Patents by Inventor Masahiko Yokota

Masahiko Yokota 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: 8520265
    Abstract: An engraving processing apparatus includes a laser engraving unit configured to perform engraving processing for forming a recessed portion on a sheet by irradiating a laser beam onto the sheet, and a controller configured to control an engraving processing operation of the laser engraving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Kosasa, Masahiko Yokota, Wataru Kawata, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda
  • Patent number: 7980542
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus configured to bind a sheet bundle includes a folding portion configured to fold the sheet bundle, a sheet processing portion provided upstream of the folding portion and configured to form a groove at a fold position of at least one sheet of the sheet bundle, and a controller configured to control an operation of the sheet processing portion. The controller controls an operation of the sheet processing portion such that a width of a groove formed on a sheet located on an outer side of the folded sheet bundle is larger than that of a groove formed on a sheet located on an inner side of the folded sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Masahiko Yokota, Hideaki Kosasa, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7817939
    Abstract: When removing a sheet that is undesirably attached to a pressure belt as a result of a jam, if the sheet is pulled in the width direction of the pressure belt, the pressure belt may undesirably move in the width direction. This will make it difficult to perform a subsequent jam recovery operation properly. In order to solve this problem, a belt gripping roller can be brought into pressure contact with the pressure belt in the event of a jam, so as to prevent the pressure belt from being moved accidentally in the width direction while the jam is being cleared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Takahashi, Masahiko Yokota
  • Patent number: 7758032
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus configured to bind a sheet bundle includes a folding portion configured to fold the sheet bundle, a sheet processing portion provided upstream of the folding portion and configured to form a groove at a fold position of at least one sheet of the sheet bundle, and a controller configured to control an operation of the sheet processing portion. The controller controls an operation of the sheet processing portion such that a width of a groove formed on a sheet located on an outer side of the folded sheet bundle is larger than that of a groove formed on a sheet located on an inner side of the folded sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Masahiko Yokota, Hideaki Kosasa, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7684745
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus including an endless belt for heating an image on a recording material; a supporting member for supporting the belt; a coil for induction heat generation in the belt; control means for controlling a position of the belt in a widthwise direction by inclining the supporting member so as to maintain the position of the belt in the widthwise direction within a predetermined target range; and suppressing means for suppressing a variation of a distance between the belt and the coil with a variation of inclination of the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Uchida, Masahiko Yokota, Kazuhisa Okuda, Michiaki Endo, Takatoshi Chiba, Shinsuke Ubayashi, Hiromasa Katayama
  • Publication number: 20090315241
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus configured to bind a sheet bundle includes a folding portion configured to fold the sheet bundle, a sheet processing portion provided upstream of the folding portion and configured to form a groove at a fold position of at least one sheet of the sheet bundle, and a controller configured to control an operation of the sheet processing portion. The controller controls an operation of the sheet processing portion such that a width of a groove formed on a sheet located on an outer side of the folded sheet bundle is larger than that of a groove formed on a sheet located on an inner side of the folded sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Masahiko Yokota, Hideaki Kosasa, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7593668
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of mounting an internal unit in a main body chassis thereof, in which a position of a sheet conveying portion for conveying a sheet to the internal unit, with respect to the internal unit is adjusted by a first adjustment portion, and a position of a sheet discharge portion which discharges the sheet having an image formed thereon, with respect to the internal unit is adjusted by a second adjustment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Yokota, Toshiyuki Nagano, Hiroaki Miyake
  • Patent number: 7546078
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt for heating an image on a recording material at a nip; a pressing pad for pressing the belt at the nip; a supporting member for supporting the belt at an inner surface thereof, the supporting member being displaceable to move the belt in a widthwise direction of the belt; a lubricant application member for applying lubricant onto the inner surface of the belt; and displacing means for displacing the lubricant application member in accordance with a displacement of the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Okuda, Masahiko Yokota, Michiaki Endo, Shinsuke Ubayashi, Takatoshi Chiba, Hiromasa Katayama, Hiromitsu Uchida
  • Patent number: 7505725
    Abstract: An apparatus for inclining a roller on which a pressure belt is suspended to perform a deviation control of the pressure belt, which can well perform the deviation control of the pressure belt even when the pressure belt has been spaced apart from a fixing roller. A fixing device is provided with a pressure belt suspended on rollers, a deviation control device adjusting the deviation of the pressure belt, and a pressure unit bringing the pressure belt into pressure contact with a fixing roller to form a nip portion. The deviation control device is designed to be moved with the pressure unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromasa Katayama, Kazuhisa Okuda, Michiaki Endo, Masahiko Yokota, Shinsuke Ubayashi, Takatoshi Chiba, Hiromitsu Uchida
  • Patent number: 7480480
    Abstract: In a fixing apparatus capable of reducing unevenness in temperature distribution in an axial direction while reducing heat loss at an end portion, a fixing belt 11 extended around a fixation roller 13 and a fixation tension roller 14 is heated by a coil unit 28 for effecting induction heating. The fixation tension roller 14 is assembled by inserting a heat pipe 15 into a hollow roller 14a. At both end portions, the hollow roller 14a is covered with a cover portion having small holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiaki Endo, Masahiko Yokota, Kazuhisa Okuda, Takatoshi Chiba, Shinsuke Ubayashi, Hiromasa Katayama, Hiromitsu Uchida
  • Publication number: 20090003866
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus including an endless belt for heating an image on a recording material; a supporting member for supporting the belt; a coil for induction heat generation in the belt; control means for controlling a position of the belt in a widthwise direction by inclining the supporting member so as to maintain the position of the belt in the widthwise direction within a predetermined target range; and suppressing means for suppressing a variation of a distance between the belt and the coil with a variation of inclination of the supporting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu UCHIDA, Masahiko YOKOTA, Kazuhisa OKUDA, Michiaki ENDO, Takatoshi CHIBA, Shinsuke UBAYASHI, Hiromasa KATAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20080317524
    Abstract: When removing a sheet that is undesirably attached to a pressure belt as a result of a jam, if the sheet is pulled in the width direction of the pressure belt, the pressure belt may undesirably move in the width direction. This will make it difficult to perform a subsequent jam recovery operation properly. In order to solve this problem, a belt gripping roller can be brought into pressure contact with the pressure belt in the event of a jam, so as to prevent the pressure belt from being moved accidentally in the width direction while the jam is being cleared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Takahashi, Masahiko Yokota
  • Patent number: 7424261
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus including an endless belt for heating an image on a recording material; a supporting member for supporting the belt; a coil for induction heat generation in the belt; control means for controlling a position of the belt in a widthwise direction by inclining the supporting member so as to maintain the position of the belt in the widthwise direction within a predetermined target range; and suppressing means for suppressing a variation of a distance between the belt and the coil with a variation of inclination of the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Uchida, Masahiko Yokota, Kazuhisa Okuda, Michiaki Endo, Takatoshi Chiba, Shinsuke Ubayashi, Hiromasa Katayama
  • Patent number: 7391544
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an original resting glass sheet for resting allowing an original thereon, a support device for supporting an end portion of the original resting glass sheet, and a movable image reading unit for reading image information of the original, wherein the support device is provided with a cutout for preventing the support device from coming into contact with the image reading unit when the image reading unit moves outwardly beyond the end portion of the original resting glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Yokota
  • Patent number: 7391996
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus comprising: an exposing means and a developing means. The developing means comprises a plurality of developing devices, a rotating member rotatable while supporting the plurality of the developing devices, and a driving means for the rotation drive of the rotating member for selectively moving the plurality of the developing devices to the developing position such that the driving means transmits driving force to the rotating member via a gear at a drive transmitting position. An angle ?e(°) formed by a straight line linking the rotation center of the rotating member and the drive transmitting position and the tangent of the image bearing member at an exposing position in the image bearing member moving direction satisfies the following relationship with the premise that an pressure angle of the gear is ?(°) and the image bearing member rotating direction is positive:????e??.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Yokota, Tetsuya Nagase, Hiroshi Nakahata, Toshihiko Kudo, Yukihiro Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20080061489
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus configured to bind a sheet bundle includes a folding portion configured to fold the sheet bundle, a sheet processing portion provided upstream of the folding portion and configured to form a groove at a fold position of at least one sheet of the sheet bundle, and a controller configured to control an operation of the sheet processing portion. The controller controls an operation of the sheet processing portion such that a width of a groove formed on a sheet located on an outer side of the folded sheet bundle is larger than that of a groove formed on a sheet located on an inner side of the folded sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Masahiko Yokota, Hideaki Kosasa, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima
  • Publication number: 20070291102
    Abstract: An engraving processing apparatus includes a laser engraving unit configured to perform engraving processing for forming a recessed portion on a sheet by irradiating a laser beam onto the sheet, and a controller configured to control an engraving processing operation of the laser engraving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Kosasa, Masahiko Yokota, Wataru Kawata, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda
  • Publication number: 20070231012
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus comprising: an exposing means and a developing means. The developing means comprises a plurality of developing devices, a rotating member rotatable while supporting the plurality of the developing devices, and a driving means for the rotation drive of the rotating member for selectively moving the plurality of the developing devices to the developing position such that the driving means transmits driving force to the rotating member via a gear at a drive transmitting position. An angle ?e(°) formed by a straight line linking the rotation center of the rotating member and the drive transmitting position and the tangent of the image bearing member at an exposing position in the image bearing member moving direction satisfies the following relationship with the premise that an pressure angle of the gear is ?(°) and the image bearing member rotating direction is positive:????e??.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Yokota, Tetsuya Nagase, Hiroshi Nakahata, Toshihiko Kudo, Yukihiro Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20070230995
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of mounting an internal unit in a main body chassis thereof, in which a position of a sheet conveying portion for conveying a sheet to the internal unit, with respect to the internal unit is adjusted by a first adjustment portion, and a position of a sheet discharge portion which discharges the sheet having an image formed thereon, with respect to the internal unit is adjusted by a second adjustment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiko Yokota, Toshiyuki Nagano, Hiroaki Miyake
  • Publication number: 20070212133
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus including an endless belt for heating an image on a recording material; a supporting member for supporting the belt; a coil for induction heat generation in the belt; control means for controlling a position of the belt in a widthwise direction by inclining the supporting member so as to maintain the position of the belt in the widthwise direction within a predetermined target range; and suppressing means for suppressing a variation of a distance between the belt and the coil with a variation of inclination of the supporting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Uchida, Masahiko Yokota, Kazuhisa Okuda, Michiaki Endo, Takatoshi Chiba, Shinsuke Ubayashi, Hiromasa Katayama