Patents by Inventor Masanari Morioka

Masanari Morioka 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).

  • Publication number: 20240118657
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a casing, a photosensitive drum, and a coupling operatively connected to the photosensitive drum. The coupling includes a guiding portion, an engaging portion, and a visor portion. The visor portion projects outwardly in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the coupling. The visor portion covers a space downstream of the engaging portion in the rotational direction of the coupling or the visor portion is positioned upstream of the guiding portion in the rotational direction of the coupling and adjacent to the guiding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Takeo Kawanami, Yu Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11906927
    Abstract: [TASK] To further develop prior art technique. [SOLUTION] A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling. the coupling includes a main body and a movable member movable relative to the main body. The movable member includes an engaging portion which is capable of entering between a driving force application member and a braking force application member by the movement relative to the main body. The movable member receives a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum, from the driving force application member and also receives a braking force applying a load against rotation of the photosensitive drum, from the braking force application member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe, Masanari Morioka, Takeo Kawanami, Yu Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11774876
    Abstract: A seal member includes a seal surface that comes into contact with and slides with an end portion of an outer circumferential surface of a developing roller. The seal surface includes a first seal region configured of a plurality of first fiber bundles including a first fiber having a charge property that repels a developer, and a second seal region configured of a plurality of second fiber bundles including a second fiber having a charge property that attracts the developer, both extending in an inclined direction such that a portion thereof closer to an opening portion of a frame body of a developing unit is located further downstream in a rotating direction of the developing roller, and being alternately disposed in the rotating direction, and a proportion of a portion occupied by the second fiber bundles on the seal surface is at least 5% and not more than 60%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Fukasawa, Seiya Ishikawa, Masanari Morioka
  • Publication number: 20230305486
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprises a main assembly that includes moving force applying portion, a main assembly engaging portion having a driving shaft and a rotational force applying portion provided on the driving shaft, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly without dismounting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the main assembly. The cartridge includes a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a rotatable member for transmitting a rotational force to the developing roller, and a coupling member including a rotational force receiving portion engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force from the main assembly engaging portion, and a rotational force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force to the rotatable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Publication number: 20230297023
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis thereof and a drum flange provided at one end portion of the photosensitive drum. The cartridge also includes a coupling member operatively connected to the drum flange, with the coupling member being configured to transmit a driving force to the drum flange. The coupling member includes at least one projection for receiving the driving force, with the at least one projection being movable with the coupling member in the direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum. A spring is provided to urge the coupling member along the axis of the photosensitive drum. At least a part of the spring and at least a part of the coupling member are positioned within a hollow interior portion of the drum flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka, Masato Hisano
  • Patent number: 11720054
    Abstract: A process cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a driving shaft, to be driven by a motor, having a rotational force applying portion, wherein the process cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, the process cartridge includes i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof; ii) process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; iii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka, Masato Hisano
  • Patent number: 11675308
    Abstract: A cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, a rotatable member for transmitting a rotational force to the developing roller, a coupling member, and a frame. The coupling member is capable of moving between a first coupling member position in which the coupling axis is substantially coaxial with the rotational axis of the rotatable member and a second coupling member position in which the coupling axis is not coaxial with the rotational axis of the rotatable member. When the frame is in a first frame position, the coupling member is in the first coupling member position and a rotational force receiving portion of the coupling member engages with a rotational force applying portion of the apparatus, and, when the frame is in the second frame position, the coupling member is in the second coupling member position and the rotational force receiving portion engages with the rotational force applying portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Publication number: 20230176519
    Abstract: [SOLUTION] A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling. the coupling includes a main body and a movable member movable relative to the main body. The movable member includes an engaging portion which is capable of entering between a driving force application member and a braking force application member by the movement relative to the main body. The movable member receives a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum, from the driving force application member and also receives a braking force applying a load against rotation of the photosensitive drum, from the braking force application member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe, Masanari Morioka, Takeo Kawanami, Yu Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20230082891
    Abstract: In a cartridge assembly, a cartridge frame is configured to limit a movable amount of a photosensitive drum with respect to the frame in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum to a first amount in the case where a cover member is apart from the frame, and the cover member has a held portion held by the frame and a limiting portion configured to limit the movable amount of the photosensitive drum with respect to the frame to a second amount smaller than the first amount by contacting with a longitudinal end surface of the photosensitive drum in the case where the photosensitive drum moves in the longitudinal direction when the cover member is mounted on the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Isao Koishi, Naoki Hayashi, Masanari Morioka
  • Publication number: 20230075423
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a casing rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum so as to be capable of transmitting a driving force toward the photosensitive drum. The coupling includes a main body, a movable portion movable relative to the main body of the coupling between a first position and a second position, and a projection configured to move in a circumferential direction of the coupling relative to the main body of the coupling in response to movement of the movable portion from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe, Masanari Morioka, Takeo Kawanami, Yu Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20230074264
    Abstract: [TASK] To further develop prior art technique. [SOLUTION] A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling. the coupling includes a main body and a movable member movable relative to the main body. The movable member includes an engaging portion which is capable of entering between a driving force application member and a braking force application member by the movement relative to the main body. The movable member receives a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum, from the driving force application member and also receives a braking force applying a load against rotation of the photosensitive drum, from the braking force application member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe, Masanari Morioka, Takeo Kawanami, Yu Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20230061093
    Abstract: A seal member includes a seal surface that comes into contact with and slides with an end portion of an outer circumferential surface of a developing roller. The seal surface includes a first seal region configured of a plurality of first fiber bundles including a first fiber having a charge property that repels a developer, and a second seal region configured of a plurality of second fiber bundles including a second fiber having a charge property that attracts the developer, both extending in an inclined direction such that a portion thereof closer to an opening portion of a frame body of a developing unit is located further downstream in a rotating direction of the developing roller, and being alternately disposed in the rotating direction, and a proportion of a portion occupied by the second fiber bundles on the seal surface is at least 5% and not more than 60%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yu Fukasawa, Seiya Ishikawa, Masanari Morioka
  • Publication number: 20230066319
    Abstract: A cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes: a process unit to be used to form an image; a first member including a first resin material; a second member including a second resin material having higher flame retardant capability than the first resin material; and an electrode member including a contact section configured to be supplied with power from an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. The electrode member is configured to electrically connect the apparatus main body to the process unit. The second resin material of the second member has a greater density than the first resin material of the first member. The contact section is located in the vicinity of the first and second members and is closer to the second member than to the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yuichi Sakakibara, Yosuke Kashiide, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Yuko Harada, Goshi Ozaki, Masanari Morioka, Naoki Hayashi, Hideki Kakuta, Hiroki Shimizu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Takatoshi Hamada
  • Patent number: 11531301
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling member for transmitting a driving force to the photosensitive drum. A movable member is provided movable relative to a frame and a rotatable portion is supported by the movable member and rotatable relative to the movable member. A regulating member is movable between a regulating position for regulating movement of the movable member by contacting the rotatable portion and a non-regulating position where the regulating member does not regulate the movable member. A position of an end portion of the movable member in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum changes relative to the frame by movement of the movable member between a first position and a second position, and the end portion of the movable member is closer to the coupling member in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum when the movable member is in the second position than when the movable member is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Kubo, Masanari Morioka, Naoki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11520286
    Abstract: A cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes: a process unit to be used to form an image; a first member including a first resin material; a second member including a second resin material having higher flame retardant capability than the first resin material; and an electrode member including a contact section configured to be supplied with power from an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. The electrode member is configured to electrically connect the apparatus main body to the process unit. The second resin material of the second member has a greater density than the first resin material of the first member. The contact section is located in the vicinity of the first and second members and is closer to the second member than to the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Sakakibara, Yosuke Kashiide, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Yuko Harada, Goshi Ozaki, Masanari Morioka, Naoki Hayashi, Hideki Kakuta, Hiroki Shimizu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Takatoshi Hamada
  • Patent number: 11500327
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a frame and a developing roller for developing a latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The cartridge also includes a coupling member having a rotational force receiving portion to receive a rotational force to be transmitted to the developing roller. First and second force receiving portions are provided on the frame. The coupling member is movable relative to the roller axis between a first position in which the coupling axis is substantially parallel to the roller axis and a second position different from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno, Masanari Morioka
  • Publication number: 20220075314
    Abstract: A process cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a driving shaft, to be driven by a motor, having a rotational force applying portion, wherein the process cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, the process cartridge includes i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof; ii) process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; iii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to t
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka, Masato Hisano
  • Publication number: 20220066387
    Abstract: A cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes: a process unit to be used to form an image; a first member including a first resin material; a second member including a second resin material having higher flame retardant capability than the first resin material; and an electrode member including a contact section configured to be supplied with power from an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. The electrode member is configured to electrically connect the apparatus main body to the process unit. The second resin material of the second member has a greater density than the first resin material of the first member. The contact section is located in the vicinity of the first and second members and is closer to the second member than to the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Yuichi Sakakibara, Yosuke Kashiide, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Yuko Harada, Goshi Ozaki, Masanari Morioka, Naoki Hayashi, Hideki Kakuta, Hiroki Shimizu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Takatoshi Hamada
  • Patent number: 11237517
    Abstract: A process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, and process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a coupling member capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the rotational force transmitting angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka, Masato Hisano
  • Patent number: 11204584
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus cartridge includes a coupling member having an axis about which the coupling member is rotatable. The coupling member includes a first end portion operatively connected to a developer roller and a developer supplying roller and a second end portion for receiving a rotational force. The coupling member is movable between a first position in which the axis of the coupling member is substantially parallel to and offset from the axis of the developer roller, a second position in which the axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the position of the axis when the coupling member is in the first position, and a third position in which the axis of the coupling member is inclined with respect to the position of the axis when the coupling member is in the first position in a direction opposite to the direction the coupling member is inclined when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno