Patents by Inventor Akinobu Hirayama
Akinobu Hirayama 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: 11906927Abstract: [TASK] To further develop prior art technique. [SOLUTION] A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling. the coupling includes a main body and a movable member movable relative to the main body. The movable member includes an engaging portion which is capable of entering between a driving force application member and a braking force application member by the movement relative to the main body. The movable member receives a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum, from the driving force application member and also receives a braking force applying a load against rotation of the photosensitive drum, from the braking force application member.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe, Masanari Morioka, Takeo Kawanami, Yu Fukasawa
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Publication number: 20240036496Abstract: An image forming system includes a toner container and an image forming apparatus to which the toner container is mountable. The toner container includes a projection that includes an inner peripheral surface centered on a central axis of the toner container. When the toner container is oriented in a predetermined direction, the projection has a downward guide surface facing downward and an upward guide surface facing upward. When the toner container is moved downward in a direction of the central axis toward a mounting portion of the image forming apparatus, (i) the downward guide surface is configured to guide a guided member of the image forming apparatus so that the guided member is rotated in a rotational direction about the central axis, and (ii) the upward guide surface is configured to guide the guided member so that the guided member is moved up after the guided member is rotated in the rotational direction by the downward guide surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Goshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Akinobu Hirayama, Toshiki Fujino
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Publication number: 20230384711Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a casing accommodating toner and provided with a toner discharge opening, a fan, a closing member capable of shifting between a closed position and an open position for opening a passage. The toner cartridge also includes a drive receiving member for receiving a driving force from outside of the toner cartridge and for transmitting the driving force toward the fan and the closing member by rotation thereof. The closing member periodically moves between the closed position and the open position by receiving the driving force.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: AKINOBU HIRAYAMA, TOSHIKI FUJINO, TERUHIKO SASAKI, TACHIO KAWAI, DAISUKE ABE
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Patent number: 11822265Abstract: An image forming system includes a toner container and an image forming apparatus to which the toner container is detachably mountable. The image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion to which the toner container is detachably mountable.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2023Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Goshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Akinobu Hirayama, Toshiki Fujino
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Patent number: 11809123Abstract: An image forming unit to be attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes a first cartridge including a driven portion configured to rotate on a first rotational axis; and a second cartridge configured separable from the first cartridge. The second cartridge includes an input portion configured to receive driving force from the apparatus body; and a drive transmission portion configured to rotate on a second rotational axis and to transmit the driving force to the driven portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazutaka Sueshige, Tatsuro Harada, Takayuki Yada, Akinobu Hirayama
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Publication number: 20230205114Abstract: An image forming system includes a toner container and an image forming apparatus to which the toner container is detachably mountable. The image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion to which the toner container is detachably mountable.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Goshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Akinobu Hirayama, Toshiki Fujino
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Publication number: 20230176519Abstract: [SOLUTION] A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling. the coupling includes a main body and a movable member movable relative to the main body. The movable member includes an engaging portion which is capable of entering between a driving force application member and a braking force application member by the movement relative to the main body. The movable member receives a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum, from the driving force application member and also receives a braking force applying a load against rotation of the photosensitive drum, from the braking force application member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2022Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe, Masanari Morioka, Takeo Kawanami, Yu Fukasawa
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Publication number: 20230176496Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a charging member configured to charge the photosensitive member, a first unit including the photosensitive member and the charging member, a developing member configured to deposit toner onto the photosensitive member, and a second unit including the developing member. A holding portion is movably supported by the first unit or the second unit, with the holding portion being configured to restrict a relative position between the first unit and the second unit, the holding portion being movable between a first position for holding the second unit in a spaced position by the first unit and a second position for holding the second unit in a developing position by the first unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe, Shinjiro Toba, Takeo Kawanami, Shinichi Nishida, Yuichi Fukui, Yasuyuki Egami
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Patent number: 11662673Abstract: A toner container includes a toner accommodating body, a nozzle in fluid communication with the toner accommodating body, and a shutter configured to open and close the opening of the nozzle. A projection is positioned at an end portion of the toner container in a direction of the rotational axis, the projection having an inner peripheral surface facing towards the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2022Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Goshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Akinobu Hirayama, Toshiki Fujino
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Patent number: 11640127Abstract: A toner container includes a toner accommodating body, a nozzle in fluid communication with the toner accommodating body, and a shutter configured to open and close the opening of the nozzle. A projection is positioned at an end portion of the toner container in a direction of the rotational axis, the projection having an inner peripheral surface facing towards the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2022Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Goshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Akinobu Hirayama, Toshiki Fujino
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Patent number: 11619908Abstract: A cartridge includes a frame and a photosensitive drum rotatably supported by the frame. An opening is provided in the cartridge, with toner removed from the photosensitive drum being discharged to outside of the cartridge through the opening. A discharging passageway is provided in fluid communication with the opening and through which toner can move to the opening. A coupling member is provided inside the discharging passageway, with the coupling member including a projection at an end of the coupling member, and the coupling member being movable along the discharging passageway between a first position and a second position.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2022Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Publication number: 20230075423Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a casing rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum so as to be capable of transmitting a driving force toward the photosensitive drum. The coupling includes a main body, a movable portion movable relative to the main body of the coupling between a first position and a second position, and a projection configured to move in a circumferential direction of the coupling relative to the main body of the coupling in response to movement of the movable portion from the first position to the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe, Masanari Morioka, Takeo Kawanami, Yu Fukasawa
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Publication number: 20230074264Abstract: [TASK] To further develop prior art technique. [SOLUTION] A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling. the coupling includes a main body and a movable member movable relative to the main body. The movable member includes an engaging portion which is capable of entering between a driving force application member and a braking force application member by the movement relative to the main body. The movable member receives a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum, from the driving force application member and also receives a braking force applying a load against rotation of the photosensitive drum, from the braking force application member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe, Masanari Morioka, Takeo Kawanami, Yu Fukasawa
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Patent number: 11592766Abstract: A toner container includes a toner accommodating body and a nozzle including an opening configured to form a part of a discharge passageway through which toner may be discharged to outside of the toner container. A shutter is configured to open and close the opening of the nozzle, with the shutter being rotatable about a rotational axis between a first position in which the shutter closes the opening of the nozzle and a second position in which an opening of the shutter aligns with the opening of the nozzle to form the discharge passageway. A projection is positioned at an end portion of the toner container, with the projection including a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2022Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Goshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Akinobu Hirayama, Toshiki Fujino
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Patent number: 11579564Abstract: A cartridge includes a frame and a photosensitive drum rotatably supported by the frame. An opening is provided in the cartridge, with toner removed from the photosensitive drum being discharged to outside of the cartridge through the opening. A discharging passageway is provided in fluid communication with the opening and through which toner can move to the opening. A coupling member is provided inside the discharging passageway, with the coupling member including a projection at an end of the coupling member, and the coupling member being movable along the discharging passageway between a first position and a second position.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2022Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Publication number: 20230032591Abstract: A photosensitive member unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a first main assembly side helical gear portion and a second main assembly side helical gear portion which are coaxially rotatable, the photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member rotatable about a rotational axis thereof; a first unit side helical gear portion for meshing engagement with the first main assembly side helical gear portion; and a second unit side helical gear portion for meshing engagement with the second main assembly side helical gear portion, wherein a twisting direction of a tooth of the second unit side helical gear portion is the same as the twisting direction of a tooth of first unit side helical gear portion, wherein a helix angle of the tooth of the second unit side helical gear portion is larger than a helix angle of the tooth of the first unit side helical gear portion, and wherein the first unit side helical gear portion and the seType: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Makoto Hayashida, Takatoshi Hamada, Yusuke Niikawa, Akinobu Hirayama, Toshiki Fujino, Tachio Kawai, Teruhiko Sasaki
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Publication number: 20230017354Abstract: A toner container includes a toner accommodating body and a nozzle including an opening configured to form a part of a discharge passageway through which toner may be discharged to outside of the toner container. A shutter is configured to open and close the opening of the nozzle, with the shutter being rotatable about a rotational axis between a first position in which the shutter closes the opening of the nozzle and a second position in which an opening of the shutter aligns with the opening of the nozzle to form the discharge passageway. A projection is positioned at an end portion of the toner container, with the projection including a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Goshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Akinobu Hirayama, Toshiki Fujino
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Publication number: 20220413414Abstract: A toner container includes a toner accommodating body, a nozzle in fluid communication with the toner accommodating body, and a shutter configured to open and close the opening of the nozzle. A projection is positioned at an end portion of the toner container in a direction of the rotational axis, the projection having an inner peripheral surface facing towards the rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Goshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Akinobu Hirayama, Toshiki Fujino
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Publication number: 20220283535Abstract: An image forming unit to be attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes a first cartridge including a driven portion configured to rotate on a first rotational axis; and a second cartridge configured separable from the first cartridge. The second cartridge includes an input portion configured to receive driving force from the apparatus body; and a drive transmission portion configured to rotate on a second rotational axis and to transmit the driving force to the driven portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Kazutaka Sueshige, Tatsuro Harada, Takayuki Yada, Akinobu Hirayama
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Publication number: 20220236691Abstract: A cartridge includes a frame and a photosensitive drum rotatably supported by the frame. An opening is provided in the cartridge, with toner removed from the photosensitive drum being discharged to outside of the cartridge through the opening. A discharging passageway is provided in fluid communication with the opening and through which toner can move to the opening. A coupling member is provided inside the discharging passageway, with the coupling member including a projection at an end of the coupling member, and the coupling member being movable along the discharging passageway between a first position and a second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2022Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi