Patents by Inventor Takenobu Kimura

Takenobu Kimura 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: 7346302
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus wherein the pre-secondary transfer electric charge eliminating device arranged intermediate between a primary transfer section and a secondary transfer section is provided with: a discharge electrode arranged on the side opposite to the toner carrier surface of an intermediate transfer member; and a counter electrode containing a discharge electrode and a conductive elastic member arranged at the opposed position beyond the intermediate transfer member so as to be pressed against the intermediate transfer member; wherein the pressing force of the aforementioned counter electrode against the rear surface of the intermediate transfer member is distributed in such a way that the pressure for the center of the intermediate transfer member is smaller than that for both ends thereof, in the transversal direction to the direction in which the intermediate transfer member rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yotaro Sato, Takenobu Kimura
  • Patent number: 7327976
    Abstract: There is disclosed a color image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to prevent a reproduced image from generating image defects, such as a color unevenness, a toner scattering, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Hamada, legal representative, Yoshiko Hamada, legal representative, Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato, Shuta Hamada, deceased
  • Patent number: 7308212
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus, having: an intermediate transfer member; a plurality of image forming sections provided along the intermediate transfer member; a primary transfer device provided along the intermediate transfer member to transfer toner images formed on each image forming section so that the toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer device provided downstream side of the primary transfer device to transfer superimposed toner images through bias voltage; a discharging device having a grid and a discharge electrode provided between the primary transfer device and secondary transfer device; a image density sensor provided along the intermediate transfer member to detect an amount of toner adhesion on the intermediate transfer member; and a control device to control the applied voltage for the discharge electrode in accordance with output of the image density sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Hamada, legal representative, Yoshiko Hamada, legal representative, Yotaro Sato, Takenobu Kimura, Shuta Hamada, deceased
  • Patent number: 7298997
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes primary transferring units that transfer toner images of different colors from photoreceptors to an intermediate transfer body, a secondary transferring unit that transfers a color toner image from the intermediate transfer body onto a transfer material, a pre-charging unit placed downstream of the primary transferring units and upstream of the secondary transferring unit and that applies electric charge to the color toner image on the intermediate transfer body before the secondary image transfer with the polarity of the applied electrical charge identical to polarity of the potential of the toner, and a potential adjustment unit placed downstream of the pre-charging unit and upstream of the secondary transferring unit, and that applies an electric charge that has a polarity opposite to that of the potential of the toner to the color toner image on the intermediate transfer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Hamada, legal representative, Yoshiko Hamada, legal representative, Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato, Shuta Hamada, deceased
  • Publication number: 20070196140
    Abstract: There is described a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image onto a transfer material by superimposing a plurality of unicolor toner images. The apparatus makes it possible to produce a high quality image through a secondary transferring operation with a good secondary transferring efficiency. At a pre-secondary transfer charge eliminating section, an electric potential difference between the grid electrode disposed at an upstream side and an opposing electrode is set at such a value that is greater than that between a grid electrode disposed at a downstream side and an opposing electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato
  • Patent number: 7260350
    Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to conduct a sufficient discharging operation for a toner image. The apparatus includes an image forming section, an image bearing member, an intermediate transfer belt, a part of which is supported in a state of a flat plane by supporting members, a primary transferring device to transfer a toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member, a secondary transferring device to transfer the toner image onto a transfer material, a scorotron discharging device that is disposed at an upstream side of the secondary transferring device, where the part of the intermediate transfer member is supported in the state of the flat plane, and includes a discharging electrode and a grid to discharge the toner image; and a conductive brush that opposes to the scorotron discharging device and contacts the rear surface of intermediate transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Hamada, legal representative, Yoshiko Hamada, legal representative, Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato, Shuta Hamada, deceased
  • Patent number: 7254358
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes plural developing units that respectively form toner images of different colors on plural photoreceptors, plural primary transferring devices that successively transfer each of the toner images of the plural photoreceptors onto an intermediate transfer belt, which holds a color toner image transferred and superimposed by primary transfer, a secondary transferring device that transfers concurrently the color toner image onto a transfer material, a drive roller that drives the intermediate transfer belt and that is placed between one of the plurality of primary transferring devices which is arranged on the most downstream side in the direction of movement of the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transferring device, and a controller that controls a discharger discharging the color toner image and the drive of the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Hamada, legal representative, Yoshiko Hamada, legal representative, Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato, Shuta Hamada, deceased
  • Publication number: 20070177910
    Abstract: There is described a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image onto a transfer material by superimposing a plurality of unicolor toner images. The apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member onto which the plurality of unicolor toner images are successively transferred in such a manner that the plurality of unicolor toner images superimpose with each other, so as to form a full color toner image on the intermediate transfer member and a discharge section, in which a potential of the side plate is set at a polarity opposite to that of the grid electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yotaro SATO, Takenobu KIMURA
  • Patent number: 7251442
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an intermediate transfer body in which color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer body is disclosed. Additionally, the toner image potential may be suppressed in areas with large toner electrostatic charge of the toner layer on the intermediate transfer body, while the toner image potential is left as such in the low toner adhesion areas. The image forming apparatus with a neutralizing charger is capable of yielding satisfactory second transfer images without causing image roughness or toner scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yotaro Sato, Takenobu Kimura, Hiroshi Akita
  • Publication number: 20070147908
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image carriers each on which a toner image having a color different from each other is formed; an intermediate transfer member to which each of the image carriers is transferred; a plurality of a primary transfer units each which transfers a toner image formed on each of the plurality of image carriers onto the intermediate transfer member; a discharging unit provided between two adjoining image carriers in a moving direction of the intermediate transfer member, which discharges an electrical charge of a toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer member; and a secondary transfer unit which transfers a plurality colors of toner images which have been superimposed on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato
  • Patent number: 7209692
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus is described, which makes highly durable image transferring possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Hamada, legal representative, Yoshiko Hamada, legal representative, Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato, Shuta Hamada, deceased
  • Publication number: 20070048030
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for a color print having an intermediate transfer belt and a plurality of image forming devices, wherein each image forming device has a photoreceptor and a developing device, and toner images formed on photoreceptors by the developing devices are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt to form a superimposed toner image and further the superimposed toner image is secondarily transferred in a batch onto a transfer member, the apparatus including: a charging or neutralizing device; a conductive elastic member, as a counter electrode for the charging or neutralizing device; and a belt surface regulating member disposed in a vicinity of the conductive elastic member to regulate a position of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Yotaro Sato, Takenobu Kimura
  • Patent number: 7165874
    Abstract: A backlight 10 includes a light source 13, a light guide plate 12 for introducing light emitted from the light source 13 from an incidence surface 12a provided on an end and for emitting the light from one surface, a diffusive reflector 15 provided such that the surface having a minute concavo-convex portion 15d faces the other surface of the light guide plate 12, and a light directivity control sheet 17 provided on the one surface of the light guide plate 12 such that the apexes 17c of pyramid-shaped objects 17b face the opposite side to the light guide plate 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hideaki Nagakubo, Takenobu Kimura
  • Publication number: 20060239725
    Abstract: In the discharge section to correct the potential of toner image on the intermediate transfer body before the secondary image transfer and to obtain a good secondary transfer image, it is made that the opposite electrode is brought into contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer body under the stable condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Takenobu Kimura, Satoshi Hamaya, Yotaro Sato
  • Publication number: 20060228136
    Abstract: The color image forming apparatus, having: an intermediate transfer member; a plurality of image forming sections provided along the intermediate transfer member; a primary transfer device provided along the intermediate transfer member to transfer toner images formed on each image forming section so that the toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer member; a secondary transfer device provided downstream side of the primary transfer device to transfer superimposed toner images through bias voltage; a discharging device having a grid and a discharge electrode provided between the primary transfer device and secondary transfer device; a image density sensor provided along the intermediate transfer member to detect an amount of toner adhesion on the intermediate transfer member; and a control device to control the applied voltage for the discharge electrode in accordance with output of the image density sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Shuta Hamada, Akira Hamada, Yoshiko Hamada, Yotaro Sato, Takenobu Kimura
  • Publication number: 20060216074
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus wherein the pre-secondary transfer electric charge eliminating device arranged intermediate between a primary transfer section and a secondary transfer section is provided with: a discharge electrode arranged on the side opposite to the toner carrier surface of an intermediate transfer member; and a counter electrode containing a discharge electrode and a conductive elastic member arranged at the opposed position beyond the intermediate transfer member so as to be pressed against the intermediate transfer member; wherein the pressing force of the aforementioned counter electrode against the rear surface of the intermediate transfer member is distributed in such a way that the pressure for the center of the intermediate transfer member is smaller than that for both ends thereof, in the transversal direction to the direction in which the intermediate transfer member rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Yotaro Sato, Takenobu Kimura
  • Publication number: 20060198647
    Abstract: The invention prevents the phenomenon of occurrence of toner scattering or density fluctuations by changing the appropriate transfer conditions according to the toner charge of the toner images formed on an intermediate image transfer member. The density of toner images formed under prescribed image forming conditions on an intermediate image transfer member is detected, the toner charge is obtained from the detected density, and the pre-transfer charging section is controlled according to the obtained toner charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Shuta Hamada, Akira Hamada, Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato
  • Publication number: 20060198665
    Abstract: A color image forming apparatus has an image forming unit, wherein the image forming device provided around the image carrier forms a toner image on the image carrier; an intermediate transfer member; a primary transfer unit for transferring the toner image onto the intermediate transfer member to form an superimposed toner image; a secondary transfer unit which transfers the toner image onto a transfer material; an electricity removal unit which has a discharge electrode and a grid electrode, and is provided between the primary transfer unit and the secondary transfer unit; a discharge electrode power source for applying a DC voltage with reverse polarity to the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to the discharge electrode; a grid electrode power source for applying a DC voltage with the same polarity as the toner image to the grid electrode; a counter electrode which is provided facing the electricity removal unit; a current detecting unit for detecting an electricity removal current, and a con
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Shuta Hamada, Akira Hamada, Yoshiko Hamada, Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato
  • Publication number: 20060177245
    Abstract: There is described a color image forming apparatus, which makes the high durable transferring operation possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Shuta Hamada, Akira Hamada, Yoshiko Hamada, Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato
  • Publication number: 20060171735
    Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus equipped with a cleaning unit to clean a belt-type transfer member. The cleaning unit includes: a conductive opposing roller that contacts an inner surface of the intermediate transfer member; a first conductive blush member and a second conductive blush member, both of which are pressed against the conductive opposing roller while putting the intermediate transfer member between them; a cleaning-voltage applying power source to apply a cleaning voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner onto the first conductive blush member; and an opposing-roller potential controlling unit to control an electric potential state of the conductive opposing roller, so that an electric potential difference, between the first conductive blush member and the conductive opposing roller at a time when the secondary transferring unit is deactivated, is larger than that at a time when the primary transferring unit is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Shuta Hamada, Akira Hamada, Yoshiko Hamada, Takenobu Kimura, Yotaro Sato