Patents by Inventor Junichi Hashimoto

Junichi Hashimoto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200050142
    Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction. A frame includes a first side plate located at first end in the first direction and a second side plate spaced from the first side plate in the first direction. The frame rotatably supports the photosensitive drum between the first side plate and the second side plate in the first direction. The frame holds a developer cartridge. A lock lever is pivotable about a pivot axis extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The lock lever is movable between a lock position at which the developer cartridge is locked on the frame and a release position at which the developer cartridge is unlocked from the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Isao KISHI, Kazuaki OOKA
  • Publication number: 20200033789
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft; and a cam. The casing is configured to accommodate developer therein. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The shaft extends along a second axis extending in the axial direction. The shaft is movable along the second axis. The cam is movable along the second axis in response to axial movement of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface non-parallel with the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Isao KISHI, Kazuaki OOKA
  • Patent number: 10520853
    Abstract: A developing roller is located nearer a first end than a second end in a first direction. A first boss extends in a second direction and is movable together with a housing. The first boss bears the weight of a developer cartridge when the first boss is supported by a support surface of a first side plate of a drum unit, and is located away from the developing roller in the first direction and the third direction. A first pressure receiving surface is located farther away from the developing roller than the first boss in the third direction. The pressure receiving member receives a pressing force in the third direction from a pressing member of the first side plate of the drum unit. The first boss is located away from the developing roller in the first direction by a first distance. The first pressure receiving surface is located away from the developing roller in the first direction by the first distance or by a second distance smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Kazuaki Ooka, Isao Kishi, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10488813
    Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction. A frame includes a first side plate located at first end in the first direction and a second side plate spaced from the first side plate in the first direction. The frame rotatably supports the photosensitive drum between the first side plate and the second side plate in the first direction. The frame holds a developer cartridge. A lock lever is pivotable about a pivot axis extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The lock lever is movable between a lock position at which the developer cartridge is locked on the frame and a release position at which the developer cartridge is unlocked from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Kazuaki Ooka
  • Patent number: 10459399
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft; and a cam. The casing is configured to accommodate developer therein. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The shaft extends along a second axis extending in the axial direction. The shaft is movable along the second axis. The cam is movable along the second axis in response to axial movement of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface non-parallel with the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Kazuaki Ooka
  • Patent number: 10444700
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, endless belt, photosensitive drums, setting unit, contacting/separating mechanism, transmitting mechanism, and coupling members. The photosensitive drums are disposed in confrontation with the endless belt and are arranged in a first direction. Each photosensitive drum has an axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The setting unit sets the image forming apparatus to a monochrome mode or color mode. The contacting/separating mechanism controls at least one photosensitive drum to contact or separate from the endless in accordance with the set mode. The transmitting mechanism selectively transmits drive power to photosensitive drums. Each coupling member is selectively coupled to the corresponding photosensitive drum and has a coupling axis extending in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Okabe, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20190302641
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing having an outer surface, a developing roller, a first electrode, and a boss. The developing roller is movable together with the casing and includes a developing roller shaft extending along a first axis extending in a first direction. The developing roller is rotatable about the first axis. The first electrode is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the developing roller shaft, and electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. The boss is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the outer surface. The boss extends in the first direction and is engageable with the drum unit. A part of the first electrode is configured to contact with a second electrode of the drum unit as a result of pivotal movement of the developing cartridge about the boss relative to the drum unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Isao KISHI, Kazuaki OOKA
  • Publication number: 20190302682
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft; and a cam. The casing is configured to accommodate developer therein. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The shaft extends along a second axis extending in the axial direction. The shaft is movable along the second axis. The cam is movable along the second axis in response to axial movement of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface non-parallel with the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Isao KISHI, Kazuaki OOKA
  • Publication number: 20190302674
    Abstract: A drawer includes: a photosensitive drum; and a frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a rotational axis extending in an axial direction. The photosensitive drum has an outer circumferential surface. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller having an outer circumferential surface. The developing cartridge is attachable to the frame in a state where the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller faces the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. The frame is configured to move the developing roller in a separation direction in response to movement in the axial direction of at least a portion of the developing cartridge attached to the frame. The separation direction is a direction in which the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller separates from the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Isao KISHI, Kazuaki OOKA
  • Publication number: 20190302681
    Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction. A frame includes a first side plate located at first end in the first direction and a second side plate spaced from the first side plate in the first direction. The frame rotatably supports the photosensitive drum between the first side plate and the second side plate in the first direction. The frame holds a developer cartridge. A lock lever is pivotable about a pivot axis extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The lock lever is movable between a lock position at which the developer cartridge is locked on the frame and a release position at which the developer cartridge is unlocked from the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Isao KISHI, Kazuaki OOKA
  • Publication number: 20190302645
    Abstract: A developing roller is located nearer a first end than a second end in a first direction. A first boss extends in a second direction and is movable together with a housing. The first boss bears the weight of a developer cartridge when the first boss is supported by a support surface of a first side plate of a drum unit, and is located away from the developing roller in the first direction and the third direction. A first pressure receiving surface is located farther away from the developing roller than the first boss in the third direction. The pressure receiving member receives a pressing force in the third direction from a pressing member of the first side plate of the drum unit. The first boss is located away from the developing roller in the first direction by a first distance. The first pressure receiving surface is located away from the developing roller in the first direction by the first distance or by a second distance smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen WANG, Kazuaki OOKA, Isao KISHI, Junichi HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190302648
    Abstract: A developing cartridge including: a housing capable of accommodating therein toner; a developing roller rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction; a supply roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the axial direction; a coupling rotatable about a third axis extending in the axial direction; a developing roller gear rotatable about the first axis together with the developing roller; a supply roller gear rotatable about the second axis together with the supply roller; a large-diameter gear rotatable about the third axis together with the coupling and meshing with the developing roller gear; a small-diameter gear rotatable about the third axis together with the coupling and having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the large-diameter gear, and an idle gear rotatable about a fourth axis extending in the axial direction and meshing with the supply roller gear and the small-diameter gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota SHINOYA, Junichi HASHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 10429792
    Abstract: A waste toner container is attachable to and detachable from a housing of an image-forming apparatus through an opening of the housing. The waste toner container includes a casing and a guide pipe connected to the casing. The casing has a first end and a second end positioned opposite to the opening with respect to the first end in a state where the waste toner container is attached to the housing. The guide pipe is pivotally movable relative to the casing between a first position and a second position. The guide pipe extends in a first direction connecting the first end to the second end at the first position, while extending in a second direction crossing the first direction at the second position. The guide pipe at the first position has a length in the second direction smaller than a length thereof in the second direction at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Souda, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10388050
    Abstract: First or second clothing information corresponding to a first or second shape is obtained, and first or second pattern information corresponding to a first or second pattern is obtained. First or second clothing data corresponding to clothes with the first or second shape associated with the first or second clothing information is combined with first or second pattern data corresponding to the first or second pattern associated with the first or second pattern information to create composite data corresponding to a composite image of clothes with the first or second pattern and the first or second shape. The composite image corresponding to the composite data is output to and displayed in a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SEIREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiro Ogata, Junichi Hashimoto, Toshiro Kawabata, Kozo Nagata
  • Publication number: 20190247886
    Abstract: The vibration device includes a diaphragm, and a plurality of piezoelectric films that are arranged at predetermined intervals in a first direction of the diaphragm to face the diaphragm and extend parallel to a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The diaphragm has at least one slit formed therein and dividing the diaphragm into respective regions. Each of the piezoelectric films are fixed to a respective region of the diaphragm while extending along the second direction in a tensioned state. The piezoelectric films expand and contract in a plane direction when a voltage is applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Kentaro Usui, Junichi Hashimoto, Yuhei Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10381545
    Abstract: A vibration device that includes a diaphragm having a perimeter; a film which expands and contracts in a planar direction by application of a voltage, and an electrode on each main surface thereof; and a wire extended from the electrode outside of the perimeter of the diaphragm. The diaphragm has a first region in a node of vibration and a second region in a position other than the node of vibration. The wire has a section extended from the second region toward the first region, or is extended from the first region outside of the perimeter of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuhei Yamagishi, Junichi Hashimoto, Kentaro Usui
  • Patent number: 10365718
    Abstract: A tactile feedback device includes a vibrating device and a touch sensor. The vibrating device comprises a flexible diaphragm and a film which deforms in response to the application of electrical energy thereto, the film being attached to the flexible diaphragm at two spaced locations with a major surface of the film facing a major surface of the flexible diaphragm. The vibrating device further includes a spacer located between the two spaced locations and ensuring that the major surface of the flexible diaphragm is spaced from the major surface of the film. The touch sensor is coupled to the diaphragm and generates an output signal in response to a touch operation. Means are provided to apply electrical energy to the film in response to the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Junichi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20190179253
    Abstract: A waste toner container is attachable to and detachable from a housing of an image-forming apparatus through an opening of the housing. The waste toner container includes a casing and a guide pipe connected to the casing. The casing has a first end and a second end positioned opposite to the opening with respect to the first end in a state where the waste toner container is attached to the housing. The guide pipe is pivotally movable relative to the casing between a first position and a second position. The guide pipe extends in a first direction connecting the first end to the second end at the first position, while extends in a second direction crossing the first direction at the second position. The guide pipe at the first position has a length in the second direction smaller than a length thereof in the second direction at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Makoto Souda, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20190155391
    Abstract: A vibration structure that includes a frame member having an opening therein; a vibration part within the opening in the frame member; a support part that connects the vibration part and the frame member and supports the vibration part within the opening in the frame member; a film that deforms in a planar direction in response to voltage application; and a connection member that connects the film to the vibration part and the frame member such that the vibration part vibrates in the planar direction when the film deforms in the planar direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Jun Endo, Kentaro Usui
  • Patent number: 10228650
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body; a photosensitive drum defining an axis extending in a first direction; a support member movable between an inside position and an outside position relative to the apparatus body; a cleaner for removing waste toner from the photosensitive drum; a first conveyer for conveying the waste toner in the first direction; a conveying unit; and a container for storing the waste toner conveyed by the conveying unit. The conveying unit includes a second conveyer for conveying the waste toner conveyed by the first conveyer in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and a conveying pipe accommodating the second conveyer and connectable to the container. The conveying pipe includes a shutter for opening and closing a conveyer-side opening formed in a downstream end portion of the conveying pipe in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Ryuya Yamazaki