Patents by Inventor Shinjiro Toba

Shinjiro Toba 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: 8213831
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing roller that is movable between a contacting position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spaced position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The apparatus further includes a spacing force receiving portion that is movable between a projected position and a retracted position, and a projecting force receiving portion that receives an external force to move the spacing force receiving portion from the retracted position to the projected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Akira Yoshimura, Susumu Nittani
  • Publication number: 20110206412
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Tanabe, Susumu Nittani, Shinjiro Toba, Tomio Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20110142491
    Abstract: A developing cartridge detachably mountable to image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; a protecting member, demountable in the axial direction of said developer carrying member from said frame; an accommodating portion accommodating the developer to be supplied to said developer carrying member; a sealing member sealing an opening for permitting the developer to be supplied from said accommodating portion to said developer carrying member; and a grip portion, provided at one longitudinal end of said sealing member, for being gripped when said sealing member is removed from said opening, said grip portion being movable between a first position on a movement locus of said protecting member when said protecting member is dismounted from said frame, and a second position outside the movement locus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Numata, Shigeo Miyabe, Takahito Ueno, Shinjiro Toba
  • Patent number: 7953340
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Tanabe, Susumu Nittani, Shinjiro Toba, Tomio Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20110103834
    Abstract: A cartridge attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body includes a rotating member, a supporting member configured to rotatably support the rotating member, a regulating portion configured to abut against an end surface of the rotating member in a rotational axis direction to regulate movement in the rotational axis direction, a hole portion configured to expose a portion of the end surface so as to enable a contact portion provided on the image forming apparatus main body to contact the end surface, a concave portion configured to retain grease, and a wall surface in the concave portion located at a downstream side in a rotation direction and provided such that an area of the wall surface that is farther from the hole portion than an area thereof that is closer to the hole portion is located at the downstream side of the rotation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Tetsushi Uneme
  • Publication number: 20110103839
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device; and a movable member for rotationally moving the developing device. The movable member includes a rotation shaft member, a first member which is engaged with the rotation shaft member at one end portion, a second member which is engaged with the rotation shaft member at the other end portion, a first guide portion, and a second guide portion. The apparatus further includes a first swingable supporting member for rotatably supporting the movable member at the one end portion; a second swingable supporting member for rotatably supporting the movable member at the other end portion; an urging portion for urging the movable member toward the image bearing member; a first preventing member for preventing movement of the first member; and a second preventing member for preventing movement of the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe
  • Publication number: 20110064459
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing frame supporting the developing roller, the developing frame is movable relative to the drum frame and is capable of taking a contacting position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a force receiving device including a first force receiving portion for receiving a first external force and a second force receiving portion for receiving a second external force, wherein the second force receiving portion is movable relative to the developing frame, wherein the second force receiving portion is placed in a stand-by position retracted from an operating position by the first force receiving portion
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Akira Yoshimura, Susumu Nittani
  • Patent number: 7894733
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Tanabe, Susumu Nittani, Shinjiro Toba, Tomio Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7860433
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum frame, a movable developing frame taking a position where the roller contacts the drum, and a force receiver having first and second force receivers for receiving first and second external forces. The second force receiver moves relative to the developing frame. The second force receiver takes a stand-by position retracted from an operating position when the first force receiver receives the first external force, and moves from the stand-by to the operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position. The distance the second force receiver moves from the stand-by to the operating position is larger than the distance the first force receiver moves by the first external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Akira Yoshimura, Susumu Nittani
  • Publication number: 20100158563
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Tanabe, Susumu Nittani, Shinjiro Toba, Tomio Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20100142996
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Tanabe, Susumu Nittani, Shinjiro Toba, Tomio Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7715746
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Tanabe, Susumu Nittani, Shinjiro Toba, Tomio Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20090003875
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing frame supporting the developing roller, the developing frame is movable relative to the drum frame and is capable of taking a contacting position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a force receiving device including a first force receiving portion for receiving a first external force and a second force receiving portion for receiving a second external force, wherein the second force receiving portion is movable relative to the developing frame, wherein the second force receiving portion is placed in a stand-by position retracted from an operating position by the first force receiving portion
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinjiro Toba, Akira Yoshimura, Susumu Nittani
  • Patent number: 7412193
    Abstract: A developer feeding member for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to feed a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion, includes a shaft for receiving a driving force to rotate when the shaft is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a flexible sheet for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion when the flexible sheet is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a mounting member for mounting the flexible sheet on the shaft such that the flexible sheet is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction, in a widthwise direction and in a thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Shigeo Miyabe, Shinjiro Toba, Hiroomi Matsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20080159774
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a main assembly urging member and a main assembly positioning portion, the cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a portion-to-be-positioned for positioning the cartridge by engaging with the main assembly positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a first portion-to-be-urged for being urged to a first urging portion of the main assembly urging member to urge the portion-to-be-positioned to the main assembly positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a second portion-to-be-urged for being urged to a second urging portion of the main assembly urging member to urge the portion-to-be-positioned to the main assembly positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a cartridge electrical contact, provided between the first portion-to-be-u
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Tanabe, Susumu Nittani, Shinjiro Toba, Tomio Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7349657
    Abstract: A developer feeding member for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to feed a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion, includes a shaft for receiving a driving force to rotate when the shaft is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a flexible sheet for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion when the flexible sheet is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a mounting member for mounting the flexible sheet on the shaft such that the flexible sheet is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction, in a widthwise direction and in a thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Shigeo Miyabe, Shinjiro Toba, Hiroomi Matsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20080025757
    Abstract: A developer feeding member for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to feed a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion, includes a shaft for receiving a driving force to rotate when the shaft is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a flexible sheet for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion when the flexible sheet is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a mounting member for mounting the flexible sheet on the shaft such that flexible sheet is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction, in a widthwise direction and in a thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Sato, Shigeo Miyabe, Shinjiro Toba, Hiroomi Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7248810
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a mounting portion in a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes: a cartridge electrical contact supplying electric power to a process device and being electrically connectable to a main assembly electrical contact when the cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion; first and second portions to be guided by a main assembly guide to guide the cartridge to the mounting portion when the cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion; and a guide portion guiding the main assembly electrical contact to the cartridge electrical contact when the cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion. The guide portion is disposed between the first and second portions to be guided, and the cartridge electrical contact is upstream of the guide portion with respect to a direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Miyabe, Shinjiro Toba, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: D555718
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Miyabe, Shinjiro Toba, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: D631092
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Nittani, Masatomo Tsuzuki, Shinjiro Toba, Akira Yoshimura