Patents by Inventor Masaru Komura

Masaru Komura 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: 5047804
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of developing units in which the toner replenishing device equipped with each developing unit is actuated for a predetermined period of time. When toner replenishment cannot be completed at the time when the developing unit has stopped its action, it is arranged so as to either actuate the developing unit and the toner replenishing device for a predetermined time after image formation is carried out or keep the toner replenishing device in action after the developing unit has stopped its operation for a predetermined period of time while at the same time actuating the developing unit for the remaining time of the predetermined time after image formation is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Komura
  • Patent number: 4989049
    Abstract: A multi-color image forming apparatus including an original platform, a photoreceptor, a scanning device, an image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor, first and second developing device for developing the latent image in different colors, respectively, a movable designating device, an input device for giving a command for starting copying, a starting device for starting operation of the scanning device, the image forming device and the first developing device in response to the command from the input device, an output device for outputting a changeover signal for effecting changeover between the first and second developing devices and a control device for, in response to the changeover signal from the output device, stopping operation of the first developing device and starting operation of the second developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kusuda, Takafumi Tottori, Masaru Komura
  • Patent number: 4814820
    Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing apparatus has a developing sleeve, an agitating roller rotatable in the same direction as the developing sleeve and a magnetic device fixedly provided within the developing sleeve and having a plurality of N and S poles which include auxiliary poles of the same polarity adjacent to each other circumferentially of the sleeve and opposed to the agitating roller. A developer restraining plate between the developing sleeve and the agitating roller has a first guide surface for guiding the developer supplied by the agitating roller and a second guide surface for limiting the developer used from moving toward the sleeve portion to which the developer is supplied by the agitating roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Hirahara, Tatsuo Takabe, Kazuya Ishida, Hiromitsu Saijo, Shinya Matsuda, Masaru Komura
  • Patent number: 4730206
    Abstract: A copying apparatus including a recording module for forming an image on copy paper sheets fed from a sheet feeding portion and discharging the copy paper sheets to a sheet ejecting portion and a sheet processing module mounted detachably on the sheet ejecting portion. The sheet processing module includes a sheet cassette mounted detachably on the sheet processing module and the sheet feeding portion, a copy receiving tray and a changeover device for changing over to the sheet cassette or the copy receiving tray, a passage of the copy paper sheets discharged from the sheet ejecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Sawada, Masaru Komura, Masazumi Ito, Masaaki Oyabu
  • Patent number: 4721382
    Abstract: A copying apparatus including a recording device for forming an image on copy paper sheets fed from a sheet feeding portion and discharging the copy paper sheets to a sheet ejecting portion, a sheet cassette mounted detachably on the sheet ejecting portion and the sheet feeding portion, a copy receiving tray, a mode selecting device for selecting first and second modes for accommodating the discharged copy paper sheets in the copy receiving tray and the sheet cassette, respectively, a cassette detecting device and a control device for controlling the mode selecting device in accordance with detection states of the cassette detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masazumi Ito, Masaaki Oyabu, Shigeru Sawada, Masaru Komura
  • Patent number: 4370050
    Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine of the image transfer type includes a rotated photosensitive drum with a photoconductive peripheral face, a first pair of cooperating rollers for withdrawing successive copy paper sheets from a cassette and advancing them along a path to a second pair of cooperating rollers which is proximate and advances individual sheets to the image transfer station at the drum, the second roll pair being rotated at the peripheral speed of the drum and in timed relation to the drum advanced image. In order to remove paper and other dust from the copy paper delivered to the transfer station, one of the second rolls has a dielectric peripheral face formed, for example, of polyvinyl chloride and the other second roll is formed of rubber. A longitudinally extending cleaning pad frictionally engages the roller dielectric face and is formed of an elastic material, such as a foamed polyurethane, to remove dust from and triboelectrically charge the dielectric face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Matsui, Masaru Komura
  • Patent number: 4025180
    Abstract: A transfer type electrophotographic copying apparatus for high speed copying system which includes a photoconductive photoreceptor in the form of an endless belt and movably suspended by a plurality of rollers so as to provide a plurality of flat surfaces. A flat portion which is formed on the photoreceptor belt facing a transfer corona charger and which is directed approximately parallel to a path of a copy paper sheet is effective for shortening the length of the paper path and for improving transferred images, while blower means disposed in a fixing device is adapted to assist in the separation of the copied paper from the photoreceptor belt in normal copying operation, and to direct cooling air to the fixing device in case of paper jamming. Heat shielding means is disposed between the fixing device and the photoreceptor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaji Kurita, Tetsuya Utsumi, Hiroshi Ikeda, Masaru Komura, Shin Miyata, Yoshihisa Kawai, Kenichi Arai
  • Patent number: 4017169
    Abstract: A copy paper transporting unit is combined with a corona transfer station in a support member which is mounted for lateral withdrawal from the interior of an electrophotographic copying machine. The transporting unit is made in two sections which are separable once the support member is withdrawn from the machines to permit easy access in case of a paper jam. The transfer station has a corona-generating device held in an active position close to the photosensitive member from which it transfers toned images (or latent images) to a sheet of copy paper. The corona-generating device is movably supported on the support member so that prior to withdrawal it can be retracted from its active position to prevent damage to the photosensitive member by any jammed paper. The arrangement includes a lock member preventing withdrawal of the support member prior to retraction of the corona-generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1977
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Komura, Kenichi Arai