Patents by Inventor Shunsuke Matsushita

Shunsuke Matsushita 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: 20230305422
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus to execute an image-forming operation includes an image bearing member, a charging member to charge at a charging portion a surface of, and a developing member to supply at a developing portion toner to, the image bearing member. When a rotating image bearing member stops rotating, a surface potential of the image bearing member formed on the developing portion is defined as V1, a developing voltage applied to the developing member is defined as V2, a charging voltage applied to the charging member is defined as V3, and a surface potential of the image bearing member formed on the charging portion is defined as V4. A first potential difference, which is a potential difference between V2 and V1, and a second potential difference, which is a potential difference between V3 and V4, are controlled based on information about a number of execution times of the image-forming operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: SHUICHI TETSUNO, TOSHIHIKO TAKAYAMA, SHUHEI TOKIWA, SHIMPEI ISHIKAWA, SHUNSUKE MATSUSHITA, MIKIHIKO HAMADA
  • Publication number: 20230152746
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member about a rotational axis extending in the axial direction, a charging member, an accommodating portion accommodating toner charged to a predetermined polarity; a developing member, a transfer portion, a static eliminating portion, and a collecting member. In the axial direction, when A is a eliminating width with which the eliminating portion discharges the surface of the image bearing member, B is an effective charging width with which the charging member charges the surface, and C is a collection contacting width with which the collecting member contacts the surface, the formula A < B < C is satisfied. In the axial direction, a surface potential of the surface in an area outside the effective charging width, inside the collection contacting width and in contact with the collecting member is a first potential larger than 0 V in the same polarity direction as the predetermined polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Shunsuke Matsushita, Taichi Sato, Nobuo Oshima
  • Publication number: 20230093245
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum, a transfer roller configured to transfer a developer image formed on the photosensitive drum to a recording material, and a cleaning roller being in contact with the photosensitive drum, configured to clean a part of the recording material adhered to the photosensitive drum, wherein the diameter of the transfer roller is greater than the diameter of the development roller and the diameter of the cleaning roller is greater than the diameter of the development roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Hisashi Taniguchi, Bunro Noguchi, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11526115
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum, a transfer roller configured to transfer a developer image formed on the photosensitive drum to a recording material, and a cleaning roller being in contact with the photosensitive drum, configured to clean a part of the recording material adhered to the photosensitive drum, wherein a diameter of the transfer roller is greater than a diameter of the development roller and the diameter of the transfer roller is greater than a diameter of the cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Hisashi Taniguchi, Bunro Noguchi, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11513449
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus detects a first current value and a second current value of currents flowing between an image bearing member and a developer carrying member. When a difference between the detected first current value and the detected second current value exceeds a threshold in a state in which the image bearing member and the developer carrying member are rotated and a first developing voltage is applied to the developer carrying member, a controller controls AC voltage applied to the developer carrying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Fukushima, Nobuyoshi Yoshida, Issei Imamura, Shunsuke Matsushita, Yosuke Kishi
  • Publication number: 20220236661
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member for charging the photosensitive member, a cleaning member that comes into contact with the charging member and moves relative to the charging member to clean the charging member, an opening/closing member for exposing an inside of the apparatus, and a driving mechanism that moves the charging member and the cleaning member relative to each other in association with opening/closing of the opening/closing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Bunro Noguchi, Hisashi Taniguchi, Atsushi Toda, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11360426
    Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging device and a developing device, wherein the charging device comprises a conductive member arranged to be capable of contacting the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a conductive layer of the conductive member comprises a matrix domain structure, at least a part of the domains Dt is exposed at the conductive member outer surface, the matrix has a volume resistivity R1 of larger than 1.00×1012 ?·cm, the domains Dt has a volume resistivity of smaller than R1, the developing device comprises the toner, domains Dc formed of the crystalline material exist in a cross section of the toner, distances between adjacent wall surfaces of the domains Dc is from 30 to 1,100 nm, and a weight-average particle diameter D4 of the toner and distances Dms between adjacent wall surfaces between the domains Dt satisfies D4?Dms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Suzumura, Hiroyuki Tomono, Takuya Mizuguchi, Osamu Matsushita, Shunsuke Matsushita, Masahiro Kurachi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 11333992
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member for charging the photosensitive member, a cleaning member that comes into contact with the charging member and moves relative to the charging member to clean the charging member, an opening/closing member for exposing an inside of the apparatus, and a driving mechanism that moves the charging member and the cleaning member relative to each other in association with opening/closing of the opening/closing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Bunro Noguchi, Hisashi Taniguchi, Atsushi Toda, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20220082987
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum, a transfer roller configured to transfer a developer image formed on the photosensitive drum to a recording material, and a cleaning roller being in contact with the photosensitive drum, configured to clean a part of the recording material adhered to the photosensitive drum, wherein the diameter of the transfer roller is greater than the diameter of the development roller and the diameter of the cleaning roller is greater than the diameter of the development roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Hisashi Taniguchi, Bunro Noguchi, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11275321
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member, a charging voltage applying portion, a developer carrying member, a developing voltage applying portion, a detecting portion, and a controller. In a state in which the charging voltage is applied to the charging member, the controller controls the detecting portion so as to detect whether or not a change amount between a current value detected by the detecting portion when the surface of the image bearing member opposing the developer carrying member before application of the developing voltage passes through an opposing portion where the charging member and the image bearing member are opposed to each other and a current value detected by the detecting portion when the surface of the image bearing member opposing the developer carrying member after the application of the developing voltage passes through the opposing portion is a threshold or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Fukushima, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11209768
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum, a transfer roller configured to transfer a developer image formed on the photosensitive drum to a recording material, and a cleaning roller being in contact with the photosensitive drum, configured to clean a part of the recording material adhered to the photosensitive drum, wherein the diameter of the transfer roller is greater than the diameter of the development roller and the diameter of the cleaning roller is greater than the diameter of the development roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Hisashi Taniguchi, Bunro Noguchi, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20210389689
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member for charging the photosensitive member, a cleaning member that comes into contact with the charging member and moves relative to the charging member to clean the charging member, an opening/closing member for exposing an inside of the apparatus, and a driving mechanism that moves the charging member and the cleaning member relative to each other in association with opening/closing of the opening/closing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Bunro Noguchi, Hisashi Taniguchi, Atsushi Toda, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20210302902
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller configured to supply developer to the photosensitive drum, a transfer roller configured to transfer a developer image formed on the photosensitive drum to a recording material, and a cleaning roller being in contact with the photosensitive drum, configured to clean a part of the recording material adhered to the photosensitive drum, wherein the diameter of the transfer roller is greater than the diameter of the development roller and the diameter of the cleaning roller is greater than the diameter of the development roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Hisashi Taniguchi, Bunro Noguchi, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20210278777
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member, a charging voltage applying portion, a developer carrying member, a developing voltage applying portion, a detecting portion, and a controller. In a state in which the charging voltage is applied to the charging member, the controller controls the detecting portion so as to detect whether or not a change amount between a current value detected by the detecting portion when the surface of the image bearing member opposing the developer carrying member before application of the developing voltage passes through an opposing portion where the charging member and the image bearing member oppose to each other and a current value detected by the detecting portion when the surface of the image bearing member opposing the developer carrying member after the application of the developing voltage passes through the opposing portion is a threshold or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Naoki Fukushima, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11054786
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging member for charging the image bearing member, an exposure unit for exposing the charged surface of the image bearing member, a developing apparatus that supplies a developer containing a toner particle and an external additive having an opposite charging polarity to the regular charging polarity of the toner particle to the image bearing member, a cleaning member for removing the developer from the image bearing member, a transfer member for transferring a developer image on the image bearing member onto a transfer subject material, and a voltage application unit for applying a voltage to the transfer member. During an image non-formation period as a lubrication operation to the cleaning member, (i) the developer is supplied to the image bearing member, and (ii) a voltage having an identical polarity to a voltage applied during the image formation operation is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichiro Hirata, Taku Watanabe, Shunsuke Matsushita, Takayoshi Kihara
  • Publication number: 20210173321
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member, a rotatable developer carrying member, a developing voltage applying portion, a detecting portion for detecting a first current value and a second current value of currents flowing between the image bearing member and the developer carrying member, and a controller for controlling the applying portion. When a difference between the first current value and the second current value which are detected by the detecting portion exceeds a threshold in a state in which the image bearing member and the developer carrying member are rotated and the developing voltage is applied to the developer carrying member, the controller controls the AC voltage of the developing voltage applied to the developer carrying member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Naoki Fukushima, Nobuyoshi Yoshida, Issei Imamura, Shunsuke Matsushita, Yosuke Kishi
  • Publication number: 20210116860
    Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging device and a developing device, wherein the charging device comprises a conductive member arranged to be capable of contacting the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a conductive layer of the conductive member comprises a matrix domain structure, at least a part of the domains Dt is exposed at the conductive member outer surface, the matrix has a volume resistivity R1 of larger than 1.00×1012 ?·cm, the domains Dt has a volume resistivity of smaller than R1, the developing device comprises the toner, domains Dc formed of the crystalline material exist in a cross section of the toner, distances between adjacent wall surfaces of the domains Dc is from 30 to 1,100 nm, and a weight-average particle diameter D4 of the toner and distances Dms between adjacent wall surfaces between the domains Dt satisfies D4?Dms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Suzumura, Hiroyuki Tomono, Takuya Mizuguchi, Osamu Matsushita, Shunsuke Matsushita, Masahiro Kurachi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 10955792
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a developing device that supplies developer to a photosensitive member and an elastic portion that cleans a peripheral surface of the photosensitive member. Multiple grooves are formed side by side in a generatrix direction on the peripheral surface. The developer contains a toner including a toner particle and an organosilicon polymer having a structure represented by R—SiO3/2 covering the toner particle surface, where R represents a hydrocarbon group having at least 1 and not more than 6 carbon atoms. When a penetration amount of the elastic portion with respect to the photosensitive member is set as ? (mm), and a fixing rate of the organosilicon polymer on the surface of the toner particle is set as ? (%), ??0.02×??0.4 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Matsushita, Yoshihiro Mitsui, Yasukazu Ikami, Shinichi Hagiwara, Kosuke Ikada, Katsuyuki Nonaka
  • Patent number: 10852175
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photosensitive drum configured to bear a developer image, a developing apparatus having a developing roller that bears developer and a developing blade that regulates the amount of the developer on the developing roller, and a detection portion that detects information on the amount of the developer stored in the developing apparatus. The image forming apparatus performs a discharging operation for discharging a coating agent, applied to a developing roller in an unused state, from the developing apparatus to the photosensitive drum, while varying an operational condition for the discharging operation varied based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuhei Kawasaki, Kodai Hayashi, Yoshihiro Mitsui, Shunsuke Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20200370942
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a photosensitive drum configured to bear a developer image, a developing apparatus having a developing roller that bears developer and a developing blade that regulates the amount of the developer on the developing roller, and a detection portion that detects information on the amount of the developer stored in the developing apparatus. The image forming apparatus performs a discharging operation for discharging a coating agent, applied to a developing roller in an unused state, from the developing apparatus to the photosensitive drum, while varying an operational condition for the discharging operation varied based on the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Shuhei Kawasaki, Kodai Hayashi, Yoshihiro Mitsui, Shunsuke Matsushita