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: 11943397
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus transmits a login request for logging into an external device to the external device, based on a short-range wireless communication being established between the information processing apparatus and the external device in a state where an application is operating in a background state on the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20240085823
    Abstract: A cartridge is configured to be attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus and configured to receive toner supplied from a supply container. The cartridge includes a supply port configured to receive the toner supplied from the supply container, a shutter member configured to cover the supply port, and a locking member. The locking member is moved from a lock position to an unlock position to allow movement of the shutter member by using electric power supplied from the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Koji Wada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 11923118
    Abstract: A coil component includes a drum core including a winding core portion extending in a first direction and a pair of flange portions provided at both ends of the winding core portion. At least one flange of the pair of flange portions has at least one step or gradient portion. A terminal electrode is provided on the step or gradient portion, and a wire is wound around the winding core portion with an end bonded to the terminal electrode. The terminal electrode includes plural metal layers, an outermost layer of which is an Sn film having a flattened mounting surface. The flattened mounting surface overlaps the step or gradient portion when seen in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhei Sato, Yuki Kanbe, Hiroyuki Maso, Masaaki Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20240069489
    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: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Masatoshi Yamashita, Satoshi Nishiya, Kazuhiko Kanno
  • Publication number: 20240061092
    Abstract: A cleaner for cleaning a transmissive portion of a sensor including a light receiving unit that receives light from a detection target via the transmissive portion is not operated by a cleaner control unit within a predetermined time after the drive of the cleaner is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori NAMBA, Masaaki SATO, Kiyotaka MOCHIZUKI
  • Publication number: 20240061359
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a detection unit configured to detect an amount of developer stored in a developing container and to output remaining amount information; and a control unit configured to perform control, during a replenishment of the developer to the developing container using a replenishment container, to cause a display unit to display a message related to the replenishment. When the replenishment is instructed, the control unit is further configured to perform a first control during the replenishment in a case where the remaining amount information indicates a first remaining amount, and configured to perform a second control different from the first control during the replenishment in a case where the remaining amount information indicates a second remaining amount greater than the first remaining amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: NOBUYUKI KOBAYASHI, KENICHI IIDA, MASAHIRO HAYAKAWA, MASAAKI SATO, HARUYUKI HOTTA
  • Publication number: 20240036497
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable and which includes an accommodating portion that accommodates developer and a replenishment port, an agitation member, an opening/closing member configured to be movable between a closed position and an open position, a drive source for driving the agitation member, and a control portion configured to control the drive source. The apparatus is configured such that image formation is not possible when the opening/closing member is at the open position, and the agitation member is capable of driving in a case where the opening/closing member is at the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Masaaki Sato, Hiroshi Takarada, Koji Fujinaka, Akitoshi Toyota, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida, Susumu Nittani
  • Patent number: 11874627
    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: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Masatoshi Yamashita, Satoshi Nishiya, Kazuhiko Kanno
  • Patent number: 11874612
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a detection unit configured to detect an amount of developer stored in a developing container and to output remaining amount information; and a control unit configured to perform control, during a replenishment of the developer to the developing container using a replenishment container, to cause a display unit to display a message related to the replenishment. When the replenishment is instructed, the control unit is further configured to perform a first control during the replenishment in a case where the remaining amount information indicates a first remaining amount, and configured to perform a second control different from the first control during the replenishment in a case where the remaining amount information indicates a second remaining amount greater than the first remaining amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Kenichi Iida, Masahiro Hayakawa, Masaaki Sato, Haruyuki Hotta
  • Publication number: 20240011689
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a main flow channel of a refrigerant, a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a branch channel, an expansion valve, a supercooling heat exchanger, an injection flow channel, and a control unit. The control unit determines, based on whether the determination condition is satisfied or not, a determination condition for adjusting an opening degree of the expansion valve and adjusts the opening degree of the expansion valve according to a first target value for a discharge temperature of the refrigerant from the compressor, or a second target value for a superheat degree of the refrigerant flowing through the injection flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Kohei Maruko, Shohei Arita, Masaaki Sato, Hiroichi Yamaguchi, Atsushi Baba, Yukio Kiguchi
  • Publication number: 20240011662
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the air conditioner comprises an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, a refrigerant cutoff unit, an airtight state detection unit, a notification unit, and a control unit. The control unit determines a refrigerant cutoff condition for whether or not to urge a flow of the refrigerant flowing into and from the indoor unit to be cut off and, if the refrigerant cutoff condition is satisfied, urges the refrigerant cutoff unit to cut off the flow, and urges the notification unit to notify a detection result of an airtight state of a pipe detected by the airtight state detection unit, in the indoor unit in which the flow of the refrigerant is cut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Atsushi Baba, Masaaki Sato, Hiroichi Yamaguchi, Yukio Kiguchi, Kohei Maruko, Shohei Arita
  • Patent number: 11846894
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container to accommodate developer containing toner, a developer bearing member to rotate while bearing the developer accommodated in the developer container and develop the electrostatic latent image borne on an image bearing member into a developer image, a detection portion to output remainder amount information corresponding to an amount of the developer accommodated in the developer container, and a notification portion capable of notifying a first state indicating that a remainder amount of the developer accommodated in the developer container is a first amount or more and a second state indicating that the remainder amount of the developer accommodated in the developer container is less than the first amount. The notification portion notifies one of a plurality of states including the first state and the second state on a basis of the remainder amount information output from the detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Koji Wada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Koji Fujinaka, Takao Sameshima, Tomio Noguchi, Akitoshi Toyota, Susumu Nittani
  • Patent number: 11846895
    Abstract: A cartridge is configured to be attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus and configured to receive toner supplied from a supply container. The cartridge includes a supply port configured to receive the toner supplied from the supply container, a shutter member configured to cover the supply port, and a locking member. The locking member is moved from a lock position to an unlock position to allow movement of the shutter member by using electric power supplied from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Wada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Masaaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20230400792
    Abstract: A toner container for use with an image forming apparatus is provided with a toner accommodating portion in which toner is accommodated; a base portion including a receiving opening for receiving the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion, a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the toner, received through the receiving opening, to an outside of the toner container, and a passage which is a passage extending from the receiving opening to the discharge opening and which is for permitting passing of the toner; and a shutter constituted so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the base between an open position where the discharge opening is exposed to the outside and a closed position where the shutter covers the discharge opening, wherein the passage extends in a direction in which the passage is inclined relative to the rotational axis so that the receiving opening is in a position where the receiving opening crosses the rotational axis and so that the discharge opening
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Koji Wada, Hiroshi Takarada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11819901
    Abstract: A tool for a press brake includes a tool main body, an attachment portion formed on a base end side of the tool main body and configured to be detachably attached to a tool installation portion of the press brake by using a tool changer, and a bending portion formed on a distal end side of the tool main body and used to bend a plate-shaped workpiece. An engagement hole having a circular cross-sectional shape to be engaged with a bar-shaped finger of the tool changer extends through the tool main body in a thickness direction. An anti-rotation bottomed depressed portion configured to receive a distal end of an anti-rotation member of the tool changer is formed in a vicinity of the engagement hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AMADA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Shiro Hayashi, Shingo Kamada, Hideto Yamada, Yohei Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20230367260
    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: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Akira Yoshimura, Tomio Noguchi, Yukio Kubo, Masaaki Sato, Satoshi Nishiya, Yosuke Kashiide
  • Patent number: 11809095
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable and which includes an accommodating portion that accommodates developer and a replenishment port, an agitation member, an opening/closing member configured to be movable between a closed position and an open position, a drive source for driving the agitation member, and a control portion configured to control the drive source. The apparatus is configured such that image formation is not possible when the opening/closing member is at the open position, and the agitation member is capable of driving in a case where the opening/closing member is at the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Masaaki Sato, Hiroshi Takarada, Koji Fujinaka, Akitoshi Toyota, Yuichiro Inaba, Kenichi Iida, Susumu Nittani
  • Patent number: 11774881
    Abstract: A toner container for use with an image forming apparatus is provided with a toner accommodating portion in which toner is accommodated; a base portion including a receiving opening for receiving the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion, a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the toner, received through the receiving opening, to an outside of the toner container, and a passage which is a passage extending from the receiving opening to the discharge opening and which is for permitting passing of the toner; and a shutter constituted so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the base between an open position where the discharge opening is exposed to the outside and a closed position where the shutter covers the discharge opening, wherein the passage extends in a direction in which the passage is inclined relative to the rotational axis so that the receiving opening is in a position where the receiving opening crosses the rotational axis and so that the discharge opening
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Koji Wada, Hiroshi Takarada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11772612
    Abstract: A vehicle cleaner system includes: a cleaner unit mounted on a vehicle and configured to clean an external sensor acquiring information on outside of the vehicle; an advanced notification information acquiring unit configured to acquire expressway advanced notification information notifying that the vehicle has arrived within a predetermined distance from an entrance of an expressway; and a cleaner control unit configured to, when the advanced notification information acquiring unit has acquired the expressway advanced notification information, control the cleaner unit to clean the external sensor or diagnose whether or not the external sensor needs to be cleaned by the cleaner unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Sakai, Kazuki Kawamura, Akinobu Kubota, Masaaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20230297024
    Abstract: A cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part movably supported by the frame and movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part. The movable part includes a first force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a second force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Yukio Kubo, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Koji Wada