Patents by Inventor Katsuhiko Oba
Katsuhiko Oba 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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Publication number: 20240019804Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, a discharge unit, a stacking tray including a stacking surface on which the recording material is stacked, a replenishment port, a cover capable of moving between a closed position where the cover covers the replenishment port and constitutes at least part of the stacking surface and an open position where the cover exposes the replenishment port, and an information display unit for displaying information about a procedure for replenishing the developing container with the developer from the replenishment container.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Inventors: Katsuhiko Oba, Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi
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Patent number: 11796947Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, a discharge unit, a stacking tray including a stacking surface on which the recording material is stacked, a replenishment port, a cover capable of moving between a closed position where the cover covers the replenishment port and constitutes at least part of the stacking surface and an open position where the cover exposes the replenishment port, and an information display unit for displaying information about a procedure for replenishing the developing container with the developer from the replenishment container.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhiko Oba, Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi
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Patent number: 11754946Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an attachment portion to which to attach a supply container for supplying a developer, a housing including a discharge portion for discharging a sheet in a discharging direction, a discharge tray including a first stack portion for stacking the sheet thereon, in which the first stack portion is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position, a top portion fixed to the housing, and a display portion and an operation portion arranged on the top portion. The top portion includes a first region, a first extension portion, and a second extension portion. As viewed along a vertical direction, the first extension portion and the second extension portion extend from the first region in the discharging direction, and at least a part of the first stack portion is located between the first extension portion and the second extension portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi, Katsuhiko Oba
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Publication number: 20230176521Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development device, a fixing device, an apparatus main body, and a fan including a rotating shaft that extends in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum and a blade around the rotating shaft. The development device develops a toner image on the photosensitive drum. The fixing device fixes the toner image from the photosensitive drum to a recording material. The apparatus main body is provided with a discharge port from which the toner-fixed recording material is discharged. A length of the fan rotating shaft in the longitudinal direction is longer than a diameter of a rotational trajectory of the blade. The fan is provided on a downstream side of the fixing device in a discharge direction in which the recording material is discharged from the discharge port and overlaps a part of the development device when viewed in a vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Takeo Kawanami, Akinori Mitsumata, Takehiro Miyashita, Katsuhiko Oba
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Patent number: 11586143Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development device, a fixing device, an apparatus main body, and a fan including a rotating shaft that extends in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum and a blade around the rotating shaft. The development device develops a toner image on the photosensitive drum. The fixing device fixes the toner image from the photosensitive drum to a recording material. The apparatus main body is provided with a discharge port from which the toner-fixed recording material is discharged. A length of the fan rotating shaft in the longitudinal direction is longer than a diameter of a rotational trajectory of the blade. The fan is provided on a downstream side of the fixing device in a discharge direction in which the recording material is discharged from the discharge port and overlaps a part of the development device when viewed in a vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takeo Kawanami, Akinori Mitsumata, Takehiro Miyashita, Katsuhiko Oba
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Publication number: 20230019464Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an attachment portion to which to attach a supply container for supplying a developer, a housing including a discharge portion for discharging a sheet in a discharging direction, a discharge tray including a first stack portion for stacking the sheet thereon, in which the first stack portion is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position, a top portion fixed to the housing, and a display portion and an operation portion arranged on the top portion. The top portion includes a first region, a first extension portion, and a second extension portion. As viewed along a vertical direction, the first extension portion and the second extension portion extend from the first region in the discharging direction, and at least a part of the first stack portion is located between the first extension portion and the second extension portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi, Katsuhiko Oba
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Publication number: 20220382200Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, a discharge unit, a stacking tray including a stacking surface on which the recording material is stacked, a replenishment port, a cover capable of moving between a closed position where the cover covers the replenishment port and constitutes at least part of the stacking surface and an open position where the cover exposes the replenishment port, and an information display unit for displaying information about a procedure for replenishing the developing container with the developer from the replenishment container.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Katsuhiko Oba, Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi
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Patent number: 11474452Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an attachment portion to which to attach a supply container for supplying a developer, a housing including a discharge portion for discharging a sheet in a discharging direction, a discharge tray including a first stack portion for stacking the sheet thereon, in which the first stack portion is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position, a top portion fixed to the housing, and a display portion and an operation portion arranged on the top portion. The top portion includes a first region, a first extension portion, and a second extension portion. As viewed along a vertical direction, the first extension portion and the second extension portion extend from the first region in the discharging direction, and at least a part of the first stack portion is located between the first extension portion and the second extension portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi, Katsuhiko Oba
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Patent number: 11454912Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, a discharge unit, a stacking tray including a stacking surface on which the recording material is stacked, a replenishment port, a cover capable of moving between a closed position where the cover covers the replenishment port and constitutes at least part of the stacking surface and an open position where the cover exposes the replenishment port, and an information display unit for displaying information about a procedure for replenishing the developing container with the developer from the replenishment container.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2021Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhiko Oba, Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi
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Publication number: 20220197213Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a development device, a fixing device, an apparatus main body, and a fan including a rotating shaft that extends in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum and a blade around the rotating shaft. The development device develops a toner image on the photosensitive drum. The fixing device fixes the toner image from the photosensitive drum to a recording material. The apparatus main body is provided with a discharge port from which the toner-fixed recording material is discharged. A length of the fan rotating shaft in the longitudinal direction is longer than a diameter of a rotational trajectory of the blade. The fan is provided on a downstream side of the fixing device in a discharge direction in which the recording material is discharged from the discharge port and overlaps a part of the development device when viewed in a vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Takeo Kawanami, Akinori Mitsumata, Takehiro Miyashita, Katsuhiko Oba
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Publication number: 20210318645Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, a discharge unit, a stacking tray including a stacking surface on which the recording material is stacked, a replenishment port, a cover capable of moving between a closed position where the cover covers the replenishment port and constitutes at least part of the stacking surface and an open position where the cover exposes the replenishment port, and an information display unit for displaying information about a procedure for replenishing the developing container with the developer from the replenishment container.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Katsuhiko Oba, Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi
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Publication number: 20210318642Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an attachment portion to which to attach a supply container for supplying a developer, a housing including a discharge portion for discharging a sheet in a discharging direction, a discharge tray including a first stack portion for stacking the sheet thereon, in which the first stack portion is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position, a top portion fixed to the housing, and a display portion and an operation portion arranged on the top portion. The top portion includes a first region, a first extension portion, and a second extension portion. As viewed along a vertical direction, the first extension portion and the second extension portion extend from the first region in the discharging direction, and at least a part of the first stack portion is located between the first extension portion and the second extension portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Kohei Koguchi, Isao Koishi, Katsuhiko Oba
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Patent number: 9575437Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image carrying drum; and an image transfer unit including an endless belt, first and second belt stretching rollers, and an adjusting unit for adjusting belt movement in a widthwise direction by inclining the first roller relative to the second roller. The adjusting unit includes a contacting member provided between the first roller and the drum and contacting with an inner surface of the belt. The contacting member contacts the inner surface of the belt at a position in a drum side across a common internal tangent between the drum and such a portion of a surface of the first roller as is moved closest to the drum by the adjusting unit, the common internal tangent being the one contacting a portion of the drum adjacent to a drum-belt contact position and contacting a portion of the first roller adjacent to a first-roller-belt contact position.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhiko Oba, Takeo Kawanami
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Publication number: 20160170336Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image carrying drum; an image transfer unit including an endless belt, first and second belt stretching rollers, and an adjusting unit for adjusting belt movement in a widthwise direction by inclining the first roller relative to the second roller. The unit includes a contacting member provided between the first roller and the drum and contacting with an inner surface of the belt. The contacting member contacts the inner surface of the belt at a position in an drum side across a common internal tangent between the drum and such a portion of a surface of the first roller as is moved closest to the drum by the adjusting unit, the common internal tangent being the one contacting a portion of the drum adjacent to a drum-belt contact position and contacting a portion of the first roller adjacent to a first-roller-belt contact position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Katsuhiko Oba, Takeo Kawanami
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Patent number: 9310758Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge including an image bearing member is detachably mountable to a main assembly thereof includes a cartridge mounting portion, a transfer device contactable to the image bearing member, a feeding mechanism, and a guiding member. The guiding member is movable between a first position where the image bearing member and the transfer device are spaced from each other when the cartridge is in the cartridge mounting portion and a second position where when the cartridge is in the cartridge mounting portion, the image bearing member and the transfer device are permitted to contact each other and the recording material is guided toward the downstream side with respect to the feeding direction. When the guiding member is in the first position, the guiding member is positioned between the transfer device and the cartridge and covers the transfer device.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuhiko Oba, Masahiro Tambo
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Patent number: 9310762Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a drum, first and second guidable portions guidable by first and second guides when the cartridge enters or advances in the main assembly, first and second regulatable portions provided at leading and trailing sides of the cartridge with respect to the advancing direction and regulated by a first main assembly regulator when the process is advancing in the main assembly, and first and second positionable portions to be positioned at first and main assembly second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of a main assembly urging member after the first and second regulatable portions pass the first and second regulators, respectively. The cartridge is mounted to the main assembly with the first and second positionable portions at the first and second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of the urging member.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko Kanno, Yasufumi Yoshino, Katsuhiko Oba
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Publication number: 20150234344Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge including an image bearing member is detachably mountable to a main assembly thereof includes: a cartridge mounting portion; a transfer device contactable to the image bearing member; a feeding mechanism; and a guiding member. The guiding member is movable between a first position where the image bearing member and the transfer device are spaced from each other when the cartridge is in the cartridge mounting portion and a second position where when the cartridge is in the cartridge mounting portion, the image bearing member and the transfer device are permitted to contact each other and the recording material is guided toward the downstream side with respect to the feeding direction. When the guiding member is in the first position, the guiding member is positioned between the transfer device and the cartridge and covers the transfer device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Katsuhiko Oba, Masahiro Tambo
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Publication number: 20140314445Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a drum, first and second guidable portions guidable by first and second guides when the cartridge enters or advances in the main assembly, first and second regulatable portions provided at leading and trailing sides of the cartridge with respect to the advancing direction and regulated by a first main assembly regulator when the process is advancing in the main assembly, and first and second positionable portions to be positioned at first and main assembly second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of a main assembly urging member after the first and second regulatable portions pass the first and second regulators, respectively. The cartridge is mounted to the main assembly with the first and second positionable portions at the first and second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of the urging member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Inventors: Kazuhiko Kanno, Yasufumi Yoshino, Katsuhiko Oba
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Patent number: 8805237Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a drum, first and second guidable portions guidable by first and second guides when the cartridge enters or advances in the main assembly, first and second regulatable portions provided at leading and trailing sides of the cartridge with respect to the advancing direction and regulated by a first main assembly regulator when the process is advancing in the main assembly, and first and second positionable portions to be positioned at first and main assembly second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of a main assembly urging member after the first and second regulatable portions pass the first and second regulators, respectively. The cartridge is mounted to the main assembly with the first and second positionable portions at the first and second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of the urging member.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko Kanno, Yasufumi Yoshino, Katsuhiko Oba
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Patent number: 8737892Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus, having: an apparatus main body; a fixing unit fixing an image onto a recording material at a fixing nip portion, the fixing unit including a pressure-applying portion applying a pressure to the fixing nip portion and a pressure-releasing portion releasing the pressure; an opening/closing member disposed in the apparatus main body; an engaging portion engaging with the pressure-releasing portion of the fixing unit in a state of being mounted to the apparatus main body for moving the pressure-releasing portion, the engaging portion moving in conjunction with an opening/closing action of the opening/closing member; and a phase adjusting portion adjusting a phase of the pressure-releasing portion to a phase of the engaging portion when the opening/closing member is opened, in conjunction with a mounting action of the fixing unit to the apparatus main body.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhiko Oba, Atsushi Kawarago