Patents by Inventor Yasumitsu Harashima

Yasumitsu Harashima 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: 10705458
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming units, a transfer unit that transfers a superposed toner image including toner images formed by the image forming units onto a sheet, a fixing unit that fixes the superposed toner image onto the sheet, and a controller that performs control such that a toner image is formed while the amount of toner used per unit area by the second image forming unit when forming a line image is smaller than that when forming a solid image. The image forming units include a first image forming unit that forms a toner image that is transferred onto the transfer unit relatively earlier than the other toner images and a second image forming unit that forms a toner image that is transferred onto the transfer unit relatively later than the other toner images, the first and second image forming units using the same color toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Miho Ikeda, Aya Kakishima, Yasumitsu Harashima, Shinji Okuyama
  • Publication number: 20190086842
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming units, a transfer unit that transfers a superposed toner image including toner images formed by the image forming units onto a sheet, a fixing unit that fixes the superposed toner image onto the sheet, and a controller that performs control such that a toner image is formed while the amount of toner used per unit area by the second image forming unit when forming a line image is smaller than that when forming a solid image. The image forming units include a first image forming unit that forms a toner image that is transferred onto the transfer unit relatively earlier than the other toner images and a second image forming unit that forms a toner image that is transferred onto the transfer unit relatively later than the other toner images, the first and second image forming units using the same color toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Miho IKEDA, Aya KAKISHIMA, Yasumitsu HARASHIMA, Shinji OKUYAMA
  • Patent number: 9946184
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion that uses toner containing flat pigment; a second image forming portion that uses toner not containing the flat pigment; and a toner image carrier that carries a first toner image that is formed in the first image forming portion and a second toner image that is formed in the second image forming portion. The image forming apparatus has a mode in which a relationship Am<Ac is satisfied, where Am denotes a number of toner layers of the first toner image that is carried by the toner image carrier, and Ac denotes the number of toner layers of the second toner image that is carried by the toner image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro Yuasa, Miho Ikeda, Takaharu Nakajima, Aya Kakishima, Yasumitsu Harashima, Toko Hara
  • Patent number: 9829838
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes a toner image, in which plural layers constituted from toners with different low-temperature storage elastic moduli as measured in the temperature range of 30° C. or more and 50° C. or less are superposed on each other, to a medium. The image forming apparatus changes the fixing temperature in accordance with the order of superposition of the plural layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasumitsu Harashima
  • Publication number: 20170248883
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes a toner image, in which plural layers constituted from toners with different low-temperature storage elastic moduli as measured in the temperature range of 30° C. or more and 50° C. or less are superposed on each other, to a medium. The image forming apparatus changes the fixing temperature in accordance with the order of superposition of the plural layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasumitsu HARASHIMA
  • Patent number: 9551948
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming section that uses a toner containing flat pigment particles; a second image forming section that uses a toner not containing the flat pigment particles; and a fixing section that fixes an image formed on a recording medium to the recording medium using heat. The quantity of heat that the fixing section applies to the image is increased in the case where the image formed on the recording medium using the toner containing the flat pigment particles is to be fixed compared to a case where the image formed on the recording medium using the toner not containing the flat pigment particles is to be fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasumitsu Harashima, Toko Hara, Yutaka Kiuchi, Miho Ikeda, Takaharu Nakajima, Koichiro Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9501015
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a heating unit, and a fixing unit. The image forming unit uses a toner including a flat pigment. The heating unit heats a recording medium. The fixing unit allows the recording medium to pass therethrough so as to cause an image formed on the recording medium to be fixed onto the recording medium by heat. In the image forming apparatus, the heating unit heats the recording medium on which the image has not been formed, the image forming unit forms the image on the recording medium having been heated, and the fixing unit fixes the image having been formed onto the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aya Kakishima, Miho Ikeda, Koichiro Yuasa, Yasumitsu Harashima, Toko Hara, Yoshihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9383695
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a first image portion that uses toner including a flat pigment, a second image portion that uses toner that does not include the flat pigment, a fixing portion that fixes an image formed on a recording medium to the recording medium by heat, and a controller that performs a control that switches the fixing portion to a first state in which an amount of heat similar to an amount of heat applied to the image when an image formed by the toner that does not include the flat pigment is fixed to the recording medium is applied to the image, and a second state in which, compared to when the image formed by the toner that does not include the flat pigment is fixed to the recording medium, the amount of heat applied to the image by the fixing portion is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aya Kakishima, Miho Ikeda, Koichiro Yuasa, Takaharu Nakajima, Yasumitsu Harashima, Toko Hara
  • Patent number: 9285718
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless transfer member, a first transfer section, a second transfer section, and a medium transfer section. An image is transferred to the transfer member during circulation of the transfer member. The first transfer section forms an image using a toner containing flat metallic pigment particles, and transfers the formed image to the transfer member through a transfer current. The second transfer section forms an image using a toner not containing flat metallic pigment particles, and transfers the formed image to the transfer member through a transfer current. The second transfer section is disposed upstream of the first transfer section in a circulation direction of the transfer member. The medium transfer section transfers the image transferred to the transfer member to a recording medium through a transfer current. The transfer current for the first transfer section is smaller than that for the second transfer section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toko Hara, Takaharu Nakajima, Miho Ikeda, Aya Kakishima, Koichiro Yuasa, Yasumitsu Harashima
  • Patent number: 9285734
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a first image unit that uses toner which contains a flat pigment, a second image unit that uses toner which does not contain a flat pigment, and a fixing unit that fixes an image which is formed on a recording medium to the recording medium by using heat while transporting the recording medium, wherein the recording medium is transported again to the fixing unit after the image formed on the recording medium by the toner containing the flat pigment is fixed to the recording medium by the fixing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aya Kakishima, Miho Ikeda, Takaharu Nakajima, Koichiro Yuasa, Yasumitsu Harashima, Toko Hara
  • Publication number: 20160070214
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit that uses a toner including a flat pigment, a second image forming unit that uses a toner not including a flat pigment, and a fixing unit that fixes a toner image formed on a recording medium by heat. In the image forming apparatus, a minimum fixing temperature of the toner including the flat pigment is lower than a minimum fixing temperature of the toner not including the flat pigment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Toko HARA, Yasumitsu HARASHIMA, Miho IKEDA, Takaharu NAKAJIMA, Koichiro YUASA
  • Publication number: 20160011545
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a heating unit, and a fixing unit. The image forming unit uses a toner including a flat pigment. The heating unit heats a recording medium. The fixing unit allows the recording medium to pass therethrough so as to cause an image formed on the recording medium to be fixed onto the recording medium by heat. In the image forming apparatus, the heating unit heats the recording medium on which the image has not been formed, the image forming unit forms the image on the recording medium having been heated, and the fixing unit fixes the image having been formed onto the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Aya KAKISHIMA, Miho IKEDA, Koichiro YUASA, Yasumitsu HARASHIMA, Toko HARA, Yoshihiro HAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9217965
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a first image unit that uses toner which contains a flat pigment, a second image unit that uses toner which does not contain a flat pigment, and a fixing unit that includes a heating member which contacts with one surface of a recording medium where an image is formed to heat the image and a contact member that contacts with the other surface of the recording medium, and fixes the image to the recording medium, wherein an amount of heat that is applied to the image from the contact member is larger when the image formed by the toner containing the flat pigment is fixed to the recording medium than when the image formed by the toner not containing the flat pigment is fixed to the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aya Kakishima, Miho Ikeda, Takaharu Nakajima, Yasumitsu Harashima, Koichiro Yuasa, Toko Hara
  • Patent number: 9116472
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion that forms a toner image on a latent image carrier with a toner containing a flat pigment; and a second image forming portion that forms a toner image on a latent image carrier with a toner not containing the flat pigment. The toner images formed by these image forming portions are transferred to a toner image carrier or a recording medium. The average charge amount per particle of the toner containing the flat pigment is smaller than that of the toner not containing the flat pigment. A transfer width is larger than the particle diameter of the toner containing the flat pigment. A transfer current flowing between the latent image carrier of the second image forming portion and the toner image carrier or the recording medium is higher than or equal to a value required to form an electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD
    Inventors: Takaharu Nakajima, Miho Ikeda, Koichiro Yuasa, Yasumitsu Harashima, Toko Hara, Aya Kakishima
  • Patent number: 9116486
    Abstract: A control device includes an acquiring unit acquiring code image data expressing a code image having dots arranged in an array that expresses information; a generating unit extracting the dots from the code image and generating patch image data expressing patch images having the dots orderly arranged in different densities; an image-formation control unit controlling an image forming unit so as to form the patch images based on the patch image data in accordance with a preset image forming condition by using an invisible toner; a measuring unit measuring densities of the patch images; and a changing unit changing the image forming condition if at least one measured density is outside a density range set according to a corresponding dot density based on a correspondence relationship between the measured densities and densities of the dots, so that all of the measured densities are set within the corresponding density ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasumitsu Harashima
  • Publication number: 20150227076
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion that uses toner containing flat pigment; a second image forming portion that uses toner not containing the flat pigment; and a toner image carrier that carries a first toner image that is formed in the first image forming portion and a second toner image that is formed in the second image forming portion. The image forming apparatus has a mode in which a relationship Am<Ac is satisfied, where Am denotes a number of toner layers of the first toner image that is carried by the toner image carrier, and Ac denotes the number of toner layers of the second toner image that is carried by the toner image carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro YUASA, Miho IKEDA, Takaharu NAKAJIMA, Aya KAKISHIMA, Yasumitsu HARASHIMA, Toko HARA
  • Publication number: 20150212458
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion that forms a toner image on a latent image carrier with a toner containing a flat pigment; and a second image forming portion that forms a toner image on a latent image carrier with a toner not containing the flat pigment. The toner images formed by these image forming portions are transferred to a toner image carrier or a recording medium. The average charge amount per particle of the toner containing the flat pigment is smaller than that of the toner not containing the flat pigment. A transfer width is larger than the particle diameter of the toner containing the flat pigment. A transfer current flowing between the latent image carrier of the second image forming portion and the toner image carrier or the recording medium is higher than or equal to a value required to form an electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD
    Inventors: Takaharu NAKAJIMA, Miho IKEDA, Koichiro YUASA, Yasumitsu HARASHIMA, Toko HARA, Aya KAKISHIMA
  • Publication number: 20150205229
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless transfer member, a first transfer section, a second transfer section, and a medium transfer section. An image is transferred to the transfer member during circulation of the transfer member. The first transfer section forms an image using a toner containing flat metallic pigment particles, and transfers the formed image to the transfer member through a transfer current. The second transfer section forms an image using a toner not containing flat metallic pigment particles, and transfers the formed image to the transfer member through a transfer current. The second transfer section is disposed upstream of the first transfer section in a circulation direction of the transfer member. The medium transfer section transfers the image transferred to the transfer member to a recording medium through a transfer current. The transfer current for the first transfer section is smaller than that for the second transfer section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toko HARA, Takaharu NAKAJIMA, Miho IKEDA, Aya KAKISHIMA, Koichiro YUASA, Yasumitsu HARASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20150168883
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a first image unit that uses toner which contains a flat pigment, a second image unit that uses toner which does not contain a flat pigment, and a fixing unit that includes a heating member which contacts with one surface of a recording medium where an image is formed to heat the image and a contact member that contacts with the other surface of the recording medium, and fixes the image to the recording medium, wherein an amount of heat that is applied to the image from the contact member is larger when the image formed by the toner containing the flat pigment is fixed to the recording medium than when the image formed by the toner not containing the flat pigment is fixed to the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aya KAKISHIMA, Miho IKEDA, Takaharu NAKAJIMA, Yasumitsu HARASHIMA, Koichiro YUASA, Toko HARA
  • Publication number: 20150168882
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a first image unit that uses toner which contains a flat pigment, a second image unit that uses toner which does not contain a flat pigment, and a fixing unit that fixes an image which is formed on a recording medium to the recording medium by using heat while transporting the recording medium, wherein the recording medium is transported again to the fixing unit after the image formed on the recording medium by the toner containing the flat pigment is fixed to the recording medium by the fixing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aya KAKISHIMA, Miho IKEDA, Takaharu NAKAJIMA, Koichiro YUASA, Yasumitsu HARASHIMA, Toko HARA