Patents by Inventor Ayatomo Okino

Ayatomo Okino 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).

  • Publication number: 20240134310
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a developer supply container capable of simplifying a mechanism for displacing a developer receiving portion to connect it with a developer supply container. A developer supply container 1 for supplying a developer through a developer receiving portion 11 displaceably provided in a developer receiving apparatus 8 to which said developer supply container 1 is detachably mountable, said developer supply container 1 includes a developer accommodating portion 2c for accommodating a developer; and an engaging portions 3b2, 3b4, engageable with said developer receiving portion 11, for displacing said developer receiving portion 11 toward said developer supply container 1 with a mounting operation of said developer supply container 1 to establish a connected state between said developer supply container 1 and said developer receiving portion 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Publication number: 20240103400
    Abstract: Provided is a developer replenishing container including: a developer containing part capable of containing a developer; a discharge port through which the developer contained in the developer containing part is discharged; a conveyance part conveying the developer in the developer containing part by rotating; and a displacement part displaceable in conjunction with rotation of the conveyance part in the developer in a vicinity of the discharge port, and including a moving member capable of reciprocating in conjunction with the rotation of the conveyance part and a biasing member which biases the moving member and which is expandable according to movement of the moving member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yomoda, Yusuke Yamada, Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Akihito Kamura
  • Publication number: 20240077814
    Abstract: A developer supply container 1 detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus 201 includes a developer accommodating portion 2 capable of accommodating a developer, a discharge opening 4a for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion 2 toward the developer supplying apparatus 201, a pump portion 3a for effecting a discharging operation through the discharge opening 4a, a communicating portion 4d provided at a position contacting the discharge opening 4a and capable of storing a constant amount of the developer, and a regulating portion 7 capable of taking a developer flow regulating state in which the flow of the developer into the communicating portion 4d and a developer flow non-regulating state in which the entering of the developer is not regulated, the regulating portion 7 taking the developer flow regulating state in a discharging operation of the pump portion 3a, wherein the regulating portion 7 is provided with an air flow path 7g for communicating between
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yomoda, Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Akihito Kamura, Takashi Enokuchi
  • Patent number: 11921441
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer discharging portion that is provided with a discharge passageway. A track is provided at a first side of the developer discharging portion. A shutter is provided with a shutter opening configured to permit discharge of the developer from the discharge passageway, with the shutter including a recessed portion on an outer side of the shutter. The recessed portion includes an inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Ayatomo Okino
  • Publication number: 20240069468
    Abstract: With a mounting operation of a supply container, a supported portion 11b of a developer receiving portion 11 is supported by a receipt supporting portion 30c of a lifting portion 30. With further mounting operation, a shutter sliding portion 30b of the lifting portion 30 slides on a shutter inclined portion 4f of a shutter 4. The developer receiving portion 11 is displaced so as to bring a receiving opening into communication with a discharge opening by operating, using the shutter 4, the lifting portion 30 supporting the supported portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11. By this, a load required for movement of the developer receiving portion 11 is reduced to achieve smooth mounting of the supply container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Tsukasa Mine, Akihito Kamura, Koji Katayama, Masato Yamaoka, Yusuke Oizumi, Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Nobuyuki Yomoda, Keisuke Isobe
  • Patent number: 11906926
    Abstract: A developer supply includes a developer accommodating body and a developer discharging body. A track is positioned at a side of the developer discharging body, with the track including a surface that extends from a first position to a second position. When the developer supply container is oriented with the track and the shutter positioned below a horizontal plane that includes the rotational axis and a discharge passageway through which developer is discharged to outside of the developer supply container is formed at the bottommost side of the developer supply container, the track is positioned between the horizontal plane and a shutter in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the second position is closer to the horizontal plane than the first position is to the horizontal plane, the surface faces upward, and the track extends such that a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis and passing through the track passes through the end of the discharge passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 11860569
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body and a developer discharging body in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body. A track is positioned at a side of the developer discharging body, with the track including a surface that extends from a first position to a second position. When the developer supply container is oriented with the track positioned below a horizontal plane that includes a rotational axis of the developer accommodating body and a discharge passageway through which developer is discharged to outside of the developer supply container is formed at the bottommost side of the developer supply container, the second position is closer to the horizontal plane than the first position is to the horizontal plane, the surface faces upward, and the track extends such that a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis and passing through the track passes through an end of the discharge passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 11852991
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion accommodating developer, and a developer discharging portion in fluid communication with the developer accommodating portion. The developer accommodating portion is rotatable about a rotational axis and relative to the developer discharging portion, with the developer discharging portion being provided with a developer discharge opening at a bottommost side of the developer discharging portion and configured to permit discharging the developer to outside of the developer supply container. A lifter is linearly liftable relative to the developer discharging portion in a direction perpendicular to a horizontal plane that includes the rotational axis when the developer supply container is oriented with the developer discharge opening positioned at a bottom side of the developer discharging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Tsukasa Mine, Akihito Kamura, Koji Katayama, Masato Yamaoka, Yusuke Oizumi, Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Nobuyuki Yomoda, Keisuke Isobe
  • Publication number: 20230408967
    Abstract: A developer supply container is detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus, the developer receiving apparatus including a developer receiving portion provided with a receiving port for receiving a developer and including a portion-to-be-engaged of displacing integrally with the developer receiving portion. The developer supply container includes a discharging portion provided with a shutter opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, and an engaging portion. The engaging portion engages with the portion-to-be-engaged with a mounting operation of the developer supply container to displace the developer receiving portion so as to bring the receiving opening into fluid communication with the shutter opening. The engaging portion includes a curved portion having an angle relative to a mounting direction of the developer supply container, the angle decreasing with approach toward an upstream side in the mounting direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Daijiro Kato, Yusuke Oizumi, Ayatomo Okino
  • Patent number: 11841642
    Abstract: A developer supply container 1 detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus 201 includes a developer accommodating portion 2 capable of accommodating a developer, a discharge opening 4a for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion 2 toward the developer supplying apparatus 201, a pump portion 3a for effecting a discharging operation through the discharge opening 4a, a communicating portion 4d provided at a position contacting the discharge opening 4a and capable of storing a constant amount of the developer, and a regulating portion 7 capable of taking a developer flow regulating state in which the flow of the developer into the communicating portion 4d and a developer flow non-regulating state in which the entering of the developer is not regulated, the regulating portion 7 taking the developer flow regulating state in a discharging operation of the pump portion 3a, wherein the regulating portion 7 is provided with an air flow path 7g for communicating between
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yomoda, Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Akihito Kamura, Takashi Enokuchi
  • Patent number: 11841641
    Abstract: Provided is a developer replenishing container including: a developer containing part capable of containing a developer; a discharge port through which the developer contained in the developer containing part is discharged; a conveyance part conveying the developer in the developer containing part by rotating; and a displacement part displaceable in conjunction with rotation of the conveyance part in the developer in a vicinity of the discharge port, and including a moving member capable of reciprocating in conjunction with the rotation of the conveyance part and a biasing member which biases the moving member and which is expandable according to movement of the moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yomoda, Yusuke Yamada, Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Akihito Kamura
  • Patent number: 11782382
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to accommodate developer, with the developer accommodating portion being provided with a gear portion. The developer supply container also includes a developer discharging body in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer accommodating body being rotatable about a rotational axis thereof relative to the developer discharging body. A track is provided at each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body, each track including a fixed portion fixed on the discharging body and an elastically deformable portion extending from the fixed portion to a free end portion that is displaceable from the discharging body such that the elastically deformable portion intersects a horizontal plane that is parallel to the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Daijiro Kato, Yusuke Oizumi, Ayatomo Okino
  • Patent number: 11762314
    Abstract: A developing device includes a detachably mounted developer supply container configured to supply a developer with compressed air. A developer storage container includes a first opening portion through which the developer is supplied from the developer supply container to the developer storage container with the compressed air, a filter provided on a wall constituting the developer storage container to permit passage of air and restrict passage of the developer, and a stirring member to stir the developer. The developer storage container further includes a second opening portion through which the developer is supplied to a developing portion provided with a developing member. The filter is disposed between the first opening portion and the second opening portion in a rotational axis direction of the stirring member and disposed closer to the second opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20230244155
    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: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 11687027
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer and a developer discharging body in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body. The developer discharging body has a discharge opening configured to form at least a part of a discharge passageway through which developer may be discharged to outside of the developer supply container. A track is positioned at a side of the developer discharging body. A cover is attached to the developer discharging body, with the cover being configured to cover the developer discharging body and the track, with the cover including a front wall that crosses a rotational axis of the developer accommodating body, and with the front wall being provided with a slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 11656560
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a first chamber configured to accommodate toner and a second chamber provided with an opening that is configured to discharge the toner. A feeding portion is configured to feed the toner from the first chamber toward the second chamber. An air flow generating portion is configured to generate an air flow and blow the air flow into the second chamber to thereby discharge the toner to outside of the cartridge through the opening. A rotatable coupling including a projection is configured to receive a rotational force from outside of the cartridge, the rotatable coupling being operatively connected to the feeding portion and the air flow generating portion so as to drive the feeding portion and the air flow generating portion with rotation of the rotatable coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20230144789
    Abstract: A developer supply container 1 is detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a developer receiving portion 11 provided with a receiving port 11a for receiving a developer, a portion-to-be-engaged 11b a displaceable integrally with the developer receiving portion 11. The developer supply container 1 includes an engaging portion 30 and a discharging portion provided with a shutter opening 4j for discharging the developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion. The engaging portion 30 is provided at only one side with respect to a predetermined direction crossing with a mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 in the crossing with a displacing direction of the developer receiving portion 11. The engaging portion 30 engages with the portion-to-be-engaged 11b with a mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to bring the receiving port 11a in the communication with the shutter opening 4j.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Ayatomo Okino
  • Publication number: 20230115524
    Abstract: A developer supply includes a developer accommodating body and a developer discharging body. A track is positioned at a side of the developer discharging body, with the track including a surface that extends from a first position to a second position. When the developer supply container is oriented with the track and the shutter positioned below a horizontal plane that includes the rotational axis and a discharge passageway through which developer is discharged to outside of the developer supply container is formed at the bottommost side of the developer supply container, the track is positioned between the horizontal plane and a shutter in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the second position is closer to the horizontal plane than the first position is to the horizontal plane, the surface faces upward, and the track extends such that a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis and passing through the track passes through the end of the discharge passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Publication number: 20230097912
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body and a developer discharging body in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body. A track is positioned at a side of the developer discharging body, with the track including a surface that extends from a first position to a second position. When the developer supply container is oriented with the track positioned below a horizontal plane that includes a rotational axis of the developer accommodating body and a discharge passageway through which developer is discharged to outside of the developer supply container is formed at the bottommost side of the developer supply container, the second position is closer to the horizontal plane than the first position is to the horizontal plane, the surface faces upward, and the track extends such that a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis and passing through the track passes through an end of the discharge passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 11599042
    Abstract: With a mounting operation of a supply container, a supported portion 11b of a developer receiving portion 11 is supported by a receipt supporting portion 30c of a lifting portion 30. With further mounting operation, a shutter sliding portion 30b of the lifting portion 30 slides on a shutter inclined portion 4f of a shutter 4. The developer receiving portion 11 is displaced so as to bring a receiving opening into communication with a discharge opening by operating, using the shutter 4, the lifting portion 30 supporting the supported portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11. By this, a load required for movement of the developer receiving portion 11 is reduced to achieve smooth mounting of the supply container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Tsukasa Mine, Akihito Kamura, Koji Katayama, Masato Yamaoka, Yusuke Oizumi, Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Nobuyuki Yomoda, Keisuke Isobe