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).

  • Patent number: 10678165
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Ayatomo Okino
  • Publication number: 20200166871
    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: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yomoda, Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Akihito Kamura, Takashi Enokuchi
  • Publication number: 20200150563
    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: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Nobuo Nakajima, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Yutaka Ban
  • Patent number: 10627742
    Abstract: A developer container includes a developer accommodating body, a discharge body including a developer discharge opening, and a rotatable member including a plurality of rotation portions arranged in a rotational direction of the rotatable member with a space therebetween. In addition, a storing portion stores a predetermined amount of the developer to be discharged and forms a communication path for fluid-communication between an inside of the discharge body and the discharge opening. A coil spring is provided in the communication path and contractable and expandable in a direction of the communication path, with the coil spring capable of being urged by the rotation portions while the rotatable member rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yomoda, Yusuke Yamada, Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Akihito Kamura
  • Patent number: 10620566
    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: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yomoda, Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Akihito Kamura, Takashi Enokuchi
  • Patent number: 10591865
    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: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Daijiro Kato, Yusuke Oizumi, Ayatomo Okino
  • Patent number: 10564574
    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: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuo Nakajima, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Yutaka Ban
  • Publication number: 20200004177
    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: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 10520881
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body having a discharge opening configured to discharge the developer from the developer discharging body, and with the developer accommodating body being rotatable relative to the developer discharging body. A track is provided at each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 10520882
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body having a discharge opening configured to discharge the developer from the developer discharging body, and with the developer accommodating body being rotatable relative to the developer discharging body. A track is provided at each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 10514654
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer, with the developer accommodating body being rotatable about a rotational axis. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body including a discharge opening through which the developer can be discharged from the developer discharging body. A track is provided on each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 10496033
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body having a discharge opening through which the developer may be discharged from the developer discharging body, and with the developer accommodating body being rotatable relative to the developer discharging body. A track is provided at each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 10496032
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body having a discharge opening through which the developer may be discharged from the developer discharging body, and with the developer accommodating body being rotatable relative to the developer discharging body. A track is provided at each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 10488814
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body configured to contain developer. A developer discharging body is provided in fluid communication with the developer accommodating body, with the developer discharging body having a discharge opening through which the developer may be discharged from the developer discharging body, and with the developer accommodating body being rotatable relative to the developer discharging body. A track is provided at each of opposite sides of the developer discharging body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Publication number: 20190339634
    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: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20190265640
    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: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Takashi Enokuchi, Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino
  • Publication number: 20190250532
    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 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 10379462
    Abstract: A developer supply container is detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus, which includes a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer, and a filter for permitting venting of the developer receiving portion in and out. The developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer, a discharge opening for permitting discharging of the developer from the developer accommodating portion toward the developer receiving portion, a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force from the developer receiving apparatus, and a pump portion capable of being driven by the driving force received by the driving force receiving portion to alternate repeatedly a discharging operation and a suction operation through the discharge opening while venting into and out of the developer receiving portion through the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20190243283
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Takao Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20190212672
    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: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Yohei Gamo, Tsukasa Mine, Akihito Kamura, Koji Katayama, Masato Yamaoka, Yusuke Oizumi, Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Nobuyuki Yomoda, Keisuke Isobe