Patents by Inventor Tomoyuki Yoshii

Tomoyuki Yoshii 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: 11609511
    Abstract: A developing device including a first transport path in which the developer to be supplied to the development-region passing body is transported at least in a first transport direction; a second transport path in which the developer to be sent to the first transport path is transported at least in a second transport direction; and a first connection portion through which a portion of the first transport path positioned short of a first-transport-direction-downstream end of the first transport path and a portion of the second transport path positioned short of a second transport-direction-upstream end of the second transport path are connected to one another. A first transport member in the first transport path has a helical reverse-transport blade that reverse-transports the developer in a reverse direction reverse to the first transport provided adjacent to the first connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kenta Urayama, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Norihiro Tamazawa
  • Publication number: 20220373933
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a development-region passing body that passes a development region while holding a developer; a first transport path in which the developer to be supplied to the development-region passing body is transported at least in a first transport direction; a second transport path in which the developer to be sent to the first transport path is transported at least in a second transport direction; a first connection portion through which a portion of the first transport path positioned short of a first-transport-direction-downstream end of the first transport path and a portion of the second transport path positioned short of a second transport-direction-upstream end of the second transport path are connected to one another; and a first transport member having a rotating shaft on which a helical first forward-transport blade is provided, the helical first forward-transport blade rotating to forward-transport the developer in the first transport direction in the first transport path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kenta URAYAMA, Yoshifumi OZAKI, Tomoyuki YOSHII, Norihiro TAMAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20220373935
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing rotator configured to rotate through a developing region while carrying a magnetic developer, a supply transport member configured to rotate to transport the developer to be supplied to the developing rotator, a non-magnetic movement assist member arranged between the developing rotator and the supply transport member, and having a slope that receives the developer from the supply transport member and moves the developer to the developing rotator, a first adjusting member having a facing surface that faces, with distances, the slope of the movement assist member and a surface of the developing rotator at a part passing over the movement assist member, and configured to adjust a movement amount of the developer from the movement assist member to the developing rotator and a carrying amount of the developer on the surface of the developing rotator, and a second adjusting member having a distance from the surface of the developing rotator at a part passing over the first
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kenta URAYAMA, Tomoyuki YOSHII, Yoshifumi OZAKI, Norihiro TAMAZAWA
  • Patent number: 11506997
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing rotator configured to rotate through a developing region while carrying a magnetic developer, a supply transport member configured to rotate to transport the developer to be supplied to the developing rotator, a non-magnetic movement assist member arranged between the developing rotator and the supply transport member, and having a slope that receives the developer from the supply transport member and moves the developer to the developing rotator, a first adjusting member having a facing surface that faces, with distances, the slope of the movement assist member and a surface of the developing rotator at a part passing over the movement assist member, and configured to adjust a movement amount of the developer from the movement assist member to the developing rotator and a carrying amount of the developer on the surface of the developing rotator, and a second adjusting member having a distance from the surface of the developing rotator at a part passing over the first
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kenta Urayama, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Norihiro Tamazawa
  • Patent number: 11506995
    Abstract: A developing device includes a transporting member that transports a developer in an axial direction while rotating, a developing unit that hands over the developer to an image holder, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, while rotating, and develops the electrostatic latent image, a pumping unit that has a rotation member rotating in a circumferential direction, pumps the developer transported by the transporting member with a magnetic force, and supplies the pumped developer to the developing unit by releasing the developer in a tangential direction of the rotating rotation member, and a changing unit that changes a flowing direction of the developer, which is released in the tangential direction of the rotating rotation member and is to be supplied to the developing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshifumi Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20220019158
    Abstract: A developing device includes a transporting member that transports a developer in an axial direction while rotating, a developing unit that hands over the developer to an image holder, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, while rotating, and develops the electrostatic latent image, a pumping unit that has a rotation member rotating in a circumferential direction, pumps the developer transported by the transporting member with a magnetic force, and supplies the pumped developer to the developing unit by releasing the developer in a tangential direction of the rotating rotation member, and a changing unit that changes a flowing direction of the developer, which is released in the tangential direction of the rotating rotation member and is to be supplied to the developing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Shinichi KURAMOTO, Tomoyuki YOSHII, Norihiro TAMAZAWA, Yoshifumi OZAKI
  • Patent number: 11036162
    Abstract: A powder transport apparatus includes a housing and first and second transport members. The housing includes first and second transport paths that are separated by a partition wall extending in one direction. The first and second transport paths are connected by first and second connection ports. The first and second connection ports are separated in the one direction with the partition wall interposed therebetween. The first transport member is provided in the first transport path. The first transport member transports powder. The second transport member is provided in the second transport path. The second transport member transports the powder. A transport force of the second transport member at a portion of the second transport member where the second transport member faces the first connection port is smaller than a transport force of the second transport member at a portion where the second transport member faces the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Norihiro Tamazawa, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Kenta Urayama, Yoshifumi Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20210173327
    Abstract: A powder transport apparatus includes a housing and first and second transport members. The housing includes first and second transport paths that are separated by a partition wall extending in one direction. The first and second transport paths are connected by first and second connection ports. The first and second connection ports are separated in the one direction with the partition wall interposed therebetween. The first transport member is provided in the first transport path. The first transport member transports powder. The second transport member is provided in the second transport path. The second transport member transports the powder. A transport force of the second transport member at a portion of the second transport member where the second transport member faces the first connection port is smaller than a transport force of the second transport member at a portion where the second transport member faces the partition wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiro TAMAZAWA, Tomoyuki YOSHII, Yoshitaka NAKAJIMA, Kenta URAYAMA, Yoshifumi OZAKI
  • Patent number: 10996588
    Abstract: A powder transport apparatus includes a first transport path disposed in the first transport path, a second transport path connected to the first transport path through a first connection port and a junction port, a third transport path connected to the second transport path through a second connection port, a second transport member that is disposed in the second transport path and includes a first shaft provided with a first spiral blade that transports powder toward the first connection port, a second spiral blade that is provided in a portion of the first shaft between the first connection port and the junction port and that has a transport force smaller than a transport force of the first spiral blade in the one direction, and a third transport member disposed in the third transport path. The third transport member transports the powder toward the second connection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Kato, Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Norihiro Tamazawa, Shigemi Murata, Takashi Ochi
  • Patent number: 10921733
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a housing having a first transport path through which developer is supplied, a second transport path adjoining the first transport path with a first partition wall therebetween, and a first communication path communicating with the second transport path on a downstream side in a developer transport direction in the first transport path; a first transport member disposed in the first transport path and having an axially rotatable first rotary shaft and a first spiral blade projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the first rotary shaft; a second transport member disposed in the second transport path and having an axially rotatable second rotary shaft and a second spiral blade projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the second rotary shaft; and a first blade member projecting from the outer circumferential surface of the first rotary shaft, at a position facing the first communication path, the blade member discharging the developer onto the second transport
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Tomoyuki Yoshii
  • Patent number: 10908528
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier on which an attraction region is set, the attraction region being a region that attracts developer including toner and a carrier, and that carries, in the attraction region, the developer that is to be supplied to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a regulation member that regulates the developer so that a predetermined amount of the developer is carried by the developer carrier; and a forming unit that is located upstream of the regulation member and that forms, in the attraction region, a first region that restricts a flow of developer supplied to the developer carrier and a second region that is located between the first region and the regulation member and that does not restrict a flow of the developer compared with the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO.. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nakajima, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Masanori Kato, Shinichi Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 10890859
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier configured to carry a developer to be supplied to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, a conveying unit configured to convey the developer containing a toner and a carrier, a regulating member configured to regulate the developer carried by the developer carrier to a specified amount, a developer accumulating member disposed upstream of the regulating member in a rotation direction of the developer carrier, the developer accumulating member forming an accumulating portion in which the developer accumulates, and a rotation member disposed between the developer accumulating member and the developer carrier, the rotation member being rotated to allow the developer to pass through a space between the developer accumulating member and the rotation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Yoshii
  • Patent number: 10877400
    Abstract: A developing device includes a development roller, a housing, a suction device, and a discharging device. The development roller rotates to pass a developer to an image carrier. The housing includes an opening, which allows the development roller to face the image carrier therethrough, and a flow-in path, which is a gap formed to allow air to flow therethrough between the development roller and an edge of the opening downstream in a rotation direction of the development roller. The suction device has a suction path having a distal end serving as a suction port that is open to an outside of the housing, and sucks air through the suction port. The discharging device includes a through-hole, which extends through the housing to connect an inside to an outside of the housing, and a discharge path, which extends from the through-hole to the suction port. The discharge path merges with the suction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Norihiro Tamazawa, Tomoyuki Yoshii
  • Publication number: 20200326642
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier configured to carry a developer to be supplied to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, a conveying unit configured to convey the developer containing a toner and a carrier, a regulating member configured to regulate the developer carried by the developer carrier to a specified amount, a developer accumulating member disposed upstream of the regulating member in a rotation direction of the developer carrier, the developer accumulating member forming an accumulating portion in which the developer accumulates, and a rotation member disposed between the developer accumulating member and the developer carrier, the rotation member being rotated to allow the developer to pass through a space between the developer accumulating member and the rotation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki YOSHII
  • Publication number: 20200310280
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier on which an attraction region is set, the attraction region being a region that attracts developer including toner and a carrier, and that carries, in the attraction region, the developer that is to be supplied to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a regulation member that regulates the developer so that a predetermined amount of the developer is carried by the developer carrier; and a forming unit that is located upstream of the regulation member and that forms, in the attraction region, a first region that restricts a flow of developer supplied to the developer carrier and a second region that is located between the first region and the regulation member and that does not restrict a flow of the developer compared with the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka NAKAJIMA, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Masanori Kato, Shinichi Kuramoto
  • Publication number: 20200301310
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a housing unit that has an opening and houses a developer; a conveying member that is installed within the housing unit and conveys the developer; a first rotating member that has an outer peripheral surface to which the developer conveyed by the conveying member adheres; a regulating unit that protrudes above a movement path of the developer that adheres to the outer peripheral surface and moves due to rotation of the first rotating member, and regulates movement of some of the developer on the outer peripheral surface; and a second rotating member that is installed in the opening and has supplied thereto the developer that has moved through a gap between the first rotating member and the regulating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi KURAMOTO, Yoshifumi OZAKI, Masanori KATO, Yoshitaka NAKAJIMA, Norihiro TAMAZAWA, Tomoyuki YOSHII, Shigeru INABA
  • Patent number: 10739699
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier that carries a developer to be supplied to an image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image, a supply unit that supplies the developer containing toner and a carrier to the developer carrier by transporting the developer while agitating the developer along a circulation path formed through rotation of each of plural rotary members, and a delivery unit that receives a collected developer, which is the developer collected from the developer carrier, transports the collected developer by another rotary member different from the plural rotary members of the supply unit, and delivers the collected developer to the circulation path of the supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Kato, Shinichi Kuramoto, Yoshifumi Ozaki, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Norihiro Tamazawa
  • Patent number: 10613454
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a container for accommodating developer, the container having an exhaust port; and a merging section where airflows directed from the interior of the container to the exhaust port join together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ayumi Noguchi, Shinichi Kuramoto, Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Masanori Kato, Ryota Tomishi
  • Publication number: 20200096901
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a container for accommodating developer, the container having an exhaust port; and a merging section where airflows directed from the interior of the container to the exhaust port join together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ayumi NOGUCHI, Shinichi KURAMOTO, Norihiro TAMAZAWA, Yoshitaka NAKAJIMA, Tomoyuki YOSHII, Masanori KATO, Ryota TOMISHI
  • Patent number: 10591843
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that holds an image, a developer carrier that holds a developer to be supplied to the image carrier, a transport member that transports the developer in an axial direction of the developer carrier, and a restraint member that restrains the developer, which has scattered as a result of being transported by the transport member, from moving toward the developer carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Urayama, Masanori Kato, Tomoyuki Yoshii, Fumiyuki Honda, Shiho Matsuda, Yoshitaka Nakajima, Junichi Uchiyama, Norihiro Tamazawa, Yoshifumi Ozaki