Patents by Inventor Naoki Matsumaru
Naoki Matsumaru 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: 20230400809Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing roller, with the developing roller being configured to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with toner. The cartridge also includes a first electrical contact electrically connected to the charging roller and the second electrical contact electrically connected to the developing roller. As viewed along the axis of the photosensitive drum, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned on opposite sides with respect to a line that passes through an axis of the photosensitive drum and an axis of the developing roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Akihiro Fujiwara
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Patent number: 11782383Abstract: Provided is a process cartridge where a developing unit includes a coupling member that receives driving force, a driving transmission member that transmits the driving force from the coupling member to a driving roller, and a support member that rotatably supports the coupling member and is movable with respect to a developing frame in a direction intersecting with a rotational axis of the developing roller. The developing frame and the driving transmission member are configured to be movable with respect to a drum frame of a drum unit in the direction intersecting the rotational axis. In this process cartridge, an urging member that engages with both the support member and the drum frame is included such that an urging force is applied in a direction in which a positioned portion of the support member and a positioning portion of the drum frame contact each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Yu Akiba
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Publication number: 20230229108Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum supported by a frame, a coupling positioned at an end of the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being configured to receive a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum. A lever is movably supported by a part of the frame at a position that is adjacent to the end of the photosensitive drum, with the lever being movable between a first position and a second position. As viewed along the axis of the photosensitive drum, an end of the lever is a first distance from the axis of the photosensitive drum when the lever is in the first position, and the end of the lever is a second distance from the axis of the photosensitive drum when the lever is in the second position, with the second distance being greater than the first distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Akihiro Fujiwara
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Patent number: 11703794Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, the movable member movable relative to the photosensitive drum to control an inclination angle of a drive transmission member. The movable member is movable between a first position for reducing an inclination angle of the drive transmission member relative to the photosensitive drum and a second position retracted from the first position. By this, driving connection can be smoothly carried out.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Akihiro Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20230115381Abstract: Provided is a process cartridge where a developing unit includes a coupling member that receives driving force, a driving transmission member that transmits the driving force from the coupling member to a driving roller, and a support member that rotatably supports the coupling member and is movable with respect to a developing frame in a direction intersecting with a rotational axis of the developing roller. The developing frame and the driving transmission member are configured to be movable with respect to a drum frame of a drum unit in the direction intersecting the rotational axis. In this process cartridge, an urging member that engages with both the support member and the drum frame is included such that an urging force is applied in a direction in which a positioned portion of the support member and a positioning portion of the drum frame contact each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Yu Akiba
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Publication number: 20230048100Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, the movable member movable relative to the photosensitive drum to control an inclination angle of a drive transmission member. The movable member is movable between a first position for reducing an inclination angle of the drive transmission member relative to the photosensitive drum and a second position retracted from the first position. By this, driving connection can be smoothly carried out.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Akihiro Fujiwara
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Patent number: 11449001Abstract: A cartridge mountable to and dismountable from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a memory, a guide configured to guide a portion-to-be-guided provided in the main assembly and to guide a main assembly contact provided in the main assembly to a memory contact of the memory when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, and a grip portion. The guide is provided at a bottom of the cartridge when the cartridge is hung by gripping the grip portion and constitutes a part of a supporting portion configured to support the cartridge when the cartridge is placed on a horizontal placement surface. The guide has a chamfered surface formed by being chamfered. When the cartridge is supported at the supporting portion, the chamfered surface opposes the horizontal placement surface, and a surface of the memory contact is inclined with respect to the horizontal placement surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Fujiwara, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguichi
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Patent number: 11016411Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member to bear a developing agent image, a second unit including a development frame member in which a developing agent bearing member to bear a developing agent to be supplied to the image bearing member is supported, and a coupling portion that can couple the first and second units such that the second unit is swingable with the coupling portion as a rotation center. The development frame member includes a replenishing opening for the developing agent, and an elastically-deformable sealing member that seals the supply portion and the replenishing opening. As viewed along a compression direction of the sealing member, in a section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the process cartridge, the rotation center is disposed at a position overlapping with the sealing member.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Joji Goto, Takatoshi Hamada
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Publication number: 20210149335Abstract: A cartridge mountable to and dismountable from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a memory, a guide configured to guide a portion-to-be-guided provided in the main assembly and to guide a main assembly contact provided in the main assembly to a memory contact of the memory when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, and a grip portion. The guide is provided at a bottom of the cartridge when the cartridge is hung by gripping the grip portion and constitutes a part of a supporting portion configured to support the cartridge when the cartridge is placed on a horizontal placement surface. The guide has a chamfered surface formed by being chamfered. When the cartridge is supported at the supporting portion, the chamfered surface opposes the horizontal placement surface, and a surface of the memory contact is inclined with respect to the horizontal placement surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Akihiro Fujiwara, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguichi
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Patent number: 10962927Abstract: A cartridge mountable to and dismountable from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a memory, a guide configured to guide a portion-to-be-guided provided in the main assembly and to guide a main assembly contact provided in the main assembly to a memory contact of the memory when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, and a grip portion. The guide is provided at a bottom of the cartridge when the cartridge is hung by gripping the grip portion and constitutes a part of a supporting portion configured to support the cartridge when the cartridge is placed on a horizontal placement surface. The guide has a chamfered surface formed by being chamfered. When the cartridge is supported at the supporting portion, the chamfered surface opposes the horizontal placement surface, and a surface of the memory contact is inclined with respect to the horizontal placement surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Fujiwara, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguichi
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Publication number: 20210080859Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member to bear a developing agent image, a second unit including a development frame member in which a developing agent bearing member to bear a developing agent to be supplied to the image bearing member is supported, and a coupling portion that can couple the first and second units such that the second unit is swingable with the coupling portion as a rotation center. The development frame member includes a replenishing opening for the developing agent, and an elastically-deformable sealing member that seals the supply portion and the replenishing opening. As viewed along a compression direction of the sealing member, in a section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the process cartridge, the rotation center is disposed at a position overlapping with the sealing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Joji Goto, Takatoshi Hamada
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Patent number: 10928771Abstract: A cartridge mountable to and dismountable from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a memory, a guide configured to guide a portion-to-be-guided provided in the main assembly and to guide a main assembly contact provided in the main assembly to a memory contact of the memory when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, and a grip portion. The guide is provided at a bottom of the cartridge when the cartridge is hung by gripping the grip portion and constitutes a part of a supporting portion configured to support the cartridge when the cartridge is placed on a horizontal placement surface. The guide has a chamfered surface formed by being chamfered. When the cartridge is supported at the supporting portion, the chamfered surface opposes the horizontal placement surface, and a surface of the memory contact is inclined with respect to the horizontal placement surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Fujiwara, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguichi
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Patent number: 10901366Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge and an image forming apparatus main assembly. An image forming apparatus main assembly includes a drive output member for transmitting the driving force to the cartridge. The drive output member is movable between an advanced position and a retracted position. An image forming apparatus main assembly includes an inclination imparting portion for inclining the drive output member as the drive output member moves from the advanced position to the retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2020Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryuta Murakami, Naoki Matsumaru, Tadashi Horikawa, Tetsuji Suzuki
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Patent number: 10802419Abstract: A method of manufacturing a developer container including a frame configured to define a developer containing portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on a surface of the frame and having a surface opposed to the first electrode, a developer amount in the developer containing portion being detected based on a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, the method including: holding a conductive resin member constituting the second electrode on a mold configured to mold the frame, a surface of the conductive resin member being in contact with a surface of the mold configured to mold a surface of the frame on a side of the developer containing portion; injecting a resin to be formed into the frame, into the mold on which the conductive resin member is held; and curing the resin to form the frame to which the second electrode is fixed.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Taku Watanabe, Masahito Kato, Go Shindo, Atsushi Toda, Katsuichi Abe, Motonari Ito, Akira Suzuki, Junichi Matsumura, Naoki Matsumaru
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Publication number: 20200301352Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, the movable member movable relative to the photosensitive drum to control an inclination angle of a drive transmission member. The movable member is movable between a first position for reducing an inclination angle of the drive transmission member relative to the photosensitive drum and a second position retracted from the first position. By this, driving connection can be smoothly carried out.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Akihiro Fujiwara, Akinobu Hirayama, Daisuke Makiguchi, Hiroaki Nosho, Takuro Kanno, Goshi Ozaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe
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Publication number: 20200257242Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge and an image forming apparatus main assembly. An image forming apparatus main assembly includes a drive output member for transmitting the driving force to the cartridge. The drive output member is movable between an advanced position and a retracted position. An image forming apparatus main assembly includes an inclination imparting portion for inclining the drive output member as the drive output member moves from the advanced position to the retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Naoki Matsumaru, Tadashi Horikawa, Tetsuji Suzuki
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Patent number: 10678184Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge and an image forming apparatus main assembly. An image forming apparatus main assembly includes a drive output member for transmitting the driving force to the cartridge. The drive output member is movable between an advanced position and a retracted position. An image forming apparatus main assembly includes an inclination imparting portion for inclining the drive output member as the drive output member moves from the advanced position to the retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryuta Murakami, Naoki Matsumaru, Tadashi Horikawa, Tetsuji Suzuki
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Patent number: 10649394Abstract: A method of manufacturing a frame unit from a first unit. The first unit includes a first image carrying member, a supporting member supporting the first image carrying member, and a frame to which the supporting member is adhered. The first image carrying member includes a first edge portion member, and the first edge portion member includes a first restricted portion. The supporting member includes a bearing engaging with the first edge portion member so that the first image carrying member is rotatable about a rotational axis. The frame includes a first restricting portion restricting movement of the first image carrying member. The method includes separating in which the first image carrying member is separated from the supporting member while in a state in which the supporting member is adhered to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke Makiguchi, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tetsuya Numata
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Patent number: 10627780Abstract: A cartridge mountable to and dismountable from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a memory, a guide configured to guide a portion-to-be-guided provided in the main assembly and to guide a main assembly contact provided in the main assembly to a memory contact of the memory when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, and a grip portion. The guide is provided at a bottom of the cartridge when the cartridge is hung by gripping the grip portion and constitutes a part of a supporting portion configured to support the cartridge when the cartridge is placed on a horizontal placement surface. The guide has a chamfered surface formed by being chamfered. When the cartridge is supported at the supporting portion, the chamfered surface opposes the horizontal placement surface, and a surface of the memory contact is inclined with respect to the horizontal placement surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Fujiwara, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguchi
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Publication number: 20200081396Abstract: A cartridge mountable to and dismountable from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a memory, a guide configured to guide a portion-to-be-guided provided in the main assembly and to guide a main assembly contact provided in the main assembly to a memory contact of the memory when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, and a grip portion. The guide is provided at a bottom of the cartridge when the cartridge is hung by gripping the grip portion and constitutes a part of a supporting portion configured to support the cartridge when the cartridge is placed on a horizontal placement surface. The guide has a chamfered surface formed by being chamfered. When the cartridge is supported at the supporting portion, the chamfered surface opposes the horizontal placement surface, and a surface of the memory contact is inclined with respect to the horizontal placement surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Akihiro Fujiwara, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguichi