Patents by Inventor Isao Ikemoto

Isao Ikemoto 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: 7920806
    Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes a motor, a gear receiving a driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces substantially coaxial with the gear and having a grounding contact. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces. The projection is provided at a longitudinal end of the drum. When the gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the drum through engagement between the hole and the projection. The cartridge also includes a grounding contact electrically connected with the drum, for electrically grounding the drum when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and provided on the projection to be electrically connectable with the main assembly grounding contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Patent number: 7660545
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Patent number: 7630661
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Publication number: 20090290908
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Publication number: 20090074453
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: SHINYA NODA, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Publication number: 20090074452
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: SHINYA NODA, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Patent number: 7489885
    Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes a motor, a gear receiving a driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces substantially coaxial with the gear and having a grounding contact. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces. The projection is provided at a longitudinal end of the drum. When the gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the drum through engagement between the hole and the projection. The cartridge also includes a grounding contact electrically connected with the drum, for electrically grounding the drum when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and provided on the projection to be electrically connectable with the main assembly grounding contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Patent number: 7403733
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other; rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Isao Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20080063429
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Isao Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20080056754
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Patent number: 7231161
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Publication number: 20060198654
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Patent number: 7092655
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Patent number: 6999696
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Publication number: 20060008287
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Patent number: 6400914
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Patent number: 6397018
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer container which is mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, contains a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and includes a developer bearing member for carrying the developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a plurality of developer remaining amount detectors for successively detecting the remaining amount of developer within the developer container, wherein regions detected by the plurality of developer remaining amount detectors are overlapped with each other, and in the overlapped regions, a detected value by a previous developer remaining amount detector is changed over to a detected value by a succeeding developer remaining amount detector, and the apparatus main body detects the detected value to detect the remaining amount of developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Matsumoto, Kazushige Sakurai, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Toshiyuki Karakama
  • Publication number: 20020018666
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the elec
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Shinichi Sasaki, Akihiro Toma, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta
  • Patent number: 6330402
    Abstract: In a developer amount successively indicating method used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of detachably mounting a plurality of types of cartridges differing in the fill amount of a developer, an indicating portion selected in conformity with the type of one of the plurality of types of cartridges which is mounted in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is indicated, and the detected amount of developer in the cartridge mounted in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is successively indicated by the use of the indicating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushige Sakurai, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Toshiyuki Karakama, Hideki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6330409
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from said motor and a hole defined by twisted surfaces, said hole being substantially coaxial with said gear, said process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on said photosensitive drum; a projection engageable with said twisted surfaces, said projection being provided at a longitudinal end of said photosensitive drum, wherein said projection is non-twisted, and when said main assembly side gear rotates with said hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from said gear to said photosensitive drum through engagement between said hole and said projection; and a resilient member for urging said process cartridge in a longitudinal direction of said photosensitive drum when said process cartridge is mounted to the ma
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Isao Ikemoto, Atsushi Numagami, Katsunori Yokoyama