Patents by Inventor Shoichi Zensai

Shoichi Zensai 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).

  • Publication number: 20180348696
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit configured to mount a development unit including a developing member, a pressing member configured to press the development unit mounted on the mounting unit to separate the developing member from a photosensitive member or bring the developing member into contact with the photosensitive member, and an urging member configured to urge the pressing member, wherein, when mounting the development unit on the mounting unit, the development unit moves in a first direction from the pressing member toward the development unit, parallel to a direction in which the pressing member and the development unit are arranged side by side, wherein the pressing member is movable in the first direction, and wherein the urging member urges the pressing member to move the pressing member in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Tomofumi Kawamura, Shoichi Zensai, Takashi Yano
  • Publication number: 20180292781
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit configured to mount a cartridge including a developing member by moving the cartridge in the insertion direction, and a pressing member having a first pressing portion configured to press the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit to separate the developing member from a photosensitive member. The pressing member has a second pressing portion configured to press the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit to bring the developing member into contact with the photosensitive member, and the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion integrally moves with the movement of the pressing member. The image forming apparatus also includes an elastic member configured to press the pressing member so that the second pressing portion presses the cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Tomofumi Kawamura, Shoichi Zensai, Takashi Yano
  • Patent number: 10093497
    Abstract: A pickup roller is moved to a retracted position by rotating a feeding motor in reverse by a first predetermined amount and is moved to a contact position by rotating the feeding motor forward by a second predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoichi Zensai
  • Patent number: 10073408
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit configured to mount a development unit including a developing member, a pressing member configured to press the development unit mounted on the mounting unit to separate the developing member from a photosensitive member or bring the developing member into contact with the photosensitive member, and an urging member configured to urge the pressing member, wherein, when mounting the development unit on the mounting unit, the development unit moves in a first direction from the pressing member toward the development unit, parallel to a direction in which the pressing member and the development unit are arranged side by side, wherein the pressing member is movable in the first direction, and wherein the urging member urges the pressing member to move the pressing member in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomofumi Kawamura, Shoichi Zensai, Takashi Yano
  • Patent number: 10018959
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit configured to mount a cartridge including a developing member by moving the cartridge in the insertion direction, and a pressing member having a first pressing portion configured to press the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit to separate the developing member from a photosensitive member. The pressing member has a second pressing portion configured to press the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit to bring the developing member into contact with the photosensitive member, and the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion integrally moves with the movement of the pressing member. The image forming apparatus also includes an elastic member configured to press the pressing member so that the second pressing portion presses the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomofumi Kawamura, Shoichi Zensai, Takashi Yano
  • Publication number: 20180164739
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable unit movable between a contact position and a spaced position, a driving member displaceable between a contact phase and a spaced phase, an openable member, and a pressing member for pressing and moving the movable unit by being moved in interrelation with an opening operation of the openable member. When the openable member is opened in a state in which the driving member is in the contact phase, the pressing member presses and moves the movable unit by a first movement amount from the contact position to the spaced position. When the openable member is opened in a state in which the driving member is in the spaced phase, the pressing member does not move the movable unit or moves the movable unit by a second movement amount smaller than the first movement amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Shoichi Zensai, Tomofumi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9996029
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a door; a discharging portion provided in the main assembly and provided with a first opening for discharging toner; and a toner receptor detachably mounted to the door to accommodate the toner, the toner receptor being provided with a second opening cooperative with the first opening to form a toner flow passage, wherein the receptor is movable, in a state that it is mounted on the door, between a contacting position in which the receptor contacts the discharging portion such that the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening and a spacing position in which the receptor is spaced from the discharging portion, and wherein the receptor mounted on the door is movable between the contacting and the spacing positions in a direction inclined with respect to a contact plane of the discharging portion relative to the receptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Risa Matsumoto, Kazuki Takase, Shoichi Zensai
  • Publication number: 20180120758
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an apparatus main body; a plurality of units arranged adjacent to each other in the apparatus main body, and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body in the same insertion and removal direction; and a switching member 36 configured to be capable of taking any one of a first position in which attachment and detachment of one unit 4 of adjacent units among the plurality of units to and from the apparatus main body is allowed and attachment and detachment of another unit 5 of the adjacent units is restricted, and a second position in which the attachment and detachment of the one unit 4 is restricted and the attachment and detachment of the other unit 5 is allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Shoichi Zensai, Tomofumi Kawamura, Hiroki Takano
  • Publication number: 20180120763
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an opening/closing member that opens/closes space which is provided in an apparatus body and in which a first unit and a second unit are accommodated; a first guide portion that guides the first unit in the space; a second guide portion that guides the second unit in the space; and a slope member that is capable of guiding the first unit to the first guide portion provided at a position higher than a position of the second guide portion in a height direction orthogonal to an inserting/extracting direction of the space when the opening/closing member is put in an open position, the slope member being coupled between the apparatus body and the opening/closing member so as to be positioned in the space when the opening/closing member is put in a closed position to close the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroki Takano, Tomofumi Kawamura, Shoichi Zensai
  • Patent number: 9927764
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable unit movable between a contact position and a spaced position, a driving member displaceable between a contact phase and a spaced phase, an openable member, and a pressing member for pressing and moving the movable unit by being moved in interrelation with an opening operation of the openable member. When the openable member is opened in a state in which the driving member is in the contact phase, the pressing member presses and moves the movable unit by a first movement amount from the contact position to the spaced position. When the openable member is opened in a state in which the driving member is in the spaced phase, the pressing member does not move the movable unit or moves the movable unit by a second movement amount smaller than the first movement amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shoichi Zensai, Tomofumi Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20170313530
    Abstract: To enable placement of a regulating member which regulates a position of an end of a paper sheet at a desired position, and stable sheet feeding. A fixing member for standard size (33) is guided to engage with a fixing hole for standard size (42) and, in a state where the fixing member for standard size (33) positions a trailing end regulator (24), a fixing member for non-standard size (34) does not engage with a rack aear (43).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Fuse, Shoichi Zensai, Takehito Osada
  • Patent number: 9771226
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a stacking member, a raising device, a feeding member, an interlocking device including a sheet contact portion, a switching device, a holding member, and a movement device. The feeding member is movable between contact and retracting positions, and rotates in contact with a sheet stacked on the stacking member in a state of being located at the contact position. The sheet contact portion contacts the stacked sheet, and moves by being pressed against the stacked sheet where the raising device raises the stacking member. The switching device switches the raising device between a permitted state and a regulated state. The movement device moves the feeding member to the retracting position above the contact position by moving the holding member. The raising device does not change from the regulated state to the permitted state when the movement device moves the feeding member to the retracting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoichi Zensai
  • Publication number: 20170261921
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit configured to mount a development unit including a developing member, a pressing member configured to press the development unit mounted on the mounting unit to separate the developing member from a photosensitive member or bring the developing member into contact with the photosensitive member, and an urging member configured to urge the pressing member, wherein, when mounting the development unit on the mounting unit, the development unit moves in a first direction from the pressing member toward the development unit, parallel to a direction in which the pressing member and the development unit are arranged side by side, wherein the pressing member is movable in the first direction, and wherein the urging member urges the pressing member to move the pressing member in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Tomofumi Kawamura, Shoichi Zensai, Takashi Yano
  • Publication number: 20170261920
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit configured to mount a cartridge including a developing member by moving the cartridge in the insertion direction, and a pressing member having a first pressing portion configured to press the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit to separate the developing member from a photosensitive member. The pressing member has a second pressing portion configured to press the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit to bring the developing member into contact with the photosensitive member, and the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion integrally moves with the movement of the pressing member. The image forming apparatus also includes an elastic member configured to press the pressing member so that the second pressing portion presses the cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Tomofumi Kawamura, Shoichi Zensai, Takashi Yano
  • Publication number: 20170261918
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable unit movable between a contact position and a spaced position, a driving member displaceable between a contact phase and a spaced phase, an openable member, and a pressing member for pressing and moving the movable unit by being moved in interrelation with an opening operation of the openable member. When the openable member is opened in a state in which the driving member is in the contact phase, the pressing member presses and moves the movable unit by a first movement amount from the contact position to the spaced position. When the openable member is opened in a state in which the driving member is in the spaced phase, the pressing member does not move the movable unit or moves the movable unit by a second movement amount smaller than the first movement amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Shoichi Zensai, Tomofumi Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20170219956
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a door; a discharging portion provided in the main assembly and provided with a first opening for discharging toner; and a toner receptor detachably mounted to the door to accommodate the toner, the toner receptor being provided with a second opening cooperative with the first opening to form a toner flow passage, wherein the receptor is movable, in a state that it is mounted on the door, between a contacting position in which the receptor contacts the discharging portion such that the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening and a spacing position in which the receptor is spaced from the discharging portion, and wherein the receptor mounted on the door is movable between the contacting and the spacing positions in a direction inclined with respect to a contact plane of the discharging portion relative to the receptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Risa Matsumoto, Kazuki Takase, Shoichi Zensai
  • Patent number: 9617091
    Abstract: Interlocked with an operation in which a feeding cassette is drawn out from a main body of a device, a restriction rib moves to a permissive position from a restrictive position, and interlocked with an operation in which the feeding cassette is inserted into the main body of the device, the restriction rib moves to the restrictive position from the permissive position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamichi Matsuo, Koji Kawamura, Shoichi Zensai
  • Patent number: 9527685
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately detecting sheets stacked on a stacking plate are provided. The feeding apparatus includes a sheet contact portion configured to make contact with a sheet stacked on a stacker. The sheet contact portion is arranged between a position where a feed roller makes contact with the sheet and a position where a conveyance roller makes contact with the sheet, in a feeding direction, and within an area of the feed roller in an axial direction of the feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kawamura, Takehito Osada, Shoichi Zensai
  • Patent number: 9522794
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of reducing malfunctions due to wear of a portion where a sheet surface detection member makes contact with a sheet, and stably providing favorable feeding performance are provided. The feeding apparatus includes a holder configured to hold a first lever and a feed roller. The first lever includes a sheet contact portion configured to make contact with a sheet stacked on a sheet stacker. The feed roller, the first lever, and the holder are configured to be integrally detachable from a main body of the feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehito Osada, Shoichi Zensai, Koji Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20160159590
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a stacking member, a raising device, a feeding member, an interlocking device including a sheet contact portion, a switching device, a holding member, and a movement device. The feeding member is movable between contact and retracting positions, and rotates in contact with a sheet stacked on the stacking member in a state of being located at the contact position. The sheet contact portion contacts the stacked sheet, and moves by being pressed against the stacked sheet where the raising device raises the stacking member. The switching device switches the raising device between a permitted state and a regulated state. The movement device moves the feeding member to the retracting position above the contact position by moving the holding member. The raising device does not change from the regulated state to the permitted state when the movement device moves the feeding member to the retracting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Shoichi Zensai