Patents Assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Patent number: 11945217
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a box-shaped cassette case whose outline being defined by a bottom wall, a top wall, and a side wall and including a plurality of corner portions, at least one tape contained within a tape containment area defined within the outline, a pair of cavities extending from the bottom wall and being provided between the tape containment area and the outline at opposite ends of a diagonal line connecting one of the corner portions to another of the corner portions, and a side face indicator portion provided in the side wall, indicating a type of the tape, and including a plurality of indicator portions disposed in a pattern in accordance with the type of the tape, each of the indicator portions being one of a switch hole and a surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsutomu Kato, Masato Kato, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata, Teruo Imamaki, Akira Sago, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Takashi Horiuchi, Tomohiko Sugino, Kengo Noda
  • Patent number: 11947307
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a drum frame; a drum coupling; and an electrical contact surface. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum frame has one end portion in a second direction at which the photosensitive drum is positioned. The drum coupling is rotatable together with the photosensitive drum. The drum coupling is positioned at an outer surface of one side in the first direction of the drum frame. The electrical contact surface is positioned closer to another side in the second direction of the drum frame than the drum coupling is to the another side in the second direction of the drum frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Mori, Atsushi Fukaya, Tsubasa Kiriyama, Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 11947277
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge. The main body casing has an opening and a slot extending in from the opening toward an inside of the main body casing along a first direction. The drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the slot. The main body casing includes a drum guide groove configured to guide movement of the drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a drum protrusion configured to be engaged with the drum guide groove. A width of the drum guide groove in the second direction is decreased toward the inside of the main body casing from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11947311
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a main body housing including an air outlet opening, a photosensitive drum, a fuser to thermally fix toner transferred from the photosensitive drum to a sheet on the sheet, a fan to generate an airflow toward the air outlet opening, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to, in a continuous stage of printing continuous from a beginning stage, count a cumulative printed page number being a cumulative number of pages printed by the image forming apparatus, in a case where the cumulative printed page number is smaller than a first page number, control the fan to rotate at a first speed, and in a case where the cumulative printed page number is equal to or larger than the first page number, control the fan to rotate at a second speed, the second speed being higher than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michihiro Shimadu, Yusuke Okabe
  • Patent number: 11950093
    Abstract: A terminal device may send to a first server a sending request, and receive from the first server first related information which is related to a first public key of a first communication device in response to the sending request being sent to the first server. The terminal device may send to the first communication device a first authentication request in which the first public key related to the first related information is used in a case where the first related information is received from the first server, and send first connection information to the first communication device in a case where a first authentication response is received from the first communication device in response to the first authentication request being sent to the first communication device. The first connection information may be for establishing a first wireless connection between the first communication device and an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Miyake
  • Patent number: 11945679
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a housing, a sheet cassette, a second roller, a gear train, a pendulum gear, and a stop member. The gear train includes a gear rotatable together with the second roller. The pendulum gear is movable between a meshing position where the pendulum gear is in meshing engagement with the gear train and a separated position where the pendulum gear is separated away from the gear train. The stop member allows the pendulum gear to move from the separated position to the meshing position. In the state where the sheet cassette is at an internal position and the stop member is at the second position, the stop member is out of contact with a part of the sheet cassette in a first direction but contacts the part of the sheet cassette in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 11947310
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft extending in a first direction; a first inclined surface; a second inclined surface; an elastic member; and a first protrusion. The shaft is movable in the first direction relative to the casing and the developing roller, and is movable in the second direction together with the same. The first inclined surface is positioned at one end portion of the shaft, while the second inclined surface is positioned at another end portion of the shaft. The first and second inclined surfaces are inclined relative to the first direction. The first protrusion is movable in the first direction together with the second inclined surface. The shaft is movable from a first position to a second position when the second inclined surface receives a pressing force directed in a direction from the another end portion to the one end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20240100867
    Abstract: There is provided a tank including a liquid storage chamber and an outlet. The liquid storage chamber includes a base portion and a protruding portion, the base portion includes a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall which faces the first lateral wall in a left-right direction, the protruding portion protrudes from the second lateral wall in a direction away from the first lateral wall in the left-right direction, and the left-right direction is defined based on a usable posture in which the tank is disposed such that a lower surface of the liquid storage chamber is located below an upper surface of the liquid storage chamber. A distance between the outlet and the second lateral wall in the left-right direction is smaller than a distance between the outlet and the first lateral wall in the left-right direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinori IGARASHI, Masataka KAMIYA
  • Publication number: 20240103429
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a movable drawer, and a process cartridge attachable to the drawer. The process cartridge includes a drum unit, and a developing unit. The drum unit includes a drum housing, and a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction. The photosensitive drum is positioned at one end portion of the drum housing at one side in a second direction. The developing unit includes a developing casing, a developing roller, and a developing handle for detaching the process cartridge from the drawer toward another side in the second direction. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the developing casing at the one side in the second direction. The developing handle is positioned apart from the drum unit toward the another side in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Yuki NAGASHIMA, Junya SUMIDA, Sakiho HAYAKAWA, Marika OZAKI
  • Publication number: 20240103435
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum and a fuser. The fuser includes an upper frame. The upper frame includes an upper first rib downstream of a heating rotating member in a sheet conveying direction, an upper second rib adjacent to the upper first rib in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, and first and second conveying rollers. The upper first rib includes a first guide surface, and a separation surface. The upper second rib includes a second guide surface. The second guide surface is located downstream of the first guide surface in the sheet conveying direction. A distance between a nip point between the first and second conveying rollers and the second guide surface in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction and the width direction is smaller than a distance between the nip point and the separation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kimio TAKEUCHI, Shinichi HATAKEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20240103430
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum; a first memory; and second memory. A developing cartridge including a developing roller is attachable to the drum frame. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction. The photosensitive drum is configured to contact the developing roller in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame. The first memory has a first electrical contact surface. The first memory stores therein information related to the drum cartridge. The second memory has a second electrical contact surface different from the first electrical contact surface. The second memory stores therein information related to the developing cartridge. The first electrical contact surface and the second electrical contact surface are positioned at an outer surface of the drum frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Shinya KUSUDA
  • Publication number: 20240103428
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a drawer, and a process cartridge attachable to the drawer. The drawer can be drawn out of the housing toward one side in a first direction. The process cartridge includes: a process housing; a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a second direction; a developing roller movable between a separated position and a contacting position relative to the photosensitive drum; and a locking member. The locking member is movable between a locking position for locking the developing roller at the separated position and an unlocking position for allowing the developing roller to move to the contacting position. The process cartridge is configured to contact a first surface of the drawer to be guided toward an attachment position on the drawer while the locking member is at the locking position during attachment of the process cartridge to the drawer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao ITABASHI
  • Publication number: 20240100846
    Abstract: A cartridge configured to be inserted in a first direction into a case having a plurality of engagement portions is provided. The cartridge has a body and a key member. The body has a chamber for storing a printing agent. The key member is located on the body at a position associated with a type of the printing agent stored in the chamber and is configured to engage with a corresponding one of the plurality of engagement portions of the case. The key member has a surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction. The surface is configured to contact the corresponding one of the plurality of engagement portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Naoya OKAZAKI, Yuma TANABE, Satoru OKI, Yuji FUKUTA
  • Publication number: 20240100847
    Abstract: A printing-agent container, having a container body, an outflow port, and an identifying portion, is provided. The container body has a chamber for containing a printing agent. Through the outflow port, the printing agent flows out of the chamber. The identifying portion is provided to the container body correspondingly to a type of the printing agent contained in the chamber of the container body. The identifying portion has an inner surface defining the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Naoya OKAZAKI, Yuma TANABE, Satoru OKI, Yuji FUKUTA
  • Publication number: 20240101852
    Abstract: An ink set includes a water-based ink and a water-based maintenance fluid. The water-based ink includes a colorant and at least one solvent whose SP value is 27.5 (MPa)(1/2) or higher in an amount of 30% by mass or more relative to a total mass of the solvents included in the water-based ink. The water-based maintenance fluid includes at least one solvent whose SP value is 25.0 (MPa)(1/2) or higher in an amount of 70% by mass or more relative to a total mass of the solvents included in the water-based maintenance fluid. A numerical value calculated by formula (1) is 1 or higher: a?b (1). a is a mass-weighted average of SP values (MPa)(1/2) of solvents included in the water-based ink, and b is a mass-weighted average of SP values (MPa)(1/2) of solvents included in the water-based maintenance fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shunichi HIGASHIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20240100845
    Abstract: A system, having a liquid container and a case, is provided. The case has a tubular body extending along a mounting/demounting direction and entering the liquid container through a supply port, a liquid receiver located below an end of the tubular body, and a movable member contacting and being moved by the liquid container moving along the mounting/demounting direction. The liquid receiver is movable between a first position, at which the liquid receiver is one of in contact with and in proximity to the end of the tubular body, and a second position, at which the liquid receiver is separated farther from the end of the tubular body than the first position. The movable member moves the liquid receiver from the first position to the second position by contacting and being moved by the liquid container moving in the mounting orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru OKI
  • Publication number: 20240100850
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid consuming apparatus including: a tank having a liquid storing chamber, an erected wall through which the liquid inside the liquid storage chamber is visible from outside of the tank, and an inlet which is formed to penetrate through the erected wall and via which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber; a liquid consuming section which consumes the liquid stored in the liquid storing chamber; and a cover. A transmitting section and a checking section are formed in an upper surface, of the cover, under a condition that the cover is in the exposure position, the transmitting section configured to transmit information optically to a user of the liquid consuming apparatus and the checking section configured to prevent the liquid moving on a particular surface of the cover from arriving at the transmitting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20240103402
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main-body housing, a drum unit, and a toner cartridge. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, a developing roller, a toner-inlet shutter to open and close a toner-inlet opening, a cleaning member, and a collected-toner outlet shutter to open and close a collected-toner outlet opening. The toner cartridge includes a toner casing having a toner container and a collected-toner container, and a shutter-driving member having a transmission device and an operable device. The transmission device is movable by the operable device between a first position, at which the toner-inlet shutter and the collected-toner outlet shutter are located at positions to close the toner-inlet opening and the collected-toner outlet opening, and a second position, at which the toner-inlet shutter and the collected-toner outlet shutter are located at positions to open the toner-inlet opening and the collected-toner outlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki UEJI, Shougo SATO
  • Publication number: 20240103431
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge; a developing cartridge; and a plate. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum; a first holder; and a first memory having a first electrical contact surface that is movably supported by the first holder. The developing cartridge is attachable to the drum frame. The developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a second holder; and a second memory having a second electrical contact surface that is movably supported by the second holder. The plate connects the first holder and the second holder to each other in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame. The second holder moves together with the plate in accordance with movement of the first holder in a state where the plate connects the first holder and the second holder to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Junya SUMIDA, Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Shinya KUSUDA
  • Patent number: 11942675
    Abstract: A wireless communication device includes a main substrate, a wireless communication substrate having an antenna configured to perform wireless communication, a sub-substrate having a first substrate surface and a second substrate surface opposite to the first substrate surface, a main connector provided on the main substrate, a communication connector provided on the wireless communication substrate, a first connector provided on the sub-substrate and being electrically connected to the main connector such that the sub-substrate is parallel to the main substrate, and a second connector provided on the sub-substrate and being electrically connected to the communication connector such that the sub-substrate is parallel to the main substrate, in which a position of the first connector and a position of the second connector are shifted, seen from a direction orthogonal to the first substrate surface of the sub-substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takato Mori