Patents by Inventor Hironobu Isobe
Hironobu Isobe 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).
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Patent number: 7155137Abstract: A developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a developing roller, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, having an elastic roller portion and a shaft portion supporting the elastic roller portion, a developer regulating member; a protecting member including a contact portion provided for contact with the elastic roller portion when the protecting member is demountably mounted between the developing roller and the developer regulating member; and a supporting portion for supporting the contact portion and provided for contact with the elastic roller portion when the protecting member is demountably mounted between the developing roller and the developer regulating member. The contact portion has a hardness which is not less than a predetermined value and not more than a hardness of the elastic roller portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2005Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kojiro Yasui, Hironobu Isobe, Hiroshi Sato, Seiichi Shinohara, Yasufumi Yoshino, Syuhei Kawasaki
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Patent number: 7110684Abstract: Using two or more developer replenishing units, each of which has a first storage for storing identification information related to developer and a second storage for storing history information related to the developer, if the identification information read out from each developing replenishing unit accords with unique information stored in an image forming main body, the history information is read out from the developing replenishing unit and analyzed to judge whether the utilization amount of the developing replenishing unit is at the end of its life. If the developing replenishing unit is not at the end of its life, the discharge amount of the developer replenished from the developer replenishing unit is controlled according to the history information and image output results formed by means of the image forming main body.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hironobu Isobe, Masahide Kinoshita, Koichi Hiroshima, Ryuichi Yoshizawa
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Patent number: 7082276Abstract: The information storing medium has a substrate, a storing element, provided on the substrate, for storing information, a protecting portion, covering the storing element, for protecting the storing element, an electrical contact point that is provided beside the protecting portion on a side of the substrate, on which the storing element is provided, and is electrically connected to the storing element, and a sliding region that is provided on the electrical contact point. In the information storing medium, when the storing medium is mounted on the apparatus main body, the electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided on the apparatus main body. Also, when the electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point contact each other, the main body electrical contact point slides on the electrical contact point in the sliding region.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2004Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Karakama, Tatsuya Shiratori, Shinji Goto, Hironobu Isobe, Shinya Noda, Fumito Nonaka, Tomonori Mori
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Publication number: 20060078358Abstract: A developing cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge includes a developing roller, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, having an elastic roller portion and a shaft portion supporting the elastic roller portion, a developer regulating member contactable to the elastic roller portion to regulate an amount of the developer deposited on the elastic roller portion; a protecting member including a contact portion provided at a side for contact with the elastic roller portion when the protecting member is demountably mounted between the developing roller and the developer regulating member; and a supporting portion for supporting the contact portion, the supporting portion being provided at a side for contact with the elastic roller portion when the protecting member is demountably mounted between the developing roller and the developer regulating member, wherein theType: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2005Publication date: April 13, 2006Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kojiro Yasui, Hironobu Isobe, Hiroshi Sato, Seiichi Shinohara, Yasufumi Yoshino, Syuhei Kawasaki
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Patent number: 6983115Abstract: A developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes: a frame; a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a first projected portion engaging a first positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly to position the cartridge; a second projected portion engaging a second positioning portion provided in the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly to regulate rotation of the cartridge about the first positioning portion; and a cartridge guide member contacting a main assembly guide portion to guide the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. The second projected portion is urged in a direction to contact the second positioning portion when the cartridge is set in the main assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hironobu Isobe, Yasufumi Yoshino, Koji Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 6978100Abstract: A developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a developing roller, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, having an elastic roller portion and a shaft portion supporting the elastic roller portion, a developer regulating member; a protecting member including a contact portion provided for contact with the elastic roller portion when the protecting member is demountably mounted between the developing roller and the developer regulating member; and a supporting portion for supporting the contact portion and provided for contact with the elastic roller portion when the protecting member is demountably mounted between the developing roller and the developer regulating member. The contact portion has a hardness which is not less than a predetermined value and not more than a hardness of the elastic roller portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2003Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kojiro Yasui, Hironobu Isobe, Hiroshi Sato, Seiichi Shinohara, Yasufumi Yoshino, Syuhei Kawasaki
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Publication number: 20050191091Abstract: A developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes: a frame; a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a first projected portion engaging a first positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly to position the cartridge; a second projected portion engaging a second positioning portion provided in the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly to regulate rotation of the cartridge about the first positioning portion; and a cartridge guide member contacting a main assembly guide portion to guide the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. The second projected portion is urged in a direction to contact the second positioning portion when the cartridge is set in the main assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2003Publication date: September 1, 2005Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hironobu Isobe, Yasufumi Yoshino, Koji Yamaguchi
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Publication number: 20050019061Abstract: The information storing medium has a substrate, a storing element, provided on the substrate, for storing information, a protecting portion, covering the storing element, for protecting the storing element, an electrical contact point that is provided beside the protecting portion on a side of the substrate, on which the storing element is provided, and is electrically connected to the storing element, and a sliding region that is provided on the electrical contact point. In the information storing medium, when the storing medium is mounted on the apparatus main body, the electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided on the apparatus main body. Also, when the electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point contact each other, the main body electrical contact point slides on the electrical contact point in the sliding region.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2004Publication date: January 27, 2005Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Karakama, Tatsuya Shiratori, Shinji Goto, Hironobu Isobe, Shinya Noda, Fumito Nonaka, Tomonori Mori
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Patent number: 6839534Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion; a developer discharging portion; and a cover cover in the developer discharging portion, the cover being movable between a first position in which the cover covers the developer discharging portion and a second position in which the developer discharging position is exposed, wherein the second position is closer to the developer accommodating portion than the first position.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2001Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Matsuda, Hisayoshi Kojima, Hironobu Isobe, Takashi Yahagi
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Patent number: 6826380Abstract: The information storing medium has a substrate, a storing element, provided on the substrate, for storing information, a protecting portion, covering the storing element, for protecting the storing element, an electrical contact point that is provided beside the protecting portion on a side of the substrate, on which the storing element is provided, and is electrically connected to the storing element, and a sliding region that is provided on the electrical contact point. In the information storing medium, when the storing medium is mounted on the apparatus main body, the electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided on the apparatus main body. Also, when the electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point contact each other, the main body electrical contact point slides on the electrical contact point in the sliding region.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Karakama, Tatsuya Shiratori, Shinji Goto, Hironobu Isobe, Shinya Noda, Fumito Nonaka, Tomonori Mori
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Patent number: 6782219Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame; a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a first guide, provided projected outwardly of the cartridge frame at one longitudinal end side of the developing member, for guiding the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus a second guide, provided projected outwardly of the cartridge frame at the other longitudinal end side of the developing member, for guiding the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; and a developing bias contact, provided exposed on the first guide for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing member from the main assembly of the apparatus when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2002Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasufumi Yoshino, Hironobu Isobe, Koji Yamaguchi
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Publication number: 20040131387Abstract: A developing cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge includes a developing roller, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, having an elastic roller portion and a shaft portion supporting the elastic roller portion, a developer regulating member contactable to the elastic roller portion to regulate an amount of the developer deposited on the elastic roller portion; a protecting member including a contact portion provided at a side for contact with the elastic roller portion when the protecting member is demountably mounted between the developing roller and the developer regulating member; and a supporting portion for supporting the contact portion, the supporting portion being provided at a side for contact with the elastic roller portion when the protecting member is demountably mounted between the developing roller and the developer regulating member, wherein theType: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kojiro Yasui, Hironobu Isobe, Hiroshi Sato, Seiichi Shinohara, Yasufumi Yoshino, Syuhei Kawasaki
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Patent number: 6754454Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member, the image bearing member and the developing means being detachably mountable to the apparatus as a process unit; a developer supply unit for supplying a developer to the developing means, the developer supply unit being detachably mountable to the apparatus; and a first memory mounted on the process unit. The first memory stores information relating to the developer supply unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2000Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichi Hiroshima, Masahide Kinoshita, Hironobu Isobe, Ryuichi Yoshizawa
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Patent number: 6718144Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member, the image bearing member and the developing means being detachably mountable to the apparatus as a process unit; a developer supply unit for supplying a developer to the developing means, the developer supply unit being detachably mountable to the apparatus; and a first memory mounted on the process unit. The first memory stores information relating to the developer supply unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2002Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichi Hiroshima, Masahide Kinoshita, Hironobu Isobe, Ryuichi Yoshizawa
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Patent number: 6704521Abstract: Using two or more developer replenishing units, each of which has a first storage for storing identification information related to developer and a second storage for storing history information related to the developer, if the identification information read out from each developing replenishing unit accords with unique information stored in an image forming main body, the history information is read out from the developing replenishing unit and analyzed to judge whether the utilization amount of the developing replenishing unit is at the end of its life. If the developing replenishing unit is not at the end of its life, the discharge amount of the developer replenished from the developer replenishing unit is controlled according to the history information and image output results formed by means of the image forming main body.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2001Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hironobu Isobe, Masahide Kinoshita, Koichi Hiroshima, Ryuichi Yoshizawa
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Publication number: 20030223775Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly or an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a cartridge frame; a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a first guide, provided projected outwardly of the cartridge frame at one longitudinal end side of the developing member, for guiding the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus a second guide, provided projected outwardly of the cartridge frame at the other longitudinal end side of the developing member, for guiding the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; and a developing bias contact, provided exposed on the first guide, for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing member from the main assembly of the apparatus when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2002Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Yasufumi Yoshino, Hironobu Isobe, Koji Yamaguchi
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Publication number: 20030215261Abstract: The information storing medium has a substrate, a storing element, provided on the substrate, for storing information, a protecting portion, covering the storing element, for protecting the storing element, an electrical contact point that is provided beside the protecting portion on a side of the substrate, on which the storing element is provided, and is electrically connected to the storing element, and a sliding region that is provided on the electrical contact point. In the information storing medium, when the storing medium is mounted on the apparatus main body, the electrical contact point contacts a main body electrical contact point provided on the apparatus main body. Also, when the electrical contact point and the main body electrical contact point contact each other, the main body electrical contact point slides on the electrical contact point in the sliding region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2002Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Karakama, Tatsuya Shiratori, Shinji Goto, Hironobu Isobe, Shinya Noda, Fumito Nonaka, Tomonori Mori
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Publication number: 20030123889Abstract: Using two or more developer replenishing units, each of which has a first storage for storing identification information related to developer and a second storage for storing history information related to the developer, if the identification information read out from each developing replenishing unit accords with unique information stored in an image forming main body, the history information is read out from the developing replenishing unit and analyzed to judge whether the utilization amount of the developing replenishing unit is at the end of its life. If the developing replenishing unit is not at the end of its life, the discharge amount of the developer replenished from the developer replenishing unit is controlled according to the history information and image output results formed by means of the image forming main body.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: July 3, 2003Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hironobu Isobe, Masahide Kinoshita, Koichi Hiroshima, Ryuichi Yoshizawa
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Publication number: 20030091353Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member, said image bearing member and said developing means being detachably mountable to said apparatus as a process unit; a developer supply unit for supplying a developer to said developing means, said developer supply unit being detachably mountable to said apparatus; first memory mounted on said process unit, wherein said first memory stores information relating to said developer supply unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2002Publication date: May 15, 2003Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koichi Hiroshima, Masahide Kinoshita, Hironobu Isobe, Ryuichi Yoshizawa
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Patent number: D477631Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomonori Mori, Hironobu Isobe, Yasufumi Yoshino