Patents Examined by Sandra Brase
  • Patent number: 12687799
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a toner and a developing roller. In the toner, a cohesion cluster containing fine silica particles and a binder component is present on surfaces of toner particles. Ratios of toner particles having the cohesion cluster before and after treatments with ultrasonic waves under specific conditions in terms of number % are within predetermined ranges. The developing roller has an Asker C hardness of 56 degrees or more and 75 degrees or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Uno, Shohei Kototani, Dai Nozaki, Kenji Ookubo
  • Patent number: 12687810
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a scanning device, and a controller. The image forming device forms a first test image and forms a second test image. The scanning device scans the first test image with a first amount of emitted light corresponding to a first input value and scans the second test image with a second amount of emitted light corresponding to a second input value. The controller selectively executes any one of a first correction process, a second correction process, or a third correction process on the basis of an event change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2025
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Suguru Kurita, Satoshi Araki
  • Patent number: 12681422
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable, the developer container including an accommodating portion, and a supporting portion, wherein the developer container includes a projection portion that is provided at one end portion thereof in the rotation axis direction of the developer bearing member and projects toward the supporting portion more than a center portion of the developer container in a crossing direction crossing the rotation axis direction, the projection portion communicates with the accommodating portion and includes, at a distal end portion thereof, an attachment portion configured such that the replenishment container is attachable thereto in a state of being exposed to the outside of the apparatus, and a replenishment port for replenishing the accommodating portion with developer from the replenishment container is defined in the attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Wada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Kenji Matsuzaka, Takao Sameshima, Tomio Noguchi, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 12669761
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drum cartridge attachable to an image forming apparatus that includes a casing, a drum shaft bearing, a photosensitive drum rotatably supported by the drum shaft bearing, a charging roller for charging the photosensitive drum, a charging roller bearing, a charging roller urging member, a cleaning roller for cleaning the charging roller, a cleaning roller bearing, and a cleaning roller urging member. The charging roller is regulated in a circumferential direction by the charging roller bearing. The cleaning roller is regulated in a circumferential direction by the charging roller bearing. The charging roller bearing includes a first portion for regulating the cleaning roller bearing, and a second portion for regulating the cleaning roller bearing. The cleaning roller includes a regulation portion for regulating the cleaning roller bearing in a rotation shaft axis direction of the cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Nawa, Michihiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 12663737
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a photosensitive drum, an exposure head and a control unit. The control unit can execute a first mode and a second mode in which the drum is rotated at a second rotational speed that is a/b times of the first rotational speed of the first mode. In exposure of the second mode, the control unit controls a cycle of a light emission timing at a cycle of b/a times of a cycle of the first mode, controls the light-emitting units to cause, among n rows, the light-emitting units of (n×((d?c)/d)) rows to not emit light, and sets a drive current so that an amount of light matches (a×d)/(b×c) times of the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2025
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 12656727
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a development cartridge is movable between a contact position in which a development roller is in contact with a photosensitive drum and a separate position in which the development roller is separate from the photosensitive drum, by a cam and a cam follower that is caused to slide in directions parallel to a rotation axis of the cam between a push position in which the development cartridge is pushed by the cam and positioned in the separate position and a no-push position in which the development cartridge is in the contact position. The cam follower includes a first shaft and a contact arm extending from the first shaft and configured to contact a cam surface of the cam. A projection of the first shaft onto the first cam in a direction parallel to the rotation axis is positioned inside a contour of the first cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Ikegami, Hiroshi Nakano, Shuji Ota, Shoichiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 12656726
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a housing, a developing roller, a shaft, a first cam, and an elastic member. The housing has a first outer surface at one end portion of the housing in a first direction. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction. The shaft is along a second axis extending in the first direction. The shaft is movable in the first direction relative to both the housing and the developing roller. The first cam is at one end portion of the shaft in the first direction. The first cam is movable in the first direction together with the shaft. The elastic member is positioned outward of the shaft in a radial direction of the shaft. The elastic member is positioned between the first outer surface and the first cam in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuwen Wang
  • Patent number: 12656732
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a first unit dismountable from the apparatus main body, a second unit dismountable from the first unit, and a protective member. The first unit includes a photosensitive member, a transfer unit, and a first unit memory section. The second unit includes a development roller, a storage section that stores a developer, and a second unit memory section. The apparatus main body includes a first main body contact that is electrically connectable to the first unit memory section and a second main body contact that is electrically connectable to the second unit memory section. When the image forming apparatus is packed, the first unit and the second unit are mounted to the apparatus main body with the second unit mounted to the first unit and with the protective member mounted to the first unit and the second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Matsuda, Ken Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 12652358
    Abstract: A supporting member supports an image reading device. The image reading device is movable between a first position at which a front side of the image reading device is close to an image forming unit and a second position at which a front side of the image reading device is spaced apart from the image forming unit. A first end portion of an operation unit protrudes outward of the image forming unit from one side surface. A second end portion of the operation unit that opposes the first end portion is positioned on an inner side of the image forming unit relative to one side surface of the image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirofumi Hori
  • Patent number: 12650659
    Abstract: A sheet-shaped sealing member to be pulled out from a front side of the sheet-shaped sealing member in a pull-out direction that is a longitudinal direction of the sheet-shaped sealing member includes a sealing portion and a cutout portion. The sealing portion seals a sealed portion. The cutout portion is cut out to be cantilevered with a position different from the sealing portion as a root portion. The cutout portion has a free end as a fixing portion to be removably fixed to the sealed portion or a fixed portion of a housing in which the sheet-shaped sealing member is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2025
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kazuki Matsumoto, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Osamu Saito
  • Patent number: 12645166
    Abstract: A conductive member includes a substrate; an elastic layer provided on the substrate; and a surface layer provided on the elastic layer, in which the surface layer has a sea/island structure that consists of a sea portion containing a first resin and an island portion containing a second resin, a conductive agent is unevenly distributed in an interface between the sea portion and the island portion, in observation of a cross section of the surface layer, a ratio A of a total area of the island portions in a region X from a surface of the surface layer to a depth that is 10% of a film thickness is 40% or more and 80% or less, a linked island portion where two or more of the island portions are linked is present in the region X, and a ratio B of a total area of the linked island portions to the total area of the island portions is 50% or more and 100% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kenta Yamakoshi, Yukimi Kawabata
  • Patent number: 12631987
    Abstract: In the case that a developer supply container is provided with a feeding portion for feeding a developer by receiving a rotational force and a pump portion for discharging the developer by reciprocation, and the rotational force and a reciprocating force are received from a main assembly side of an image forming apparatus, there is a liability that a driving connection is not properly established between a portion of the developer supply container for receiving the reciprocating force and a portion of the main assembly side for applying the reciprocating force. The developer supply container is provided with a drive converting mechanism for converting the rotational force received from the main assembly side to a force for operating a volume changing type pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 12631996
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a drive source, an electromagnetic clutch, and circuitry. The developing device includes a developer and a rotator to convey or stir the developer. The drive source generates a driving force to drive the rotator. The electromagnetic clutch transmits the driving force of the drive source to the rotator of the developing device. The circuitry controls current to be supplied to the electromagnetic clutch and changes a value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch in accordance with a fluidity of the developer in the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 12625464
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a conductive part, a process cartridge, and a process cartridge set. The conductive part includes an electrical receiving portion; an electrical output portion; and an electrical transfer portion. The electrical transfer portion is electrically connected to the electrical receiving portion, the electrical output portion and an electrical conduction portion respectively; and configured to transfer power received by the electrical receiving portion to the electrical output portion and the electrical conduction portion. When the conductive part is configured to conduct electricity to the process cartridge, the electrical receiving portion is electrically connected to a power supply at an outside of current process cartridge to receive a first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: Zhuhai Pantum Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhe Shao, Hongjian Yang, Hongjie Yu, Xiangchao Xia
  • Patent number: 12619189
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image bearing member, and a casing on which a discharge port is formed, the casing including a first frame, a second frame disposed below the first frame in a vertical direction, a side cover, and a top cover, the first frame including a side plate that supports an end, in a longitudinal direction, of the image bearing member. At least one of the top cover and the first frame includes a first pillar portion. The second frame includes a second pillar portion. The side cover includes a third pillar portion disposed between the first pillar portion and the second pillar portion in the vertical direction, the third pillar portion being provided at a position at least partially overlapping with the first pillar portion and the second pillar portion when viewed in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsuyuki Yuzawa
  • Patent number: 12613485
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drum unit; a fixing unit including a fixing member and a pressing member; a fixing pressure release unit disposed below the fixing unit; a body frame including a lateral support plate and a partition plate; a cooling fan; a first cooling duct; and a shifting mechanism. The first cooling duct is provided on an outside of the lateral support plate. The lateral support plate is provided with an air outlet. The fixing pressure release unit includes a nip pressure adjustment gear and a rotary gear. The fixing unit performs a switching behavior of switching a state of the fixing member and the pressing member between a pressed state and a released state by a rotary drive force supplied from the rotary gear to the nip pressure adjustment gear. The shifting mechanism shifts the fixing unit vertically upward in conjunction with the switching behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2025
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Watatani, Masakazu Uehara
  • Patent number: 12613491
    Abstract: A cartridge mountable on an image forming apparatus, includes a first unit, and a second unit including a first electrical component, a second electrical component, a first cable portion electrically connected to the first electrical component, a second cable portion electrically connected to the second electrical component, a first member including a first guide portion that guides the first cable portion, and a second member including a second guide portion that guides the second cable portion, the second unit being mountable on the first unit, in which in a state that the second unit is mounted on the first unit, the first member is mounted on a first surface of the first unit, and the second member is mounted on a second surface intersecting the first surface of the first unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Katayama
  • Patent number: 12607951
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum, and a developing housing configured to store the toner therein. The developing housing includes a first housing supporting the developing roller, a second housing having an inlet port, and a gasket providing a sealing between the first housing and the second housing. The first housing is movable relative to the photosensitive drum. The second housing is immovable relative to the photosensitive drum. The gasket is elastically deformable in response to movement of the first housing relative to the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 12607957
    Abstract: A support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical body having an inner diameter at each of both end parts in an axial direction larger than an inner diameter at a central part in the axial direction, the cylindrical body having a stepped part between the inner diameter at each of the both end parts in the axial direction and the inner diameter at the central part in the axial direction, wherein a coaxiality C between an outer diameter of the cylindrical body and the inner diameter at the central part in the axial direction is 0.3 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 12602006
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a first unit including a photosensitive member and a first frame; a second unit including a developing member and a second frame; a holding portion movable between a first position for holding the second unit at the separated position and a second position for holding the second unit at the developing position; a movable member; and an urging portion. the movable member is movable to a contact force receiving position, a separating force receiving position separating force receiving portion, a first retracted position, and a second retracted position. The urging portion urges the movable member placed at the first retracted position in a direction of moving the movable member toward the contact force receiving position, and urges the movable member placed at the second retracted position in a direction of moving the movable member toward the separating force receiving position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Koishi, Shinjiro Toba, Takeo Kawanami, Shinichi Nishida, Yuichi Fukui, Yasuyuki Egami, Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe