Patents by Inventor Seiichi Shinohara

Seiichi Shinohara 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: 6173144
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging unit for charging the image bearing member, an image forming unit for forming an electrostatic image on the image bearing member charged by the charging unit, a developing device for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member and for supplying to the image bearing member charging performance enhancing particles which have a polarity opposite from that of the toner, wherein the developing device has a developer carrying member, opposed to the image bearing member, for carrying the toner and charging performance enhancing particles and also which forms an alternating electric field between the developer carrying member and the image bearing member to supply the toner and the charging performance enhancing particles to the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Hirabayashi, Harumi Ishiyama, Yasunori Chigono, Seiichi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 6169869
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer carrying member for carrying thereon a developer to transport the developer to a developing zone, and a regulation member provided in touch with the surface of the developer carrying member to regulate coat weight of the developer carried thereon. The image bearing member includes a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed thereon, and the photosensitive layer contains at least one polycarbonate resin (I) having a viscosity-average molecular weight not more than 1.5×104 and at least one polycarbonate resin (II) having a viscosity-average molecular weight more than 1.5×104, the polycarbonate resin (I) being contained in a proportion of from 30% by weight to 95% by weight based on the total weight of the polycarbonate resins (I) and (II). On the developer carrying member, the developer is in a coat weight not more than 1.5 mg/cm2 at the developing zone after its regulation by the regulation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Inami, Junichi Kato, Masahiro Yoshida, Yusuke Nakazono, Seiichi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 6163663
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a developer carrying member for carrying a developer and for forming a developing zone with the image bearing member, wherein the developer is externally added with additive having a charging polarity opposite from that of the developer; a voltage applying device for applying a developing voltage to the developer carrying member; voltage a control device for controlling the developing voltage so as to change force for directing the additive toward a non-image portion of the image bearing member in accordance with a number of image forming operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Shinohara, Junichi Kato, Satoru Inami, Masahiro Yoshida, Yusuke Nakazono
  • Patent number: 6128462
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably attachable on an image forming apparatus a photosensitive member as an image bearing member and a cleaning blade member polycarbonate resin having a viscosity average molecular weight of 1.5.times.10.sup.4 or less is blended with the surface layer of the image bearing member, and the peak value of tan .delta. of the dynamic viscoelastic characteristic of the cleaning blade member appears at 12.degree. C. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Kato, Satoru Inami, Masahiro Yoshida, Yusuke Nakazono, Satoshi Sunahara, Seiichi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 6038414
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes magnetic members, which are provided at ends of a developing agent bearing member with gaps therebetween and adapted to form magnetic seals between the magnetic members and the developing agent bearing member, are charged so that leakage between the magnetic seals and magnetic members, such as the developing agent bearing member, disposed in the vicinity of the magnetic seals is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Inami, Junichi Kato, Toshiyuki Karakama, Atsushi Numagami, Masahiro Yoshida, Yusuke Nakazono, Seiichi Shinohara