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).

  • Patent number: 9223287
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 9207632
    Abstract: A receiving member configured to receive a driving force from outside is mounted on a first side wall on an opposite side from a developer accommodating portion and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction. A rotating member is rotatably provided between the first and second side walls and configured to be rotated by the driving force received by the receiving member. A detection body is mounted on the second side wall on an opposite side from the developer accommodating portion and includes a detected part which is detected by a detecting unit. The detection body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the second side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the second side wall by the driving force received by the receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi, Masamitsu Ukai
  • Patent number: 9207567
    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: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Tsutomu Suzuki, Yasuo Fukamachi, Fumikazu Sato, Hikaru Yoshizumi, Takahiro Nishimoto
  • Publication number: 20150277356
    Abstract: A cartridge including a housing configured to accommodate therein developer, a driving receiving part configured to rotate by receiving a driving force, and a detected member configured to move in an axis direction parallel with a rotational axis of the driving receiving part by receiving a driving force from the driving receiving part, wherein the detected member is configured to perform a reciprocating movement, in which the detected member moves outward in the axis direction to be separated from the housing and then moves inward in the axis direction to come close to the housing, for a plurality of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Motoaki Mushika
  • Publication number: 20150277281
    Abstract: A cartridge including a housing configured to accommodate therein developer, a driving receiving part configured to rotate by receiving a driving force, a rotary member configured to rotate from a first position by receiving a driving force from the driving receiving part, and a detected member including a detected part and configured to move in an axis direction parallel with a rotational axis of the rotary member while being restrained from rotating, by receiving a driving force from the rotary member, wherein the detected member includes a first restraint part configured to restrain the rotation of the rotary member at the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9146491
    Abstract: There is provided a charging device including: a discharge electrode extending in a first direction; and a cleaning member configured to move in the first direction to clean the discharge electrode. The cleaning member includes a rigid member in contact with the discharge electrode, and a cushion member supporting the rigid member. The cushion member is positioned opposite to the discharge electrode with respect to the rigid member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikaru Yoshizumi, Koji Ogawa, Motoaki Mushika
  • Publication number: 20150185691
    Abstract: A receiving member configured to receive a driving force from outside is mounted on a first side wall on an opposite side from a developer accommodating portion and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction. A rotating member is rotatably provided between the first and second side walls and configured to be rotated by the driving force received by the receiving member. A detection body is mounted on the second side wall on an opposite side from the developer accommodating portion and includes a detected part which is detected by a detecting unit. The detection body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the second side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the second side wall by the driving force received by the receiving member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi, Masamitsu Ukai
  • Publication number: 20150104222
    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: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Tsutomu Suzuki, Yasuo Fukamachi, Fumikazu Sato, Hikaru Yoshizumi, Takahiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 8995846
    Abstract: A receiving member is configured to receive a driving force from outside, is mounted on a first side wall on an opposite side from a developer accommodating portion, and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction. A rotating member is rotatably provided between the first and second side walls, and configured to be rotated by the driving force received by the receiving member. A detection body is mounted on the second side wall on an opposite side from the developer accommodating portion and includes a detected part which is detected by a detecting unit. The detection body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the second side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the second side wall by the driving force received by the receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi, Masamitsu Ukai
  • Patent number: 8958707
    Abstract: A cartridge which may include a housing, a driving input member provided at the housing and configured to be rotated by an externally supplied rotation driving force, and a rotational member configured to receive the rotation driving force, which is transmitted from the driving input member, and be rotated thereby. The cartridge may also include a detection protrusion including an elastic body and which is disposed at a position away from a rotational center of the rotational member. The detection protrusion may protrude from the rotational member away from the housing. The cartridge may also include a cover attached to the housing, the cover having an opposite part that faces a portion of the rotational member from which the detection protrusion protrudes. At an initial position, which is a position before the rotational member is rotated, the detection protrusion may abut the opposite part of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Masamitsu Ukai
  • Publication number: 20150037068
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include: a process cartridge, an apparatus body and a spacing member. The process cartridge may be detachably mountable to the apparatus body and include a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive member, a developing unit having a developing roller, and a driving input part into which a driving force from the apparatus body is configured to be inputted. The apparatus body may include a driving input member which is configured to input the driving force. Additionally or alternatively, the spacing member may be attached to the process cartridge and configured to space the photosensitive member and the developing roller. The spacing member may include a first cover part which is located between the driving input part and the driving input member and covers at least a portion of the driving input part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Shota Shinoya, Motoaki Mushika
  • Patent number: 8948661
    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: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Tsutomu Suzuki, Yasuo Fukamachi, Fumikazu Sato, Hikaru Yoshizumi, Takahiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 8942596
    Abstract: In a transfer device, a flexible guide plate is disposed in a position upstream relative to a transfer position along a medium conveyance path, such that a first side of the guide plate faces to a recording medium being conveyed along the medium conveyance path. The guide plate has a downstream end portion that is angled by bending the guide plate. A support frame supports an upstream end portion of the guide plate and extends in a downstream direction beyond the downstream end portion to form an extension portion which is disposed opposite to a second side of the guide plate and toward which the downstream end portion extends obliquely downstream. The extension portion has a recess/hole formed in a position separated in an upstream direction from a first edge of the extension portion, to allow the downstream end portion to be moved without being blocked by the extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Deguchi, Keita Hironaka, Yusuke Ozaki, Motoaki Mushika, Hikaru Yoshizumi
  • Publication number: 20150003844
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus which includes a main body, a driving unit and a detecting unit, includes: a housing that is configured to accommodate a developer therein, and includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall in a longitudinal direction; a passive unit that is configured to receive a driving force from the driving unit, is mounted on the first side wall, and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction; and a detected body mounted on the first side wall and including a detected part which is detected by the detecting unit. The detected body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall by the driving force received by the passive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Masamitsu Ukai, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika
  • Publication number: 20140376960
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20140341617
    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: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Tsutomu Suzuki, Yasuo Fukamachi, Fumikazu Sato, Hikaru Yoshizumi, Takahiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 8886075
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a process cartridge, an apparatus body and a spacing member. The process cartridge may be detachably mountable to the apparatus body and include a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive member, a developing unit having a developing roller, and a driving input part into which a driving force from the apparatus body is configured to be inputted. The apparatus body may include a driving input member which is configured to input the driving force. Additionally or alternatively, the spacing member may be attached to the process cartridge and configured to space the photosensitive member and the developing roller. The spacing member may include a first cover part which is located between the driving input part and the driving input member and covers at least a portion of the driving input part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Shinoya, Motoaki Mushika
  • Patent number: 8867932
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus which includes a main body, a driving unit and a detecting unit, includes: a housing that is configured to accommodate a developer therein, and includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall in a longitudinal direction; a passive unit that is configured to receive a driving force from the driving unit, is mounted on the first side wall, and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction; and a detected body mounted on the first side wall and including a detected part which is detected by the detecting unit. The detected body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall by the driving force received by the passive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masamitsu Ukai, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika
  • Patent number: 8867981
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member configured to form a developer image thereon; a transfer member configured to transfer the developer image formed on the photosensitive member to a sheet; a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet toward and between the photosensitive member and the transfer member; and a charge removal member configured to remove charges on the conveyance roller. The conveyance roller is arranged to face a surface of the sheet to which the transfer member faces. The charge removal member is provided at a position at which the charge removal member is not in contact with the conveyance roller, within a range in which charges on the conveyance roller can be discharged toward the charge removal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Hironaka, Motoaki Mushika
  • Patent number: 8855543
    Abstract: In a transfer device, a first side of a flexible guide plate faces to a recording medium being conveyed along a medium conveyance path to guide the recording medium toward an image carrying member. A support frame supports an upstream end portion of the guide plate, and includes an opposite portion disposed from and opposite to a second side (reverse to the first side) of the guide plate and a rib configured to protrude from the opposite portion toward the medium conveyance path. The rib has a first edge which is positioned at an upstream side and beyond which the guide plate protrudes downstream. The rib has an inclined surface extending from the first edge in a direction obliquely downstream toward the image carrying member. The guide plate includes an indentation to allow the guide plate to be deflected without being blocked by the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Deguchi, Keita Hironaka, Yusuke Ozaki, Motoaki Mushika, Hikaru Yoshizumi