Modular Or Displaceable Patents (Class 399/110)
  • Patent number: 11249436
    Abstract: An apparatus body includes a housing, a drawer, a push-out mechanism, and a positioner. The drawer is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The push-out mechanism pushes out the drawer by a predetermined amount from a setting position at which the drawer is positioned in the housing. The positioner positions the drawer at the setting position in the housing. The positioner includes a fitting hole disposed in one of the housing and the drawer and a positioning pin disposed in the other of the housing and the drawer. The positioning pin positions the drawer at the setting position in the housing in response to fitting of the positioning pin into the fitting hole. The positioning pin and the fitting hole each have a form that releases the fitting in response to pushing out of the drawer by the predetermined amount from the setting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruo Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11243493
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner container installed removably in an apparatus body through an opening and collecting a waste toner discharged from an image forming section in which an image is formed with toner, and an opening/closing cover supported at an edge of the opening and pivoting about an axis line extending in a specific direction, the opening/closing cover pivoting about the axis line and moving between a closed position to close the opening and an open position to open the opening. The waste toner container has an engaged part, and the opening/closing cover has an engaging part that engages with the engaged part. The engaging part engages with the engaged part in the closed position to hold the opening/closing cover in the closed position when the waste toner container is installed in the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Satoshi Ando
  • Patent number: 11237515
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main casing, an opening-closing member configured to open and close an opening on a side of the main casing and to move between an open position and a closed position, a belt unit configured to move between a first position and a second position, a drum unit configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, a developing device unit configured to move in an arrangement direction of developing rollers, and an interlock mechanism configured such that in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position, the belt unit moves from the first position to the second position and the drum unit moves from the third position to the fourth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11231674
    Abstract: An image forming device, including: a drawer movable from an inside position where the drawer is located inside a housing to an outside position where the drawer is located outside the housing via an intermediate position; a stopper movable between a first position where the stopper stops the drawer from moving from the intermediate position to the outside position and a second position where the stopper allows the drawer to move from the intermediate position to the outside position; a drum cartridge mountable on the drawer; and a toner cartridge mountable on the drawer; wherein the toner cartridge mounted on the drawer is detachable from the drawer in a state in which the drawer is located at the intermediate position, and wherein the drum cartridge mounted on the drawer is detachable from the drawer in a state in which the drawer is located at the outside position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11221582
    Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket having a first side, a second side and a plurality of positioning slots extending between the first side and the second side, each positioning slot is configured to receive a corresponding toner cartridge. Each positioning slot includes a first latch at the first side of the basket and a second latch at the second side of the basket. Each of the first and second latches is independently pivotable between a latched position for applying a hold-down force on a respective end portion of a corresponding toner cartridge positioned in a corresponding positioning slot of the plurality of positioning slots to rigidly hold the corresponding toner cartridge against datums of the basket and an unlatched position to release the corresponding toner cartridge permitting removal of the corresponding toner cartridge from the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Allen Blair, Brian Lester Boettcher, James Anthany Carter, II, Jie Chen, Benjamin Charles Devore, Darin Michael Gettelfinger
  • Patent number: 11209755
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage container in which toner is stored, a replenishment port configured to allow replenishment of toner from a replenishment container outside the image forming apparatus to the storage container therethrough, a replenishment restriction portion, and a drive source configured to supply a driving force A drive transmission portion is configured to take a first operation state, in which the drive transmission portion transmits the driving force of the drive source to the replenishment restriction portion to switch the replenishment restriction portion between a restricting state and an allowing state, and a second operation state, in which the drive transmission portion transmits the driving force of the drive source to a toner conveyance portion to cause the toner conveyance portion to convey toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Kubo, Kenji Matsuzaka, Tomio Noguchi, Kenichi Tagami
  • Patent number: 11194286
    Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket insertable into and extendable out of the image forming device. The basket includes a plurality of positioning slots each configured to receive a corresponding toner cartridge of a plurality of toner cartridges. The basket includes a cartridge latching assembly configured to apply a hold-down force on each toner cartridge to rigidly hold each toner cartridge against corresponding datums of the basket. A basket latching assembly in the image forming device is configured to apply a hold-down force on the basket when the basket is inserted into the image forming device to rigidly hold the basket against corresponding datums of the image forming device for positioning the plurality of toner cartridges in respective operational positions within the image forming device with only the cartridge latching assembly of the basket directly applying hold-down forces on the plurality of toner cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Amann, Brian Allen Blair, Brian Lester Boettcher, James Anthany Carter, II, Jie Chen, Benjamin Charles Devore, Darin Michael Gettelfinger, Michael James Shanor, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Patent number: 11194287
    Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket for holding multiple toner cartridges. A guide rail assembly operatively connected to an access door moves between a raised position and a lowered position to raise and lower the basket when the access door moves between an open position and a closed position. The basket is slidable along the guide rail assembly into and out of the image forming device when the guide rail assembly is in the raised position, and is in an operational position within the image forming device when the guide rail assembly is in the lowered position. A rail lock mechanism locks the access door in the open position when the guide rail assembly is in the raised position and the basket is extended out of the image forming device and unlocks the access door from the open position when the basket is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Chen, Benjamin Charles Devore, Michael James Shanor, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Patent number: 11194285
    Abstract: A system for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a basket including a plurality of positioning slots each including cartridge datum locators that position a plurality of toner cartridges relative to the basket. A first guide rail and a second guide rail, each movable between a raised position and a lowered position, raise and lower the basket when the first and second guide rails move between the raised and lowered positions. In the raised positions the first and second guide rails support the basket permitting the basket to slide along the first and second guide rails into and out of the image forming device. When the first and second guide rails are in the lowered positions basket datum locators within the image forming device support the basket and position the basket relative to the image forming device in order to position the toner cartridges relative to the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Allen Blair, Jie Chen, Benjamin Charles Devore, Darin Michael Gettelfinger, Michael James Shanor, Christopher Kent Washing
  • Patent number: 11163261
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drum cartridge; and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having a rotational axis. The drum cartridge is drawable from the main casing in a first direction where the axis of the photosensitive drum extends. The developing cartridge is drawable from the main casing in the first direction. The developing cartridge includes: a developing roller; a front wall; and a first developing-device frame. The front wall is disposed at a downstream end of the developing cartridge in the first direction. The front wall has a first hole. The first developing-device frame supports the developing roller. The first developing-device frame includes a first boss extending in the first direction. The first boss goes through the first hole of the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11163256
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a casing, a drum unit including first and second lateral walls and first and second photosensitive drums, first and second cartridges supported by the drum unit, first and second operable members, is provided. The first operable member and the second operable member press the first developing cartridge and the second developing cartridge, respectively, in a direction from the first lateral wall toward the second lateral wall to move the first and second developing rollers from the respective contacting positions to respective separated positions. The casing includes a restrictive portion. When the drum unit is attached to the casing, the restrictive portion restricts movement of the drum unit causable by at least one of a pressing action of the first operable member to press the first developing cartridge and a pressing action of the second operable member to press the second developing cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11150597
    Abstract: A powder processing apparatus includes a processing engine, a carrying region forming unit, a door, a powder storage unit. The processing engine is mounted inside an apparatus housing. The processing engine includes one or plural processing units each at least including a movable powder carrier that carries powder, and a powder supply unit. The carrying region forming unit forms a region in the powder carrier where powder can be carried. The door opens and closes an opening formed in a side wall of the apparatus housing. The powder storage unit stores the powder. The powder storage unit moves along with the opening and closing of the door. When the door is opened, an insertion and extraction path that is wide enough to insert and extract the processing engine is ensured in the opening, excluding a region blocked by the powder storage unit that moves along with the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takashi Anzai, Takahiro Kimura, Kazuaki Iikura, Tetsuji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11137715
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main body; a toner cartridge having a first opening; a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a second opening; a positioning part; a transfer unit; and an urging member. The toner cartridge and process cartridge are attachable to and detachable from the main body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The positioning part and transfer unit are positioned above the process cartridge attached to the main body. The positioning part fixes the attached process cartridge in position relative to the main body. The urging member urges the attached process cartridge toward the positioning part and urges the process cartridge such that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge through the first opening and the second opening when the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11126136
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drawer movable in a first direction from an inside position to an outside position via an intermediate position; a stopper movable between a first position at which the stopper stops the drawer from moving from the intermediate position to the outside position, and a second position at which the stopper allows the drawer to move from the intermediate position to the outside position; a drum cartridge including a photoconductive drum and mountable on the drawer; and a developing cartridge including a developing roller and mountable on the drawer. The developing cartridge mounted on the drawer is removable from the drawer in a state in which the drawer is located at the intermediate position. The drum cartridge mounted on the drawer is removable from the drawer in a state in which the drawer is located at the outside position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11112746
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body to which a detachable part is attachable, the main body having an opening; a cover that opens and closes the opening of the main body; and an insertion member that, when the detachable part is not attached to the main body, is in an inserted position where the insertion member is inserted between the main body and the cover and prevents closing of the cover, and when the detachable part is attached to the main body, is in a retreat position where the insertion member is not inserted between the main body and the cover and allows closing of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Ushikubo
  • Patent number: 11086265
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cassette attachment part and a collection side attachment part. To the cassette attachment part, a sheet feeding cassette storing a sheet is detachably attached. The collection side attachment part is disposed adjacent to the cassette attachment part. To the collection side attachment part, a collection container storing a waste toner discharged without transferred on the sheet is detachably attached. The cassette attachment part includes a cassette rail which supports the sheet feeding cassette slidably and a rail holding member which holds the cassette rail. The collection side attachment part includes a displacement sensor which is disposed so as to face the collection container and detects an electrostatic capacity varying in response to an accumulation amount of the waste toner stored in the collection container. The rail holding member is disposed so as to face at least a part of the displacement sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuta Nohara
  • Patent number: 11067946
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a cleaning member; a cleaner container; a discharge opening; a shutter for the opening; an urging member for urging the shutter to a closing position, wherein when the cartridge is mounted, the shutter abuts to a shutter abutting portion provided in the image forming apparatus to be moved from a closing position to an opening position; a locking member rotatable between a locking position and a release position, wherein before the shutter contacts to the shutter abutting portion when mounting the cartridge to the apparatus, the locking member contacts a releasing portion provided in the apparatus to be rotated in a releasing direction, by the releasing portion; and an interrelating mechanism for interrelating relative movement between the shutter and the cleaner container and rotation of the locking member in a direction of the locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Endo
  • Patent number: 11061359
    Abstract: A drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a drum frame configured to retain the photosensitive drum and to accept a developing cartridge including a toner memory, which stores information concerning the developing cartridge, a first connector electrically connectable with the toner memory in the developing cartridge under a condition where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame, a relay board electrically connectable with the first connector, a second connector electrically connectable with a connector in an image forming apparatus and with the toner memory through the relay board, and a thermistor electrically connectable with the relay board, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Abe, Keita Inoue
  • Patent number: 11042106
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit for which, when inclined, leakage of a liquid developer can be suppressed. The transfer unit includes an intermediary transfer belt onto which the liquid developer is transferred and which rotates. A supporting unit is capable of holding the transfer unit at a first position. A rotation holding portion is capable of holding the transfer unit at a second position inclined from the first position relative to the supporting unit. A cleaning roller is capable of removing the liquid developer on the intermediary transfer belt. A cleaning container is supported by the supporting unit irrespective of rotation of the transfer unit and is capable of collecting the liquid developer removed by the cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Matsuo, Shinichi Onodera
  • Patent number: 11042103
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum to rotate as to an apparatus main body, a print head having a connector and a light emitting element, a movement mechanism to move the print head between an exposing position and a retracted position, a support part rotatable and to support the movement mechanism, a cable, and an abutting portion. The cable supplies drive signals for driving the light emitting element to the print head. The cable extends toward an opposite side of the connector and is bent toward one direction or another direction of the support part. The abutting portion is provided to the support part, and abuts the cable bent portion in a direction from the retracted position toward the exposing position to cause the cable to flex between a connected portion to the connector and the bent portion, when the print head is at the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Aruga, Toshiki Momoka, Takehiro Ishidate
  • Patent number: 11036175
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly including an image forming portion capable of forming an image on a sheet, a rotatable cover movable between an open state and a closed state, a substrate mounting unit including a substrate mounting portion on which an electrical substrate is mounted, and a substrate cover portion engaged and held so as to cover the electrical substrate mounted on the substrate mounting portion. The substrate mounting unit includes a mounting and demounting mechanism configured to permit mounting and dismounting of the substrate cover portion. The substrate cover portion is covered by the cover when the cover is in the closed state, and the substrate cover portion is uncovered by the cover when the cover is in the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Kase
  • Patent number: 11036176
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a housing, a drawer, and a cartridge, is provided. The drawer is movable between an inner position and an outer position. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum cover. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum cover is movable with respect to the photosensitive drum between a first position and a second position. The drawer includes a guide, a stopper, and a contacting portion. The guide guides the cartridge in a second direction, when the cartridge is being attached to the drawer. The stopper stops the cartridge from separating from the guide in a third direction. The contacting portion contacts the drum cover and move the drum cover from the first position to the second position in a state where the cartridge is being guided by the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11028903
    Abstract: A developing device may include an auger or an agitator that is capable of supplying toner in a toner accommodation chamber to a developing chamber and is rotatable about an auger axis extending in an axial direction, a transporting gear that is rotatable together with the auger or the agitator, and a moving gear that is in mesh with a coupling gear and is rotatable both counterclockwise and clockwise. The moving gear is movable while being in mesh with the coupling gear between a first position where the moving gear is in mesh with the transporting gear and a second position where the moving gear is out of mesh with the transporting gear. The moving gear moves to the first position when the coupling gear rotates counterclockwise and to the second position when the coupling gear rotates clockwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Yasuo Fukamachi, Keita Shimizu, Kazutoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11029639
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum; and a toner cartridge which is mountable on the drum cartridge and stores toner, wherein the drum cartridge includes: a cleaner configured to collect waste toner on the photosensitive drum; a waste toner conveyance tube configured to convey the waste toner collected by the cleaner; and a developing unit which includes a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum and is swingable about a swing axis with respect to the photosensitive drum, and wherein the toner cartridge has a waste toner storing chamber for storing the waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveyance tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11009814
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a transfer component including a transfer roller configured to transfer an image; a holding mechanism supported by a cover, configured to hold the transfer component; a lever rotatably between a first position and a second position, configured to pressurize the transfer component to press the transfer roller against an image carrier when the lever is at the first position; and an engagement portion supported by the cover, configured to engage with the lever to move the lever to the first position while the cover is closed, to engage with the lever to move the lever to the second position while the cover is opened, and to disengage from the lever to be separated from a space through which the lever is capable of passing when the lever is positioned at a third position between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10996618
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main casing, an opening-closing member configured to open and close an opening on a side of the main casing and to move between an open position and a closed position, a belt unit configured to move between a first position and a second position, a drum unit configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, a developing device unit configured to move in an arrangement direction of developing rollers, and an interlock mechanism configured such that in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position, the belt unit moves from the first position to the second position and the drum unit moves from the third position to the fourth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10996616
    Abstract: An operating mechanism for an image forming apparatus includes a translating member, a rotating member, and a rib. The translating member defines a first engagement surface. The translating member moves along an axis that extends in a first direction. The rotating member is coupled to the translating member such that the translating member is both (a) movable relative to the rotating member along the axis and (b) rotatable relative to the rotating member about the axis. The rotating member defines a second engagement surface configured to engage the first engagement surface to regulate movement of the translating member such that a rotational displacement of the translating member about the axis has a corresponding linear displacement of the translating member along the axis. The rib is coupled to the rotating member and configured to reinforce the rotating member in order to resist deformation of the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Kojima
  • Patent number: 10976700
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body device; a detachable unit that is attached to the main body device to perform an image formation on a medium, and is detachable with respect to the main body device; an operation part that allows the detachable unit to be detached from the main body device; and a lock part that locks the operation part in a first state at which the detachable unit is not at an image forming state to perform the image formation, and releases the lock of the operation part in a second state at which the detachable unit is at the image forming state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Udagawa
  • Patent number: 10976694
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge, a first door, and a second door. The first door is movable between a first closed position and a first open position to permit dismounting the cartridge from the main. The second door is movable, independently of the first door, between a second closed position for closing the main assembly and a second opened position for uncovering the first door and for opening the main assembly. The second door is provided with a recess. When the first door is in the first open position, the recess of the second door is capable of accommodating at least a part of the first door. The cartridge is capable of being inserted into the main assembly while sliding on the second door and then on the first door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taisuke Hyodo, Joji Goto, Takashi Kuwata
  • Patent number: 10969721
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, which is detachably mounted to the image forming apparatus. The image forming unit includes a storage unit configured to store a computer program for forming an image on the sheet; a detector configured to detect whether the image forming unit and the controller are connected to each other; a door to be opened to draw out the image forming unit from the image forming apparatus; and a locking unit configured to switch between a locked state and an unlocked state. The controller is configured to rewrite the computer program stored in the storage unit under a state in which the locking unit is in the locked state and the detector detects the connection between the image forming unit and the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Honda
  • Patent number: 10972621
    Abstract: A printer includes: a restriction unit that is in a rotation allowing state in which opening of a scanner unit from a closed state is allowed when a panel unit is in a first posture and is in a restriction state in which opening of the scanner unit from the closed state is restricted when the panel unit is tilted from the first posture to a second posture; and a posture holding unit that is in a tiltable state in which the posture of the panel unit is tilted from the first posture to the second posture when the scanner unit is in a closed state and is in a posture holding state in which the posture of the panel unit is held in the first posture when the scanner unit is rotated from the closed state in an opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Miyamoto, Kensuke Tamai, Kazunori Takabayashi, Yoshiyuki Okazawa, Yoshikazu Nagai
  • Patent number: 10962919
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cover member that covers part of a main body frame; a first turn support member having: one end turnably supported by a first shaft provided at the main body frame, the first shaft extending horizontally; and another end turnably supported by a second shaft provided at the cover member, the second shaft extending horizontally; and a second turn support member having: one end turnably supported by a third shaft provided below the first shaft of the main body frame, the third shaft extending horizontally; and another end turnably supported by a fourth shaft provided at the cover member, the fourth shaft extending horizontally, wherein in a closed state where the cover member covers the main body frame, the fourth shaft is located below the third shaft, and in a fully open state, the fourth shaft is located above the third shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Naoki Kataoka, Tetsuya Onuki
  • Patent number: 10928748
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a drum drive input member; a developing cartridge configured to be movably mounted to the drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising a developing roller disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum and a developing drive input member; a drum drive transmission member configured to engage with the drum drive input member and configured to transmit drum driving force to the drum drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the drum drive input member within a predetermined range; and a developing drive transmission member configured to engage with the developing drive input member and configured to transmit developing driving force to the developing drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the developing drive input member within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Atsuhisa Nakashima
  • Patent number: 10895818
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a third link portion which is rotatably connected to said first link portion at a position between said first connecting portion and said first moving portion so that said first moving portion and said second moving portion are moved toward said drum unit by rotation of said first link portion about said first connecting portion as a rotation shaft and by rotation of said second link portion about said second connecting portion as a rotation shaft in interrelation with slide of said slidable portion, and which is rotatable relative to the apparatus main assembly. The third link portion is out of contact with the optical print head at a portion corresponding to an end portion on the optical print head side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Otsubo, Yasuaki Otoguro, Yuta Okada, Daisuke Aruga, Hitoshi Iwai, Shinichiro Hosoi, Yuichiro Imai, Toshiki Momoka, Saimon Gokyu, Takehiro Ishidate
  • Patent number: 10890875
    Abstract: A connecting member includes a tube portion, a bottom portion provided at an end of the tube portion, an opening provided at the other end of the tube portion, two resilient arms spacedly extending from the bottom portion toward the opening in a way that each of the resilient arms is distanced from an inner wall surface of the tube portion, and two pin holes disposed in the two resilient arms, respectively. The connecting member is adapted to be coupled with a rotational force receiving member in a way that the rotational force receiving member is freely swingable within an angle range relative to the connecting member without being detached from the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL PLASTIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yi-Chia Wu
  • Patent number: 10884373
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a developing cartridge including a developing roller, a main assembly. The main assembly includes a first opening, a second opening, a first openable member, a second openable member, a pressing member, a first pressing releasing member for releasing the developing cartridge from the pressing member in a state in which the second openable member is in a second closed position, in interrelation with movement of the first openable member from a first closed position to a first open position, and a second pressing releasing member for releasing the pressing the developing cartridge from the pressing member in interrelation of movement of the second openable member from a second closed position to a second open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10859964
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer, a drum cartridge, an exposure device, a developing cartridge, and a fixing device. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaning member, and a waste toner conveying pipe. The drum cartridge is mountable to the drawer. The developing cartridge includes a toner container and a waste toner container, and is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The toner container includes a developing roller. The cleaning member is located between the photosensitive drum and the fixing device in a vertical direction in a state where the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located at an inner position. The toner container is swingably coupled to the waste toner container, thereby being capable of moving relative to the photosensitive drum in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10845737
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance device configured to transport a conveyed object, a conveyance guide configured to guide the conveyed object to the conveyance device, a housing including a shaft support. The conveyance guide includes a rotation shaft that includes a non-circular shaft portion. The shaft support has a circular hole part and a guide slot. The circular hole part is configured to rotatably support the rotation shaft, and the rotation shaft is inserted into the shaft support through the guide slot while a flat surface of the non-circular shaft portion slides along a guide surface of the guide slot. The image forming apparatus further includes a restrictor configured to restrict movement of the rotation shaft inserted into the circular hole part of the shaft support in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of the rotation shaft into the shaft support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Takai
  • Patent number: 10845751
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a movable optical print head including a light emitting element and a lens array, and a portion-to-be-contacted. The photosensitive drum and a light emergent surface of the lens array are spaced from each other to permit insertion of a cleaning member therebetween from an outside of the main assembly. The portion-to-be-contacted provided in a main assembly and configured to be contacted by the cleaning member to prevent further insertion of said cleaning member after said cleaning member cleans said light emergent surface by sliding on the light emergent surface from one end side toward the other end side of the light emergent surface with respect to a longitudinal direction of said lens array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichiro Hosoi, Hitoshi Iwai, Yuya Tamura, Takehiro Ishidate, Toshiki Momoka, Daisuke Aruga
  • Patent number: 10838352
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; photosensitive drums juxtaposed with each other in a juxtaposed direction; developing units each including a developing roller; an opening-closing member; and a first contacting-separating member. The opening-closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position. The first contacting-separating member is provided at the opening-closing member and movable relative to the casing in the juxtaposed direction for moving, in a state where the opening-closing member is at the closed position, the developing roller between an adjacent position adjacent to or in contact with the corresponding photosensitive drums and a separated position spaced apart from the corresponding photosensitive drums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10831147
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a drum unit including a photosensitive drum; an exposure head configured to expose the photosensitive drum to light; a developing cartridge configured to store developer therein; and a support member configured to support the exposure head and the developing cartridge. The support member is pivotally movable between an exposure position and a separation position. The exposure head is able to expose the photosensitive drum to light at the exposure position. The exposure head is positioned away from the photosensitive drum when the support member is at the separation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiya Tomatsu
  • Patent number: 10824089
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a cover 558 rotates from an open position to a closed position, so that an urging portion 561 urges a first portion-to-be-urged 566, and a slidable portion 525 moves from a rear side toward a front side. By this, an optical print head 105 moves from a retracted position toward an exposure position. Thereafter, when the cover 558 further rotates, the urging portion 561 moves from the first portion-to-be-urged 566 onto a second portion-to-be-urged 567 and moves on the second portion-to-be-urged 567. By this, the slidable portion 525 and link portions 651-654 are kept in a rest state without being moved with rotation of the cover 558.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Ishidate, Hitoshi Iwai, Yuya Tamura, Toshiki Momoka
  • Patent number: 10802438
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body casing, a pressing member, a process cartridge, and a drawer. The body casing includes a positioning member. The pressing member is disposed inside the body casing. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum. The drawer is configured to support the process cartridge and to move, in a sliding direction orthogonal to an axis direction of the photosensitive drum, between an inside position that is a position inside the body casing and an outside position that is a position outside the body casing. The process cartridge includes an engagement portion and a spring. The engagement portion is configured to be positioned by the positioning member. The spring is configured to be pressed by the pressing member such that the engagement portion is pressed toward the positioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10795307
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment may include: an apparatus body; a first cover attached to the apparatus body to open and close a first opening of the apparatus body; a second cover attached to the apparatus body to open and close a second opening of the apparatus body; an image forming section in the apparatus body configured to form a latent image and including a first contact part; a second contact part provided to the apparatus body and opposed to the first contact part; a withdrawing mechanism that moves along with movement of the first cover to bring the second contact part into contact with and separated away from the first contact part; and a withdrawal holding mechanism that moves along with movement of the second cover and holds the separation of the second contact part from the first contact part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Saito
  • Patent number: 10747137
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print head to expose a drum to light, a first supporting unit supporting the print head and to move to mounting and extraction positions, a cable to supply a print head driving signal, an abutting portion, and a second supporting unit having a holding unit to hold the cable and to support the first supporting member. When the print head moves to the mounting position from the extraction position in a state where the cable is connected to the print head, the abutting portion abuts on the cable in one area between a holding unit held portion and a print head connected portion and moves the one area in a direction in which the first supporting unit moves to the mounting position to form in the one area a curved area that is warped and curved toward the mounting position from the extraction position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Ishidate, Daisuke Aruga, Toshiki Momoka
  • Patent number: 10739693
    Abstract: Provided are a first seating face and a second seating face, to which a lower side of a holding member of an optical print head being moved from an exposure position toward a retracted position by a movement mechanism strikes in the direction of movement thereof. A light emission face of a lens array of the holding member that has abutted the first seating face and second seating face is thereby positioned on a movement path of a rubbing portion provided on a cleaning member that is inserted from an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Aruga, Yasuaki Otoguro, Yuta Okada, Hitoshi Iwai, Shinichiro Hosoi, Yuichiro Imai, Toshiki Momoka, Yoshitaka Otsubo, Saimon Gokyu, Takehiro Ishidate
  • Patent number: 10723153
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a stacking unit, a print head having an ejection opening surface located vertically above the stacking unit, and a platen that supports a back side of a print medium at an angle greater than 40° and less than 50° with respect to a horizontal direction. A discharging unit is located vertically above the print head, and a print medium subjected to printing by the print head is discharged onto the discharging unit. A conveying unit conveys a print medium, subjected to printing by the print head, vertically upward toward the discharging unit. In addition, the ejection opening surface faces the platen in a case in which the inkjet printing apparatus is in a printing state, and faces downward with respect to a direction of gravity in a case in which the inkjet printing apparatus is in a standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuyo Ohashi, Yasuyuki Takanaka, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Seiji Ogasawara, Noriko Sato, Akira Kida, Noboru Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 10719048
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an image forming apparatus for accommodating photosensitive assembly having first assembly shaft. The image forming apparatus includes casing, fixing mechanism and cover plate. The casing has first guide groove, and the first assembly shaft is configured to be slidably disposed in the first guide groove. The fixing mechanism is movably mounted on the casing so as to be movable between a blocking state and a releasing state. The cover plate is movably connected the casing so as to be movable between an opened position and a closed position. When the cover plate is moved to the closed position, the cover plate forces the fixing mechanism to move to the blocking state to block the first guide groove and cover a bottom surface of the first guide groove so as to retain the first assembly shaft of the photosensitive assembly between the fixing mechanism and the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: AVISION INC.
    Inventor: Min-Tung Huang
  • Patent number: 10671014
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a drum frame detachably attached to the main casing and including a photosensitive drum, a developing device supporting structure movable between a first position close to the photosensitive drum and a second position farther from the photosensitive drum, and a developing device supported by the developing device supporting structure and including a guided portion. The developing device supporting structure has a guide groove at an inner surface. The developing device is configured to be attached to or detached from the developing device supporting structure by the guided portion being guided along the guide groove. When the developing device supporting structure is in the first position, the developing device is attached to the developing device support structure, and when the developing device supporting structure is in the second position, the developing device is detachable from the developing device supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10671011
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; a cover; a locked portion provided at one of the casing and the cover; and a locking portion provided at remaining one of the casing and the cover. The locking portion includes: a first pivot member; a second pivot member spaced apart from the first pivot member; and a third pivot member. Each of the first pivot member and the second pivot member is pivotally movable between an engaging position and a release position about a first axis. The third pivot member is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position about a second axis. Pivotal movement of at least one of the first pivot member, the second pivot member, and the third pivot member causes pivotal movement of the remaining of the first pivot member, the second pivot member, and the third pivot member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Saito, Yusuke Ikegami