Patents by Inventor Tadashi Horikawa

Tadashi Horikawa 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: 20170102639
    Abstract: A developer container or a developing device including a sheet member having a plurality of holes and a plurality of protruded portions to be inserted into the holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Atsushi Takasaka, Tadashi Horikawa, Naoya Asanuma, Go Torii
  • Patent number: 9389578
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a cartridge, a movable member, including an attachment portion for attachment of the cartridge, configured to be movable relative to the apparatus main body in a state such that the cartridge is attached to the attachment portion, a protection member configured to protect the cartridge, an engagement member, provided in the cartridge, configured to be movable to an engagement position where an engagement state of the protection member with the cartridge is secured by the engagement member engaging with the protection member, and to a release position where engagement between the protection member and the engagement member is released and removal of the protection member from the cartridge is allowed, and a release member configured to move the engagement member from the engagement position to the release position by abutting the engagement member, when the cartridge is attached to the attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Horikawa, Tetsuya Numata, Noriyuki Komatsu, Osamu Anan, Yuichi Sakakibara, Ken Kikuchi, Takashi Akutsu
  • Patent number: 9280136
    Abstract: A photosensitive cartridge attachable to/detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an attachment unit configured to removably attach a developing cartridge including a developing member that develops a latent image formed on the photosensitive member to the photosensitive cartridge, and a locking member configured to prevent disengaging of the developing cartridge from the attachment unit when the developing cartridge is attached to the attachment unit, wherein the locking member comes into contact, when the photosensitive cartridge to which the developing cartridge has been attached is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, with a main body contact member provided to the main body and electrically connects the main body contact member and the developing cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Horikawa
  • Patent number: 9213267
    Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seal seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuharu Hoshi, Akira Suzuki, Makoto Hayashida, Kazuhiko Kanno, Tadashi Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20150323896
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a cartridge, a movable member, including an attachment portion for attachment of the cartridge, configured to be movable relative to the apparatus main body in a state such that the cartridge is attached to the attachment portion, a protection member configured to protect the cartridge, an engagement member, provided in the cartridge, configured to be movable to an engagement position where an engagement state of the protection member with the cartridge is secured by the engagement member engaging with the protection member, and to a release position where engagement between the protection member and the engagement member is released and removal of the protection member from the cartridge is allowed, and a release member configured to move the engagement member from the engagement position to the release position by abutting the engagement member, when the cartridge is attached to the attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Tadashi Horikawa, Tetsuya Numata, Noriyuki Komatsu, Osamu Anan, Yuichi Sakakibara, Ken Kikuchi, Takashi Akutsu
  • Patent number: 9182733
    Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a developer accommodating portion; a shutter portion movable between a closed position and an open position; and a movable portion for moving the shutter portion. The movable portion is movable between a first position where the shutter portion is positioned in the closed position. When the movable portion is positioned in a position other than a first position provided in an apparatus main assembly side of an image forming apparatus before being engaged with the first engaging portion, the movable portion is moved, until being engaged with the first engaging portion, to the first position by engagement thereof with a second engaging portion provided in the accommodate main assembly side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Horikawa, Sadaaki Tani, Takahito Ueno
  • Publication number: 20150205257
    Abstract: A photosensitive cartridge attachable to/detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an attachment unit configured to removably attach a developing cartridge including a developing member that develops a latent image formed on the photosensitive member to the photosensitive cartridge, and a locking member configured to prevent disengaging of the developing cartridge from the attachment unit when the developing cartridge is attached to the attachment unit, wherein the locking member comes into contact, when the photosensitive cartridge to which the developing cartridge has been attached is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, with a main body contact member provided to the main body and electrically connects the main body contact member and the developing cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventor: Tadashi Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20140219689
    Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a developer accommodating portion; a shutter portion movable between a closed position and an open position; and a movable portion for moving the shutter portion. The movable portion is movable between a first position where the shutter portion is positioned in the closed position. When the movable portion is positioned in a position other than a first position provided in an apparatus main assembly side of an image forming apparatus before being engaged with the first engaging portion, the movable portion is moved, until being engaged with the first engaging portion, to the first position by engagement thereof with a second engaging portion provided in the accommodate main assembly side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi Horikawa, Sadaaki Tari, Takahito Ueno
  • Publication number: 20140140723
    Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seal seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuharu Hoshi, Akira Suzuki, Makoto Hayashida, Kazuhiko Kanno, Tadashi Horikawa
  • Patent number: 8682211
    Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seal seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuharu Hoshi, Akira Suzuki, Makoto Hayashida, Kazuhiko Kanno, Tadashi Horikawa
  • Patent number: 8526846
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller, a cleaning blade, a developer container including an opening, a developer conveyance member, a driving force transmission member having a driving force transmitted from the developer conveyance member, a seal member configured to seal the opening, and a winding member configured to wind the seal member such that the opening is opened, and the driving force transmission member is configured to take a first position at which the driving force is not transmitted to the winding member and a second position at which the driving force is transmitted to the winding member, and wherein the driving force transmission member is further configured to move from the first position to the second position after rotation of the developer conveyance member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Horikawa
  • Patent number: 8515306
    Abstract: A cartridge is detachably insertable into a main assembly of the image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes an opening, and urging, positioning, and regulating portions. The cartridge includes an urgable portion urged by the urging portion in a direction crossing a cartridge-inserting direction after cartridge insertion. The cartridge also includes a positionable portion positioned by contacting the positioning portion by the urging portion moving the cartridge in the crossing direction, and a regulatable portion regulated by the regulating portion to prevent cartridge movement toward the opening when the positionable portion contacts the positioning portion. The regulatable portion is at the cartridge rear and is brought, by cartridge movement in the crossing direction by the urging portion, behind the regulating portion with respect to the inserting direction to prevent cartridge movement toward the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tachio Kawai, Tadashi Horikawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Takashi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 8249485
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a supporting member, a movable member for moving the supporting member in a horizontal direction and upward and downward directions, an operating member for moving the movable member, and a regulating portion, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the drum; a portion to be supported for being supported by the supporting member when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; and a portion-to-be-regulated for being regulated by being contacted by the regulating portion to regulate movement of the process cartridge in the horizontal direction, when the supporting member is moved, by movement of the movable member by operation of the operating member and in the horizontal direction and the upward direction while supporting the process cartridge, wherein when the supporting member is m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Horikawa, Tachio Kawai, Hiroshi Takarada, Takashi Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20120099903
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller, a cleaning blade, a developer container including an opening, a developer conveyance member, a driving force transmission member having a driving force transmitted from the developer conveyance member, a seal member configured to seal the opening, and a winding member configured to wind the seal member such that the opening is opened, and the driving force transmission member is configured to take a first position at which the driving force is not transmitted to the winding member and a second position at which the driving force is transmitted to the winding member, and wherein the driving force transmission member is further configured to move from the first position to the second position after rotation of the developer conveyance member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadashi Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20110170903
    Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seal seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuharu Hoshi, Akira Suzuki, Makoto Hayashida, Kazuhiko Kanno, Tadashi Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7979009
    Abstract: A developer supplying cartridge including a supply developer containing portion, a developer supplying port for supplying a developer in the supply developer containing portion to a developing device via a supplied port of the developing device, and a supplying port shutter unit that opens and closes the developer supplying port and that includes a housing member covering the developer supplying port, a cylindrical member which is rotatably disposed in the housing member, and provided with a through-hole corresponding to the developer supplying port, and which assumes, by its rotation, a developer supply allowing position where the developer supplying port and the through-hole communicate with each other and a developer supply stopping position where the developer supplying port is closed, and a scraping member which is abutted on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member to scrape off developer adhering to the outer circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Horikawa
  • Patent number: D638056
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kanno, Tachio Kawai, Tadashi Horikawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Sadaaki Tani
  • Patent number: D638057
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kanno, Tachio Kawai, Tadashi Horikawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Sadaaki Tani
  • Patent number: D639335
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kanno, Tachio Kawai, Tadashi Horikawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Sadaaki Tani
  • Patent number: D639846
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kanno, Tachio Kawai, Tadashi Horikawa, Hiroshi Takarada, Sadaaki Tani