Patents by Inventor Yutaro Tsuno

Yutaro Tsuno 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: 11815834
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, first and second rotary members, a cleaning mechanism, and a separating mechanism. The first and second rotary members cooperatively form a nip portion configured to nip and convey the recording material while heating and fixing the tonner image onto the recording material. The cleaning mechanism includes a collecting roller. The cleaning mechanism is configured to clean the first rotary member by bringing the cleaning web into contact with the collecting roller that is in contact with the first rotary member and rotates together with the first rotary member. The separating mechanism is configured to separate the cleaning web from the collecting roller when the collecting roller is separated from the first rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Youichi Chikugo, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Yutaro Tsuno, Kenichi Tanaka, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Patent number: 11809109
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first rotary member and a second rotary member that form a nip portion, and, a changing mechanism configured to change a pressing force applied at the nip portion. The changing mechanism includes a worm having both ends supported rotatably, a worm wheel that is meshed with the worm and to which a driving force from the worm is transmitted, a rotatable shaft to which the worm wheel is attached, a cam that is attached to the shaft, and, a displacement mechanism that is abutted against the cam and that is configured to displace the second rotary member with respect to the first rotary member along with a rotation of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rikiya Takemasa, Takeshi Kozuma, Youichi Chikugo, Yutaro Tsuno, Hidekazu Tatezawa
  • Patent number: 11714368
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heating rotary member, a pressure rotary member, a nip portion formed by the rotary members, a temperature adjustment control section controlling a temperature of the heating rotary member to a target temperature, a cleaning web removing toner adhering to the heating rotary member, and a controller selectively executing one of a cleaning mode and a non-cleaning mode. A first basis weight and a second basis weight greater than the first predetermined basis weight are set, in a job that mixedly uses recording media with the first and second basis weights. When the controller executes the non-cleaning mode, the temperature adjustment control section sets a target temperature of a recording medium with a basis weight less than or equal to the first basis weight to a temperature lower than a target temperature of the recording medium in the cleaning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Hasegawa, Hiroki Kawai, Ayano Ogata, Yasuharu Toratani, Suguru Takeuchi, Youichi Chikugo, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Yutaro Tsuno, Kenichi Tanaka, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Publication number: 20230136810
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first rotary member, a second rotary member, a frame member, a guide portion, and a cover. The first rotary member is configured to heat a toner image formed on a recording material. The second rotary member is configured to contact the first rotary member and form a fixing nip portion with the first rotary member. The frame member is configured to support the first rotary member and the second rotary member. The guide portion is configured to guide the first rotary member to be moved upstream in a conveyance direction of the recording material when the first rotary member is being removed. The cover is attached to the frame member and configured to turn around a rotation shaft to open and close the guide portion. The cover is configured to turn in a direction toward the conveyance direction to open the guide portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Youichi Chikugo, Rikiya Takemasa, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Takeshi Kozuma, Yutaro Tsuno
  • Patent number: 11567436
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first rotary member, a second rotary member, a frame member, a guide portion, and a cover. The first rotary member is configured to heat a toner image formed on a recording material. The second rotary member is configured to contact the first rotary member and form a fixing nip portion with the first rotary member. The frame member is configured to support the first rotary member and the second rotary member. The guide portion is configured to guide the first rotary member to be moved upstream in a conveyance direction of the recording material when the first rotary member is being removed. The cover is attached to the frame member and configured to turn around a rotation shaft to open and close the guide portion. The cover is configured to turn in a direction toward the conveyance direction to open the guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Youichi Chikugo, Rikiya Takemasa, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Takeshi Kozuma, Yutaro Tsuno
  • Publication number: 20220308508
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heating rotary member, a pressure rotary member, a nip portion formed by the rotary members, a temperature adjustment control section controlling a temperature of the heating rotary member to a target temperature, a cleaning web removing toner adhering to the heating rotary member, and a controller selectively executing one of a cleaning mode and a non-cleaning mode. A first basis weight and a second basis weight greater than the first predetermined basis weight are set, in a job that mixedly uses recording media with the first and second basis weights. When the controller executes the non-cleaning mode, the temperature adjustment control section sets a target temperature of a recording medium with a basis weight less than or equal to the first basis weight to a temperature lower than a target temperature of the recording medium in the cleaning mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Mitsuru Hasegawa, Hiroki Kawai, Ayano Ogata, Yasuharu Toratani, Suguru Takeuchi, Youichi Chikugo, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Yutaro Tsuno, Kenichi Tanaka, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Patent number: 11454908
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating roller, and, a heater unit. The heater unit is provided on an inner side of the heating roller. The heater unit includes a first halogen heater, a second halogen heater, and, a pair of holders. The pair of holders holds the first halogen heater and the second halogen heater such that the pair of holders, the first halogen heater and the second halogen heater are integrally inserted to and extracted from the heating roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Kozuma, Youichi Chikugo, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Yutaro Tsuno, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Publication number: 20220214635
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, first and second rotary members, a cleaning mechanism, and a separating mechanism. The first and second rotary members cooperatively form a nip portion configured to nip and convey the recording material while heating and fixing the tonner image onto the recording material. The cleaning mechanism includes a collecting roller. The cleaning mechanism is configured to clean the first rotary member by bringing the cleaning web into contact with the collecting roller that is in contact with the first rotary member and rotates together with the first rotary member. The separating mechanism is configured to separate the cleaning web from the collecting roller when the collecting roller is separated from the first rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Youichi Chikugo, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Yutaro Tsuno, Kenichi Tanaka, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Patent number: 11307520
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, first and second rotary members, a cleaning mechanism, and a separating mechanism. The first and second rotary members cooperatively form a nip portion configured to nip and convey a recording material while heating and fixing a toner image onto the recording material. The cleaning mechanism includes a collecting roller. The cleaning mechanism is configured to clean the first rotary member by bringing a cleaning web into contact with the collecting roller that is in contact with the first rotary member and rotates together with the first rotary member. The separating mechanism is configured to separate the cleaning web from the collecting roller when the collecting roller is separated from the first rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Youichi Chikugo, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Yutaro Tsuno, Kenichi Tanaka, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Patent number: 11300906
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a sheet includes a rotatable fixing belt; a heating roller wherein the belt is stretched and entrained around the heating roller to heat the belt; a pressing pad of resin material provided inside of the belt; a rotatable pressing member contacting an outer peripheral surface of the belt and pressing against the pad through the belt to form a nip configured to nip and feed the sheet; a supporting metal stay supporting the pad and including a planar bottom surface faced to the pad; and projected portions integrally molded with the pad and provided along a widthwise direction of the pad, the projected portions projecting and contacting to the bottom surface such that the pad is supported by the stay. A contact area between the projected portions and the bottom surface is not less than 5% and not more than 40% of the area of the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rikiya Takemasa, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Yutaro Tsuno, Kenichi Tanaka, Youichi Chikugo, Mitsuru Hasegawa, Hiroki Kawai, Suguru Takeuchi, Ayano Ogata, Yasuharu Toratani
  • Patent number: 11287766
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes a casing, a heating unit, a second rotary member, a first guide portion, a separation unit, and a separation unit movement mechanism. The separation unit has a separation member and movable relative to the casing between a first position at which the separation unit is positioned when the heating unit is positioned at a position to form a fixing nip portion, and a second position at which the separation unit is positioned when the heating unit is retracted from the position to form the fixing nip portion. The separation unit movement mechanism is configured to move the separation unit from the second position to the first position with the heating unit mounting to the position to form the fixing nip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Tatezawa, Youichi Chikugo, Rikiya Takemasa, Kenichi Tanaka, Yutaro Tsuno
  • Patent number: 11269272
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing belt, a pad, a rotatable pressing member, a pressing member driving source, an auxiliary driving roller, and a transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force from the pressing member driving source to the auxiliary driving roller, wherein a peripheral speed of the auxiliary driving roller is faster than a peripheral speed of the pressing member, and a steering roller provided so as to stretch the fixing belt at the inner surface of the fixing belt in a position downstream of the auxiliary driving roller and upstream the pad with respect to a rotational direction of the fixing belt. The steering roller adjusts a position of the fixing belt with respect to a widthwise direction of the fixing belt by inclining the fixing belt so as to be positioned within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Tatezawa, Youichi Chikugo, Rikiya Takemasa, Kenichi Tanaka, Yutaro Tsuno, Mitsuru Hasegawa, Suguru Takeuchi, Hiroki Kawai, Yasuharu Toratani, Ayano Ogata
  • Publication number: 20220017317
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a rotatable first rotary member, a rotatable second rotary member, a casing, a sheet discharge port, an opening and closing member, a duct, and a fan. The casing is provided within the apparatus body and storing the first and second rotary members. The sheet discharge port discharges the recording material that has passed through the nip portion out of the casing. The opening and closing member has the sheet discharge port and opens a conveyance path of the recording material from the nip portion to the sheet discharge port. The fan suctions air from the suction port through the duct. The duct is provided on the opening and closing member and comprises a suction port to suction air from the conveyance path. The suction port is provided on the same side as the first rotary member with respect to the conveyance path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Hidekazu Tatezawa, Youichi Chikugo, Rikiya Takemasa, Yutaro Tsuno, Takeshi Kozuma
  • Publication number: 20220004129
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first rotary member and a second rotary member that form a nip portion, and, a changing mechanism configured to change a pressing force applied at the nip portion. The changing mechanism includes a worm having both ends supported rotatably, a worm wheel that is meshed with the worm and to which a driving force from the worm is transmitted, a rotatable shaft to which the worm wheel is attached, a cam that is attached to the shaft, and, a displacement mechanism that is abutted against the cam and that is configured to displace the second rotary member with respect to the first rotary member along with a rotation of the cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Rikiya Takemasa, Takeshi Kozuma, Youichi Chikugo, Yutaro Tsuno, Hidekazu Tatezawa
  • Patent number: 11194275
    Abstract: A toner image fixing device include a fixing belt; a heating roller training the belt around; a pressing pad of resin material provided inside the belt; a rotatable pressing member contacting the belt and pressing against the pad through the belt to form a nip for nipping and feeding the sheet; a supporting stay supporting the pad and including a surface contacting the pad, one of the pad and the stay being provided with a projection, and the other being provided with a recess engaged with the projection at an engaging position; and a separation plate provided without contact to the belt at a position opposed to the pad downstream of the nip in the sheet feeding direction. A distance between the engaging position and a downstream end of the pad is 0-35% of a length of the pad measured along the feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rikiya Takemasa, Youichi Chikugo, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Kenichi Tanaka, Yutaro Tsuno, Mitsuru Hasegawa, Hiroki Kawai, Suguru Takeuchi, Ayano Ogata, Yasuharu Toratani
  • Publication number: 20210373470
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating roller, and, a heater unit, The heater unit is provided on an inner side of the heating roller. The heater unit includes a first halogen heater, a second halogen heater, and, a pair of holders. The pair of holders holds the first halogen heater and the second halogen heater such that the pair of holders, the first halogen heater and the second halogen heater are integrally inserted to and extracted from the heating roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Takeshi Kozuma, Youichi Chikugo, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Yutaro Tsuno, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Publication number: 20210356888
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first rotary member, a second rotary member, a frame member, a guide portion, and a cover. The first rotary member is configured to heat a toner image formed on a recording material. The second rotary member is configured to contact the first rotary member and form a fixing nip portion with the first rotary member. The frame member is configured to support the first rotary member and the second rotary member. The guide portion is configured to guide the first rotary member to be moved upstream in a conveyance direction of the recording material when the first rotary member is being removed. The cover is attached to the frame member and configured to turn around a rotation shaft to open and close the guide portion. The cover is configured to turn in a direction toward the conveyance direction to open the guide portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Youichi Chikugo, Rikiya Takemasa, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Takeshi Kozuma, Yutaro Tsuno
  • Patent number: 11092917
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes an endless fixing belt, a rotary member configured to form a fixing nip portion, a resin-made pad configured to press an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt by a peripheral surface toward the fixing nip portion, and a stay configured to support the pad. The stay includes a projection configured to protrude toward the pad. The pad includes a hole formed at a center in the width direction on the opposite surface and configured to fit with the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaro Tsuno, Youichi Chikugo, Rikiya Takemasa, Kenichi Tanaka, Hidekazu Tatezawa
  • Publication number: 20210223723
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, first and second rotary members, a cleaning mechanism, and a separating mechanism. The first and second rotary members cooperatively form a nip portion configured to nip and convey the recording material while heating and fixing the tonner image onto the recording material. The cleaning mechanism includes a collecting roller. The cleaning mechanism is configured to clean the first rotary member by bringing the cleaning web into contact with the collecting roller that is in contact with the first rotary member and rotates together with the first rotary member. The separating mechanism is configured to separate the cleaning web from the collecting roller when the collecting roller is separated from the first rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Youichi Chikugo, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Yutaro Tsuno, Kenichi Tanaka, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Publication number: 20210191298
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a sheet includes a rotatable fixing belt; a heating roller training the belt around; a pressing pad of resin material provided inside of the belt; a rotatable pressing member contacting an outer peripheral surface of the belt and pressing against the pad through the belt to form a nip configured to nip and feed the sheet; a supporting metal stay supporting the pad and including a planar bottom surface faced to the pad; and projected portions integrally molded with the pad and provided along a widthwise direction of the pad, the projected portions projecting and contacting to the bottom surface such that the pad is supported by the stay. A contact area between the projections and the bottom surface is not less than 5% and not more than 40% of the area of the bottom surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Rikiya Takemasa, Hidekazu Tatezawa, Yutaro Tsuno, Kenichi Tanaka, Youichi Chikugo, Mitsuru Hasegawa, Hiroki Kawai, Suguru Takeuchi, Ayano Ogata, Yasuharu Toratani