Printing Or Reproduction Device Patents (Class 219/216)
  • Patent number: 12078947
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a heating unit including a heating rotation member configured to heat a recording medium: a pressure rotation member which contacts the heating rotation member to form a nip portion to fix a toner image to the recording medium, a heat source configured to heat the heating rotation member, the heat source including a first heater and a second heater, and a control unit configured to control the first heater and the second heater, wherein the image forming unit is operable to transition to: a fixing state in which an operation to fix the toner image to the recording medium is performed by receiving a job; and a standby state, to wait for the job, in which an operation to fix the toner image to the recording medium is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Uehara
  • Patent number: 12055879
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes a film including a tubular shape and configured to rotate, a heater arranged inside the film and including a heating resistor configured to generate heat by passing alternating current therethrough and an insulator configured to cover the heating resistor, a sliding member arranged between the heater and the film and configured to be in sliding contact with an inner surface of the film, the sliding member having electric conductivity, a pressing member configured to be in pressure contact with the sliding member across the film to form a nip portion between the sliding member and the pressing member, and a conductive member electrically connected to a ground potential via at least one impedance element. The sliding member is electrically connected to the conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Yasukawa, Yusuke Nakashima, Ryo Okuzumi
  • Patent number: 12046459
    Abstract: A heater component has a substrate part and a thin coating heater which is equipped outside this substrate part and generates heat by power supply. The thin coating heater is formed of a thermal sprayed coating. The thin coating heater has a heater body and a heater extension part. The heater body is arranged on a first end face of the substrate part. The heater extension part is extended from the heater body to a second end face of the substrate part through a side surface of the substrate part. A tip part of the heater extension part is a heater power supplying part for supplying electric power to the heater body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOCALO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shikou Abukawa, Kensuke Taguchi, Yu Asakimori, Ryutaro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11921447
    Abstract: A heating device includes a cylindrical body with a hollow interior and a heater inside the hollow interior. A first surface of the heater faces the inner surface of the cylindrical body. A heat transfer member is on a second surface of the heater. A grease is between the heater and the heat transfer member. A support member is provided including a first portion fixed to the second surface of the heater and a second portion contacting a surface of the heat transfer member. The support member includes a third portion between the first and second portions. The third portion does not contact the second surface of the heater between the first and second portions and provides a space for grease from between the heater and the heat transfer member to accumulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sasuke Endo
  • Patent number: 11822271
    Abstract: A heating unit includes a heater including a substrate and a resistance heating element, a temperature sensor, an endless belt, a holder, a first heat conductive sheet located between the heater and the holder, and a second heat conductive sheet which is smaller than the first heat conductive heat member. The first heat conductive sheet includes a first heater-side surface which is in contact with a back surface of the heater and a first opposite surface. The first heat conductive sheet has a heat conductivity higher than that of the substrate. The second heat conductive sheet includes a second heater-side surface which is in contact with the first opposite surface and a second opposite surface. The temperature sensor is in contact with the second opposite surface of the second heat conductive sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11644774
    Abstract: In an image heating device having a plurality of heating blocks which are controllable independently in a longitudinal direction of a heater, an increase of the size of the heater can be suppressed, and temperatures of a plurality of heating block can be detected. A heater has a first temperature sensor corresponding to a first heating block, a second temperature sensor corresponding to a second heating block, a first electric conductor electrically coupled to the first temperature sensor, a second electric conductor electrically coupled to the second temperature sensor, and a common electric conductor electrically coupled to the first and second temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shimura, Akira Kato, Atsushi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 11631574
    Abstract: The heater component (1) has a substrate part (2), and a thin coating heater (4) which is equipped outside this substrate part (2) and generates heat by power supply. The thin coating heater (4) is formed of a thermal sprayed coating. The thin coating heater (4) has a heater body (10) and a heater extension part (11). The heater body (10) is arranged on a first end face (2a) of the substrate part (2). The heater extension part (11) is extended from the heater body (10) to a second end face (2b) of the substrate part (2) through a side surface (2c) of the substrate part (2). A tip part (11s) of the heater extension part (11) is a heater power supplying part (12) for supplying electric power to the heater body (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOCALO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shikou Abukawa, Kensuke Taguchi, Yu Asakimori, Ryutaro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11504980
    Abstract: A machine for processing textile substrates includes a base configured to receive a substrate support carrying a textile substrate, and may further include a nozzle assembly supported above the base for applying pretreatment liquid to a pretreatment area of the substrate during relative movement between the nozzle assembly and the substrate support along a conveying direction. A forced air assembly is supported above the base for movement transverse to the conveying direction. A controller that controls the relative movement between the substrate support and the nozzle assembly along the conveying direction, or the movement of the forced air assembly along the second axis based on information related to a pretreatment area or a print area of the textile substrate in order to direct heated air from the forced air assembly onto an area of the textile substrate substantially corresponding to the pretreatment area or the print area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ColDesi, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Mombourquette, Brett Weibel, Scott Colman
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11448987
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, in continuous image formation in which images are continuously formed and fixed on a plurality of recording materials in a fixing portion, with a period from start of the continuous image formation on a first recording material to arrival thereof at the fixing unit being regarded as a first period, and with a period from the arrival of the first recording material at the fixing portion to the end of the continuous image formation being regarded as a second period, a second maximum energizing duty that is set when the control portion supplies power to a plurality of heating elements in the second period is higher than a first maximum energizing duty that is set when the control portion supplies power to the plurality of heating elements in the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nihonyanagi, Masato Sako
  • Patent number: 11440760
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes first and second abutment surfaces in contact a leading edge of a conveyed sheet before the sheet is nipped by a conveyance portion, which nips the sheet while the first and second abutment members are moving from respective standby positions together with first and second rotary members by being pressed by the leading edge. The first and second rotary members are in contact with the sheet being conveyed by the second conveyance portion after the leading edge of the sheet passes through the first abutment surface, the first rotary member, and the second abutment surface, and the second rotary member, and the first and second abutment members move toward standby positions by urging members after a trailing edge of the sheet passing through the first and second rotary members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Nagasaki
  • Patent number: 11435682
    Abstract: A heater includes a base, a plurality of heat generators arranged on the base in parallel to a longitudinal direction of the base, a plurality of electrodes on the base, and conductor paths disposed on the base. The conductor paths are electrically connected to the heat generators and the electrodes. The conductor paths include a main conductor path connected to one of the electrodes and a branch conductor path branched from the main conductor path. At least a part of the branch conductor path has a lower electrical resistance per unit length than an electrical resistance per unit length of the main conductor path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Samei, Tomoya Adachi, Yuusuke Furuichi, Yukimichi Someya, Daisuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 11422494
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a heater holding member, and a belt holding member. The fixing belt fixes a toner image to a sheet by heating the sheet. The heater holding member guides the fixing belt such that the fixing belt can peripherally rotate. The heater holding member holds a heater that heats the fixing belt. The belt holding member is fixed in position with respect to a conveyance path of the sheet and holds an end portion of the fixing belt in a rotation axis direction of the fixing belt such that the fixing belt can peripherally rotate. The belt holding member includes an engaging portion. The heater holding member includes an engaged portion that is engaged with the engaging portion to restrict a movement of the belt holding member with respect to the heater holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhiro Sakai, Masakazu Uehara, Tomohiro Watatani, Fumito Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 11378907
    Abstract: A heating apparatus including: a first load; a first switch element configured to switch between supply of power from an AC power source to the first load and shut-off of power supply; a second load; a second switch element configured to switch between supply of power from the AC power source to the second load and shut-off of power supply; and a control unit configured to control the first and the second switch elements to prevent power from being supplied to both of the first load and the second load. The first switch element has the T1 terminal connected to one end of the first load, and the T2 terminal connected to the AC power source. The second switch element has the T2 terminal connected to one end of the second load, and the T1 terminal connected to the AC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasukazu Maeda, Nozomu Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11363680
    Abstract: Disclosed are a plasma reactor and a heating apparatus therefor, wherein the heating apparatus comprises: a programmable power supply, a heater assembly, and a bandpass filter assembly, the heater assembly being configured for connecting with the programmable power supply via the bandpass filter assembly, the bandpass filter assembly including a plurality of bandpass filters, wherein the programmable power supply may input, based on match relationships between outputted AC heating powers and conduction frequencies of the bandpass filters BPF, an AC heating power to a matched heater unit to perform heating, thereby achieving zoned temperature control; the disclosures offer a simple circuit structure due to eliminating the need of switch elements, thereby offering a simple control manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ADVANCED MICRO-FABRICATION EQUIPMENT INC. CHINA
    Inventors: Kui Zhao, Dee Wu, Tuqiang Ni
  • Patent number: 11351739
    Abstract: A force for adjusting a relative position of a regulating blade relative to a development rotary member supported by a development frame member is applied to the regulating blade so that a gap between the development rotary member and the regulating blade when attached to an attachment portion falls within a predetermined range in a rotational axis direction of the development rotary member in a state that the regulating blade is separated from the attachment portion with an adhesive applied. The regulating blade is attached, with the adhesive, to the attachment portion with the adhesive applied so that the gap between the development rotary member and the regulating blade with the force applied falls within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Takahashi, Tomohiro Shiomi, Shunichi Koga, Teruaki Tsurusaki
  • Patent number: 11333561
    Abstract: A temperature sensor device and a system for measuring temperature of a fast moving surface are described herein. A sensor body comprising a temperature sensor for measuring temperature of the moving surface. The sensor body has an engagement surface for contacting the moving surface. A biasing mechanism is coupled to the sensor body for providing pressure to maintain the engagement surface in contact with moving surface and for allowing the engagement surface to pivot with the moving surface when the moving surface deflects. An electronics module is connected to the temperature sensor for determining temperature data indicative of the temperature of the moving surface and for transmitting the temperature data to an external device. The temperature sensor device and/or the system may be used for measuring temperature of a saw blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: FPInnovations
    Inventors: Tomo Bonac, Bruce Lehmann, Ahmad Mohammadpanah
  • Patent number: 11334018
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print engine, a power supply apparatus, and a processor. The print engine is to print an image. The power supply apparatus is to supply power to the image forming apparatus and have a zero cross detection circuit to output zero cross information of input alternating circuit (AC) power. The processor is to determine whether the AC power is input using an output signal of the zero cross detection circuit. In response to an operation mode of the image forming apparatus being a normal mode, the zero cross detection circuit outputs zero cross information on a full wave of the input AC power. In response to an operation mode of the image forming apparatus being a power-saving mode, the zero cross detection circuit outputs zero cross information on a half wave of the input AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Ansik Jeong, Jaewan Kim
  • Patent number: 11320770
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device including a flexible cylindrical rotary member and an inner-surface opposing portion that opposes an inner surface of the rotary member at an end portion of the rotary member in a generatrix direction. The inner-surface opposing portion moves upstream in a recording material conveying direction in accordance with lateral shift of the rotary member in the generatrix direction. This restricts the lateral shift of the rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Ohta, Terutaka Endo, Seiji Obata, Jiro Moriya, Takayuki Mizuta
  • Patent number: 11312155
    Abstract: In one example, a heated pressure roller can include a structural element positioned within a belt roller, a platen coupled to the structural element, wherein the platen comprises: a first side to guide a belt of the belt roller to form a first angle on the first side, and a second side to guide the belt of the belt roller to form a second angle on the second side that is different than the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew Raisanen, Richard Lee Brinkly, Kevin Lo
  • Patent number: 11314188
    Abstract: In an image heating device having a plurality of heating blocks which are controllable independently in a longitudinal direction of a heater, an increase of the size of the heater can be suppressed, and temperatures of a plurality of heating block can be detected. A heater has a first temperature sensor corresponding to a first heating block, a second temperature sensor corresponding to a second heating block, a first electric conductor electrically coupled to the first temperature sensor, a second electric conductor electrically coupled to the second temperature sensor, and a common electric conductor electrically coupled to the first and second temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shimura, Akira Kato, Atsushi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 11300902
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a preheating unit configured to heat a recording medium above the recording medium in a non-contact state with the recording medium, the recording medium being held at a leading end of the recording medium having a recording surface on which an image is transferred, the recording medium being transported such that the recording surface faces upward; a blowing unit disposed on a side opposite to the preheating unit with respect to the recording medium and configured to blow air onto the recording medium below the recording medium; a main heating unit disposed on a downstream side of the preheating unit in a transport direction of the recording medium and configured to contact the recording medium to heat the recording medium; a detection unit disposed on an upstream side of the preheating unit in the transport direction and configured to detect a transport posture of the recording medium; and a control unit configured to control the blowing unit based on a detection result of the dete
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kosuke Yamada, Takayuki Yamashita, Yoshiki Shimodaira, Tetsuro Kodera, Tokuya Sakamoto, Masato Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11300904
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heating roller including a plurality of halogen heaters whose number is three or more and a driving-force transmission member disposed on one end portion of the heating roller and configured to transmit rotational force that rotates the heating roller. The plurality of halogen heaters whose number is three or more includes at least one asymmetric halogen heater in which an amount of heat generated from one end side on which the driving-force transmission member is provided is larger than an amount of heat generated from another end side, and in which heat generation distribution is asymmetric with respect to a center of a heat generating portion in a longitudinal direction, and at least one symmetric halogen heater in which heat generation distribution is symmetric with respect to a center of a heat generating portion in a longitudinal direction, and the number of symmetric halogen heaters is larger than the number of asymmetric halogen heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Kawai, Mitsuru Hasegawa, Ayano Ogata, Yasuharu Toratani
  • Patent number: 11292671
    Abstract: Various example embodiments described herein relate to an item conditioning assembly, which includes a support frame and a conditioning belt supported by the support frame so that a first portion of the conditioning belt is supported by the support frame at a first tension and a second portion of the conditioning belt is supported by the support frame at a second tension relatively lower than the first tension. The second portion of the conditioning belt can be suspended over a conveyor such that an item received between the conditioning belt and the conveyor, enters in an unconditioned state and is released in a conditioned state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Jacober, Jeffrey A. Marsh, James D. Wilson, II, Grant R. Jeremiah, John E. Simons, Benjamin H. Baer
  • Patent number: 11292205
    Abstract: A force for adjusting a relative position of a regulating blade relative to a development rotary member supported by a development frame member is applied to the regulating blade so that a gap between the development rotary member and the regulating blade when attached to an attachment portion falls within a predetermined range in a rotational axis direction of the development rotary member in a state that the regulating blade is separated from the attachment portion with an adhesive applied. The regulating blade is attached, with the adhesive, to the attachment portion with the adhesive applied so that the gap between the development rotary member and the regulating blade with the force applied falls within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Takahashi, Tomohiro Shiomi, Shunichi Koga, Teruaki Tsurusaki
  • Patent number: 11281135
    Abstract: In a case where fixing processing is performed continuously on sheets having a width that is shorter than a length of a heat generation member in a longitudinal direction and longer than a length of another heat generation member in the longitudinal directions, the CPU determines a timing to switch between the heat generation member and the another heat generation member by a heat generation member switching device based on information relating to a size of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Sato, Kazuhiro Doda, Kohei Wakatsu, Tsuguhiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11281137
    Abstract: A heating unit includes a cylinder which rotates about an axis parallel to a first direction. A heater has a first surface abutting on an inner surface of the cylinder at a nip position. A support member is on a second surface of the heater and also contacts the cylinder. A first heating element is in the heater at a first position along the first direction. A second heating element in the heater is at a second position spaced from the first position. A first temperature sensor is above the first position. A locking portion of the heater is at a third position along the first direction. The locking portion engages the support member and restricts movement of the heater in the first direction. The first position is near a first outer edge of the cylinder. The second position is closer to a central portion of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sasuke Endo
  • Patent number: 11281132
    Abstract: A fixing unit or device that can be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first heater element that is formed of a material that increases in electrical resistance with increases in temperature. A controller of the fixing unit is configured to vary a duty ratio of electric power applied to the first heater element during a start-up operation in which the temperature of the first heater element is raised to a target operating temperature. By varying the duty ratio during the start-up operation, changes in the resistance of the first heater element with the heating can be compensated. For example, the duty ratio can be increased during the course of the start-up to achieve the target operating temperature faster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Murakami, Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Sasuke Endo, Masaya Tanaka, Ryota Saeki, Kousei Miyashita, Ryosuke Kojima, Yohei Doi, Yuki Kawashima, Eiji Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11269274
    Abstract: A heating device includes an endless belt that rotates and a pressure rotator that rotates in a rotation direction. The pressure rotator contacts an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt to form a nip therebetween, through which a heating target having a particular width in an axial direction of the pressure rotator is conveyed. A heater includes a heat generator that defines a conveyance span in the axial direction of the pressure rotator, where the heating target is conveyed, and a non-conveyance span in the axial direction of the pressure rotator, where the heating target is not conveyed. A non-conveyance span temperature detector is disposed opposite the pressure rotator in the non-conveyance span of the heat generator. The non-conveyance span temperature detector detects a temperature of the pressure rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Furuichi, Takayuki Seki, Tomoya Adachi
  • Patent number: 11256201
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt; a driving rotatable member cooperative with the endless belt to form a nip for fixing a toner image on a recording material and for driving the endless belt; an urging member provided inside the endless belt to urge the endless belt toward the driving rotatable member; and a rubbing rotatable member for rubbing an outer surface of the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuma Tadomi
  • Patent number: 11254118
    Abstract: An apparatus for ink contaminant drying includes a marker platen having a topside and a bottom side, and a plurality of heating elements located beneath the topside of the marker platen. The plurality of heating elements provides heating with respect to a surface of the marker platen, which prevents ink contaminants on the surface from remaining in a viscous fluidic state over a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Seemit Praharaj, Paul McConville, Douglas Herrmann, Jason Lefevre, Chu-Heng Liu
  • Patent number: 11249425
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a fixing device, a temperature sensor, a storage device, and a control device. The control device selects, before start of power supply to a heater of the fixing device, a temperature characteristic of an initial temperature the same as or approximate to a temperature of a nip region detected by the temperature sensor, out of respective temperature characteristics of a plurality of initial temperatures stored in the storage device, calculates a predicted temperature that may be reached a prescribed time after the start of power supply to the heater, on a basis of the selected temperature characteristic, and increases the power to the heater by a predetermined first value, when a temperature, detected by the temperature sensor the prescribed time after the start of power supply to the heater, is lower than the predicted temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masami Shibahara
  • Patent number: 11194271
    Abstract: A cylindrical film for use with an image heating apparatus includes a plurality of heat generating elements configured to generate heat by a flow of a current, in which each of the heat generating elements has a ring shape and is arranged along a longitudinal direction of the film; a ring-shaped insulating portion configured to electrically insulate the heat generating elements adjacent to each other; and a heat conductive layer different from a layer of the heat generating elements with respect to a thickness direction of the film, The heat conductive layer is 3 W/mK or more in thermal conductivity and overlaps with the heat generating elements with respect to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuichiro Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 11169474
    Abstract: A printer includes a printing unit to form a toner image on a printing medium, a fuser to apply heat and pressure to the printing medium that has passed through the printing unit to fuse the toner image on the printing medium, and a liquid-vapor chamber having a length in a width direction of the printing medium greater than a width of the printing medium. The liquid-vapor chamber has a heat absorber side to face the printing medium to absorb heat from the printing medium, a condenser side apart from the heat absorber side in an opposite direction not facing the printing medium to form an inner space between the condenser side and the heat absorber side, and a working fluid sealed in the inner space and to undergo a liquid-vapor phase change by moving between the heat absorber side and the condenser side, to absorb heat from the printing medium to cool the printing medium that has passed through the fuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Jong-Oh Kim
  • Patent number: 11163248
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt member, a heater, a base layer, and an opposed layer. The heater is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the belt member. The base layer includes a first surface on a heater side and a second surface on an opposite side to the first surface. The opposed layer covers the second surface and is opposed to the inner circumferential surface of the belt member. The base layer and the opposed layer satisfy the following conditional expression (1), 0<(Tb×Da)/(Ta×Db)?1.17??(1) where Ta is a thickness of the base layer in millimeters, Tb is a thickness of the opposed layer in millimeters, Da is a thermal diffusivity of the base layer in square millimeters per second, and Db is a thermal diffusivity of the opposed layer in square millimeters per second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takenori Shimada
  • Patent number: 11143996
    Abstract: A heating device includes an endless belt, an opposed rotator, a heater, and a heat transfer portion. The opposed rotator is configured to contact the endless belt to form a nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotator. The heater includes a plurality of resistive heat generators configured to heat the endless belt. The heater is configured to generate a larger amount of heat on a first side of the heater than a second side of the heater in a longitudinal direction of the heater. The first side is opposite to the second side with respect to a center position of a heating span of all the plurality of energized resistive heat generators in the longitudinal direction of the heater. The heat transfer portion is disposed on the first side to release heat from the heating span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Seki
  • Patent number: 11137706
    Abstract: A heater includes an insulator substrate, a heat generating section in which a plurality of divided regions are formed in a longitudinal direction on a first surface of the insulator substrate, electrodes formed at both end portions of the heat generating section to correspond to the plurality of divided regions, and electric conductors connected to at least one of the electrodes and formed over a surface different from the first surface of the insulator substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 11131949
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing film, a heater for heating the fixing film, a heater holder including a heater holding portion holding the heater, and a pressing roller forming a nip between itself and the fixing film to be heated by the heater. In the nip, a toner image carried on a recording material is fixed. The heater holder includes an opposing surface which is provided on a side upstream of the heater holding portion with respect to a recording material feeding direction and which opposes the pressing roller, a lubricant holding portion provided on the opposing surface, for supplying a lubricant to between the fixing film and the heater, and a projected portion provided on the side upstream of the heater holding portion with respect to the recording material feeding direction and projecting toward the pressing roller from the opposing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 11126119
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressure member, a first holding member, and a second holding member. The fixing belt is endless and includes a first rim and a second rim. The pressure member presses the fixing belt by being in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt and rotates about a rotation axis of the pressure member. The first holding member is attached to the fixing belt and holds the first rim of the fixing belt. The second holding member is attached to the fixing belt and holds the second rim of the fixing belt. The second holding member includes a base portion, a main portion, and a protrusion. The main portion protrudes from the base portion. The protrusion protrudes from the main portion in a direction away from the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hironori Takahashi, Masakazu Uehara, Tomohiro Watatani, Yuhiro Sakai, Fumito Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 11112736
    Abstract: In a heater according to the present invention, one of conductive lines is arranged to extend from a temperature detection element toward one end portion of a substrate in a lengthwise direction of the substrate, whereas the other the conductive line is arranged to extend from the temperature detection element toward the other end portion of the substrate in the lengthwise direction of the substrate, and at least one of the two conductive lines has an area that is inclined in both of the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Jinkoma, Tomonori Sato, Atsushi Iwasaki, Takashi Nomura
  • Patent number: 11106166
    Abstract: A heater includes: a substrate; a first heating element being provided on one surface of the substrate and extending in a longitudinal direction of the substrate; a second heating element being provided on one surface of the substrate, extending in the longitudinal direction of the substrate, and being provided side by side with the first heating element in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; a first detecting section being provided on one surface of the substrate and detecting a temperature; a wiring being electrically connected to one ends of the first heating element, the second heating element, and the first detecting section; a first terminal being electrically connected to the other end of the first heating element; a second terminal being electrically connected to the other end of the second heating element; and a third terminal being electrically connected to the other end of the first detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Tamai
  • Patent number: 11106167
    Abstract: A heater includes a heat generating element and a protective layer. The protective layer covers the heat generating element, and at least part of a surface thereof has a convex surface that is convex toward the heat generating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Osamu Takagi, Chie Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 11106163
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a fixing device used for fixing a toner image to a sheet in a printing process includes a rotatable heated body having an inner facing surface and an outer facing surface. A heater for heating the rotatable heated body has a length corresponding to the length of the heated body. A pressing member contacts the inner facing surface of the rotatable heated body at a first position. A pressing roller presses against the outer facing surface of the rotatable heated body at a position corresponding to the pressing member. A lubricant holding member has a lubricating surface that contacts the inner facing surface of the rotatable heated body at a second position. The lubricant holding member has a plurality of recesses in its lubricating surface. The recesses are spaced from each other along the length of the lubricant holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 11079705
    Abstract: A heater of the present invention includes jointed heat generating resistors having a positive temperature characteristic of resistance and provided between a first conductive element and a second conductive element on a substrate in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a plurality of heating blocks provided in the longitudinal direction, each of which is a set of the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the heat generating resistor, and power supplied to at least one of the plurality of heating blocks can be controlled independent of other heating blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shimura
  • Patent number: 11073851
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a raw material tank monitors the temperature of the raw material tank when the temperature of the raw material tank storing a solid or liquid raw material is raised to a set temperature by a heating unit. The monitoring apparatus includes: a temperature determination unit configured to determine whether the temperature has reached a stable range including the set temperature, and determine whether the temperature has deviated from the stable range; and a setting unit configured to set the set temperature of the heating unit to 0° C. when a predetermined timeout time has elapsed from a time point at which the temperature determination unit determined that the temperature deviated from the stable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenta Horigome, Shinobu Kawamorita, Yosuke Matsumoto, Kosuke Takahashi, Naohide Ito
  • Patent number: 11067927
    Abstract: A heater of an image heating device, the heater including: a substrate; a first heating resistor and a second heating resistor on the substrate; first to third electric contact portions for electric connection to a power supply; a first conductive portion that connects the first electric contact portion with the first heating resistor; a second conductive portion that connects the second electric contact portion the second heating resistor; and a third conductive portion that connects the third electric contact portion and the first heating resistor and also connects the third contact portion with the second heating resistor, wherein the first electric contact portion is provided close to one longitudinal end of the substrate, the second electric contact portion is provided close to the other longitudinal end of the substrate, and the third electric contact portion is provided close to the center of the substrate in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kalsha
    Inventor: Hideaki Yonekubo
  • Patent number: 11054770
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a heater to heat an image formed on a recording material. The heater has a plurality of heat generating elements. A control portion controls electrical power supplied to the plurality of heat generating elements. The control portion respectively sets a heating amount with respect to a region in which an image is formed and a heating amount with respect to a region in which an image is not formed in a single sheet of the recording material. The control portion is further configured to at least set the heating amount with respect to the region in which the image is not formed when the recording material is heavy paper to become less than the heating amount with respect to the region in which the image is not formed when the recording material is plain paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 11054766
    Abstract: A fixing device in an image forming apparatus includes a partition member providing a partition between a pressure roller and a housing. The partition member is disposed against the pressure roller along a rotation-axis direction X of the pressure roller. The partition member has a first side face against the pressure roller. The first side face is provided with a thermal insulation member thereon. The thermal insulation member is separated from the pressure roller by a prescribed distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsunori Mitsuoka
  • Patent number: 11054772
    Abstract: A heater for being attached to a heating device includes a base layer, a heat generator mounted on the base layer, an electrode mounted on the base layer, and a feeder mounted on the base layer. The feeder is interposed between the electrode and the heat generator. The feeder is configured to electrically connect the electrode to the heat generator. A positioner is configured to engage a counterpart of the heating device. The positioner is configured to position the heater in a longitudinal direction of the heater when the heater is attached to the heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Furuichi, Tomoya Adachi, Yukimichi Someya
  • Patent number: 11054776
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing-surface-side member disposed on a fixing surface side on which a toner image is to be formed in a recording medium; a back-surface-side support member that is disposed on an opposite surface side to the fixing surface in the recording medium, and forms a fixing nip that nips and conveys the recording medium with the fixing-surface-side member; a heat source that heats the toner image formed on the recording medium passing through the fixing nip; a nip time changing part that can change a nip time that is a time required for the recording medium to pass through the fixing nip; and a hardware processor that controls the nip time changing part and the heat source to shorten the nip time and increase a fixing temperature of the toner image, and to lengthen the nip time and lower a fixing temperature of the toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Motoki Hironaka