Patents by Inventor Taro Minobe

Taro Minobe 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: 11474458
    Abstract: A control circuit executes voltage adjustment processing of adjusting a voltage output from a transfer power source so that a current detected by a detection circuit becomes a predetermined current value. The voltage adjustment processing is executed before a toner image is transferred from at least one of a first image bearing member and a second image bearing member to an intermediate transfer belt. A processor determines whether the second transfer member is in a state of contact or is in a state of separation on the basis of behavior of the current detected by the detection circuit in a period in which the control circuit is executing the voltage adjustment processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Matsumura, Keisuke Samejima, Keizo Kojima, Taro Minobe
  • Patent number: 11307525
    Abstract: A printed circuit board comprises a first mounting surface, a second mounting surface, and a piezoelectric transformer. The piezoelectric transformer has a piezoelectric substance, external electrodes, and a frame substrate. The second mounting surface has a projection region. There is a first region from a first location, where an end portion further from the output electrode out of end portions of the input electrode is projected onto the second mounting surface in the projection region, to a second location, where an end portion closer to the output electrode out of the end portions of the input electrode is projected onto the second mounting surface, the first region being a mounting allowed region where an electronic component is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Minobe, Norikazu Sugiyama, Ryo Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20210278786
    Abstract: A control circuit executes voltage adjustment processing of adjusting a voltage output from a transfer power source so that ae current detected by a detection circuit becomes a predetermined current value. The voltage adjustment processing is executed before a toner image is transferred from at least one of a first image bearing member and a second image bearing member to an intermediate transfer belt. A processor determines whether the second transfer member is in a state of contact or is in a state of separation on the basis of behavior of the current detected by the detection circuit in a period in which the control circuit is executing the voltage adjustment processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Ryo Matsumura, Keisuke Samejima, Keizo Kojima, Taro Minobe
  • Patent number: 11112735
    Abstract: A controller can select and execute a full color mode of performing image formation in a first state in which each primary transfer member is in contact with an intermediate transfer belt, and a monochrome mode of performing image formation in a second state in which only a primary transfer member is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt. The controller determines which state of the first state and the second state is formed, based on a detection result obtained by a current detection circuit when a photosensitive drum is charged by a charging roller, and voltage is applied to the primary transfer member from a primary transfer power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Minobe, Keizo Kojima, Naoki Kanno, Atsushi Nakamoto, Toshihiko Takayama, Hideo Nanataki
  • Publication number: 20200257234
    Abstract: A printed circuit board comprises a first mounting surface, a second mounting surface, and a piezoelectric transformer. The piezoelectric transformer has a piezoelectric substance, external electrodes, and a frame substrate. The second mounting surface has a projection region. There is a first region from a first location, where an end portion further from the output electrode out of end portions of the input electrode is projected onto the second mounting surface in the projection region, to a second location, where an end portion closer to the output electrode out of the end portions of the input electrode is projected onto the second mounting surface, the first region being a mounting allowed region where an electronic component is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Taro Minobe, Norikazu Sugiyama, Ryo Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20200201212
    Abstract: A controller can select and execute a full color mode of performing image formation in a first state in which each primary transfer member is in contact with an intermediate transfer belt, and a monochrome mode of performing image formation in a second state in which only a primary transfer member is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt. The controller determines which state of the first state and the second state is formed, based on a detection result obtained by a current detection circuit when a photosensitive drum is charged by a charging roller, and voltage is applied to the primary transfer member from a primary transfer power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Taro Minobe, Keizo Kojima, Naoki Kanno, Atsushi Nakamoto, Toshihiko Takayama, Hideo Nanataki
  • Patent number: 10671009
    Abstract: A printed circuit board comprises a first mounting surface, a second mounting surface, and a piezoelectric transformer. The piezoelectric transformer has a piezoelectric substance, external electrodes, and a frame substrate. The second mounting surface has a projection region. There is a first region from a first location, where an end portion further from the output electrode out of end portions of the input electrode is projected onto the second mounting surface in the projection region, to a second location, where an end portion closer to the output electrode out of the end portions of the input electrode is projected onto the second mounting surface, the first region being a mounting allowed region where an electronic component is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Minobe, Norikazu Sugiyama, Ryo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 10627749
    Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective image forming stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Katagiri, Yuji Kawaguchi, Masaru Ohno, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Takeo Kawanami, Taro Minobe, Masaru Shimura
  • Publication number: 20190137910
    Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Shinji Katagiri, Yuji Kawaguchi, Masaru Ohno, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Takeo Kawanami, Taro Minobe, Masaru Shimura
  • Patent number: 10261451
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an intermediate transfer belt, a secondary transfer roller, a secondary transfer power supply, an opposing roller through which a current flows through the intermediate transfer belt when the voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller by the secondary transfer power supply, metal rollers electrically connected to the opposing roller and contacting an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt in vicinities of the photosensitive drums, a current restriction circuit connected to a path of a current flowing from the opposing roller to the metal rollers when the voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller by the secondary transfer power supply, the current restriction circuit configured to restrict the current from the opposing roller to the metal rollers to a predetermined current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taro Minobe
  • Patent number: 10228649
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus is configured to detect the output voltage of a piezoelectric transformer and controls the frequency of a pulse signal to drive the piezoelectric transformer based on the detected output voltage and a preset target voltage so as to perform feedback control of the output voltage of the piezoelectric transformer, the gain when performing the feedback control is switched in accordance with the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taro Minobe
  • Patent number: 10180643
    Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective image forming stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Katagiri, Yuji Kawaguchi, Masaru Ohno, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Takeo Kawanami, Taro Minobe, Masaru Shimura
  • Publication number: 20180231932
    Abstract: A printed circuit board comprises a first mounting surface, a second mounting surface, and a piezoelectric transformer. The piezoelectric transformer has a piezoelectric substance, external electrodes, and a frame substrate. The second mounting surface has a projection region. There is a first region from a first location, where an end portion further from the output electrode out of end portions of the input electrode is projected onto the second mounting surface in the projection region, to a second location, where an end portion closer to the output electrode out of the end portions of the input electrode is projected onto the second mounting surface, the first region being a mounting allowed region where an electronic component is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Taro Minobe, Norikazu Sugiyama, Ryo Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20180181033
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an intermediate transfer belt, a secondary transfer roller, a secondary transfer power supply, an opposing roller through which a current flows through the intermediate transfer belt when the voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller by the secondary transfer power supply, metal rollers electrically connected to the opposing roller and contacting an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt in vicinities of the photosensitive drums, a current restriction circuit connected to a path of a current flowing from the opposing roller to the metal rollers when the voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller by the secondary transfer power supply, the current restriction circuit configured to restrict the current from the opposing roller to the metal rollers to a predetermined current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventor: Taro Minobe
  • Publication number: 20180039210
    Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Shinji Katagiri, Yuji Kawaguchi, Masaru Ohno, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Takeo Kawanami, Taro Minobe, Masaru Shimura
  • Patent number: 9864318
    Abstract: An imaging forming apparatus includes a positive high-voltage circuit that generates voltage having a positive polarity, a negative high-voltage circuit connected in series with the positive high-voltage circuit and generates voltage having a negative polarity, a transfer roller to which the voltage generated by the positive high-voltage circuit or the negative high-voltage circuit is supplied, neutralizing pins to which the voltage generated by the negative high-voltage circuit is supplied, a current detection circuit that detects current flowing into the transfer roller, and a diode connected between the transfer roller and the neutralizing pins and that separates a path for the current flowing into the transfer roller and a path for current flowing into the neutralizing pins from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taro Minobe
  • Patent number: 9817342
    Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective image forming stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Katagiri, Yuji Kawaguchi, Masaru Ohno, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Takeo Kawanami, Taro Minobe, Masaru Shimura
  • Patent number: 9798283
    Abstract: An imaging forming apparatus includes a positive high-voltage circuit that generates voltage having a positive polarity, a negative high-voltage circuit connected in series with the positive high-voltage circuit and generates voltage having a negative polarity, a transfer roller to which the voltage generated by the positive high-voltage circuit or the negative high-voltage circuit is supplied, neutralizing pins to which the voltage generated by the negative high-voltage circuit is supplied, a current detection circuit that detects current flowing into the transfer roller, and a diode connected between the transfer roller and the neutralizing pins and that separates a path for the current flowing into the transfer roller and a path for current flowing into the neutralizing pins from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taro Minobe
  • Publication number: 20170194876
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus is configured to detect the output voltage of a piezoelectric transformer and controls the frequency of a pulse signal to drive the piezoelectric transformer based on the detected output voltage and a preset target voltage so as to perform feedback control of the output voltage of the piezoelectric transformer, the gain when performing the feedback control is switched in accordance with the target voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventor: Taro Minobe
  • Publication number: 20160320727
    Abstract: A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Shinji Katagiri, Yuji Kawaguchi, Masaru Ohno, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Takeo Kawanami, Taro Minobe, Masaru Shimura