Patents by Inventor Toshirou Kitahara

Toshirou Kitahara 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).

  • Developing apparatus and L-shaped toner regulating blade therefor
    Patent number: 5937253
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller having a surface on which a layer of a non-magnetic single component developing agent (toner) is adapted to be formed, a toner supply roller held in contact with the developing roller so as to electrify the toner and also to supply the toner to the developing roller, and a toner regulating blade for regulating the toner on the developing roller so as to form a film of the toner thereon. The toner regulating blade is formed into a generally L-shape, and with a simple construction, the thickness of the toner layer, formed on the developing roller, can be stabilized, and also a torque of the developing roller can be reduced, and the degradation of a printed image is suppressed, thereby stabilizing the printed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Shimazaki, Hironori Taguchi, Kazuhiko Noda, Akihiro Tsuru, Toshirou Kitahara, Keiichi Matsuzaki