Patents by Inventor Hideki Maeshima

Hideki Maeshima 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: 12174582
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. The process cartridge further includes a developer supplying roller configured to supply the developer to the developing roller and a developer feeding member configured to feed the developer toward the developer supplying roller. A first gear is configured to transmit a driving force transmitted, through the developer supplying roller, from a driving force receiving member, and a second gear is configured to transmit the driving force to the developer feeding member. An idle gear is configured to transmit the driving force transmitted from the first gear to the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20240369968
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a rotatable developing roller, a rotatable toner supplying roller provided in contact with the developing roller, and a rotatable feeding member provided in the toner chamber and configured to feed the toner from the toner chamber. A coupling is configured to receive a driving force for rotating the feeding member, the developing roller, and the toner supplying roller. A plurality of gears are configured to transmit the driving force received by the coupling to at least one of the feeding member, the developing roller, and the toner supplying roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20240369967
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a rotatable developing roller, a rotatable toner supplying roller provided in contact with the developing roller, and a rotatable feeding member provided in a toner chamber and configured to feed the toner from the toner chamber. A coupling is operatively connected to the developing roller, the toner supplying roller, and the feeding member, with the coupling being configured to receive a driving force for rotating the feeding member, the developing roller, and the toner supplying roller. A plurality of gears are operatively connected to the developing roller, the toner supplying roller, and the feeding member, with each gear of the plurality of gears being configured to transmit the driving force received by the coupling to at least one of the feeding member, the developing roller, and the toner supplying roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 12130581
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20240210875
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20230273570
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 11687029
    Abstract: [TASK] An object of the present invention is to provide an image developing apparatus and a process cartridge with which an image quality can be improved while reducing a number of parts and reducing an amount of remaining developer. [SOLUTION] A process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming operators includes a developing chamber including a developing roller and a developer supplying roller; a developer accommodating container accommodating the developer provided below the developing chamber with respect to gravity direction, wherein the developer is fed into the developing chamber while being stirred by a feeding member. The developer supplying roller rotates such that a surface thereof moves in the same direction as a surface of the developing roller at a position where the developer supplying roller contacts the developing roller. A surface speed of the developer supplying roller is higher than a surface speed of the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 11392079
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a first casing rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with toner, a supplying roller configured to supply the developing roller with the toner, and a second casing rotatably supporting the developing roller and the supplying roller and containing the toner. A rotatable coupling is provided with a projection and operatively connected to the supplying roller and the developing roller so that the coupling can transmit a rotational force to the supplying roller and the developing roller, and at least a part of the coupling being movable in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Masato Tanabe, Keisuke Nomura, Hiroki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11320782
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 11314201
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20220066386
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image developing apparatus and a process cartridge with which an image quality can be improved while reducing a number of parts and reducing an amount of remaining developer. [SOLUTION] A process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming operators includes a developing chamber including a developing roller and a developer supplying roller; a developer accommodating container accommodating the developer provided below the developing chamber with respect to gravity direction, wherein the developer is fed into the developing chamber while being stirred by a feeding member. The developer supplying roller rotates such that a surface thereof moves in the same direction as a surface of the developing roller at a position where the developer supplying roller contacts the developing roller. A surface speed of the developer supplying roller is higher than a surface speed of the developing roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 11226585
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 11073787
    Abstract: A process cartridge including a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a rotatable roller having a rotation shaft in a position deviated from an axis of the developing roller; an Oldham coupling member at an end portion of the shaft of the rotatable roller; an urging member for urging the drive receiving portion; a supporting portion supporting the drive receiving portion; an abutting portion receiving the supporting portion urged by the urging member, an elastic sheet positioned to contact at least part of the Oldham coupling member, wherein the abutting portion is positioned outside an outer periphery of the drum on a plane perpendicular to the shaft of the rotatable roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Masato Tanabe, Keisuke Nomura, Hiroki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20210109478
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a first casing rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with toner, a supplying roller configured to supply the developing roller with the toner, and a second casing rotatably supporting the developing roller and the supplying roller and containing the toner. A rotatable coupling is provided with a projection and operatively connected to the supplying roller and the developing roller so that the coupling can transmit a rotational force to the supplying roller and the developing roller, and at least a part of the coupling being movable in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Masato Tanabe, Keisuke Nomura, Hiroki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10948868
    Abstract: A process cartridge including a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a rotatable roller having a rotation shaft in a position deviated from an axis of the developing roller; an Oldham coupling member at an end portion of the shaft of the rotatable roller; an urging member for urging the drive receiving portion; a supporting portion supporting the drive receiving portion; an abutting portion receiving the supporting portion urged by the urging member, an elastic sheet positioned to contact at least part of the Oldham coupling member, wherein the abutting portion is positioned outside an outer periphery of the drum on a plane perpendicular to the shaft of the rotatable roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Masato Tanabe, Keisuke Nomura, Hiroki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20210011429
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuku, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20210011428
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuki, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 10838356
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Kuniaki Hirukawa, Shuichi Gofuki, Yoshihiro Mitsui
  • Publication number: 20200301354
    Abstract: A process cartridge including a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a rotatable roller having a rotation shaft in a position deviated from an axis of the developing roller; an Oldham coupling member at an end portion of the shaft of the rotatable roller; an urging member for urging the drive receiving portion; a supporting portion supporting the drive receiving portion; an abutting portion receiving the supporting portion urged by the urging member, an elastic sheet positioned to contact at least part of the Oldham coupling member, wherein the abutting portion is positioned outside an outer periphery of the drum on a plane perpendicular to the shaft of the rotatable roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Masato Tanabe, Keisuke Nomura, Hiroki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10712707
    Abstract: A process cartridge including a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a rotatable roller having a rotation shaft in a position deviated from an axis of the developing roller; an Oldham coupling member at an end portion of the shaft of the rotatable roller; an urging member for urging the drive receiving portion; a supporting portion supporting the drive receiving portion; an abutting portion receiving the supporting portion urged by the urging member, an elastic sheet positioned to contact at least part of the Oldham coupling member, wherein the abutting portion is positioned outside an outer periphery of the drum on a plane perpendicular to the shaft of the rotatable roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Maeshima, Masato Tanabe, Keisuke Nomura, Hiroki Shimizu