Patents by Inventor Toyoka Aimoto

Toyoka Aimoto 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: 11522173
    Abstract: In a battery casing a metal negative electrode that contains metal serving as a negative electrode active material and an air electrode are arranged so as to face each other in a state where at least a part of the metal negative electrode and the air electrode is immersed in an electrolytic solution inside a casing. The metal negative electrode is housed in a negative electrode housing in the casing. A separator separating the metal negative electrode and the air electrode is arranged at a side surface of the negative electrode housing. An opening through which inside of the negative electrode housing and outside of the negative electrode housing communicate with each other is provided on an upper surface of the negative electrode housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomo Kitagawa, Shinobu Takenaka, Hirotaka Mizuhata, Masaki Kaga, Toyoka Aimoto
  • Publication number: 20220247016
    Abstract: Provided is a metal-air cell whose electrolytic solution is kept from leaking from an outer pouch housing an electrode. Hence, the metal-air cell excels in reliability and safety. The metal-air cell includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode each including a lead. The lead includes a sealing member provided to an outer face of the lead. The outer pouch includes a fusing portion in which the sealing member and the lead are held and fused together. The fusing portion seals the outer pouch. The sealing member includes an adhesive layer covering the lead inside the outer pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: SHUNSUKE SATA, HIROTAKA MIZUHATA, TOMO KITAGAWA, TOYOKA AIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210313660
    Abstract: A metal-air battery module includes a unit assembly having a plurality of battery units coupled using first couplers. Each battery unit has a metal-air battery cell held by a sheet. In the unit assembly, two of the metal-air battery cells adjacent to each other are arranged in such a manner that a negative-electrode terminal and an air-electrode terminal face each other, and the facing terminals are connected together to form a pair of connected terminals. In the pair of connected terminals, the negative-electrode terminal and the air-electrode terminal are connected through welding or other methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: HIROTAKA MIZUHATA, TOMO KITAGAWA, TOYOKA AIMOTO, AKIHITO YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 11063310
    Abstract: A battery case containing an electrode group including an air electrode and a separator includes main walls on which the air electrode is opposingly disposed and a surrounding portion that is disposed at marginal portions of the main walls and that surrounds a side edge portion of the opposingly disposed air electrode. The surrounding portion is covered by an edge portion of the separator disposed opposing the air electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Kaga, Toyoka Aimoto
  • Publication number: 20200266423
    Abstract: In a battery casing a metal negative electrode that contains metal serving as a negative electrode active material and an air electrode are arranged so as to face each other in a state where at least a part of the metal negative electrode and the air electrode is immersed in an electrolytic solution inside a casing. The metal negative electrode is housed in a negative electrode housing in the casing. A separator separating the metal negative electrode and the air electrode is arranged at a side surface of the negative electrode housing. An opening through which inside of the negative electrode housing and outside of the negative electrode housing communicate with each other is provided on an upper surface of the negative electrode housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: TOMO KITAGAWA, SHINOBU TAKENAKA, HIROTAKA MIZUHATA, MASAKI KAGA, TOYOKA AIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200075903
    Abstract: A battery case containing an electrode group including an air electrode and a separator includes main walls on which the air electrode is opposingly disposed and a surrounding portion that is disposed at marginal portions of the main walls and that surrounds a side edge portion of the opposingly disposed air electrode. The surrounding portion is covered by an edge portion of the separator disposed opposing the air electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Masaki KAGA, Toyoka AIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8913924
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: a developing section which includes a developer bearing member which bears toner to be supplied to an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a developer regulating section which regulates a layer thickness of the toner borne by the developer bearing member, the developer regulating section being electrically connected to the charger case, the developer regulating section being at least partially electroconductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyoka Aimoto
  • Patent number: 8326195
    Abstract: A transfer device and an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image of smooth image quality with little uneven density, are provided. An alternating voltage is applied so that a first period in which a first peak-to-peak voltage Vpp(1) is applied and a second period in which a second peak-to-peak voltage Vpp(2), lower than the first peak-to-peak voltage, is applied are alternately repeated. In the alternating voltage to be applied, a transfer side potential to shift a toner from an intermediate transfer belt to recording paper sheet and an opposite transfer side potential to shift the toner from the recording paper sheet to the intermediate transfer belt are applied so as to alternate with each other. When f1 denotes a frequency of the first period and f2 denotes a frequency of the second period, f1=f2 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toyoka Aimoto, Toshimasa Hamada
  • Patent number: 8032062
    Abstract: A developing unit is configured to develop an electrostatic latent image born on an image bearing member with a developer that has been charged by mixing and agitating toner and magnetic carrier. The developing unit comprises a developing hopper; a developer bearing member; and at least a pair of agitating and conveying members rotationally driven in the developing hopper. The agitating and conveying members are arranged substantially parallel to the developer bearing member and each rotational shaft of the agitating and conveying members is embedded with a magnetic source element whose magnetic poles are laid out so as to produce a magnetic field radially oriented in a particular fixed direction with respect to the agitating and conveying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyoka Aimoto
  • Patent number: 7904009
    Abstract: The development device of this invention includes a developer bearing member, a magnet, and a developer regulation member. The magnet is fixedly disposed within the interior of the developer bearing member. The developer regulation member includes at least a magnetic member. And the thickness of this magnetic member along the rotational direction of the developer bearing member is between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm inclusive. Moreover, if the distance over the developer bearing member, from the position thereupon which the center of the magnetic member along the rotational direction opposes, to the position thereupon at which the magnetism of that magnetic pole which is disposed closest to that position is a maximum, is termed L (mm), and the diameter of the developer bearing member is termed D (mm), then the magnetic member is disposed within the range in which the relationship 0?L/D?0.044 holds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Maezawa, Toyoka Aimoto, Tomohiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 7860435
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing tank having a developing region tank and an agitating region tank, a partition wall member, a first agitating and conveying member, a second agitating and conveying member, a first intermediate wall member, a second intermediate wall member and a sensor, and an opening portion is formed. In the developing device, a third agitating and conveying member extending in a longitudinal direction of the agitating region tank is provided between the second agitating and conveying member and the second intermediate wall member in a transverse direction of the agitating region tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyoka Aimoto
  • Publication number: 20100303518
    Abstract: A transfer device and an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image of smooth image quality with little uneven density, are provided. An alternating voltage is applied so that a first period in which a first peak-to-peak voltage Vpp(1) is applied and a second period in which a second peak-to-peak voltage Vpp(2), lower than the first peak-to-peak voltage, is applied are alternately repeated. In the alternating voltage to be applied, a transfer side potential to shift a toner from an intermediate transfer belt to recording paper sheet and an opposite transfer side potential to shift the toner from the recording paper sheet to the intermediate transfer belt are applied so as to alternate with each other. When f1 denotes a frequency of the first period and f2 denotes a frequency of the second period, f1=f2 is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Toyoka AIMOTO, Toshimasa Hamada
  • Patent number: 7787808
    Abstract: A developing device is provided having a simple configuration by which a desired amount of developer can be delivered to an image bearing member, and there is provided an image forming apparatus having the developing device. A developing device includes a developing roller by which two-component developer is borne and delivered to a photoreceptor drum, a layer thickness-regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer, and a magnetism-generating member for generating magnetism, and a control unit for controlling an amount of displacement of the magnetism-generating member. The control unit 23 controls an amount of displacement of the magnetism-generating member relative to the development sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyoka Aimoto
  • Patent number: 7715764
    Abstract: In a developing device including a developer tank having a developing area tank and an agitating tank, a first agitating member, a second agitating member, a toner hopper, and a toner storing container, a toner replenishing port is formed in an agitating tank, and two flows of the developer are produced by a rotation of the first agitating member provided with a first agitating blade and a second agitating blade, from both ends of a longitudinal direction of the developer tank to a vicinity of the toner replenishing port. These two flows collides with each other in a vicinity of the toner replenishing port to produce a pulsation flow of the developer from the toner replenishing port into the toner storing container through the toner hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyoka Aimoto
  • Publication number: 20080253809
    Abstract: A developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image born on an image bearing member with a developer that has been charged by mixing and agitating toner and magnetic carrier, includes: a developing hopper for holding the developer; a developer bearing member arranged opposing the image bearing member for bearing the developer having been mixed and agitated in the developing hopper and supplying the developer to the area for development; and at least a pair of agitating and conveying members rotationally driven in the developing hopper for conveying the developer while agitating, and is constructed such that the agitating and conveying members are arranged substantially parallel to the developer bearing member and each rotational shaft of the agitating and conveying members is embedded with a magnetic source element whose magnetic poles are laid out so as to produce a magnetic field radially oriented in a particular fixed direction with respect to the agitating and conveying member; and a toner supp
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toyoka Aimoto
  • Publication number: 20080232861
    Abstract: The development device of this invention includes a developer bearing member, a magnet, and a developer regulation member. The magnet is fixedly disposed within the interior of the developer bearing member. The developer regulation member includes at least a magnetic member. And the thickness of this magnetic member along the rotational direction of the developer bearing member is between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm inclusive. Moreover, if the distance over the developer bearing member, from the position thereupon which the center of the magnetic member along the rotational direction opposes, to the position thereupon at which the magnetism of that magnetic pole which is disposed closest to that position is a maximum, is termed L (mm), and the diameter of the developer bearing member is termed D (mm), then the magnetic member is disposed within the range in which the relationship 0?L/D?0.044 holds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Nobuhiro MAEZAWA, Toyoka Aimoto, Tomohiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20080205943
    Abstract: A developing device is provided having a simple configuration by which a desired amount of developer can be delivered to an image bearing member, and there is provided an image forming apparatus having the developing device. A developing device includes a developing roller by which two-component developer is borne and delivered to a photoreceptor drum, a layer thickness-regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer, and a magnetism-generating member for generating magnetism, and a control unit for controlling an amount of displacement of the magnetism-generating member. The control unit 23 controls an amount of displacement of the magnetism-generating member relative to the development sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Toyoka AIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20080124132
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing tank having a developing region tank and an agitating region tank, a partition wall member, a first agitating and conveying member, a second agitating and conveying member, a first intermediate wall member, a second intermediate wall member and a sensor, and an opening portion is formed. In the developing device, a third agitating and conveying member extending in a longitudinal direction of the agitating region tank is provided between the second agitating and conveying member and the second intermediate wall member in a transverse direction of the agitating region tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyoka Aimoto
  • Publication number: 20080112731
    Abstract: In a developing device including a developer tank having a developing area tank and an agitating tank, a first agitating member, a second agitating member, a toner hopper, and a toner storing container, a toner replenishing port is formed in an agitating tank, and two flows of the developer are produced by a rotation of the first agitating member provided with a first agitating blade and a second agitating blade, from both ends of a longitudinal direction of the developer tank to a vicinity of the toner replenishing port. These two flows collides with each other in a vicinity of the toner replenishing port to produce a pulsation flow of the developer from the toner replenishing port into the toner storing container through the toner hopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toyoka AIMOTO
  • Patent number: D409652
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyoka Aimoto