Patents by Inventor Fumio Tazawa

Fumio Tazawa 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: 20160131993
    Abstract: A developer supply container, the developer supply container includes a developer accommodating chamber; a rotatable feeding portion; a developer discharging chamber including a discharge opening; a driving force receiving portion for receiving a rotational force for rotating the feeding portion; an pump capable of changing an inside volume of the accommodating chamber in a longitudinal direction of the container to apply a pressure to the discharge opening; a driving force converter for converting the rotational force into a feeding driving force for feeding the developer by an operation of the pump in a longitudinal direction of the container; and wherein an expansion and contraction stroke of the pump provided by the converter in a initial predetermined number of rotations in a initial stage is different from that in a subsequent stage after the initial stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa
  • Publication number: 20160124348
    Abstract: A toner supply container includes a toner container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening, and a sealing member provided at one axial end portion of the container body. The sealing member is movable relative to the container body in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion, and a displacing force receiving portion provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion. The displacing force receiving portion is displaceable with the supporting portion and has a radially outermost part that is more remote from a rotation axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
  • Patent number: 9323177
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating chamber configured to accommodate developer, a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the developer in the developer accommodating chamber by rotation thereof, and a developer discharging chamber provided with a discharge opening configured to permit discharging of the developer fed by the feeding portion. In addition, a rotatable gear rotates the feeding portion, a pump portion acts upon at least the developer discharging chamber, with the pump portion having a volume which changes with reciprocation, and a drive converting portion converts a rotational force generated by rotation of the gear to a force for operating the pump portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20160070202
    Abstract: To provide a developer supply container and a developer supplying system with which the discharging of the developer from the developer supply container to the developer replenishing apparatus can be carried out properly from the beginning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada, Nobuo Nakajima, Tetsuo Isomura
  • Patent number: 9256194
    Abstract: A developer container is detachably mountable to a developer replenishing apparatus and includes a cylindrical accommodation member for accommodating a developer and a coupling portion for engaging with a main assembly coupling portion provided on the developer replenishing apparatus by movement in an inserting direction. In addition, a contact portion contacts an urging portion in the developer replenishing apparatus and receives a push-off force from the developer replenishing apparatus in a direction opposite to the inserting direction, and an engaging portion is engageable with an opening and closing portion provided in the developer replenishing apparatus to receive a force from the opening and closing portion in the inserting direction and against the push-off force in a closing operation of the opening and closing portion when the developer container is inserted into the developer replenishing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Nakajima, Yutaka Ban, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 9229364
    Abstract: A 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, a drive inputting portion for receiving a driving force, and a pump portion. The pump portion is driven by the driving force received by the drive inputting portion to alternate an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion between a pressure lower than an ambient pressure and a pressure higher than the ambient pressure. In addition, a regulating portion regulates a position of the pump portion at a start of operation of the pump portion so that in an initial operational period of the pump portion, air is taken into the developer accommodating portion through the discharge opening, and a nozzle portion connected to the pump portion and has an opening at an end that is disposed adjacent to the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada, Nobuo Nakajima, Tetsuo Isomura
  • Patent number: 9229368
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion configured to accommodate a developer, a discharge opening configured and positioned to permit discharging of the developer from the developer accommodating portion, and a driving force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force. In addition, a pump portion is capable of being driven by the driving force to alternately change an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion between a pressure lower than an ambient pressure and a pressure higher than the ambient pressure to discharge the developer through the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 9213262
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating developer; a discharge opening for discharging the developer from said developer accommodating portion; a pump portion capable of changing an internal pressure of said developer accommodating portion so as to discharge the developer through said discharge opening; a venting portion for permitting venting between an inside and an outside of said developer accommodating portion while preventing flowing of the developer out of said developer accommodating portion; and a ventilation blocking portion for blocking venting of said venting portion at least when said pump portion operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20150277285
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion configured to accommodate developer, and a discharge opening configured and positioned to permit discharging of the developer in the developer accommodating portion, with the discharge opening having an area not more than 12.6 mm2. In addition, a driving force receiving portion is configured and positioned to receive a driving force, and a pump portion is configured and positioned to act on the developer accommodating portion by the driving force received by the driving force receiving portion to alternately change an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion between a pressure lower than an ambient pressure and a pressure higher than the ambient pressure to discharge the developer through the discharge opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 9046820
    Abstract: A toner supply container includes a toner container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening, and a sealing member provided at one axial end portion of the container body. The sealing member is movable relative to the container body in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, and an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion, and a displacing force receiving portion is provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
  • Publication number: 20150147084
    Abstract: A toner supply container includes a toner container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening, and a sealing member provided at one axial end portion of the container body. The sealing member is movable relative to the container body in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, and an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion, and a displacing force receiving portion is provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
  • Publication number: 20150132021
    Abstract: A toner supply container includes a toner container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening, and a sealing member provided at one axial end portion of the container body. The sealing member is movable relative to the container body in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion, and a displacing force receiving portion provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
  • Patent number: 8909094
    Abstract: A toner supply container includes a rotatable container body and a sealing member provided at its axial end portion. The sealing member is movable in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion to seal and unseal an opening of the container body when in first and second relative positions, respectively, and a coupling portion positioned to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body. The coupling portion includes an elastically displaceable supporting portion, an engaging portion, and a displacing force receiving portion, which are integrally molded. The engaging portion includes a rotational force receiving portion for receiving a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body, and a locking portion. The displacing force receiving portion is provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
  • Publication number: 20140233986
    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: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140169836
    Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating developer; a discharge opening for discharging the developer from said developer accommodating portion; a pump portion capable of changing an internal pressure of said developer accommodating portion so as to discharge the developer through said discharge opening; a venting portion for permitting venting between an inside and an outside of said developer accommodating portion while preventing flowing of the developer out of said developer accommodating portion; and a ventilation blocking portion for blocking venting of said venting portion at least when said pump portion operates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140153974
    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: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Jimba, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Publication number: 20140016967
    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: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 8565649
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa, Ayatomo Okino, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: D686274
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: D689129
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Manabu Jimba, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Fumio Tazawa