Patents by Inventor Takeshi Niimura

Takeshi Niimura 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: 10108141
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly, a developing cartridge, and a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position in which the pair of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are located at an image forming position and an outside position in which the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are mountable and demountable. A first portion-to-be-pressed is provided on the process cartridge, a main assembly side process cartridge urging member is provided in the main assembly for pressing the first portion-to-be-pressed when the cartridge supporting member is in the inside position, and a second portion-to-be-pressed is provided on the developing cartridge. In addition, a main assembly side developing cartridge urging member is provided for pressing the second portion-to-be-pressed when the cartridge supporting member is located at the inside position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Uchida, Takeshi Niimura
  • Publication number: 20170343957
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly, a developing cartridge, and a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position in which the pair of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are located at an image forming position and an outside position in which the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are mountable and demountable. A first portion-to-be-pressed is provided on the process cartridge, a main assembly side process cartridge urging member is provided in the main assembly for pressing the first portion-to-be-pressed when the cartridge supporting member is in the inside position, and a second portion-to-be-pressed is provided on the developing cartridge. In addition, a main assembly side developing cartridge urging member is provided for pressing the second portion-to-be-pressed when the cartridge supporting member is located at the inside position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Wataru Uchida, Takeshi Niimura
  • Patent number: 9766588
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a supporting member capable of supporting a plurality of developing rollers and a plurality of photosensitive drums, and a plurality of developing cartridges each having the developing roller. An urging member urges each developing cartridge to urge the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum, and a spacing member spaces the developing roller and the photosensitive drum from each other. The developing cartridges each include an upper surface facing upward when mounted to the supporting member and two recessed portions provided at the upper surface, each extending in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller, wherein the two recessed portions are disposed along an arrangement direction of the developing cartridges and constitute a gripping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Uchida, Takeshi Niimura
  • Publication number: 20160357141
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a supporting member capable of supporting a plurality of developing rollers and a plurality of photosensitive drums, and a plurality of developing cartridges each having the developing roller. An urging member urges each developing cartridge to urge the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum, and a spacing member spaces the developing roller and the photosensitive drum from each other. The developing cartridges each include an upper surface facing upward when mounted to the supporting member and two recessed portions provided at the upper surface, each extending in a longitudinal direction of the developing roller, wherein the two recessed portions are disposed along an arrangement direction of the developing cartridges and constitute a gripping portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Wataru Uchida, Takeshi Niimura
  • Patent number: 9389584
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, and a supporting member capable of supporting a plurality of developing rollers and a plurality of photosensitive drums, with the supporting member being movable substantially linearly between an inside position inside of the main assembly and an outside position outside of the main assembly while supporting the developing rollers and the photosensitive drums. In addition, a plurality of developing cartridges each have the developing roller and are mountable to and dismountable from the supporting member which supports the plurality of photosensitive drums when the supporting member is in the outside position. The developing cartridges each include an upper surface facing upward when mounted to the supporting member and a projection projecting upwardly from the upper surface and having a shape providing a space through a middle portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Uchida, Takeshi Niimura
  • Patent number: 9274474
    Abstract: The fixing device includes a rotary member for contacting the unfixed toner image, a pressure member for forming the nip portion by contacting the rotary member, and a cover for covering the rotary member with a space between the rotary member and the cover. In a cross section of the fixing device, the cross section being orthogonal to a generatrix direction of the rotary member, the shortest distance (H) between the nip portion and a farthest surface portion of the rotary member farthest away from a surface portion forming the nip portion of the rotary member, the maximum width (W) of the rotary member in the conveyance direction of the recording member, and an area (S) of the space in a range of the maximum width W in the cross section satisfy with a relationship of S/W?0.7×H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahito Omata, Shoichiro Ikegami, Masahiko Suzumi, Terutaka Endo, Takeshi Niimura, Takehiko Suzuki, Toshihiko Ochiai
  • Patent number: 9270856
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading apparatus, including: a placing member on which an original is to be placed; a reading section arranged so as to be opposed to the original across the placing member and reading an image of the original placed on the placing member; a casing which supports an outer peripheral edge portion of the placing member; and a support member supporting a portion other than the outer peripheral edge portion of the placing member, the support member including an abutment portion abutting against the casing, the support member being capable of supporting the placing member under a state in which the abutment portion abuts against the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Niimura
  • Patent number: 9242827
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device including a stacking tray, an auxiliary tray, and pivot limiting means. The stacking tray is disposed to be pivotable relative to an apparatus main body. The stacking tray has a stacking surface on which sheets discharged from discharging means are stacked. The auxiliary tray is pivotable between a storage position at which the auxiliary tray is stored in the stacking tray and a pivot position to which the auxiliary tray pivots from the stacking tray. Pivot limiting means limits pivoting of the auxiliary tray from the pivot position when the stacking tray is caused to pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Niimura
  • Publication number: 20150086253
    Abstract: The fixing device includes a rotary member for contacting the unfixed toner image, a pressure member for forming the nip portion by contacting the rotary member, and a cover for covering the rotary member with a space between the rotary member and the cover, wherein in a cross section of the fixing device, the cross section being orthogonal to a generatrix direction of the rotary member, wherein a shortest distance (H) between the nip portion and a farthest surface portion of the rotary member farthest away from a surface portion forming the nip portion of the rotary member, a maximum width (W) of the rotary member in the conveyance direction of the recording member, and an area (S) of the space in a range of the maximum width W in the cross section satisfy with a relationship of S/W?0.7×H.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Masahito Omata, Shoichiro Ikegami, Masahiko Suzumi, Terutaka Endo, Takeshi Niimura, Takehiko Suzuki, Toshihiko Ochiai
  • Publication number: 20140167349
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device including a stacking tray, an auxiliary tray, and pivot limiting means. The stacking tray is disposed to be pivotable relative to an apparatus main body. The stacking tray has a stacking surface on which sheets discharged from discharging means are stacked. The auxiliary tray is pivotable between a storage position at which the auxiliary tray is stored in the stacking tray and a pivot position to which the auxiliary tray pivots from the stacking tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: Takeshi Niimura
  • Patent number: 8521059
    Abstract: An inexpensive and stable regulating member which can control, without depending on an open/close cover, movement of a cartridge used for an image forming apparatus transportable in a cartridge-mounted state is provided. The regulating member includes a first contact portion which receives a first force applied from the cartridge to inside of the regulating member and a second contact portion which receives a second force that prevents the regulating member from moving from a regulating position by receiving the first force at a position away from a mounting and dismounting path of the cartridge where the cartridge passes when the cartridge is mounted on or dismounted from the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norio Furuya, Wataru Uchida, Takeshi Niimura, Yusuke Niikawa
  • Publication number: 20130057929
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading apparatus, including: a placing member on which an original is to be placed; a reading section arranged so as to be opposed to the original across the placing member and reading an image of the original placed on the placing member; a casing which supports an outer peripheral edge portion of the placing member; and a support member supporting a portion other than the outer peripheral edge portion of the placing member, the support member including an abutment portion abutting against the casing, the support member being capable of supporting the placing member under a state in which the abutment portion abuts against the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Niimura
  • Publication number: 20120039624
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes: a process cartridge, including a photosensitive drum and process means actable on the photosensitive drum, for being detachably mountable to a main assembly of the developing cartridge, including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with a developer and including a developer accommodating portion, for being detachably mountable to the main assembly; and a cartridge supporting member movable, while supporting at least a pair of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge, between an inside position in which the cartridge supporting member is located inside the main assembly and in which the pair of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge is located at an image forming position and an outside position in which the cartridge supporting member is located outside the main assembly and in which the process cartridge and the developing c
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Uchida, Takeshi Niimura
  • Publication number: 20110170905
    Abstract: An inexpensive and stable regulating member which can control, without depending on an open/close cover, movement of a cartridge used for an image forming apparatus transportable in a cartridge-mounted state is provided. The regulating member includes a first contact portion which receives a first force applied from the cartridge to inside of the regulating member and a second contact portion which receives a second force that prevents the regulating member from moving from a regulating position by receiving the first force at a position away from a mounting and dismounting path of the cartridge where the cartridge passes when the cartridge is mounted on or dismounted from the apparatus main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norio Furuya, Wataru Uchida, Takeshi Niimura, Yusuke Niikawa
  • Publication number: 20110086713
    Abstract: Disclosed is a game apparatus, including: a figurative object having a character identifying information; a reading section for reading a character information; a field section for freely moving the figurative object; a storage section for storing a plurality of display character identifying information; an identifying information reading section for reading the character identifying information from the figurative object at the reading section; a position reading section for reading position of the figurative object on the field; a display for displaying a character; and a controller for controlling the position of the character on the display, wherein when the figurative object is put on the field at a first time after the character identifying information has read by the identifying information reading section, the controller causes the display to display the character corresponding to the read character identifying information and controls the position of the character based on a read result of the positi
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicants: TOMY COMPANY, LTD., AQ INTERACTIVE INC.
    Inventors: Takeo Yoshimura, Takeshi Niimura, Yusuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7177566
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying unit for conveying a recording material on which an image is to be formed; and a pair of side members provided on both sides of the recording material conveyed by the conveying unit, in which the pair of side members each have a first surface portion and a second surface portion that extends in a direction different from the first surface portion, the first surface portion of one of the pair of side members being opposed to that of the other, and in which the conveying unit is attached to the second surface portion of each of the pair of side members, whereby the maintenance property of the conveying unit for conveying the recording material is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Takeshi Niimura, Ken Murooka, Takaaki Kawade, Hideki Miyazaki, Yasuzumi Taba, Atsushi Oguni, Tatsuo Hamada
  • Patent number: 6909494
    Abstract: A sheet supply portion is disposed in the lowermost portion of a printer so as to be substantially horizontal. A main conveying path for guiding a sheet from a transferring roller to a fixing device is disposed in a substantially vertical direction so as to be along the back of the printer. The guide surface of a sheet delivery guide constituting a conveying path leading from the fixing device to a pair of sheet delivery rollers is a flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Takaaki Kawade, Ken Murooka, Takeshi Niimura, Tatsuo Hamada, Yasuzumi Taba, Hideki Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20050069340
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying unit for conveying a recording material on which an image is to be formed; and a pair of side members provided on both sides of the recording material conveyed by the conveying unit, in which the pair of side members each have a first surface portion and a second surface portion that extends in a direction different from the first surface portion, the first surface portion of one of the pair of side members being opposed to that of the other, and in which the conveying unit is attached to the second surface portion of each of the pair of side members, whereby the maintenance property of the conveying unit for conveying the recording material is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Takeshi Niimura, Ken Murooka, Takaaki Kawade, Hideki Miyazaki, Yasuzumi Taba, Atsushi Oguni, Tatsuo Hamada
  • Publication number: 20040156031
    Abstract: A sheet supply portion is disposed in the lowermost portion of a printer so as to be substantially horizontal. A main conveying path for guiding a sheet from a transferring roller to a fixing device is disposed in a substantially vertical direction so as to be along the back of the printer. The guide surface of a sheet delivery guide constituting a conveying path leading from the fixing device to a pair of sheet delivery rollers is a flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Noda, Takaaki Kawade, Ken Murooka, Takeshi Niimura, Tatsuo Hamada, Yasuzumi Taba, Hideki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6583389
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus that has an elongated heater, a film having a surface which moves while in contact with a recording material bearing an image, wherein the image on the recording material is heated by heat emitted from the heater via the film. The heater has a substrate made of metal and the substrate has a convex portion in a longitudinal direction of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Murooka, Nobukazu Adachi, Akira Hayakawa, Takeshi Niimura