Patents by Inventor Shunsuke Uratani
Shunsuke Uratani 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).
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Publication number: 20240077829Abstract: A foreign substance collection apparatus includes: a frame body; a photosensitive drum; a cleaning roller which collects foreign substances from a surface of the photosensitive drum; a collecting roller which further collects the foreign substances having been collected by the cleaning roller from the cleaning roller; and a scraping member which scrapes off the foreign substances from the collecting roller. A foreign substance collecting portion included in the frame body has, in a posture during use: a first inner bottom surface which is positioned below the scraping member in a gravity direction; an outer bottom surface which is positioned further below the first inner bottom surface; and a connecting surface which intersects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface and which connects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuuki Nakamura, Satoru Motohashi
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Publication number: 20230418209Abstract: A cartridge including a rotatable image bearing member which bears a developer, a cleaning member for removing a developer remaining on a surface of the image bearing member, the cleaning member having a contact portion in contact with the surface of the image bearing member and a support portion which supports the contact portion, a developer recovering portion which recovers the developer removed by the cleaning member, a first conveyance member which is disposed inside the developer recovering portion and conveys the recovered developer in a rotation axis direction of the image bearing member, and a second conveyance member which conveys the developer conveyed by the first conveyance member in a direction crossing the rotation axis direction toward a discharge port provided in the developer recovering portion, is used.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Naoki Maeda, Shunsuke Uratani, Makoto Hayashida, Tetsuo Uesugi, Yuuki Nakamura, Joji Goto
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Publication number: 20230418219Abstract: A cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member and a second unit including a developer bearing member. The second unit is swingable with respect to the first unit. The second unit includes a pressed portion to be pressed by a pressing member of the apparatus body. When viewed in an axial direction, (i) the swing axis and the pressed portion are arranged on opposite sides to each other with respect to a virtual straight line, (ii) the pressed portion, the swing axis, and the first axis are arranged in the named order in an interaxial direction, and (iii) a distance from the pressed portion to the swing axis in the interaxial direction is longer than a distance from the swing axis to the first axis in the interaxial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: YUKO HARADA, SHUNSUKE URATANI, MAKOTO HAYASHIDA, TETSUO UESUGI
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Patent number: 11841668Abstract: A foreign substance collection apparatus includes: a frame body; a photosensitive drum; a cleaning roller which collects foreign substances from a surface of the photosensitive drum; a collecting roller which further collects the foreign substances having been collected by the cleaning roller from the cleaning roller; and a scraping member which scrapes off the foreign substances from the collecting roller. A foreign substance collecting portion included in the frame body has, in a posture during use: a first inner bottom surface which is positioned below the scraping member in a gravity direction; an outer bottom surface which is positioned further below the first inner bottom surface; and a connecting surface which intersects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface and which connects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface with each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuuki Nakamura, Satoru Motohashi
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Patent number: 11803153Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum supported by the frame. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum such that a driving force can be transferred from the coupling to the photosensitive drum, and a developing roller is supported by the frame. A first gear is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum and the developing roller such that the driving force can be transmitted from the coupling to the developing roller. A second gear is positioned at a side of the process cartridge, with the second gear having a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge, and with a tip of at least one of the exposed teeth facing an axis of the photosensitive drum.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2023Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
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Publication number: 20230333511Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame and a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, with the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum such that a driving force can be transferred from the coupling to the photosensitive drum. A developing roller is supported by the frame, with the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof. A gear is positioned at a side of the process cartridge, with the gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. The gear has a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge, and with a tip of at least one of the exposed teeth facing the axis of the photosensitive drum. As measured in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum, the teeth of the gear are shorter than the projection of the coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
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Patent number: 11720055Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame, a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, and a developing roller supported by the frame. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof, and with the coupling being positioned (i) at a first end of the photosensitive drum, (ii) coaxial with the photosensitive drum, and (iii) at a side of the process cartridge. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof, the helical gear having a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge. As measured in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, at least a part of the exposed teeth of the helical gear is positioned farther from the second end of the photosensitive drum than a tip of a projection of the coupling is positioned from the second end of the photosensitive drum.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
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Publication number: 20230195032Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
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Patent number: 11614711Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame, a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, and a developing roller supported by the frame. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof, and with the coupling being positioned (i) at a first end of the photosensitive drum, (ii) coaxial with the photosensitive drum, and (iii) at a side of the process cartridge. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof, the helical gear having a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge. As measured in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, at least a part of the exposed teeth of the helical gear is positioned farther from the second end of the photosensitive drum than a tip of a projection of the coupling is positioned from the second end of the photosensitive drum.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2022Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
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Publication number: 20230032541Abstract: A cartridge for a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a rotatable driving coupling member including a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force and a driving side abutment, wherein the cartridge is demountable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the driving coupling member, includes a rotatable driven coupling member including a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, and a driven side abutment to be abutted by the driving side abutment, the driven coupling member being slidable in a predetermined direction which is substantially parallel with a rotational axis of the receiving coupling member; wherein at least one of the driving side abutment and the driven side abutment is inclined so that the driven coupling member is retractable away from the driving coupling member in the predetermined direction by a force received by driven side abutment from the driving sideType: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Shunsuke Uratani, Toru Oguma
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Patent number: 11500324Abstract: A cartridge and a drum unit include a drum flange provided at one end portion of a photosensitive drum and a coupling member operatively connected to the drum flange, with the coupling member being configured to transmit a driving force to the drum flange. A coil spring urges the coupling member. At least a part of the coil spring surrounds at least a part of a shaft portion of the coupling member. An extent of the coil spring that surrounds the shaft portion and an extent of the shaft portion that is surrounded by the coil spring are positioned within a hollow interior portion of the drum flange.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Shunsuke Uratani, Toru Oguma
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Patent number: 11402798Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a slit and a recess formed therein at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, with the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A developing roller is also supported by the frame, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. The helical gear has a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
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Patent number: 11392081Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a slit and a recess formed therein at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, with the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A developing roller is also supported by the frame, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. The helical gear has a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2021Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
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Publication number: 20220214641Abstract: A foreign substance collection apparatus includes: a frame body; a photosensitive drum; a cleaning roller which collects foreign substances from a surface of the photosensitive drum; a collecting roller which further collects the foreign substances having been collected by the cleaning roller from the cleaning roller; and a scraping member which scrapes off the foreign substances from the collecting roller. A foreign substance collecting portion included in the frame body has, in a posture during use: a first inner bottom surface which is positioned below the scraping member in a gravity direction; an outer bottom surface which is positioned further below the first inner bottom surface; and a connecting surface which intersects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface and which connects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuuki Nakamura, Satoru Motohashi
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Patent number: 11366424Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a slit and a recess formed therein at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, with the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A developing roller is also supported by the frame, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. The helical gear has a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
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Publication number: 20220187758Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame, a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, a developing roller supported by the frame, and a coupling operatively connected to the photosensitive drum. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. A stopper is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the stopper having a surface extending in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum and facing the axis of the photosensitive drum. As measured in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, at least a part of exposed teeth of the helical gear is positioned farther an end of the photosensitive drum than a tip of the projection of the coupling is positioned from the end of the photosensitive drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
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Patent number: 11314193Abstract: A foreign substance collection apparatus includes: a frame body; a photosensitive drum; a cleaning roller which collects foreign substances from a surface of the photosensitive drum; a collecting roller which further collects the foreign substances having been collected by the cleaning roller from the cleaning roller; and a scraping member which scrapes off the foreign substances from the collecting roller. A foreign substance collecting portion included in the frame body has, in a posture during use: a first inner bottom surface which is positioned below the scraping member in a gravity direction; an outer bottom surface which is positioned further below the first inner bottom surface; and a connecting surface which intersects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface and which connects the first inner bottom surface and the outer bottom surface with each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Tomonori Mori, Teruhiko Sasaki, Makoto Hayashida, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuuki Nakamura, Satoru Motohashi
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Patent number: 11169483Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a gear portion having gear teeth configured to receive a driving force from outside of the process cartridge. The gear portion includes an exposed portion exposed to outside of the process cartridge. A shortest distance from an axis of the photosensitive drum to a tooth tip of the exposed portion of the gear portion measured along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive drum is no less than 90% and no more than 110% of a radius of the photosensitive drum.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba
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Publication number: 20210341873Abstract: A cartridge for a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a rotatable driving coupling member including a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force and a driving side abutment, wherein the cartridge is demountable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the driving coupling member, includes a rotatable driven coupling member including a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force, and a driven side abutment to be abutted by the driving side abutment, the driven coupling member being slidable in a predetermined direction which is substantially parallel with a rotational axis of the receiving coupling member; wherein at least one of the driving side abutment and the driven side abutment is inclined so that the driven coupling member is retractable away from the driving coupling member in the predetermined direction by a force received by driven side abutment from the driving sideType: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Noriyuki Komatsu, Shunsuke Uratani, Toru Oguma
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Publication number: 20210286316Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a slit and a recess formed therein at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, with the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A developing roller is also supported by the frame, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. The helical gear has a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Ryuta Murakami, Tadashi Horikawa, Shunsuke Uratani, Yuichiro Inaba