Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Yamagishi

Yoshihiro Yamagishi 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: 11747747
    Abstract: An image forming portion applies a bias voltage in which an AC component is superimposed on a DC component between a first carrying member and a second carrying member, and transfers toner from the first carrying member to the second carrying member to form an image on the second carrying member. An AC setting processing portion performs AC calibration to set a magnitude of the AC component of the bias voltage. A potential measurement processing portion measures a surface potential of the first carrying member or the second carrying member based on a target current flowing between the first carrying member and the second carrying member. A drive processing portion executes the AC calibration before measurement of the surface potential in a case where, when measuring the surface potential, an activation condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20230137796
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image-carrying member, a first acquisition processing portion, and a second acquisition processing portion. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the image-carrying member. The first acquisition processing portion acquires the potential value of the image-carrying member. The second acquisition processing portion acquires the temperature value of the image-carrying member based on the potential value of the image-carrying member acquired by the first acquisition processing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Tamotsu Shimizu, Kazunori Tanaka, Ryota Okui, Kazuhiro Nakachi
  • Publication number: 20230137743
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first, second, and third acquisition processing portions. The first acquisition processing portion acquires the potential value of a charged area, charged by the charging member, on the image-carrying member. The second acquisition processing portion acquires a state value regarding the state of a surface layer of the image-carrying member based on the potential value of the charged area acquired by the first acquisition processing portion and the current value of a charging current flowing through the charging member during formation of the charged area. The third acquisition processing portion acquires the electrical resistance value of the transfer member based on the state value acquired by the second acquisition processing portion, the voltage value of a transfer voltage applied to the transfer member, and the current value of a transfer current flowing through the charged area in response to application of the transfer voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Ryota Okui, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Tamotsu Shimizu, Kazuhiro Nakachi, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20230137321
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing member, a first detection processing portion, and an acquisition processing portion. The developing member conveys developer to a facing portion between the developing member and the image-carrying member. The first detection processing portion detects a first development current for each of a plurality of specific voltages with different DC voltage values applied to the developing member, the first development current flowing, in response to application of the specific voltages, through the facing portion including the developer and a specific exposed area, formed by the light emitting portion, on the image-carrying member. The acquisition processing portion acquires a potential value of the specific exposed area based on the DC voltage values of the specific voltages and current values of the first development current, detected by the first detection processing portion, corresponding to the respective specific voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Kazunori Tanaka, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Tamotsu Shimizu, Kazuhiro Nakachi, Ryota Okui
  • Patent number: 11630400
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming units. A controller includes an execution section, a measurement section, and a prediction section. The execution section controls execution of a developer refresh operation in which toner is ejected from a developer bearing member to an image bearing member so that a specific image forming unit replenishes a development device with the toner from the developer bearing member. The measurement section measures respective surface potentials of the image bearing members included in other image forming units while the specific image forming unit is executing the developer refresh operation. The prediction section uses measurement results of the respective surface potentials of the image bearing members included in the other image forming units for a prediction on the surface potential of the image bearing member included in the specific image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20230075031
    Abstract: An image forming portion applies a bias voltage in which an AC component is superimposed on a DC component between a first carrying member and a second carrying member, and transfers toner from the first carrying member to the second carrying member to form an image on the second carrying member. An AC setting processing portion performs AC calibration to set a magnitude of the AC component of the bias voltage. A potential measurement processing portion measures a surface potential of the first carrying member or the second carrying member based on a target current flowing between the first carrying member and the second carrying member. A drive processing portion executes the AC calibration before measurement of the surface potential in a case where, when measuring the surface potential, an activation condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11592760
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device that forms a toner image, by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor drum, a charging device that electrically charges the photoconductor drum, a developing power source that applies a predetermined developing bias voltage to the developing device, and a calculation device that calculates a surface potential of the photoconductor drum, on a basis of the developing current flowing in the developing device. The developing power source applies the developing bias voltage in a plurality of levels, to the developing device. A current measurement device measures a developing current, with respect to the developing bias voltage of each level. The calculation device calculates the surface potential, on the basis of each developing current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori Tanaka, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Tamotsu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11573501
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, a development power supply, a current measurement device, and a processor. The development power supply applies a predetermined bias voltage to the developing device. The processor functions as a calculator and a controller. The calculator calculates a surface potential of the image carrier based on the development current measured by the current measurement device. The controller controls the charging device, the developing device, the transfer device, and the development power supply. The controller sets a tentative transfer current to be flowed through the transfer device while the calculator calculates the surface potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Tamotsu Shimizu, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20230019917
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming units. A controller includes an execution section, a measurement section, and a prediction section. The execution section controls execution of a developer refresh operation in which toner is ejected from a developer bearing member to an image bearing member so that a specific image forming unit replenishes a development device with the toner from the developer bearing member. The measurement section measures respective surface potentials of the image bearing members included in other image forming units while the specific image forming unit is executing the developer refresh operation. The prediction section uses measurement results of the respective surface potentials of the image bearing members included in the other image forming units for a prediction on the surface potential of the image bearing member included in the specific image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu SHIMIZU, Yoshihiro YAMAGISHI, Kazunori TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11556074
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a development device which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum into a toner image; a charger which charges the photosensitive drum; a development power supply which applies a prescribed bias voltage to the development device; and a calculating section which calculates a surface potential of the photosensitive drum based on a development current flowing in the development device. The calculating section calculates, as the surface potential, a bias voltage at which a non-charging development current that flows in the development device in an uncharged state in which the charger has not charged the photosensitive drum is equal to a charging development current that flows in the development device in a charged state in which the charger has charged the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori Tanaka, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Tamotsu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11487218
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging device, a developing device, a developing power source, a current measuring device, and a processor. On a surface of the image carrier, an electrostatic latent image is formed. The charging device electrically charges the image carrier. The developing device forms a toner image, by supplying toner to the image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. The developing power source applies a predetermined bias voltage to the developing device. The current measuring device measures a developing current flowing in the developing device. The processor acts, by executing a control program, as a calculator that calculates a surface potential of the image carrier, on a basis of the developing current measured by the measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Tamotsu Shimizu, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11435677
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a development device which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum into a toner image; a charger which charges the photosensitive drum; a development power supply which applies a bias voltage to the development device; a calculating section which calculates a surface potential of the photosensitive drum based on a development current flowing in the development device; and an estimating section which estimates a fogging toner amount. The fogging toner amount is an amount of toner moved due to fogging. When the fogging toner amount estimated by the estimating section is less than a prescribed threshold, the calculating section calculates a value of the bias voltage at which the development current stops flowing as the surface potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori Tanaka, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Tamotsu Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20220128925
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device that forms a toner image, by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor drum, a charging device that electrically charges the photoconductor drum, a developing power source that applies a predetermined developing bias voltage to the developing device, and a calculation device that calculates a surface potential of the photoconductor drum, on a basis of the developing current flowing in the developing device. The developing power source applies the developing bias voltage in a plurality of levels, to the developing device. A current measurement device measures a developing current, with respect to the developing bias voltage of each level. The calculation device calculates the surface potential, on the basis of each developing current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori TANAKA, Yoshihiro YAMAGISHI, Tamotsu SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 11301188
    Abstract: To provide an information processing apparatus capable of printing a plurality of additional information without non-uniformity in a case where a plurality of images and the plurality of additional information corresponding to the respective images are arranged and printed on the same print medium, an information processing apparatus prepares a template in which image arrangement frames for arranging the plurality of images individually and an additional information arrangement frame for arranging the plurality of additional information together are laid out. The information processing apparatus arranges the plurality of images in the respective image arrangement frames and arranges the plurality of additional information in the additional information arrangement frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Watanabe, Masao Maeda, Hirokazu Ishii, Yoshihiro Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 11292249
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a controller, a first detector, and a second detector. The controller calculates a viscosity of ink in each of nozzles based on a temperature, a humidity, and an elapsed time. The controller determines, among the nozzles, a nozzle in which the viscosity is equal to or higher than a threshold to be a high-viscosity nozzle. The controller acquires non-ejection information indicating an ejection disabled nozzle that is disabled to eject the ink. The controller acquires a viscosity of the ink in the ejection disabled nozzle. The controller calculates an average value of viscosities of the ink in the plurality of nozzles. The controller compares the viscosity of the ink in the ejection disabled nozzle with the average value of the viscosities of the ink in the nozzles. The controller determines whether or not to change a contribution value based on a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamagishi, Kanako Morimoto, Ryota Okui, Satoshi Ishii
  • Publication number: 20220091531
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, a development power supply, a current measurement device, and a processor. The development power supply applies a predetermined bias voltage to the developing device. The processor functions as a calculator and a controller. The calculator calculates a surface potential of the image carrier based on the development current measured by the current measurement device. The controller controls the charging device, the developing device, the transfer device, and the development power supply. The controller sets a tentative transfer current to be flowed through the transfer device while the calculator calculates the surface potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro YAMAGISHI, Tamotsu SHIMIZU, Kazunori TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20220004116
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging device, a developing device, a developing power source, a current measuring device, and a processor. On a surface of the image carrier, an electrostatic latent image is formed. The charging device electrically charges the image carrier. The developing device forms a toner image, by supplying toner to the image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. The developing power source applies a predetermined bias voltage to the developing device. The current measuring device measures a developing current flowing in the developing device. The processor acts, by executing a control program, as a calculator that calculates a surface potential of the image carrier, on a basis of the developing current measured by the measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro YAMAGISHI, Tamotsu SHIMIZU, Kazunori TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210302869
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a development device which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum into a toner image; a charger which charges the photosensitive drum; a development power supply which applies a bias voltage to the development device; a calculating section which calculates a surface potential of the photosensitive drum based on a development current flowing in the development device; and an estimating section which estimates a fogging toner amount. The fogging toner amount is an amount of toner moved due to fogging. When the fogging toner amount estimated by the estimating section is less than a prescribed threshold, the calculating section calculates a value of the bias voltage at which the development current stops flowing as the surface potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori TANAKA, Yoshihiro YAMAGISHI, Tamotsu SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20210302868
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a development device which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum into a toner image; a charger which charges the photosensitive drum; a development power supply which applies a bias voltage to the development device; an electric current measuring section which measures a development current flowing in the development device; and a calculating section which calculates a surface potential of the photosensitive drum based on the development current. The charger applies charging biases to the photosensitive drum. The electric current measuring section measures a corresponding value of the development current for each development bias voltage applied to the development device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori TANAKA, Yoshihiro YAMAGISHI, Tamotsu SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20210302870
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a development device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum into a toner image; a charger that charges the photosensitive drum; a development power supply that applies a prescribed bias voltage to the development device; an electric current measuring section that measures a development current flowing in the development device; and a calculating section that calculates a surface potential of the photosensitive drum based on the development current. The development device sequentially forms a plurality of image formation toner images on respective sheets of a recording medium. The image formation toner images each are a toner image for image formation. The electric current measuring section measures the development current in a period during which the image formation toner images are not formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori TANAKA, Yoshihiro YAMAGISHI, Tamotsu SHIMIZU