Patents by Inventor Yasufumi Suwabe

Yasufumi Suwabe 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: 10156819
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that fixes a toner image which is developed with a liquid developer containing a toner and a volatile carrier oil on a recording medium, a heating device that is disposed on an upstream side of the fixing device in a feed direction of the recording medium, and heats the toner image on the recording medium in a non-contact manner, in which heating is controlled such that a porosity of the toner image on the recording medium in an outlet of the heating device is in a range of 20% by volume to 40% by volume, and a drying path that is disposed between the heating device and the fixing device in the feed direction of the recording medium, and dries the recording medium by evaporating the carrier oil in the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Abe, Nobuhiro Katsuta, Yasufumi Suwabe, Satoshi Tatsuura
  • Patent number: 10157581
    Abstract: A image display medium driving device includes a voltage application unit that applies a voltage between a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, of an image display medium including plural types of particles which are sealed between the pair of substrates, are attached to the substrates, and start to be separated from the substrates at different times when a predetermined voltage is applied and a control unit that controls the voltage application unit such that a time when the voltage is applied between the pair of substrates varies depending on image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Taijyu Gan, Ryota Mizutani, Yasufumi Suwabe, Yoshinori Machida, Naoki Hiji
  • Patent number: 10048629
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a voltage applying unit that applies a bias voltage for enabling a transfer unit to transfer a developer layer to a transfer medium, the developer layer being retained by an image carrier in accordance with image information; a measuring unit that measures a surface potential of the developer layer; and a setting unit that sets a value of the bias voltage to be applied by the voltage applying unit in accordance with the surface potential measured by the measuring unit, a combined electrostatic capacitance of a surface layer of the image carrier and the developer layer, and an electrostatic capacitance specific to the transfer medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taijyu Gan, Yasufumi Suwabe, Toshihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10036983
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a forming part that forms an image on a ribbon-like medium that is being transported; and a fixing part disposed downstream of the forming part in a medium transport direction, the fixing part including multiple fixing members, which are arranged in the transport direction and fix the image to the medium by applying heat and pressure to the medium. An upstream-downstream tension difference, in the medium transport direction, of the fixing member located on the most upstream side in the transport direction is greater than those of the other fixing members in the medium transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Abe, Yasufumi Suwabe, Nobuhiro Katsuta, Tokuya Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20180095387
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that fixes a toner image which is developed with a liquid developer containing a toner and a volatile carrier oil on a recording medium, a heating device that is disposed on an upstream side of the fixing device in a feed direction of the recording medium, and heats the toner image on the recording medium in a non-contact manner, in which heating is controlled such that a porosity of the toner image on the recording medium in an outlet of the heating device is in a range of 20% by volume to 40% by volume, and a drying path that is disposed between the heating device and the fixing device in the feed direction of the recording medium, and dries the recording medium by evaporating the carrier oil in the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki ABE, Nobuhiro KATSUTA, Yasufumi SUWABE, Satoshi TATSUURA
  • Publication number: 20170358263
    Abstract: A image display medium driving device includes a voltage application unit that applies a voltage between a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, of an image display medium including plural types of particles which are sealed between the pair of substrates, are attached to the substrates, and start to be separated from the substrates at different times when a predetermined voltage is applied and a control unit that controls the voltage application unit such that a time when the voltage is applied between the pair of substrates varies depending on image information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Taijyu GAN, Ryota MIZUTANI, Yasufumi SUWABE, Yoshinori MACHIDA, Naoki HIJI
  • Patent number: 9779671
    Abstract: A image display medium driving device includes a voltage application unit that applies a voltage between a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, of an image display medium including plural types of particles which are sealed between the pair of substrates, are attached to the substrates, and start to be separated from the substrates at different times when a predetermined voltage is applied and a control unit that controls the voltage application unit such that a time when the voltage is applied between the pair of substrates varies depending on image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Taijyu Gan, Ryota Mizutani, Yasufumi Suwabe, Yoshinori Machida, Naoki Hiji
  • Patent number: 9779670
    Abstract: Provided is a driving device of a display medium, including an application unit that applies a voltage with a pulse width corresponding to a density of a color to be displayed to each of plural pixels of a display medium in which plural kinds of particle groups having different movement starting voltages for movement between a pair of substrates according to an electric field and different colors are enclosed, and a controller that controls the application unit so that a first voltage with a pulse width corresponding to a density of a color of a first particle group finishes being applied to each of the plural pixels, and then a second voltage with a pulse width corresponding to a density of a color of a second particle group is applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Tomozumi Uesaka, Yasufumi Suwabe, Yoshinori Machida, Masaaki Abe
  • Publication number: 20170277085
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a forming part that forms an image on a ribbon-like medium that is being transported; and a fixing part disposed downstream of the forming part in a medium transport direction, the fixing part including multiple fixing members, which are arranged in the transport direction and fix the image to the medium by applying heat and pressure to the medium. An upstream-downstream tension difference, in the medium transport direction, of the fixing member located on the most upstream side in the transport direction is greater than those of the other fixing members in the medium transport direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki ABE, Yasufumi SUWABE, Nobuhiro KATSUTA, Tokuya SAKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9696670
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit that fixes a developer on a recording medium, a first heating unit, and at least one second heating unit. The first heating unit is disposed at an upstream side of the fixing unit in a transport direction of the recording medium, and heats the recording medium so that a temperature of the recording medium is set at a first temperature that is equal to or lower than a temperature of the fixing member and is equal to or higher than a thermal deformation temperature at which the recording medium is deformed. The at least one second heating unit comes into contact with the recording medium at a downstream side with respect to the first heating unit and at an upstream side with respect to the fixing unit, and heats the recording medium at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Abe, Nobuhiro Katsuta, Yasufumi Suwabe, Satoshi Tatsuura
  • Publication number: 20170060055
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit that fixes a developer on a recording medium, a first heating unit, and at least one second heating unit. The first heating unit is disposed at an upstream side of the fixing unit in a transport direction of the recording medium, and heats the recording medium so that a temperature of the recording medium is set at a first temperature that is equal to or lower than a temperature of the fixing member and is equal to or higher than a thermal deformation temperature at which the recording medium is deformed. The at least one second heating unit comes into contact with the recording medium at a downstream side with respect to the first heating unit and at an upstream side with respect to the fixing unit, and heats the recording medium at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki ABE, Nobuhiro KATSUTA, Yasufumi SUWABE, Satoshi TATSUURA
  • Publication number: 20160335941
    Abstract: Provided is a method to drive an image display medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki ABE, Naoki HIJI, Yasufumi SUWABE, Yoshinori MACHIDA
  • Patent number: 9424800
    Abstract: Provided is a driving device of an image display medium including a voltage application unit that varies a voltage applied to a common electrode provided in one of a pair of substrates, and applies a voltage to a pixel electrode provided in the other substrate through active matrix driving, with respect to the image display medium including plural kinds of particles, and a controller that controls the voltage application unit such that a voltage is applied between the pair of substrates, and controls the voltage application unit such that a deviation time of a scanning timing generated due to the active matrix driving during transition to the steps and a potential difference between the pair of substrates in the deviation time are equal to or less than predefined threshold characteristics of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Abe, Naoki Hiji, Yasufumi Suwabe, Yoshinori Machida
  • Patent number: 9304451
    Abstract: Provided is a heating transport device, including a heating transport roll around which a recording medium to which a toner image is transferred is wound, and that transports the recording medium while heating the toner image to a temperature higher than or equal to a melting temperature of toner, and a cooling roll that forms a nip with the heating transport roll, transports the recording medium, and cools the recording medium such that the temperature of the recording medium is lower than or equal to a heat deformation temperature of the recording medium at a position at which the recording medium separates from the heating transport roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Suwabe, Nobuhiro Katsuta, Masaaki Abe, Satoshi Tatsuura
  • Patent number: 9280946
    Abstract: A driving device of a display medium, includes: an applying unit that applies a gray level adjusting voltage including unit pulses in accordance with a gray level of a pixel to the pixel of a display medium; and a control unit that controls the applying unit so that the number of unit pulses of the gray level adjusting voltage which is applied at a movement time of each of plural types of panicle groups is equal to the number of unit pulses of the gray level adjusting voltage which is applied at the movement time of a particle group having the highest threshold value among the plural types of particle groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Suwabe, Masaaki Abe, Ryota Mizutani, Yoshinori Machida
  • Patent number: 9129566
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image display medium comprising a pair of substrates at least one of which having translucency, the substrates being disposed opposite to each other with a gap, a dispersion medium which has translucency and is enclosed in a space between the pair of substrates; and plural kinds of particle groups which are movably dispersed in the dispersion medium, move according to an electric field formed, and have different colors and forces for separation from the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Shigehiro, Yasufumi Suwabe, Yoshinori Machida, Yoshiro Yamaguchi, Takeshi Matsunaga, Atsushi Hirano
  • Patent number: 9087487
    Abstract: A driving device of an image display medium includes an electric field applying unit that applies an electric field between a pair of substrates of an image display medium including first particles of which a first start voltage and a first end voltage vary depending on a variation in external environment and second particles of which a second start voltage and a second end voltage vary depending on the variation in external environment, an external environment acquiring unit, an information storage unit that stores information of an initial driving electric field for applying an adhesive force, the absolute value of which satisfies the first start voltage<the first end voltage<the second start voltage<the second end voltage, to the first and second particles depending on the external environment information and information of a writing electric field to be applied to the particles, and a controller that controls the electric field applying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Abe, Yasufumi Suwabe, Yoshinori Machida
  • Publication number: 20150138247
    Abstract: A image display medium driving device includes a voltage application unit that applies a voltage between a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, of an image display medium including plural types of particles which are sealed between the pair of substrates, are attached to the substrates, and start to be separated from the substrates at different times when a predetermined voltage is applied and a control unit that controls the voltage application unit such that a time when the voltage is applied between the pair of substrates varies depending on image information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Taijyu Gan, Ryota Mizutani, Yasufumi Suwabe, Yoshinori Machida, Naoki Hiji
  • Patent number: 8982042
    Abstract: An image display medium driver includes a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage between a pair of substrates of an image display medium that displays an image, the image display medium including plural groups of colored particles colored in a color which is different for every group, at least one of the substrates having transparent properties, each group of colored particles moved when the voltage equal to or higher than a threshold voltage in terms of absolute value, that is different for every group, and a controller that determines a substrate on which the colored particles are present for each group of colored particles based on the last image information used for displaying an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Suwabe, Masaaki Abe, Yoshinori Machida, Hiroaki Moriyama
  • Patent number: 8952885
    Abstract: There is provided a driving device for driving a display medium that includes a pair of substrates and plural particle groups which are provided between the pair of substrates and have different colors and different threshold voltages for separation from the substrates, including an application unit that applies reset voltages for moving the plural particle groups to one of the pair of substrates between the substrates, each reset voltage being different from each other according to each of the plural particle groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Suwabe, Yoshinori Machida, Masaaki Abe