Modular Or Displaceable Patents (Class 399/110)
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Patent number: 12140897Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing member, an arm, a manual feed tray, a wire, and a tension mechanism. The opening/closing member is rotatably supported by an apparatus body about a lower end portion thereof. The arm restricts an opening angle of the opening/closing member with respect to the apparatus body. The manual feed tray is rotatably supported by the opening/closing member about a lower end portion thereof. The wire has one end fixed to the arm and another end fixed to the manual feed tray and supports the manual feed tray when the opening/closing member is rotated downwardly in a state where the manual feed tray is rotated downwardly. The tension mechanism absorbs a slack of the wire.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Masayuki Kakuta
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Patent number: 12072663Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, and a detachable unit. The detachable unit includes a first positioned portion and a second positioned portion. The apparatus body includes a frame member having a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion which respectively engage with the first positioned and second positioned portion, so that the detachable unit is positioned with respect to frame member in the attaching direction and the first direction. The second positioning portion is arranged closer to a center portion of the detachable unit in the second direction than the first positioning portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2023Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kei Hayashida, Kohei Koguchi
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Patent number: 12050432Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, and a movable lever. The process cartridge also includes a coupling member operatively connected to the developing roller, with the coupling member being movable in response to a movement of the lever. The process cartridge is configured such that, when the process cartridge is oriented with the photosensitive drum and the developing roller positioned at a downward side of the process cartridge, an end of the lever is positioned lower than a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum and a rotational axis of the developing roller.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2023Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Sato, Kazuhiko Kanno, Satoshi Nishiya, Masatoshi Yamashita
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Patent number: 12032330Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling operatively connected to the photosensitive drum so as to be capable of transmitting a driving force toward the photosensitive drum. The coupling includes a first wall, a second wall provided inside the first wall in a radial direction of the coupling, a groove portion defined by the first wall and the second wall, a recessed portion provided in the second wall, and an inclined portion adjacent to the recessed portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiki Fujino, Akinobu Hirayama, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Daisuke Abe, Masanari Morioka, Takeo Kawanami, Yu Fukasawa
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Patent number: 12028492Abstract: A reading apparatus comprising a lower case, a reading portion, a drive portion and a stay is used. The reading portion moves between an open position in which the lower case is open and a closed position in which the lower case is closed and accommodates a reading sensor. The drive portion moves the reading sensor in a moving direction. The stay is coupled to the reading portion rotatably in one end and coupled to the lower case rotatably in the other end and moves a rotation shaft with in a direction orthogonal to the shaft. The drive portion is located outside a movable range of the reading sensor. When the reading portion is in the closed position, the stay is disposed in an area in which the stay overlaps the drive portion in the moving direction and overlaps the drive portion in height direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2022Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Gakushi Tanaka, Toru Yada, Yuji Kagami, Yasuhito Tsubakimoto
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Patent number: 12015747Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus includes a discharge tray for supporting the recording medium, an internal unit disposed inside the apparatus main body, and a door serving as a part of outer surface members of the apparatus main body, the door being opened and closed to expose and cover an inside of the apparatus main body to the outside, wherein, by opening of the door, a fixing member that fixes the discharge tray to the apparatus main body is exposed to the outside, and removing of the fixing member from the apparatus main body allows the discharge tray to be detached from the apparatus main body without removing the outer surface members other than the door, and wherein detaching of the discharge tray from the apparatus main body allows the internal unit to be accessed.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2022Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshisuke Kasuya
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Patent number: 11904611Abstract: A printing device includes a frame, and an electronic circuit-board unit attached to the frame. The electronic circuit-board unit includes: a holder including a holding portion; a first substrate held to a first surface of the holder; a second substrate held to a second surface of the holder and attached to the frame; an electronic component; and a harness electrically connected to the electronic component. The holder has: a first region overlapped with the first substrate in a plan view; and a second region offset from the first region in the plan view. At least one of the electronic component and the harness is held by the holding portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yusuke Ikemoto, Yushi Kato, Sho Asai, Shotaro Watanabe, Takehiko Inaba
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Patent number: 11841672Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a detachable body that is able to be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body in a depth direction and is movable from a first position to a second position; an operation unit that is operated in a direction approaching the image forming apparatus body to position the detachable body from the first position to the second position; and a pressing member that presses the detachable body toward the second position with a pressing surface in contact with the detachable body in a state in which an operation of the operation unit is completed and moves the detachable body from the first position to the second position with a slope surface forming an obtuse angle with respect to the pressing surface in contact with the detachable body in accordance with the operation of the operation unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Atsushi Kaneko, Toshio Takiguchi
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Patent number: 11838464Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, an upper cover, a lateral cover and a closing position holding mechanism which holds the lateral cover in a closing position. The closing position holding mechanism includes an engaging part provided in the upper cover and an engaged part provided in the lateral cover. When the upper cover is displaced from the opening position to the closing position in the state where the lateral cover is in the closing position, the engaging part is engaged with the engaged part from an outside on the lateral side of the casing. When the upper cover is displaced from the closing position to the opening position in the state where the lateral cover is in the closing position, the engagement of the engaging part with the engaged part is released as the upper cover is displaced.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Van Minh Nguyen
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Patent number: 11835908Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first electrical component, a second electrical component, a control board, a frame body, and a connection unit. The first electrical component includes a first connector configured to be connected to the control board. The second electrical component includes a second connector configured to be connected to the control board. The connection unit includes a first and a second cables connected to the control board, a first relay connector, and a second relay connector. The first relay connector is provided on a leading end portion of the first cable to be arranged on the first frame such that the first connector is connected to the first relay connector. The second relay connector is provided on a leading end portion of the second connector to be arranged on the first frame such that the second connector is connected to the second relay connector.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ryoichi Kawasumi
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Patent number: 11835890Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members, a transfer unit including an intermediate transfer belt, a plurality of transferring members which sandwich the intermediate transfer belt between the plurality of image bearing members and themselves, a biasing member which biases each of the plurality of transferring members toward the plurality of image bearing members via the intermediate transfer belt, and a frame which supports the intermediate transfer belt, the plurality of transferring members, and the biasing member, and an apparatus main body which supports the plurality of image bearing members and the transfer unit. The apparatus main body includes a supporting portion which supports the transfer unit and a biasing force receiving portion of which a position is between the plurality of transferring members in a moving direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt and which is capable of supporting the transfer unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Norihiro Matsumoto, Fuyuko Koyama, Yasuhiro Fukase, Takeo Kawanami
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Patent number: 11822277Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a tray which is movable between a housed position at which the tray is housed in a housing portion of a body and a drawn-out position, a first cartridge detachably attached to the tray and including a first developing roller, and a second cartridge detachably attached to the tray and including a second developing roller. In a contacting state where (i) the first cartridge and the second cartridge are attached to the tray, (ii) the tray is in the housed position, (iii) the first developing roller contacts a first photosensitive drum, and (iv) the second developing roller contacts a second photosensitive drum, a position of a first projection of the first cartridge and a position of a first holder to which a first memory is fixed at least partially overlap each other with respect to the vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2023Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yukio Kubo, Yu Fukasawa, Daisuke Abe
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Patent number: 11825045Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a top plate cover removable from the frame and having a top surface portion constituting a part of a top surface of the image forming apparatus, and a screw. The frame includes an upper surface portion opposite to the top surface portion, a front surface portion provided at a front side with respect to the upper surface portion, and a back surface portion provided at a back side with respect to the upper surface portion and provided with a through-hole. The top plate cover includes a first mounting portion fixed to the front surface portion, and a second mounting portion provided at a back side with respect to the first mounting portion and inserted into the through-hole. The screw is inserted in a front-back direction to fix the front surface portion of the frame and the first mounting portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeshi Fukuda
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Patent number: 11809123Abstract: An image forming unit to be attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes a first cartridge including a driven portion configured to rotate on a first rotational axis; and a second cartridge configured separable from the first cartridge. The second cartridge includes an input portion configured to receive driving force from the apparatus body; and a drive transmission portion configured to rotate on a second rotational axis and to transmit the driving force to the driven portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazutaka Sueshige, Tatsuro Harada, Takayuki Yada, Akinobu Hirayama
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Patent number: 11796934Abstract: In a case where a cleaning member is located at a cleaning position in attachment of a process cartridge to an image forming apparatus, a stopper located at a first position butts against the process cartridge guided in a direction of attachment by a guide portion such that the process cartridge is disabled from being attached to the image forming apparatus, and in a case where the cleaning member is located at a retraction position in attachment of the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus, a lever portion moves due to a press by a cleaning unit and the stopper moves from the first position to a second position such that the process cartridge is enabled to be attached to the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinya Yasuda
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Patent number: 11762325Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium: an upper surface cover which is provided to an upper surface of the image forming apparatus and forms at least a part of an appearance of the image forming apparatus; a first cover which is provided to a front surface of the image forming apparatus and forms at least a part of the appearance of the image forming apparatus; and a second cover which is provided to the front surface of the image forming apparatus so as to be located above the first cover and forms at least a part of the appearance of the image forming apparatus. The first cover includes a resin material. The second cover includes a ferromagnetic material.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masaki Kakitani
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Patent number: 11754967Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing having an opening; a drawer movable, through the opening, between a housing position in which the drawer is housed in the housing and a drawn position in which the drawer is drawn from the housing; a first drum cartridge including a first photosensitive drum, and mountable to and removable from the drawer; a first developing cartridge including a first developing roller, and mountable to and removable from the first drum cartridge; and a transfer device configured to transfer toner on the first photosensitive drum to a sheet and located above the first drum cartridge in a state where the first drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located in the housing position. In a state where the first drum cartridge is removed from the drawer, the first developing cartridge is mountable to and removable from the first drum cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11740582Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body housing, a drawer, a drum cartridge, and a toner cartridge. The drawer includes a waste toner conveying pipe and a lock member. In a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the drum cartridge, the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, the drawer is located at a drawn-out position, and the lock member is located at a lock position, the toner cartridge is detachable from the drum cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11733641Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum unit, a developing device, a development holder, and a sliding member. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum. The developing device includes a developing roller. The development holder is swung so as to bring and separate the developing roller close to and apart from the photosensitive drum. The sliding member is slidable in an axial direction of the developing roller. The development holder is swung so as to bring the developing roller close to the photosensitive drum in association with a sliding of the sliding member from a first position to a second position, and the development holder is swung so as to separate the developing roller apart from the photosensitive drum in association with a sliding of the sliding member from the second position to the first position.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Geki Son
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Patent number: 11733645Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; a drawer; and first and second process cartridges attachable to the drawer. The first process cartridge includes a first drum cartridge including a first photosensitive drum and a first developing cartridge including a first developing roller. When attached to the first drum cartridge, the first developing cartridge is movable between a first position where the first developing cartridge is detachable from the first drum cartridge and a second position where the first developing cartridge is not detachable from the first drum cartridge. In a state where the first and second process cartridges are attached to the drawer at positions adjacent to each other, the first developing cartridge comes into contact with the second process cartridge during movement of the first developing cartridge from the second position to the first position before the first developing cartridge reaches the first position.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Sato, Miho Ishida
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Patent number: 11720043Abstract: A recording material transport device including a transport section that transports a recording material and a support member disposed to extend in a direction intersecting with a vertical direction, and supporting the recording material from below with the transport stopped, in which the support member is provided to be capable of descending, and, as the support member descends, both of one end portion and the other end portion in the direction intersecting with the vertical direction descend and are inclined such that the one end portion is positioned below the other end portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventor: Yuya Chonabayashi
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Patent number: 11656571Abstract: A metal frame of an image forming apparatus includes a first support which includes a first metal plate and a second metal plate; a second support configured to support the image forming unit together with the first support; and a third support configured to connect the first support and the second support, wherein the first metal plate includes a corner portion provided between a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second metal plate includes a third portion, a fourth portion, and a fifth portion, wherein the fifth portion includes another corner portion located between a first stretched portion and a second stretched portion facing the corner portion of the first metal plate, and wherein a tip of the second stretched portion faces the fourth portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naruhiko Ito, Ryota Yasui, Takahiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11640135Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main casing, an opening-closing member configured to open and close an opening on a side of the main casing and to move between an open position and a closed position, a belt unit configured to move between a first position and a second position, a drum unit configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, a developing device unit configured to move in an arrangement direction of developing rollers, and an interlock mechanism configured such that in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position, the belt unit moves from the first position to the second position and the drum unit moves from the third position to the fourth position.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2022Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11614707Abstract: A detachable container includes: a container body configured to be detachably attached to a receiving portion of an apparatus housing; a joining unit provided on the container body, the joining unit being configured to be rotatably joined with a joined unit provided on the apparatus housing; an operation unit having a rotation center coaxial with the joining unit, the operation unit being configured to perform a rotational operation for the joining unit; and a restraint unit provided coaxially with the rotation center of the operation unit, the restraint unit being configured to, when the container body is attached to the receiving portion of the apparatus housing, allow a rotation of the operation unit, and when the container body is not attached, to restrain the rotation of the operation unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.Inventors: Iori Togu, Kiyohito Horii
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Patent number: 11609532Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a photosensitive drum includes: a main casing including a restricting portion; a drawer movable in a moving direction; a developing cartridge attachable to the drawer and including a developing roller; and a pressing member. The developing roller can contact and separate from the photosensitive drum. The pressing member causes the developing roller to separate from the photosensitive drum by pressing the developing cartridge attached to the drawer in a pressing direction crossing the moving direction. The restricting portion is configured to restrict displacement in the pressing direction of the drawer by abutting against the drawer. The drawer includes a first restricted portion, a second restricted portion, and a third restricted portion those are configured to be restricted by a first restricting portion, a second restricting portion, and a third restricting portion of the restricting portion, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yasuhiro Suzuki
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Patent number: 11609529Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a control board, a draw-out unit including a photosensitive drum configured to bear a toner image and rotate about a rotation axis, a developing unit, and a unit contact, the developing unit including a developing roller and a memory, and a door configured to face the draw-out unit at a closed position. The door includes a door contact electrically connected to the control board. The draw-out unit includes a facing surface configured to face the door positioned at the closed position, and a grip portion provided at a center portion of the facing surface in an axial direction of the rotation axis. The unit contact is provided in a region outside an end surface of the grip portion in the axial direction and below the grip portion in a vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuta Kawaguchi, Shinkichi Yamamoto, Takateru Ohkubo, Kazuki Takase
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Patent number: 11586122Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a bearing body, an abutting portion, a support frame, an exposure device, and an urging body. The photoconductor includes a shaft portion at an end portion. The bearing body is configured to receive the shaft portion. The abutting portion is coupled to the bearing body. The support frame is configured to support the abutting portion and the bearing body. The exposure device faces the photoconductor, abuts on the abutting portion, and includes a light source exposing the photoconductor to light. The urging body is configured to press the exposure device toward the support frame, urge the abutting portion toward the bearing body and the shaft portion, and urge the bearing body toward the support frame.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoki Naitou
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Patent number: 11579562Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main body; a toner cartridge having a first opening; a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a second opening; a positioning part; a transfer unit; and an urging member. The toner cartridge and process cartridge are attachable to and detachable from the main body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The positioning part and transfer unit are positioned above the process cartridge attached to the main body. The positioning part fixes the attached process cartridge in position relative to the main body. The urging member urges the attached process cartridge toward the positioning part and urges the process cartridge such that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge through the first opening and the second opening when the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the main body.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11579544Abstract: A drum cartridge includes a drum cover movable relative to a photosensitive drum between a first position at which the drum cover covers a part of a circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum and a second position at which the drum cover does not cover the part of the circumferential surface. The drum cover is located at an opposite side of a toner cartridge with respect to the photosensitive drum in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge and the drum cover is located at the second position. The drum cover is located at the first position in a state where the drum cartridge is attached to a drawer and the drawer is located at a pulled-out position and located at the second position in a state where the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer and the drawer is located at an accommodated position.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo Sato, Koji Ogawa
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Patent number: 11556085Abstract: An image forming device, including: a drawer movable from an inside position where the drawer is located inside a housing to an outside position where the drawer is located outside the housing via an intermediate position; a stopper movable between a first position where the stopper stops the drawer from moving from the intermediate position to the outside position and a second position where the stopper allows the drawer to move from the intermediate position to the outside position; a drum cartridge mountable on the drawer; and a toner cartridge mountable on the drawer; wherein the toner cartridge mounted on the drawer is detachable from the drawer in a state in which the drawer is located at the intermediate position, and wherein the drum cartridge mounted on the drawer is detachable from the drawer in a state in which the drawer is located at the outside position.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11556090Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a drawer, and a drum unit. The drawer is movable between an accommodated position at which the drawer is accommodated in the main housing and a pulled-out position at which the drawer is pulled out from the main housing. The drum unit is attachable to the drawer in a state where the drawer is located at the pulled-out position. The drum unit includes a first photosensitive drum, a second photosensitive drum, and a waste toner pipe allowing passage of waste toner from the first photosensitive drum and waste toner from the second photosensitive drum.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11550255Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photosensitive member, a developing cartridge that has a developing member, a developing frame, an end member attached to the developing frame, and a restricting portion restricting a swing movement of the end member, and an apparatus body to which the developing cartridge is attachable. The apparatus body includes a movement unit moving the developing cartridge from a first position to a second position, a positioning portion engaging with the end member when the developing cartridge is located at the second position, and a restriction releasing portion acting on the restricting portion with a movement of the developing cartridge from the first position to the second position and releasing restriction of the swing movement of the end member, the restriction releasing portion being provided at a part of the apparatus main body excluding the movement unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masato Tanabe, Masakazu Tatsumi, Tatsuro Harada
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Patent number: 11520283Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge replaceable by detachably mounting to the image forming apparatus, a door that takes a closed state or an open state, a locking pin that switches a state of the regulation unit between a regulating state in which the replacement unit is prevented to be detached from the image forming apparatus and a release state in which the replacement unit is to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, and a lock control unit (a control unit) that makes a determination as to whether or not the state of the regulation unit is to be switched from the release state to the regulating state, at a predetermined timing when initial processing is completed after a power source is turned on or a state of the door becomes the closed state from the open state.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoshiteru Kaida
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Patent number: 11520286Abstract: A cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes: a process unit to be used to form an image; a first member including a first resin material; a second member including a second resin material having higher flame retardant capability than the first resin material; and an electrode member including a contact section configured to be supplied with power from an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. The electrode member is configured to electrically connect the apparatus main body to the process unit. The second resin material of the second member has a greater density than the first resin material of the first member. The contact section is located in the vicinity of the first and second members and is closer to the second member than to the first member.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuichi Sakakibara, Yosuke Kashiide, Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Yuko Harada, Goshi Ozaki, Masanari Morioka, Naoki Hayashi, Hideki Kakuta, Hiroki Shimizu, Teruhiko Sasaki, Tachio Kawai, Takatoshi Hamada
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Patent number: 11480913Abstract: There are provided a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, a discharge portion formed with a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, and an engaging portion 30. The engaging portion 30 is engaged with an engaged portion 11b with a mounting operation of a developer supply container 1 to displace a developer receiving portion 11 in an upward direction U so that the receiving opening communicates with the discharge opening. The engaging portion 30 has a holding portion 31 which is provided rotatably about a rotation shaft 41 and is provided with holding portion 21 to be engaged with the engaged portion 11b to hold the engaged portion 11b. With the mounting operation, the engaging portion 30 rotates about the rotation shaft 41 so that the engaged portion 11b held by the holding portion 31 moves upward U.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ayatomo Okino, Hiromasa Katayama, Nobuyuki Yomoda, Masato Yamaoka, Akihito Kamura, Koji Katayama, Tsukasa Mine, Katsuya Murakami, Keisuke Isobe, Shogo Yamasaki
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Patent number: 11448997Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body housing, a drawer, a drum cartridge, and a toner cartridge. The drawer includes a waste toner conveying pipe and a lock member. In a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the drum cartridge, the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, the drawer is located at a drawn-out position, and the lock member is located at a lock position, the toner cartridge is detachable from the drum cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11429056Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a main body including an image forming device, an optional device configured to be attached to a lower side of the main body, a recessed section formed at a lower position in the main body for clutching by a hand, and a fastening member arranged in the recessed section to fasten the main body and the optional device to each other, is provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yurimi Ambe
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Patent number: 11429058Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; a drawer; and first and second process cartridges attachable to the drawer. The first process cartridge includes a first drum cartridge including a first photosensitive drum and a first developing cartridge including a first developing roller. When attached to the first drum cartridge, the first developing cartridge is movable between a first position where the first developing cartridge is detachable from the first drum cartridge and a second position where the first developing cartridge is not detachable from the first drum cartridge. In a state where the first and second process cartridges are attached to the drawer at positions adjacent to each other, the first developing cartridge comes into contact with the second process cartridge during movement of the first developing cartridge from the second position to the first position before the first developing cartridge reaches the first position.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Sato, Miho Ishida
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Patent number: 11429060Abstract: A drum unit includes: a frame; a first photosensitive drum; a second photosensitive drum; a charger; and a storage medium. The frame includes: a first frame plate; a second frame plate spaced apart from the first frame plate in a first direction; a third frame plate connecting one end of the first frame plate to one end of the second frame plate; and a fourth frame plate connecting another end of the first frame plate to another end of the second frame plate. The first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are rotatably supported by the frame. The second photosensitive drum is spaced apart from the first photosensitive drum and positioned closer to the third frame plate than the first photosensitive drum to the third frame plate in a second direction. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface positioned at an outer surface of the fourth frame plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Isao Kishi
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Patent number: 11429057Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drum cartridge; and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having a rotational axis. The drum cartridge is drawable from the main casing in a first direction where the axis of the photosensitive drum extends. The developing cartridge is drawable from the main casing in the first direction. The developing cartridge includes: a developing roller; a front wall; and a first developing-device frame. The front wall is disposed at a downstream end of the developing cartridge in the first direction. The first developing-device frame supports the developing roller. The front wall and the first developing-device frame are overlapped with each other when viewed in the first direction. The first boss goes through the first hole of the front wall.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11415927Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to aspects of the present disclosure includes a cover, an interlocking mechanism, a sensor, a separation mechanism, a controller. In a state where the cover moves from a closed position to an open position while no power is supplied to the controller, a state of the interlocking mechanism changes from a first state to a second state. In a state where the sensor does not detect that the interlocking mechanism is in the second state when power supply to the controller is started, the separation mechanism keeps the developing roller located at a separation position at the separation position. On the other hand, in a state where the sensor detects that the interlocking mechanism is in the second state when power supply to the controller is started, the separation mechanism moves the developing roller located at a contact position to the separation position.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Ikegami, Shintaro Sakaguchi, Kotaro Haruta
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Patent number: 11409222Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer, a drum cartridge, an exposure device, a developing cartridge, and a fixing device. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaning member, and a waste toner conveying pipe. The drum cartridge is mountable to the drawer. The developing cartridge includes a toner container and a waste toner container, and is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The toner container includes a developing roller. The cleaning member is located between the photosensitive drum and the fixing device in a vertical direction in a state where the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located at an inner position. The toner container is swingably coupled to the waste toner container, thereby being capable of moving relative to the photosensitive drum in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11409231Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drawer movable in a first direction from an inside position to an outside position via an intermediate position; a stopper movable between a first position at which the stopper stops the drawer from moving from the intermediate position to the outside position, and a second position at which the stopper allows the drawer to move from the intermediate position to the outside position; a drum cartridge including a photoconductive drum and mountable on the drawer; and a developing cartridge including a developing roller and mountable on the drawer. The developing cartridge mounted on the drawer is removable from the drawer in a state in which the drawer is located at the intermediate position. The drum cartridge mounted on the drawer is removable from the drawer in a state in which the drawer is located at the outside position.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo Sato, Kazuna Taguchi
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Patent number: 11409225Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a control board, a draw-out unit including a photosensitive drum configured to bear a toner image and rotate about a rotation axis, a developing unit, and a unit contact, the developing unit including a developing roller and a memory, and a door configured to face the draw-out unit at a closed position. The door includes a door contact electrically connected to the control board. The draw-out unit includes a facing surface configured to face the door positioned at the closed position, and a grip portion provided at a center portion of the facing surface in an axial direction of the rotation axis. The unit contact is provided in a region outside an end surface of the grip portion in the axial direction and below the grip portion in a vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuta Kawaguchi, Shinkichi Yamamoto, Takateru Ohkubo, Kazuki Takase
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Patent number: 11402772Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a transfer unit body, a transfer counter roller, a transfer belt, a side cover, a transfer roller, a shaft end member, and a holding member. The side cover is opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body. The transfer roller is supported by the side cover, moves between an abutting position at which the transfer roller comes into contact with the transfer belt and interposes the transfer belt along with the transfer counter roller and a separate position at which the transfer roller is separated from the transfer belt. The shaft end member is provided at a shaft end of the transfer roller. The holding member is provided in the transfer unit body, holds the shaft end member at the abutting position, and opens the shaft end member at the separate position.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Norio Kouzu
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Patent number: 11397404Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body casing, a pressing member, a process cartridge, and a drawer. The body casing includes a positioning member. The pressing member is disposed inside the body casing. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum. The drawer is configured to support the process cartridge and to move, in a sliding direction orthogonal to an axis direction of the photosensitive drum, between an inside position that is a position inside the body casing and an outside position that is a position outside the body casing. The process cartridge includes an engagement portion and a spring. The engagement portion is configured to be positioned by the positioning member. The spring is configured to be pressed by the pressing member such that the engagement portion is pressed toward the positioning member.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11392079Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a first casing rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with toner, a supplying roller configured to supply the developing roller with the toner, and a second casing rotatably supporting the developing roller and the supplying roller and containing the toner. A rotatable coupling is provided with a projection and operatively connected to the supplying roller and the developing roller so that the coupling can transmit a rotational force to the supplying roller and the developing roller, and at least a part of the coupling being movable in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the coupling.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideki Maeshima, Masato Tanabe, Keisuke Nomura, Hiroki Shimizu
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Patent number: 11372364Abstract: A frame for an image forming apparatus which includes a sheet cassette, an image forming unit, a first conveying roller, and a second conveying roller. The frame includes a first frame above which a second frame is coupled, the first frame supporting the sheet cassette and the first conveying roller, and the second frame supporting the second conveying roller and the image forming unit. A coupling member couples a first strut and a second strut, the first strut being part of the first frame and including: a first base portion; a first plate portion; and a second plate portion. The second strut is part of the second frame and includes: a second base portion disposed above the first base portion and contacting the first base portion; a third plate portion; and a fourth plate portion. The coupling member includes: a third base portion opposed to and spaced apart from the first base portion and the second base portion; a fifth plate portion; and a sixth plate portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2021Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takuya Matsumura
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Patent number: 11321702Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a first liner, a second liner, one or more fastening components, and one or more prongs. The one or more fastening components couples the first liner to the second liner, defining an opening between. The one or more prongs are positionable between a closed position within the opening and an open position exterior to the opening. The one or more prongs include a payment prong. The payment prong includes a body free, a payment chip receptacle, and a payment chip. The body is free from any personal identification information. The payment chip receptacle is attached to the body. The payment chip is positioned in the payment chip receptacle. The payment chip is removable therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2021Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Capital One Services, LLCInventors: Abdelkader M'Hamed Benkreira, Joshua Edwards, Michael Mossoba
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Patent number: 11294327Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a top cover having an opening, a process cartridge attachable to the housing, a toner cartridge attachable to the process cartridge, and an interlocking mechanism. The top cover is pivotally movable between a first position closing the opening and a second position opening the opening. In a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the process cartridge, the toner cartridge is pivotally movable between an attachment/detachment position where the toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the process cartridge; and a fixed position where the toner cartridge is fixed to the process cartridge. The interlocking mechanism is configured to pivotally move the toner cartridge to the attachment/detachment position when the top cover is moved to the second position, and to pivotally move the toner cartridge to the fixed position when the top cover is moved to the first position.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Sato, Miho Ishida