Patents by Inventor Tetsushi Uneme

Tetsushi Uneme 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: 12124190
    Abstract: A toner container includes a toner accommodating portion, a discharge portion, a shutter, a sealing member, and a guiding portion. In a case where a direction from the toner accommodating portion toward the discharge portion in a rotational axis direction is a first direction, where a direction opposite to the first direction is a second direction, and where an end portion of the sealing member on a downstream side of the first direction is a first end portion, a downstream end portion of the guiding portion is positioned downstream of the first end portion of the sealing member with respect to the first direction. The downstream end portion of the guiding portion overlaps with the sealing member as viewed in the rotational axis direction, and includes an inclined surface inclined so as to approach the contact surface of the seal member as it goes in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Fukui, Goshi Ozaki, Mitsuhiro Sato, Tetsushi Uneme, Hiroyuki Munetsugu
  • Patent number: 12085871
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a container to accommodate a developer, and a sensor to output an output signal depending on an amount of the developer in the container, wherein the sensor includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element which are provided outside the container, and a light guide provided on a wall surface of the container and configured to guide light, emitted by the light emitting element, toward the light receiving element through an inside space of the container. The light guide also includes projected portions configured such that light travels from outside of the container to the inside of the container in a direction intersecting with the direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Shinichi Nishida, Tetsushi Uneme, Masahiro Suetsugu
  • Patent number: 12072669
    Abstract: A control member 76 for controlling transmission and blocking of a rotational force by a clutch is rotatably supported by a supporting member which supports a developing frame. a locking portion provided on the control member 76 rotates between a position retracted from a locked portion of the clutch and a position for engaging with the locked portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishida, Yuichi Fukui, Tetsushi Uneme, Yasuyuki Egami, Yohei Anzai, Takeo Kawanami, Toshiki Fujino, Sohta Sugimoto, Fumiya Sawashima
  • Publication number: 20240231258
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an attachment portion, a storage portion, and an agitation member, an actuator, and a control unit, wherein the attachment portion includes an operation portion, including an engagement portion engaging with the shutter, configured to move with the shutter by the engagement portion being engaged with the shutter, the operation portion being movable between a first position where the shutter is at a closed position and a second position where the shutter is at an opened position, and a detection unit detecting a movement of the operation portion, and wherein the control unit controls the actuator so that driving of the agitation member is started based on the detection of a movement of the operation portion from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: MASAHIRO SUETSUGU, SHINICHI NISHIDA, TETSUSHI UNEME, TSUYOSHI OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20240152072
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion, an accommodating portion, a remaining toner amount detecting portion, a display portion, and a controller. In a supplying operation, the controller sets a threshold changing on the basis of a first output value before toner supply from the toner container to the accommodating portion. The controller discriminates whether or not toner in a certain amount or more is supplied to the accommodating portion by comparing the threshold with a second output value after the toner is supplied from the toner container to the accommodating portion. The threshold is a value between the first output value and a third output value in when the toner in a total amount accommodated in the toner container that has never been used is supplied to the accommodating portion before supply of the toner, and is closer to the third value than to the first value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: MASAHIRO SUETSUGU, SHINICHI NISHIDA, TETSUSHI UNEME, TSUYOSHI OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20240085822
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image bearing member, and a process unit attached to the apparatus body, the process unit including a frame including a storage portion configured to store developer, a developer bearing member configured to supply developer to the image bearing member to develop an electrostatic latent image; and a circuit board attached to the frame, wherein the circuit board includes a light emitting portion configured to emit light, and a light receiving portion configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting portion and having passed through an interior of the storage portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Tetsushi Uneme, Shinichi Nishida, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Masahiro Suetsugu, Kengo Sakai
  • Patent number: 11860556
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image bearing member, and a process unit attached to the apparatus body. The process unit includes a frame including a storage portion configured to store developer, a developer bearing member configured to supply developer to the image bearing member to develop an electrostatic latent image. and a circuit board attached to the frame. The circuit board includes a light emitting portion configured to emit light, and a light receiving portion configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting portion and having passed through an interior of the storage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsushi Uneme, Shinichi Nishida, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Masahiro Suetsugu, Kengo Sakai
  • Patent number: 11709437
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form a toner image on a recording material includes a photosensitive member and an optical scanning unit. The optical scanning unit includes an optical scanning unit, an optical box, a cover member, and a moving unit movable to an outside of the image forming apparatus. The optical scanning unit and the moving unit are arranged so that the moving unit and the optical scanning unit are opposed to each other when the moving unit is located in an inside of the image forming apparatus. The optical scanning unit is disposed so as to allow a user to touch the optical scanning unit through a space generated in the inside of the image forming apparatus when the moving unit is moved to the outside of the image forming apparatus. Between the optical box and the cover member, the cover member is opposed to the moving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taku Murotani, Mitsuhiro Obara, Hiroki Katayama, Atsushi Sano, Jun Nagatoshi, Chihiro Shirakawa, Tetsushi Uneme
  • Publication number: 20230185215
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a container and a detecting portion. The detecting portion includes a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and a light guiding portion. The light guiding portion includes first to fourth projected portions. An upper surface of the second projected portion is positioned above a first virtual rectilinear line along an upper surface of the first projected portion in a case where an upper surface of the second projected portion is viewed in a direction crossing both a first direction and a direction of gravitation. An upper surface of the third projected portion is positioned above a second virtual rectilinear line along an upper surface of the fourth projected portion as viewed in a direction crossing a second direction and the direction of gravitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Shinichi Nishida, Tetsushi Uneme, Masahiro Suetsugu
  • Publication number: 20230176503
    Abstract: A toner container includes a toner accommodating portion, a discharge portion, a shutter, a sealing member, and a guiding portion. In a case where a direction from the toner accommodating portion toward the discharge portion in a rotational axis direction is a first direction, where a direction opposite to the first direction is a second direction, and where an end portion of the sealing member on a downstream side of the first direction is a first end portion, a downstream end portion of the guiding portion is positioned downstream of the first end portion of the sealing member with respect to the first direction. The downstream end portion of the guiding portion overlaps with the sealing member as viewed in the rotational axis direction, and includes an inclined surface inclined so as to approach the contact surface of the seal member as it goes in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Yuichi Fukui, Goshi Ozaki, Mitsuhiro Sato, Tetsushi Uneme, Hiroyuki Munetsugu
  • Publication number: 20230072359
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form a toner image on a recording material includes a photosensitive member and an optical scanning unit. The optical scanning unit includes an optical scanning unit, an optical box, a cover member, and a moving unit movable to an outside of the image forming apparatus. The optical scanning unit and the moving unit are arranged so that the moving unit and the optical scanning unit are opposed to each other when the moving unit is located in an inside of the image forming apparatus. The optical scanning unit is disposed so as to allow a user to touch the optical scanning unit through a space generated in the inside of the image forming apparatus when the moving unit is moved to the outside of the image forming apparatus. Between the optical box and the cover member, the cover member is opposed to the moving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Taku Murotani, Mitsuhiro Obara, Hiroki Katayama, Atsushi Sano, Jun Nagatoshi, Chihiro Shirakawa, Tetsushi Uneme
  • Patent number: 11537058
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form a toner image on a recording material includes a photosensitive member and an optical scanning unit. The optical scanning unit includes an optical scanning unit, an optical box, a cover member, and a moving unit movable to an outside of the image forming apparatus. The optical scanning unit and the moving unit are arranged so that the moving unit and the optical scanning unit are opposed to each other when the moving unit is located in an inside of the image forming apparatus. The optical scanning unit is disposed so as to allow a user to touch the optical scanning unit through a space generated in the inside of the image forming apparatus when the moving unit is moved to the outside of the image forming apparatus. Between the optical box and the cover member, the cover member is opposed to the moving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taku Murotani, Mitsuhiro Obara, Hiroki Katayama, Atsushi Sano, Jun Nagatoshi, Chihiro Shirakawa, Tetsushi Uneme
  • Patent number: 11392082
    Abstract: A control member 76 for controlling transmission and blocking of a rotational force by a clutch is rotatably supported by a supporting member which supports a developing frame. a locking portion provided on the control member 76 rotates between a position retracted from a locked portion of the clutch and a position for engaging with the locked portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishida, Yuichi Fukui, Tetsushi Uneme, Yasuyuki Egami, Yohei Anzai, Takeo Kawanami, Toshiki Fujino, Sohta Sugimoto, Fumiya Sawashima
  • Publication number: 20220206410
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image bearing member, and a process unit attached to the apparatus body, the process unit including a frame including a storage portion configured to store developer, a developer bearing member configured to supply developer to the image bearing member to develop an electrostatic latent image; and a circuit board attached to the frame, wherein the circuit board includes a light emitting portion configured to emit light, and a light receiving portion configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitting portion and having passed through an interior of the storage portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Tetsushi Uneme, Shinichi Nishida, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Masahiro Suetsugu, Kengo Sakai
  • Publication number: 20220197179
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form a toner image on a recording material includes a photosensitive member and an optical scanning unit. The optical scanning unit includes an optical scanning unit, an optical box, a cover member, and a moving unit movable to an outside of the image forming apparatus. The optical scanning unit and the moving unit are arranged so that the moving unit and the optical scanning unit are opposed to each other when the moving unit is located in an inside of the image forming apparatus. The optical scanning unit is disposed so as to allow a user to touch the optical scanning unit through a space generated in the inside of the image forming apparatus when the moving unit is moved to the outside of the image forming apparatus. Between the optical box and the cover member, the cover member is opposed to the moving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Taku Murotani, Mitsuhiro Obara, Hiroki Katayama, Atsushi Sano, Jun Nagatoshi, Chihiro Shirakawa, Tetsushi Uneme
  • Patent number: 11307532
    Abstract: A control member 76 for controlling transmission and blocking of a rotational force by a clutch is rotatably supported by a supporting member which supports a developing frame. a locking portion provided on the control member 76 rotates between a position retracted from a locked portion of the clutch and a position for engaging with the locked portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishida, Yuichi Fukui, Tetsushi Uneme, Yasuyuki Egami, Yohei Anzai, Takeo Kawanami, Toshiki Fujino, Sohta Sugimoto, Fumiya Sawashima
  • Patent number: 11307531
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a main assembly side drive transmission member and a main assembly side urging member, the cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive drum; a rotatable developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the drum, the developing roller contactable to and spaceable from the drum; an urging force receiving portion for receiving an urging force from the urging member to space the roller from the drum; a cartridge side drive transmission portion capable of coupling with the main assembly side drive transmission member to receive a rotational force for rotating the roller; a releasing member capable of urging the main assembly side drive transmission member to decouple the cartridge side drive transmission member from the main assembly side drive transmission member by the urging force receiving portion receiving the urging force from the main assembly side urging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsushi Uneme, Masaaki Sato
  • Publication number: 20220050417
    Abstract: A control member 76 for controlling transmission and blocking of a rotational force by a clutch is rotatably supported by a supporting member which supports a developing frame. a locking portion provided on the control member 76 rotates between a position retracted from a locked portion of the clutch and a position for engaging with the locked portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishida, Yuichi Fukui, Tetsushi Uneme, Yasuyuki Egami, Yohei Anzai, Takeo Kawanami, Toshiki Fujino, Sohta Sugimoto, Fumiya Sawashima
  • Patent number: 11194288
    Abstract: A control member 76 for controlling transmission and blocking of a rotational force by a clutch is rotatably supported by a supporting member which supports a developing frame. a locking portion provided on the control member 76 rotates between a position retracted from a locked portion of the clutch and a position for engaging with the locked portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Nishida, Yuichi Fukui, Tetsushi Uneme, Yasuyuki Egami, Yohei Anzai, Takeo Kawanami, Toshiki Fujino, Sohta Sugimoto, Fumiya Sawashima
  • Publication number: 20210325824
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a main assembly side drive transmission member and a main assembly side urging member, the cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive drum; a rotatable developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the drum, the developing roller contactable to and spaceable from the drum; an urging force receiving portion for receiving an urging force from the urging member to space the roller from the drum; a cartridge side drive transmission portion capable of coupling with the main assembly side drive transmission member to receive a rotational force for rotating the roller; a releasing member capable of urging the main assembly side drive transmission member to decouple the cartridge side drive transmission member from the main assembly side drive transmission member by the urging force receiving portion receiving the urging force from the main assembly side urging member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Tetsushi Uneme, Masaaki Sato