of a polarity opposite to a toner charging polarity is applied. In the image forming apparatus, a guide region of a pre-transfer guide is located on a photosensitive drum side with respect to a common tangent line of a photosensitive drum and a development roller to reduce contamination of the pre-transfer guide and prevent contamination of recording materials.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Shindo, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kohei Okayasu, Takehiko Suzuki
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Publication number: 20190302639Abstract: A controller which causes a light emitting element to continuously perform minute emission for a plurality of dots in a level in which toner is not attached to a non-image section on an image bearing member is provided. The controller controls a first driving current for an image section and controls a second driving current used to perform the minute emission by the light emitting element in the non-image section several times in one job. In the image section, a driving current obtained by adding the first driving current to the second driving current is supplied so that the light emitting element emits light.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Kiyoto Toyoizumi, Masaru Shimura, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Hideo Nanataki, Shinji Katagiri, Yasunari Watanabe, Hideaki Hasegawa, Masahiro Tambo
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Patent number: 10386755Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharging device for discharging the drum at a discharging portion opposing the surface of the drum; and a control unit for executing, during non-image formation, a cleaning operation for transferring the toner deposited on the transfer member onto the drum by applying a voltage from transfer voltage source to the transfer member. The control unit does not effect discharge by the discharging device for at least a region of the drum where a transfer voltage for transferring a normal-polarity toner of the toner deposited on the transfer member onto the drum is applied to the transfer member in the cleaning operation, and then passes the region of the drum through the charging portion in a state in which a voltage larger than a surface potential of the drum in a normal polarity side is applied to the charging member.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kenji Shindo, Kohei Okayasu, Hiroki Sasame
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Patent number: 10372058Abstract: A controller which causes a light emitting element to continuously perform minute emission for a plurality of dots in a level in which toner is not attached to a non-image section on an image bearing member is provided. The controller controls a first driving current for an image section and controls a second driving current used to perform the minute emission by the light emitting element in the non-image section several times in one job. In the image section, a driving current obtained by adding the first driving current to the second driving current is supplied so that the light emitting element emits light.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kiyoto Toyoizumi, Masaru Shimura, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Hideo Nanataki, Shinji Katagiri, Yasunari Watanabe, Hideaki Hasegawa, Masahiro Tambo
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Publication number: 20190137909Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes a toner image on a transfer material at a fixing portion by applying an AC voltage from an AC power source to a fixing unit and includes a conductive pre-transfer guide on a position at which the transfer material nipped by a transfer portion and the fixing portion is in contact therewith. A capacitor and a Zener diode which is connected to the capacitor in parallel and maintains the pre-transfer guide at a predetermined voltage in a state in which a toner image is transferred to the transfer material nipped by the fixing portion and the transfer portion are arranged between the pre-transfer guide and the ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Kensuke Umeda, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Ai Suzuki
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Publication number: 20190079434Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a configuration in which a voltage of a polarity opposite to a toner charging polarity is applied. In the image forming apparatus, a guide region of a pre-transfer guide is located on a photosensitive drum side with respect to a common tangent line of a photosensitive drum and a development roller to reduce contamination of the pre-transfer guide and prevent contamination of recording materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Kenji Shindo, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kohei Okayasu, Takehiko Suzuki
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Patent number: 10216112Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit which develops a toner image on a surface of a photosensitive member and which collects toner which remains on the surface of the photosensitive member after the developed toner image is transferred to a transfer member. The image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to determine whether a cleaning operation of cleaning the surface of the photosensitive member is to be performed after an image forming operation is performed or control a period of time in which the cleaning operation is performed in accordance with a measured downtime of the image forming apparatus which is a period of time after the image forming operation is terminated and before a next image forming operation is started.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Sasame, Kohei Okayasu, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kenji Shindo, Takehiko Suzuki, Hironori Kato
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Publication number: 20180307162Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharging device for discharging the drum at a discharging portion opposing the surface of the drum; and a control unit for executing, during non-image formation, a cleaning operation for transferring the toner deposited on the transfer member onto the drum by applying a voltage from transfer voltage source to the transfer member. The control unit does not effect discharge by the discharging device for at least a region of the drum where a transfer voltage for transferring a normal-polarity toner of the toner deposited on the transfer member onto the drum is applied to the transfer member in the cleaning operation, and then passes the region of the drum through the charging portion in a state in which a voltage larger than a surface potential of the drum in a normal polarity side is applied to the charging member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kenji Shindo, Kohei Okayasu, Hiroki Sasame
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Patent number: 10073383Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharging device for discharging the drum at a discharging portion opposing the surface of the drum; and a control unit for executing, during non-image formation, a cleaning operation for transferring the toner deposited on the transfer member onto the drum by applying a voltage from transfer voltage source to the transfer member. The control unit does not effect discharge by the discharging device for at least a region of the drum where a transfer voltage for transferring a normal-polarity toner of the toner deposited on the transfer member onto the drum is applied to the transfer member in the cleaning operation, and then passes the region of the drum through the charging portion in a state in which a voltage larger than a surface potential of the drum in a normal polarity side is applied to the charging member.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kenji Shindo, Kohei Okayasu, Hiroki Sasame
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Patent number: 10031446Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharging device for discharging the drum at a discharging portion opposing the surface of the drum; and a control unit for executing, during non-image formation, a cleaning operation for transferring the toner deposited on the transfer member onto the drum by applying a voltage from transfer voltage source to the transfer member. The control unit does not effect discharge by the discharging device for at least a region of the drum where a transfer voltage for transferring a normal-polarity toner of the toner deposited on the transfer member onto the drum is applied to the transfer member in the cleaning operation, and then passes the region of the drum through the charging portion in a state in which a voltage larger than a surface potential of the drum in a normal polarity side is applied to the charging member.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kenji Shindo, Kohei Okayasu, Hiroki Sasame
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Patent number: 10025236Abstract: A relationship 150?Rs (?)/Rm (?)?4000 is established in an environment of a temperature of 15° C. and a humidity of 10% in a case where a surface resistance of a transfer roller is Rs (?) when a current is fed between a pair of electrodes facing each other in an axial direction of the transfer roller and arranged on a surface of the transfer roller with an interval of 5 mm therebetween, the electrodes having a width of 20 mm in a circumferential direction of the transfer roller in a state of being arranged on the transfer roller, and in a case where a combined resistance of a first layer and a second layer is Rm (?) when the current is fed from a core portion to an outer peripheral surface of the second layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2017Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Sasame, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kohei Okayasu, Kenji Shindo
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Patent number: 9946216Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device; a transfer member; a contact member provided downstream of the transfer member and upstream of the developing device with respect to a movement direction of a surface of the image bearing member and contacting the image bearing member at a contact portion, wherein the surface of the image bearing member passed through a transfer portion reaches the contact portion without being cleaned, a detecting portion for detecting a size of the sheet; and a controller for executing an operation in a cleaning mode for cleaning the contact member. The controller executes the operation in the cleaning mode when the controller discriminates that the size of the sheet detected by the detecting portion is smaller than a size of the toner image.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kohei Okayasu, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kenji Shindo, Hiroki Sasame, Takuya Hayato
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Publication number: 20180095386Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a configuration in which a voltage of a polarity opposite to a toner charging polarity is applied. In the image forming apparatus, a guide region of a pre-transfer guide is located on a photosensitive drum side with respect to a common tangent line of a photosensitive drum and a development roller to reduce contamination of the pre-transfer guide and prevent contamination of recording materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Kenji Shindo, Shinsuke Kobayashi, Takaaki Akamatsu, Kohei Okayasu, Takehiko Suzuki