Patents by Inventor Tomonori Kitan
Tomonori Kitan 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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Patent number: 11520275Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade, a supporting member, a housing, a pressing member, and a sealing member. The supporting member is a metal member extended in a longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade. The supporting member includes a first flat surface portion formed along a widthwise direction, a curved surface portion bent toward a rotatable member with respect to a thickness direction of the cleaning blade, and a second flat surface portion formed along the thickness direction of the cleaning blade. As viewed in the longitudinal direction, a swing center of the supporting member is positioned on a rotation center side of the rotatable member relative to a plane including the first flat surface portion and relative to a plane including the second flat surface portion. The sealing member is provided in contact with the curved surface portion and seals between the supporting member and the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Publication number: 20220082986Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade, a supporting member, a housing, a pressing member, and a sealing member. The supporting member is a metal member extended in a longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade. The supporting member includes a first flat surface portion formed along a widthwise direction, a curved surface portion bent toward a rotatable member with respect to a thickness direction of the cleaning blade, and a second flat surface portion formed along the thickness direction of the cleaning blade. As viewed in the longitudinal direction, a swing center of the supporting member is positioned on a rotation center side of the rotatable member than a plane including the first flat surface portion is and than a plane including the second flat surface portion is. The sealing member is provided in contact with the curved surface portion and seals between the supporting member and the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Patent number: 11119423Abstract: A photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member, a rotary member, a charging roller, a separating member, and a one-way clutch. The charging roller is moved to and positioned at a separated position in a case where the photosensitive member rotates in a second direction when the separating member is positioned at a first position. The charging roller is moved to and positioned at a contact position in a case where the photosensitive member rotates in a first direction when the separating member is positioned at a second position.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Patent number: 10915056Abstract: A drum cartridge includes a blade, a sheet metal member, a support member, and a fastening member. One of the sheet metal member and the support member includes a first center hole which is formed at a center portion, and a fastening member receiving portion formed at a first end side and configured to fasten the fastening member. The other of the sheet metal member and the support member includes a second center hole which is formed at the center portion, and a through hole which is formed at the first end side and through which the fastening member is passed. The first center hole and the second center hole are arranged such that centers thereof are overlapped. The through hole is configured to be larger than the fastening member receiving portion in a swinging direction with the first and second center holes serving as the center of swing.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shotaro Ishihara, Hiroshi Koyama, Atsushi Endo, Tomonori Kitan
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Publication number: 20200341402Abstract: A photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member, a rotary member, a charging roller, a separating member, and a one-way clutch. The charging roller is moved to and positioned at the separate position in a case where the photosensitive member rotates in the second direction when the separating member is positioned at the first position. The charging roller is moved to and positioned at the contact position in a case where the photosensitive member rotates in the first direction when the separating member is positioned at the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Publication number: 20200333741Abstract: A drum cartridge includes a blade, a sheet metal member, a support member, and a fastening member. One of the sheet metal member and the support member includes a first center hole which is formed at a center portion, and a fastening member receiving portion formed at a first end side and configured to fasten the fastening member. The other of the sheet metal member and the support member includes a second center hole which is formed at the center portion, and a through hole which is formed at the first end side and through which the fastening member is passed. The first center hole and the second center hole are arranged such that centers thereof are overlapped. The through hole is configured to be larger than the fastening member receiving portion in a swinging direction with the first and second center holes serving as the center of swing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Shotaro Ishihara, Hiroshi Koyama, Atsushi Endo, Tomonori Kitan
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Patent number: 10705478Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning portion including a blade and a blade supporting member having a flat surface portion, and a cleaning frame including a mounting portion, a disposing portion and an accommodating portion. The disposing portion opposes the flat surface portion with a gap with respect to a thickness direction. The accommodating portion is adjacent to respective sides of the disposing portion with respect to a height direction. A distance between the flat surface portion and the accommodating portion with respect to the thickness direction is larger than the gap. The cleaning device includes a sealing member formed of a thermoplastic resin material and configured to seal the gap by a portion extending in a longitudinal direction between the disposing portion and the flat surface portion. A part of the sealing member is accommodated in the accommodating portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Publication number: 20180335729Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning portion including a blade and a blade supporting member having a flat surface portion, and a cleaning frame including a mounting portion, a disposing portion and an accommodating portion. The disposing portion opposes the flat surface portion with a gap with respect to a thickness direction. The accommodating portion is adjacent to respective sides of the disposing portion with respect to a height direction. A distance between the flat surface portion and the accommodating portion with respect to the thickness direction is larger than the gap. The cleaning device includes a sealing member formed of a thermoplastic resin material and configured to seal the gap by a portion extending in a longitudinal direction between the disposing portion and the flat surface portion. A part of the sealing member is accommodated in the accommodating portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Patent number: 9671719Abstract: A layer thickness restriction portion and a developer rectifying portion are formed integrally by injecting a resin material into a mold, in which a gate portion is offset to one side with respect to a center position of the layer thickness restriction portion, through the gate portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Patent number: 9665036Abstract: A regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of a developer includes a base portion, a regulating portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the base portion and projecting from a first surface of the base portion to regulate a layer thickness of a developer, and a rib formed along the longitudinal direction and configured to project from a second surface opposite from the first surface of the base portion. In addition, a through hole structure is provided at each end of the base portion with respect to the longitudinal direction, and configured with a through hole that passes through the base portion. The rib is provided adjacently to each through hole with respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the rib stands along each through hole in a cross-section which crosses the through hole and is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Patent number: 9261854Abstract: A frame of an apparatus includes first and second skeleton frames arranged to face each other and third and fourth skeleton frames configured to couple the first and second skeleton frames. A first installation portion is provided on the third skeleton frame at a position closer to the second skeleton frame side than a center portion of the third skeleton frame. Second and third installation portions are provided on the fourth skeleton frame. A coupling stay includes a first end portion fixed to the third skeleton frame at a position closer to one skeleton frame out of the first and second skeleton frames than the center of the third skeleton frame and a second end portion fixed to the other skeleton frame out of the first and second skeleton frames at a position closer to the fourth skeleton frame side than the third skeleton frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Publication number: 20150261128Abstract: A layer thickness restriction portion and a developer rectifying portion are formed integrally by injecting a resin material into a mold, in which a gate portion is offset to one side with respect to a center position of the layer thickness restriction portion, through the gate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Publication number: 20150063864Abstract: A frame of an apparatus includes first and second skeleton frames arranged to face each other and third and fourth skeleton frames configured to couple the first and second skeleton frames. A first installation portion is provided on the third skeleton frame at a position closer to the second skeleton frame side than a center portion of the third skeleton frame. Second and third installation portions are provided on the fourth skeleton frame. A coupling stay includes a first end portion fixed to the third skeleton frame at a position closer to one skeleton frame out of the first and second skeleton frames than the center of the third skeleton frame and a second end portion fixed to the other skeleton frame out of the first and second skeleton frames at a position closer to the fourth skeleton frame side than the third skeleton frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Publication number: 20150043952Abstract: A regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of a developer carried on a developer carrying member, includes: a regulating portion for regulating the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member; an opposing portion provided integrally with the regulating portion at an opposing position to the developer carrying member, wherein the opposing portion is provided so as to cover a rectilinear line passing through a developing gap formed, when the regulating member is mounted relative to the developer carrying member, with a predetermined interval between the developer carrying member and an image bearing member on which a latent image to be developed by the developer carrying member is formed; and an opening provided on the rectilinear line passing through the developing gap at the opposing portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Patent number: 8152163Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a discharging portion configured to discharge a sheet, a stacking portion configured to stack a discharged sheet, and a deforming member configured to deform the sheet to be discharged by the discharging portion, wherein the deforming member decreases a deformation amount of the sheet as a stacking amount of the sheets stacked on the stacking portion increases.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Patent number: 8131203Abstract: An image forming apparatus adjusts a size of the loop of the sheet between the fixing unit and the transfer unit, according to a signal from a loop detection unit provided in a sheet conveyance path between a transfer unit and a fixing unit and configured to detect a loop of a sheet. The loop detection unit includes a detecting lever that is provided protrudably and retractably from and into the sheet conveyance path and abuts against the sheet, and a loop detection sensor that is turned on or off by the detecting lever. If the sheet is to be conveyed only by the transfer unit, the detecting lever moves to a retracting position from the sheet conveyance path.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Publication number: 20090295083Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a discharging portion configured to discharge a sheet, a stacking portion configured to stack a discharged sheet, and a deforming member configured to deform the sheet to be discharged by the discharging portion, wherein the deforming member decreases a deformation amount of the sheet as a stacking amount of the sheets stacked on the stacking portion increases.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Publication number: 20090162121Abstract: An image forming apparatus adjusts a size of the loop of the sheet between the fixing unit and the transfer unit, according to a signal from a loop detection unit provided in a sheet conveyance path between a transfer unit and a fixing unit and configured to detect a loop of a sheet. The loop detection unit includes a detecting lever that is provided protrudably and retractably from and into the sheet conveyance path and abuts against the sheet, and a loop detection sensor that is turned on or off by the detecting lever. If the sheet is to be conveyed only by the transfer unit, the detecting lever moves to a retracting position from the sheet conveyance path.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2008Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomonori Kitan
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Patent number: 6714757Abstract: A conveying guide base is formed integrally with an original base frame. When an original fed by an automatic original feeding apparatus is read, an image reading unit is set to stay at a predetermined reading position and an image of the original is read by the image reading unit under this condition. Also, a detecting unit detects that an original is placed on an original placing unit provided for the automatic original feeding apparatus. Then, if an image reading operation start unit is operated to start an image reading operation, in the case where a detection signal is inputted from the detecting unit, a position control unit performs control so that the image reading unit is moved from a stand-by position to a predetermined reading position before the original is fed by the automatic original feeding apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2002Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshihide Amagai, Tomonori Kitan, Kenichi Yukinari
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Publication number: 20030002897Abstract: A conveying guide base is formed integrally with an original base frame. Also, when an original base glass is fixed to the original base frame, the original base glass is abutted against the conveying guide base. Further, the conveying guide base is formed in the vicinity of the other end portion of the original base glass on a side opposite to one end portion in which an original abutting board is formed. When an original fed by an automatic original feeding apparatus is read, an image reading unit is set to stay at a predetermined reading position and an image of the original is read by the image reading unit under this condition. Also, a detecting unit detects that an original is placed on an original placing unit provided for the automatic original feeding apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshihide Amagai, Tomonori Kitan, Kenichi Yukinari