Patents by Inventor Yutaka Ban
Yutaka Ban 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: 7039347Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for accommodating toner; an opening for permitting discharge of the toner from the main body; a rotatable feeding member, provided in the main body, for feeding the toner by rotation thereof; wherein the feeding member including a lift portion for lifting the toner in the main body, a guiding portion for guiding the toner lifted by the collecting portion downwardly toward the opening, and a falling portion for letting the toner lifted by the lifting portion fall without feeding it toward the opening with rotation of the feeding member.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2002Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20060062604Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for accommodating toner; an opening for permitting discharge of the toner from the main body; a rotatable feeding member, provided in the main body, for feeding the toner by rotation thereof; wherein the feeding member including a lift portion for lifting the toner in the main body, a guiding portion for guiding the toner lifted by the collecting portion downwardly toward the opening, and a falling portion for letting the toner lifted by the lifting portion fall without feeding it toward the opening with rotation of the feeding member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2005Publication date: March 23, 2006Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20060034641Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2005Publication date: February 16, 2006Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 6990301Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2003Date of Patent: January 24, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 6987942Abstract: A toner supplying kit for being detachably set in an image forming apparatus to supply toner thereto, the toner supplying kit includes a toner container for containing toner; a discharge opening, provided in the toner container, for discharging the toner; plural feeding projections, projected inwardly in the toner container, for feeding the toner in the toner container toward the discharge opening with rotation of the toner container, wherein a uniaxial collapse stress of the toner when a vertical stress of 128 g/cm2 is applied thereto is 2.0-8.0 g/cm2.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2003Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Junko Yoshikawa, Yutaka Ban, Tetsuo Isomura, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20060008290Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2005Publication date: January 12, 2006Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20060008291Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2005Publication date: January 12, 2006Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 6978101Abstract: A toner supply container is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. The container includes a toner accommodating portion to accommodate toner and has a supply opening to supply toner into the image forming apparatus, a feeding member to feed the toner in the toner accommodating portion toward the supply opening, and a sealing member to seal the supply opening. The sealing member has a locking portion to be locked by a locking member provided in a main assembly of the apparatus, and a coupling portion to be coupled with a drive coupling member provided in the main assembly. The sealing member is rotatable integrally with the feeding member by a rotational force received by the coupling portion from the drive coupling member. The locking portion and the coupling portion are spaced apart from each other with respect to a mounting direction of the container.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Ban, Kazuhiko Omata, Kyota Miyazaki, Ayumu Murakami
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Patent number: 6968139Abstract: A toner supply container is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. The container includes a toner accommodating portion to accommodate toner and has a supply opening to supply toner into the image forming apparatus, a feeding member to feed the toner in the toner accommodating portion toward the supply opening, and a sealing member to seal the supply opening. The sealing member has a locking portion to be locked by a locking membered in a main assembly of the apparatus, and a coupling portion to be coupled with a drive coupling member provided in the main assembly. The sealing member is rotatable integrally with the feeding member by a rotational force received by the coupling portion from the drive coupling member. The locking portion and the coupling portion are spaced apart from each other with respect to a mounting direction of the container.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Ban, Kazuhiko Omata, Kyota Miyazaki, Ayumu Murakami
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Patent number: 6963713Abstract: A developer supply container supplies a developer detachably set in an image forming apparatus. The developer supply container includes a main body for containing the developer; a discharge opening, which is provided in the main body, for discharging the developer; and a plurality of feeding projections, which are disposed so as to project from a curved inner surface of the main body, for feeding the developer in the main body toward the discharge opening with rotation of the main body. Each of the projections is linear without being twisted, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of feeding projections include portions, which overlap each other as seen in a direction of an axis of rotation of the main body.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2003Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Isomura, Yutaka Ban, Yusuke Yamada, Kazuhiko Omata, Junko Yoshikawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 6944417Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for accommodating toner; an opening for permitting discharge of the toner from the main body; a rotatable feeding member, provided in the main body, for feeding the toner by rotation thereof; wherein the feeding member including a lift portion for lifting the toner in the main body, a guiding portion for guiding the toner lifted by the collecting portion downwardly toward the opening, and a falling portion for letting the toner lifted by the lifting portion fall without feeding it toward the opening with rotation of the feeding member.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2004Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 6934494Abstract: A driving force receiving member for receiving a driving force from an image forming apparatus includes a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force from a driving force applying portion of the image forming apparatus. The driving force receiving portion is movable relative to the driving force applying portion to permit engagement and disengagement relative to the driving force applying portion. The driving force receiving portion is provided with a surface fastener for engaging a surface fastener provided on the driving force applying portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2001Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20050169672Abstract: A toner supply container, detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, for supplying toner to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the toner supply container includes a main body for accommodating the toner; a discharging opening for permitting discharging of the toner accommodated in the main body of the container; a container shutter member for opening and closing the discharging opening; a rotatable member rotatably supported by the main body of the container and having a drive transmitting portion for engaging with a rotational force transmitting means provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to transmit the rotational force to the rotational force transmitting means; a rotating force receiving portion for receiving the rotating force from the rotating force transmitting means through engagement with the rotating force transmitting means, wherein the container shutter member is given a force for opening and closing the discharge opening by the rotating force reType: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2005Publication date: August 4, 2005Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Ban, Tatsuya Goto, Fumio Tazawa
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Patent number: 6920298Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2003Date of Patent: July 19, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20050135842Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to developer receiving apparatus, includes container body accommodating a developer, the container body being provided with a developer supply port for supplying the developer through a developer receiving port provided in the developer receiving apparatus; a driving connecting member for operatively collectable with a driving member provided in the developer receiving apparatus, the driving connecting member being movable relative to the container body; an interrelating mechanism for interrelating an operation of movement of the driving connecting member to operatively couple with the driving member with an operation of movement of the developer supply port to face the developer receiving port.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2004Publication date: June 23, 2005Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuya Murakami, Yutaka Ban, Nobuo Nakajima
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Patent number: 6879789Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a container body with a discharge opening formed thereon. A sealing member, which unsealably seals the discharge opening, includes an engageable projection engageable with an engaging member provided in the image forming apparatus and a support for displaceably supporting the engageable portion. The sealing member is moved relative to the container body away therefrom to unseal the discharge opening. The engageable projection is engaged with the engaging member. A releasing projection, is provided in the supporting member, for receiving, from a releasing member provided in the image forming apparatus, a force for displacing the engageable projection in a direction of disengagement from the engaging member.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2002Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20050047818Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2004Publication date: March 3, 2005Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 6853828Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes (a) a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner; (b) a toner supply opening or port for discharging toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion; (c) a toner feeding member for feeding the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion toward the toner supply opening by rotation thereof, wherein a center of rotation of the toner feeding member is in an opening region of the toner supply port as seen in the longitudinal direction of the toner feeding member. A capping member is configured to seal the toner supply opening and can be made integral with the toner feeding member or can be slidably movable relative to an engaging portion of the toner feeding member from a state in which the toner supply opening is opened to a state that the opening is closed.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2001Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Ban, Kazuhiko Omata, Kyota Miyazaki, Ayumu Murakami
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Publication number: 20050025529Abstract: A developer supply container for supplying a developer detachably set in an image forming apparatus, the developer supply container includes a main body for containing the developer; a discharge opening, provided in the main body, for discharging the developer; a plurality of feeding projections, provided projected from a curved inner surface, for feeding the developer in the main body toward the discharge opening with rotation of the main body, wherein each of the projections are linear without twisting.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2004Publication date: February 3, 2005Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Isomura, Yutaka Ban, Yusuke Yamada, Kazuhiko Omata, Junko Yoshikawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: RE38737Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus include (a) a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner; (b) a toner supply opening for discharging toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion; (c) a toner feeding member for feeding the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion toward the toner supply opening; (d) a sealing member including: a sealing portion for openably sealing the toner supply opening; and a driving portion for driving the toner feeding member.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2002Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Ban, Shinichi Onodera, Kazuhiko Omata, Kyota Miyazaki, Ayumu Murakami, Katsuya Murakami