Patents by Inventor Aya Tamura

Aya Tamura 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).

  • Patent number: 8942581
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to perform a collecting operation for moving the attached matter held on a holding roller onto the photosensitive drum and collecting the attached matter by a collecting unit. A bias control unit for controlling a bias applied to the holding roller is configured to: during an image forming operation, apply a first bias for moving the matter onto the holding roller; and during the collecting operation, apply a second bias for moving the attached matter onto the photosensitive drum. A speed control unit is configured to: control the holding roller to rotate at a first rotating speed during the image forming operation; and in a progress of the collecting operation, control the holding roller to rotate at a second rotating speed for a first period after the bias control unit applies the second bias to the holding roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Aya Tamura
  • Patent number: 8867964
    Abstract: A first rotary body is configured to rotate by a drive force input from an external source and has a first outer peripheral surface. A second rotary body has a second outer peripheral surface and is configured to rotate by following a rotation of the first rotary body through a friction generated between the first outer peripheral surface and the second outer peripheral surface. A first gear is configured to rotate together with the first rotary body. A second gear is configured to rotate together with the second rotary body and is directory engaged with the first gear. The first gear has a first pitch circle and the second gear has a second pitch circle. A radius of the first pitch circle is smaller than a radius of the first rotary body, and a radius of the second pitch circle is larger than a radius of the second rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Koji Abe, Masatoshi Shiraki, Yasushi Okabe, Aya Tamura
  • Publication number: 20130108289
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to perform a collecting operation for moving the attached matter held on a holding roller onto the photosensitive drum and collecting the attached matter by a collecting unit. A bias control unit for controlling a bias applied to the holding roller is configured to: during an image forming operation, apply a first bias for moving the matter onto the holding roller; and during the collecting operation, apply a second bias for moving the attached matter onto the photosensitive drum. A speed control unit is configured to: control the holding roller to rotate at a first rotating speed during the image forming operation; and in a progress of the collecting operation, control the holding roller to rotate at a second rotating speed for a first period after the bias control unit applies the second bias to the holding roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Aya Tamura
  • Publication number: 20130084103
    Abstract: A first rotary body is configured to rotate by a drive force input from an external source and has a first outer peripheral surface. A second rotary body is configured to rotate by following a rotation of the first rotary body through the friction generated between the first outer peripheral surface and the second outer peripheral surface. A first gear is configured to rotate together with the first rotary body. A second gear is configured to rotate together with the second rotary body and is directory engaged with the first gear. The first gear had a first pitch circle and the second gear has a second pitch circle. A radius of the first pitch circle is smaller than the radius of the first rotary body, and a radius of the second pitch circle is larger than the radius of the second rotary body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Koji ABE, Masatoshi SHIRAKI, Yasushi OKABE, Aya TAMURA
  • Patent number: 8165501
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main body, a drawer, an image forming unit, a belt unit and a cleaning unit. The drawer is movably supported to the main body and configured to be pulled out from an interior of the main body. The image forming unit is supported on the drawer and has photosensitive drums arrayed in line in a direction for forming an image on a recording medium. The belt unit is disposed in opposition to each of the photosensitive drums and extends in the direction. The cleaning unit is fixed to the drawer and is disposed at a side the same as the image forming unit with respect to the belt unit, such that the cleaning unit is pulled out integrally with the image forming unit from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Aya Tamura, Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8000629
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a process cartridge, a wall section, and a flow restrictor. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger, and a frame. The charger is disposed spaced away from the photosensitive drum for charging the photosensitive drum. The frame is formed with a first opening at a position opposite to the photosensitive drum with respect to the charger. The frame is also formed with a first vent hole for ventilation of a space defined by the frame. The first vent hole is positioned upstream of the first opening and downstream of the image transfer position of the photosensitive drum in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum. The wall section is positioned in direct confrontation with the first opening. The flow restrictor restricts air flow and is provided between the frame and the wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Aya Tamura
  • Publication number: 20100178078
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main body, a drawer, an image forming unit, a belt unit and a cleaning unit. The drawer is movably supported to the main body and configured to be pulled out from an interior of the main body. The image forming unit is supported on the drawer and has a plurality of photosensitive drums arrayed in line in a first direction for forming an image on a recording medium. The belt unit disposed in opposition to each of the plurality of photosensitive drums and extends in the first direction. The cleaning unit is fixed to the drawer and is disposed at a side the same as the image forming unit with respect to the belt unit, whereby the cleaning unit is pulled out integrally with the image forming unit from the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Aya Tamura, Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20100129111
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a process cartridge, a wall section, and a flow restrictor. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger, and a frame. The charger is disposed spaced away from the photosensitive drum for charging the photosensitive drum. The frame is formed with a first opening at a position opposite to the photosensitive drum with respect to the charger. The frame is also formed with a first vent hole for ventilation of a space defined by the frame. The first vent hole is positioned upstream of the first opening and downstream of the image transfer position of the photosensitive drum in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum. The wall section is positioned in direct confrontation with the first opening. The flow restrictor restricts air flow and is provided between the frame and the wall section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Aya Tamura