Patents by Inventor Shigeo Miyabe

Shigeo Miyabe 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: 9851685
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus cartridge includes a casing, a developer roller having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes a first end portion operatively connected to the developer roller and a second end portion, with the second end portion including at least one projection that is open to the axis L2 and an outer surface that faces away from the first end portion. For at least part of the outer surface, a maximum distance from the axis L2 to the outer surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 decreases as the distance along the axis L2 from the first end portion increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: 9851688
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus cartridge comprises a developer roller having an axis L1 and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the developer roller, (ii) a second end portion including at least one projection, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion. The coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from the developer roller as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the developer roller as measured in the direction of the axis L1, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: 9846408
    Abstract: A drum unit usable in the process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, a drum flange provided at an end of the photosensitive drum, with a part of the drum flange being positioned within the photosensitive drum, and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes (i) a first end portion at least a part of which is positioned within the drum flange, and (ii) a second end portion including (ii-i) a surface recessed in the second end portion and facing away from the first end portion and (ii-ii) at least one projection projecting from a surface adjacent to the recessed surface, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka
  • Patent number: 9841724
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus cartridge comprises a guide member, a developing roller having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2 and at least one projection. A relative positioning of the coupling member and the guide member is changeable between (i) a first relative position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from an end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second relative position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1, with the first distance being greater than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: 9841727
    Abstract: A process cartridge comprises a guide member positioned at a side of the process cartridge, a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2, with the coupling member including at least one projection. A relative positioning of the coupling member and the guide member is changeable between (i) a first relative position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from an end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second relative position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1, with the first distance being greater than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka
  • Patent number: 9841729
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a casing, a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes a first end portion connected to the photosensitive drum and a second end portion, with the second end portion including at least one projection that is open to the axis L2 and an outer surface that faces away from the first end portion. For at least part of the outer surface, a maximum distance from the axis L2 to the outer surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 decreases as the distance along the axis L2 from the first end portion increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka
  • Patent number: 9841728
    Abstract: A process cartridge comprises a guide member, a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2 and at least one projection. Relative positioning of the coupling member and the guide member is changeable between (i) a first relative position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from an end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second relative position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka
  • Patent number: 9836021
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a casing, a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, and a drum flange provided at an end of the photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a coupling member having an axis L2, with the coupling member including (i) a first end portion at least a part of which is positioned within the drum flange, and (ii) a second end portion including (ii-i) a surface recessed in the second end portion and facing away from the first end portion and (ii-ii) at least one projection projecting from a surface adjacent to the recessed surface, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka
  • Patent number: 9836015
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus cartridge comprises a developer roller having an axis L1 and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes (i) a first end portion operatively connected to the developer roller, (ii) a second end portion including at least one projection, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion. The coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from the developer roller as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the developer roller as measured in the direction of the axis L1, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: 9817333
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus cartridge includes a casing, a developer roller having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes a first end portion operatively connected with the developer roller and a second end portion, the second end portion including at least one projection that is open to the axis L2 and an outer surface that faces away from the first end portion. For at least part of the outer surface, a maximum distance from the axis L2 to the outer surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 decreases as the distance along the axis L2 from the first end portion increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: 9772602
    Abstract: A rotating force transmitting part for an electrophotographic photosensitive drum for a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a driving shaft, to be driven by a motor, having the rotating force applying portion, and wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is dismountable from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantial perpendicular with an axial direction of the driving shaft, the rotating force transmitting part includes a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the state in which electrophotographic photosensitive drum is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka, Masato Hisano
  • Publication number: 20170248911
    Abstract: A cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion, wherein the cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, the cartridge including i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and ii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the developing roller, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the developing roller to the developing roller and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein when t
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno, Masanari Morioka
  • Patent number: 9746826
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a casing including an opening and an arc-shaped protrusion on an external portion of the casing adjacent to the opening. The process cartridge also includes a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, with the photosensitive drum being rotatably supported in the casing to permit rotation about the axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member has (i) a first end portion connected to the photosensitive drum, (ii) a second end portion including at least one projection that is open to the axis L2, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion. A maximum distance as measured from the axis L2, in a direction perpendicular to the axis L2, of at least part of the connecting portion is shorter than a distance between the at least one projection and the axis L2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka
  • Patent number: 9733614
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a casing, a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, a drum flange, and a coupling member. The coupling member includes two coupling projections that extend in a direction away from the drum flange. The coupling is movable between a first position where a straight line between the projections passes through the axis L1 to a second position where the straight line between the projections does not pass through the axis L1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka
  • Publication number: 20170227920
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus cartridge comprises a guide member, a developing roller having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2 and at least one projection. A relative positioning of the coupling member and the guide member is changeable between (i) a first relative position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from an end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second relative position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1, with the first distance being greater than the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Publication number: 20170227927
    Abstract: A process cartridge comprises a guide member, a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2 and at least one projection. Relative positioning of the coupling member and the guide member is changeable between (i) a first relative position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from an end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second relative position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka
  • Publication number: 20170227919
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus cartridge comprises a guide member, a developer roller having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2, with the coupling member including at least one projection. A relative positioning of the coupling member and the guide member is changeable between a first relative position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from an end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and a second relative position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1, with the first distance being greater than the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Publication number: 20170227925
    Abstract: A process cartridge comprises a guide member positioned at a side of the process cartridge, a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, and a coupling member having an axis L2, with the coupling member including at least one projection. A relative positioning of the coupling member and the guide member is changeable between (i) a first relative position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from an end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second relative position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the end of the guide member as measured in the direction of the axis L1, with the first distance being greater than the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka
  • Patent number: 9703257
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a casing, a developer roller, and a coupling member. The coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which an axis L2 of the coupling member is substantially parallel to and offset from an axis L1 of the developer roller so that the axis L2 does not pass through developer roller, (ii) a second position in which the axis L2 is inclined with respect to the position of the axis L2 when the coupling member is in the first position, (iii) and a third position in which the axis L2 is inclined with respect to the position of the axis L2 when the coupling member is in the first position and in a direction opposite to the direction the coupling member is inclined when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanari Morioka, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno
  • Publication number: 20170192384
    Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, a drum flange provided at an end of the photosensitive drum, and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes (i) a first end portion connected to the drum flange, (ii) a second end portion including at least one projection, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion. The coupling member is movable between (i) a first position in which a tip of the at least one projection is a first distance away from the photosensitive drum as measured in the direction of the axis L1 and (ii) a second position in which the tip of the at least one projection is a second distance away from the photosensitive drum as measured in the direction of the axis L1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka