Patents by Inventor Kei Sawanaka

Kei Sawanaka 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).

  • Publication number: 20060237895
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including: a separating roller which abuts against a feed roller and is rotated in association with the feed roller; and a torque-limiter for allowing the separating roller to rotate in association with the feed roller when a rotation torque larger than a predetermined torque is acted on the separating roller and for preventing the separating roller from rotating in association with the feed roller when the rotation torque equal to or smaller than the predetermined torque is acted on the separating roller, in which sheets fed from a sheet feed cassette are separated one by one by the feed roller and the separating roller, the separating roller urged against the feed roller is supported by a guide member in a slidable manner, and the separating roller is guided with a predetermined angle in a direction different from a direction in which the feed roller is opposed to the separating roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazushi Nishikata, Masato Suzuki, Fumimitsu Kishimoto, Akio Nemoto, Hisayuki Tomura, Kei Sawanaka, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20050191065
    Abstract: The present invention has a sheet placing tray on which a sheet is placed, a feeding member for feeding the sheet placed on the sheet placing tray, a first sheet detection unit for detecting presence of the sheet on the sheet placing tray at a first detection position, a second sheet detection unit for detecting presence of the sheet on the sheet placing tray at second detection position disposed on an upstream side of the first detection position in a sheet feeding direction, and a control unit controls the feeding member so as not to perform the sheet feeding operation when the first detection unit is in a state in which the sheet is detected and the second detection unit is in a state in which the sheet is not detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei Sawanaka, Satoshi Sugita
  • Patent number: 6678481
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable and closable member openable and closable relative to the main body of the apparatus. A switch, which is held by a holding member, detects, the opened and closed states of the openable and closable member. The holding member is movable relative to the main body of the apparatus. The openable-and-closable member has an engagement portion to be engaged with the switch, and the engagement portion positions the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Sawanaka, Tomio Noguchi
  • Patent number: 6493534
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus include a transfer roller which transfers a developer developing an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum to a sheet, a pair of registration rollers which nip the sheet into a conveying nip formed by a pair of rotary members and conveys the sheet to the transfer roller, and an upper transfer guide for leading the sheet from the pair of registration rollers to the transfer roller. In addition, a conveyance regulating member regulates a conveying direction of the sheet conveyed by the pair of registration rollers and brings the sheet into contact with the upper transfer guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Sawanaka, Masao Ando, Takayasu Yuminamochi, Tomio Noguchi, Minoru Matsuguma, Masaru Shimura, Kenji Kanari
  • Publication number: 20020114633
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an openable and closable member openable and closable relative to the main body of the apparatus, and a detecting device for detecting the opened and closed states of the openable and closable member, the openable and closable member having an engagement portion to be engaged with the detecting device, one of the detecting device and the engagement portion of the openable and closable member being movable relative to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Sawanaka, Tomio Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20010033760
    Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus making stabilization of a sheet conveyance in printing an image to various sheets such as thick sheets of paper in particular, compatible with a high image quality. Each of the sheet conveying apparatus and the image forming apparatus includes: a transfer roller which transfers a developer developing an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum to a sheet; a pair of registration rollers which nip the sheet into a conveying nip formed by a pair of rotary members and conveys the sheet to the transfer roller, an upper transfer guide for leading the sheet from the pair of registration rollers to the transfer roller, and a conveyance regulating member which regulates a conveying direction of the sheet conveyed by the pair of registration rollers and brings the sheet into contact with the upper transfer guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Kei Sawanaka, Masao Ando, Takayasu Yuminamochi, Tomio Noguchi, Minoru Matsuguma, Masaru Shimura, Kenji Kanari