Patents by Inventor Tomofumi Kawamura

Tomofumi Kawamura 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: 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 9164424
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a flexible developer bag, provided with an opening and provided inside the frame, for containing a developer; and an elastic member for discharging the developer through the opening by acting on the developer bag. The elastic member is extended from a free state by contact with the developer bag, and elastic energy accumulated by extension of the elastic member acts on the developer bag to discharge the developer through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuki Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Batori, Takatoshi Hamada, Toshiaki Takeuchi, Daisuke Makiguchi, Tomofumi Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20140212181
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a flexible developer bag, provided with an opening and provided inside the frame, for containing a developer; and an elastic member for discharging the developer through the opening by acting on the developer bag. The elastic member is extended from a free state by contact with the developer bag, and elastic energy accumulated by extension of the elastic member acts on the developer bag to discharge the developer through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuuki Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Batori, Takatoshi Hamada, Toshiaki Takeuchi, Daisuke Makiguchi, Tomofumi Kawamura