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: 11378909Abstract: 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: March 15, 2021Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazutaka Sueshige, Tatsuro Harada, Takayuki Yada, Akinobu Hirayama
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Patent number: 11353821Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a discharge opening for permitting discharge of toner removed from the photosensitive drum to outside of the cartridge. The cartridge also includes a coupling member provided adjacent to the discharge opening and configured to output a rotational force, with the coupling member being movable relative to the photosensitive drum between (i) a first position and (ii) a second position retracted from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 11320780Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a discharge opening for permitting discharge of toner removed from the photosensitive drum to outside of the cartridge. The cartridge also includes a coupling member provided adjacent to the discharge opening and configured to output a rotational force, with the coupling member being movable relative to the photosensitive drum between (i) a first position and (ii) a second position retracted from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 11204582Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum; a discharging path for permitting movement of a developer removed from the drum, the discharging path including a developer discharge opening and a movable portion through which the developer is movable and which is movable between a retracted position in an upstream side with respect to a developer moving direction through the discharge opening and a advanced position in a downstream side with respect to the developer moving direction; and a sealing portion for closing the discharging path by contacting the movable portion at a position different from that of the discharge opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Publication number: 20210216034Abstract: 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: March 15, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Kazutaka Sueshige, Tatsuro Harada, Takayuki Yada, Akinobu Hirayama
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Patent number: 11042117Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 11036179Abstract: A cartridge comprises a frame including a chamber, a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, a first coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum such that a rotational force can be transmitted from the first coupling member to the photosensitive drum, and a second coupling member provided adjacent to an opening in the cartridge. The chamber is in fluid communication with the opening, with the second coupling member forming at least a part of the passageway through which toner can move from the chamber to the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 10983475Abstract: 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: February 24, 2020Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazutaka Sueshige, Tatsuro Harada, Takayuki Yada, Akinobu Hirayama
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Patent number: 10976697Abstract: A cartridge comprises a frame including a chamber, a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, a first coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum such that a rotational force can be transmitted from the first coupling member to the photosensitive drum, and a second coupling member provided adjacent to an opening in the cartridge. The chamber is in fluid communication with the opening, with the second coupling member forming at least a part of the passageway through which toner can move from the chamber to the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 10976698Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 10969734Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 10969733Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 10962926Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 10955795Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 10935927Abstract: A cartridge comprises a frame including a chamber, a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, a first coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum such that a rotational force can be transmitted from the first coupling member to the photosensitive drum, and a second coupling member provided adjacent to an opening in the cartridge. The chamber is in fluid communication with the opening, with the second coupling member forming at least a part of the passageway through which toner can move from the chamber to the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Publication number: 20210041829Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a discharge opening for permitting discharge of toner removed from the photosensitive drum to outside of the cartridge. The cartridge also includes a coupling member provided adjacent to the discharge opening and configured to output a rotational force, with the coupling member being movable relative to the photosensitive drum between (i) a first position and (ii) a second position retracted from the first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 10884374Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 10831150Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a discharge opening for discharging a developer removed from the photosensitive member, toward a loosening member provided in the main assembly of a apparatus; a vibration imparting member for imparting vibration to the loosening member. The vibration imparting member is movable between a first position for imparting the vibration to the loosening member and a second position retracted from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Publication number: 20200333744Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum; a discharging path for permitting movement of a developer removed from the drum, the discharging path including a developer discharge opening and a movable portion through which the developer is movable and which is movable between a retracted position in an upstream side with respect to a developer moving direction through the discharge opening and a advanced position in a downstream side with respect to the developer moving direction; and a sealing portion for closing the discharging path by contacting the movable portion at a position different from that of the discharge opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
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Publication number: 20200301352Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, the movable member movable relative to the photosensitive drum to control an inclination angle of a drive transmission member. The movable member is movable between a first position for reducing an inclination angle of the drive transmission member relative to the photosensitive drum and a second position retracted from the first position. By this, driving connection can be smoothly carried out.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Akihiro Fujiwara, Akinobu Hirayama, Daisuke Makiguchi, Hiroaki Nosho, Takuro Kanno, Goshi Ozaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe