Patents by Inventor Masahito Hamaya

Masahito Hamaya 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: 20090010661
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photosensitive members; a plurality of discharging units respectively facing the plurality of photosensitive members; a plurality of high-voltage power supply units which are provided for the plurality of charging units and supply power to the plurality of discharging units; a discharge detection unit that detects abnormality in the plurality of discharging units; a controller which controls the output of one of the high-voltage power supply units having the largest output to be smaller when the discharge detection unit detects abnormality; and a determination unit which, in a state where the controller controls the output of the one of the high-voltage power supply unit, determines whether abnormality occurs in the discharging unit corresponding to the one of the high-voltage power supply unit based on the detection state of the discharge detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahito HAMAYA
  • Publication number: 20080267640
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, according to the present invention can include, an image carrier, a charger configured to charge the image carrier, an exposure unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing the image carrier, a developing unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image, a detection unit configured to detect the density of a developer adherent to the image carrier, and a controller configured to determine a deteriorated state of the image carrier, by charging the image carrier and then conducting a development, in a condition where a potential difference between the charger and the developing unit is set to be smaller than that at the time of image formation, before detecting a density of a developer on an unirradiated portion on the image carrier, so that a detection result to be used for its decision of the deteriorated state of the image carrier is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahito HAMAYA, Hiroyuki NAGANAWA
  • Publication number: 20080181656
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member which carries an electrostatic latent image; a charger comprising a charging wire extended in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the photosensitive member, the charger serving to charge the photosensitive member, and a promoting unit which is provided on at least one side of a region of the charger which is opposite to an image forming region in which the electrostatic latent image is formed, the promoting unit promoting a leakage current of the charger; detecting unit which detects a leakage current of the charger; and a correction unit which corrects the charging wire if the leakage current is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahito HAMAYA, Hiroyuki NAGANAWA
  • Publication number: 20080019723
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an object to be cleaned, a cleaning device, a generation device, a control device, a voltage detection device and a load resistance detection device. The cleaning device cleans the object to be cleaned. The generation device generates a cleaning voltage in the cleaning device. The control device controls the generation device thereby to control the cleaning voltage. The voltage detection device detects the cleaning voltage generated in the cleaning device. The load resistance detection device detects a load resistance between the object to be cleaned and the cleaning device, based on at least one control parameter to be used by the control device to control the generation device and the cleaning voltage detected by the voltage detection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Naganawa, Masahito Hamaya, Kazushi Fukuta
  • Publication number: 20080008483
    Abstract: An image-forming device has a housing, a cleaning unit, a toner detection unit, and a control unit. The cleaning target member is provided in the housing. The cleaning unit applies a predetermined voltage to the cleaning target member to remove toner from the cleaning target member through an electrostatic force. The predetermined voltage has a predetermined absolute value. The toner detection unit detects an amount of toner on the cleaning target member at least twice. The detected amount of toner includes a first amount of toner and a second amount of toner. The first amount of toner is detected when a first voltage having a first absolute value is applied as the predetermined voltage at a first time,. The second amount of toner is detected when a second voltage having a second absolute value is applied as the predetermined voltage at a second time. The second time is later than the first time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahito HAMAYA, Hiroyuki NAGANAWA, Katsumi INUKAI, Kazushi FUKUTA