Patents by Inventor Motoaki Mushika
Motoaki Mushika 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).
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Publication number: 20200110356Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main casing, a belt accommodated in the main casing, developing units arranged along the belt, a drawer configured to detachably support the developing units, the drawer configured to move to a position inside the main casing and to a position outside the main casing, and the drawer having a leading end and a trailing end in a pulling direction from the inside position to the outside position; and a guide configured to guide the drawer and to move between a first position and a second position when the drawer is at the inside position, the second position being farther from the belt than the first position from the belt. When the guide is at the second position, the guide is configured to be tilted downward relative to a horizontal direction such that the leading end is lower than the trailing end.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 10613471Abstract: A developer cartridge comprises a first gear. The first gear may include a first protrusion extending in a radial direction of the first gear. The first protrusion may be positioned at a circumference of a column of the first gear. The first protrusion may be spaced apart from a second end face opposite to a first end face facing an exterior surface of a casing configured to accommodate developer therein. The first protrusion may be further from the second end face than a large-diameter gear in an axial direction. A rotational circumference of the first protrusion defined by rotation of the first protrusion and a portion of the large-diameter gear are aligned in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika
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Patent number: 10571856Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cartridge supporter is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge attachable to the drum cartridge; and a switching member switchable states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein detachment of the toner cartridge is restricted, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The cartridge supporter is movable between a first position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be placed entirely in an inner space in the main body on an inner side of the opening, and a second position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be at least partly placed outside the inner space. When the cartridge supporter is in the second position, the switching member is at least partly placed outside the inner space.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo Sato, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Kazuna Taguchi
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Patent number: 10503116Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main casing, a belt accommodated in the main casing, developing units arranged along the belt, a drawer configured to detachably support the developing units, the drawer configured to move to a position inside the main casing and to a position outside the main casing, and the drawer having a leading end and a trailing end in a pulling direction from the inside position to the outside position; and a guide configured to guide the drawer and to move between a first position and a second position when the drawer is at the inside position, the second position being farther from the belt than the first position from the belt. When the guide is at the second position, the guide is configured to be tilted downward relative to a horizontal direction such that the leading end is lower than the trailing end.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Motoaki Mushika, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 10429793Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a developing roller extends in a first direction. A developing roller gear, a coupling, and first and second idle gears are positioned at an outer surface of a casing. An agitator gear has an end face in the first direction facing the outer surface. A first protrusion is positioned between the end face and the outer surface, and at a position outside of addendum circles of the developing roller gear, coupling, and first and second idle gears. The first protrusion is pivotally movable about an axis extending in the first direction between a first position and a second position. A first protruding portion has, at the first position, a first length in a second direction connecting the developing roller and the first protruding portion, and has, at the second position, a second length different from the first length in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2018Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Abe, Motoaki Mushika, Kazuna Taguchi, Yasuo Fukamachi
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Publication number: 20190265639Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing including an outer surface, a small-diameter gear, a large-diameter gear, a first gear, and a moving member. The small-diameter gear may include a first engaging portion positioned on at least a portion of a peripheral surface of the small-diameter gear. The large-diameter gear may be positioned farther from the outer surface than the small-diameter gear from the outer surface. The large-diameter gear may be rotatable together with the small-diameter gear. The first gear may include a second engaging portion, a first end surface, a second end surface, and at least one protrusion. The moving member may include a contact portion configured to move the moving member from one position to another position in a state where the contact portion is in contact with the protrusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuna TAGUCHI, Koji ABE, Motoaki MUSHIKA, Yasuo FUKAMACHI
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Publication number: 20190235439Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cover, is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a switching member. The switching member switches states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein the toner cartridge is restricted from being detached, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The process cartridge is movable between an attached position to be placed entirely inside the main body and a detached position to be entirely outside the main body. The main body includes a restrictor to restrict the process cartridge from moving from an intermediate position toward the detached position. While the process cartridge is restricted by the restrictor, a supportive part in the cover supports the process cartridge with the switching member being at least partly placed outside the main body.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo SATO, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Motoaki MUSHIKA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
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Publication number: 20190204776Abstract: A developer cartridge comprises a first gear. The first gear may include a first protrusion extending in a radial direction of the first gear. The first protrusion may be positioned at a circumference of a column of the first gear. The first protrusion may be spaced apart from a second end face opposite to a first end face facing an exterior surface of a casing configured to accommodate developer therein. The first protrusion may be further from the second end face than a large-diameter gear in an axial direction. A rotational circumference of the first protrusion defined by rotation of the first protrusion and a portion of the large-diameter gear are aligned in the axial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2019Publication date: July 4, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuna TAGUCHI, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Motoaki MUSHIKA
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Patent number: 10303110Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cover, is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a switching member. The switching member switches states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein the toner cartridge is restricted from being detached, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The process cartridge is movable between an attached position to be placed entirely inside the main body and a detached position to be entirely outside the main body. The main body includes a restrictor to restrict the process cartridge from moving from an intermediate position toward the detached position. While the process cartridge is restricted by the restrictor, a supportive part in the cover supports the process cartridge with the switching member being at least partly placed outside the main body.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2018Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo Sato, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Kazuna Taguchi
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Patent number: 10303113Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing including an outer surface, a small-diameter gear, a large-diameter gear, a first gear, and a moving member. The small-diameter gear may include a first engaging portion positioned on at least a portion of a peripheral surface of the small-diameter gear. The large-diameter gear may be positioned farther from the outer surface than the small-diameter gear from the outer surface. The large-diameter gear may be rotatable together with the small-diameter gear. The first gear may include a second engaging portion, a first end surface, a second end surface, and at least one protrusion. The moving member may include a contact portion configured to move the moving member from one position to another position in a state where the contact portion is in contact with the protrusion.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2018Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Koji Abe, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi
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Publication number: 20190121284Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main casing, a belt accommodated in the main casing, developing units arranged along the belt, a drawer configured to detachably support the developing units, the drawer configured to move to a position inside the main casing and to a position outside the main casing, and the drawer having a leading end and a trailing end in a pulling direction from the inside position to the outside position; and a guide configured to guide the drawer and to move between a first position and a second position when the drawer is at the inside position, the second position being farther from the belt than the first position from the belt. When the guide is at the second position, the guide is configured to be tilted downward relative to a horizontal direction such that the leading end is lower than the trailing end.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 10248074Abstract: A developer cartridge comprises a first gear. The first gear may include a first protrusion extending in a radial direction of the first gear. The first protrusion may be positioned at a circumference of a column of the first gear. The first protrusion may be spaced apart from a second end face opposite to a first end face facing an exterior surface of a casing configured to accommodate developer therein. The first protrusion may be further from the second end face than a large-diameter gear in an axial direction. A rotational circumference of the first protrusion defined by rotation of the first protrusion and a portion of the large-diameter gear are aligned in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika
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Publication number: 20190025753Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cover, is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a switching member. The switching member switches states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein the toner cartridge is restricted from being detached, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The process cartridge is movable between an attached position to be placed entirely inside the main body and a detached position to be entirely outside the main body. The main body includes a restrictor to restrict the process cartridge from moving from an intermediate position toward the detached position. While the process cartridge is restricted by the restrictor, a supportive part in the cover supports the process cartridge with the switching member being at least partly placed outside the main body.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo SATO, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Motoaki MUSHIKA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
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Patent number: 10175638Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main casing, a belt accommodated in the main casing, developing units arranged along the belt, a drawer configured to detachably support the developing units, the drawer configured to move to a position inside the main casing and to a position outside the main casing, and the drawer having a leading end and a trailing end in a pulling direction from the inside position to the outside position; and a guide configured to guide the drawer and to move between a first position and a second position when the drawer is at the inside position, the second position being farther from the belt than the first position from the belt. When the guide is at the second position, the guide is configured to be tilted downward relative to a horizontal direction such that the leading end is lower than the trailing end.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Motoaki Mushika, Shougo Sato
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Publication number: 20190004470Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing including an outer surface, a small-diameter gear, a large-diameter gear, a first gear, and a moving member. The small-diameter gear may include a first engaging portion positioned on at least a portion of a peripheral surface of the small-diameter gear. The large-diameter gear may be positioned farther from the outer surface than the small-diameter gear from the outer surface. The large-diameter gear may be rotatable together with the small-diameter gear. The first gear may include a second engaging portion, a first end surface, a second end surface, and at least one protrusion. The moving member may include a contact portion configured to move the moving member from one position to another position in a state where the contact portion is in contact with the protrusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuna TAGUCHI, Koji ABE, Motoaki MUSHIKA, Yasuo FUKAMACHI
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Patent number: 10108138Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cover, is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a switching member. The switching member switches states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein the toner cartridge is restricted from being detached, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The process cartridge is movable between an attached position to be placed entirely inside the main body and a detached position to be entirely outside the main body. The main body includes a restrictor to restrict the process cartridge from moving from an intermediate position toward the detached position. While the process cartridge is restricted by the restrictor, a supportive part in the cover supports the process cartridge with the switching member being at least partly placed outside the main body.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo Sato, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Kazuna Taguchi
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Publication number: 20180299825Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cartridge supporter is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge attachable to the drum cartridge; and a switching member switchable states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein detachment of the toner cartridge is restricted, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The cartridge supporter is movable between a first position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be placed entirely in an inner space in the main body on an inner side of the opening, and a second position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be at least partly placed outside the inner space. When the cartridge supporter is in the second position, the switching member is at least partly placed outside the inner space.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo SATO, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Motoaki MUSHIKA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
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Patent number: 10073409Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing including an outer surface, a small-diameter gear, a large-diameter gear, a first gear, and a moving member. The small-diameter gear may include a first engaging portion positioned on at least a portion of a peripheral surface of the small-diameter gear. The large-diameter gear may be positioned farther from the outer surface than the small-diameter gear from the outer surface. The large-diameter gear may be rotatable together with the small-diameter gear. The first gear may include a second engaging portion, a first end surface, a second end surface, and at least one protrusion. The moving member may include a contact portion configured to move the moving member from one position to another position in a state where the contact portion is in contact with the protrusion.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2017Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Koji Abe, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi
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Patent number: 10031474Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cartridge supporter is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge attachable to the drum cartridge; and a switching member switchable states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein detachment of the toner cartridge is restricted, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The cartridge supporter is movable between a first position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be placed entirely in an inner space in the main body on an inner side of the opening, and a second position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be at least partly placed outside the inner space. When the cartridge supporter is in the second position, the switching member is at least partly placed outside the inner space.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo Sato, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Kazuna Taguchi
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Publication number: 20180181054Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a developing roller extends in a first direction. A developing roller gear, a coupling, and first and second idle gears are positioned at an outer surface of a casing. An agitator gear has an end face in the first direction facing the outer surface. A first protrusion is positioned between the end face and the outer surface, and at a position outside of addendum circles of the developing roller gear, coupling, and first and second idle gears. The first protrusion is pivotally movable about an axis extending in the first direction between a first position and a second position. A first protruding portion has, at the first position, a first length in a second direction connecting the developing roller and the first protruding portion, and has, at the second position, a second length different from the first length in the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2018Publication date: June 28, 2018Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji ABE, Motoaki MUSHIKA, Kazuna TAGUCHI, Yasuo FUKAMACHI