Patents by Inventor Michiro Koike

Michiro Koike 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: 6920296
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is controlled so that, in a standby state before an image forming part becomes able to perform image forming, documents are successively conveyed to a predetermined read position on a platen glass by a document feeder and images are read from all the documents, and so that, at the time of document image reading in the standby state, operating noise from the document feeder is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiro Koike
  • Publication number: 20040109703
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is controlled so that, in a standby state before an image forming part becomes able to perform image forming, documents are successively conveyed to a predetermined read position on a platen glass by a document feeder and images are read from all the documents, and so that, at the time of document image reading in the standby state, operating noise from the document feeder is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiro Koike
  • Publication number: 20040071486
    Abstract: Originals fed out by a feeder provided above an original supporting portion for movement toward and away from the originals placed on the original supporting portion are separated by a separating portion and fed one by one toward an image reader. A regulator provided between the separating portion and the feeder is then moved to a retracted position in which it does not hamper the feeding of the originals, by an interlocking member, in operative association with the movement of the feeder to a feeding position in which it contacts with the originals when it feeds out the originals. Also, by the interlocking member, the regulator is moved to a regulating position in which it regulates the originals placed on the original supporting portion coming to the separating portion before the feeding operation by the feeder, in operative association with the movement of the feeder to a feeding stop position in which it becomes spaced apart from the originals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Manabe, Michiro Koike, Kazuyuki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6661982
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is controlled so that, in a standby state before an image forming part becomes able to perform image forming, documents are successively conveyed to a predetermined read position on a platen glass by a document feeder and images are read from all the documents, and so that, at the time of document image reading in the standby state, operating noise from the document feeder is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiro Koike
  • Publication number: 20020186984
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is controlled so that, in a standby state before an image forming part becomes able to perform image forming, documents are successively conveyed to a predetermined read position on a platen glass by a document feeder and images are read from all the documents, and so that, at the time of document image reading in the standby state, operating noise from the document feeder is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventor: Michiro Koike
  • Patent number: 6347213
    Abstract: An automatic original document conveying apparatus conveys a placed original document to a prescribed position and delivers the original document. The automatic original document conveying apparatus includes a resin frame, an original document feeding unit for sequentially feeding an original placed document, an original document delivering unit for delivering the fed original document and a metal support plate thereof. The metal support plate securely connects in a united body the resin frame, the original document feeding unit and the original document delivering unit so as to maintain respective relative assembled positions of the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Yamanaka, Michiro Koike, Hitoshi Fujimoto, Kenichi Manabe
  • Patent number: 6160984
    Abstract: A developing agent filtering apparatus includes a filtering arrangement for filtering magnetic toner from the mixture of the magnetic toner and foreign matter. The filtering arrangement includes a pair of magnetic field generating members, and a filter for regulating a shifting movement of the foreign matter from one of the pair of magnetic field generating members to the other; and a switch for changing the configuration of a magnetic field generated by the pair of magnetic field generating members. The switch switches a relative position between the pair of magnetic field generating members between a first position where opposite magnetic polarities of the pair of magnetic field generating members are opposed to each other and a second position different from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiro Koike
  • Patent number: 6092799
    Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus capable of supplying sheets in a circulating manner, includes a sheet resting device on which the sheets rest, a sheet supplier for supplying the sheets rested on the sheet resting device, a trail and regulating member provided in correspondence to a trail position of the sheet and protruded from a sheet resting surface of the sheet resting device, and an urger for urging the sheets by abutting against the trail end of the sheet discharged on the sheet resting means through a sheet discharge opening to shift the sheet so that the trail end thereof rides over the trail end regulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiro Koike
  • Patent number: 6076819
    Abstract: The present invention is provided as a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a friction separating/feeding means for separating and feeding a sheet by making use of frictional force, an air separating/feeding means for separating and feeding a sheet by making use of air and a selecting means for selecting either one of the friction separating/feeding means and the air separating/feeding means and for making the selected means separate and feed the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiro Koike, Noriyoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 5836582
    Abstract: Air injection nozzles are provided for injecting air to both the leading end and the side ends of the sheets loaded on a sheet tray. Since air is injected from both nozzles, even for large-size sheets, the sheets can securely be separated by injecting air over the whole region between a sheet to be conveyed and other sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogawa, Michiro Koike, Yoshimitsu Nakane
  • Patent number: 5512994
    Abstract: A separating apparatus for separating residual matter removed from an image bearing member into developer and other foreign matter comprises a first unit to which residual matter removed from the image bearing member is conveyed, a mesh member for allowing only developer to pass among the residual matter, and a second unit to which developer is conveyed through the mesh member. The first and second units are separable from each other with the mesh member intervening therebetween. The apparatus also may include a vibration applying device for applying vibration to the mesh, a convey device for conveying residual matter to the first unit, and a discharging device for discharging developer from the second unit. The apparatus further may include a first magnetic force generating device in the first unit and a second magnetic force generating device in the second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiro Koike
  • Patent number: 5486905
    Abstract: A developing agent reproducing apparatus, including a recovery device for recovering; a developing agent from a mixture of the developing agent and foreign substances, the recovery device having an attracting member for attracting the developing agent and a filter for preventing substances other than the developing agent of the mixture from passing therethrough. The filter is disposed in a region in which the developing agent is moved by the attracting member and the attracting member is disposed upstream of the filter in a gravity working direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Takeda, Michiro Koike, Hironobu Saito, Toru Katsumi
  • Patent number: 5243395
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a carriage carrying plural developing unit is movable along a rectilinear predetermined path to provide a desired developing unit adjacent a photosensitive member of the image forming apparatus. The developing unit is moved to a developing position by moving the unit in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the carriage movement using the moving force used for moving the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiro Koike, Masaki Nakaoka, Tadayuki Kitajima
  • Patent number: 5202739
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a device for forming an electrostatic image on an image bearing member. A developer develops a latent image formed on the image bearing member and includes a developing unit having a developer carrying member for carrying thereon and supplying a developer to the image bearing member. A moving member moves the developing unit between an operative position and a non-operative position away therefrom. A supporting member supports the developing unit for rotation about an axis, the supporting member rotatably supporting the developing unit at one side and supporting the developing unit at the other side for rotation and movement in a predetermined direction. An urging device urges the developing unit toward the image bearing member adjacent the other side, and a driver applies a driving force to the developer carrying member of the developing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Hatakeyama, Michiro Koike
  • Patent number: 5172165
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a system for forming a latent image on the image bearing member; a developing device for developing the latent image formed on the image bearing member, the developing device including plural developing units, and each of the developing units including a developer carrying member movable to carry thereon the developer to supply the developer to the image bearing member and a developer scatter preventing member at a position adjacent the developer carrying member; a driver for moving a selected one of the developing units to a predetermined position faced to the image carrying member; a device for positioning the selected developing unit to an operating position for a developing operation; a member which is contacted to or close to the scatter preventing member when the selected developing unit is placed at the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Hatakeyama, Michiro Koike
  • Patent number: 4908662
    Abstract: An automatic original feeding apparatus has a coordinates position detecting device provided with a supporting table for supporting thereon a sheet original of which the area during image formation is to be designated, a conveying device for directing the inserted sheet original to a predetermined position, and a feed device provided upstream of the conveying device and responsive to the termination of the area designation to change over to a feeding position and feed the sheet original on the supporting table to the conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Yamamoto, Toshirou Kasamura, Yasunori Maeda, Nobukazu Sasaki, Toshihiko Kusumoto, Naoki Okuda, Tatsuya Shiratori, Takashi Ozawa, Akiyoshi Kimura, Atsushi Kubota, Masashi Ohashi, Michiro Koike
  • Patent number: 4829341
    Abstract: A document feeding apparatus comprising a first original supporting device on which an original is placed, an original inlet port for receiving the original placed on the first original supporting device, a conveying device for guiding the original fed from the inlet port to a predetermined position and exhausting the original from the predetermined position, and a second original supporting device mounted on a housing of the document feeding apparatus and having an image area designation device for designating an image area of the original. In an image area designation mode of the apparatus, the original is placed on the image area designation device, a desired image area is designated, and the original is placed on the first original supporting device and is guided to the predetermined position through the inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobukazu Sasaki, Toshiro Kasamura, Atsushi Kubota, Toshihiko Kusumoto, Tatsuya Shiratori, Takashi Ozawa, Yasuyoshi Yamamoto, Michiro Koike, Masashi Ohashi, Akiyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 4823159
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for forming an image on a sheet; a rotatable member for transferring the sheet in a first direction toward the image forming station; supporting device for supporting the rotatable member for displacement in a second direction which crosses the first direction; driving device for displacing the rotatable member in the second direction to correct deviation of the sheet in the second direction; and inlet guide for guiding the sheet to the rotatable member, the guide being displaceable in the second direction together with the rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Yamamoto, Masashi Ohashi, Tatsuya Shiratori, Michiro Koike, Atsushi Kubota, Nobukazu Sasaki, Akiyoshi Kimura, Takashi Ozawa, Toshirou Kasamura, Toshihiko Kusumoto
  • Patent number: 4812874
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reproducing in different colors a plurality of image areas selected from a plurality of different originals on a single copy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Kubota, Nobukazu Sasaki, Toshirou Kasamura, Toshihiko Kusumoto, Tatsuya Shiratori, Takashi Ozawa, Yasuyoshi Yamamoto, Michiro Koike, Masashi Ohashi, Akiyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 4799084
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for conveying a sheet material along a lateral reference position and for forming an image on the sheet material; refeeding device for refeeding to the image forming station the sheet material on which the image has been formed in the image forming station; means, provided in the sheet refeeding means, for shifting the sheet material in the lateral direction from the lateral reference position by a predetermined amount, wherein the amount of the shift is predetermined on the basis of a change in a lateral dimension of the sheet material resulting from an image forming operation in the image station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiro Koike, Takashi Ozawa, Yasuyoshi Yamamoto, Masashi Ohashi, Akiyoshi Kimura, Nobukazu Sasaki, Toshirou Kasamura, Atsushi Kubota, Tatsuya Shiratori, Toshihiko Kusumoto