Patents by Inventor Mitsuhiro Sato
Mitsuhiro Sato 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).
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Publication number: 20250085650Abstract: A toner container includes a bag, including an opening and formed of resin film, stores toner and a leading edge portion mounted on the opening of the bag, the leading edge portion including a nozzle provided with a discharge port to discharge the toner stored in the bag external to the toner container, wherein the leading edge portion includes a portion formed of resin and provided with a two-dimensional code, and wherein the portion has a thickness greater than a thickness of the film.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2024Publication date: March 13, 2025Inventors: SOHTA SUGIMOTO, SHINICHI NISHIDA, HIROYUKI MUNETSUGU, GOSHI OZAKI, MITSUHIRO SATO, MASAHIRO SUETSUGU, SEIYA ISHIKAWA
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Patent number: 12235598Abstract: A developing device includes an accommodating portion for accommodating toner, a developing roller and a stirring member. The developing device is for use with an image forming apparatus and detachably mounts a replenishing container for replenishing the toner. The accommodating portion includes a receiving opening through which the toner replenished from the accommodating portion is received in the accommodating portion, the receiving opening being provide on a first end side of the accommodating portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the developing roller. An opening area of the receiving opening when the developing device is viewed in the rotational direction is wider than the opening area of the receiving opening when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Sohta Sugimoto, Shinichi Nishida, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Goshi Ozaki, Mitsuhiro Sato, Masahiro Suetsugu
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Patent number: 12228866Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body having a first metal terminal, a plurality of toner cartridges to store toner and including a housing storing the toner, a supporting member provided at one end, and a memory medium including a chip for recording information about the toner cartridge and an electrical contact and being supported by the supporting member, and a tray movable between a housed position and a drawn-out position. The tray includes a frame which can mount the plurality of toner cartridges, a plurality of tray-side electrical contacts provided at the frame and able to contact the electrical contact of the memory medium of the plurality of toner cartridges respectively, and a second metal terminal electrically connected to the plurality of tray-side electrical contacts and able to contact the first metal terminal.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2023Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yu Fukasawa, Yukio Kubo, Daisuke Abe, Mitsuhiro Sato, Masahiro Suetsugu, Kengo Sakai
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Publication number: 20250013169Abstract: A developer container includes a pouch, a communication member, and a cap. A marking including an arrowhead part and a parting line are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cap. A rear end of the arrowhead part is disposed between a first position that is a position 45° upstream from a reference position in a direction of rotation and a second position that is a position 45° downstream in the direction of rotation. The rear end of the arrowhead part overlaps the parting line.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Inventors: HIROYUKI MUNETSUGU, MITSUHIRO SATO, SHINJIRO TOBA
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Publication number: 20250013166Abstract: A container for accommodating a content of powder or a liquid includes an accommodating portion; an end portion including a rotatable member and a discharging portion which includes a discharge opening and a passage, wherein the end portion is on a side opposite from the accommodating portion with respect to a rotational axis direction; and a flange portion extending in a radial direction of a phantom circle about the rotational axis, wherein as viewed in the rotational axis direction, an outer edge of the flange portion includes an arcuate portion which is on an outermost side of the end portion with respect to the radial direction and which is formed along the phantom circle about the rotational axis and includes a connecting portion which connects a first point and a second point on the phantom circle and which is provided in a region inside the phantom circle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Mitsuhiro Sato
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Publication number: 20250004399Abstract: Provided a toner container comprising: a storage portion configured to store toner; a nozzle portion having a discharging port configured to discharge, outside the toner container, toner stored in the storage portion, the nozzle portion being fixed to the storage portion such that the nozzle portion and the storage portion are aligned in a first direction; and a loosening member configured to loose toner, the loosening member including at least a portion provided in the storage portion, wherein the loosening member is swingable relative to the storage portion about a swing axis extending in a second direction crossing the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2024Publication date: January 2, 2025Inventors: GOSHI OZAKI, SHINICHI NISHIDA, HIROYUKI MUNETSUGU, SOHTA SUGIMOTO, MITSUHIRO SATO, MASAHIRO SUETSUGU, SEIYA ISHIKAWA
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Publication number: 20250004398Abstract: A toner container that is removable from an image forming apparatus includes a storage portion including a container portion that stores toner and a front end portion including a discharge port that discharges the toner from the toner container and a nozzle including a passage that enables the toner to pass through the passage toward the discharge port. At least part of the front end portion is covered by a film that is removable.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2024Publication date: January 2, 2025Inventors: HIROYUKI MUNETSUGU, MITSUHIRO SATO, GOSHI OZAKI
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Publication number: 20240427262Abstract: A toner container includes a storage portion configured to store toner and a communicating member including a receiving port, a discharge port, and a passage. The passage includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface connecting the first inclined surface and the discharge port to each other. When viewed in a third direction perpendicularly intersecting with both of a first direction and a second direction, the first inclined surface is inclined with respect to the second direction such that a more downstream portion of the first inclined surface in the first direction is closer to the discharge port in the second direction, and the second inclined surface is inclined with respect to the second direction such that a more downstream portion of the second inclined surface in the first direction is closer to the discharge port in the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2024Publication date: December 26, 2024Inventors: HIROYUKI MUNETSUGU, HIROSHI TAKARADA, MITSUHIRO SATO
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Publication number: 20240393713Abstract: A cartridge to which a toner container is detachably attachable includes a development roller, a storage unit to store toner to be carried by the development roller, an attachment portion, and first, second, and third contact portions on a bottom surface of the cartridge to be brought into contact with a horizontal plane. The cartridge can be oriented in a positioning direction in which the attachment portion is positioned above the storage unit and the cartridge contacts the horizontal plane. When the cartridge in the positioning direction is viewed in a gravity direction, a part of the attachment portion overlaps with a first region. The first region is surrounded by a first virtual line connecting the first and second contact portions, a second virtual line connecting the second and third contact portions, a third virtual line connecting the third and first contact portions, the first, second, and third contact portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2024Publication date: November 28, 2024Inventors: MITSUHIRO SATO, HIROYUKI MUNETSUGU, SHINICHI NISHIDA, GOSHI OZAKI, MASAHIRO SUETSUGU, SOHTA SUGIMOTO
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Publication number: 20240377772Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a developing cartridge having a housing, a memory medium, a memory medium unit, a developer carrier, and a protrusion portion in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier; and a tray having a frame, an image bearing member, a guide member provided at one end in the longitudinal direction, an electric contact portion with the memory medium, and a memory unit support portion. The guide member includes a portion which functions as a memory unit support portion, and a downstream portion located downstream of the memory unit support portion in the mounting direction of the developing cartridge. The memory unit support portion guides the protrusion portion to the downstream portion when the developing cartridge is mounted on the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Inventors: Yu Fukasawa, Yukio Kubo, Daisuke Abe, Mitsuhiro Sato, Masahiro Suetsugu, Kengo Sakai
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Patent number: 12130567Abstract: A developer container includes a pouch, a communication member, and a cap. A marking including an arrowhead part and a parting line are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cap. A rear end of the arrowhead part is disposed between a first position that is a position 45° upstream from a reference position in a direction of rotation and a second position that is a position 45° downstream in the direction of rotation. The rear end of the arrowhead part overlaps the parting line.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2022Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Mitsuhiro Sato, Shinjiro Toba
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Patent number: 12124189Abstract: A container for accommodating a content of powder or a liquid includes an accommodating portion; an end portion including a rotatable member and a discharging portion which includes a discharge opening and a passage, wherein the end portion is on a side opposite from the accommodating portion with respect to a rotational axis direction; and a flange portion extending in a radial direction of a phantom circle about the rotational axis, wherein as viewed in the rotational axis direction, an outer edge of the flange portion includes an arcuate portion which is on an outermost side of the end portion with respect to the radial direction and which is formed along the phantom circle about the rotational axis and includes a connecting portion which connects a first point and a second point on the phantom circle and which is provided in a region inside the phantom circle.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2022Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinjiro Toba, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Mitsuhiro Sato
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Patent number: 12124190Abstract: A toner container includes a toner accommodating portion, a discharge portion, a shutter, a sealing member, and a guiding portion. In a case where a direction from the toner accommodating portion toward the discharge portion in a rotational axis direction is a first direction, where a direction opposite to the first direction is a second direction, and where an end portion of the sealing member on a downstream side of the first direction is a first end portion, a downstream end portion of the guiding portion is positioned downstream of the first end portion of the sealing member with respect to the first direction. The downstream end portion of the guiding portion overlaps with the sealing member as viewed in the rotational axis direction, and includes an inclined surface inclined so as to approach the contact surface of the seal member as it goes in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2022Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuichi Fukui, Goshi Ozaki, Mitsuhiro Sato, Tetsushi Uneme, Hiroyuki Munetsugu
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Publication number: 20240337966Abstract: A toner container includes a toner storage unit, a container base portion including a discharge port provided on an outer surface of the container base portion, the outer surface extending in a first direction, the discharge port communicating with the toner storage unit, and a container shutter configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a direction along the first direction between a shielding position and an open position. The container base portion includes an engaging portion configured to be engaged with an engaged portion of the image forming apparatus so that rotation of the container base portion with respect to the image forming apparatus about the rotation axis is restricted. At least a part of the engaging portion of the container base portion is exposed from the container shutter in a case where the container shutter is in the shielding position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2024Publication date: October 10, 2024Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Isao Koishi, Hiroshi Takarada, Shohei Katsuya, Shunsuke Hijikata, Goshi Ozaki, Mitsuhiro Sato
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Publication number: 20240337967Abstract: A toner container includes: a bag having an opening; a discharge member having a receiving port aligned with the bag in a first direction and for receiving toner, and a discharge port for discharging the toner; and a shutting member shutting the discharge port. The receiving port is provided on an inner side with respect to the opening in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The receiving port is open in the first direction and has an area greater than or equal to 25 mm2. The discharge member has a fixing portion to which the opening is fixed, and a surface between the fixing portion and the receiving port. A filling amount [g] of the toner with respect to a total volume [cm3] up to which the toner in the toner container is allowed to be contained is less than or equal to 0.547 [g/cm3].Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2024Publication date: October 10, 2024Inventors: HIROYUKI MUNETSUGU, MITSUHIRO SATO, DAISUKE BABA, MASATAKE TANAKA
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Patent number: 12105441Abstract: A toner container includes a storage portion configured to store toner and a communicating member including a receiving port, a discharge port, and a passage. The passage includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface connecting the first inclined surface and the discharge port to each other. When viewed in a third direction perpendicularly intersecting with both of a first direction and a second direction, the first inclined surface is inclined with respect to the second direction such that a more downstream portion of the first inclined surface in the first direction is closer to the discharge port in the second direction, and the second inclined surface is inclined with respect to the second direction such that a more downstream portion of the second inclined surface in the first direction is closer to the discharge port in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2023Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Hiroshi Takarada, Mitsuhiro Sato
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Publication number: 20240310752Abstract: A toner container is provided with a bag member made of flexible film material and a discharging member connected to the bag member and configured to discharge toner from an accommodating space to an outside. When a length from an opposing surface of the discharging member to an end portion in an opposite side of the opposing surface of the bag member in a first direction is defined as Xmax, and in a case in which a position X (0?X?Xmax) using the opposing surface as a reference in the first direction is given, a length of the bag member on a plane perpendicular to the first direction in a second direction is defined as Y and a length of the bag member on the plane in a third direction is defined as Z, in a case in which Z is Z0 in X=0, Xmax>Y?Z in a range of 0?X?Xmax, 0.8×Z0?Z?1.2×Z0 in the range of 0?X?Xmax, and Y?2×Z in a range of 0?X<0.5×Xmax.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2024Publication date: September 19, 2024Inventors: HIROYUKI MUNETSUGU, MASAAKI SATO, GOSHI OZAKI, MITSUHIRO SATO, SHINJIRO TOBA
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Patent number: 12092973Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first unit including an image bearing member and a second unit. The second unit includes a developing roller to supply the toner to the image bearing member, a mounting portion in which the replenishing container is dismountably mounted, and an accommodating portion to accommodate the toner replenished from the replenishing container. The second unit is movable between a first position where the developing roller contacts the image bearing member and a second position where the developing roller separates from the image bearing member. When a moving direction in which the second unit moves from the first position toward the second position is defined as a separating direction, the second unit is urged in the separating direction by a force which the mounting portion receives from the replenishing container when the replenishing container is mounted to the mounting portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2023Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Goshi Ozaki, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Shinichi Nishida, Sohta Sugimoto, Mitsuhiro Sato, Masahiro Suetsugu
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Patent number: 12066769Abstract: A toner container includes a toner storage unit, a container base portion including a discharge port provided on an outer surface of the container base portion, the outer surface extending in a first direction, the discharge port communicating with the toner storage unit, and a container shutter configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a direction along the first direction between a shielding position and an open position. The container base portion includes an engaging portion configured to be engaged with an engaged portion of the image forming apparatus so that rotation of the container base portion with respect to the image forming apparatus about the rotation axis is restricted. At least a part of the engaging portion of the container base portion is exposed from the container shutter in a case where the container shutter is in the shielding position.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2022Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Sato, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Isao Koishi, Hiroshi Takarada, Shohei Katsuya, Shunsuke Hijikata, Goshi Ozaki, Mitsuhiro Sato
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Patent number: D1043812Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2022Date of Patent: September 24, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Masaaki Sato, Shinjiro Toba, Yuichi Fukui, Goshi Ozaki, Sohta Sugimoto, Mitsuhiro Sato