Patents by Inventor Kiyoharu Yoshioka

Kiyoharu Yoshioka 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: 9217986
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a transfer member for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a sheet in contact with the image bearing member, and an openable unit including an openable member and a rotational shaft. In addition, a lock member locks the openable unit in a closed state by movement of the openable member, and a cam member, provided in the main assembly, rotatably moves the transfer member toward and away from the image bearing member. A force receiving portion, provided on the openable unit, receives a reaction force in contact with the cam member. The openable member includes the transfer member, and the cam member urges the force receiving portion when rotated to impart a force, for attracting the openable unit toward a locking direction by the lock member, to the openable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Nobukazu Adachi
  • Publication number: 20140356022
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover, including a rotational shaft, capable of opening and closing an opening by being rotated about the rotational shaft relative to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet; an opposing member, provided in the image forming portion, opposing the openable cover when the openable cover closes the opening; a contact member, provided on the openable cover, contactable to the opposing member; an urging member, provided on the openable cover, for urging the contact member toward the opposing member; and a locking member for locking the openable cover in a closed state relative to the main assembly. The image forming apparatus comprising a cam member, provided in the image forming portion, for moving the contact member toward and away from the opposing member by rotation of the cam member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Nobukazu Adachi
  • Patent number: 8867965
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a rotatable supporting member swingably supporting the rotatable supporting member, the rotatable supporting member being provided with a first gear portion and being rotatable while carrying a plurality of developing devices for developing the electrostatic image with toner; a drive transmission device for transmitting a rotational force to the rotatable supporting member, the drive transmission device being provided with a second gear portion engaged with first gear portion at an engagement position; and an opposing portion provided opposed to the rotatable supporting member with a gap therebetween which is smaller than an amount of engagement between the first gear portion and the second gear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Suto, Daisuke Aoki, Nobukazu Adachi, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Masao Amano
  • Patent number: 8838007
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover capable of opening and closing an opening, an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet, and a cam member provided in the image forming portion for moving a contact member toward and away from an opposing member. A controller controls the image forming portion and rotation of the cam member. The controller stops an operation of the image forming portion when a detecting unit detects opening of the openable cover, and then controls rotation of the cam member at least one full turn when the detecting unit detects closing of the openable cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Nobukazu Adachi
  • Patent number: 8417175
    Abstract: A toner image formed on an image bearing member is transferred onto a recording material so as to overflow from an edge portion of the recording material, thereby enabling the toner image to be formed so as to extend to the edge portion of the recording material. To suppress the deposition of the toner in the edge portion of the recording material, a cleaning member for cleaning the edge portion of the recording material obtained after the fixing is provided. In order to make a trailing edge of the recording material come into contact with the cleaning member, the recording material which has passed through a fixing apparatus is temporarily switched back, thereby allowing the trailing edge portion of the recording material to collide with the cleaning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Yamashita, Hisayuki Tomura, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Michio Uchida, Tomonori Shida, Keisuke Mitsuhashi, Takuma Abe, Takao Nada
  • Publication number: 20120045248
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a rotatable supporting member swingably supporting the rotatable supporting member, the rotatable supporting member being provided with a first gear portion and being rotatable while carrying a plurality of developing devices for developing the electrostatic image with toner; a drive transmission device for transmitting a rotational force to the rotatable supporting member, the drive transmission device being provided with a second gear portion engaged with first gear portion at an engagement position; and an opposing portion provided opposed to the rotatable supporting member with a gap therebetween which is smaller than an amount of engagement between the first gear portion and the second gear portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Suto, Daisuke Aoki, Nobukazu Adachi, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Masao Amano
  • Publication number: 20120045264
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover, including a rotational shaft, capable of opening and closing an opening by being rotated about the rotational shaft relative to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet; an opposing member, provided in the image forming portion, opposing the openable cover when the openable cover closes the opening; a contact member, provided on the openable cover, contactable to the opposing member; an urging member, provided on the openable cover, for urging the contact member toward the opposing member; and a locking member for locking the openable cover in a closed state relative to the main assembly. The image forming apparatus comprising a cam member, provided in the image forming portion, for moving the contact member toward and away from the opposing member by rotation of the cam member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Nobukazu Adachi
  • Patent number: 8107849
    Abstract: A compact image forming apparatus is provided in which stains on the back of a transfer material can be prevented. In particular, in a marginless print mode in which a toner image can be formed to the edge of a transfer material, a large amount of toner adheres to a transfer-material bearing member. The image forming apparatus includes a collecting member that can temporarily collect the toner adhering to the transfer-material bearing member. The toner that is temporarily collected by the collecting member is transferred to an intermediate transfer member and is cleaned by a cleaning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisayuki Tomura, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Michio Uchida, Tomonori Shida, Keisuke Mitsuhashi, Takao Nada, Takuma Abe, Hidetoshi Yamashita, Youhei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7957659
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which the image forming apparatus has a marginless mode in which the toner image is formed on said image bearing member in an area that covers the recording material and an area outside the recording material, and the toner image is transferred to extend beyond an edge of the recording material carried by said recording material carrying member, the image forming apparatus further including: a detecting device which detects the toner image that extends beyond the edge of the recording material and is transferred to said recording material carrying member in the marginless mode; and a control device which uses a detection result provided by said detecting device to control where said exposure device forms a latent image on said image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Nada, Takuma Abe, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Tomonori Shida, Keisuke Mitsuhashi, Michio Uchida, Noritomo Yamaguchi, Tomoya Tateishi
  • Publication number: 20090324278
    Abstract: A compact image forming apparatus is provided in which stains on the back of a transfer material can be prevented. In particular, in a marginless print mode in which a toner image can be formed to the edge of a transfer material, a large amount of toner adheres to a transfer-material bearing member. The image forming apparatus includes a collecting member that can temporarily collect the toner adhering to the transfer-material bearing member. The toner that is temporarily collected by the collecting member is transferred to an intermediate transfer member and is cleaned by a cleaning unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisayuki Tomura, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Michio Uchida, Tomonori Shida, Keisuke Mitsuhashi, Takao Nada, Takuma Abe, Hidetoshi Yamashita, Youhei Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090136247
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which the image forming apparatus has a marginless mode in which the toner image is formed on said image bearing member in an area that covers the recording material and an area outside the recording material, and the toner image is transferred to extend beyond an edge of the recording material carried by said recording material carrying member, the image forming apparatus further including: a detecting device which detects the toner image that extends beyond the edge of the recording material and is transferred to said recording material carrying member in the marginless mode; and a control device which uses a detection result provided by said detecting device to control where said exposure device forms a latent image on said image bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takao Nada, Takuma Abe, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Tomonori Shida, Keisuke Mitsuhashi, Michio Uchida, Noritomo Yamaguchi, Tomoya Tateishi
  • Publication number: 20090052966
    Abstract: A toner image formed on an image bearing member is transferred onto a recording material so as to overflow from an edge portion of the recording material, thereby enabling the toner image to be formed so as to extend to the edge portion of the recording material. To suppress the deposition of the toner in the edge portion of the recording material, a cleaning member for cleaning the edge portion of the recording material obtained after the fixing is provided. In order to make a trailing edge of the recording material come into contact with the cleaning member, the recording material which has passed through a fixing apparatus is temporarily switched back, thereby allowing the trailing edge portion of the recording material to collide with the cleaning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Yamashita, Hisayuki Tomura, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Michio Uchida, Tomonori Shida, Keisuke Mitsuhashi, Takuma Abe, Takao Nada
  • Patent number: 6643480
    Abstract: A main body of an image forming apparatus has an image forming section to which a sheet is fed from an optional sheet deck when it is coupled to the main body. The sheet fed from the sheet feeding device is received and then forwarded to the image forming section by a sheet conveyor unit which is demountably provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus and is formed of a frame, a pair of conveying rollers within the frame, and a guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kuwata, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Yasuhiro Uchida, Makoto Izumi, Minoru Kawanishi, Kenichiro Isobe, Akira Matsushima
  • Publication number: 20020081124
    Abstract: A main body of an image forming apparatus has an image forming section to which a sheet is fed from an optional sheet deck when it is coupled to the main body. The sheet fed from the sheet feeding device is received and then forwarded to the image forming section by a sheet conveyor unit which is demountably provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus and is formed of a frame, a pair of conveying rollers within the frame, and a guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Takashi Kuwata, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Yasuhiro Uchida, Makoto Izumi, Minoru Kawanishi, Kenichiro Isobe, Akira Matsushima
  • Patent number: 6328301
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus comprising a sheet supporting means for supporting a sheet, a sheet supply means supported to contact with and separate from the sheet supported by the sheet supporting means and adapted to feed out the sheet by contacting with the sheet, a first biasing means for biasing the sheet supporting means toward the sheet supply means, and a second biasing means for biasing the sheet supply means toward the sheet supported by the sheet supporting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromichi Tsujii, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Masao Amano, Kazuhide Kudo
  • Patent number: 5788385
    Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by scanning a recording head, includes a scan unit for scanning the recording head by changing the scan speed of the recording head, and a control unit for controlling the scan unit to change the scan speed of the recording head according to the resolution of image data to be recorded by the recording head so as to perform recording. A recording controller for controlling the recording apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoshi Inoue, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Hiroyuki Kuriyama, Soji Hamano, Akihiko Hamamoto, Makoto Hinohara, Osamu Yamada
  • Patent number: 5721620
    Abstract: A facsimile apparatus performs head recovery processing for recovering the state of ink discharge of a plurality of ink heads for different colors. Mode determining circuitry determines a receiving mode and control circuitry controls the head recovery processing according to a receiving mode determined by the mode determining circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Arai, Kiyoharu Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 5710634
    Abstract: An output apparatus comprises a recording sheet conveying section having two feeder portions; a reader section for reading information which has been outputted onto a recording sheet; and an output section for outputting information onto a recording sheet. The apparatus determines whether a sheet set in a feeder portion is a print sheet or an original document, and performs reading and/or recording in accordance with the determination and/or an application being executed. The apparatus further has a memory for storing information which has been outputted onto a sheet and a comparator for comparing the information stored in the memory with the information read from the sheet by the reading section. Based on the comparison, the apparatus determines a proper manner (i.e., proper output position and orientation of the data) to output information onto the other side of the sheet, and also selects information to be outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kuriyama, Hiraku Sonobe, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Jun Miyamoto, Hidehiko Kajiya
  • Patent number: 5708954
    Abstract: This invention relates to a resupplying apparatus detachably attached to an image forming apparatus body which comprise a resupplying passage connecting a sheet material passage on a downstream side of an image forming means in the image forming apparatus body with another sheet material passage on an upstream side of the image forming means. Also, the resupplying apparatus comprises switchback conveying means placed in the resupplying passage for reversing the conveyance direction of the sheet material upon reception of the sheet material from a conveyer in the image forming apparatus body, said switchback conveying means at least partially assembled in the image forming apparatus body; and resupplying means for returning the sheet material to the upstream side of the image forming means through the resupplying passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Ando, Masanobu Kanoto, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Kazuhide Kudo, Makoto Nishigaki
  • Patent number: 5677827
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing a notebook type personal computer having an improved portability. In order to achieve this object, a battery, case which houses a battery B for supplying a power to a personal computer body is detachably attached to a housing. The battery case has such a shape that it also serves as a palm rest used when a keyboard is operated. The battery case has a battery case body for housing the battery B, and an attaching/detaching portion connected to the battery case body and attached to and detached from the housing. The battery case body is connected to the attaching/detaching portion to be pivotal in a direction of thickness of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Hiroya Miura, Munenori Shusa