Patents by Inventor Yukihiro Kitozaki

Yukihiro Kitozaki 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: 8027621
    Abstract: A developer supply case which is detachably attachable to an inserted portion of an image forming apparatus body includes a case body which stores a developer in its inside; an engaging portion which causes an inserting load W when engaged with an engaged portion provided in the image forming apparatus at completion of insertion of the developer supply case into the inserted portion; and a load causing portion which is provided so as to abut part of the inserted portion in insertion of the developer supply case into the inserted portion and causes an inserting load P1 before the engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion, wherein the inserting load W and the inserting load P1 satisfy the following relation: P1?W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Isomura, Teruaki Tsurusaki, Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Publication number: 20110164898
    Abstract: A developer supply case which is detachably attachable to an inserted portion of an image forming apparatus body includes a case body which stores a developer in its inside; an engaging portion which causes an inserting load W when engaged with an engaged portion provided in the image forming apparatus at completion of insertion of the developer supply case into the inserted portion; and a load causing portion which is provided so as to abut part of the inserted portion in insertion of the developer supply case into the inserted portion and causes an inserting load P1 before the engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion, wherein the inserting load W and the inserting load P1 satisfy the following relation: P1?W.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Isomura, Teruaki Tsurusaki, Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Patent number: 7953351
    Abstract: A developer supply case which is detachably attachable to an inserted portion of an image forming apparatus body includes a case body which stores a developer in its inside; an engaging portion which causes an inserting load W when engaged with an engaged portion provided in the image forming apparatus at completion of insertion of the developer supply case into the inserted portion; and a load causing portion which is provided so as to abut part of the inserted portion in insertion of the developer supply case into the inserted portion and causes an inserting load P1 before the engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion, wherein the inserting load W and the inserting load P1 satisfy the following relation: P1?W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Isomura, Teruaki Tsurusaki, Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Patent number: 7941066
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a heating rotating body which heats a toner image while nipping and conveying a recording material bearing the toner image, a fan which cools down the heating rotating body, and a duct adapted in such a manner that air which is blown by the fan so as to cool down the heating rotating body does not pass through a recording material conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Patent number: 7715747
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a heating rotating body which heats a toner image while nipping and conveying a recording material bearing the toner image, a fan which cools down the heating rotating body, and a duct adapted in such a manner that air which is blown by the fan so as to cool down the heating rotating body does not pass through a recording material conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Publication number: 20100086326
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a heating rotating body which heats a toner image while nipping and conveying a recording material bearing the toner image, a fan which cools down the heating rotating body, and a duct adapted in such a manner that air which is blown by the fan so as to cool down the heating rotating body does not pass through a recording material conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Patent number: 7515848
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit including an image bearing member, an intermediary transfer member onto which an image formed on the image bearing member is transferred, the intermediary transfer member being located at an upper portion of the image forming unit, a housing for supporting and accommodating the image forming unit and the intermediary transfer member, the housing being drawable from the image forming apparatus with the image forming unit and the intermediary transfer member supported thereby, a supporting portion for supporting the intermediary transfer member for rotation relative to the housing, and a mounting and demounting portion, provided in the housing, for permitting the image forming unit to be mounted and demounted relative thereto. The mounting and dismounting of the image forming unit is enabled by rotating the intermediary transfer member, after the housing is pulled out of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Patent number: 7502577
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a specific color image forming station for forming a black image and one or more non-specific color image forming stations for forming images of colors other than black, the photosensitive drum of the specific color image forming station is located vertically downward of the photosensitive drums of the non-specific color image forming stations, and the capacity of the black toner cartridge of the specific color image forming station is made larger than those of the toner cartridges of the non-specific color image forming stations. With this arrangement, the frequency of replacement of the black toner cartridge can be reduced without adversely affecting the size of an apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiro Kitozaki, Atsushi Munakata
  • Patent number: 7486910
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus is provided with a lock mechanism in a shutter member of opening and closing a toner discharge port, and once the process cartridge is mounted onto an image forming apparatus, the lock mechanism is configured to be unlocked so as to enable the shutter member to open and close subject to unlocking of a lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Publication number: 20090016764
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a heating rotating body which heats a toner image while nipping and conveying a recording material bearing the toner image, a fan which cools down the heating rotating body, and a duct adapted in such a manner that air which is blown by the fan so as to cool down the heating rotating body does not pass through a recording material conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Publication number: 20080199224
    Abstract: A developer supply case which is detachably attachable to an inserted portion of an image forming apparatus body includes a case body which stores a developer in its inside; an engaging portion which causes an inserting load W when engaged with an engaged portion provided in the image forming apparatus at completion of insertion of the developer supply case into the inserted portion; and a load causing portion which is provided so as to abut part of the inserted portion in insertion of the developer supply case into the inserted portion and causes an inserting load P1 before the engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion, wherein the inserting load W and the inserting load P1 satisfy the following relation: P1?W.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Isomura, Teruaki Tsurusaki, Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Patent number: 7298979
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, that includes a printer section having a sheet delivery portion at a top thereof, and a frame arranged at a top surface of the printer section so as to extend in substantially an L-shape to a rear side and one lateral side of the printer section. An image reader is optionally attached to the top surface of the frame, and a sheet can be pulled out of both a front side and another lateral side at which no frame is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Patent number: 7257349
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for forming an electrostatic image, a developing apparatus for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member with a developer, a developer container for containing a replenishing developer, and dismountably mounted on a main body of the apparatus, and a developer replenishing apparatus for replenishing the replenishing developer in the developer container to the developing apparatus, wherein at least the image bearing member and the developing apparatus are provided in a cartridge which is dismountably mountable on the main body of the apparatus and the developer container is provided in a position not overlapping with a moving area of the cartridge in a dismounting or mounting operation of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Publication number: 20070059033
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image bearing member; an intermediary transfer member onto which an image formed on the image bearing member is transferred, the intermediary transfer member being disposed at an upper portion of the image forming unit; a first housing for supporting and accommodating the image forming unit and the intermediary transfer member, the first housing being drawable with the image forming unit and the intermediary transfer member supported thereby; and a mounting and demounting portion, provided in the first housing, for permitting the image forming unit to be mounted and demounted relative thereto by change of a relative position between the intermediary transfer member and the image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Patent number: 7113721
    Abstract: An electric power unit for an option apparatus selectively mountable to an image forming apparatus, wherein the power unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus with mounting of the option apparatus, includes an electric power generating portion for generating electric power; and a connector for connection with the option apparatus to supply electric power from the electric power generating portion to the option apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Publication number: 20060104663
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus is provided with a lock mechanism in a shutter member of opening and closing a toner discharge port, and once the process cartridge is mounted onto an image forming apparatus, the lock mechanism is configured to be unlocked so as to enable the shutter member to open and close subject to unlocking of a lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Publication number: 20050281581
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for forming an electrostatic image, a developing apparatus for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member with a developer, a developer container for containing a replenishing developer, and dismountably mounted on a main body of the apparatus, and a developer replenishing apparatus for replenishing the replenishing developer in the developer container to the developing apparatus, wherein at least the image bearing member and the developing apparatus are provided in a cartridge which is dismountably mountable on the main body of the apparatus and the developer container is provided in a position not overlapping with a moving area of the cartridge in a dismounting or mounting operation of the cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Publication number: 20050281591
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a specific color image forming station for forming a black image and one or more non-specific color image forming stations for forming images of colors other than black, the photosensitive drum of the specific color image forming station is located vertically downward of the photosensitive drums of the non-specific color image forming stations, and the capacity of the black toner cartridge of the specific color image forming station is made larger than those of the toner cartridges of the non-specific color image forming stations. With this arrangement, the frequency of replacement of the black toner cartridge can be reduced without adversely affecting the size of an apparatus main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukihiro Kitozaki, Atsushi Munakata
  • Publication number: 20050025514
    Abstract: An electric power unit for an option apparatus selectively mountable to an image forming apparatus, wherein the power unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus with mounting of the option apparatus, includes an electric power generating portion for generating electric power; and a connector for connection with the option apparatus to supply electric power from the electric power generating portion to the option apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki
  • Patent number: 6826377
    Abstract: An electric power unit for an option apparatus selectively mountable to an image forming apparatus, wherein the power unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus with mounting of the option apparatus, includes an electric power generating portion for generating electric power; and a connector for connection with the option apparatus to supply electric power from the electric power generating portion to the option apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kitozaki