Patents by Inventor Yuichiro Osawa

Yuichiro Osawa 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: 11119439
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing unit configured to take a first closed position and a first open position, and a rotatable member configured to take a second closed position for covering an opening to form a double-sided conveyance path, and a second open position for opening the double-sided conveyance path. The unit includes an engaging portion with a portion to be engaged, an interlock shaft rotatable with the engaging portion, and a gripping portion configured to rotate the interlock shaft, the engaging portion to position the unit at the first closed position. When the opening/closing member moves from the second closed position to the second open position, a protruding portion engages with the gripping portion of the unit positioned at the first closed position to rotate the engaging portion through the gripping portion to release the engagement to enable movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichiro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20210034009
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing unit configured to take a first closed position and a first open position, and a rotatable member configured to take a second closed position for covering an opening to form a double-sided conveyance path, and a second open position for opening the double-sided conveyance path. The unit includes an engaging portion with a portion to be engaged, an interlock shaft rotatable with the engaging portion, and a gripping portion configured to rotate the interlock shaft, the engaging portion to position the unit at the first closed position. When the opening/closing member moves from the second closed position to the second open position, a protruding portion engages with the gripping portion of the unit positioned at the first closed position to rotate the engaging portion through the gripping portion to release the engagement to enable movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventor: Yuichiro Osawa
  • Patent number: 9876927
    Abstract: An image reading device is movable between a first position and a second position spaced farther apart from an image forming device than the first position, and a regulating member configured to regulate respective positions of two cables maintains, when the image reading device is at the first position, the two cables, respectively, in a bent state in a direction away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichiro Osawa, Yu Shuhama
  • Patent number: 9857761
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly having an opening; a supporting member for dismountably supporting a cartridge for forming an image on a recording material, the supporting member being movable between an inside position and an outside position through the opening; an openable member configured to open and close the opening; and a connecting member configured to connect the openable member and the main assembly with each other, the connecting member being provided with a movement regulating portion configured to regulate movement of the supporting member placed in the outside position in a state that the openable member opens the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Osawa, Masatoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9618900
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus include a door through which a tray carrying a cartridge passes, wherein in interrelation with the door closing operation, (i) movement of the tray from a movable position to an image forming position, (ii) movement of a drive transmission member, for transmitting a driving force to the cartridge from a main assembly, from a first spacing position to a drive-connecting position, (iii) movement of an urging member for urging the cartridge to the main assembly from a second spacing position to a contact position, and (iv) movement of an electric energy supply member, for supplying electric power to the cartridge from the main assembly, from a third spacing position to an electric energy supplying position, are carried out in the order named.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromi Fujinaka, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Shigeru Hoashi
  • Patent number: 9599952
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening and a tray for placing thereon a cartridge for forming an image, wherein the tray is movable through the opening between an image forming position where the cartridge is used for image formation inside the main assembly and a mounting and demounting position where the cartridge is exposed to an outside of the main assembly and is mountable and demountable. In addition a door opens and closes the opening, and an accommodating member accommodates a sheet on which an image is formed. When the tray is in the mounting and demounting position, the door supports the tray and the accommodating member supports the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromi Fujinaka, Takuya Suto, Yuichiro Osawa
  • Patent number: 9594341
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly including an opening, a cartridge tray for dismountably supporting a cartridge, an openable member for opening and closing the opening, with the cartridge tray being provided at one end portion side, and a limiting member. An urging member urges the cartridge tray from an inner position in the main assembly to an outer position, and a locking member moves between a regulating position and a non-regulating position in interrelation with movement of the openable member. When the openable member is closed, the locking member moves to the regulating position at which the locking member engages with the cartridge tray to push it to the inner position and limits movement of the cartridge tray toward the outer position, and when the openable member is opened, the locking member moves to the non-regulating position at which the locking member disengages from the cartridge tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Kuruma, Yuichiro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20160349698
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly having an opening; a supporting member for dismountably supporting a cartridge for forming an image on a recording material, the supporting member being movable between an inside position and an outside position through the opening; an openable member configured to open and close the opening; and a connecting member configured to connect the openable member and the main assembly with each other, the connecting member being provided with a movement regulating portion configured to regulate movement of the supporting member placed in the outside position in a state that the openable member opens the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Yuichiro Osawa, Masatoshi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20160116884
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus include a door through which a tray carrying a cartridge passes, wherein in interrelation with the door closing operation, (i) movement of the tray from a movable position to an image forming position, (ii) movement of a drive transmission member, for transmitting a driving force to the cartridge from a main assembly, from a first spacing position to a drive-connecting position, (iii) movement of an urging member for urging the cartridge to the main assembly from a second spacing position to a contact position, and (iv) movement of an electric energy supply member, for supplying electric power to the cartridge from the main assembly, from a third spacing position to an electric energy supplying position, are carried out in the order named.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Hiromi Fujinaka, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Shigeru Hoashi
  • Patent number: 9304487
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing member movably provided in the apparatus main body and configured to take a closing position to close a first opening and a second opening and an opening position to open the first opening and the second opening. The opening/closing member includes a first opening/closing portion configured to close the first opening at the closing position and a second opening/closing portion configured to close the second opening at the closing position and provided so as to be movable with respect to the first opening/closing portion. A cartridge support member moving, at the opening position, in a pull-out direction from an inner position to an outer position causes the second opening/closing portion to move downstream in the pull-out direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Tomio Noguchi, Yuichiro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20160088177
    Abstract: An image reading device is movable between a first position and a second position spaced farther apart from an image forming device than the first position, and a regulating member configured to regulate respective positions of two cables maintains, when the image reading device is at the first position, the two cables, respectively, in a bent state in a direction away from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Yuichiro Osawa, Yu Shuhama
  • Patent number: 9261855
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus include a door through which a tray carrying a cartridge passes. In a door closing operation, (i) movement of the tray from a movable position to an image forming position, (ii) movement of a drive transmission member, for transmitting a driving force to the cartridge from a main assembly, from a first spacing position to a drive-connecting position, (iii) movement of an urging member for urging the cartridge to the main assembly from a second spacing position to a contact position, and (iv) movement of an electric energy supply member, for supplying electric power to the cartridge from the main assembly, from a third spacing position to an electric energy supplying position, are carried out in the order named.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Fujinaka, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Shigeru Hoashi
  • Patent number: 9237248
    Abstract: An image reading device is movable between a first position and a second position spaced farther apart from an image forming device than the first position, and a regulating member configured to regulate respective positions of two cables maintains, when the image reading device is at the first position, the two cables, respectively, in a bent state in a direction away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichiro Osawa, Yu Shuhama
  • Patent number: 9217986
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a transfer member for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a sheet in contact with the image bearing member, and an openable unit including an openable member and a rotational shaft. In addition, a lock member locks the openable unit in a closed state by movement of the openable member, and a cam member, provided in the main assembly, rotatably moves the transfer member toward and away from the image bearing member. A force receiving portion, provided on the openable unit, receives a reaction force in contact with the cam member. The openable member includes the transfer member, and the cam member urges the force receiving portion when rotated to impart a force, for attracting the openable unit toward a locking direction by the lock member, to the openable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Nobukazu Adachi
  • Publication number: 20150331385
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a tray for placing thereon a cartridge for forming an image, wherein the tray is movable through the opening between an image forming position where the cartridge is used for image formation inside the main assembly and a mounting and demounting position where the cartridge is exposed to an outside of the main assembly and is mountable and demountable; a door for opening and closing the opening; and an accommodating member for accommodating a recording material used for the image formation. When the tray is in the mounting and demounting position, the door supports the tray and the accommodating member supports the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Hiromi Fujinaka, Takuya Suto, Yuichiro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20150168911
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening and a door; a tray for supporting a cartridge, the tray being movable between outer and inner positions; a stopper movable in the inner position between a limiting position in which the tray is limited by an engaging portion and a release position; an urging member, upstream of the stopper, for urging the tray to the outer position, the urging member providing a rotational force to the tray to project the other end beyond the one end, when the stopper is in the limiting position; and a locking member interrelated with the door. When the door is closed, the locking member engages with the other end of the tray to push the tray to the inner position and limits downstream movement of the tray toward the outer position. When the door is opened, the locking member disengages from the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Tomoya Kuruma, Yuichiro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20140356022
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover, including a rotational shaft, capable of opening and closing an opening by being rotated about the rotational shaft relative to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet; an opposing member, provided in the image forming portion, opposing the openable cover when the openable cover closes the opening; a contact member, provided on the openable cover, contactable to the opposing member; an urging member, provided on the openable cover, for urging the contact member toward the opposing member; and a locking member for locking the openable cover in a closed state relative to the main assembly. The image forming apparatus comprising a cam member, provided in the image forming portion, for moving the contact member toward and away from the opposing member by rotation of the cam member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Nobukazu Adachi
  • Patent number: 8838007
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover capable of opening and closing an opening, an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet, and a cam member provided in the image forming portion for moving a contact member toward and away from an opposing member. A controller controls the image forming portion and rotation of the cam member. The controller stops an operation of the image forming portion when a detecting unit detects opening of the openable cover, and then controls rotation of the cam member at least one full turn when the detecting unit detects closing of the openable cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Nobukazu Adachi
  • Publication number: 20140147158
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus include a door through which a tray carrying a cartridge passes, wherein in interrelation with the door closing operation, (i) movement of the tray from a movable position to an image forming position, (ii) movement of a drive transmission member, for transmitting a driving force to the cartridge from a main assembly, from a first spacing position to a drive-connecting position, (iii) movement of an urging member for urging the cartridge to the main assembly from a second spacing position to a contact position, and (iv) movement of an electric energy supply member, for supplying electric power to the cartridge from the main assembly, from a third spacing position to an electric energy supplying position, are carried out in the order named.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromi Fujinaka, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Shigeru Hoashi
  • Publication number: 20130315619
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing member movably provided in the apparatus main body and configured to take a closing position to close a first opening and a second opening and an opening position to open the first opening and the second opening. The opening/closing member includes a first opening/closing portion configured to close the first opening at the closing position and a second opening/closing portion configured to close the second opening at the closing position and provided so as to be movable with respect to the first opening/closing portion. A cartridge support member moving, at the opening position, in a pull-out direction from an inner position to an outer position causes the second opening/closing portion to move downstream in the pull-out direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Tomio Noguchi, Yuichiro Osawa