Patents by Inventor Fumikazu Sato

Fumikazu Sato 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: 8744288
    Abstract: A cartridge including: a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall which are opposed to each other; a driving input member provided to the first side wall and is configured to rotate; and a first rotary member provided at an outer side of the first side wall and is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis in response to a rotational driving force from the driving input member, wherein the first rotary member includes a protrusion protruding to the outer side, wherein the first rotary member is configured to be moved relative to the first side wall in a direction along the first rotational axis, and wherein an end portion of the first rotary member at an opposite side of the first side wall is configured to be displaced in a direction crossing the first rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Shinoya, Masatoshi Shiraki, Fumikazu Sato, Naoto Ozeki
  • Patent number: 8737873
    Abstract: There is provided a cartridge including an image carrier, a first frame, a second frame, a peeling member and a pressing portion. The first frame has a pair of first wall portions rotatably supporting the image carrier and a second wall portion extending along an axis direction of the image carrier to connect the pair of first wall portions. The second frame is attached to the first frame so as to cover the image carrier. The peeling member has a peeling portion projecting from the second wall portion toward the image carrier and being configured to peel off a sheet from the image carrier by the peeling portion. The pressing portion is provided to the second frame, which is configured to move the peeling portion closer to the image carrier by pressing and elastically deforming the second wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumikazu Sato, Hikaru Yoshizumi
  • Publication number: 20140126934
    Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Tsutomu Suzuki, Yasuo Fukamachi, Fumikazu Sato, Hikaru Yoshizumi, Takahiro Nishimoto
  • Publication number: 20140105638
    Abstract: A cartridge is detachably mountable on a main casing. The main casing is provided with a coupling member providing a driving force. The cartridge comprises: a first roller extending in a first direction and configured to rotate about a first rotational axis; a driving force receiving portion configured to receive the driving force from the coupling member to drive the first roller and rotate about a second rotational axis, the driving force receiving portion comprising a contact portion configured to be in contact with the coupling member; and a first gear comprising a gear tooth, the gear being configured to transmit the driving force received at the driving force receiving portion to the first roller. The contact portion is overlapped with the gear tooth when projected in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Fumikazu Sato
  • Patent number: 8666293
    Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Tsutomu Suzuki, Yasuo Fukamachi, Fumikazu Sato, Hikaru Yoshizumi, Takahiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 8634746
    Abstract: A photosensitive drum cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the photosensitive drum cartridge are provided. The photosensitive drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a primary cleaning roller which is configured to contact a surface of the photosensitive drum to remove an attached matter on the surface of the photosensitive drum; a first gear which is configured to rotate together with the photosensitive drum; a second gear which is configured to rotate together with the primary cleaning roller; and a third gear which is configured to mesh with the first gear and the second gear, and which has a rotation axis, a position of which is fixed such that a distance from a rotation axis of the first gear is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Fumikazu Sato
  • Patent number: 8620180
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge and a developing cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, an input gear, a transmission gear, and a supporting cover. The input gear includes a contact portion, an outer circumferential wall, and a gear portion. The contact portion is in contact with a coupling member to receive the driving force. The outer circumferential wall and the gear portion rotate about a rotational axis defining an axial direction when the contact portion receives the driving force. The outer circumferential wall has a curved surface whose center of radius of a curvature is coincident with the rotational axis. The transmission gear is meshingly engaged with the gear portion to transmit the driving force from the input gear to the developing roller. The supporting cover covers the curved surface of the outer circumferential wall to rotatably support the outer circumferential wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Fumikazu Sato
  • Publication number: 20130259536
    Abstract: A process cartridge, which includes a developing cartridge and a photosensitive cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus including a driving force output part and a feeding part, is provided. The developing cartridge includes a developer carrier, a first electrode provided at one side thereof, and a driving force receiving part provided at another side thereof and aligned with the first electrode such that the driving force receiving part overlaps the first electrode in a side view. The photosensitive cartridge, to which the developing cartridge is removably mounted, includes a photosensitive member, and a second electrode that contacts the first electrode when the developing cartridge is mounted in the photosensitive cartridge and that contacts the feeding part when the photosensitive cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The first electrode is pressed toward the driving force receiving part by contact with the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Fumikazu Sato
  • Patent number: 8463153
    Abstract: A process cartridge, which includes a developing cartridge and a photosensitive cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus including a driving force output part and a feeding part, is provided. The developing cartridge includes a developer carrier, a first electrode provided at one side thereof, and a driving force receiving part provided at another side thereof and aligned with the first electrode such that the driving force receiving part overlaps the first electrode in a side view. The photosensitive cartridge, to which the developing cartridge is removably mounted, includes a photosensitive member, and a second electrode that contacts the first electrode when the developing cartridge is mounted in the photosensitive cartridge and that contacts the feeding part when the photosensitive cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The first electrode is pressed toward the driving force receiving part by contact with the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Fumikazu Sato
  • Publication number: 20130051850
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a photoconductor having a peripheral surface; a first roller having a peripheral surface to be pressed against the peripheral surface of the photoconductor and configured to rotate around a first axis of rotation; a second roller having a peripheral surface to be pressed against the peripheral surface of the first roller and configured to rotate around a second axis of rotation which is parallel to the first axis of rotation; a first urging member configured to urge the first roller and the second roller in a first direction toward the photoconductor; and a second urging member configured to urge the second roller in a second direction toward the first roller. The second urging member is arranged such that the second direction is parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumikazu Sato, Shota Shinoya
  • Publication number: 20130051845
    Abstract: There is provided a cartridge including an image carrier, a first frame, a second frame, a peeling member and a pressing portion. The first frame has a pair of first wall portions rotatably supporting the image carrier and a second wall portion extending along an axis direction of the image carrier to connect the pair of first wall portions. The second frame is attached to the first frame so as to cover the image carrier. The peeling member has a peeling portion projecting from the second wall portion toward the image carrier and being configured to peel off a sheet from the image carrier by the peeling portion. The pressing portion is provided to the second frame, which is configured to move the peeling portion closer to the image carrier by pressing and elastically deforming the second wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumikazu SATO, Hikaru YOSHIZUMI
  • Publication number: 20130051852
    Abstract: The developer cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, an input gear, a developing roller gear, a supply roller gear, a first intermediate gear, and a second intermediate gear. The input gear is inputted with a drive force from an outside. The developing roller gear rotates about a first axis to drive the developing roller by the drive force. The supply roller gear rotates about a second axis parallel to the first axis to drive the supply roller by the drive force. The first intermediate gear rotates about the second axis. The first intermediate gear engages the input gear to receive the drive force therefrom. The second intermediate gear is engaged with the first intermediate gear and the developing roller gear so as to transmit the drive force from the first intermediate gear to the developing roller gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Okabe, Fumikazu Sato, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8346125
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge that has a photosensitive drum and a developing cartridge that is detachably mounted on the photosensitive cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, an input gear, and a transmission gear. The developing gear supplies toner to the photosensitive drum. The input gear includes a contact portion that is in contact with a coupling member to receive the driving force and a gear portion. The input gear rotates about a rotational axis defining an axial direction when the contact portion receives the driving force. The transmission gear is meshingly engaged with the gear portion to transmit the driving force from the input gear to the developing roller. The gear portion has a pitch circle defined by being meshingly engaged with the transmission gear. The pitch circle of the gear portion is arranged to overlap with the contact portion in the axial direction of the input gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Fumikazu Sato
  • Publication number: 20120328335
    Abstract: A process cartridge, which includes a developing cartridge and a photosensitive cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus including a driving force output part and a feeding part, is provided. The developing cartridge includes a developer carrier, a first electrode provided at one side thereof, and a driving force receiving part provided at another side thereof and aligned with the first electrode such that the driving force receiving part overlaps the first electrode in a side view. The photosensitive cartridge, to which the developing cartridge is removably mounted, includes a photosensitive member, and a second electrode that contacts the first electrode when the developing cartridge is mounted in the photosensitive cartridge and that contacts the feeding part when the photosensitive cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The first electrode is pressed toward the driving force receiving part by contact with the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Fumikazu Sato
  • Publication number: 20120321345
    Abstract: A cartridge including: a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall which are opposed to each other; a driving input member provided to the first side wall and is configured to rotate; and a first rotary member provided at an outer side of the first side wall and is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis in response to a rotational driving force from the driving input member, wherein the first rotary member includes a protrusion protruding to the outer side, wherein the first rotary member is configured to be moved relative to the first side wall in a direction along the first rotational axis, and wherein an end portion of the first rotary member at an opposite side of the first side wall is configured to be displaced in a direction crossing the first rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota SHINOYA, Masatoshi SHIRAKI, Fumikazu SATO, Naoto OZEKI
  • Publication number: 20120321358
    Abstract: A cartridge may include a transfer roller, a photoconductor drum and a transfer electrode. In one or more examples, the transfer electrode may be disposed on a first side of the transfer roller while the photoconductor drum is disposed on a second side of the transfer roller, where the second side is opposite to the first side. The transfer electrode may further include ribs configured to aid in placement or positioning of the transfer electrode in one or more directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumikazu Sato
  • Patent number: 8280273
    Abstract: A process cartridge, which includes a developing cartridge and a photosensitive cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus including a driving force output part and a feeding part, is provided. The developing cartridge includes a developer carrier, a first electrode provided at one side thereof, and a driving force receiving part provided at another side thereof and aligned with the first electrode such that the driving force receiving part overlaps the first electrode in a side view. The photosensitive cartridge, to which the developing cartridge is removably mounted, includes a photosensitive member, and a second electrode that contacts the first electrode when the developing cartridge is mounted in the photosensitive cartridge and that contacts the feeding part when the photosensitive cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The first electrode is pressed toward the driving force receiving part by contact with the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Fumikazu Sato
  • Patent number: D694814
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Fumikazu Sato
  • Patent number: D694815
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Fumikazu Sato
  • Patent number: D694816
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Fumikazu Sato