Patents by Inventor Noriyuki Komatsu
Noriyuki Komatsu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 11669038Abstract: A cartridge includes a projection portion provided in a first region of an upper surface of a frame in a vertical direction. The projection portion projects more upward than second regions between which the first region is interposed. An inside of the projection portion is a space that is part of a developer accommodating portion. The projection portion is configured to pass through a space under an abutting portion while being elastically deformed by the abutted portion being pressed by the abutting portion after the cartridge is transitioned from the first posture to the second posture in accordance with movement of the cartridge in the attaching direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya Kawakami, Yosuke Kashiide, Makoto Hayashida, Noriyuki Komatsu
-
Publication number: 20230135180Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member configured to carry an electrostatic latent image, and a second unit including a developer bearing member configured to develop the electrostatic latent image carried on the image bearing member into a toner image, the second unit being capable of being mounted on the first unit in a mounting direction. The first unit includes a moving member that moves the second unit mounted on the first unit at a mounting position to a detachment position. The second unit includes a storage unit that stores information about the second unit The moving member is disposed on a first side of the process cartridge in a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member. An electrode of the storage unit is disposed on a second side of the process cartridge in the longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Masaki Ojima, Tomonori Mori, Daisuke Abe, Tadayuki Tsuda
-
Patent number: 11619905Abstract: A coupling member for an image forming apparatus cartridge includes a first end portion including an outer surface and a plurality of surfaces forming a recess extending in a direction from the outer surface toward the rotational axis. The plurality of surfaces include a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface. As viewed in a direction toward the recess and perpendicular to the rotational axis, the third surface faces toward outside of the recess, and both of the first and second surfaces are sloped with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis such that a distance measured along a direction of the rotational axis between the first and second surfaces decreases as a distance along the first and second surfaces from the outer surface increases.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takuya Kawakami, Noriyuki Komatsu, Sho Shirakata, Isao Koishi
-
Publication number: 20230032541Abstract: A cartridge for a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a rotatable driving coupling member including a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force and a driving side abutment, wherein the cartridge is demountable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the driving coupling member, includes a rotatable driven coupling member including a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, and a driven side abutment to be abutted by the driving side abutment, the driven coupling member being slidable in a predetermined direction which is substantially parallel with a rotational axis of the receiving coupling member; wherein at least one of the driving side abutment and the driven side abutment is inclined so that the driven coupling member is retractable away from the driving coupling member in the predetermined direction by a force received by driven side abutment from the driving sideType: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Shunsuke Uratani, Toru Oguma
-
Patent number: 11567447Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member configured to carry an electrostatic latent image, and a second unit including a developer bearing member configured to develop the electrostatic latent image carried on the image bearing member into a toner image, the second unit being capable of being mounted on the first unit in a mounting direction. The first unit includes a moving member that moves the second unit mounted on the first unit at a mounting position to a detachment position. The second unit includes a storage unit that stores information about the second unit. The moving member is disposed on a first side of the process cartridge in a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member. An electrode of the storage unit is disposed on a second side of the process cartridge in the longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2022Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Masaki Ojima, Tomonori Mori, Daisuke Abe, Tadayuki Tsuda
-
Publication number: 20230013196Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member unit including a photosensitive drum; a sheet configured to remove a deposited matter from a surface of the drum, the sheet being in contact with the surface of the drum at an end portion of the drum with respect to a rotational axis direction of the member; and a developing unit detachably mounted to the member unit, the developing unit including a developing roller configured to supply toner to the drum, and a storage portion configured to store the deposited matter removed from the surface of the drum by the sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Takuya Kawakami, Noriyuki Komatsu, Tetsuya Numata, Naoya Asanuma, Daisuke Makiguchi
-
Publication number: 20220382210Abstract: A cartridge is mountable in and dismountable from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, in which the main assembly includes an opening and an openable member including a discriminating portion. The cartridge includes a process unit including a rotatable photosensitive member and a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive member, and a developer storage unit configured to store a developer. The developer storage unit is provided with a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the stored developer to the process unit and is mountable to and dismountable from the process unit. The developer storage unit is provided with a portion-to-be-discriminated provided so as to be engaged with the discriminating portion of the openable member when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly and the openable member is in a closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Takuya Kawakami, Naoya Asanuma, Tetsuya Numata, Noriyuki Komatsu
-
Publication number: 20220382186Abstract: A developing unit, which is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive member unit, includes: a developing roller; a housing in which a holding space that holds toner is formed; and a pressing receiving portion that receives pressing force from a pressing member. The housing includes a first bottom portion that projects toward an outer side of the holding space, and a second bottom portion that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use. When viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller, at least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Naoki Maeda, Satoru Harada
-
Patent number: 11500305Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive member and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a frame to store toner, a developing roller to carry the toner, a side seal to contact an end portion of the developing roller and prevent the toner from leaking out, and a sealing sheet to contact a center portion of the developing roller and prevent the toner from leaking out. A toner receiving portion of the frame includes an opening facing the developing roller and is disposed on an upstream side of the side seal and a downstream side of a contact portion where the developing roller contacts the photosensitive member, and moreover is disposed at a position overlapping with the side seal. The developing unit includes a blocking member to block at least a part of the opening, and the blocking member is disposed between the opening and the developing roller.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Masakazu Tatsumi
-
Patent number: 11500324Abstract: A cartridge and a drum unit include a drum flange provided at one end portion of a photosensitive drum and a coupling member operatively connected to the drum flange, with the coupling member being configured to transmit a driving force to the drum flange. A coil spring urges the coupling member. At least a part of the coil spring surrounds at least a part of a shaft portion of the coupling member. An extent of the coil spring that surrounds the shaft portion and an extent of the shaft portion that is surrounded by the coil spring are positioned within a hollow interior portion of the drum flange.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Shunsuke Uratani, Toru Oguma
-
Patent number: 11480916Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member unit including a photosensitive drum; a sheet configured to remove a deposited matter from a surface of the drum, the sheet being in contact with the surface of the drum at an end portion of the drum with respect to a rotational axis direction of the member; and a developing unit detachably mounted to the member unit, the developing unit including a developing roller configured to supply toner to the drum, and a storage portion configured to store the deposited matter removed from the surface of the drum by the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2021Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takuya Kawakami, Noriyuki Komatsu, Tetsuya Numata, Naoya Asanuma, Daisuke Makiguchi
-
Patent number: 11454924Abstract: A developing unit, which is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive member unit, includes: a developing roller; a housing in which a holding space that holds toner is formed; and a pressing receiving portion that receives pressing force from a pressing member. The housing includes a first bottom portion that projects toward an outer side of the holding space, and a second bottom portion that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use. When viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller, at least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2021Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Naoki Maeda, Satoru Harada
-
Patent number: 11435689Abstract: A cartridge is mountable in and dismountable from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, in which the main assembly includes an opening and an openable member including a discriminating portion. The cartridge includes a process unit including a rotatable photosensitive member and a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive member, and a developer storage unit configured to store a developer. The developer storage unit is provided with a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the stored developer to the process unit and is mountable to and dismountable from the process unit. The developer storage unit is provided with a portion-to-be-discriminated provided so as to be engaged with the discriminating portion of the openable member when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly and the openable member is in a closed position.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya Kawakami, Naoya Asanuma, Tetsuya Numata, Noriyuki Komatsu
-
Publication number: 20220269192Abstract: A cartridge configured to be attachable to an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus includes a first unit including a photosensitive drum, a second unit attached to the first unit and including a developing roller, and a second frame member including a toner storage portion and including a toner reception port, the toner storage portion including a first end portion and a second end portion in a rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum, the toner reception port provided in the first end portion, a toner container configured to be attachable to the second unit, the toner container including a toner discharge port configured to discharge the toner to the toner storage portion through the toner reception port, and a memory, the memory provided in an end portion of the cartridge on the same side as the second end portion of the toner storage portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2022Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Takatoshi Hamada, Noriyuki Komatsu, Tetsuya Numata, Daisuke Makiguchi, Naoya Asanuma
-
Publication number: 20220236690Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member configured to carry an electrostatic latent image, and a second unit including a developer bearing member configured to develop the electrostatic latent image carried on the image bearing member into a toner image, the second unit being capable of being mounted on the first unit in a mounting direction. The first unit includes a moving member that moves the second unit mounted on the first unit at a mounting position to a detachment position. The second unit includes a storage unit that stores information about the second unit. The moving member is disposed on a first side of the process cartridge in a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member. An electrode of the storage unit is disposed on a second side of the process cartridge in the longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2022Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Masaki Ojima, Tomonori Mori, Daisuke Abe, Tadayuki Tsuda
-
Publication number: 20220214641Abstract: A foreign substance collection apparatus includes: a frame body; a photosensitive drum; a cleaning roller which collects foreign substances from a surface of the photosensitive drum; a collecting roller which further collects the foreign substances having been collected by the cleaning roller from the cleaning roller; and a scraping member which scrapes off the foreign substances from the collecting roller. A foreign substance collecting portion included in the frame body has, in a posture during use: a first inner bottom surface which is positioned below the scraping member in a gravity direction; an outer bottom surface which is positioned further below the first inner bottom surface; and a connecting surface which intersects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface and which connects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuuki Nakamura, Satoru Motohashi
-
Patent number: 11378914Abstract: A process cartridge mountable in and dismountable from an image forming apparatus includes a frame, a storing portion provided on a mounting surface of the frame and configured to store information on the process cartridge, a projection projecting outwardly of the mounting surface in a direction normal to the mounting surface, and an electrical contact portion mounted on the projection and electrically connected to the storing portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Tomonori Mori, Daisuke Abe, Noriyuki Komatsu, Hideshi Kawaguchi, Tadayuki Tsuda
-
Publication number: 20220206429Abstract: A cartridge includes a projection portion provided in a first region of an upper surface of a frame in a vertical direction. The projection portion projects more upward than second regions between which the first region is interposed. An inside of the projection portion is a space that is part of a developer accommodating portion. The projection portion is configured to pass through a space under an abutting portion while being elastically deformed by the abutted portion being pressed by the abutting portion after the cartridge is transitioned from the first posture to the second posture in accordance with movement of the cartridge in the attaching direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Takuya Kawakami, Yosuke Kashiide, Makoto Hayashida, Noriyuki Komatsu
-
Patent number: 11327432Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member configured to carry an electrostatic latent image, and a second unit including a developer bearing member configured to develop the electrostatic latent image carried on the image bearing member into a toner image, the second unit being capable of being mounted on the first unit in a mounting direction. The first unit includes a moving member that moves the second unit mounted on the first unit at a mounting position to a detachment position. The second unit includes a storage unit that stores information about the second unit. The moving member is disposed on a first side of the process cartridge in a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member. An electrode of the storage unit is disposed on a second side of the process cartridge in the longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Masaki Ojima, Tomonori Mori, Daisuke Abe, Tadayuki Tsuda
-
Patent number: 11314193Abstract: A foreign substance collection apparatus includes: a frame body; a photosensitive drum; a cleaning roller which collects foreign substances from a surface of the photosensitive drum; a collecting roller which further collects the foreign substances having been collected by the cleaning roller from the cleaning roller; and a scraping member which scrapes off the foreign substances from the collecting roller. A foreign substance collecting portion included in the frame body has, in a posture during use: a first inner bottom surface which is positioned below the scraping member in a gravity direction; an outer bottom surface which is positioned further below the first inner bottom surface; and a connecting surface which intersects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface and which connects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface with each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuuki Nakamura, Satoru Motohashi