Patents by Inventor Takayuki Ukawa

Takayuki Ukawa 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: 11945216
    Abstract: A transport device includes: a first rotating body including a shaft portion, a cylindrical portion on an outer periphery of the shaft portion, and a recessed portion in an outer surface of the cylindrical portion; a second rotating body capable of moving from the first rotating body while contacting an outer surface of the first rotating body and nipping a recording medium; a transport unit that includes a holding portion that holds the recording medium, and that transports the recording medium by moving the holding portion in a rotation direction of the first rotating body while the holding portion is disposed in the recessed portion; and a moving mechanism including a cam portion on a side of the cylindrical portion and a contact portion connected to the second rotating body and that comes into contact with the cam portion to separate the second rotating body from the first rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ukawa, Kei Tanaka, Hideki Kuge, Norio Ogawahara, Takayuki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11934135
    Abstract: A recording medium transport device includes: a circulating member that forms a part of a transport path for transporting a recording medium; a holding member that is fixed to the circulating member and thereby circulates and holds a front end portion of the recording medium; plural transport cylinders around which the circulating member is suspended and having a recessed part in which the holding member is stored; and a selection part that selects any one of the plural transport cylinders. A mode for stopping the selected one of the plural transport cylinders so that the recessed part of the selected one of the plural transport cylinders is located at a maintenance position is prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ukawa, Mitsuhiro Matsumoto, Hideki Kuge, Takayuki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11835893
    Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes: a first member that rotates; a second member that rotates, the first member or second member having a recess, the first member and second member forming a nip area therebetween and transporting a recording medium while nipping the recording medium in the nip area; a gripping member that grips the recording medium; a separating member that separates the recording medium having passed through the nip area from the first member or the second member; and a control mechanism that controls opening and closing of the gripping member and movement of the separating member such that the gripping member is opened so as to release the recording medium in a state in which the gripping member is located in the recess, and the separating member lifts the recording medium from a state in which the tip of the separating member is located in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuge, Takayuki Ukawa, Norio Ogawahara
  • Publication number: 20230061548
    Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes: a first member that rotates; a second member that rotates, the first member or second member having a recess, the first member and second member forming a nip area therebetween and transporting a recording medium while nipping the recording medium in the nip area; a gripping member that grips the recording medium; a separating member that separates the recording medium having passed through the nip area from the first member or the second member; and a control mechanism that controls opening and closing of the gripping member and movement of the separating member such that the gripping member is opened so as to release the recording medium in a state in which the gripping member is located in the recess, and the separating member lifts the recording medium from a state in which the tip of the separating member is located in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Hideki KUGE, Takayuki UKAWA, Norio OGAWAHARA
  • Publication number: 20230067911
    Abstract: A transport device includes: a first rotating body including a shaft portion, a cylindrical portion on an outer periphery of the shaft portion, and a recessed portion in an outer surface of the cylindrical portion; a second rotating body capable of moving from the first rotating body while contacting an outer surface of the first rotating body and nipping a recording medium; a transport unit that includes a holding portion that holds the recording medium, and that transports the recording medium by moving the holding portion in a rotation direction of the first rotating body while the holding portion is disposed in the recessed portion; and a moving mechanism including a cam portion on a side of the cylindrical portion and a contact portion connected to the second rotating body and that comes into contact with the cam portion to separate the second rotating body from the first rotating body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takayuki UKAWA, Kei TANAKA, Hideki KUGE, Norio OGAWAHARA, Takayuki YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20230068115
    Abstract: A recording medium transport device includes: a circulating member that forms a part of a transport path for transporting a recording medium; a holding member that is fixed to the circulating member and thereby circulates and holds a front end portion of the recording medium; plural transport cylinders around which the circulating member is suspended and having a recessed part in which the holding member is stored; and a selection part that selects any one of the plural transport cylinders. A mode for stopping the selected one of the plural transport cylinders so that the recessed part of the selected one of the plural transport cylinders is located at a maintenance position is prepared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takayuki UKAWA, Mitsuhiro MATSUMOTO, Hideki KUGE, Takayuki YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 11550244
    Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes: a rotating first and second member, the first and second member forming a nip area therebetween and transporting a recording medium while nipping; a gripping member that grips the recording medium; a separating member that separates the recording medium passing through the nip area from the first or second member; and a control mechanism that controls contact and separation between the first and second member and opening and closing the gripping member where, in a first section, the gripping member passes between the first and second member, the first and second member are separated, and the gripping member is opened to release the recording medium until the first and second member come into contact with each other and, in a second section subsequent to the first section and before the recording medium reaches the separating member, the gripping member opens wider than the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuge, Takayuki Ukawa, Kei Tanaka, Masataka Momma, Norio Ogawahara
  • Patent number: 11390097
    Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes a first pressed portion, a second pressed portion, a mover, and a sensor. The first pressed portion moves by being pressed by a transported recording medium. The second pressed portion is disposed at a different position from the first pressed portion in a width direction of the transported recording medium. The second pressed portion moves by being pressed by the transported recording medium. The mover moves in association with the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion. The mover moves in response to the recording medium being pressed by at least one of the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion. The sensor detects movement of the mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Takayuki Ukawa
  • Publication number: 20210107297
    Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes a first pressed portion, a second pressed portion, a mover, and a sensor. The first pressed portion moves by being pressed by a transported recording medium. The second pressed portion is disposed at a different position from the first pressed portion in a width direction of the transported recording medium. The second pressed portion moves by being pressed by the transported recording medium. The mover moves in association with the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion. The mover moves in response to the recording medium being pressed by at least one of the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion. The sensor detects movement of the mover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki UKAWA
  • Patent number: 10457511
    Abstract: A rotating member includes a rotating-member body, identification information, and a holding member. The rotating-member body having a cylindrical or columnar shape has one end portion and an outer circumferential surface and is to be rotated. The identification information is provided at the one end portion on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating-member body. The holding member is provided at the one end portion of the rotating-member body, holds the rotating-member body, and has an inner circumferential surface in part of which a space not to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the rotating-member body is provided. The identification information is disposed in the space of the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Sato, Jun Sawamura, Yoshiro Konishi, Yasuhiro Kato, Takayuki Ukawa, Masahiro Akatsuka, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10175618
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member, a second fixing member that fixes a toner image transferred to a recording medium onto the recording medium by transporting the recording medium while holding the recording medium between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, a first support member that supports the first fixing member, a forcing member that supports the second fixing member and presses the second fixing member against the first fixing member, and a restricting member disposed on the first support member to fix a position of the first support member at an attachable member to which the first support member is attached, and to restrict a position of the forcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Sato, Jun Sawamura, Yoshiro Konishi, Yasuhiro Kato, Takayuki Ukawa, Masahiro Akatsuka, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10175621
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a roller member that rotates and a belt member including an endless belt that moves circularly while being in contact with the roller member, a pressing member that is disposed in a space enclosed by the endless belt and that presses the endless belt against the roller member on both a downstream side and an upstream side relative to a direction of rotation of the roller member, and a rotation hindering member that is disposed in the space enclosed by the endless belt and that hinders the pressing member from rotating as a result of receiving a reaction force. The roller member and the endless belt nip a sheet that has been transported while holding a toner image on the sheet and cause the sheet to pass between the roller member and the endless belt, so that the toner image is fixed onto the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Konishi, Jun Sawamura, Hideki Sato, Takayuki Ukawa, Yasuhiro Kato, Masahiro Akatsuka, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20180305150
    Abstract: A rotating member includes a rotating-member body, identification information, and a holding member. The rotating-member body having a cylindrical or columnar shape has one end portion and an outer circumferential surface and is to be rotated. The identification information is provided at the one end portion on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating-member body. The holding member is provided at the one end portion of the rotating-member body, holds the rotating-member body, and has an inner circumferential surface in part of which a space not to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the rotating-member body is provided. The identification information is disposed in the space of the holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki SATO, Jun SAWAMURA, Yoshiro KONISHI, Yasuhiro KATO, Takayuki UKAWA, Masahiro AKATSUKA, Yusuke SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20180203385
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a roller member that rotates and a belt member including an endless belt that moves circularly while being in contact with the roller member, a pressing member that is disposed in a space enclosed by the endless belt and that presses the endless belt against the roller member on both a downstream side and an upstream side relative to a direction of rotation of the roller member, and a rotation hindering member that is disposed in the space enclosed by the endless belt and that hinders the pressing member from rotating as a result of receiving a reaction force. The roller member and the endless belt nip a sheet that has been transported while holding a toner image on the sheet and cause the sheet to pass between the roller member and the endless belt, so that the toner image is fixed onto the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiro KONISHI, Jun SAWAMURA, Hideki SATO, Takayuki UKAWA, Yasuhiro KATO, Masahiro AKATSUKA, Yusuke SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20180196379
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member, a second fixing member that fixes a toner image transferred to a recording medium onto the recording medium by transporting the recording medium while holding the recording medium between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, a first support member that supports the first fixing member, a forcing member that supports the second fixing member and presses the second fixing member against the first fixing member, and a restricting member disposed on the first support member to fix a position of the first support member at an attachable member to which the first support member is attached, and to restrict a position of the forcing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki SATO, Jun SAWAMURA, Yoshiro KONISHI, Yasuhiro KATO, Takayuki UKAWA, Masahiro AKATSUKA, Yusuke SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 9897955
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatably-supported first fixing member and a second fixing member pressed against the first member. The second member includes a belt-shaped component, a support component, and a pressing component. The belt-shaped component extends in a width direction of a medium passing through a contact region between the belt-shaped component and the first member. The support component is disposed opposite the first member with the belt-shaped component interposed therebetween. The pressing component has a base end supported by the support component and a free end extending toward the contact region and presses the belt-shaped component against the first member. The pressing component has biasing portions arranged apart in the width direction and elastically deformable in correspondence with the medium thickness. The biasing portions are connected in the width direction by the free end. The free end is disposed at an upstream side in a medium transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Sato, Jun Sawamura, Yoshiro Konishi, Yasuhiro Kato, Takayuki Ukawa, Masahiro Akatsuka, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9886000
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that includes a pressing unit and a heating unit provided facing the pressing unit, an image-forming-apparatus body in which the fixing device is housed and to and from which the fixing device is attachable and detachable, a fixing-device-attachment-detachment-detecting member that detects attachment or detachment of the fixing device to or from the image-forming-apparatus body, and a controller that controls, if the fixing-device-attachment-detachment-detecting member detects the detachment of the fixing device from the image-forming-apparatus body, the image-forming-apparatus body to take a position where the pressing unit and the heating unit are to be pressed against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kato, Hideki Sato, Jun Sawamura, Yoshiro Konishi, Masahiro Akatsuka, Takayuki Ukawa, Yusuke Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9864314
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a developer replenishing device, a fixing device, a press-contact adjustment mechanism, first and second driving transmission mechanisms, and a driving switching mechanism. The image forming unit forms a developer image on a recording medium. The developer replenishing device and the fixing device are detachable. The developer replenishing device replenishes a developer. The fixing device includes first and second rotation members. The second rotation member faces the first rotation member. The fixing device fixes the developer image to the recording medium. The press-contact adjustment mechanism adjusts a press-contact state between the first and second rotation members. The first driving transmission mechanism transmits a driving force to the press-contact adjustment mechanism. The second driving transmission mechanism transmits a driving force to the developer replenishing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Ninomiya, Takuji Matsumoto, Jun Sawamura, Takayuki Ukawa
  • Patent number: 9829841
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first supporting member that supports one of first and a second forming members that form a nip portion by sandwiching a recording medium, a second supporting member supporting the other of the first and second forming members, a first spring pressurizing the nip portion, a cam that rotates to relatively displace the first and second supporting members in a direction in which the nip portion is released, a rotating portion disposed at a position shifted from the cam in a rotation axis direction of the cam and rotating integrally with the cam, and a second spring exerting a force on the rotating portion in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of the cam according to the rotation of the cam when a state in which the nip portion is released transitions to a state in which the nip portion is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Watanabe, Jun Sawamura, Takayuki Ukawa
  • Publication number: 20170261922
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that includes a pressing unit and a heating unit provided facing the pressing unit, an image-forming-apparatus body in which the fixing device is housed and to and from which the fixing device is attachable and detachable, a fixing-device-attachment-detachment-detecting member that detects attachment or detachment of the fixing device to or from the image-forming-apparatus body, and a controller that controls, if the fixing-device-attachment-detachment-detecting member detects the detachment of the fixing device from the image-forming-apparatus body, the image-forming-apparatus body to take a position where the pressing unit and the heating unit are to be pressed against each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KATO, Hideki SATO, Jun SAWAMURA, Yoshiro KONISHI, Masahiro AKATSUKA, Takayuki UKAWA, Yusuke SAKURAI