Patents by Inventor Osamu Sasaoka
Osamu Sasaoka 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: 20240152083Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotary configured to rotate and including a developing roller and a storage frame including a storage portion configured to store toner, a body frame with an opening, a toner cartridge which is attachable to and detachable from the rotary through the opening, which is movable to an attached position and a retracted position, a moving device configured to move the toner cartridge from the attached position to the retracted position, and an opening/closing member provided to be movable between a closed position and an open position. The opening/closing member is configured to move from the closed position to the open position in an interconnected manner with movement of the toner cartridge from the attached position to the retracted position by the moving device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Jumpei Nitta, Tomoya Tateishi, Osamu Sasaoka, Kohei Koguchi, Shuma Hiasa
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Publication number: 20240152074Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotary including a first developing roller, a second developing roller, a first storage frame, and a second storage frame, a body frame with an opening, a first toner cartridge, a second toner cartridge, a first support member which is configured to support the first toner cartridge, and a second support member which is configured to support the second toner cartridge. The first support member is movable with respect to the first storage frame such that the first toner cartridge moves from the first attached position to the first retracted position. The second support member is movable with respect to the second storage frame such that the second toner cartridge moves from the second attached position to the second retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Jumpei Nitta, Tomoya Tateishi, Osamu Sasaoka, Kohei Koguchi, Shuma Hiasa, Tachio Kawai, Kenji Watanabe
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Publication number: 20240152073Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device including a developing roller and a storage frame including a storage portion configured to store toner, a body frame with an opening, a toner cartridge which is configured to store the toner, which is attachable to and detachable from the developing device through the opening, which is movable to an attached position and a retracted position, and which is configured to supply the toner to the storage portion in a state in which the toner cartridge is at the attached position, and a moving device configured to move the toner cartridge from the attached position to the retracted position. The toner cartridge is configured such that at least part of the toner cartridge projects outside the body frame in a state in which the toner cartridge is at the retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Jumpei Nitta, Tomoya Tateishi, Osamu Sasaoka, Kohei Koguchi, Shuma Hiasa, Tachio Kawai
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Publication number: 20240152091Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device including a developing roller and a storage frame including a storage portion, a body frame with an opening, a toner cartridge which is configured to store the toner, which is attachable to and detachable from the developing device through the opening, which is movable to an attached position and a retracted position where the toner cartridge is retracted from the attached position, with respect to the storage frame, and which is configured to supply the toner to the storage portion in a state in which the toner cartridge is at the attached position, a moving device configured to move the toner cartridge from the attached position to the retracted position and move the toner cartridge from the retracted position to the attached position, and a driving device including a drive source and configured to drive the moving device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Jumpei Nitta, Tomoya Tateishi, Osamu Sasaoka, Kohei Koguchi, Shuma Hiasa
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Patent number: 11971672Abstract: Provided is a sheet conveying device including: a conveying portion; and a first conveying guide, the first conveying guide forming a conveying path above a heating portion and having a curved portion for forming a curved path in the conveying path and a plurality of ribs provided on a surface of the curved portion, the plurality of ribs extending along a conveying direction and including a first rib and a second rib adjacent to the first rib, wherein the second rib is arranged to be deviated from the first rib in a width direction and the conveying direction, and wherein in the conveying direction, a second upstream end of the second rib being positioned between a first upstream end and a first downstream end of the first rib, the first downstream end being positioned between the second upstream end and a second downstream end of the second rib.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akinori Yokota, Osamu Sasaoka, Toshiyuki Watanabe
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Patent number: 11953853Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drive source, an object configured to be driven by the drive source, and a drive transmission mechanism including a driving member, a driven member, an intermediate member, an urging member, and an actuating portion. The intermediate member is configured to move in an axial direction. The intermediate member includes a shaft portion extending in the axial direction, and a positioning portion configured to determine a position of the driven member in a direction orthogonal to the axis. The shaft portion includes a receiving portion configured to receive a force. The receiving portion is positioned inward of the positioning portion in a radial direction of rotation of the intermediate member.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshiyuki Watanabe, Osamu Sasaoka, Akinori Yokota, Masafumi Maeda
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Publication number: 20240069476Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical fixing member, a heater arranged in an inner space of the fixing member, a pressing member to contact the fixing member and a conductive member disposed so as to contact an inner surface of the fixing member and to conduct the fixing member to a circuit for controlling a potential of the fixing member The fixing member heats an image on a recording material to fix the image onto the recording material while nipping and conveying the recording material between the fixing member and the pressing member. The conductive member is formed of metal wire.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: AKINORI YOKOTA, OSAMU SASAOKA, TSUGUHIRO YOSHIDA
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Publication number: 20230418223Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a heating unit including a heating element, and a heating rotary member, a pressurizing rotary member configured to form, together with the heating unit, a fixing nip, a sheet discharge unit including a rotary member disposed downstream of the fixing nip in a sheet conveyance direction and configured to abut on the sheet, the sheet discharge unit discharging the sheet to an outside of the image forming apparatus, a stacking unit configured to stack the sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit, a fan configured to blow air, and a duct configured to discharge the air sent by the fan toward the stacking unit. The rotary member is disposed such that at least a part of the rotary member enters an inside of the duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Osamu Sasaoka, Toshiyuki Watanabe, Akinori Yokota
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Publication number: 20230418192Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, first and second rotating members, and a discharge unit to discharge a recording material to an outside. The fixing unit fixes an image from the image forming unit onto the recording material. The first rotating member comes into contact with and guides the image bearing recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The second rotating member comes into contact with the image bearing recording material more on a downstream side than the first rotating member in a conveyance direction of the recording material, guides the recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The first rotating member does not perform swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material, and the second rotating member performs swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Ai Suzuki, Osamu Sasaoka, Kensuke Umeda, Shinsuke Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11782365Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, first and second rotating members, and a discharge unit to discharge a recording material to an outside. The fixing unit fixes an image from the image forming unit onto the recording material. The first rotating member comes into contact with and guides the image bearing recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The second rotating member comes into contact with the image bearing recording material more on a downstream side than the first rotating member in a conveyance direction of the recording material, guides the recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The first rotating member does not perform swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material, and the second rotating member performs swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ai Suzuki, Osamu Sasaoka, Kensuke Umeda, Shinsuke Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20230213883Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drive source, an object configured to be driven by the drive source, and a drive transmission mechanism including a driving member, a driven member, an intermediate member, an urging member, and an actuating portion. The intermediate member is configured to move in an axial direction. The intermediate member includes a shaft portion extending in the axial direction, and a positioning portion configured to determine a position of the driven member in a direction orthogonal to the axis. The shaft portion includes a receiving portion configured to receive a force. The receiving portion is positioned inward of the positioning portion in a radial direction of rotation of the intermediate member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: TOSHIYUKI WATANABE, OSAMU SASAOKA, AKINORI YOKOTA, MASAFUMI MAEDA
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Publication number: 20230176509Abstract: Provided is a sheet conveying device including: a conveying portion; and a first conveying guide, the first conveying guide forming a conveying path above a heating portion and having a curved portion for forming a curved path in the conveying path and a plurality of ribs provided on a surface of the curved portion, the plurality of ribs extending along a conveying direction and including a first rib and a second rib adjacent to the first rib, wherein the second rib is arranged to be deviated from the first rib in a width direction and the conveying direction, and wherein in the conveying direction, a second upstream end of the second rib being positioned between a first upstream end and a first downstream end of the first rib, the first downstream end being positioned between the second upstream end and a second downstream end of the second rib.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2022Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: AKINORI YOKOTA, OSAMU SASAOKA, TOSHIYUKI WATANABE
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Publication number: 20230116189Abstract: A heater includes: a substrate; an insulating layer that is provided on the substrate; and a heat generating element that is provided on the insulating layer, and in a case where a region including a center of the substrate is defined as a first region, a region on a side closer to one end portion than the first region is defined as a second region, and a region on a side closer to the other end portion than the first region is defined as a third region in a transverse direction that is orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of a surface of the substrate on which the insulating layer is provided, the first region is a plane, and the second region and the third region are bent from the first region in a thickness direction of the substrate that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Tatsuya Kinukawa, Yutaka Sato, Sho Taguchi, Tomoo Akizuki, Yuki Oshima, Osamu Sasaoka, Masafumi Maeda
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Publication number: 20230079216Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, first and second rotating members, and a discharge unit to discharge a recording material to an outside. The fixing unit fixes an image from the image forming unit onto the recording material. The first rotating member comes into contact with and guides the image bearing recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The second rotating member comes into contact with the image bearing recording material more on a downstream side than the first rotating member in a conveyance direction of the recording material, guides the recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The first rotating member does not perform swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material, and the second rotating member performs swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Ai Suzuki, Osamu Sasaoka, Kensuke Umeda, Shinsuke Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20230058521Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance unit and first and second moving members respectively including first and second projection portions. When the first projection portion contacts a sheet, the first moving member is moved from a first projection position, where the first projection portion projects to a conveyance path, to a first retraction position, where the first projection portion is retracted from the first projection position. When the first moving member moves to the first retraction position, the second moving member moves from a second retraction position, where the second projection portion is retracted from the second projection position, to a second projection position, where the second projection portion projects to the conveyance path. When a sheet pushes the second projection portion, the second moving member is moved from the second projection position to the second retraction position with the first moving member located at the first retraction position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventor: Osamu Sasaoka
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Patent number: 11531292Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, first and second rotating members, and a discharge unit to discharge a recording material to an outside. The fixing unit fixes an image from the image forming unit onto the recording material. The first rotating member comes into contact with and guides the image bearing recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The second rotating member comes into contact with the image bearing recording material more on a downstream side than the first rotating member in a conveyance direction of the recording material, guides the recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The first rotating member does not perform swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material, and the second rotating member performs swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ai Suzuki, Osamu Sasaoka, Kensuke Umeda, Shinsuke Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20220179337Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, first and second rotating members, and a discharge unit to discharge a recording material to an outside. The fixing unit fixes an image from the image forming unit onto the recording material. The first rotating member comes into contact with and guides the image bearing recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The second rotating member comes into contact with the image bearing recording material more on a downstream side than the first rotating member in a conveyance direction of the recording material, guides the recording material, and is driven to rotate by conveyance of the recording material. The first rotating member does not perform swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material, and the second rotating member performs swinging motion by coming into contact with the recording material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Ai Suzuki, Osamu Sasaoka, Kensuke Umeda, Shinsuke Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11086257Abstract: A sensor unit includes a first movable member including a member-to-be-detected, a sensor, and a second movable member. When a sheet is normally fed, the first movable member is in a first position, the member-to-be-detected is in a first phase, the second movable member is in a second position, and a functional/non-functional state of the member-to-be-detected is one state. When the sheet is not fed and the first movable member is in a second position, the member-to-be-detected is in the first phase, the second movable member is in a third position, and the functional/non-functional state is the other state. When the first movable member is in the first position and the second movable member is in a fourth position, by movement of the member-to-be-detected to a second phase, the functional/non-functional state is changed from the one state to the other state and an output of the sensor changes.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2020Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Osamu Sasaoka
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Publication number: 20200272076Abstract: A sensor unit includes a first movable member including a member-to-be-detected, a sensor, and a second movable member. When a sheet is normally fed, the first movable member is in a first position, the member-to-be-detected is in a first phase, the second movable member is in a second position, and a functional/non-functional state of the member-to-be-detected is one state. When the sheet is not fed and the first movable member is in a second position, the member-to-be-detected is in the first phase, the second movable member is in a third position, and the functional/non-functional state is the other state. When the first movable member is in the first position and the second movable member is in a fourth position, by movement of the member-to-be-detected to a second phase, the functional/non-functional state is changed from the one state to the other state and an output of the sensor changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventor: Osamu Sasaoka
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Patent number: 10642200Abstract: There is provided a fixing device, in which an operation delay of a safety element is unlikely to occur even if a heater tilts. The fixing device includes a spacer disposed between the heater and the safety element, wherein an area of the spacer in contact with the safety element is smaller than an area of the spacer in contact with the heater, and the spacer is tiltable relative to the safety element.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Sasaoka, Masafumi Maeda