Patents by Inventor Ryuta Murakami

Ryuta Murakami 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: 10564597
    Abstract: A manufacturing method includes a dividing step for dividing a supporting member into a first divided portion including a fixed portion to a frame and a second divided portion including a second engaged portion, a divided-portion detaching step for detaching the second divided portion from the frame, and a separating step for detaching an engaging portion from a first engaged portion and separating a developing unit from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Numata, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguchi, Naoki Matsumaru, Tadashi Horikawa
  • Patent number: 10520883
    Abstract: A manufacturing method includes a removing step for removing at least a part of a contact portion of a cover portion from a supporting member, the cover portion being configured to come into contact with a projecting portion included in a frame when the supporting member is deformed to allow a second engaged portion to be detached from an engaging portion in a state in which a fixed portion of the supporting member is fixed to the frame, a deforming step for deforming the supporting member to allow the second engaged portion to be detached from the engaging portion in the state in which the fixed portion is fixed to the frame, and a separating step for detaching an engaging portion from a first engaged portion and separating a developing unit from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi Horikawa, Ryuta Murakami, Tetsuya Numata, Daisuke Makiguchi, Naoki Matsumaru
  • Patent number: 10488817
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Fujiwara, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguchi
  • Publication number: 20190302684
    Abstract: A manufacturing method includes a dividing step for dividing a supporting member into a first divided portion including a fixed portion to a frame and a second divided portion including a second engaged portion, a divided-portion detaching step for detaching the second divided portion from the frame, and a separating step for detaching an engaging portion from a first engaged portion and separating a developing unit from the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Tetsuya Numata, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguchi, Naoki Matsumaru, Tadashi Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20190302678
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Daisuke Makiguchi, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Tetsuya Numata
  • Publication number: 20190302683
    Abstract: A manufacturing method includes a removing step for removing at least a part of a contact portion of a cover portion from a supporting member, the cover portion being configured to come into contact with a projecting portion included in a frame when the supporting member is deformed to allow a second engaged portion to be detached from an engaging portion in a state in which a fixed portion of the supporting member is fixed to the frame, a deforming step for deforming the supporting member to allow the second engaged portion to be detached from the engaging portion in the state in which the fixed portion is fixed to the frame, and a separating step for detaching an engaging portion from a first engaged portion and separating a developing unit from the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Tadashi Horikawa, Ryuta Murakami, Tetsuya Numata, Daisuke Makiguchi, Naoki Matsumaru
  • Publication number: 20190243306
    Abstract: A driving-force transmission member includes a coupling portion that includes a driving-force transmission surface and that transmits a driving force to a cartridge coupling, a first helical gear portion that engages with a driven gear of a cartridge to transmit the driving force, and a second helical gear portion that engages with a drive gear to receive the driving force. The portions rotate integrally with each other when the driving-force transmission member rotates about the axis of rotation. The driving-force transmission surface is shaped with a twist in the same direction as the driving-force transmission member. Helical teeth of the first helical gear portion are shaped with a twist in the same direction as the driving-force transmission surface. Helical teeth of the second helical gear portion are shaped with a twist in a direction opposite to the twist direction of the helical teeth of the first helical gear portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Yuichiro Inaba, Tetsuji Suzuki, Yoshihiro Ito, Ryuta Murakami
  • Publication number: 20190227480
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Akihiro Fujiwara, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguchi
  • Publication number: 20190179257
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Naoki Matsumaru, Tadashi Horikawa, Tetsuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10303116
    Abstract: A driving-force transmission member includes a coupling portion that includes a driving-force transmission surface and that transmits a driving force to a cartridge coupling, a first helical gear portion that engages with a driven gear of a cartridge to transmit the driving force, and a second helical gear portion that engages with a drive gear to receive the driving force. The portions rotate integrally with each other when the driving-force transmission member rotates about the axis of rotation. The driving-force transmission surface is shaped with a twist in the same direction as the driving-force transmission member. Helical teeth of the first helical gear portion are shaped with a twist in the same direction as the driving-force transmission surface. Helical teeth of the second helical gear portion are shaped with a twist in a direction opposite to the twist direction of the helical teeth of the first helical gear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Inaba, Tetsuji Suzuki, Yoshihiro Ito, Ryuta Murakami
  • Publication number: 20190129356
    Abstract: To provide a structure for the process cartridge for receiving input of driving force from outside thereof. The main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a driving output member provided with an output gear portion and an output coupling portion. The process cartridge that can be mounted to and dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an input coupling portion provided at the end of the photosensitive member and capable of coupling with the output coupling portion, and an input gear portion capable of meshing with the output gear portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
  • Patent number: 10222736
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, and a moving member movable with respect to the main body in a state of supporting an image forming portion. The moving member includes an image bearing member and an opening, and is movable between an inside position located inside of the main body and an outside position located outside of the main body, and in which at least a part of the image forming portion is removably mountable on the moving member as a cartridge. A shielding member is provided on the moving member and shields the opening. In addition, holding mechanism holds the shielding member in a shielding position corresponding to the opening while the moving member is moved between the inside position and the outside position, and holds the shielding member in a non-shielding position in which the opening is opened when the moving member is located in the inside position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Noriyuki Komatsu, Osamu Anan, Tetsuya Numata
  • Patent number: 10095161
    Abstract: An accommodating container includes: an accommodating chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer; a seal member for unsealably sealing the opening; and a rotatable member rotatably supported inside the accommodating chamber. The seal member includes a sealing portion for sealing the opening, a connecting portion connected with the rotatable member, and at least one hole provided between the sealing portion and the connecting portion. The rotatable member includes a shaft portion and at least one projection extending in a direction of being spaced from the shaft portion. The hole and the projection are provided to establish a non-overlapping positional relationship with respect to a direction along the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takeuchi, Yoshiyuki Batori, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguchi, Gosuke Goto, Makoto Tokudome, Yu Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 10073380
    Abstract: A feeding device for feeding developer includes a first feeding member for feeding the developer in a feeding direction and including a drive transmitting portion, and a second feeding member including a drive receiving portion and a helical blade as a feeding portion. In addition, a bearing portion rotatably supports the second feeding member in a portion between the drive receiving portion and the helical blade, wherein the drive transmitting portion and the drive receiving portion engage with each other so as to enable delivery of the developer from the first feeding member to the second feeding member while transmitting a driving force of the first feeding member to the second feeding member. The bearing portion is provided on one side of a second rotational axis of the second feeding member with respect to the feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nosho, Takatoshi Hamada, Noriyuki Komatsu, Ryuta Murakami, Naoki Matsumaru, Naoki Maeda
  • Patent number: 9989892
    Abstract: A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer includes: a toner seal member for unsealably sealing an opening of the developer accommodating container; an unsealing member, connected to an end portion of the toner seal member, for unsealing the opening by moving at least a part of the toner seal member; and an auxiliary unsealing member for assisting unsealing by changing a pulling direction of the toner seal member by the unsealing member. The auxiliary unsealing member includes a shaft portion or a projected portion. The shaft portion or the projected portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takeuchi, Takashi Kimura, Yoshiyuki Batori, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguchi, Noritomo Yamaguchi, Naoki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9904208
    Abstract: An accommodating device for collecting developer from an image bearing member includes an accommodating container for accommodating the developer from the image bearing member, a feeding member for feeding the developer in a developer feeding direction and provided in the accommodating container, and a wall member for partitioning inside of the accommodating container. The wall member is provided in the accommodating container and extends along a direction crossing the developer feeding direction and inclined toward a downstream side of the feeding member with respect to the developer feeding direction. The wall member is contactable to the developer being fed in the developer feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Maeda, Noriyuki Komatsu, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Takatoshi Hamada, Hiroaki Nosho
  • Publication number: 20170357210
    Abstract: A driving-force transmission member includes a coupling portion that includes a driving-force transmission surface and that transmits a driving force to a cartridge coupling, a first helical gear portion that engages with a driven gear of a cartridge to transmit the driving force, and a second helical gear portion that engages with a drive gear to receive the driving force. The portions rotate integrally with each other when the driving-force transmission member rotates about the axis of rotation. The driving-force transmission surface is shaped with a twist in the same direction as the driving-force transmission member. Helical teeth of the first helical gear portion are shaped with a twist in the same direction as the driving-force transmission surface. Helical teeth of the second helical gear portion are shaped with a twist in a direction opposite to the twist direction of the helical teeth of the first helical gear portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Yuichiro Inaba, Tetsuji Suzuki, Yoshihiro Ito, Ryuta Murakami
  • Patent number: 9823603
    Abstract: A feeding device for feeding a developer includes an accommodating member, a first helical feeding member including a first region having a first diameter and a second region having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter in a named order with respect to a first feeding direction, a second helical feeding member for feeding the developer in a second feeding direction crossing the first feeding direction, and a wall extending toward the second helical feeding member so that the wall is spaced from the first helical feeding member toward a downstream side of the first helical feeding member with respect to the first feeding direction to branch a flow path of the developer. With respect to the first feeding direction, the second region is provided between the first region and a position where the first and second helical feeding members cross each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Noriyuki Komatsu, Naoki Maeda, Takatoshi Hamada, Hiroaki Nosho, Naoki Matsumaru
  • Publication number: 20170176922
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, and a moving member movable with respect to the main body in a state of supporting an image forming portion. The moving member includes an image bearing member and an opening, and is movable between an inside position located inside of the main body and an outside position located outside of the main body, and in which at least a part of the image forming portion is removably mountable on the moving member as a cartridge. A shielding member is provided on the moving member and shields the opening. In addition, holding mechanism holds the shielding member in a shielding position corresponding to the opening while the moving member is moved between the inside position and the outside position, and holds the shielding member in a non-shielding position in which the opening is opened when the moving member is located in the inside position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Noriyuki Komatsu, Osamu Anan, Tetsuya Numata
  • Patent number: D873341
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Horikawa, Noriyuki Komatsu, Naoki Matsumaru, Ryuta Murakami, Daisuke Makiguchi, Akihiro Fujiwara, Naoki Maeda, Go Torii