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: 20180335735
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 10061239
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Publication number: 20180210381
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 9946203
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
  • Publication number: 20180067430
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 9857743
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 9851666
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 9658586
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a fixing apparatus which fixes a toner image formed on an image receiving medium. The fixing apparatus comprises an endless belt, a roller facing the belt, and a nip pad which faces the roller across the belt and presses the belt together with the roller. A coating layer is formed on a surface of the nip pad which faces the belt. The coating layer is constituted by a simple substance or a compound having at least one kind of elements selected from a group 6 element and a group 14 element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
  • Publication number: 20170090366
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventor: Toshihiro SONE
  • Publication number: 20170090371
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventor: Toshihiro SONE
  • Patent number: 9563160
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 9373999
    Abstract: A connection switch control part that, within a voltage change period where an applied voltage to an inverter can be changed by repeatedly and alternately switching to a serial state where a first power supply and a second power supply are connected in series to the inverter and to a parallel state where the first power supply and the second power supply are connected in parallel to the inverter, provides: a first period during which current of either one of the first power supply and the second power supply changes with an increasing trend, and current of the other one changes with a decreasing trend; and a second period during which current of one of the power supplies changes with a decreasing trend and current of the other power supply changes with an increasing trend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Kurokawa, Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 9158247
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a fixing belt including a conductive layer, an induction-current generating section to electromagnetically induction-heat the conductive layer, an opposed section to form a nip in cooperation with the fixing belt, an auxiliary heat generating section electromagnetically induction-heated by the induction-current generating section, and a moving section to move the auxiliary heat generating section with respect to the fixing belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Masahiro Doi, Toshihiro Sone, Shuji Yokoyama, Tadashi Noguchi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Ryota Saeki, Shigeru Fujiwara, Shoko Shimmura, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Takafumi Amano
  • Patent number: 9075362
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Takahashi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Ryota Saeki, Shoko Shimmura, Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 9031484
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a fuser including a cylindrical fixing belt, a heating unit configured to heat the fixing belt, a pressurized section, a first nip forming section, a second nip forming section, and a moving mechanism. The pressurized section is arranged in contact with the fixing belt. The first nip forming section is fixed in a position where the first nip forming section presses the fixing belt against the pressurized section. The second nip forming section is configured to be movable between a position where the second nip forming section can press the fixing belt against the pressurized section and a position where the second nip forming section is separated from the fixing belt. The moving mechanism moves the second nip forming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsueda, Satoshi Kinouchi, Ryota Saeki, Toshihiro Sone
  • Publication number: 20150110529
    Abstract: A fuser comprises an endless heating device having a heat transport device and a heat generation layer closely contacted with the heat transport device, an induction current generation device configured to heat the heating device through electromagnetic induction and a pressurization device forming a nip with the heating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Toshihiro Sone, Kazuhiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8994212
    Abstract: A control device of an electric power supply apparatus controls a voltage applied to an inverter to fall within a voltage range between a first voltage that is the voltage of one of a first electric power supply and a second electric power supply and a second voltage that is the sum of the voltage of the first electric power supply and the voltage of the second electric power supply, by alternately switching between a series state in which a current loop that connects the first electric power supply, the second electric power supply, and a reactor in series with the inverter is formed, and a parallel state in which the first electric power supply and the second electric power supply are connected in parallel with the inverter as an electric load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Kurokawa, Toshihiro Sone
  • Patent number: 8913910
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt including a metal layer, a pressing member to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing belt, an induction current generating coil that faces an outer periphery of the fixing belt, and heats the fixing belt located at a nip position through a hollow inside of the fixing belt, and a coil controller supplies a high frequency to the induction current generating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinouchi, Toshihiro Sone, Ryota Saeki
  • Publication number: 20140341600
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a fixing belt including a conductive layer, an induction-current generating section to electromagnetically induction-heat the conductive layer, an opposed section to form a nip in cooperation with the fixing belt, an auxiliary heat generating section electromagnetically induction-heated by the induction-current generating section, and a moving section to move the auxiliary heat generating section with respect to the fixing belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KIKUCHI, Masahiro DOI, Toshihiro SONE, Shuji YOKOYAMA, Tadashi NOGUCHI, Satoshi KINOUCHI, Ryota SAEKI, Shigeru FUJIWARA, Shoko SHIMMURA, Kazutoshi TAKAHASHI, Takafumi AMANO
  • Patent number: RE46634
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Takahashi, Satoshi Kinouchi, Ryota Saeki, Shoko Shimmura, Toshihiro Sone