Patents by Inventor Yoshitaka Yamazaki

Yoshitaka Yamazaki 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: 10379474
    Abstract: Provided is a structure configured to stably supply electric power to functional units forming an image forming apparatus. To achieve this, the image forming apparatus includes: an image creating portion (307Y) serving as a functional unit for forming images; and an apparatus main body including a DC power distribution portion (206) configured to supply electric power to the image creating portion (307Y) and a main controller (219) configured to control operation of the image creating portion (307Y). The image creating portion (307Y) includes a protection circuit (220) and a load to be driven by electric power that is supplied from the DC power distribution portion (206). The protection circuit (220) gradually supplies power source electric power to the load when mounted on the apparatus main body, and immediately shuts off the supply of the electric power to the load when pulled out of the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10228640
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a toner image, a transfer portion that transfers the toner image onto a sheet, and a fixing unit that fixes the toner image to the sheet. A compressor outputs air based on a drive current supplied from a power source, and a detection portion detects the drive current. An ejection portion ejects the air output from the compressor, and a pipe supplies the air output from the compressor to the ejection portion. In addition, a determination unit determines a characteristic expression indicating a relationship between the drive current and an air pressure of the air based on a first detection result obtained by the detection portion when the air pressure is adjusted to a first predetermined value and a second detection result obtained by the detection portion when the air pressure is adjusted to a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Yamazaki, Takashi Umemoto
  • Publication number: 20180231926
    Abstract: Provided is a structure configured to stably supply electric power to functional units forming an image forming apparatus. To achieve this, the image forming apparatus includes: an image creating portion (307Y) serving as a functional unit for forming images; and an apparatus main body including a DC power distribution portion (206) configured to supply electric power to the image creating portion (307Y) and a main controller (219) configured to control operation of the image creating portion (307Y). The image creating portion (307Y) includes a protection circuit (220) and a load to be driven by electric power that is supplied from the DC power distribution portion (206). The protection circuit (220) gradually supplies power source electric power to the load when mounted on the apparatus main body, and immediately shuts off the supply of the electric power to the load when pulled out of the apparatus main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventor: Yoshitaka YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20180032006
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit forming a toner image; a transfer portion transferring the toner image onto a sheet; a fixing unit fixing the toner image to the sheet; a compressor outputting air based on a drive current supplied from a power source; a detection portion detecting the drive current; an ejection portion ejecting the air output from the compressor; a pipe supplying the air output from the compressor to the ejection portion; and a determination unit configured to determine a characteristic expression indicating a relationship between the drive current and an air pressure of the air based on a first detection result obtained by the detection portion when the air pressure is adjusted to a first predetermined value and a second detection result obtained by the detection portion when the air pressure is adjusted to a second predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Yamazaki, Takashi Umemoto
  • Patent number: 9568880
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a binding unit configured to perform binding processing by pressing a sheet bundle, a motor configured to drive the binding unit to press the sheet bundle, and a motor control unit configured to set a driving current of the motor and an upper limit value of the driving current, the motor control unit being configured to set the driving current when starting activating the motor in a state where the binding unit is not pressing the sheet bundle to a first value, and set the upper limit value of the driving current in a period in which the binding unit is pressing the sheet bundle to a second value less than or equal to the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Yamazaki, Hiroshi Saito, Tetsuro Fukusaka, Shigemi Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9505580
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet material binding apparatus capable of shortening a user's waiting time required to bind sheets through a manual operation with a movable stapler. A CPU (162) of a sheet material binding apparatus (50) monitors whether or not an image forming apparatus (1) can execute image formation processing. When the image forming apparatus (1) can execute the image formation processing, the movable stapler is arranged at a standby position close to the image forming apparatus (1). When the image forming apparatus (1) cannot execute the image formation processing, on the other hand, the movable stapler is arranged at a position for performing the manual operation, to thereby bind the sheets through the manual operation immediately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yousuke Hata, Kazumi Sato, Toshifumi Kakutani, Takeyuki Suda, Yoshitaka Yamazaki, Hirohisa Kato, Shinya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9501021
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a binding unit configured to perform binding processing by pressing a sheet bundle, a motor configured to drive the binding unit to press the sheet bundle, a speed detection unit configured to detect a speed of the motor, a voltage detection unit configured to detect a driving voltage of the motor, and a motor control unit configured to determine an upper limit value of a driving current of the motor based on the speed detected by the speed detection unit and the driving voltage detected by the voltage detection unit in a period when the motor is being driven and the binding unit is not pressing the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20160167916
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet material binding apparatus capable of shortening a user's waiting time required to bind sheets through a manual operation with a movable stapler. A CPU (162) of a sheet material binding apparatus (50) monitors whether or not an image forming apparatus (1) can execute image formation processing. When the image forming apparatus (1) can execute the image formation processing, the movable stapler is arranged at a standby position close to the image forming apparatus (1). When the image forming apparatus (1) cannot execute the image formation processing, on the other hand, the movable stapler is arranged at a position for performing the manual operation, to thereby bind the sheets through the manual operation immediately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Yousuke Hata, Kazumi Sato, Toshifumi Kakutani, Takeyuki Suda, Yoshitaka Yamazaki, Hirohisa Kato, Shinya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9296586
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet material binding apparatus capable of shortening a user's waiting time required to bind sheets through a manual operation with a movable stapler. A CPU (162) of a sheet material binding apparatus (50) monitors whether or not an image forming apparatus (1) can execute image formation processing. When the image forming apparatus (1) can execute the image formation processing, the movable stapler is arranged at a standby position close to the image forming apparatus (1). When the image forming apparatus (1) cannot execute the image formation processing, on the other hand, the movable stapler is arranged at a position for performing the manual operation, to thereby bind the sheets through the manual operation immediately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yousuke Hata, Kazumi Sato, Toshifumi Kakutani, Takeyuki Suda, Yoshitaka Yamazaki, Hirohisa Kato, Shinya Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20160079375
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the electrodes are provided in the first semiconductor layer and extend in a first direction. The gate electrodes are provided on the electrodes and extend in the first direction. The interconnection is provided outside ends in the first direction of the gate electrodes, extends in a second direction crossing the first direction, and is commonly connected to the electrodes. The gate contacts are provided on the gate electrodes and connected to the gate electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9259894
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a binding unit that sandwiches and binds a plurality of sheets by using a convex portion and a concave portion; a moving unit that moves at least one of the convex portion and the concave portion; a drive unit that drives the moving unit; and a control unit that controls the drive unit so that a state in which the binding unit sandwiches the plurality of sheets at a predetermined pressing force by using a driving force from the drive unit is retained for a predetermined time period, and so that the one of the convex portion and the concave portion is moved in a direction away from the another of the convex portion and the concave portion after the predetermined time period has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideto Abe, Yusuke Obuchi, Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9162844
    Abstract: An image forming system which is capable of, when a manual stapling process is to be carried out on sheets, reducing waiting time for a user and decreasing power consumption. The image forming system has an image forming apparatus, which forms images on sheets, and a sheet post-processing apparatus. When the sheet post-processing apparatus is to shift into a power-saving state, a movable stapler is moved to a manual stapling position. When it is detected that sheets have been set into a sheet setting unit in a state in which the image forming apparatus and the sheet post-processing apparatus have shifted into the power-saving state, the image forming apparatus is held in the power-saving state, and the sheet post-processing apparatus is returned from the power-saving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshifumi Kakutani, Kazumi Sato, Takeyuki Suda, Yousuke Hata, Hirohisa Kato, Shinya Suzuki, Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9139397
    Abstract: A sheet binding processing apparatus for avoiding the residual of binding member is provided. The sheet binding processing apparatus comprises a sheet insertion port through which a sheet bundle formed of a plurality of sheets S is inserted, a movable stapler for binding the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion port, and a manual stapling sheet sensor for detecting, at a predetermined detection time interval, existence or non-existence of the sheet bundle in the sheet insertion port. When the manual stapling sheet sensor detects the existence of the sheet bundle, the sheet binding processing apparatus gives permission to bind the sheet bundle by the movable stapler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumi Sato, Toshifumi Kakutani, Takeyuki Suda, Yousuke Hata, Hirohisa Kato, Shinya Suzuki, Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9134647
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that reduces density irregularity caused by SD gap variation. A developing bias voltage for forming a developing electric field between a photosensitive drum and a developing sleeve is applied to the developing sleeve. A rotational period of the photosensitive drum is divided into a plurality of blocks, and current values are acquired for each block. An average value of the acquired current values for each block is stored until the photosensitive drum is rotated a predetermined number of times, for each of the predetermined number of times of rotation. A moving average value of the average values in each block is calculated, and a correction table for correcting the developing bias voltage to be applied in each block is created using the calculated moving average values, and the developing bias voltage is controlled based on the created correction table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Fukusaka, Hiroshi Saito, Shigemi Kumagai, Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20150203310
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a binding unit configured to perform binding processing by pressing a sheet bundle, a motor configured to drive the binding unit to press the sheet bundle, and a motor control unit configured to set a driving current of the motor and an upper limit value of the driving current, the motor control unit being configured to set the driving current when starting activating the motor in a state where the binding unit is not pressing the sheet bundle to a first value, and set the upper limit value of the driving current in a period in which the binding unit is pressing the sheet bundle to a second value less than or equal to the first value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Yamazaki, Hiroshi Saito, Tetsuro Fukusaka, Shigemi Kumagai
  • Publication number: 20150205243
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a binding unit configured to perform binding processing by pressing a sheet bundle, a motor configured to drive the binding unit to press the sheet bundle, a speed detection unit configured to detect a speed of the motor, a voltage detection unit configured to detect a driving voltage of the motor, and a motor control unit configured to determine an upper limit value of a driving current of the motor based on the speed detected by the speed detection unit and the driving voltage detected by the voltage detection unit in a period when the motor is being driven and the binding unit is not pressing the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9027919
    Abstract: Provided are a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus that are capable of accurately detecting an abnormality of a feeding state without erroneously detecting when a trailing edge of a preceding sheet and a leading edge of a subsequent sheet are fed in an overlaid state. The sheet feeding device includes ultrasonic wave sensors 6 and 7 that detect an overlaid state of a preceding sheet Sa and a subsequent sheet Sb fed from feeding portions 51, 317 to 319 and a controller 1 that continuously performs a detection of the overlaid state of a sheet fed from the feeding portion at a predetermined number of detecting points along a sheet conveying direction at every predetermined time and determines a number of detecting points where detects. Based on the determined number of detecting points, the controller determines that the overlaid state is normal or abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuro Fukusaka, Yoshitaka Yamazaki, Taishi Tomii
  • Publication number: 20140339754
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a binding unit that sandwiches and binds a plurality of sheets by using a convex portion and a concave portion; a moving unit that moves at least one of the convex portion and the concave portion; a drive unit that drives the moving unit; and a control unit that controls the drive unit so that a state in which the binding unit sandwiches the plurality of sheets at a predetermined pressing force by using a driving force from the drive unit is retained for a predetermined time period, and so that the one of the convex portion and the concave portion is moved in a direction away from the another of the convex portion and the concave portion after the predetermined time period has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideto Abe, Yusuke Obuchi, Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20140334901
    Abstract: A sheet binding processing apparatus for avoiding the residual of binding member is provided. The sheet binding processing apparatus comprises a sheet insertion port through which a sheet bundle formed of a plurality of sheets S is inserted, a movable stapler for binding the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion port, and a manual stapling sheet sensor for detecting, at a predetermined detection time interval, existence or non-existence of the sheet bundle in the sheet insertion port. When the manual stapling sheet sensor detects the existence of the sheet bundle, the sheet binding processing apparatus gives permission to bind the sheet bundle by the movable stapler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumi Sato, Toshifumi Kakutani, Takeyuki Suda, Yousuke Hata, Hirohisa Kato, Shinya Suzuki, Yoshitaka Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20140301749
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that reduces density irregularity caused by SD gap variation. A developing bias voltage for forming a developing electric field between a photosensitive drum and a developing sleeve is applied to the developing sleeve. A rotational period of the photosensitive drum is divided into a plurality of blocks, and current values are acquired for each block. An average value of the acquired current values for each block is stored until the photosensitive drum is rotated a predetermined number of times, for each of the predetermined number of times of rotation. A moving average value of the average values in each block is calculated, and a correction table for correcting the developing bias voltage to be applied in each block is created using the calculated moving average values, and the developing bias voltage is controlled based on the created correction table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Fukusaka, Hiroshi Saito, Shigemi Kumagai, Yoshitaka Yamazaki