Patents by Inventor Shuichi Akedo

Shuichi Akedo 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: 9494892
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer vessel that is provided with a first transporting path, a second transporting path and a third transporting path. The first transporting path and the second transporting path are communicated with each other, and a developer is circulated in the first transporting path and the second transporting path. The third transporting path has a developer discharge port and is provided in an upstream side in a transporting direction of the developer in the second transporting path. Furthermore, an annular plate-like first regulation portion is arranged in an end portion of the second transporting path in a third transporting path side and an annular plate-like second regulation portion opposite to the first regulation portion with a predetermined interval is arranged in an end portion of the third transporting path in a second transporting path side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Patent number: 9442426
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing apparatus that develops a toner image on a photoreceptor drum. In the developing apparatus, a first transporting member that transports a developer stored in a developer vessel while churning and a second transporting member are provided in parallel with each other, and the developer that is transported by the first transporting member is supplied to a developing roller from the second transporting member. The first transporting member churns a new toner and carrier that are resupplied with the developer. In the second transporting member, the developer that a waste toner passing a developing process is churned and the developer that the new toner being resupplied is churned are face and collide with each other. Accordingly, the new toner gets into the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Patent number: 9405230
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer vessel that is provided with a first transporting path, a second transporting path and a third transporting path. The first transporting path and the second transporting path are communicated with each other, and a developer is circulated in the first transporting path and the second transporting path. The third transporting path is provided in an upstream side in a transporting direction of the developer in the second transporting path. If a toner is consumed while forming an image on a paper, a toner corresponding to a consumption amount is resupplied together with a carrier from a toner cartridge to the developer vessel. A carrier and/or a developer that overflows from the second transporting path to the third transporting path is discharged from a discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Publication number: 20150331360
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer vessel that is provided with a first transporting path, a second transporting path and a third transporting path. The first transporting path and the second transporting path are communicated with each other, and a developer is circulated in the first transporting path and the second transporting path. The third transporting path has a developer discharge port and is provided in an upstream side in a transporting direction of the developer in the second transporting path. Furthermore, an annular plate-like first regulation portion is arranged in an end portion of the second transporting path in a third transporting path side and an annular plate-like second regulation portion opposite to the first regulation portion with a predetermined interval is arranged in an end portion of the third transporting path in a second transporting path side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventor: Shuichi AKEDO
  • Publication number: 20150301477
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer vessel that is provided with a first transporting path, a second transporting path and a third transporting path. The first transporting path and the second transporting path are communicated with each other, and a developer is circulated in the first transporting path and the second transporting path. The third transporting path is provided in an upstream side in a transporting direction of the developer in the second transporting path. If a toner is consumed while forming an image on a paper, a toner corresponding to a consumption amount is resupplied together with a carrier from a toner cartridge to the developer vessel. A carrier and/or a developer that overflows from the second transporting path to the third transporting path is discharged from a discharge port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventor: Shuichi AKEDO
  • Publication number: 20150241813
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing apparatus that develops a toner image on a photoreceptor drum. In the developing apparatus, a first transporting member that transports a developer stored in a developer vessel while churning and a second transporting member are provided in parallel with each other, and the developer that is transported by the first transporting member is supplied to a developing roller from the second transporting member. The first transporting member churns a new toner and carrier that are resupplied with the developer. In the second transporting member, the developer that a waste toner passing a developing process is churned and the developer that the new toner being resupplied is churned are face and collide with each other. Accordingly, the new toner gets into the developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventor: Shuichi AKEDO
  • Patent number: 8971771
    Abstract: An intermediate hopper has a toner reception tub, a partition for dividing an internal space of the toner reception tub; a first and a second toner conveyance path; a first toner conveyance screw being provided in the first toner conveyance path; a second toner conveyance screw being provided in the second toner conveyance path; a toner receiving port for receiving the toner; a toner communicating path for guiding the toner in the first toner conveyance path to the second toner conveyance path; a toner discharge port; and a toner amount detection sensor, wherein the first toner conveyance screw further comprises an agitation plate disposed at a position facing the toner receiving port so as to extend radially from the first rotation axis and fixed in parallel with the first rotation axis, and the toner amount detection sensor is provided on an upstream side relative to the agitation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Patent number: 8577264
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing tank for storing a developer containing a toner and a magnetic carrier, the developing tank including, inside thereof, a first developer carrying path; and a first stirring carrying member that rotates so that the first stirring carrying member carries the developer included in the first developer carrying path while stirring the developer. A toner supply opening is formed in a developing tank cover. An upper part of an inner wall surface of a side in which a developer sinks which inner wall surface faces downward rotation of the first stirring carrying member inclines from a direction perpendicular to a horizontal surface toward the first developer carrying path. An angle ? made by (i) a tangential line of the upper inner wall surface at a position of the upper inner wall surface which position is at a height of a top part of an outer circumference of the first stirring carrying member and (ii) a horizontal line is not less than 100° but not more than 150°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Patent number: 8406650
    Abstract: A developing device is disclosed which includes a developing tank, a developing roller, a carrying member, and a filter. Rotation of the developing roller causes a first airflow directed from the outside of the developing tank through an air path to the inside of the developing tank. Rotation of the carrying member causes a second airflow directed from below in an upward direction inside the developing tank. Collision between the first airflow and the second airflow causes a third airflow directed from the inside of the developing tank through the filter to the outside of the developing tank and further from the outside through the filter back to the inside of the developing tank. This arrangement prevents not only filter clogging but also a toner leak to the outside of the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisashi Kunihiro, Jun Yamaguchi, Shuichi Akedo, Koichi Mihara
  • Patent number: 8396401
    Abstract: An anti-accumulation section is provided at a section where an inner surface of a developer container abuts a surface of a doctor blade on an upstream side of a rotation direction of a developing roller. An angle between a surface of the anti-accumulation section facing the developing roller and the surface of the doctor blade on the upstream side of the rotation direction of the developing roller is set to be larger than an angle between a circle concentric with a cross section of the developing roller perpendicular to an extending direction of the developing roller and the surface of the doctor blade on the upstream side of the rotation direction of the developing roller at the section where the surface of the anti-accumulation section facing the developing roller and the surface of the doctor blade on the upstream side of the rotation direction of the developing roller abut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Patent number: 8170453
    Abstract: A sleeve constituting a developing roller of a developing device has a cylindrical body with three layers composed of a base layer having rigidity and formed in a mesh-like shape, a filter layer for blocking toner passage, and a conductive layer to which a developing bias voltage is applied, which are arranged in this order from the inside. When a sucking device sucks from an open end of one end portion of the sleeve, an air flow going from the inside of the developing roller through the open end to outside is generated so that a pressure of the internal space of the developing roller becomes smaller compared with the outside. As the peripheral wall has air permeability in its thickness direction, air flows from the outer circumferential portion of the developing roller through the peripheral wall to the inside of the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Patent number: 8155565
    Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an photoreceptor drum with a dual-component developer, includes: a developing hopper for storing the developer; an agitation roller for conveying the developer while agitating; a developing roller which supplies the developer to a developing area located opposing the photoreceptor drum; a layer thickness-regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer being conveyed by the developing roller; a flow-guide plate for flowing down the surplus developer that was rejected to a position away from the layer thickness-regulating member; a multiple number of partitioning ribs arranged upright on the flow-guided plate for flowing down the surplus developer in a predetermined direction while diffusing the developer with respect to the longitudinal direction of the developer roller; and a downflow direction control mechanism for controlling the downflow direction of the surplus developer regulated by the partitioning ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Patent number: 8126371
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing vessel for storing a developer D containing a toner and a magnetic carrier; a first conveying passage for conveying the developer; a first conveying member provided in the first conveying passage for agitating and conveying the developer in a predetermined direction; a developing roller; a toner supply port for supplying toner to the first conveying passage; and an electromagnet arranged at the outer periphery of the toner supply port, and is constructed such that the toner supply port is formed over the first conveying member and the electromagnet intermittently attracts the developer residing under the toner supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Patent number: 8064783
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge supporting member which is movable between an insertion position and a draw-out position. An information storage device is provided on a toner cartridge that is mounted on the toner cartridge supporting member. A connector that is configured to engage the information storage device is provided on the image forming apparatus. The connector is movable in a moving direction of the toner cartridge supporting member. When a toner cartridge on the toner cartridge supporting member moves toward the draw-out position, the connector moves with and remains engaged with the information storage device for part of the movement so that information can be read from or written to the information storage device before the toner cartridge arrives at the draw-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoya Usui, Takahiko Kimura, Shuichi Akedo
  • Publication number: 20110262187
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing tank for storing a developer containing a toner and a magnetic carrier, the developing tank including, inside thereof, a first developer carrying path; and a first stirring carrying member that rotates so that the first stirring carrying member carries the developer included in the first developer carrying path while stirring the developer. A toner supply opening is formed in a developing tank cover. An upper part of an inner wall surface of a side in which a developer sinks which inner wall surface faces downward rotation of the first stirring carrying member inclines from a direction perpendicular to a horizontal surface toward the first developer carrying path. An angle ? made by (i) a tangential line of the upper inner wall surface at a position of the upper inner wall surface which position is at a height of a top part of an outer circumference of the first stirring carrying member and (ii) a horizontal line is not less than 100° but not more than 150°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Shuichi AKEDO
  • Patent number: 7904002
    Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearer with a dual-component developer, includes: a developing hopper for storing the developer; an agitation and conveying member for conveying the developer while agitating; a developer support which supports the developer that has been mixed and agitated inside the developing hopper and supplies the developer to a developing area located opposing the image bearer; a layer thickness-regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer being conveyed by the developer support; a flow-guide plate member for flowing down the surplus developer that was rejected and conveyed away from the layer thickness-regulating member; a multiple number of diffusing elements arranged upright on the flow-guided plate member for flowing down the surplus developer in a predetermined direction whilst diffusing the developer with respect to the longitudinal direction of the developer support; and a downflow direction turning mechan
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Publication number: 20110052271
    Abstract: An anti-accumulation section is provided at a section where an inner surface of a developer container abuts a surface of a doctor blade on an upstream side of a rotation direction of a developing roller. An angle between a surface of the anti-accumulation section facing the developing roller and the surface of the doctor blade on the upstream side of the rotation direction of the developing roller is set to be larger than an angle between a circle concentric with a cross section of the developing roller perpendicular to an extending direction of the developing roller and the surface of the doctor blade on the upstream side of the rotation direction of the developing roller at the section where the surface of the anti-accumulation section facing the developing roller and the surface of the doctor blade on the upstream side of the rotation direction of the developing roller abut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo
  • Publication number: 20110008068
    Abstract: A developing device is disclosed which includes a developing tank, a developing roller, a carrying member, and a filter. Rotation of the developing roller causes a first airflow directed from the outside of the developing tank through an air path to the inside of the developing tank. Rotation of the carrying member causes a second airflow directed from below in an upward direction inside the developing tank. Collision between the first airflow and the second airflow causes a third airflow directed from the inside of the developing tank through the filter to the outside of the developing tank and further from the outside through the filter back to the inside of the developing tank. This arrangement prevents not only filter clogging but also a toner leak to the outside of the developing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Hisashi Kunihiro, Jun Yamaguchi, Shuichi Akedo, Koichi Mihara
  • Patent number: 7805098
    Abstract: The development device of the present invention has a rotating shutter supported rotatably between a supply opening formed on a toner supply device and a receiving opening formed on a developing tank. The rotating shutter has an open section extending in the axial direction of the roller-shaped main section as well as opened in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction thereof, opening and shutting the supply opening in conjunction with attachment and detachment operation of the developing tank. The rotating shutter shuts the supply opening by covering the supply opening with the outer surface of the roller-shaped main section, and opens the supply opening by communicating the supply opening and the receiving opening through the open section. Thus, it is possible to prevent the leakage of toner even after repetitively performing the attachment and detachment operation of the developing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Kimura, Shigeki Hayashi, Shuichi Akedo, Teruyoshi Sudoh, Tomoya Usui
  • Publication number: 20100028052
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing vessel for storing a developer D containing a toner and a magnetic carrier; a first conveying passage for conveying the developer; a first conveying member provided in the first conveying passage for agitating and conveying the developer in a predetermined direction; a developing roller; a toner supply port for supplying toner to the first conveying passage; and an electromagnet arranged at the outer periphery of the toner supply port, and is constructed such that the toner supply port is formed over the first conveying member and the electromagnet intermittently attracts the developer residing under the toner supply port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Shuichi Akedo