Patents by Inventor Kazumi Sekine
Kazumi Sekine 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: 6856775Abstract: A remanufacturing method for a process cartridge including: (a) a first step of forming a first hole in a second side cover around a second shaft portion of a drum supporting shaft; (b) a drum shaft removing step of removing the drum supporting shaft from a drum frame by operation through the first hole; (c) a photosensitive drum removing step of removing an electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the drum frame through a transfer opening; (d) a photosensitive drum insertion step of inserting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum into the drum frame through the transfer opening; (e) a drum shaft mounting step of mounting the drum supporting shaft on the drum frame; and (f) a refilling step of filling developer in the developer frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2002Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazumi Sekine
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Patent number: 6788908Abstract: A disassembling method is disclosed for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes covering members connected to a drum supporting frame and a developer container at ends of the drum supporting frame and the developer accommodating container with respect to a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The disassembling method includes a step of cutting the cover member adjacent to a connecting portion between the cover member and the drum supporting frame and a connecting portion between the cover member and the developer accommodating container along an outer wall of the covering member.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazumi Sekine
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Publication number: 20020181967Abstract: A remanufacturing method for a process cartridge, wherein the process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and the process cartridge including, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having, at one longitudinal end, a drive receiving portion for receiving came driving force from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; a drum frame rotatably supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing frame for supporting a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developer frame accommodating a developer to be used for a developing operation of the developing roller; a first side cover fixed to 1 longitudinal ends of the drum frame and the developer frame; and a second side cover fixed to the other ends of the drum frame and the developer frame; an image transfer opening formed along a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photType: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazumi Sekine
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Publication number: 20020172528Abstract: A disassembling method for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge includes covering members connected to the drum supporting frame and the developer container at ends of the drum supporting frame and the developer accommodating container with respect to a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the disassembling method including a step of cutting the cover member adjacent to a connecting portion between the cover member and the drum supporting frame and a connecting portion between the cover member and the developer accommodating container along an outer wall of the covering member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazumi Sekine
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Patent number: 6009289Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a first frame for supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developer bearing member for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer, and a second frame having a developer containing portion containing the developer for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and detachably mountable to the first frame. The mounting and dismounting direction of the second frame with respect to the first frame is transverse to an axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1997Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazumi Sekine, Shinichi Sasaki
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Patent number: 5926672Abstract: A photosensitive drum includes a cylindrical member having a photosensitive body disposed thereon, and first and second helical gears arranged axially side-by-side on one end of the cylindrical member. The first helical gear is disposed axially outward of the second helical gear, and the first helical gear has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the second helical gear. The first helical gear meshes with a drive gear to rotatingly drive the drum. A sleeve gear of a developing sleeve is selectively engaged with one of the first and second helical gears, depending upon a kind of toner used.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1996Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Nishibata, Morikazu Mizutani, Kazumi Sekine, Tadayuki Tsuda, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshikazu Sasago, Yasushi Shimizu, Shinya Noda, Kazunori Kobayashi
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Process cartridge mountable in an image forming system and a method for assembling a cleaning device
Patent number: 5828928Abstract: An image bearing member, process device acting on the image bearing member, a first frame, a second frame lockable and separable with respect to the first frame, a locking body and a locking member lockable to the locking body, provided to separably interlock the first and second frames, and a recessed portion and a projection fittable into the recessed portion which are provided to separably interlock the first and second frames. With above construction it is possible to provide a process cartridge, an image forming system, and a method for assembling a cleaning device, which can be easily assembled and can sufficiently cope a large when the number of re-cycles.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1995Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshikazu Sasago, Kazumi Sekine, Tadayuki Tsuda, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Shinya Noda, Kazunori Kobayashi, Takeo Shoji, Kazuhiko Ishiwata, Kazuo Shishido, Kanji Yano, Hiroyuki Shirai, Makoto Tanaka, Shinichi Sasaki, Yoshiya Nomura, Toshiyuki Karakama -
Patent number: 5828929Abstract: A process cartridge is mountable to an image forming system and includes an image bearing member; a developing bias contact for applying a developing bias to a developing device; an earthing contact for earthing the image bearing member; and a charging bias contact for applying a charging bias to a charging device. The developing bias contact, the earthing contact, and the charging bias contact are arranged in an area corresponding to an end portion of the image bearing member in a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, such that (i) the developing bias contact is arranged at a first side of the image bearing member in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the image bearing member, and (ii) the earthing contact and the charging bias contact are arranged at a second side of the image bearing member in the orthogonal direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1997Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Kazumi Sekine, Tadayuki Tsuda, Isao Ikemoto, Yoshimasu Yamaguchi, Yoshikazu Sasago, Shinya Noda, Kazunori Kobayashi
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Patent number: 5809374Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge removably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process device that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member and has a blade member acting on toner and a support member for supporting the blade member, and a seal member provided for preventing the toner from leaking from a predetermined area. The seal member is formed from liquid-foam material to be solidified as an elastomer, and the seal member is contacted with an edge portion of the support member.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1996Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tadayuki Tsuda, Kazumi Sekine, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Akira Higeta, Nobuharu Hoshi
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Patent number: 5768660Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a rotatable charging member, contactable to a member to be charged, for charging the member to be charged, the rotatable charging member is provided with a rotation shaft; an electroconductive elastic member for urging the rotatable charging member to the member to be charged, wherein the rotatable charging member is capable of being supplied with a voltage through the elastic member; wherein a part of the elastic member and a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft are contacted to electrically connect the elastic member with the rotation shaft.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Kurihara, Kazuyoshi Odagawa, Kazumi Sekine, Shinichi Sasaki, Isao Ikemoto, Toshiyuki Karakama, Takao Nakagawa
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Patent number: 5708925Abstract: This invention relates to developing agent supply container for supplying a developing agent to a developing agent storage container for storing the developing agent used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive body. The container includes a developing agent storage portion, and an inhibition device for inhibiting supply of the developing agent stored in the developing agent storage portion to the developing agent storage container when the developing agent supply container is removed from a predetermined position, and permitting supply of the developing agent stored in the developing agent storage portion to the developing agent storage container when the developing agent supply container is mounted at the predetermined position with respect to the developing agent storage container so as to supply the developing agent to the developing agent storage container.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 1996Date of Patent: January 13, 1998Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazunori Kobayashi, Kazumi Sekine, Shinichi Sasaki, Isao Ikemoto
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Patent number: 5697021Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a frame member, a photosensitive member, a rotary member mounted on the frame member, where the rotary member constitutes a process device. A blade member is mounted on the frame member in proximity with the rotary member. A sealing member has a rotary seal portion for sealing a space formed between the frame member and the rotary member. A blade seal portion seals a space formed between the frame member and the blade member. A compressible seal portion, provided in a portion of the rotary seal portion and the blade seal portion, seals a space formed adjacent to a longitudinal end portion of the blade member.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1995Date of Patent: December 9, 1997Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshikazu Sasago, Shinya Noda, Kazumi Sekine
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Patent number: 5669042Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided for forming an image on a recording medium. The apparatus has a main body on which a process cartridge, which includes a frame, an image bearing member, a toner carrying member, and an attachment member for attaching the toner carrying member to the frame, is removably mountable. The apparatus also has a supporting device for supporting the process cartridge at the attachment member when the process cartridge is mounted in the apparatus and a feeding device for feeding the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1994Date of Patent: September 16, 1997Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazunori Kobayashi, Kazumi Sekine, Tadayuki Tsuda, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshikazu Sasago, Masanobu Saito, Shinya Noda
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Patent number: 5659847Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first upper and second lower frame, separably engageable to each other, an image bearing member, a process means acting on the image bearing member, and a positioning device for positioning an optical unit of an image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted within the image forming apparatus. With this arrangement, the present invention can provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus capable of mounting the process cartridge, which can form an image with higher quality than that of the conventional techniques, without distorting the image. The positioning member is located on the second lower frame and passes through openings formed on the first upper frame in order to position the optical unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1992Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tadayuki Tsuda, Kazumi Sekine, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshikazu Sasago, Shinya Noda, Kazunori Kobayashi
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Patent number: 5650820Abstract: A movement guide for guiding the movement of a manually movable hand recording apparatus has a guide member for guiding the movement of the hand recording apparatus, and an engaging portion provided on the guide member and removably engageable with the hand recording apparatus when the movement of the hand recording apparatus is guided.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1996Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazumi Sekine, Noboru Koumura, Toshiaki Harada, Ryozo Yanagisawa
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Patent number: 5623328Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first frame in which a toner containing unit for containing toner used for a developing operation and a charger unit are mounted, and a second frame which can be engaged by and disengaged from the first frame, and in which an image bearing member, a developing unit and cleaning unit are mounted. With this arrangement, the assembling ability and disassembling ability are improved remarkably, and the process cartridge is suitable for the re-cycling to contribute to the protection of the earth-environment.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1994Date of Patent: April 22, 1997Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tadayuki Tsuda, Kazumi Sekine, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshikazu Sasago, Shinya Noda, Kazunori Kobayashi, Kazuhiko Ishiwata, Kazuo Shishido, Kanji Yano, Hiroyuki Shirai, Makoto Tanaka, Shinichi Sasaki, Yoshiya Nomura, Toshiyuki Karakama
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Patent number: 5608509Abstract: A process cartridge mountable within an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge including (a) a frame, (b) an image bearing member provided in the frame, and (c) a blade member including an elastic blade, and a support member for supporting the elastic blade and having a supporting portion for supporting the elastic blade, a protruded portion protruding from the supporting portion in a longitudinal direction, and a hole formed in the protruded portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: March 4, 1997Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Shirai, Kazumi Sekine, Tadayuki Tsuda, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshikazu Sasago, Takeo Shoji, Shinya Noda, Kazunori Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Adachi
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Patent number: 5602623Abstract: A process cartridge removably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member having a photosensitive drum including a cylindrical member having a photosensitive layer thereon, a first gear provided at one end of the cylindrical member in an axial direction thereof, and a helical gear as a second gear provided at the one end of the cylindrical member adjacent to and outside of the first gear in the axial direction of the cylindrical member and having a diameter larger than a diameter of the first gear. The first gear and the helical gear are integrally formed as a gear portion having a through-bore portion with an inner diameter that varies along its axial length. Accordingly, the present invention provides a smoothly rotating image bearing member for producing high quality images.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1995Date of Patent: February 11, 1997Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Nishibata, Morikazu Mizutani, Kazumi Sekine, Tadayuki Tsuda, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshikazu Sasago, Yasushi Shimizu, Shinya Noda, Kazunori Kobayashi
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Patent number: 5583613Abstract: The present invention includes an image bearing member, a first attachment surface to which a cleaning device for removing toner from the image bearing member is attached. The present invention also includes a second attachment surface which is in parallel with or substantially in parallel with the first attachment surface and to which a developing device for developing an image formed on the image bearing member is attached. With the above construction, it is possible to provide a process cartridge, a method for assembling a process cartridge, and an image forming system mountable and in the process cartridge, which can remarkably improve the assembling ability.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1994Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazunori Kobayashi, Kazumi Sekine, Tadayuki Tsuda, Isao Ikemoto, Kazushi Watanabe, Yoshikazu Sasago, Shinya Noda
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Patent number: 5537187Abstract: A process cartridge removably mountable to an image forming apparatus, including an image bearing member, a process unit acting on the image bearing member, a first frame having the image bearing member, a second frame having the process unit, and a connection assembly for connecting the first frame to the second frame. The connection assembly has a guide portion for guiding the process cartridge to a mounting position when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1994Date of Patent: July 16, 1996Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazumi Sekine