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: 20210356906
    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: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Daijiro Kato, Yusuke Oizumi, Ayatomo Okino
  • Patent number: 11156952
    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 capable 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Daijiro Kato, Yusuke Oizumi, Ayatomo Okino
  • Patent number: 11137714
    Abstract: A developer supply container supplies a developer through a developer receiving opening displacably provided in a developer receiving apparatus to which the developer supply container is detachably mountable. The developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion to accommodate a developer, and a discharge opening to permit discharge of the developer in the developer accommodating portion toward the developer receiving opening. An engaging portion, engageable with the developer receiving apparatus, displaces the developer receiving opening toward a position of the discharge opening at the time when the developer supply container is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus, with a mounting operation of the developer supply container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 11119425
    Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuo Nakajima, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Yutaka Ban
  • Publication number: 20210232067
    Abstract: Conventionally, when a developer is supplied into a developer receiving apparatus from a developer supply container using the air, a filter is provided in the developer receiving apparatus side, but the pressure feeding type wherein a mixture of the air and the developer is continuously fed from the developer supply container into the developer receiving apparatus side involves a problem of filter clogging. The developer supply container side is provided with a pump portion which effects a suction operation for moving the air from inside of the developer receiving portion to the developer accommodating portion side and a discharging operation for moving the air from the inside of the developer accommodating portion to the developer receiving portion side. By this, a back washing effect of dusting the developer from the filter is applied to the filter portion during the suction operation, so that the clogging of the filter is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 11067918
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion 2a for accommodating toner, a developer supply opening 5b for discharging the toner accommodated in the developer accommodating portion 2a from the developer supply container 1, a feeding portion 2b for feeding the toner in the developer accommodating portion 2a toward the developer supply opening 5b, a rotatable drive receiving portion 7a for receiving a rotational force for rotating the feeding portion 2b, and a holding projection 4h held by a holding mechanism 304 provided in the developer supply container 1 to determine a position of the developer supply container 1, wherein the developer supply opening 5b is disposed between the drive receiving portion 7a and the holding projection 4h. By this, a stability of connection between the discharge opening of the developer supply container and the receiving port of the image forming apparatus side is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Takao Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20210165345
    Abstract: A bellow-like pump is provided on the side of a developer supply container, and the pump alternately repeats the suction operation and the discharging operation through the discharge opening by a driving force inputted from an image forming apparatus side. By this, the developer can be sufficiently loosened, thus properly discharging the developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 10983458
    Abstract: Conventionally, when a developer is supplied into a developer receiving apparatus from a developer supply container using the air, a filter is provided in the developer receiving apparatus side, but the pressure feeding type wherein a mixture of the air and the developer is continuously fed from the developer supply container into the developer receiving apparatus side involves a problem of filter clogging. The developer supply container side is provided with a pump portion which effects a suction operation for moving the air from inside of the developer receiving portion to the developer accommodating portion side and a discharging operation for moving the air from the inside of the developer accommodating portion to the developer receiving portion side. By this, a back washing effect of dusting the developer from the filter is applied to the filter portion during the suction operation, so that the clogging of the filter is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 10948849
    Abstract: Conventionally, the developer in the developer supply container is discharged by an air-supply pump and a suction pump which are provided in the main assembly side of the image forming apparatus, and therefore, the developer is compacted by the increase of the internal pressure of the developer supply container resulting from the air-supply. Therefore, the proper suction of the developer from the developer supply container becomes difficult with the result of shortage of the developer amount to be supplied. A bellow-like pump is provided on the side of the developer supply container, and the pump alternately repeats the suction operation and the discharging operation through the discharge opening by a driving force inputted from the image forming apparatus side. By this, the developer can be sufficiently loosened, thus properly discharging the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20210048775
    Abstract: There are provided a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, a discharge portion formed with a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, and an engaging portion 30. The engaging portion 30 is engaged with an engaged portion 11b with a mounting operation of a developer supply container 1 to displace a developer receiving portion 11 in an upward direction U so that the receiving opening communicates with the discharge opening. The engaging portion 30 has a holding portion 31 which is provided rotatably about a rotation shaft 41 and is provided with holding portion 21 to be engaged with the engaged portion 11b to hold the engaged portion 11b. With the mounting operation, the engaging portion 30 rotates about the rotation shaft 41 so that the engaged portion 11b held by the holding portion 31 moves upward U.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Hiromasa Katayama, Nobuyuki Yomoda, Masato Yamaoka, Akihito Kamura, Koji Katayama, Tsukasa Mine, Katsuya Murakami, Keisuke Isobe, Shogo Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10884371
    Abstract: There are provided a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, a discharge portion formed with a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, and an engaging portion 30. The engaging portion 30 is engaged with an engaged portion 11b with a mounting operation of a developer supply container 1 to displace a developer receiving portion 11 in an upward direction U so that the receiving opening communicates with the discharge opening. The engaging portion 30 has a holding portion 31 which is provided rotatably about a rotation shaft 41 and is provided with holding portion 21 to be engaged with the engaged portion 11b to hold the engaged portion 11b. With the mounting operation, the engaging portion 30 rotates about the rotation shaft 41 so that the engaged portion 11b held by the holding portion 31 moves upward U.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Hiromasa Katayama, Nobuyuki Yomoda, Masato Yamaoka, Akihito Kamura, Koji Katayama, Tsukasa Mine, Katsuya Murakami, Keisuke Isobe, Shogo Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10852688
    Abstract: There are provided a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, a discharge portion formed with a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, and an engaging portion 30. The engaging portion 30 is engaged with an engaged portion 11b with a mounting operation of a developer supply container 1 to displace a developer receiving portion 11 in an upward direction U so that the receiving opening communicates with the discharge opening. The engaging portion 30 has a holding portion 31 which is provided rotatably about a rotation shaft 41 and is provided with holding portion 21 to be engaged with the engaged portion 11b to hold the engaged portion 11b. With the mounting operation, the engaging portion 30 rotates about the rotation shaft 41 so that the engaged portion 11b held by the holding portion 31 moves upward U.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Hiromasa Katayama, Nobuyuki Yomoda, Masato Yamaoka, Akihito Kamura, Koji Katayama, Tsukasa Mine, Katsuya Murakami, Keisuke Isobe, Shogo Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20200348616
    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: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20200341405
    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: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Tsukasa Mine, Akihito Kamura, Koji Katayama, Masato Yamaoka, Yusuke Oizumi, Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Nobuyuki Yomoda, Keisuke Isobe
  • Publication number: 20200278622
    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: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Ayatomo Okino
  • Patent number: 10754276
    Abstract: A developer supply includes a developer container body configured to accommodate developer, a gear portion configured and positioned to receive a force for rotating the developer container body, and a pump portion configured and positioned to act upon the developer container body to discharge the developer out of the developer supply container, with the pump portion having a volume that changes with reciprocation of the pump portion. A weight is configured and positioned to reciprocate the pump portion with a rotation of the developer container body by the force received by the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 10747167
    Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus, the developer supply container includes an accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion from the developer supply container; a developer feeding portion for feeding the developer in the accommodating portion toward the discharge opening; a rotatable drive receiving portion for receiving a rotational force; a drive transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force received by the drive receiving portion to the feeding portion; a portion-to-be-detected for detecting rotation of the drive receiving portion; a contact surface for contacting a rotatable member provided in the developer receiving apparatus; wherein the drive receiving portion, the portion-to-be-detected and the contact are formed integrally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Enokuchi, Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino
  • Patent number: 10725400
    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: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    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: 20200225603
    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: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yomoda, Yusuke Yamada, Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Akihito Kamura
  • Publication number: 20200183321
    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 11b capable 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 accommodating in the developer accommodating portion, and an engaging portion 30. The engaging portion 30 engages with the portion-to-be-engaged 11b 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 30 includes a curved portion 3b 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: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Daijiro Kato, Yusuke Oizumi, Ayatomo Okino