Patents by Inventor Toshiharu Kawai
Toshiharu Kawai 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).
-
Publication number: 20050163526Abstract: 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: March 21, 2005Publication date: July 28, 2005Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshiharu Kawai, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito
-
Patent number: 6885838Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes a motor, a driving rotatable member for transmitting a rotational driving force having a twisted hole formed at a central portion and having a non-circular cross-section with corner portions, and a transfer roller. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process components, a twisted projection of non-circular cross-section provided at a longitudinal end of the drum that is engageable with the twisted hole at three positions to receive the driving force from the main assembly, and a gear for transmitting the driving force received by the twisted projection to the transfer roller when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2003Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiharu Kawai, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito
-
Publication number: 20040086300Abstract: 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 18, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshiharu Kawai, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito
-
Patent number: 6501927Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a charger for charging the photosensitive drum, a developer for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image, a transferrer for transferring the toner image onto the recording material, a fixer for fixing the toner image on the recording material, a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving a driving force from the motor, and a hole formed at the longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum. The hole has a polygonal cross-section. The apparatus also includes a projection formed substantially at a center of the gear. When the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through the hole and the projection with the projection is pulled into the hole.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2000Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito, Toshiharu Kawai
-
Patent number: 6501926Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; charging means for charging the photosensitive drum; developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image; transfer means for transferring the toner image onto the recording material; fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording material; a motor; a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor; a recess formed substantially at a center of the gear, the recess having a polygonal cross-section; a projection provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the recess and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through the recess and the projection with the projection being pulled into the recess, wherein a free end of the projection and a bottom surfacType: GrantFiled: June 19, 2000Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito, Toshiharu Kawai
-
Patent number: 6349188Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging device for charging the photosensitive drum; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image; a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto the recording material; a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording material; a motor; a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor; a twisted hole formed substantially at a center of the gear, the hole having a polygonal cross-section; a twisted prism projection 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 the hole and the projection with the projection being pulled into the hole; and a moving device for impartinType: GrantFiled: March 9, 2000Date of Patent: February 19, 2002Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiharu Kawai, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito
-
Patent number: 6336018Abstract: 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 and a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear; an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process device actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum. The projection has an engaging portion for engagement with the twisted surfaces and a supporting portion for supporting the engaging portion. The supporting portion is capable of entering the hole, and wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and the engaging portion of the 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 the projection is urged inwardly of the hole.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: January 1, 2002Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiharu Kawai, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito
-
Patent number: 6240266Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a charger for charging the photosensitive drum, a developer for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image, a transferrer for transferring the toner image onto the recording material, a fixer for fixing the toner image on the recording material, a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving a driving force from the motor, and a hole formed substantially at a center of the gear. The hole has a polygonal cross-section. The apparatus also includes a projection provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum. When the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through the hole and the projection with the projection is pulled into the hole.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1997Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito, Toshiharu Kawai
-
Patent number: 6226478Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a charging device for charging the photosensitive drum, a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image, a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto the recording material, a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording material, a motor, and a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1997Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito, Toshiharu Kawai
-
Patent number: 6175706Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving a driving force from the motor and a main assembly recess defined by a twisted surface. The main assembly recess is substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly projection provided in the main assembly and substantially coaxial with the gear. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process device actable on the photosensitive drum; and a twisted cartridge projection engageable with the twisted surfaces. The projection is provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum. The cartridge also includes a cartridge recess provided at a free end of the cartridge projection and substantially coaxial with the cartridge projection. When the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the main assembly projection enters the cartridge recess.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito, Toshiharu Kawai
-
Patent number: 6163665Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanism(s) actable on the drum; and a projection provided at a longitudinal end of the drum, for engagement with a twisted hole provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, preferably by movement of the hole in interrelation with an operable member. When a driving rotatable member in the main assembly is rotated with the projection engaged with the hole, rotational driving force is transmitted to the drum through the projection/hole engagement. The projection is drawn into the hole, and the process cartridge frame is contacted longitudinally to a regulating member in the main assembly of the apparatus to longitudinally position the drum relative to the main assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: December 19, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito, Toshiharu Kawai
-
Patent number: 6128454Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging device for charging the photosensitive drum; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image; a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto the recording material; a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording material; a motor; a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor; a twisted hole formed substantially at a center of the gear, the hole having a polygonal cross-section; a twisted prism projection 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 the hole and the projection with the projection being pulled into the hole; and a moving device for impartinType: GrantFiled: February 26, 1999Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiharu Kawai, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito
-
Patent number: 6011948Abstract: In an obliquely traveling sheet correcting device with a simple arrangement capable of reducing the cost and size thereof and enhancing an obliquely traveling sheet correcting accuracy. Stopping members 15 are turnably disposed to the rotary shaft 18 of free conveyer rollers 13 constituting a pair of conveyer roller 13, 14, the leading edge of a sheet S conveyed by a pair of conveyer rollers 5 is stopped by being abutted against the collision surfaces 20a of the stopping members 15, the stopping members 15 are turned and retracted when the sheet forms a predetermined loop to permit the sheet S to pass therethrough. There is also provided an image forming apparatus provided with the obliquely traveling sheet correcting device.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1996Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masao Amano, Kazuhide Kudo, Toshiharu Kawai
-
Patent number: 5903803Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a charging device for charging the photosensitive drum; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum into a toner image; a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto the recording material; a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording material; a motor; a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor; a twisted hole formed substantially at a center of the gear, the hole having a polygonal cross-section; a twisted prism projection 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 the hole and the projection with the projection being pulled into the hole; and a moving device for impartinType: GrantFiled: March 26, 1996Date of Patent: May 11, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiharu Kawai, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshihiro Ito