Patents by Inventor Akihiro Toma
Akihiro Toma 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).
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Patent number: 7920806Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes a motor, a gear receiving a driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces substantially coaxial with the gear and having a grounding contact. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces. The projection is provided at a longitudinal end of the drum. When the gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the drum through engagement between the hole and the projection. The cartridge also includes a grounding contact electrically connected with the drum, for electrically grounding the drum when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and provided on the projection to be electrically connectable with the main assembly grounding contact.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2009Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Patent number: 7660545Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: GrantFiled: November 14, 2008Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Patent number: 7630661Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: GrantFiled: November 14, 2008Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Publication number: 20090290908Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2009Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Publication number: 20090074453Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: SHINYA NODA, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Publication number: 20090074452Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: SHINYA NODA, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Patent number: 7489885Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes a motor, a gear receiving a driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces substantially coaxial with the gear and having a grounding contact. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces. The projection is provided at a longitudinal end of the drum. When the gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the drum through engagement between the hole and the projection. The cartridge also includes a grounding contact electrically connected with the drum, for electrically grounding the drum when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and provided on the projection to be electrically connectable with the main assembly grounding contact.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2007Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Publication number: 20080056754Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Patent number: 7231161Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: GrantFiled: May 4, 2006Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Publication number: 20060198654Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2006Publication date: September 7, 2006Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Patent number: 7092655Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Patent number: 6999696Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: GrantFiled: March 21, 2005Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Publication number: 20060008287Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2005Publication date: January 12, 2006Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Patent number: 6400914Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding theType: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Publication number: 20020018666Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the elecType: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2001Publication date: February 14, 2002Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
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Patent number: 6089567Abstract: An image forming apparatus aims at eliminating a possibility of causing deterioration in conveying and scratching off toners on a recording medium by smoothly rotating a driven roller corresponding to rotations of a driving roller. Rubber rings spaced away in an axial direction from the driving roller are fitted to a shaft of a driven roller brought into contact with the driving roller. A record sheet conveyed with rotations of the driving roller rotates the rubber rings, whereby the driven roller can be surely rotated.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko Yatsuhashi, Akihiro Toma
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Patent number: 6055407Abstract: This specification discloses a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet comprising sheet supporting means for supporting the sheet thereon, a sheet feeding roller for contacting with the sheet supported on the sheet supporting means and feeding the sheet, and cleaning means for contacting with that portion of the sheet feeding roller which contacts with the sheet, and cleaning the contacting portion, the sheet feeding roller having a cut-away portion which does not contact with the sheet, secondary cleaning means for cleaning the cleaning means being provided in the cut-away portion. The specification also discloses an image forming apparatus provided with such sheet feeding device.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1999Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryukichi Inoue, Akihiro Toma, Jun Tanaka
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Patent number: 5348284Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supply apparatus comprising a sheet containing device for containing a plurality of sheets, a sheet positioning member provided in the sheet containing device to position the sheets in a widthwise direction thereof by abutting against a side edge of the contained sheets, and a supply device for feeding out the sheets positioned by the sheet positioning member. Wherein the sheet positioning member is previously inclined at a predetermined angle toward a direction opposite to a direction that the sheet positioning member may be inclined by the deflection of the sheet containing device due to the weight of the sheets contained in the sheet containing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1993Date of Patent: September 20, 1994Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hitoshi Ishihama, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa, Naoki Asano, Kenichi Horikoshi, Tetsuro Onuki, Akihiro Toma, Masanori Yamagata
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Patent number: 5158276Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a first mounting position for mounting a first accommodating device accommodating sheets therein, a second mounting position for mounting a second accommodating device accommodating sheets therein, a first sheet feeding device for feeding the sheet from the first accommodating device mounted to the first mounting position, a second sheet feeding device for feeding the sheet from the second accommodating device mounted to the second mounting position, and a support means for supporting the first accommodating device or for supporting a third accommodating device accommodating sheets therein and having such a size as to occupy the first and second mounting positions in a position where the sheet can be fed by the first sheet feeding device from the first or third accommodating device.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1991Date of Patent: October 27, 1992Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiro Toma