Patents by Inventor Yuichiro Imai
Yuichiro Imai 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: 10126674Abstract: A laser holder includes a bridge portion connected to a holding portion via two projecting portions so as to bridge the two projecting portions, and the bridge portion includes a contacting portion configured to come into contact with the optical box by being pressed against an optical box by a screw head of a second fixing screw.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takehiro Ishidate, Yasuaki Otoguro, Yuichiro Imai
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Patent number: 10061119Abstract: A light scanning apparatus, including: a light source; a deflection unit configured to deflect a light beam emitted from the light source; a reflecting mirror configured to reflect the light beam to a photosensitive member; a housing; a first support portion provided in the housing to support one end of the reflecting mirror; a second support portion provided in the housing to support the other end of the reflecting mirror; a first leaf spring configured to press the reflecting mirror at the one end to apply an urging force for urging the reflecting mirror against the first support portion; and a second leaf spring configured to press the reflecting mirror at the other end to apply an urging force for urging the reflecting mirror against the second support portion, wherein a pressing force of the first leaf spring is larger than a pressing force of the second leaf spring.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro Ogura, Yuichiro Imai
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Publication number: 20180234573Abstract: A light scanning apparatus including: a light receiving portion configured to receive a first laser beam to generate a synchronization signal; and a standing portion, wherein a first opening through which a part of the first laser beam that is emitted from a first light source and travels toward a rotary polygon mirror and the first laser beam that is emitted from the first light source and is deflected by the rotary polygon mirror pass and a second opening through which a part of the second laser beam that is emitted from a second light source and travels toward the rotary polygon mirror passes are provided in the standing portion, and wherein the first laser beam that is deflected by the rotary polygon mirror and passes through the first opening is incident on the light receiving portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Yuta Okada, Yuichiro Imai, Takehiro Ishidate, Daisuke Aruga, Yasuaki Otoguro
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Publication number: 20180231914Abstract: A light scanning apparatus including: a bottom surface on which a rotary polygon mirror is mounted; a housing including a bottom surface on which the rotary polygon mirror is mounted and a side wall portion on which a first light source and a second light source are mounted, the side wall portion standing from the bottom surface; and a wall portion standing from the bottom surface, the wall portion being configured to block a first light beam emitted from the first light source and reflected by an inner wall of a first holder holding the first light source and a second light beam emitted from the second light source and reflected by an inner wall of the second holder holding the second light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Yuichiro Imai, Yuta Okada, Daisuke Aruga, Takehiro Ishidate, Yasuaki Otoguro
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Publication number: 20180231770Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes: a casing having a bottom face; a cylindrical portion having a first opening through which a laser beam from a light source passes; a light-transmitting member arranged between the cylindrical portion and a rotary polygon mirror; a plate spring fixing the light-transmitting member; and a sealing member between the cylindrical portion and the plate spring, wherein a width of the first opening narrows progressively in a insertion direction of the plate spring, the sealing member comes into contact with the cylindrical portion in a first region when the plate spring is inserted, and in a second region closer to the bottom face than the first region, a region, in which the sealing member comes into contact with the cylindrical portion, expands toward a center part from two end portions of a leading end portion of the sealing member as the plate spring is inserted further.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Yuta Okada, Yuichiro Imai, Daisuke Aruga, Takehiro Ishidate, Yasuaki Otoguro
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Publication number: 20180231915Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light scanning apparatus, including: forming an optical box having a plurality of protrusions arranged along a longitudinal direction of a reflection mirror and provided at positions corresponding to one end side and the other end side of the reflection mirror in the longitudinal direction, respectively; processing protrusions except protrusions that are used for supporting the reflection mirror so that the protrusions except the protrusions that are used for supporting the reflection mirror on the one end side and on the other end side of the reflection mirror are out of contact with the reflection mirror; placing the reflection mirror on the protrusions that have not been processed in the processing; and fixing the reflection mirror, which has been placed on the protrusions that have not been processed in the placing, to the optical box.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Yasuaki Otoguro, Yuichiro Imai, Yuta Okada, Daisuke Aruga, Takehiro Ishidate
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Publication number: 20180234565Abstract: A light scanning apparatus including: a first holder attached to a housing and configured to hold a first laser light source; a second holder attached to the housing and configured to hold a second laser light source; and a lens to which the laser lights are first incident, wherein the first holder and the second holder are attached to the housing in mutually different positions in a rotation axis direction of a rotary polygon mirror and in an optical axis direction of the lens, so that a first incident light path from the first laser light source to the rotary polygon mirror is placed between a second incident light path from the second laser light source to the rotary polygon mirror and the lens, and the first holder and the second holder overlap one another in the rotation axis direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventor: Yuichiro Imai
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Publication number: 20180231913Abstract: Provided is a casing of a light scanning apparatus accommodating a rotary polygon mirror and an optical member, the casing including: first seat surfaces arranged on a bottom surface of the casing to mount a first deflection portion that includes a first rotary polygon mirror, a first motor, and a first board on which the first rotary polygon mirror and the first motor are fixed; and second seat surfaces arranged on the bottom surface to mount a second deflection portion that includes a second rotary polygon mirror, a second motor having a maximum number of revolutions higher than that of the first motor, a second board on which the second rotary polygon mirror and the second motor are fixed, and a mounting portion supporting the second board, wherein at least one of the second seat surfaces is arranged outside of a region formed by connecting the first seat surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Takehiro Ishidate, Yasuaki Otoguro, Yuichiro Imai, Daisuke Aruga, Yuta Okada
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Publication number: 20180101003Abstract: A light scanning apparatus, including: a light source; a deflection unit configured to deflect a light beam emitted from the light source; a reflecting mirror configured to reflect the light beam to a photosensitive member; a housing; a first support portion provided in the housing to support one end of the reflecting mirror; a second support portion provided in the housing to support the other end of the reflecting mirror; a first leaf spring configured to press the reflecting mirror at the one end to apply an urging force for urging the reflecting mirror against the first support portion; and a second leaf spring configured to press the reflecting mirror at the other end to apply an urging force for urging the reflecting mirror against the second support portion, wherein a pressing force of the first leaf spring is larger than a pressing force of the second leaf spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Masahiro Ogura, Yuichiro Imai
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Publication number: 20180095241Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, a deflecting unit, a reflection mirror, a casing, and first and second leaf springs. The casing includes first and second mirror supporting portions and a facing portion. The following relationship is satisfied: D2<L+W?D1. With respect to a longitudinal direction, L is a length of the reflection mirror, D1 is a longest distance between the first and second supporting portions, W is a contact width of the second supporting portion to the reflection mirror, and D2 is a distance between the facing portion and a closest position thereto of the first supporting portion. The first and second leaf springs urge the reflection mirror against the first and second mirror supporting portions, respectively. At least one of the first and second leaf springs is bonded to the reflection mirror with an adhesive.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Takehiro Ishidate, Yuichiro Imai, Yuta Okada, Daisuke Aruga, Yasuaki Otoguro
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Publication number: 20170010558Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; a process member configured to act on the photosensitive member; and a light scanning apparatus configured to emit a light beam to the photosensitive member. The light scanning apparatus includes: a light source; a rotary polygon mirror; a first signal generating unit configured to receive the light beam deflected by the rotary polygon mirror to generate a first signal indicating a scan starting position; and a second signal generating unit configured to generate a second signal based on a rotation angle of the rotary polygon mirror. A lighting-up timing of the light source for generating the first signal is determined based on a number of the second signals after a voltage for image formation is applied and a relationship between the first signal and the second signal is obtained before the voltage is applied and after the rotary polygon mirror is rotated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2015Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: Takehiro Ishidate, Yuichiro Imai, Yasuaki Otoguro, Hirotaka Seki, Kazumi Sato
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Patent number: 9517638Abstract: A light scanning apparatus, including: an optical box configured to hold a deflector and an optical member; and a cover, the optical box including: a concave-shaped cut-away portion formed from a top portion of a side wall toward a bottom portion; and a connecting wall which stands from the bottom portion of the optical box and is bent and branched from the cut-away portion to an inside of the optical box so as to cross over the cut-away portion, the cover including a dustproof member sandwiched between the cover and the side wall and between the cover and the connecting wall which a cable passes, wherein a height of a distal end of the connecting wall, which the cable passes, from the bottom portion is larger than a height of a base portion of the cut-away portion from the bottom portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2016Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuaki Otoguro, Takehiro Ishidate, Yuichiro Imai
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Publication number: 20160216633Abstract: A laser holder includes a bridge portion connected to a holding portion via two projecting portions so as to bridge the two projecting portions, and the bridge portion includes a contacting portion configured to come into contact with the optical box by being pressed against an optical box by a screw head of a second fixing screw.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Takehiro Ishidate, Yasuaki Otoguro, Yuichiro Imai
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Patent number: 9400444Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; a charging unit; a light scanning apparatus configured to emit a light beam to scan the photosensitive member to form a latent image; and a developing unit configure to develop the latent image. The light scanning apparatus includes a light source, a rotary polygon mirror, a light receiving unit, and a signal generating unit. An incident timing when the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror enters the light receiving unit after the photosensitive member is charged by the charging unit and after a voltage is applied to a toner carrying member by the developing unit is identified based on the number of second signals generated by the signal generating unit between the first signal and the first signal generated by the light receiving unit before the photosensitive member is charged and before the voltage is applied to the toner carrying member.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazumi Sato, Hirotaka Seki, Takehiro Ishidate, Yuichiro Imai, Yasuaki Otoguro
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Publication number: 20160207328Abstract: A light scanning apparatus, including: an optical box configured to hold a deflector and an optical member; and a cover, the optical box including: a concave-shaped cut-away portion formed from a top portion of a side wall toward a bottom portion; and a connecting wall which stands from the bottom portion of the optical box and is bent and branched from the cut-away portion to an inside of the optical box so as to cross over the cut-away portion, the cover including a dustproof member sandwiched between the cover and the side wall and between the cover and the connecting wall which a cable passes, wherein a height of a distal end of the connecting wall, which the cable passes, from the bottom portion is larger than a height of a base portion of the cut-away portion from the bottom portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Yasuaki Otoguro, Takehiro Ishidate, Yuichiro Imai
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Publication number: 20150293350Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; a charging unit; a light scanning apparatus configured to emit a light beam to scan the photosensitive member to form a latent image; and a developing unit configure to develop the latent image. The light scanning apparatus includes a light source, a rotary polygon mirror, a light receiving unit, and a signal generating unit. An incident timing when the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror enters the light receiving unit after the photosensitive member is charged by the charging unit and after a voltage is applied to a toner carrying member by the developing unit is identified based on the number of second signals generated by the signal generating unit between the first signal and the first signal generated by the light receiving unit before the photosensitive member is charged and before the voltage is applied to the toner carrying member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Kazumi Sato, Hirotaka Seki, Takehiro Ishidate, Yuichiro Imai, Yasuaki Otoguro
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Patent number: 9063449Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing fluctuations in the rotational speed of an image carrier caused by harmonic noise. A surface of the image carrier is charged with electricity. An exposure unit forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing on the charged surface of the image carrier to light. A rotational drive unit rotates the image carrier. A first detecting unit detects a rotational speed of the image carrier. A second detecting unit detects a home position of the image carrier. An exposure control unit controls timing with which the exposure unit exposes the image carrier to light based on the rotational speed of the image carrier detected by the first detecting unit and the home position detected by the second detecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yuichiro Imai
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Patent number: 8706008Abstract: An image forming apparatus may transfer an image to a transfer-receiving material. The image forming apparatus includes a main body to which a cartridge is detachably mounted. The cartridge includes an image bearing member in contact with the transfer-receiving material and a receiving member to receive driving force from the main body to drive and rotate the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus also includes a shaft passing through and supporting the receiving member of the cartridge and a transmission member to rotate around the shaft and to transmit drive force from a motor to the receiving member. A bending unit included with the image forming apparatus bends the shaft passing through and supporting the receiving member and the transmission member.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuichiro Imai
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Publication number: 20130016987Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing fluctuations in the rotational speed of an image carrier caused by harmonic noise. A surface of the image carrier is charged with electricity. An exposure unit forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing on the charged surface of the image carrier to light. A rotational drive unit rotates the image carrier. A first detecting unit detects a rotational speed of the image carrier. A second detecting unit detects a home position of the image carrier. An exposure control unit controls timing with which the exposure unit exposes the image carrier to light based on the rotational speed of the image carrier detected by the first detecting unit and the home position detected by the second detecting unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yuichiro IMAI
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Patent number: 8311453Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing; a photosensitive member unit detachably mountable relative to the housing and which includes a photosensitive member; a transfer belt unit detachably mountable relative to the housing which includes a transfer belt member and a spacing mechanism for spacing the transfer belt member from the photosensitive member; a shaft member, provided in the housing, for supporting the photosensitive member; a guiding portion, provided on the photosensitive member unit, for guiding mounting, to the housing, of the photosensitive member unit; and a rotation regulating member, provided on the transfer belt unit, for regulating a movement of the guiding portion, in the a rotational direction, of the photosensitive member at the time of the mounting of the photosensitive unit to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuichiro Imai