Patents by Inventor Masaaki Sato

Masaaki Sato 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: 9429906
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion for mounting a process cartridge, the process cartridge including a first unit having an image bearing drum, and a second unit having a developing roller, the second unit being movable between a contact position in which the roller contacts the drum and a spaced position in which they are mutually spaced; an engageable member engageable with a force receiving portion provided on the second unit; wherein the engageable member is movable between a first position for maintaining the second unit in the spaced position by engaging with the force receiving portion, a second position for permitting movement of the second unit from the spaced position to the contact position; and a third position for permitting the process cartridge to be mounted, by being pressed by the process cartridge to retract, when the process cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Tomio Noguchi, Yukio Kubo, Masaaki Sato, Satoshi Nishiya, Yosuke Kashiide
  • Patent number: 9429877
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes (i) a rotatable developing roller for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member; (ii) a first drive transmission member capable of receiving a rotational force originated by the main assembly; (iii) a second drive transmission member capable of coupling with the first drive transmission member and capable of transmitting the rotational force received by the first drive transmission member to the developing roller; and (iv) a coupling disconnection member including a force receiving portion capable of receiving the force originated by the main assembly, and an urging portion capable of urging at least one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member by the force received by the force receiving portion to separate one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member from the other, thereby disconnecting t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Masatoshi Yamashita, Satoshi Nishiya, Kazuhiko Kanno
  • Publication number: 20160242647
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes an irradiation system including at least one light irradiator to irradiate light onto an object under test; and a detection system detecting the light that is irradiated from the irradiation system and is propagated in the object under test. Further, the light irradiator irradiates non-parallel plural light beams on a same position of the object under test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicants: RICOH COMPANY, LTD., ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Toshihiro ISHII, Yoichiro TAKAHASHI, Satoru SUGAWARA, Takeaki SHIMOKAWA, Okito YAMASHITA, Masaaki SATO
  • Publication number: 20160216121
    Abstract: A vehicular information provision system for providing information to at least one of the inside and outside of a traveling vehicle includes a server configured to associate output data outputted from the vehicle with event identification information for identifying a predetermined event depending on a position on a map and hold the associated output data and event identification information, an on-board unit which is to be mounted on the vehicle and configured to specify a vehicle position based on positioning information acquired by a satellite-positioning system and pre-acquired map information and output the event identification information correlating with the specified vehicle position, and an information provision apparatus which is to be mounted on the vehicle and configured to acquire the output data correlating with the event identification information acquired from the on-board unit from the server and cause the output data to be outputted from an output unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Kyoko OSHIMA, Ryota HIURA, Masaaki SATO, Kazunori SUGIURA
  • Publication number: 20160210851
    Abstract: There is provided an operating management system including: on-board units (100) that are each mounted on a plurality of vehicles (1a, 1b, . . . ) and are configured to be capable of acquiring travel information which includes positional information of the vehicles (1a, 1b, . . . ); and an operating management apparatus (600) that includes a travel-information acquisition unit which acquires the travel information from the on-board units (100) of the plurality of vehicles (1a, 1b, . . . ) and an evaluation unit which evaluates driving of the vehicles (1a, 1b, . . . ), based on relative operating states, for the plurality of vehicles (1a, 1b, . . . ) specified based on the travel information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Kyoko OSHIMA, Ryota HIURA, Masaaki SATO, Kazunori SUGIURA
  • Patent number: 9359927
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine, which is provided with: a low pressure EGR mechanism that is equipped with a low pressure EGR passage and a low pressure EGR valve; a selective reduction type catalyst that is arranged in a portion of the exhaust passage downstream; a supply device which serves to supply an ammonia derived compound to said selective reduction type catalyst; and a control unit that causes said supply device to supply the ammonia derived compound when said low pressure EGR valve is in a valve open state, makes the amount of the ammonia derived compound supplied from said supply device larger in cases where an amount of the low pressure EGR gas flowing through said low pressure EGR passage is large, in comparison with the case where it is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Bungo Kawaguchi, Tomihisa Oda, Tomomi Onishi, Masaaki Sato, Satoshi Kobayakawa, Takeru Shirasawa
  • Publication number: 20160139753
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus has a web browser operating thereon. When intent information is specified via the web browser while a first site is being browsed using a first tab, the information processing apparatus stores information related to the first tab and displays, using a second tab, a second site corresponding to the specified intent information via the web browser. Until the second tab is closed, the web browser restricts an operation on the first site using the first tab related to the stored information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventor: Masaaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20160124347
    Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a flexible container provided with an opening and configured to accommodate developer, and a frame member configured to accommodate the flexible container. The remanufacturing method includes refilling the developer into the flexible container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Yuta Isobe, Takashi Kase, Kouki Yano, Takahiro Ikeda, Yusuke Usui, Shinjiro Toba, Masaaki Sato, Yosuke Kashiide, Satoshi Nishiya, Tatsuya Suzuki, Kohei Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9297752
    Abstract: In order to solve a problem that a local optical characteristic-changed region inside an object cannot be accurately estimated, an object observing apparatus includes: a light intensity information acquiring unit that acquires light intensity information received by each light-receiving probe; a light intensity change information acquiring unit that acquires, for each probe set, light intensity change information, from reference light intensity information and light intensity information; an estimating unit that acquires three-dimensional optical characteristic-changed region information, using the light intensity change information; and an output unit that outputs the optical characteristic-changed region information; the estimating unit including a correcting part that performs correction according to sensitivity attenuation in accordance with a depth; and a sparseness applying part that introduces sparseness for improving a space resolution, thereby acquiring the optical characteristic-changed region infor
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International
    Inventors: Takeaki Shimokawa, Takashi Kosaka, Okito Yamashita, Masaaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20160065788
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an installation unit configured to install an application, a setting unit configured to perform setting of whether user authentication is to be executed for each of a plurality of applications including the application installed by the installation unit, and a determination unit configured to determine whether user authentication is to be executed based on the setting performed by the setting unit when an application is selected from among the plurality of applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hosoda, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 9254517
    Abstract: An upper die is removable in an up-down direction with respect to an upper die mounting groove that is arranged in a left-right direction at a lower part of an upper table of a press brake. The upper die includes a stop piece having a stop projection that is engageable with a stop groove that is formed in the left-right direction in each of upper die contact faces which face each other in a front-rear direction, the stop piece being movable out of and into a surface of the upper die and pushed in a direction to project out of the surface of the upper die. A bottom face of the stop projection for engaging with the stop groove is an inclined face that rises toward a front end of the stop projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: AMADA COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Yousuke Onagi
  • Patent number: 9250607
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus loadable with a cartridge includes a supporting member, carrying the cartridge, movable between an inside position and an outside position. The supporting member is provided with a first regulating portion to limit the cartridge in one of the longitudinal directions and a second regulating portion to limit movement of the cartridge in the other longitudinal directions. In addition, a third regulating portion limits the supporting member in the one longitudinal direction, and a fourth regulating portion limits the supporting member in the other longitudinal direction. The first, second, third and fourth regulating portions are all provided at the one longitudinal end portion side and outside an image forming region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Fukui, Noritomo Yamaguchi, Masaaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20160026151
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a supporting member that detachably supports a cartridge between a first position at an image formable position and a second position retracted from the first position. A first engaging portion in the main assembly supports the cartridge by engaging with a first engaged portion on the cartridge when the supporting member is in the first position, and a second engaging portion in the main assembly suppresses rotation of the cartridge about the first engaging portion by engaging with a second engaged portion provided on the cartridge when the supporting member is in the first position. When the supporting member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engaged portion moves to a side downstream of the second engaging portion with respect to a movement direction of the supporting member to disengage from the second engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Masatoshi Yamashita, Toshiharu Kawai
  • Publication number: 20150362859
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller 210d that develops, by way of a developer, an electrostatic latent image that is formed on an image bearing member 207; a developer regulating member that regulates the thickness of a developer carried on the developing roller 210d; and a frame 214a that rotatably supports the developing roller 210d and supports the developer regulating member. The frame 214a has a developing roller support section 214a1 that rotatably supports an outer peripheral face 210d6 of at least one end of the developing roller 210d. The developing roller support section 214a1 has a clearance at a position that, when viewed in the axial direction of the developing roller 210d, overlaps a contact region at which the developing roller 210d is in contact with the image bearing member 207.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Kensuke Sato, Masaaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20150352736
    Abstract: This slit blade block includes multiple comb teeth adjacent to multiple outer blade pieces. Each comb tooth has a leading end surface, and a protruding part protruding in a direction away from the outer blade pieces. The protruding parts include an apical part that is the outermost end in said direction away from the outer blade pieces. The leading end surfaces of the protruding parts are positioned between the leading end surfaces and the base end surfaces of the adjacent outer blade pieces. Length L1 in the height direction, defined by the apical part of the protruding parts and the leading end surfaces of the protruding parts, is less than or equal to thickness L2 of the outer blade pieces, defined by the leading end surface and the base end surface of the outer blade pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Shunsuke KOMORI, Hiroaki SHIMIZU, Masaaki SATO, Toshio IKUTA
  • Publication number: 20150322839
    Abstract: The purpose is to prevent ammonia from flowing out of a NOx selective reduction catalyst when an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into a NOx storage/reduction catalyst decreases. An NSR catalyst, a NOx sensor, and an SCR catalyst are provided in an exhaust passage in sequence from an upstream side, and a control apparatus is further provided to determine an amount of ammonia supplied to the NOx selective catalytic reduction catalyst on the basis of a detection value of the NOx sensor. When the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx storage/reduction catalyst is set at or below a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, an amount of ammonia supplied from an ammonia supply apparatus relative to the detection value of the NOx sensor is decreased so as to be smaller than when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is larger than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomihisa ODA, Makoto OGISO, Masaaki SATO
  • Publication number: 20150258594
    Abstract: A sheet material bending system includes a tool changing apparatus that changes tools between a press brake and a tool stocker. The tool stocker is arranged behind the press brake. To change tools from the front and rear of the tool stocker, the front and rear of the tool stocker are opened. The tool changing apparatus has a pivot that is movable in front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions and is rotatable around an axis extending in the up-down direction. A front end of the pivot is provided with tool holding units to hold tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: AMADA COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 9137393
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that executes process according to a job flow in which cooperation process in a plurality of apparatuses is defined, and that, when a function has been added that is equivalent to process that has been defined in the job flow, can utilize the equivalent added function in the job flow without a user manually re-editing the job flow. The present invention also provides a method for controlling such an image processing apparatus. To accomplish this, the present image processing apparatus, in a job flow in which a plurality of processes are executed cooperatively by a plurality of apparatuses, executes the job flow in an optimized manner using priority information that indicates the priority of apparatuses that execute each process, and mount function information that indicates the function mounted by each apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: D752811
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensaku Okabe, Hiroaki Shimizu, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: D758018
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensaku Okabe, Hiroaki Shimizu, Masaaki Sato