Patents by Inventor Toshihiro Sone
Toshihiro Sone 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).
-
Publication number: 20220066364Abstract: According to an embodiment, a heating device includes a cylindrical belt, a heater, a press roller, and a holder. The heater is disposed on an inner surface of the belt. The press roller rotates and is configured to contact an outer surface of the belt at a position opposite the heater to form a nip. The end portions of the press roller project by a first amount in a radial direction more than the central portion of the press roller. A holder has a first surface supporting the heater to face the cylindrical belt. The holder has a second surface that is opposite of the first surface with a center portion projecting in a direction orthogonal to the first surface more than the end portions of the second surface by a second projection amount that is greater than the first projection amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventor: Toshihiro SONE
-
Patent number: 11231667Abstract: According to an embodiment, a fixing device includes rotating body that is rotatably supported, a heater that heats the rotating body, a pressing body that is pressed against the rotating body to form a nip through which print media passes to a media conveyance path, and a water vapor discharge passage downstream of the nip from rotating body. The water vapor discharge passage is separate and distinct from the media conveyance path. The fixing device may be used in image forming apparatuses and the like.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Patent number: 11142091Abstract: A power supply device includes: a first power storage device; a second power storage device that outputs voltage higher than the output voltage of the first power storage device and is connected in series to the first power storage device; a voltage converter connected to the output terminal of the first power storage device to output converted voltage; a second load connected to the output terminal of the voltage converter; and a control unit that controls the voltage converter at fixed boost ratio such that the converted voltage is the sum of the output voltage of the first power storage device and output voltage of the second power storage device. The output terminal of the first power storage device is connected to the second power storage device. The output terminal of the second power storage device is connected to the output terminal of the voltage converter.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Patent number: 11038367Abstract: A vehicle electric power supply apparatus includes: a first battery that supplies electric power to a first load that is driven at a first voltage and a second load that is driven at a second voltage which is lower than the first voltage; a second battery that supplies electric power to the second load and that has a lower output voltage than that of the first battery; a DC/DC converter that reduces a voltage value of the first battery and that supplies electric power to the second load; and a control part that controls a state of supplying electric power of the first battery to the second load by controlling an operation of the DC/DC converter based on a charging rate of the first battery and a charging rate of the second battery.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Publication number: 20210080882Abstract: According to an embodiment, a fixing device includes rotating body that is rotatably supported, a heater that heats the rotating body, a pressing body that is pressed against the rotating body to form a nip through which print media passes to a media conveyance path, and a water vapor discharge passage downstream of the nip from rotating body. The water vapor discharge passage is separate and distinct from the media conveyance path. The fixing device may be used in image forming apparatuses and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Publication number: 20200384866Abstract: A power supply system 1 includes: first power lines (21p, 21n) to which a first battery (B1) is connected; second power lines (31p, 31n) to which a second battery (B2) is connected; a voltage converter (5) which converts voltage; a power converter which converts electric power; a management ECU (71) and converter ECU (73) which operates the voltage converter (5); a smoothing capacitor connected to the first power lines (21p, 21n); and a motor ECU (72) which executes system interruption processing of determining the existence of failure of the contactors (22m, 22s, 32m, 32s) based on a change in voltage of the smoothing capacitor. The management ECU (71) and converter ECU (73) operate the voltage converter (5) so that a state in which the static voltage of the first battery (B1) is higher by at least the determination potential difference than the static voltage of the second battery (B2).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Naoto TAGAYA, Hirokazu OGUMA, Hiroki SAKAMOTO, Toshihiro SONE, Kenta SUZUKI
-
Patent number: 10831136Abstract: According to an embodiment, a fixing device includes rotating body that is rotatably supported, a heater that heats the rotating body, a pressing body that is pressed against the rotating body to form a nip through which print media passes to a media conveyance path, and a water vapor discharge passage downstream of the nip from rotating body. The water vapor discharge passage is separate and distinct from the media conveyance path. The fixing device may be used in image forming apparatuses and the like.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Publication number: 20200083731Abstract: A power supply device includes: a first power storage device; a second power storage device that outputs voltage higher than the output voltage of the first power storage device and is connected in series to the first power storage device; a voltage converter connected to the output terminal of the first power storage device to output converted voltage; a second load connected to the output terminal of the voltage converter; and a control unit that controls the voltage converter at fixed boost ratio such that the converted voltage is the sum of the output voltage of the first power storage device and output voltage of the second power storage device. The output terminal of the first power storage device is connected to the second power storage device. The output terminal of the second power storage device is connected to the output terminal of the voltage converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Publication number: 20190260217Abstract: A vehicle electric power supply apparatus includes: a first battery that supplies electric power to a first load that is driven at a first voltage and a second load that is driven at a second voltage which is lower than the first voltage; a second battery that supplies electric power to the second load and that has a lower output voltage than that of the first battery; a DC/DC converter that reduces a voltage value of the first battery and that supplies electric power to the second load; and a control part that controls a state of supplying electric power of the first battery to the second load by controlling an operation of the DC/DC converter based on a charging rate of the first battery and a charging rate of the second battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Patent number: 10365595Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotator, a belt, and a second rotator. The belt forms a nip by abutting onto a surface of the first rotator. The second rotator is disposed to abut onto an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The second rotator presses the belt against the first rotator such that the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
-
Publication number: 20190123656Abstract: A power supply device including a first power supply, a second power supply, a voltage control unit (VCU) stepping up a voltage from an input terminal to an output terminal, and an electronic control unit (ECU) is provided. The VCU includes an upper arm, a lower arm, a reactor having one end connected to the input terminal and the other end connected to a connection midpoint between the upper arm and the lower arm, and a current sensor acquiring a value of a current flowing in the reactor. At startup of the VCU, after performing a startup control that gradually increases a duty ratio of a transistor of the lower arm while turning off a transistor of the upper arm, the ECU performs a normal control that complementarily drives the transistors. During the startup control, the ECU determines whether to terminate the startup control using the acquired current value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: Honda Motor Co.,Ltd.Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Publication number: 20180335735Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotator, a belt, and a second rotator. The belt forms a nip by abutting onto a surface of the first rotator. The second rotator is disposed to abut onto an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The second rotator presses the belt against the first rotator such that the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
-
Patent number: 10061239Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotator, a belt, and a second rotator. The belt forms a nip by abutting onto a surface of the first rotator. The second rotator is disposed to abut onto an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The second rotator presses the belt against the first rotator such that the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2017Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
-
Publication number: 20180210381Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotator, a belt, and a second rotator. The belt forms a nip by abutting onto a surface of the first rotator. The second rotator is disposed to abut onto an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The second rotator presses the belt against the first rotator such that the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
-
Patent number: 9946203Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a fixing device comprises a first rotating body; a second rotating body configured to face the first rotating body and be stretched over a plurality of rotating bodies; and a first mechanism configured to enable at least one among a plurality of the rotating bodies to move to change a nip width between the first rotating body and the second rotating body.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Publication number: 20180067430Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a fixing device comprises a first rotating body; a second rotating body configured to face the first rotating body and be stretched over a plurality of rotating bodies; and a first mechanism configured to enable at least one among a plurality of the rotating bodies to move to change a nip width between the first rotating body and the second rotating body.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2016Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Patent number: 9857743Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit configured to heat a sheet to fix an image on the sheet, a heating unit configured to heat the fixing unit, and a heat conduction unit disposed adjacent to a heated surface of the fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a first region not in contact with the sheet during heating of the sheet and a second region that is in contact with the heated sheet during heating of the sheet and has a temperature lower than the first region as a result of the contact with the sheet during the heating. The heat conduction unit is configured to transfer heat from the first region to the second region.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Patent number: 9851666Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit configured to heat a sheet to fix an image on the sheet, a heating unit configured to heat the fixing unit, and a heat conduction unit disposed adjacent to a heated surface of the fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a first region not in contact with the sheet during heating of the sheet and a second region that is in contact with the heated sheet during heating of the sheet and has a temperature lower than the first region as a result of the contact with the sheet during the heating. The heat conduction unit is configured to transfer heat from the first region to the second region.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshihiro Sone
-
Patent number: RE46634Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a heat roller, an endless belt, a first press roller and a second press roller. The heat roller rotates and contacts a toner surface side of a sheet, and heats the sheet. The endless belt contacts a part of an outer peripheral surface of the heat roller. The first press roller contacts a part of an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, and is provided at an insertion part of the sheet in a nip portion where the heat roller contacts the endless belt. The second press roller contacts a part of the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, is provided at an exit part of the sheet in the nip portion, and has a lower rotational resistance than the first press roller.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazutoshi Takahashi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Ryota Saeki, Shoko Shimmura, Toshihiro Sone
-
Patent number: RE48099Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a heat roller, an endless belt, a first press roller and a second press roller. The heat roller rotates and contacts a toner surface side of a sheet, and heats the sheet. The endless belt contacts a part of an outer peripheral surface of the heat roller. The first press roller contacts a part of an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, and is provided at an insertion part of the sheet in a nip portion where the heat roller contacts the endless belt. The second press roller contacts a part of the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, is provided at an exit part of the sheet in the nip portion, and has a lower rotational resistance than the first press roller.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazutoshi Takahashi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Ryota Saeki, Shoko Shimmura, Toshihiro Sone