Patents by Inventor Nobuo Oshima

Nobuo Oshima 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).

  • Publication number: 20240085846
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a developing member, a transfer member, and a brush contacting a surface of the image bearing member in a contact portion downstream of a transfer portion and upstream of a developing portion with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member. The toner which is not transferred onto a toner image receiving member is collected by the developing member. In a charging series, the toner is positioned on the same side as a normal charge polarity of the toner relative to the brush. In the contact portion, a maximum value of a contact pressure of 0.7 gf/mm2 or more and 3.5 gf/mm2 or less, a maximum contact area ratio is 18% or more and 74% or less, and a Clark-Evans index of the brush is 1 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Takayuki Kanazawa, Nobuo Oshima, Takayoshi Kihara, Kuniaki Tamagaki, Shuhei Tokiwa, Taichi Sato
  • Patent number: 11860566
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a developing member, a transfer member, and a brush contacting a surface of the image bearing member in a contact portion downstream of a transfer portion and upstream of a developing portion with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member. The toner which is not transferred onto a toner image receiving member is collected by the developing member. In a charging series, the toner is positioned on the same side as a normal charge polarity of the toner relative to the brush. In the contact portion, a maximum value of a contact pressure of 0.7 gf/mm2 or more and 3.5 gf/mm2 or less, a maximum contact area ratio is 18% or more and 74% or less, and a Clark-Evans index of the brush is 1 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Kanazawa, Nobuo Oshima, Takayoshi Kihara, Kuniaki Tamagaki, Shuhei Tokiwa, Taichi Sato
  • Patent number: 11829087
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion, a second image forming portion, a belt, a charging voltage applying portion, and a transfer voltage applying portion. With respect to a movement direction of a recording material, the first image forming portion is provided upstream of the second image forming portion. In an image forming operation, a potential difference between a first transfer voltage and a potential at a first transfer portion, which is formed on a first image bearing member and does not form the image, is greater than a potential difference between a second transfer voltage and a potential at a second transfer portion, which is formed on a second image bearing member and does not form an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Tanaka, Satoru Motohashi, Nobuo Oshima, Akihisa Matsukawa, Katsuichi Abe, Takayuki Namiki
  • Publication number: 20230195026
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a developing member, a transfer member, and a brush contacting a surface of the image bearing member in a contact portion downstream of a transfer portion and upstream of a developing portion with respect to a rotational direction of the image bearing member. The toner which is not transferred onto a toner image receiving member is collected by the developing member. In a charging series, the toner is positioned on the same side as a normal charge polarity of the toner relative to the brush. In the contact portion, a maximum value of a contact pressure of 0.7 gf/mm2 or more and 3.5 gf/mm2 or less, a maximum contact area ratio is 18% or more and 74% or less, and a Clark-Evans index of the brush is 1 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Takayuki Kanazawa, Nobuo Oshima, Takayoshi Kihara, Kuniaki Tamagaki, Shuhei Tokiwa, Taichi Sato
  • Publication number: 20230152746
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member about a rotational axis extending in the axial direction, a charging member, an accommodating portion accommodating toner charged to a predetermined polarity; a developing member, a transfer portion, a static eliminating portion, and a collecting member. In the axial direction, when A is a eliminating width with which the eliminating portion discharges the surface of the image bearing member, B is an effective charging width with which the charging member charges the surface, and C is a collection contacting width with which the collecting member contacts the surface, the formula A < B < C is satisfied. In the axial direction, a surface potential of the surface in an area outside the effective charging width, inside the collection contacting width and in contact with the collecting member is a first potential larger than 0 V in the same polarity direction as the predetermined polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Shunsuke Matsushita, Taichi Sato, Nobuo Oshima
  • Publication number: 20230078948
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion, a second image forming portion, a belt, a charging voltage applying portion, and a transfer voltage applying portion. With respect to a movement direction of a recording material, the first image forming portion is provided upstream of the second image forming portion. In an image forming operation, a potential difference between a first transfer voltage and a potential at a first transfer portion, which is formed on a first image bearing member and does not form the image, is greater than a potential difference between a second transfer voltage and a potential at a second transfer portion, which is formed on a second image bearing member and does not form an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroki Tanaka, Satoru Motohashi, Nobuo Oshima, Akihisa Matsukawa, Katsuichi Abe, Takayuki Namiki
  • Patent number: 11526103
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion, a second image forming portion, a belt, a charging voltage applying portion, and a transfer voltage applying portion. With respect to a movement direction of a recording material, the first image forming portion is provided upstream of the second image forming portion. In an image forming operation, a potential difference between a first transfer voltage and a potential at a first transfer portion, which is formed on a first image bearing member and does not form the image, is greater than a potential difference between a second transfer voltage and a potential at a second transfer portion, which is formed on a second image bearing member and does not form an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Tanaka, Satoru Motohashi, Nobuo Oshima, Akihisa Matsukawa, Katsuichi Abe, Takayuki Namiki
  • Patent number: 11493857
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image forming portion configured to form a latent image on an image bearing member; a developing device including a container configured to store toner and a developing member configured to supply the toner to the latent image formed on the image bearing member to form a toner image; an environment sensor configured to detect environmental information related to an environment in which the developing device is placed; and a controller configured to control switching between a first mode and a second mode, in which a number of prints per unit time is less than that in the first mode. The controller is configured to perform switching from the first mode to the second mode based on an update value obtained by adding or subtracting over time an index value weighted in accordance with the environmental information detected by the environment sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Sunahara, Nobuo Oshima, Satoru Motohashi
  • Publication number: 20220206415
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming portion, a second image forming portion, a belt, a charging voltage applying portion, and a transfer voltage applying portion. With respect to a movement direction of the recording material, the first image forming portion is provided upstream of the second image forming portion. In an image forming operation, a potential difference between the first transfer voltage and a potential, at the first transfer portion, which is formed on the first image bearing member and does not form the image is larger than a potential difference between the second transfer voltage and a potential, at the second transfer portion, which is formed on the second image bearing member and does not form the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroki Tanaka, Satoru Motohashi, Nobuo Oshima, Akihisa Matsukawa, Katsuichi Abe, Takayuki Namiki
  • Patent number: 11314186
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer container, a developing portion, a replenishment port configured to allow replenishment of one-component developer from a replenishment container, a conveyance portion configured to convey the developer accepted for replenishment through the replenishment port toward the developing portion, a developer remainder amount detection portion whose output value changes on a basis of an amount of developer accommodated in the developer container. A controller changes a developer conveyance speed of the conveyance portion in a conveyance operation on a basis of the output value of the developer remainder amount detection portion, the conveyance operation being an operation of conveying developer toward the developing portion by the conveyance portion and is performed before the image forming operation is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuo Oshima, Satoru Motohashi
  • Patent number: 11003108
    Abstract: A development frame body includes a concave portion, which is projected in a direction along an upward direction of a gravitational direction, and which is located at a downstream side of a communication port and an upstream side of a replenishing port, the concave portion and the replenishing port overlap with each other in an axis direction of a shaft portion when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the axis direction, a relationship R1?L is satisfied, when a free length of the sheet portion is L and a distance from a rotation center of the shaft portion to an inner wall face is R1, and slit portions are formed in a free end of the sheet portion so that a section of the free end of the sheet portion can enter the concave portion when an agitation member is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Sunahara, Nobuo Oshima
  • Publication number: 20210103235
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer container, a developing portion, a replenishment port configured to allow replenishment of toner from a replenishment container, a conveyance portion configured to convey the toner accepted for replenishment through the replenishment port toward the developing portion, a toner remainder amount detection portion whose output value changes on a basis of an amount of toner accommodated in the developer container, and a controller configured to change a toner conveyance speed of the conveyance portion in a conveyance operation on a basis of the output value of the toner remainder amount detection portion, the conveyance operation being an operation of conveying toner toward the developing portion by the conveyance portion and is performed before the image forming operation is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Nobuo Oshima, Satoru Motohashi
  • Publication number: 20210080860
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image forming portion configured to form a latent image on an image bearing member; a developing device including a container configured to store toner and a developing member configured to supply the toner to the latent image formed on the image bearing member to form a toner image; an environment sensor configured to detect environmental information related to an environment in which the developing device is placed; and a controller configured to control switching between a first mode and a second mode, in which a number of prints per unit time is less than that in the first mode. The controller is configured to perform switching from the first mode to the second mode based on an update value obtained by adding or subtracting over time an index value weighted in accordance with the environmental information detected by the environment sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Satoshi Sunahara, Nobuo Oshima, Satoru Motohashi
  • Publication number: 20210055672
    Abstract: A development frame body includes a concave portion, which is projected in a direction along an upward direction of a gravitational direction, and which is located at a downstream side of a communication port and an upstream side of a replenishing port, the concave portion and the replenishing port overlap with each other in an axis direction of a shaft portion when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the axis direction, a relationship R1?L is satisfied, when a free length of the sheet portion is L and a distance from a rotation center of the shaft portion to an inner wall face is R1, and slit portions are formed in a free end of the sheet portion so that a section of the free end of the sheet portion can enter the concave portion when an agitation member is rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Satoshi Sunahara, Nobuo Oshima
  • Patent number: 10877396
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image forming portion configured to form a latent image on an image bearing member; a developing device including a container configured to store toner and a developing member configured to supply the toner to the latent image formed on the image bearing member to form a toner image; an environment sensor configured to detect environmental information related to an environment in which the developing device is placed; and a controller configured to control switching between a first mode and a second mode, in which a number of prints per unit time is less than that in the first mode. The controller is configured to perform switching from the first mode to the second mode based on an update value obtained by adding or subtracting over time an index value weighted in accordance with the environmental information detected by the environment sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Sunahara, Nobuo Oshima, Satoru Motohashi
  • Patent number: 10849327
    Abstract: The inventions relate to an apparatus for aligning and positioning pieces of food dough with predetermined orientations and at predetermined intervals, and provide an aligning and positioning apparatus that can easily adjust positions of the pieces of food dough in a perpendicular direction to a moving direction of the pieces and that can process at high speed. An aligning and positioning apparatus of the inventions includes a holding unit having a plurality of holding mechanisms to hold a plurality of pieces of food dough carried by a first conveyor, a driving mechanism of the holding mechanisms, guide members to control the positions of the holding mechanisms in the perpendicular direction when the holding mechanisms are moved by the driving mechanism, and a positioning mechanism to adjust positions of the guide members in the perpendicular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: RHEON AUTOMATIC MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taro Fukugami, Katsumichi Higuchi, Nobuo Oshima
  • Publication number: 20200133167
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a latent image forming portion configured to form a latent image on an image bearing member; a developing device including a container configured to store toner, and a developing member configured to supply the toner to the latent image formed on the image bearing member to form a toner image; an environment sensor configured to detect environmental information related to an environment in which the developing device is placed; and a controller configured to control switching between a first mode and a second mode, in which a number of prints per unit time is smaller than in the first mode, wherein the controller is configured to perform switching from the first mode to the second mode based on an update value obtained by adding or subtracting over time an index value weighted in accordance with the environmental information detected by the environment sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Satoshi Sunahara, Nobuo Oshima, Satoru Motohashi
  • Publication number: 20200096918
    Abstract: A cartridge is detachably provided to a main body of an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an image bearing member which is rotatable, a charging roller which contacts and charges the image bearing member, and a cleaning member which cleans the charging roller with the brush portion. In a section substantially orthogonal to a rotational axis of the charging roller, a contact point between a surface of the image bearing member and a tangent crossing a downstream end of an abutment region of the brush portion against the charging roller in a rotation direction of the charging roller among tangents to the image bearing member is vertically above a horizontal line passing through a center of the image bearing member, and an upstream end of the abutment region in the rotation direction of the charging roller is vertically above the downstream end in the rotation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventor: Nobuo Oshima
  • Patent number: 10534294
    Abstract: A cartridge is detachably provided to a main body of an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an image bearing member which is rotatable, a charging roller which contacts and charges the image bearing member, and a cleaning member which cleans the charging roller with the brush portion. In a section substantially orthogonal to a rotational axis of the charging roller, a contact point between a surface of the image bearing member and a tangent crossing a downstream end of an abutment region of the brush portion against the charging roller in a rotation direction of the charging roller among tangents to the image bearing member is vertically above a horizontal line passing through a center of the image bearing member, and an upstream end of the abutment region in the rotation direction of the charging roller is vertically above the downstream end in the rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuo Oshima
  • Publication number: 20190041776
    Abstract: A cartridge is detachably provided to a main body of an image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an image bearing member which is rotatable, a charging roller which contacts and charges the image bearing member, and a cleaning member which cleans the charging roller with the brush portion. In a section substantially orthogonal to a rotational axis of the charging roller, a contact point between a surface of the image bearing member and a tangent crossing a downstream end of an abutment region of the brush portion against the charging roller in a rotation direction of the charging roller among tangents to the image bearing member is vertically above a horizontal line passing through a center of the image bearing member, and an upstream end of the abutment region in the rotation direction of the charging roller is vertically above the downstream end in the rotation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Nobuo Oshima