Patents by Inventor Satoshi Honobe

Satoshi Honobe 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: 8687993
    Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member in contact with or adjacent to a charged body, a charge housing that holds the charging member, bearing members that rotatably support the charging member, at least one of the bearing members being a conductive bearing member, pressing members that press the bearing members toward the charged body, at least the pressing member for the conductive bearing member being formed of a conductive material, a platelike power supply member in contact with the pressing member for the conductive bearing member, and positioning mechanisms that position the bearing members. The power supply member has a platelike extending portion. The positioning mechanism provided on a power supplied side of the charging member includes a positioning portion provided in the conductive bearing member, and a positioned portion provided in the extending portion. The positioned portion engages with the positioning portion when the extending portion elastically deforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Honobe, Hiroki Ando, Tsuneo Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 8634755
    Abstract: A cleaning unit includes: a cleaning member that cleans the surface of the image carrier; a cleaning container that stores developer removed by the cleaning member; a cleaning support that is formed by bending a plate and includes a cleaning-supporting portion supporting the other end portion of the cleaning member and a supported portion angled with respect to the cleaning-supporting portion by bending; a supporting-portion-of-support that includes a facing portion facing the supported portion, is provided at the cleaning container, and supports the cleaning support; a damping member that is disposed between the supported portion and the facing portion, is formed so as to be elastically deformable, and regulates vibration of the cleaning member; and a securing member that secures the cleaning support to the supporting-portion-of-support at a position adjacent to the damping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Ichikawa, Akiko Kimura, Yuzo Ichikawa, Takahiro Shinkawa, Masaaki Tokunaga, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Hirohisa Hoshino, Satoshi Honobe
  • Patent number: 8608394
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a plural image-holding members, each image-holding member holding an image and being rotatable around a rotation shaft; a frame member that at least partially defines a space for accommodating the plural image-holding members therein; a cover provided to the frame member to open and close the space with respect to an outside, an inner side of the cover being formed with rotation shaft insertion holes each for receiving an end portion of the rotation shaft of a corresponding one of the image-holding members accommodated in the space; a supporting shaft that supports the cover such that the cover is pivotable with respect to the frame member, the supporting shaft being inserted into a supporting shaft insertion hole provided to the frame member or to the cover, the supporting shaft insertion hole being elongated in a direction having a vertical component when the cover closes the space; and a positioning mechanism that positions the cover with respect to the frame member whe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ando, Toshiyuki Matsui, Satoshi Honobe, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Tomonori Sato, Fumiaki Maekawa, Toshihiro Maruta
  • Patent number: 8554109
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including plural image forming units each having an image-carrier includes: a cylindrical image-carrier body holding an image; a rotary shaft inserted in the image-carrier body, and rotatably supporting the image-carrier body; a coupling member fitted to an end portion of the rotary shaft, transmitting a rotational-drive-force to the rotary shaft; an engaging member projecting from a circumferential surface of the rotary shaft, being engaged to an engaged portion formed in the image-carrier body to disable relative rotation of the image-carrier body to the rotary shaft; and an attaching member continuously inserted into a first through hole formed in the coupling member and a second through hole formed in the rotary shaft and fixed thereto such that an angle formed between the engaging member and the attaching member is substantially 90 degrees as seen in an rotary shaft axial-direction, attaching the coupling member and the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Hiroki Ando, Satoshi Honobe, Toshiyuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8437658
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operating portion that moves between a first operating position in which each of positioning members is moved to each of positioning positions and a second operating position in which each of the positioning members is moved to each of releasing positions through each of transmitting members and each of transmitted members when a first transmitting member and a first transmitted member are coupled to each other, and that carries out the movement to a first operating position to move a second positioning member to a second positioning position through a second transmitting member and a second transmitted member and carries out the movement to a second operating position to move the second positioning member to a second releasing position when the first transmitting member and the first transmitted member are decoupled from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Honobe, Hiroki Ando, Toshiyuki Matsui, Tomonori Sato, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Fumiaki Maekawa
  • Patent number: 8417172
    Abstract: A powder collecting container includes: a first chamber that is configured to store collected powder; a conveying unit that has a rotary shaft, and a powder conveying blade formed to be wound around the rotary shaft, the conveying unit being arranged along an upper-limit zone for accommodating powder in the first chamber and configured to convey powder which is contained in the first chamber and located at a position exceeding the upper-limit zone. A hollow member has an opening portion formed in a peripheral wall so that a powder conveying end of the conveying unit is located in the opening portion, and that the conveying unit passes through the hollow member. A second chamber has an inlet provided to face the opening portion so that powder conveyed by the conveying unit enters the second chamber from the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori Sato, Fumiaki Maekawa, Hiroki Ando, Satoshi Honobe, Toshiyuki Matsui, Tsuneo Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 8290421
    Abstract: A powder recovery container includes a reservoir chamber that stores a recovered powder; a recovery port that faces the reservoir chamber, a powder conveying unit that conveys and recovers the powder through the recovery port being removably inserted into the recovery port; a pair of door panels having rotating shafts arranged at two positions with the recovery port arranged therebetween, the door panels being rotated toward the reservoir chamber around the rotating shafts to open and close the recovery port; sealing members attached to the door panels, the sealing members overlapping one another between distal ends of the door panels to seal a gap between the distal ends of the door panels when the door panels are located at positions, at which the recovery port is closed; and urging members that urge the door panels in a direction, in which the recovery port is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori Sato, Hiroki Ando, Satoshi Honobe, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Fumiaki Maekawa, Toshiyuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8270852
    Abstract: A reclaimed material container includes a container body that is removably mounted to a mounting portion of an image forming apparatus, and that accommodates a reclaimed material existing after forming an image, a receiving portion that is provided at a bottom portion of the container body, and that is supported by a support of the mounting portion from therebelow, and a mounting member that mounts the container body to the mounting portion as a result of rotation of the container body with the receiving portion as a fulcrum while the receiving portion is supported by the support from therebelow. In the container, the container body has a first recess that provides a field of view for the support when the receiving portion is supported by the support from therebelow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ando, Tomonori Sato, Fumiaki Maekawa, Satoshi Honobe, Toshiyuki Matsui, Tsuneo Fukuzawa
  • Publication number: 20120207506
    Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member in contact with or adjacent to a charged body, a charge housing that holds the charging member, bearing members that rotatably support the charging member, at least one of the bearing members being a conductive bearing member, pressing members that press the bearing members toward the charged body, at least the pressing member for the conductive bearing member being formed of a conductive material, a platelike power supply member in contact with the pressing member for the conductive bearing member, and positioning mechanisms that position the bearing members. The power supply member has a platelike extending portion. The positioning mechanism provided on a power supplied side of the charging member includes a positioning portion provided in the conductive bearing member, and a positioned portion provided in the extending portion. The positioned portion engages with the positioning portion when the extending portion elastically deforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi HONOBE, Hiroki ANDO, Tsuneo FUKUZAWA
  • Patent number: 8195065
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: an exposing unit that irradiates exposing light to an image carrier; a partition member that includes: a light-passing part that allows exposing light irradiated by the exposing unit to pass through the partition member, and that extends in a direction in which the developing unit is attached to or detached from the image-forming apparatus; and a protrusion part that extends along the light-passing part, wherein the light-passing part, the protrusion part, and a part of the partition member located below a supply opening of the developing unit attached to the image-forming apparatus are arranged in an order of the light-passing part, the protrusion part, and the part of the partition member located below the supply opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsui, Hiroki Ando, Satoshi Honobe, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Tomonori Sato, Fumiaki Maekawa
  • Patent number: 8170446
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: image-holding members each holding an image and being rotatable around a rotation shaft; a frame member that partially defines a space for accommodating the image-holding members; a cover that opens and closes the space, an inner side of the cover having rotation shaft insertion holes; a supporting shaft that supports the cover so the cover is pivotable with respect to the frame member; and a positioning mechanism that positions the cover when the cover closes the space. The positioning mechanism includes at least two projections that project from either the frame member or the cover and are spaced apart in a direction of an axis of the supporting shaft such that lengths of perpendicular line segments from the two projections to the axis of the supporting shaft are different from each other. Projection insertion holes receive the corresponding projections when the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsui, Hiroki Ando, Satoshi Honobe, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Tomonori Sato, Fumiaki Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20120082495
    Abstract: A cleaning unit includes: a cleaning member that cleans the surface of the image carrier; a cleaning container that stores developer removed by the cleaning member; a cleaning support that is formed by bending a plate and includes a cleaning-supporting portion supporting the other end portion of the cleaning member and a supported portion angled with respect to the cleaning-supporting portion by bending; a supporting-portion-of-support that includes a facing portion facing the supported portion, is provided at the cleaning container, and supports the cleaning support; a damping member that is disposed between the supported portion and the facing portion, is formed so as to be elastically deformable, and regulates vibration of the cleaning member; and a securing member that secures the cleaning support to the supporting-portion-of-support at a position adjacent to the damping member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya Ichikawa, Akiko Kimura, Yuzo Ichikawa, Takahiro Shinkawa, Masaaki Tokunaga, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Hirohisa Hoshino, Satoshi Honobe
  • Patent number: 8121515
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: first and second frame members opposing each other; image-holding members each having a rotation shaft; a supporting unit provided to the first frame member and having insertion holes each supporting an end portion of a rotation shaft of a corresponding image-holding member inserted in an insertion direction from the second frame member to the first frame member; and flat elastic bodies provided to the respective insertion holes, each flat elastic body having a plate member bent to form: an attachment part attached to the supporting unit; a leg part extending from the attachment part in the direction opposite to the insertion direction; and an elastic part extending from the leg part in the insertion direction through the insertion hole to press the end portion of the rotation shaft at a position spaced apart from the insertion hole in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsui, Hiroki Ando, Satoshi Honobe, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Tomonori Sato, Fumiaki Maekawa, Yoshiyuki Takashima, Junichirou Sameshima
  • Publication number: 20110318054
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including plural image forming units each having an image-carrier includes: a cylindrical image-carrier body holding an image; a rotary shaft inserted in the image-carrier body, and rotatably supporting the image-carrier body; a coupling member fitted to an end portion of the rotary shaft, transmitting a rotational-drive-force to the rotary shaft; an engaging member projecting from a circumferential surface of the rotary shaft, being engaged to an engaged portion formed in the image-carrier body to disable relative rotation of the image-carrier body to the rotary shaft; and an attaching member continuously inserted into a first through hole formed in the coupling member and a second through hole formed in the rotary shaft and fixed thereto such that an angle formed between the engaging member and the attaching member is substantially 90 degrees as seen in an rotary shaft axial-direction, attaching the coupling member and the rotary shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Tsuneo FUKUZAWA, Hiroki ANDO, Satoshi HONOBE, Toshiyuki MATSUI
  • Publication number: 20110123222
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a exposing unit that irradiates exposing light to an image carrier; a partition member that includes: a light-passing part that allows exposing light irradiated by the exposing unit to pass through the partition member, and that extends in a direction in which the developing unit is attached to or detached from the image-forming apparatus; and a protrusion part that extends along the light-passing part, wherein the light-passing part, the protrusion part, and a part of the partition member located below a supply opening of the developing unit attached to the image-forming apparatus are arranged in an order of the light-passing part, the protrusion part, and the part of the partition member located below the supply opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki MATSUI, Hiroki Ando, Satoshi Honobe, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Tomonori Sato, Fumiaki Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20110123246
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a plural image-holding members, each image-holding member holding an image and being rotatable around a rotation shaft; a frame member that at least partially defines a space for accommodating the plural image-holding members therein; a cover provided to the frame member to open and close the space with respect to an outside, an inner side of the cover being formed with rotation shaft insertion holes each for receiving an end portion of the rotation shaft of a corresponding one of the image-holding members accommodated in the space; a supporting shaft that supports the cover such that the cover is pivotable with respect to the frame member, the supporting shaft being inserted into a supporting shaft insertion hole provided to the frame member or to the cover, the supporting shaft insertion hole being elongated in a direction having a vertical component when the cover closes the space; and a positioning mechanism that positions the cover with respect to the frame member whe
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki ANDO, Toshiyuki Matsui, Satoshi Honobe, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Tomonori Sato, Fumiaki Maekawa, Toshihiro Maruta
  • Publication number: 20110123217
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: plural image-holding members, each image-holding member holding an image and being rotatable around a rotation shaft; a frame member that at least partially defines a space for accommodating the plural image-holding members therein; a cover provided to the frame member to open and close the space with respect to an outside, an inner side of the cover being formed with rotation shaft insertion holes each for receiving an end portion of the rotation shaft of a corresponding one of the image-holding members accommodated in the space; a supporting shaft that supports the cover such that the cover is pivotable with respect to the frame member; and a positioning mechanism that positions the cover with respect to the frame member when the cover closes the space, the positioning mechanism including at least two projections that project from one of the frame member and the cover and that are spaced apart from each other in a direction of an axis of the supporting shaft such that le
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki MATSUI, Hiroki ANDO, Satoshi HONOBE, Tsuneo FUKUZAWA, Tomonori SATO, Fumiaki MAEKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110116830
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a housing including a first frame member and a second frame member opposed to the first frame member; plural image-forming units each including an image-holding member on which an image is formed, the image-holding member having a rotation shaft; a supporting unit provided to the first frame member, the supporting unit having plural insertion holes each receiving and supporting an end portion of a rotation shaft of a corresponding one of the plural image-holding members inserted in an insertion direction from the second frame member to the first frame member; and plural flat elastic bodies provided to the respective insertion holes, each flat elastic body having a plate member that is bent to form: an attachment part that is attached to a surface of the supporting unit facing in a direction opposite to the insertion direction; a leg part extending from the attachment part in the direction opposite to the insertion direction; and an elastic part extending from the leg part
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki MATSUI, Hiroki ANDO, Satoshi HONOBE, Tsuneo FUKUZAWA, Tomonori SATO, Fumiaki MAEKAWA, Yoshiyuki TAKASHIMA, Junichirou SAMESHIMA
  • Publication number: 20110116831
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operating portion that moves between a first operating position in which each of positioning members is moved to each of positioning positions and a second operating position in which each of the positioning members is moved to each of releasing positions through each of transmitting members and each of transmitted members when a first transmitting member and a first transmitted member are coupled to each other, and that carries out the movement to a first operating position to move a second positioning member to a second positioning position through a second transmitting member and a second transmitted member and carries out the movement to a second operating position to move the second positioning member to a second releasing position when the first transmitting member and the first transmitted member are decoupled from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Honobe, Hiroki Ando, Toshiyuki Matsui, Tomonori Sato, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Fumiaki Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20110103856
    Abstract: A powder recovery container includes a reservoir chamber that stores a recovered powder; a recovery port that faces the reservoir chamber, a powder conveying unit that conveys and recovers the powder through the recovery port being removably inserted into the recovery port; a pair of door panels having rotating shafts arranged at two positions with the recovery port arranged therebetween, the door panels being rotated toward the reservoir chamber around the rotating shafts to open and close the recovery port; sealing members attached to the door panels, the sealing members overlapping one another between distal ends of the door panels to seal a gap between the distal ends of the door panels when the door panels are located at positions, at which the recovery port is closed; and urging members that urge the door panels in a direction, in which the recovery port is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori SATO, Hiroki ANDO, Satoshi HONOBE, Tsuneo FUKUZAWA, Fumiaki MAEKAWA, Toshiyuki MATSUI