Patents by Inventor Yusuke Minato

Yusuke Minato 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).

  • Publication number: 20260219597
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second photosensitive members, an intermediary transfer belt, first and second primary transfer members, first and second electrode members, first and second applying portions, a third applying portion as a common power source, first to third detecting portions, and a controller. In an operation in a setting mode, the controller sets (i) a transfer bias applied to the first primary transfer member, on the basis of a first detection result of the third detecting portion when a bias is applied to the first primary transfer member without applying a bias to the second primary transfer member, and (ii) a transfer bias applied to the second primary transfer member, on the basis of a second detection result of the third detecting portion when the bias is applied to the second primary transfer member without applying the bias to the first primary transfer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2026
    Publication date: July 30, 2026
    Inventors: MANATO KOBAYASHI, YUSUKE MINATO
  • Patent number: 12663740
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member charged to a predetermined polarity, an intermediary transfer belt, a primary transfer member forming a primary transfer portion, an electrode member in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the photosensitive member on a downstream side, first and second detecting portions to detect a current flowing through or a voltage applied to the primary transfer member and the electrode member, respectively, and a control portion configured to execute, during non-image formation, a setting operation in which the transfer bias to be used during image formation is set. In executing the setting operation, the control portion sets the transfer bias based on a first detecting result detected by the first detecting portion while a voltage is applied to the primary transfer member and a second detecting result detected by the second detecting portion while the voltage is applied to the primary transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Izuru Tanaka, Manato Kobayashi, Yusuke Minato
  • Publication number: 20260118801
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive member, an intermediary transfer belt, a transfer member, an electrode member provided on an inner peripheral surface side of the intermediary transfer belt, a power source for applying a voltage of the same polarity as a predetermined polarity to the electrode member, and a supporting member for supporting the electrode member. The electrode member is supported in non-contact with the intermediary transfer belt when the electrode member is positioned in an operating position, and a separation amount between the electrode member and the intermediary transfer belt when the electrode member is positioned in the operating position is 1.5 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: YUSUKE MINATO, MANATO KOBAYASHI, IZURU TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20250341801
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming portion, a transfer member, a power source, an acquiring portion, and a controller capable of executing an operation in an adjustment mode. A plurality of test toner images transferred onto a recording material in the occurrence in the adjusting mode include a first test toner image transferred under application of a first test voltage and a second test toner image transferred under application of a second test voltage different from the first test voltage. In the operation in the adjustment mode, the controller adjusts the transfer voltage set for transfer on the basis of first information on variation in image density acquired in different regions of the first test toner image and second information on variation in image density acquired in different regions of the second test toner image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Inventors: Yusuke Minato, Takenori Sueoka
  • Publication number: 20250314995
    Abstract: In a cross section perpendicular to a rotational axis of a first image bearing member, when a common tangential line between the first image bearing member and a second image bearing member on an intermediary transfer belt side is a rectilinear line L, a rectilinear line passing through a rotation center of the first image bearing member and a rotation center of a first transfer member is a rectilinear line P, and a rectilinear line passing through an intersection point between the rectilinear line P and the first image bearing member and perpendicular to the rectilinear line P is a rectilinear line Q, an electrode member is constituted so that the contact portion contacting an inner surface of the belt is positioned on a first image bearing member side than the rectilinear line L is and on a first transfer member side than the rectilinear line Q is.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2025
    Publication date: October 9, 2025
    Inventors: MANATO KOBAYASHI, YUSUKE MINATO, IZURU TANAKA, RYOSUKE TSURUGA
  • Patent number: 12436488
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming portion, a transfer member, a power source, an acquiring portion, and a controller capable of executing an operation in an adjustment mode. A plurality of test toner images transferred onto a recording material in the occurrence in the adjusting mode include a first test toner image transferred under application of a first test voltage and a second test toner image transferred under application of a second test voltage different from the first test voltage. In the operation in the adjustment mode, the controller adjusts the transfer voltage set for transfer on the basis of first information on variation in image density acquired in different regions of the first test toner image and second information on variation in image density acquired in different regions of the second test toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Minato, Takenori Sueoka
  • Patent number: 12372900
    Abstract: In a cross-section perpendicular to a rotational axis of a first image bearing member, when a common tangential line between the first image bearing member and a second image bearing member on an intermediary transfer belt side is a rectilinear line L, a rectilinear line passing through a rotation center of the first image bearing member and a rotation center of a first transfer member is a rectilinear line P, and a rectilinear line passing through an intersection point between the rectilinear line P and the first image bearing member and perpendicular to the rectilinear line P is a rectilinear line Q, an electrode member is constituted so that the contact portion contacting an inner surface of the belt is positioned further on a first image bearing member side than the rectilinear line L is and further on a first transfer member side than the rectilinear line Q is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manato Kobayashi, Yusuke Minato, Izuru Tanaka, Ryosuke Tsuruga
  • Patent number: 12224389
    Abstract: A light-emitting element includes: a semiconductor layered structure including a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, and an active layer located between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a reflective portion including an insulative first layer located on the first semiconductor layer, a second layer made of a metal material located on the first layer, and a third layer located on the second layer; an insulative layer covering the reflective portion; a light-transmissive conductive layer located on the insulative layer and on the first semiconductor layer; a first electrode located on a portion of the light-transmissive conductive layer that is above the reflective portion; and a second electrode located on the second semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shun Kitahama, Yusuke Minato
  • Patent number: 12147175
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer device, an applying portion; a detecting portion, a controller, and a receiving portion. The controller executes an operation in a setting mode in which during non-image formation, test images are transferred onto the recording material at different test voltages to the transfer device and then a transfer voltage applied to the transfer device during image formation is set on the basis of a detection result of the detecting portion. In a case that the operation in the setting mode is executed to set the transfer voltage for one-side mode, the receiving portion is capable of receiving instruction information selectively instructing a setting condition of the transfer voltage set by the operation in the setting mode from setting conditions including a first setting condition and a second setting condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Minato
  • Publication number: 20240288801
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member charged to a predetermined polarity, an intermediary transfer belt, a primary transfer member forming a primary transfer portion, an electrode member in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the photosensitive member on a downstream side, first and second detecting portion to detect a current flowing through or a voltage applied to the primary transfer member and the electrode member, respectively, and a control portion, during non-image formation, to execute a setting operation in which the transfer bias to be set during image formation is set. In executing the setting operation, the control portion sets the transfer bias based on a first detecting result detected by the first detecting portion while a voltage is applied to the primary transfer member and a second detecting result detected by the second detecting portion while the voltage is applied to the primary transfer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: IZURU TANAKA, MANATO KOBAYASHI, YUSUKE MINATO
  • Publication number: 20240168414
    Abstract: In a cross section perpendicular to a rotational axis of a first image bearing member, when a common tangential line between the first image bearing member and a second image bearing member on an intermediary transfer belt side is a rectilinear line L, a rectilinear line passing through a rotation center of the first image bearing member and a rotation center of a first transfer member is a rectilinear line P, and a rectilinear line passing through an intersection point between the rectilinear line P and the first image bearing member and perpendicular to the rectilinear line P is a rectilinear line Q, an electrode member is constituted so that the contact portion contacting an inner surface of the belt is positioned on a first image bearing member side than the rectilinear line L is and on a first transfer member side than the rectilinear line Q is.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: MANATO KOBAYASHI, YUSUKE MINATO, IZURU TANAKA, RYOSUKE TSURUGA
  • Publication number: 20230367249
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming portion, a transfer member, a power source, an acquiring portion, and a controller capable of executing an operation in an adjustment mode. A plurality of test toner images transferred onto a recording material in the occurrence in the adjusting mode include a first test toner image transferred under application of a first test voltage and a second test toner image transferred under application of a second test voltage different from the first test voltage. In the operation in the adjustment mode, the controller adjusts the transfer voltage set for transfer on the basis of first information on variation in image density acquired in different regions of the first test toner image and second information on variation in image density acquired in different regions of the second test toner image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Yusuke Minato, Takenori Sueoka
  • Patent number: 11815836
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming portion, transfer member, a power source, a current detecting portion, an acquiring portion, and a controller capable of executing an operation in an adjustment mode. In the operation in the adjustment mode, the controller selects test toner images for setting a transfer voltage for a second side of a recording material, on the basis of information on densities of the test toner images acquired by the acquiring portion, and then adjusts the transfer voltage for the second side of the recording material on the basis of a current detected by the current detecting portion when the selected test toner images are transferred onto the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Minato, Takenori Sueoka, Tatsuya Kohno
  • Patent number: 11754957
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming portion, a transfer member, a power source, an acquiring portion, and a controller capable of executing an operation in an adjustment mode. A plurality of test toner images transferred onto a recording material in the occurrence in the adjusting mode include a first test toner image transferred under application of a first test voltage and a second test toner image transferred under application of a second test voltage different from the first test voltage. In the operation in the adjustment mode, the controller adjusts the transfer voltage set for transfer on the basis of first information on variation in image density acquired in different regions of the first test toner image and second information on variation in image density acquired in different regions of the second test toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Minato, Takenori Sueoka
  • Publication number: 20230280681
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer device, an applying portion; a detecting portion, a controller, and a receiving portion. The controller executes an operation in a setting mode in which during non-image formation, test images are transferred onto the recording material at different test voltages to the transfer device and then a transfer voltage applied to the transfer device during image formation is set on the basis of a detection result of the detecting portion. In a case that the operation in the setting mode is executed to set the transfer voltage for one-side mode, the receiving portion is capable of receiving instruction information selectively instructing a setting condition of the transfer voltage set by the operation in the setting mode from setting conditions including a first setting condition and a second setting condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventor: YUSUKE MINATO
  • Patent number: 11709443
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediary transfer belt, a transfer member, a voltage source for applying a voltage to the transfer member, a detecting portion for detecting a current flowing through the transfer member, and a controller for carrying out constant-voltage control so that the voltage applied to the transfer member becomes a target voltage when a recording material P passes through a transfer portion. The controller is capable of changing the voltage applied to the transfer member so that a detection result detected by the detecting portion during transfer falls within a predetermined range. The controller changes the predetermined range on the basis of the detection result detected by the detecting portion when the voltage is applied to the transfer member in a state in which the recording material P is absent in the transfer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakehi, Tetsuya Ohta, Yusuke Minato
  • Publication number: 20220317610
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming portion, a transfer member, a power source, an acquiring portion, and a controller capable of executing an operation in an adjustment mode. A plurality of test toner images transferred onto a recording material in the occurrence in the adjusting mode include a first test toner image transferred under application of a first test voltage and a second test toner image transferred under application of a second test voltage different from the first test voltage. In the operation in the adjustment mode, the controller adjusts the transfer voltage set for transfer on the basis of first information on variation in image density acquired in different regions of the first test toner image and second information on variation in image density acquired in different regions of the second test toner image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Yusuke Minato, Takenori Sueoka
  • Publication number: 20220317608
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming portion, transfer member, a power source, a current detecting portion, an acquiring portion, and a controller capable of executing an operation in an adjustment mode. In the operation in the adjustment mode, the controller selects test toner images for setting a transfer voltage for a second side of a recording material, on the basis of information on densities of the test toner images acquired by the acquiring portion, and then adjusts the transfer voltage for the second side of the recording material on the basis of a current detected by the current detecting portion when the selected test toner images are transferred onto the recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Yusuke Minato, Takenori Sueoka, Tatsuya Kohno
  • Publication number: 20220276590
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediary transfer belt, a transfer member, a voltage source for applying a voltage to the transfer member, a detecting portion for detecting a current flowing through the transfer member, and a controller for carrying out constant-voltage control so that the voltage applied to the transfer member becomes a target voltage when a recording material P passes through a transfer portion. The controller is capable of changing the voltage applied to the transfer member so that a detection result detected by the detecting portion during transfer falls within a predetermined range. The controller changes the predetermined range on the basis of the detection result detected by the detecting portion when the voltage is applied to the transfer member in a state in which the recording material P is absent in the transfer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakehi, Tetsuya Ohta, Yusuke Minato
  • Patent number: 11281130
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediary transfer belt, a transfer member, a voltage source for applying a voltage to the transfer member, a detecting portion for detecting a current flowing through the transfer member, and a controller for carrying out constant-voltage control so that the voltage applied to the transfer member becomes a target voltage when a recording material P passes through a transfer portion. The controller is capable of changing the voltage applied to the transfer member so that a detection result detected by the detecting portion during transfer falls within a predetermined range. The controller changes the predetermined range on the basis of the detection result detected by the detecting portion when the voltage is applied to the transfer member in a state in which the recording material P is absent in the transfer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakehi, Tetsuya Ohta, Yusuke Minato