Patents by Inventor Tomooku Koyama

Tomooku Koyama 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: 20240094671
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device to heat a recording material at a use position, an opening and closing member, and a drawer unit. In a state where the fixing device is at the use position, part of the fixing device is located in a space for the drawer unit to pass through when moved from a first inner position to a first outer position so that movement of the drawer unit from the first inner to the first outer position is restricted. The fixing device is retracted from the use position to a retracted position so that the movement of the drawer unit from the first inner to the first outer position is allowed. Part of the fixing device at the retracted position is at a position higher than a position of an upper cover portion of the opening and closing member at a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: CHIKARA IMAIZUMI, SATOSHI MURASAKI, KIYOSHI FURUTA, SHINYA NODA, KUNIHIRO NIWA, YOJI MISAO, TOMOOKU KOYAMA, TOMOKI KATAFUCHI, TOMONARI INOUE, KOICHI SEKIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20240085825
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording material includes an apparatus main body having a first end provided with an opening and having a second end, a fixing device to heat the recording material, an opening and closing member, a drawer unit having a first photosensitive drum, and a transfer device. When being moved from a first inner position inside the apparatus main body to a first outer position outside the apparatus main body through the main body opening, the drawer unit is to be moved in a moving direction intersecting with a rotation axis of the first photosensitive drum, and is to be moved away from the second end. When being moved from a second inner position inside the apparatus main body to a second outer position outside the apparatus main body, the transfer device is moved away from the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: CHIKARA IMAIZUMI, SATOSHI MURASAKI, KIYOSHI FURUTA, SHINYA NODA, KUNIHIRO NIWA, YOJI MISAO, TOMOOKU KOYAMA, TOMOKI KATAFUCHI, TOMONARI INOUE, KOICHI SEKIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20240085824
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer unit, and a transfer device a including a belt. When image formation on a recording material is performed, the drawer unit is at a first apparatus main body inner position and the transfer device is at a second apparatus main body inner position. In this drawer unit state, (a) a part of the transfer device is disposed downstream of the drawer unit in a moving direction in which the drawer unit moves from the first inner position to a first apparatus main body outer position, and (b) in a vertical direction, an area where the part of the transfer device is positioned overlaps, at least in part, with an area where the drawer unit is positioned. The transfer device includes a cleaning member to clean the belt and is accommodated in the part of the transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: CHIKARA IMAIZUMI, SATOSHI MURASAKI, KIYOSHI FURUTA, SHINYA NODA, KUNIHIRO NIWA, YOJI MISAO, TOMOOKU KOYAMA, TOMOKI KATAFUCHI, TOMONARI INOUE, KOICHI SEKIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20240085849
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer unit, and a transfer device including a belt. The drawer unit includes a first cartridge, a support member to which the first cartridge is detachably attached, and a first photosensitive drum disposed on the support member or the first cartridge. The drawer unit is moved to a first inner position inside the apparatus main body and to a first outer position outside the apparatus main body. The transfer device is moved to a second inner position inside the apparatus main body and to a second outer position outside the apparatus main body. The belt contacts the first photosensitive drum with the transfer device at the second inner position. The transfer device is moved from the second inner to the second outer position when the drawer unit is moved from the first inner to the first outer position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: CHIKARA IMAIZUMI, SATOSHI MURASAKI, KIYOSHI FURUTA, SHINYA NODA, KUNIHIRO NIWA, YOJI MISAO, TOMOOKU KOYAMA, TOMOKI KATAFUCHI, TOMONARI INOUE, KOICHI SEKIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20240012350
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material; and a guide member for guiding the recording material. The guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material The guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Ken Murooka, Wataru Uchida, Jun Agata, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Takamura
  • Patent number: 11803139
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material; and a guide member for guiding the recording material. The guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material The guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Ken Murooka, Wataru Uchida, Jun Agata, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Takamura
  • Patent number: 11662683
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a stacking portion on which the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is stacked, a first regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a second regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a binding unit supported movably in the conveyance direction and configured to perform a binding process of binding the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a moving unit configured to move the second regulation member in the conveyance direction accompanied with a movement, in the conveyance direction, of the binding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Jun Agata, Yasuhiro Nakahara, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20230043125
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material; and a guide member for guiding the recording material. The guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material The guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Ken Murooka, Wataru Uchida, Jun Agata, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Takamura
  • Patent number: 11506999
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material, and a guide member for guiding the recording material, wherein the guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material. The fixing portion includes a cylindrical belt and a roller contacting an outer surface of the belt for forming a fixing nip through which the recording material is to be passed, wherein the roller has a shape such that a diameter thereof is increased with a distance thereof toward the end portion with respect to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, and the guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Ken Murooka, Wataru Uchida, Jun Agata, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Takamura
  • Publication number: 20220082981
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a stacking portion on which the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is stacked, a first regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a second regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a binding unit supported movably in the conveyance direction and configured to perform a binding process of binding the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a moving unit configured to move the second regulation member in the conveyance direction accompanied with a movement, in the conveyance direction, of the binding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Jun Agata, Yasuhiro Nakahara, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11215946
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a stacking portion on which the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is stacked, a first regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a second regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a binding unit supported movably in the conveyance direction and configured to perform a binding process of binding the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a moving unit configured to move the second regulation member in the conveyance direction accompanied with a movement, in the conveyance direction, of the binding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Jun Agata, Yasuhiro Nakahara, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11124376
    Abstract: A sheet discharging apparatus includes a first detecting portion provided in an apparatus body and configured to detect a move of a movable member in a state where a movable tray is at an upper limit position in a moving direction of the movable tray, wherein a detection result of the first detecting portion changes depending on a position of the movable tray in the moving direction. In addition, a second detecting portion detects the position of the movable tray in the moving direction, and a control portion, in a case where the second detecting portion detects that the movable tray is at the upper limit position, determines whether a sheet is present on the movable tray based on the detection result of the first detecting portion. When the second detecting portion does not detect that the movable tray is at the upper limit position, the control portion determines that a sheet is present on the movable tray regardless of the detection result of the first detecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomooku Koyama
  • Patent number: 11091336
    Abstract: A sheet discharging apparatus includes a first detecting portion provided in an apparatus body and configured to detect a move of a movable member in a state where a movable tray is at an upper limit position in a moving direction of the movable tray, wherein a detection result of the first detecting portion changes depending on a position of the movable tray in the moving direction. In addition, a second detecting portion detects the position of the movable tray in the moving direction, and a control portion, in a case where the second detecting portion detects that the movable tray is at the upper limit position, determines whether a sheet is present on the movable tray based on the detection result of the first detecting portion. When the second detecting portion does not detect that the movable tray is at the upper limit position, the control portion determines that a sheet is present on the movable tray regardless of the detection result of the first detecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomooku Koyama
  • Patent number: 11061353
    Abstract: An upstream roller pair and a downstream roller pair are disposed on a first conveyance path and configured to perform a reverse conveyance operation on a sheet. The upstream roller pair includes a first roller and a second roller abutting with each other. The downstream roller pair is configured to nip and convey a sheet by a third roller and a fourth roller in a state that areas in a width direction where a plurality of first rotary members contact a first surface of a sheet do not overlap with areas in the width direction where a plurality of second rotary members contact a second surface of a sheet opposite to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Mizuta, Kenichirou Isobe, Tomooku Koyama
  • Publication number: 20210173332
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material; and a guide member for guiding the recording material. The guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material The guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Ken Murooka, Wataru Uchida, Jun Agata, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Takamura
  • Patent number: 10955774
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material; and a guide member for guiding the recording material. The guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material The guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Ken Murooka, Wataru Uchida, Jun Agata, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Takamura
  • Publication number: 20200387101
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a stacking portion on which the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is stacked, a first regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a second regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a binding unit supported movably in the conveyance direction and configured to perform a binding process of binding the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a moving unit configured to move the second regulation member in the conveyance direction accompanied with a movement, in the conveyance direction, of the binding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Jun Agata, Yasuhiro Nakahara, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20200278634
    Abstract: An upstream roller pair and a downstream roller pair are disposed on a first conveyance path and configured to perform a reverse conveyance operation on a sheet. The upstream roller pair includes a first roller and a second roller abutting with each other. The downstream roller pair is configured to nip and convey a sheet by a third roller and a fourth roller in a state that areas in a width direction where a plurality of first rotary members contact a first surface of a sheet do not overlap with areas in the width direction where a plurality of second rotary members contact a second surface of a sheet opposite to the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Takayuki Mizuta, Kenichirou Isobe, Tomooku Koyama
  • Publication number: 20200125013
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material; and a guide member for guiding the recording material. The guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material The guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Ken Murooka, Wataru Uchida, Jun Agata, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Takamura
  • Patent number: 10551774
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing portion for fixing an image formed on a recording material; and a guide member for guiding the recording material. The guide member is provided at an entrance to the fixing portion and at an end portion with respect to a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the recording material. The guide member is moved when the guide member is pushed by the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Ken Murooka, Wataru Uchida, Jun Agata, Yohei Suzuki, Daisuke Takamura