Patents by Inventor Michiaki Endo

Michiaki Endo 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: 11661295
    Abstract: A supporting frame of a sheet feeding device includes a bottom plate, a first side plate fixed to the bottom plate, and a second side plate fixed to the bottom plate. The first side plate includes a supporting portion, a first bent and erected portion, and a second bent and erected portion. The supporting portion includes a swing center portion having a swing center of the first side plate when the first side plate is positionally adjusted relative to the second side plate. In a direction in which a bending edge line formed between the supporting portion and the first bent and erected portion extends, the swing center portion projects downward than a lower end portion of the first bent and erected portion and a lower end portion of the second bent and erected portion are and contacts the bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiaki Endo, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Kazuhisa Okuda
  • Publication number: 20220353381
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first image reading unit, a second image reading unit provided on a side opposite from the first image reading unit with respect to a sheet feeding passage, a first guiding member, a second guiding member, a first unit holding the first image reading unit and the second guiding member, and a second unit holding the second image reading unit and the first guiding member. One of the first unit and the second unit is movable relative to the other unit so as to open the sheet feeding passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Kiyoshi WATANABE, Kazuhisa OKUDA, Michiaki ENDO
  • Patent number: 11422490
    Abstract: An infrared irradiating portion is turned on in accordance with power-on of an image forming apparatus 10, and an air sucking operation of an air sucking portion 300 is started after a temperature of an infrared radiation member 305 of an IR irradiating portion 13 reaches a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiaki Endo, Tomoharu Kitajima, Shuhei Takahashi, Shuichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 11412099
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first image reading unit, a second image reading unit provided on a side opposite from the first image reading unit with respect to a sheet feeding passage, a first guiding member, a second guiding member, a first unit holding the first image reading unit and the second guiding member, and a second unit holding the second image reading unit and the first guiding member. One of the first unit and the second unit is movable relative to the other unit so as to open the sheet feeding passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Watanabe, Kazuhisa Okuda, Michiaki Endo
  • Publication number: 20220232137
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus reads an image of a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus. The image reading apparatus includes a transparent member including a first surface disposed on a first side on which the sheet is conveyed and a second surface disposed on a second side opposite to the first side, an image reading portion disposed on the second side and configured to read the image of the sheet at a reading position through the transparent member, an elastic member disposed to abut against the second surface of the transparent member and configured to press the transparent member toward the first side, and a guide disposed upstream of the reading position and configured to guide the sheet to the reading position. A downstream end of the guide contacts with the first surface of the transparent member and presses the transparent member toward the second side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Michiaki Endo, Kiyoshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20220082982
    Abstract: A foil transfer device includes a foil transfer unit configured to perform foil transfer processing of transferring a foil to a sheet with a toner image formed thereon, a first conveyance path configured to convey the sheet from a reception portion to the foil transfer unit and convey the sheet passed through the foil transfer unit to a discharge portion, and a second conveyance path configured to convey the sheet from the reception portion to the discharge portion without the sheet passing through the foil transfer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Takehiro Kishi, Yukihiro Soeta, Tomohito Nakagawa, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Kazuhisa Okuda, Michiaki Endo
  • Publication number: 20210269267
    Abstract: A supporting frame of a sheet feeding device includes a bottom plate, a first side plate fixed to the bottom plate, and a second side plate fixed to the bottom plate. The first side plate includes a supporting portion, a first bent and erected portion, and a second bent and erected portion. The supporting portion includes a swing center portion having a swing center of the first side plate when the first side plate is positionally adjusted relative to the second side plate. In a direction in which a bending edge line formed between the supporting portion and the first bent and erected portion extends, the swing center portion projects downward than a lower end portion of the first bent and erected portion and a lower end portion of the second bent and erected portion are and contacts the bottom plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Michiaki ENDO, Kiyoshi WATANABE, Kazuhisa OKUDA
  • Publication number: 20210274056
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first image reading unit, a second image reading unit provided on a side opposite from the first image reading unit with respect to a sheet feeding passage, a first guiding member, a second guiding member, a first unit holding the first image reading unit and the second guiding member, and a second unit holding the second image reading unit and the first guiding member. One of the first unit and the second unit is movable relative to the other unit so as to open the sheet feeding passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kiyoshi WATANABE, Kazuhisa OKUDA, Michiaki ENDO
  • Publication number: 20210109466
    Abstract: An infrared irradiating portion is turned on in accordance with power-on of an image forming apparatus 10, and an air sucking operation of an air sucking portion 300 is started after a temperature of an infrared radiation member 305 of an IR irradiating portion 13 reaches a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Michiaki Endo, Tomoharu Kitajima, Shuhei Takahashi, Shuichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 10386759
    Abstract: A belt unit for forming a heating nip portion configured to heat a toner image in cooperation with a rotary member facing the belt unit, includes an endless belt, an nip forming member provided along a longitudinal direction of the endless belt on an inner side of the endless belt and configured to contact to an inner surface of the endless belt for forming the heating nip portion, a regulation member configured to regulate a position of the endless belt in the longitudinal direction, and a snap-fit unit formed of the nip forming member and the regulation member and configured to regulate the regulation member from being disengaged from the nip forming member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiaki Endo
  • Publication number: 20180284661
    Abstract: A belt unit for forming a heating nip portion configured to heat a toner image in cooperation with a rotary member facing the belt unit, includes an endless belt, an nip forming member provided along a longitudinal direction of the endless belt on an inner side of the endless belt and configured to contact to an inner surface of the endless belt for forming the heating nip portion, a regulation member configured to regulate a position of the endless belt in the longitudinal direction, and a snap-fit unit formed of the nip forming member and the regulation member and configured to regulate the regulation member from being disengaged from the nip forming member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: Michiaki Endo
  • Patent number: 10031468
    Abstract: A structure includes a first frame including a slit portion; and a second frame including a plate portion configured to enter the slit portion. The slit portion includes an introducing portion, a first positioning portion, and a first tapered portion connecting the introducing portion and the first positioning portion. The plate portion includes a free end portion capable of entering the introducing portion, a second positioning portion determining a position of the plate portion with respect to a longitudinal direction of the slit portion, a third positioning portion determining a position of the plate portion with respect to an inserting direction into the slit portion, and a second tapered portion contactable to the first tapered portion and connecting the free end portion and the second positioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiaki Endo, Shoji Sasaki, Yoshiharu Irei
  • Patent number: 9823616
    Abstract: An image heating unit detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a pair of rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating a toner image formed on a recording material; an outermost wall positioned outside the rotatable members; and an electrical substrate including a storing element. The electrical substrate is mounted on an outer surface of the outermost wall so that the storing element faces the outer surface of the outermost wall with a predetermined gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiaki Endo
  • Patent number: 9701500
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed, and a burr pushing portion provided on the sheet conveying path and pushing down a burr, formed at one side edge in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction of the sheet, in the width direction. The burr pushing portion includes a contact portion coming into contact with the burrs while inclining with respect to the side edge of the sheet conveyed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenjiro Sugaya, Osamu Sugino, Hiroki Muramatsu, Masahiro Tsujibayashi, Michiaki Endo, Teppei Nagata, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Publication number: 20170068208
    Abstract: A structure includes a first frame including a slit portion; and a second frame including a plate portion configured to enter the slit portion. The slit portion includes an introducing portion, a first positioning portion, and a first tapered portion connecting the introducing portion and the first positioning portion. The plate portion includes a free end portion capable of entering the introducing portion, a second positioning portion determining a position of the plate portion with respect to a longitudinal direction of the slit portion, a third positioning portion determining a position of the plate portion with respect to an inserting direction into the slit portion, and a second tapered portion contactable to the first tapered portion and connecting the free end portion and the second positioning portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Michiaki Endo, Shoji Sasaki, Yoshiharu Irei
  • Publication number: 20170060069
    Abstract: An image heating unit detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a pair of rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating a toner image formed on a recording material; an outermost wall positioned outside the rotatable members; and an electrical substrate including a storing element. The electrical substrate is mounted on an outer surface of the outermost wall so that the storing element faces the outer surface of the outermost wall with a predetermined gap therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Michiaki Endo
  • Publication number: 20160101952
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed, and a burr pushing portion provided on the sheet conveying path and pushing down a burr, formed at one side edge in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction of the sheet, in the width direction. The burr pushing portion includes a contact portion coming into contact with the burrs while inclining with respect to the side edge of the sheet conveyed thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Kenjiro Sugaya, Osamu Sugino, Hiroki Muramatsu, Masahiro Tsujibayashi, Michiaki Endo, Teppei Nagata, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Patent number: 9250586
    Abstract: A roller for image fixing, includes: a hollow cylindrical member; a shaft member inserted into one longitudinal end of the cylindrical member; a hole portion penetrating the cylindrical member and the shaft member; a first countersink formed at a circumference of one end of the hole portion in an outerside of the cylindrical member; a second countersink formed at a circumference of the other end of the hole portion in an outerside of the cylindrical member; and a pin inserted in the hole portion to fix the cylindrical member and the shaft member relative to each other. The one and the other end portions of the pin are deformed so as to be closely contacted to the first and second countersink portions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiaki Endo
  • Patent number: 9223263
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is designed to easily recover a jammed sheet nipped by a fixing roller and a pressure roller. In an entrance guide which guides a sheet to a fixing nip portion between the fixing roller and the pressure roller, a bending portion is provided on a back side of a guide face which guides the sheet to the fixing nip portion. Then, when the sheet to be discharged toward the entrance guide by a manual discharge member enters the back side of the entrance guide, a downstream end of the sheet, in a discharging direction of the sheet, is locked to the bending portion, and thus the central portion of the sheet in the sheet discharging direction is bent along the surface of the guide face by discharging the sheet in a state where the downstream end in the discharging direction is locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiaki Endo
  • Patent number: 8971784
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion that fixes a toner image to a sheet by applying heat to the sheet, a conveyance path through which back and forth conveyance of the sheet conveyed from the fixing portion is performed by normally and reversely rotating a conveying roller, and a water addition portion that adds water to the sheet at a water addition position in the conveyance path on upstream in a conveying direction of the conveying roller. In addition, a controller controls the water addition portion such that the water is added to the sheet conveyed from the fixing portion to the water addition position, and the water is added to the sheet to which the reverse conveyance has been performed after an upstream end in the conveying direction of the sheet passes through the water addition position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiaki Endo