Patents by Inventor Hironori Minagawa
Hironori Minagawa 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: 7391981Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, with the image forming apparatus including a remaining amount detecting portion for detecting an amount of remaining developer by receiving light from a light emitting portion by a light receiving portion. The developer supply container includes a container body for containing a developer. The developer supply container also includes a light guiding member including an incident portion for receiving light from the light emitting portion and for guiding the light into the container body, an emergent portion for guiding the light having passed through the container body toward the light receiving portion, and a connecting portion connecting the incident portion and the emergent portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ayatomo Okino, Yutaka Ban, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 7386251Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a rotatable toner containing portion for containing toner having a toner discharging portion projected from one end thereof, with respect to a direction of a rotational axis, of the toner containing portion, the toner discharging portion having a cross-sectional area, which is smaller than that of the toner containing portion, and having an opening, and which is formed in a peripheral portion thereof, for permitting discharging of the toner; and a coupling member provided on the end of the toner discharging portion, including a coupling engagement portion engageable with a hole formed in a peripheral portion of a cylindrical member provided in the image forming apparatus to receive a rotational driving force for discharging the toner from the cylindrical member, wherein the coupling engagement portion includes a rotational force receiving projection having a side for receiving the rotational driving force from a coupling ribType: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 7382997Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 7376369Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20080031654Abstract: A developer collecting container detachably mountable to a rotatable member which is provided in an image forming apparatus to rotate a developing device, the developer collecting container which is rotatable while being substantially fixed to the rotatable member with the developing device, the developer collecting container includes a receiving port for receiving a developer discharged from the developing device; an accommodating portion for accommodating the developer collected from the developing device; a guiding pipe, having a discharge opening for permitting discharging of the developer into the accommodating portion, for guiding the developer receiver at the receiving port with rotation of the rotatable member to the discharge opening, wherein the discharge opening is disposed adjacent a center of gravity of the developer collecting container.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2007Publication date: February 7, 2008Applicant: C/O CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 7324777Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20070134021Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2006Publication date: June 14, 2007Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20070098454Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2006Publication date: May 3, 2007Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20070092304Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2006Publication date: April 26, 2007Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke YAMADA, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20070086810Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2006Publication date: April 19, 2007Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 7190925Abstract: A developer supply container for supplying a developer detachably set in an image forming apparatus, the developer supply container includes a main body for containing the developer; a discharge opening, provided in the main body, for discharging the developer; a plurality of feeding projections, provided projected from a curved inner surface, for feeding the developer in the main body toward the discharge opening with rotation of the main body, wherein each of the projections are linear without twisting.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Isomura, Yutaka Ban, Yusuke Yamada, Kazuhiko Omata, Junko Yoshikawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Publication number: 20070036565Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus including remaining amount detecting means for detecting an amount of remaining developer by receiving light from a light emitting portion by a light receiving portion, the container includes a container body for containing a developer; a light guiding member including an incident portion for receiving light from the light emitting portion and for guiding the light into the container body, an emergent portion for guiding the light having passed through the container body toward the light receiving portion, and a connecting portion connecting the incident portion and the emergent portion, wherein the connecting portion is provided with an exposing portion for exposing a wall surface of the container body at a portion which reflects the light emergent from the light emitting portion toward the light receiving portion without passing through the incident portion; wherein the wall surface of the container body exposType: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2006Publication date: February 15, 2007Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ayatomo Okino, Yutaka Ban, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 7127193Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2005Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 7116931Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for accommodating toner; an opening for permitting discharge of the toner from the main body; a rotatable feeding member, provided in the main body, for feeding the toner by rotation thereof; wherein the feeding member including a lift portion for lifting the toner in the main body, a guiding portion for guiding the toner lifted by the collecting portion downwardly toward the opening, and a falling portion for letting the toner lifted by the lifting portion fall without feeding it toward the opening with rotation of the feeding member.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2005Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 7088942Abstract: A toner supply container is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus and includes: a container body for accommodating toner; an opening, formed in the container body, for permitting the supply of the toner into the image forming apparatus; and a driving-force receiving member for receiving a driving-force from a driving-force applying member provided in the main assembly. The driving-force receiving member includes an elastic press-fitting engagement member which is engageable with an elastic press-fitting engagement member provided in the main assembly. A part of one of the elastic press-fitting engagement members which is an elastic member is elastically restorable to establish driving-force transmitting engagement between the two engagement members.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2002Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 7079788Abstract: A cartridge is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus and includes a first container, which contains a developer to be supplied into the image forming apparatus and a second container, which is rotatable to feed the developer toward the discharge opening. A developer discharge opening is provided at one longitudinal end of the first container. The second container accommodates a developer collected from the image forming apparatus. The first container is rotatably supported, at the other longitudinal end thereof, by the second container, which is unrotatably engageable with the image bearing member.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Ban, Yusuke Yamada, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: 7050728Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a container body for containing developer; a discharge opening, disposed at a peripheral surface of the container body, for permitting discharge of the developer therefrom; a feeding device for feeding the developer toward the discharge opening by rotation of the containers body; and a detector for detecting the amount of the developer remaining in the container body. The detector has a detection area which at least partially overlaps the discharge opening as seen in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the developer supply container.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hironori Minagawa, Yutaka Ban, Ayatomo Okino
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Patent number: 7039347Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for accommodating toner; an opening for permitting discharge of the toner from the main body; a rotatable feeding member, provided in the main body, for feeding the toner by rotation thereof; wherein the feeding member including a lift portion for lifting the toner in the main body, a guiding portion for guiding the toner lifted by the collecting portion downwardly toward the opening, and a falling portion for letting the toner lifted by the lifting portion fall without feeding it toward the opening with rotation of the feeding member.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2002Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
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Patent number: D530359Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Isomura, Teruaki Tsurusaki, Hironori Minagawa, Hideki Hayashi
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Patent number: D530360Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Isomura, Teruaki Tsurusaki, Hironori Minagawa, Hideki Hayashi