Patents by Inventor Makoto Hayashida

Makoto Hayashida 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: 11927913
    Abstract: A cartridge unit includes: a first unit which includes a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion; and a second unit which includes a first supported portion, a second supported portion, and a storage member, the storage member including a memory contact, and a contact arrangement surface on which the memory contact is disposed. The second unit rotates from a first position to a second position in a state in which the first supported portion is supported by the first supporting portion and the second supported portion is supported by the second supporting portion to be positioned with respect to the first unit. A normal direction of the contact arrangement surface faces toward a direction in which the memory contact is exposed. The normal direction faces toward a direction opposite to a direction in which the second unit is directed from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tomonori Mori, Makoto Hayashida
  • Publication number: 20240077829
    Abstract: A foreign substance collection apparatus includes: a frame body; a photosensitive drum; a cleaning roller which collects foreign substances from a surface of the photosensitive drum; a collecting roller which further collects the foreign substances having been collected by the cleaning roller from the cleaning roller; and a scraping member which scrapes off the foreign substances from the collecting roller. A foreign substance collecting portion included in the frame body has, in a posture during use: a first inner bottom surface which is positioned below the scraping member in a gravity direction; an outer bottom surface which is positioned further below the first inner bottom surface; and a connecting surface which intersects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface and which connects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuuki Nakamura, Satoru Motohashi
  • Publication number: 20230418219
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member and a second unit including a developer bearing member. The second unit is swingable with respect to the first unit. The second unit includes a pressed portion to be pressed by a pressing member of the apparatus body. When viewed in an axial direction, (i) the swing axis and the pressed portion are arranged on opposite sides to each other with respect to a virtual straight line, (ii) the pressed portion, the swing axis, and the first axis are arranged in the named order in an interaxial direction, and (iii) a distance from the pressed portion to the swing axis in the interaxial direction is longer than a distance from the swing axis to the first axis in the interaxial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: YUKO HARADA, SHUNSUKE URATANI, MAKOTO HAYASHIDA, TETSUO UESUGI
  • Publication number: 20230418208
    Abstract: A toner container includes a first chamber for accommodating toner and provided with an outlet port through which the toner is discharged outside of the toner container, a second chamber provided with an inlet port and for accommodating toner to be received from an outside of the toner container through the inlet port, a stirring member for stirring the toner accommodated in the first chamber and to rotate about a rotational axis, and an air supply unit configured to supply air for discharging the toner accommodated in the first chamber to an outside of the toner container through the outlet port. The air supply unit, the first chamber, and the second chamber are aligned in this order in a direction of the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: MAKOTO HAYASHIDA, Yuuki Nakamura, Go Torll, Takayuki Yada
  • Publication number: 20230418209
    Abstract: A cartridge including a rotatable image bearing member which bears a developer, a cleaning member for removing a developer remaining on a surface of the image bearing member, the cleaning member having a contact portion in contact with the surface of the image bearing member and a support portion which supports the contact portion, a developer recovering portion which recovers the developer removed by the cleaning member, a first conveyance member which is disposed inside the developer recovering portion and conveys the recovered developer in a rotation axis direction of the image bearing member, and a second conveyance member which conveys the developer conveyed by the first conveyance member in a direction crossing the rotation axis direction toward a discharge port provided in the developer recovering portion, is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Naoki Maeda, Shunsuke Uratani, Makoto Hayashida, Tetsuo Uesugi, Yuuki Nakamura, Joji Goto
  • Patent number: 11841668
    Abstract: A foreign substance collection apparatus includes: a frame body; a photosensitive drum; a cleaning roller which collects foreign substances from a surface of the photosensitive drum; a collecting roller which further collects the foreign substances having been collected by the cleaning roller from the cleaning roller; and a scraping member which scrapes off the foreign substances from the collecting roller. A foreign substance collecting portion included in the frame body has, in a posture during use: a first inner bottom surface which is positioned below the scraping member in a gravity direction; an outer bottom surface which is positioned further below the first inner bottom surface; and a connecting surface which intersects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface and which connects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuuki Nakamura, Satoru Motohashi
  • Publication number: 20230375976
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a coupling member provided adjacent to a first end of a casing. The coupling member is operatively connected to a developing roller, and the coupling member is rotatable about a rotational axis thereof. The coupling member includes (i) a cylindrical portion, (ii) a first projection at least partially positioned inside of the cylindrical portion, (iii) a second projection at least partially positioned inside of the cylindrical portion, (iv) an elastically movable projection at least partially positioned inside of the cylindrical portion, and (v) a wall extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis and positioned between a second end of the casing and the first and second projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Tetsuo Uesugi, Makoto Hayashida, Koji Yamaguchi, Takashi Yano
  • Publication number: 20230350340
    Abstract: A developing unit, which is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive member unit, includes: a developing roller; a housing in which a holding space that holds toner is formed; and a pressing receiving portion that receives pressing force from a pressing member. The housing includes a first bottom portion that projects toward an outer side of the holding space, and a second bottom portion that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use. When viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller, at least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Noriyuki KOMATSU, Tomonori MORI, Teruhiko SASAKI, Makoto HAYASHIDA, Naoki MAEDA, Satoru HARADA
  • Patent number: 11762330
    Abstract: A coupling member is provided for a cartridge that includes a cylindrical photosensitive drum that is rotatable about an axis. The coupling member is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum and is capable of receiving a rotational force for rotating the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Uesugi, Makoto Hayashida, Koji Yamaguchi, Takashi Yano
  • Patent number: 11740585
    Abstract: A developing unit, which is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive member unit, includes: a developing roller; a housing in which a holding space that holds toner is formed; and a pressing receiving portion that receives pressing force from a pressing member. The housing includes a first bottom portion that projects toward an outer side of the holding space, and a second bottom portion that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use. When viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller, at least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Naoki Maeda, Satoru Harada
  • Patent number: 11669038
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a projection portion provided in a first region of an upper surface of a frame in a vertical direction. The projection portion projects more upward than second regions between which the first region is interposed. An inside of the projection portion is a space that is part of a developer accommodating portion. The projection portion is configured to pass through a space under an abutting portion while being elastically deformed by the abutted portion being pressed by the abutting portion after the cartridge is transitioned from the first posture to the second posture in accordance with movement of the cartridge in the attaching direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Kawakami, Yosuke Kashiide, Makoto Hayashida, Noriyuki Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20230032591
    Abstract: A photosensitive member unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a first main assembly side helical gear portion and a second main assembly side helical gear portion which are coaxially rotatable, the photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member rotatable about a rotational axis thereof; a first unit side helical gear portion for meshing engagement with the first main assembly side helical gear portion; and a second unit side helical gear portion for meshing engagement with the second main assembly side helical gear portion, wherein a twisting direction of a tooth of the second unit side helical gear portion is the same as the twisting direction of a tooth of first unit side helical gear portion, wherein a helix angle of the tooth of the second unit side helical gear portion is larger than a helix angle of the tooth of the first unit side helical gear portion, and wherein the first unit side helical gear portion and the se
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Makoto Hayashida, Takatoshi Hamada, Yusuke Niikawa, Akinobu Hirayama, Toshiki Fujino, Tachio Kawai, Teruhiko Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20220382186
    Abstract: A developing unit, which is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive member unit, includes: a developing roller; a housing in which a holding space that holds toner is formed; and a pressing receiving portion that receives pressing force from a pressing member. The housing includes a first bottom portion that projects toward an outer side of the holding space, and a second bottom portion that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use. When viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller, at least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Naoki Maeda, Satoru Harada
  • Patent number: 11500305
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive member and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a frame to store toner, a developing roller to carry the toner, a side seal to contact an end portion of the developing roller and prevent the toner from leaking out, and a sealing sheet to contact a center portion of the developing roller and prevent the toner from leaking out. A toner receiving portion of the frame includes an opening facing the developing roller and is disposed on an upstream side of the side seal and a downstream side of a contact portion where the developing roller contacts the photosensitive member, and moreover is disposed at a position overlapping with the side seal. The developing unit includes a blocking member to block at least a part of the opening, and the blocking member is disposed between the opening and the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Masakazu Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 11454924
    Abstract: A developing unit, which is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive member unit, includes: a developing roller; a housing in which a holding space that holds toner is formed; and a pressing receiving portion that receives pressing force from a pressing member. The housing includes a first bottom portion that projects toward an outer side of the holding space, and a second bottom portion that projects toward the outer side of the holding space, in a state in use. When viewed in a direction of a rotation axis of the developing roller, at least part of the pressing receiving portion is located in a space surrounded by the first bottom portion, the second bottom portion, and a tangent line tangent to both an outer wall of the first bottom portion and an outer wall of the second bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Naoki Maeda, Satoru Harada
  • Patent number: 11442404
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling member including an arm portion and a projection projecting from the arm portion. The arm portion of the coupling member extends from a point that is upstream in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum towards a point that is downstream in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Uesugi, Makoto Hayashida, Koji Yamaguchi, Takashi Yano
  • Patent number: 11442405
    Abstract: A drum unit for a cartridge includes a cylindrical photosensitive drum having an axis L1 and a coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum. The coupling member includes a first member having a cylindrical portion, a part of the first member being positioned inside of the photosensitive drum and a part of the first member being positioned outside of the photosensitive drum. The coupling member also includes a second member operatively connected to first member, the second member including a plurality of arm portions that are movable relative to the first member, with at least a part of each of the arm portions being positioned inside of the photosensitive drum and inside of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Uesugi, Makoto Hayashida, Koji Yamaguchi, Takashi Yano
  • Patent number: 11435693
    Abstract: A coupling member drum unit for a cartridge includes a cylindrical photosensitive drum having an axis L1 and a coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum. The coupling member includes a drum flange provided at an end of the photosensitive drum, with a part of the drum flange being positioned inside of the photosensitive drum, and a connecting part operatively connected to the drum flange. The connecting part includes a cap positioned adjacent to the drum flange, an arm portion extending from the cap in a direction of the axis L1, and a projection projecting from the arm portion in a direction perpendicular to the axis L1, with the projection being movable between a first position and a second position, and with an end of the projection being closer to the axis L1 in the first position than in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Uesugi, Makoto Hayashida, Koji Yamaguchi, Takashi Yano
  • Publication number: 20220221807
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a cartridge including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer is detachably mountable includes an image bearing member, an exposure unit for exposing the image bearing member to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member, a light receiving portion provided in the cartridge and for receiving the light emitted from the exposure unit, and a detecting portion for detecting vibration of the cartridge from a light reception value of the light received by the light receiving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Kohei Matsuda, Junko Hirata, Kazunori Hashimoto, Yasushi Katsuta, Makoto Hayashida, Yasunori Toriyama, Hiroomi Matsuzaki, Fumito Nonaka, Kazuki Matsumoto, Tetsuya Nishiguchi
  • Publication number: 20220214641
    Abstract: A foreign substance collection apparatus includes: a frame body; a photosensitive drum; a cleaning roller which collects foreign substances from a surface of the photosensitive drum; a collecting roller which further collects the foreign substances having been collected by the cleaning roller from the cleaning roller; and a scraping member which scrapes off the foreign substances from the collecting roller. A foreign substance collecting portion included in the frame body has, in a posture during use: a first inner bottom surface which is positioned below the scraping member in a gravity direction; an outer bottom surface which is positioned further below the first inner bottom surface; and a connecting surface which intersects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface and which connects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuuki Nakamura, Satoru Motohashi