Patents by Inventor Akira Yoshimura

Akira Yoshimura 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).

  • Patent number: 8563715
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a prophylactic/therapeutic agent against, for example, nerve diseases and the like such as ischemic brain disease and neurodegenerative disease, or a prophylactic/therapeutic agent against diseases against which antioxidant action is effective, as a cell protecting agent, in particular as an inhibitor of brain cell damage or brain cell death.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Zenyaku Kogyo Kabushikikaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Nagata, Toshiaki Suzuki, Akira Yoshimura, Naoto Tadano, Toshiyuki Matsuno, Hideki Satoh, Kenichi Saitoh, Soichi Ohta
  • Publication number: 20130266348
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a transfer rotary member for forming a primary transfer portion (N) between a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt. The transfer rotary member includes multiple rotary members whose diameters are different, into which the transfer rotary member is divided in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer rotary member is arranged so as to contact a surface of the intermediate transfer belt on a side opposite to a surface with which multiple photosensitive drums come into contact at the primary transfer portions (N), on a downstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt with respect to a contact portion between the intermediate transfer belt and each photosensitive drum, the intermediate transfer belt being arranged so as to protrude on the photosensitive drum side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Masafumi Maeda, Takeo Kawanami
  • Publication number: 20130266336
    Abstract: The intermediate transfer unit removably mounted to an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, includes a contact roller is disposed so as to come into contact with an intermediate transfer belt correspondingly to a photosensitive drum, an opposing member, and a voltage maintaining element which is connected to the opposing member and the contact roller. The number of electric contacts between the intermediate transfer unit and the apparatus main body is decreased so that the apparatus can be downsized, and its cost can be lowered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Maeda, Takeo Kawanami, Akira Yoshimura, Shinji Katagiri, Taro Minobe
  • Publication number: 20130243481
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum frame, a movable developing frame taking a position where the roller contacts the drum, and a force receiver having first and second force receivers for receiving first and second external forces. The second force receiver moves relative to the developing frame. The second force receiver takes a stand-by position retracted from an operating position when the first force receiver receives the first external force, and moves from the stand-by to the operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position. The distance the second force receiver moves from the stand-by to the operating position is larger than the distance the first force receiver moves by the first external force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Akira Yoshimura, Susumu Nittani
  • Patent number: 8472838
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge with an image bearing member and charging device for charging a surface of the image bearing member. The apparatus further includes a rotary supporting a plurality of developing devices each having a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member, with the rotary being swingably mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus through a supporting member and being rotatable, relative to the supporting member, to bring the developing device to a developing position for developing the electrostatic latent image. A spacer member is provided for spacing between the charging device and the surface of the image bearing member, the spacer member being mounted between the image bearing member and the charging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Numata, Akira Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8417144
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a tray, which is able to be drawn out of the apparatus and on which a plurality of cartridges of different sizes can be mounted. A cartridge, being the largest in size among a plurality of process cartridges, is detachably arranged at a location at which it is first exposed to outside when a cartridge tray is drawn out. A developer storage portion of the largest cartridge has the largest capacity and stores a developer of a black color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Numagami, Masatomo Tsuzuki, Masaki Kakitani, Akira Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8388730
    Abstract: A process of leaching gold comprising the steps of: a) leaching copper from copper sulfide ore material that contains gold or contains silicate ore containing gold until the copper grade is reduced to 7.9 wt % or less; b) mixing the resulting material having a copper grade of 7.9 wt % or less with a gold leaching solution selected from the group consisting of a first solution containing chloride ions and ferric ions, and a second solution containing chloride ions and iron ions, the iron ions having been oxidized to trivalent ferric ions by air bubbled into the second solution; c) adjusting the pH of the gold leaching solution to 1.9 or less with stirring to leach at least gold in the material into the gold leaching solution by the oxidative activity of the ferric ions contained in the gold leaching solution, wherein the concentration of gold is reduced by selectively removing gold from part or all of the gold leaching solution during gold leaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Abe, Hiroshi Hosaka, Kazuaki Takebayashi, Yasunari Ishiguro, Akira Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8369743
    Abstract: A process cartridge is provided for detachably mounting to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum unit containing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a developing unit which contains the developing roller and which is movable relative to the drum unit such that developing roller is movable between a contact position in which the developing roller is contacted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spaced position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kazunari Murayama, Akira Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20120237252
    Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira YOSHIMURA, Kazunari MURAYAMA, Susumu NITTANI, Atsushi NUMAGAMI
  • Publication number: 20120237280
    Abstract: A sheet detecting apparatus including: a sheet detecting member having a plurality of abutment surfaces in a peripheral direction thereof, the sheet detecting member being rotated by a conveyed sheet abutting against one of the plurality of abutment surfaces; a detection portion which operates in association with the sheet detecting member; a sensor which generates a signal based on a position of the detection portion; and an urging portion which generates an urging force for positioning the one of the plurality of abutment surfaces of the sheet detecting member in a waiting position in which the leading edge of a sheet conveyed by a conveying portion abuts against the one of the plurality of abutment surfaces, and thereafter the urging portion switching the urging force to an urging force for positioning, in the waiting position, another one of the plurality of abutment surfaces against which a succeeding sheet abuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Kenji Watanabe, Minoru Kawanishi, Motohiro Furusawa, Yohei Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120201567
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum frame, a movable developing frame taking a position where the roller contacts the drum, and a force receiver having first and second force receivers for receiving first and second external forces. The second force receiver moves relative to the developing frame. The second force receiver takes a stand-by position retracted from an operating position when the first force receiver receives the first external force, and moves from the stand-by to the operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position. The distance the second force receiver moves from the stand-by to the operating position is larger than the distance the first force receiver moves by the first external force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Akira Yoshimura, Susumu Nittani
  • Patent number: 8213831
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing roller that is movable between a contacting position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spaced position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The apparatus further includes a spacing force receiving portion that is movable between a projected position and a retracted position, and a projecting force receiving portion that receives an external force to move the spacing force receiving portion from the retracted position to the projected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Akira Yoshimura, Susumu Nittani
  • Publication number: 20120148295
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a tray, which is able to be drawn out of the apparatus and on which a plurality of cartridges of different sizes can be mounted. A cartridge, being the largest in size among a plurality of process cartridges, is detachably arranged at a location at which it is first exposed to outside when a cartridge tray is drawn out. A developer storage portion of the largest cartridge has the largest capacity and stores a developer of a black color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Numagami, Masatomo Tsuzuki, Masaki Kakitani, Akira Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8165494
    Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Kazunari Murayama, Susumu Nittani, Atsushi Numagami
  • Patent number: 8150293
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a tray, which is able to be drawn out of the apparatus and on which a plurality of cartridges of different sizes can be mounted. A cartridge, being the largest in size among a plurality of process cartridges, is detachably arranged at a location at which it is first exposed to outside when a cartridge tray is drawn out. A developer storage portion of the largest cartridge has the largest capacity and stores a developer of a black color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Numagami, Masatomo Tsuzuki, Masaki Kakitani, Akira Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20110152519
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a prophylactic/therapeutic agent against, for example, nerve diseases and the like such as ischemic brain disease and neurodegenerative disease, or a prophylactic/therapeutic agent against diseases against which antioxidant action is effective, as a cell protecting agent, in particular as an inhibitor of brain cell damage or brain cell death.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ZENYAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKIKAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Nagata, Toshiaki Suzuki, Akira Yoshimura, Naoto Tadano, Toshiyuki Matsuno, Hideki Satoh, Kenichi Saitoh, Soichi Ohta
  • Publication number: 20110142489
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a cartridge including process means actable on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the process cartridge being detachably mountable relative to the main assembly; an opening, provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridge; an openable member, provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, for openably closing the opening; an exposure device, provided on the openable member, for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive member; the cartridge including a first unit, and a second unit pivotably connected with the first unit; a first positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein the exposure device is provided with a second positioning portion for positioning between the exposure device and the second unit of the cartridge by engagement with the cartridge by closing the openable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Daisuke Takamura
  • Publication number: 20110110682
    Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Kazunari Murayama, Susumu Nittani, Atsushi Numagami
  • Publication number: 20110103826
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes (i) a drum cartridge including an image bearing member and charging device for charging a surface of the image bearing member, the drum cartridge being demountably mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; a rotary supporting a plurality of developing device each having a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member, the rotary being swingably mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus through a supporting member and being rotatable, relative to the supporting member, to bring the developing device to a developing position for developing the electrostatic latent image; (iii) a spacer member for spacing between the charging device and the surface of the image bearing member, the spacer member being mounted between the image bearing member and the charging device; and (iv) a locking member for spacing between th
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Numata, Akira Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20110064459
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing frame supporting the developing roller, the developing frame is movable relative to the drum frame and is capable of taking a contacting position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a force receiving device including a first force receiving portion for receiving a first external force and a second force receiving portion for receiving a second external force, wherein the second force receiving portion is movable relative to the developing frame, wherein the second force receiving portion is placed in a stand-by position retracted from an operating position by the first force receiving portion
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Akira Yoshimura, Susumu Nittani