Patents by Inventor Yutaka Ban

Yutaka Ban 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: 20100111573
    Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke YAMADA, Yutaka BAN, Katsuya MURAKAMI, Fumio TAZAWA, Hironori MINAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20100111560
    Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke YAMADA, Yutaka BAN, Katsuya MURAKAMI, Fumio TAZAWA, Hironori MINAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20100111561
    Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke YAMADA, Yutaka BAN, Katsuya MURAKAMI, Fumio TAZAWA, Hironori MINAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20100046982
    Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap-fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke YAMADA, Yutaka BAN, Katsuya MURAKAMI, Fumio TAZAWA, Hironori MINAGAWA
  • Patent number: 7647012
    Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
  • Patent number: 7577385
    Abstract: A toner supply container, detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, for supplying toner to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the toner supply container includes a main body for accommodating the toner; a discharging opening for permitting discharging of the toner accommodated in the main body of the container; a container shutter member for opening and closing the discharging opening; a rotatable member rotatably supported by the main body of the container and having a drive transmitting portion for engaging with a rotational force transmitting means provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to transmit the rotational force to the rotational force transmitting means; a rotating force receiving portion for receiving the rotating force from the rotating force transmitting means through engagement with the rotating force transmitting means, wherein the container shutter member is given a force for opening and closing the discharge opening by the rotating force re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Ban, Tatsuya Goto, Fumio Tazawa
  • Publication number: 20090003872
    Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke YAMADA, Yutaka BAN, Katsuya MURAKAMI, Fumio TAZAWA, Hironori MINAGAWA
  • Patent number: 7469113
    Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a container body with a discharge opening formed thereon. A sealing member, which unsealably seals the discharge opening, includes an engageable projection engageable with an engaging member provided in the image forming apparatus and a support for displaceably supporting the portion. The sealing member is moved relative to the container body away therefrom to unseal the discharge opening. The engageable projection is with the engaging member. A releasing projection, is provided in the supporting member, for receiving, from a releasing member provided in the image forming apparatus, a force for displacing the engageable projection in a direction of disengagement from the engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
  • Publication number: 20080304870
    Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for a developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. By increasing a rotation load of a second gear which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member of the developer receiving apparatus by a function of a locking member, the developer supply container mounted to the developer receiving apparatus is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member for developer supply is smooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuo NAKAJIMA, Ayatomo OKINO, Katsuya MURAKAMI, Toshiaki NAGASHIMA, Yutaka BAN
  • Publication number: 20080304872
    Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for a developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. By increasing a rotation load of a second gear which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member of the developer receiving apparatus by a function of a locking member, the developer supply container mounted to the developer receiving apparatus is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member for developer supply is smooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuo NAKAJIMA, Ayatomo OKINO, Katsuya MURAKAMI, Toshiaki NAGASHIMA, Yutaka BAN
  • Publication number: 20080304871
    Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for a developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. By increasing a rotation load of a second gear which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member of the developer receiving apparatus by a function of a locking member, the developer supply container mounted to the developer receiving apparatus is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member for developer supply is smooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuo NAKAJIMA, Ayatomo OKINO, Katsuya MURAKAMI, Toshiaki NAGASHIMA, Yutaka BAN
  • Publication number: 20080273895
    Abstract: A toner supply container, detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, for supplying toner to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the toner supply container includes a main body for accommodating the toner; a discharging opening for permitting discharging of the toner accommodated in the main body of the container; a container shutter member for opening and closing the discharging opening; a rotatable member rotatably supported by the main body of the container and having a drive transmitting portion for engaging with a rotational force transmitting means provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to transmit the rotational force to the rotational force transmitting means; a rotating force receiving portion for receiving the rotating force from the rotating force transmitting means through engagement with the rotating force transmitting means, wherein the container shutter member is given a force for opening and closing the discharge opening by the rotating force re
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka BAN, Tatsuya GOTO, Fumio TAZAWA
  • Patent number: 7433633
    Abstract: A sealing member for sealing a toner discharge opening of a toner accommodating container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the sealing member includes a locking portion for being locked with a portion to be locked provided in the image forming apparatus, the locking portion being adapted to displace with a relative closing movement relative to the portion to be locked, wherein the toner discharging opening is brought into an open state from a closed state by relative to movement of the sealing member relative to the toner accommodating container with the locking portion being in engagement with the portion to be locked; and a releasing force receiving portion for receiving from the image forming apparatus a releasing force for releasing engagement between the locking portion and the portion to be locked by displacing the locking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
  • Patent number: 7430384
    Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
  • Patent number: 7430390
    Abstract: A toner supply container, detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, for supplying toner to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the toner supply container includes a main body for accommodating the toner; a discharging opening for permitting discharging of the toner accommodated in the main body of the container; a container shutter member for opening and closing the discharging opening; a rotatable member rotatably supported by the main body of the container and having a drive transmitting portion for engaging with a rotational force transmitting means provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to transmit the rotational force to the rotational force transmitting means; a rotating force receiving portion for receiving the rotating force from the rotating force transmitting means through engagement with the rotating force transmitting means, wherein the container shutter member is given a force for opening and closing the discharge opening by the rotating force re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Ban, Tatsuya Goto, Fumio Tazawa
  • Patent number: 7412192
    Abstract: If a user is not familiar with the operation for a developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. By increasing a rotation load of a second gear which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member of the developer receiving apparatus by a function of a locking member, the developer supply container mounted to the developer receiving apparatus is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member for developer supply is smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Nakajima, Ayatomo Okino, Katsuya Murakami, Toshiaki Nagashima, Yutaka Ban
  • Patent number: 7391981
    Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, with the image forming apparatus including a remaining amount detecting portion for detecting an amount of remaining developer by receiving light from a light emitting portion by a light receiving portion. The developer supply container includes a container body for containing a developer. The developer supply container also includes a light guiding member including an incident portion for receiving light from the light emitting portion and for guiding the light into the container body, an emergent portion for guiding the light having passed through the container body toward the light receiving portion, and a connecting portion connecting the incident portion and the emergent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Yutaka Ban, Hironori Minagawa
  • Patent number: 7386251
    Abstract: A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a rotatable toner containing portion for containing toner having a toner discharging portion projected from one end thereof, with respect to a direction of a rotational axis, of the toner containing portion, the toner discharging portion having a cross-sectional area, which is smaller than that of the toner containing portion, and having an opening, and which is formed in a peripheral portion thereof, for permitting discharging of the toner; and a coupling member provided on the end of the toner discharging portion, including a coupling engagement portion engageable with a hole formed in a peripheral portion of a cylindrical member provided in the image forming apparatus to receive a rotational driving force for discharging the toner from the cylindrical member, wherein the coupling engagement portion includes a rotational force receiving projection having a side for receiving the rotational driving force from a coupling rib
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa
  • Patent number: 7386250
    Abstract: A toner supply container is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. The container includes a toner accommodating portion to accommodate toner and has a supply opening to supply toner into the image forming apparatus, a feeding member to feed the toner in the toner accommodating portion toward the supply opening, and a sealing member to seal the supply opening. The sealing member has a locking portion to be locked by a locking member provided in a main assembly of the apparatus, and a coupling portion to be coupled with a drive coupling member provided in the main assembly. The sealing member is rotatable integrally with the feeding member by a rotational force received by the coupling portion from the drive coupling member. The locking portion and the coupling portion are spaced apart from each other with respect to a mounting direction of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Ban, Kazuhiko Omata, Kyota Miyazaki, Ayumu Murakami
  • Patent number: 7382997
    Abstract: A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamada, Yutaka Ban, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Hironori Minagawa