Patents by Inventor Toru Imaizumi
Toru Imaizumi 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).
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Publication number: 20170031283Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda
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Publication number: 20170031284Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: Kenichi Ogawa, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Masashi Tanaka, Kensuke Umeda
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Patent number: 9519252Abstract: In a fixing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a projection portion projected in a direction opposite to a direction biased by the biasing member, from a body part of the biasing member, is provided in a biasing member configured to push a thermosensitive member which receives heat from a heater, toward the heater, so that a crack in the heater at the time of an abnormal temperature rise is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima
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Patent number: 9513586Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes a tubular shaped film; a backup member configured to be brought into contact with an outer surface of the film; a heater having an elongated shape and being configured to be brought into contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generating resistor formed; a first heat conductive member having a higher thermal conductivity than the substrate and being configured to be brought into contact with a surface of the heater, the first heat conductive member including divided first heat conductive members arranged with a gap formed therebetween; a pinching member configured to pinch the first heat conductive member; and a second heat conductive member provided in a region of the gap so as to be brought into contact with both of the heater and the pinching member.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima, Kenichi Ogawa
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Patent number: 9507303Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda
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Patent number: 9501012Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenichi Ogawa, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Masashi Tanaka, Kensuke Umeda
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Patent number: 9423737Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a fixing apparatus that heats a recording material having a toner image while conveying the recording material at a nip portion to make the toner image fix onto the recording material includes a cylindrical belt having a heat generating layer that generates heat by being energized and a contact for supplying electricity to the heat generating layer. The contact is in contact with one of an outer surface and an inner surface of an end of the belt in the generatrix direction of the belt. An electrically conductive layer is provided, along the direction of rotation of the belt, on a surface of the heat generating layer opposite to a surface of the heat generating layer at which the contact is present.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Takanori Watanabe, Masahiko Suzumi, Kazuhiro Doda, Takanori Mitani, Kazuaki Takahata
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Patent number: 9417576Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording material includes: a cylindrical film; a plate-like heater contacting an inner surface of the film; a roller for forming a nip in cooperation with the heater through the film; and a thermo-sensitive member for detecting the temperature of the heater to interrupt electric power supply to the heater when the temperature of the heater reaches an abnormal temperature. The heater has a heat generating pattern symmetric with respect to a center line thereof extending in a direction perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction. The thermo-sensitive member is provided in a side which is opposite from a surface of the heater contacting the inner surface of the film and which is downstream of the center line of the heater with respect to the recording material feeding direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhito Minamishima, Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando
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Publication number: 20160170338Abstract: In a fixing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a projection portion projected in a direction opposite to a direction biased by the biasing member, from a body part of the biasing member, is provided in a biasing member configured to push a thermosensitive member which receives heat from a heater, toward the heater, so that a crack in the heater at the time of an abnormal temperature rise is prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima
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Publication number: 20160139551Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes a tubular shaped film; a backup member configured to be brought into contact with an outer surface of the film; a heater having an elongated shape and being configured to be brought into contact with the film, the heater: including a substrate and a heat generating resistor formed; a first heat conductive member having a higher thermal conductivity than the substrate and being configured to be brought into contact with a surface of the heater, the first heat conductive member including divided first heat conductive members arranged with a gap formed therebetween; a pinching member configured to pinch the first heat conductive member; and a second heat conductive member provided in a region of the gap so as to be brought into contact with both of the heater and the pinching member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima, Kenichi Ogawa
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Publication number: 20160139546Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming the toner image on the recording material; and a fixing portion for fixing the toner image on the recording material by feeding and heating the recording material on which the toner image is formed at a nip. The fixing portion includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member for forming the nip in contact with the first rotatable member, and a casing. An outer surface of the first rotatable member has electroconductivity. The casing has an opposing surface which opposes the outer surface of the first rotatable member and which has electroconductivity. In a region above a lowest point of the outer surface of the first rotatable member with respect to a direction of gravity, an insulating member is provided between the opposing surface and the outer surface of the first rotatable member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Yasuhito Minamishima, Kenichi Ogawa, Masaru Ohno
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Publication number: 20160132006Abstract: A fixing device includes a tubular film; a heater including a first surface being in contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat-generating resistor; a heat-conductive member being in contact with a second surface of the heater opposite to the first surface, the heat-conductive member having a higher thermal conductivity than the substrate; and a supporting member supporting the heater with the heat-conductive member interposed therebetween. The heat-conductive member includes first and second parts at upstream and downstream ends, respectively, in a conveyance direction, and a third part between the first and second parts. The first to third parts are each held between the supporting member and the heater. A non-contact area between the heat-conductive member and the supporting member is provided between the first part and the second part in the conveyance direction. The heat-conductive member is shorter than the heater in the conveyance direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2015Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima, Kenichi Ogawa
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Publication number: 20160098001Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: Kenichi Ogawa, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Masashi Tanaka, Kensuke Umeda
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Publication number: 20160085191Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member than an end portion of the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda
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Publication number: 20160062281Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording material includes a cylindrical film; a plate-like heater contacting an inner surface of the film; a roller for forming a nip in cooperation with the heater through the film; and a thermo-sensitive member for detecting a temperature of the heater to interrupt electric power supply to said heater when the temperature of said heater reaches an abnormal temperature. The heater has a heat generating pattern symmetric with respect to a center line thereof extending in a direction perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction. The thermo-sensitive member is provided in a side which is opposite from a surface of the heater contacting the inner surface of the film and which is downstream of the center line of the heater with respect to the recording material feeding direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Yasuhito Minamishima, Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando
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Patent number: 9235172Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a sheet includes a cylindrical film; a heater having a first surface contacting an inner surface of the film; an opposed member forming a press-contact portion with the film therebetween; a supporting member for supporting a second surface of the heater opposite the first surface; and a heat conduction member contacting the second surface. In a generatrix direction of the film, an end portion of a contact region between the heat conduction member and the second surface is at or inside an end portion of the press-contact portion. In a region from an end portion of the contact region to an outside of an end portion of the press-contact portion with respect to the direction, the supporting member includes a first region not contacting the second surface and a second region contacting the second surface outside the first region.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Masafumi Maeda, Tomoya Tateishi
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Publication number: 20160004196Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a fixing apparatus that heats a recording material having a toner image while conveying the recording material at a nip portion to make the toner image fix onto the recording material includes a cylindrical belt having a heat generating layer that generates heat by being energized and a contact for supplying electricity to the heat generating layer. The contact is in contact with one of an outer surface and an inner surface of an end of the belt in the generatrix direction of the belt. An electrically conductive layer is provided, along the direction of rotation of the belt, on a surface of the heat generating layer opposite to a surface of the heat generating layer at which the contact is present.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Takanori Watanabe, Masahiko Suzumi, Kazuhiro Doda, Takanori Mitani, Kazuaki Takahata
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Patent number: 9229388Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a planar heater, a heat conduction member, a supporting member, a limiting member for limiting heater end portions with respect to a generatrix direction of the film so as to prevent the end portions from moving in a heater thickness direction relative to the supporting member, and a pressing member. A fixing device state is switchable between a first state in which a press-contact force in the nip is enough to fix the toner image and a second state in which the press-contact force in the nip is smaller than the press-contact force in the first state. A surface where the supporting member opposes the heat conduction member has a shape such that with respect to the generatrix direction, a central portion of the film is projected toward the pressing member to a greater extent than an end portion of the film.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaihsaInventors: Toru Imaizumi, Takashi Narahara, Atsutoshi Ando, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tomoya Tateishi, Masafumi Maeda
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Patent number: 9227183Abstract: The present invention relates to microparticles comprising: at least one type of a platinum-based catalyst; and a thermoplastic polyolefin resin with a Z-average (Mz) of a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 2500 and Mz/Mw of not more than 2.0, wherein the platinum-based catalyst is dispersed in the thermoplastic polyolefin resin. The microparticles make it possible to obtain a one-component curable organopolysiloxane composition having characteristics such as excellent storage stability.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignees: DOW CORNING TORAY CO., LTD., DOW CORNING CORPORATIONInventors: Manabu Sutoh, Kouichi Ozaki, Toru Imaizumi, Dorab Edul Bhagwagar, Toyohiko Fujisawa
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Patent number: 9182713Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a fixing apparatus that heats a recording material having a toner image while conveying the recording material at a nip portion to make the toner image fix onto the recording material includes a cylindrical belt having a heat generating layer that generates heat by being energized and a contact for supplying electricity to the heat generating layer. The contact is in contact with one of an outer surface and an inner surface of an end of the belt in the generatrix direction of the belt. An electrically conductive layer is provided, along the direction of rotation of the belt, on a surface of the heat generating layer opposite to a surface of the heat generating layer at which the contact is present.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Takanori Watanabe, Masahiko Suzumi, Kazuhiro Doda, Takanori Mitani, Kazuaki Takahata