Patents by Inventor Takanori Mitani
Takanori Mitani 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: 12271133Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes first and second rotating members, a heater having a heating element and a substrate, and first and second contact members. A direction of a longer side on a surface of the substrate where the heating element is disposed is a longitudinal direction. A direction intersecting the longitudinal direction is a widthwise direction. The first contact member is disposed in a region outside a region where a maximum size recording material conveyed to a nip portion passes through the nip portion on one end side in the longitudinal direction on an outer circumferential surface of the first rotating member, and the second contact member is disposed in the region outside the region where the maximum size recording material conveyed to the nip portion passes through the nip portion on an other end side in the longitudinal direction on an outer circumferential surface of the second rotating member.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2023Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takao Kume, Akimichi Suzuki, Satoshi Nishida, Kohei Okayasu, Takanori Mitani
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Publication number: 20250110430Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing member to form toner images, respectively, a transfer member to sequentially transfer the toner images onto a recording material and to overlappingly form toner on the recording material. A fixing member presses and heats the recording material on which the toner images are transferred and fixes the toner images on the recording material. A storage medium stores a usage history of the developing member. A controller controls a fixing temperature of the fixing member. The controller determines the fixing temperature based on a difference between the usage history of one of the developing member stored in the storage medium and the usage history of another of the developing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2024Publication date: April 3, 2025Inventors: SATOSHI NISHIDA, TAKANORI MITANI, KOHEI OKAYASU
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Patent number: 12265340Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes first and second photosensitive drums, first and second image-forming portion including first and second development rollers configured to bear developers composed of first and second toner particles and organosilicon protrusions formed on surfaces of the first and second toner particles, an intermediate transfer member to which a developer image is to be transferred in first and second contact portions in contact with the first and second photosensitive drums, and a transfer member configured to transfer the developer image to a recording material in a transfer portion. The first contact portion is formed downstream of the transfer portion and upstream of the second contact portion in a movement direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer member. A protrusion formed on the second developer has a lower height than a protrusion formed on the first developer.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2024Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takanori Mitani, Takao Kume, Satoshi Nishida, Isamu Takeda, Kohei Okayasu
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Patent number: 12181819Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member, a nip member, a reflection member, and a support member. The support member configured to transit to a pressurized state and a non-pressurized state, the pressurized state being a state in which a first position and a second position of the support member are pressurized in a pressurization direction toward the second rotary member, the non-pressurized state being in which the pressurized state of the support member is released. The support member includes a contact surface in contact with the reflection member in the pressurized state. The contact surface takes such a posture that a center position between the first and second positions in the rotation axial direction is close to the second rotary member rather than the first and second positions in a case where the support member is in the non-pressurized state.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2023Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Jun Hara, Satoshi Nishida, Takanori Mitani
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Publication number: 20240337977Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a sheet, an image forming unit, a fixing device, a component, and a controller. The image forming unit forms a toner image on the conveyed sheet conveyed. The fixing device fixes an unfixed toner image formed on the sheet, onto the sheet. Heat of the fixing device propagates to the component. The controller controls a passing sheet interval between a plurality of sheets passing through the fixing device. The controller executes throughput control for controlling a sheet interval, which is an interval between a preceding sheet and a subsequent sheet passing through the fixing device, such that a temperature of a non-passage region through which sheets do not pass in the fixing device is suppressed to a predetermined first limit temperature or less and a temperature of the component is suppressed to a predetermined second limit temperature or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2024Publication date: October 10, 2024Inventors: HIROMITSU TAKANO, TAKANORI MITANI, SATORU NAGASHIMA, TAKESHI SHIMBA
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Publication number: 20240302768Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes first and second photosensitive drums, first and second image-forming portion including first and second development rollers configured to bear developers composed of first and second toner particles and organosilicon protrusions formed on surfaces of the first and second toner particles, an intermediate transfer member to which a developer image is to be transferred in first and second contact portions in contact with the first and second photosensitive drums, and a transfer member configured to transfer the developer image to a recording material in a transfer portion. The first contact portion is formed downstream of the transfer portion and upstream of the second contact portion in a movement direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer member. A protrusion formed on the second developer has a lower height than a protrusion formed on the first developer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2024Publication date: September 12, 2024Inventors: TAKANORI MITANI, TAKAO KUME, SATOSHI NISHIDA, ISAMU TAKEDA, KOHEI OKAYASU
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Publication number: 20240255875Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes first and second rotating members, a heater having a heating element and a substrate, and first and second contact members. A direction of a longer side on a surface of the substrate where the heating element is disposed is a longitudinal direction. A direction intersecting the longitudinal direction is a widthwise direction. The first contact member is disposed in a region outside a region where a maximum size recording material conveyed to a nip portion passes through the nip portion on one end side in the longitudinal direction on an outer circumferential surface of the first rotating member, and the second contact member is disposed in the region outside the region where the maximum size recording material conveyed to the nip portion passes through the nip portion on an other end side in the longitudinal direction on an outer circumferential surface of the second rotating member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2023Publication date: August 1, 2024Inventors: TAKAO KUME, AKIMICHI SUZUKI, SATOSHI NISHIDA, KOHEI OKAYASU, TAKANORI MITANI
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Patent number: 12019380Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes first and second photosensitive drums, first and second image-forming portion including first and second development rollers configured to bear developers composed of first and second toner particles and organosilicon protrusions formed on surfaces of the first and second toner particles, an intermediate transfer member to which a developer image is to be transferred in first and second contact portions in contact with the first and second photosensitive drums, and a transfer member configured to transfer the developer image to a recording material in a transfer portion. The first contact portion is formed downstream of the transfer portion and upstream of the second contact portion in a movement direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer member. A protrusion formed on the second developer has a lower height than a protrusion formed on the first developer.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2023Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takanori Mitani, Takao Kume, Satoshi Nishida, Isamu Takeda, Kohei Okayasu
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Publication number: 20240152079Abstract: A heating device includes a first rotating body, a heater, a temperature detection element, and a heater holder. The heater includes a heating element and a substrate on which the heating element is located. The temperature detection element is located on a second surface of the substrate opposite to a first surface of the substrate in a thickness direction of the substrate. The heater holder includes a reservoir portion configured to reserve grease to be supplied to between the first rotating body and the heater in a longitudinal direction of a longer side of the first surface of the substrate. A length of an area in the thickness direction of the reservoir portion overlapping an area where the temperature detection element is located is greater than a length of an area in the thickness direction of the reservoir portion not overlapping the area where the temperature detection element is located.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: TAKANORI MITANI, SATOSHI NISHIDA, ISAMU TAKEDA
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Patent number: 11927894Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image bearing members and first and second developing members. The controller controls to execute first and second controls based on image information in a case that the first developing member is separated from the first image bearing member when an operation in which the image is sequentially transferred to a transferred member from the first and second image bearing members is terminated. The first developing member is started to separate from the first image bearing member in the first control after an end of an image forming area on the first image bearing member in a moving direction passes through the first transfer position, and in the second control after the end of the image forming area on the first image bearing member in the moving direction passes through the developing position and before the end of the image forming area reaches the first transfer position.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takao Kume, Satoshi Nishida, Isamu Takeda, Takanori Mitani
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Publication number: 20240077816Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to receive radiant heat from the heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member includes a main-body portion that contains aluminum or aluminum alloy and a protective layer that includes an oxide film formed on a surface of the main-body portion. The main-body portion contains a heat receiving surface that faces the heating element and receives radiant heat from the heating element, and a rubbed surface that is rubbed against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. The protective layer contains coloring agent that causes an emissivity of the heat receiving surface and the rubbed surface to be higher than an emissivity of a natural color oxide film.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Isamu Takeda, Takanori Mitani, Satoshi Nishida, Takeshi Shinji
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Patent number: 11852987Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member, a charging member, an exposing unit to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing the surface of the photosensitive member charged by the charging member to light and, a developing member to develop the electrostatic latent image with toner. A controller controls so that a predetermined charging voltage is charged and the light is emitted by a low light quantity to a first non-print area, which is a non-print area provided in a region including the print area and the first non-print area with respect to a main scanning direction, and controls so that a charging voltage lower than the predetermined voltage is charged and exposure is not performed on a second non-print area, which is provided in a region including only the non-print area with respect to the main scanning direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Isamu Takeda, Takanori Mitani, Satoshi Nishida, Takao Kume
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Patent number: 11829089Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to receive radiant heat from the heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member includes a main-body portion that contains aluminum or aluminum alloy and a protective layer that includes an oxide film formed on a surface of the main-body portion. The main-body portion contains a heat receiving surface that faces the heating element and receives radiant heat from the heating element, and a rubbed surface that is rubbed against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. The protective layer contains coloring agent that causes an emissivity of the heat receiving surface and the rubbed surface to be higher than an emissivity of a natural color oxide film.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2023Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Isamu Takeda, Takanori Mitani, Satoshi Nishida, Takeshi Shinji
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Publication number: 20230236526Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes first and second photosensitive drums, first and second image-forming portion including first and second development rollers configured to bear developers composed of first and second toner particles and organosilicon protrusions formed on surfaces of the first and second toner particles, an intermediate transfer member to which a developer image is to be transferred in first and second contact portions in contact with the first and second photosensitive drums, and a transfer member configured to transfer the developer image to a recording material in a transfer portion. The first contact portion is formed downstream of the transfer portion and upstream of the second contact portion in a movement direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer member. A protrusion formed on the second developer has a lower height than a protrusion formed on the first developer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: TAKANORI MITANI, TAKAO KUME, SATOSHI NISHIDA, ISAMU TAKEDA, KOHEI OKAYASU
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Publication number: 20230205120Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member, a nip member, a reflection member, and a support member. The support member configured to transit to a pressurized state and a non-pressurized state, the pressurized state being a state in which a first position and a second position of the support member are pressurized in a pressurization direction toward the second rotary member, the non-pressurized state being in which the pressurized state of the support member is released. The support member includes a contact surface in contact with the reflection member in the pressurized state. The contact surface takes such a posture that a center position between the first and second positions in the rotation axial direction is close to the second rotary member rather than the first and second positions in a case where the support member is in the non-pressurized state.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: JUN HARA, SATOSHI NISHIDA, TAKANORI MITANI
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Publication number: 20230195011Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to receive radiant heat from the heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member includes a main-body portion that contains aluminum or aluminum alloy and a protective layer that includes an oxide film formed on a surface of the main-body portion. The main-body portion contains a heat receiving surface that faces the heating element and receives radiant heat from the heating element, and a rubbed surface that is rubbed against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. The protective layer contains coloring agent that causes an emissivity of the heat receiving surface and the rubbed surface to be higher than an emissivity of a natural color oxide film.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Isamu Takeda, Takanori Mitani, Satoshi Nishida, Takeshi Shinji
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Patent number: 11650525Abstract: An image heating device includes a heater that includes a heating resistor; a rotatable tubular film in which the heater is provided in an inner space of the rotatable tubular film; a roller; and an electrification control portion configured to perform wave number control by changing the ratio of electrification ON to electrification OFF for each set control cycle. In the image heating device F1, relations tON?? and tOFF?? are satisfied, where tON represents a longest continuous electrification period in electrification patterns in which electrification is turned both on and off in the control cycle, tOFF represents a longest continuous shutoff period in the electrification patterns, and ? represents a time constant of thermal conduction with the shortest distance from the heating resistor to a contact surface of the heater that is in contact with the film.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2022Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Nishida, Isamu Takeda, Takanori Mitani
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Patent number: 11635714Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member, a nip member, a reflection member, and a support member. The support member configured to transit to a pressurized state and a non-pressurized state, the pressurized state being a state in which a first position and a second position of the support member are pressurized in a pressurization direction toward the second rotary member, the non-pressurized state being in which the pressurized state of the support member is released. The support member includes a contact surface in contact with the reflection member in the pressurized state. The contact surface takes such a posture that a center position between the first and second positions in the rotation axial direction is close to the second rotary member rather than the first and second positions in a case where the support member is in the non-pressurized state.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Jun Hara, Satoshi Nishida, Takanori Mitani
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Publication number: 20230101599Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member, a charging member, an exposing unit to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing the surface of the photosensitive member charged by the charging member to light, a developing member to develop the electrostatic latent image with toner. A controller controls so that a predetermined charging voltage is charged and the light is emitted by a small light quantity to a first non-print area which is a non-print area provided with the print area and the non-print area with respect to a main scanning direction, and controls so that a charging voltage smaller than the predetermined voltage is charged and exposure is not performed to a second non-print area which is provided with only the non-print area with respect to the main scanning direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Isamu Takeda, Takanori Mitani, Satoshi Nishida, Takao Kume
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Patent number: 11609516Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an endless first rotary member, a heating element, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion, and a nip member configured to receive radiant heat from the heating element and heat the nip portion. The nip member includes a main-body portion that contains aluminum or aluminum alloy and a protective layer that includes an oxide film formed on a surface of the main-body portion. The main-body portion contains a heat receiving surface that faces the heating element and receives radiant heat from the heating element, and a rubbed surface that is rubbed against the inner circumferential surface of the first rotary member. The protective layer contains coloring agent that causes an emissivity of the heat receiving surface and the rubbed surface to be higher than an emissivity of a natural color oxide film.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Isamu Takeda, Takanori Mitani, Satoshi Nishida, Takeshi Shinji