Patents by Inventor Ituro Katoh

Ituro Katoh 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: 6937833
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus contains a first and second unit. The first unit, which is a self-contained first module, contains a photo-sensitive body and structure for removing residue toner from the photo sensitive body. The second unit, which is a self-contained developer module, provides toner to the first unit and receives the residue toner from the first unit. The residue toner in the second unit is received in a self contained container and does not mix with fresh toner. The modules are detachably mounted in the apparatus. The second module cannot be mounted in the apparatus until the first module is mounted. The two units have different lives of interchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ituro Katoh, Shoichiro Yoshiura
  • Publication number: 20030068171
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus having an image carrier; first unit comprising at least a cleaning system held on one supporter; and a second unit comprising a developing system to develop electrostatic latent images formed on the image carrier; the said first and second unit which can be mounted to or demounted from the image formation apparatus, a feeding unit to carry the toner used to remove toner from the said image carrier being provided on the said first unit, and a recovery container to recover the used toner carried by the said feeder provided on the said second unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ituro Katoh, Shoichiro Yoshiura
  • Patent number: 5697008
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus contains a first and second unit. The first unit, which is a self-contained first module, contains a photo-sensitive body and structure for removing residue toner from the photo sensitive body. The second unit, which is a self-contained developer module, provides toner to the first unit and receives the residue toner from the first unit. The modules are detachably mounted in the apparatus. The second module cannot be mounted in the apparatus until the first module is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ituro Katoh, Shoichiro Yoshiura
  • Patent number: 5541715
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus having an image carrier; a first removable unit including at least a cleaning system and a toner recovery feeding device; and a second removable unit including a developing system for developing an electrostatic latent image and a toner recovery collecting device for collecting the toner recovered by the first unit. A guide member on the first unit interacts with an indexing member on the second unit, in response to insertion of the second unit, into the image formation apparatus, to interconnect the toner collecting device of the second unit with the toner recovery feeding device of the first unit and to position the second unit with respect to the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ituro Katoh, Shoichiro Yoshiura
  • Patent number: 4332457
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing images of an original document on a copy material is provided for a plain paper copier. The fixing device comprises a pair of rollers for stressing under pressure the copy material carrying toner powder thereon. The toner powder is tightly adhered to the surface of the copy material to correspond to the images of the original document. In a preferred form, the toner powder is a pressure-fixable developing powder which consists of a wax component and a thermoplastic resin. A developing powder supplier is disposed within a developer powder reservoir for supplying developer powder to a magnet brush. A rotatable cylindrical magnet is provided within said developing powder supplier for generating a non-uniform magnetic field to stir the developer powder within the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Mitsuyama, Tadaaki Kawano, Tutomu Kato, Masanobu Deguchi, Ituro Katoh