Patents by Inventor Takayuki Shiraki

Takayuki Shiraki 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: 7327973
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed, a plurality of developing devices for developing the latent image, each of the developing devices containing developer, and a turnable turning member on which the plurality of developing devices are mounted. The turning member is caused to turn based on a turn history of the turning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takayuki Shiraki, Tatsuro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20070206973
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed, a plurality of developing devices for developing the latent image, each of the developing devices containing developer, and a turnable turning member on which the plurality of developing devices are mounted. The turning member is caused to turn based on a turn history of the turning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takayuki Shiraki, Tatsuro Osawa
  • Patent number: 7233757
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus has a plurality of developing devices. Each developing device has developer that includes a predetermined ratio, in volume of developer particles having a diameter of a predetermined value or less, with respect to an entire volume of toner. Each developing device is capable of developing a latent image using the developer. A color image is formed by successively performing development operations so as to superimpose different kinds of developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takayuki Shiraki, Tatsuro Osawa
  • Patent number: 7190923
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus with an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed, with a plurality of developing devices for developing the latent image, each of the developing devices containing developer, and with a turnable turning member on which the plurality of developing devices are mounted. The turning member is caused to turn based on a turn history of the turning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takayuki Shiraki, Tatsuro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20070047982
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed, a plurality of developing devices for developing the latent image, each of the developing devices containing developer, and a turnable turning member on which the plurality of developing devices are mounted. The turning member is caused to turn based on a turn history of the turning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takayuki Shiraki, Tatsuro Osawa
  • Patent number: 7068961
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer container for containing developer; a developer bearing body for bearing the developer; a charging member for charging the developer bore by the developer bearing body by abutting against the developer bearing body; a supporting member for supporting the charging member; and a sealing member that is for preventing the developer from spilling from the developer container and that is provided in a state in which the side of one end thereof is compressed by the developer container and the charging member and the side of the other end thereof is compressed by the developer container and the supporting member, wherein a degree of compression of the sealing member on the side of the other end is smaller than a degree of compression of the sealing member on the side of one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiraki, Katsumi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6889024
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a photoconductor on which a latent image can be formed, and a moving member having attaching/detaching sections to/from each of which one of developing units can be attached/detached. Each of the developing units has a developer container for containing developer that is capable of developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor. The developer in the developer container is stirred by moving the moving member when none of the developing units attached to each of the attaching/detaching sections is developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor, and a timing for moving the moving member to stir the developer in the developer container is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiraki, Yoichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20050047817
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer container for containing developer; a developer bearing body for bearing the developer; a charging member for charging the developer bore by the developer bearing body by abutting against the developer bearing body; a supporting member for supporting the charging member; and a sealing member that is for preventing the developer from spilling from the developer container and that is provided in a state in which the side of one end thereof is compressed by the developer container and the charging member and the side of the other end thereof is compressed by the developer container and the supporting member, wherein a degree of compression of the sealing member on the side of the other end is smaller than a degree of compression of the sealing member on the side of one end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiraki, Katsumi Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20040146316
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed, a plurality of developing devices for developing the latent image, each of the developing devices containing developer, and a turnable turning member on which the plurality of developing devices are mounted. The turning member is caused to turn based on a turn history of the turning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takayuki Shiraki, Tatsuro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20040018030
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises a photoconductor on which a latent image can be formed, and a moving member having attaching/detaching sections to/from each of which one of developing units can be attached/detached. Each of the developing units has a developer container for containing developer that is capable of developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor. The developer in the developer container is stirred by moving the moving member when none of the developing units attached to each of the attaching/detaching sections is developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor, and a timing for moving the moving member to stir the developer in the developer container is variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiraki, Yoichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6185380
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is able to form either single or double sided copies on a recording medium while achieving an excellent image quality in either a matted or glossy finish. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion in which a first roller includes a first temperature and hardness for forming a matted image, whereas a second roller includes a higher temperature and hardness for forming a glossy image. Alternatively, or in addition, to different hardness and temperatures, the recording medium can be conveyed at a first speed to form a matted image, and a slower speed to form a glossy image. The image forming apparatus further includes an inverse and re-fixing sub-mode, which utilizes an inverting and returning passage, for reducing the curl in a recording medium, and thus also reducing the instances in which clogging takes place. The inverting and returning passage has a length sufficient to accommodate a plurality of recording mediums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Nobumasa Abe, Kaneo Yoda, Takayuki Shiraki, Tahei Ishiwatari, Kazutoshi Fujisawa, Naoyuki Okumura, Kenjiro Yoshioka, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6078760
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is able to form either single or double sided copies on a recording medium while achieving an excellent image quality in either a matted or glossy finish. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion in which a first roller includes a first temperature and hardness for forming a matted image, whereas a second roller includes a higher temperature and hardness for forming a glossy image. Alternatively, or in addition, to different hardness and temperatures, the recording medium can be conveyed at a first speed to form a matted image, and a slower speed to form a glossy image. The image forming apparatus further includes an inverse and re-fixing sub-mode, which utilizes an inverting and returning passage, for reducing the curl in a recording medium, and thus also reducing the instances in which clogging takes place. The inverting and returning passage has a length sufficient to accommodate a plurality of recording mediums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Nobumasa Abe, Kaneo Yoda, Takayuki Shiraki, Tahei Ishiwatari, Kazutoshi Fujisawa, Naoyuki Okumura, Kenjiro Yoshioka, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5987294
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a heat roller having a heat source therein; and first and second pressing rollers arranged to be pressed sequentially against the heat roller beginning with a more upstream pressing roller in a direction of rotation of the heat roller, wherein when the hardness of the heat roller is Hh, the hardness of the first pressing roller is Hp1 and the ratio of the hardness of the two rollers satisfies Hr1=Hh/Hp1, the heat roller and the first pressing roller are structured in such a manner that the following condition is satisfied: Hr1.gtoreq.1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kaneo Yoda, Kenjiro Yoshioka, Hiroshi Tanaka, Yoshiro Koga, Kazutoshi Fujisawa, Takayuki Shiraki, Naoyuki Okumura