Patents by Inventor Atsushi Fukaya
Atsushi Fukaya 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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Patent number: 12072665Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a drum frame; a drum coupling; and an electrical contact surface. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum frame has one end portion in a second direction at which the photosensitive drum is positioned. The drum coupling is rotatable together with the photosensitive drum. The drum coupling is positioned at an outer surface of one side in the first direction of the drum frame. The electrical contact surface is positioned closer to another side in the second direction of the drum frame than the drum coupling is to the another side in the second direction of the drum frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Mori, Atsushi Fukaya, Tsubasa Kiriyama, Nao Itabashi
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Patent number: 12074538Abstract: A power converter includes a connection path electrically connecting a negative side of a first rechargeable battery, a positive side of a second rechargeable battery electrically connected in series with the first rechargeable battery, and a neutral point of windings of a rotating electric machine. The power converter further includes a control unit configured to perform switching control of an upper-arm switch and a lower-arm switch for each phase in order to transfer energy between the first and second rechargeable batteries by conducting current between the first and second rechargeable batteries via an inverter, the windings, and the connection path.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Seiji Iyasu, Syusei Nishimura, Atsushi Fukaya
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Publication number: 20240272578Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a drum frame; a drum coupling; and an electrical contact surface. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum frame has one end portion in a second direction at which the photosensitive drum is positioned. The drum coupling is rotatable together with the photosensitive drum. The drum coupling is positioned at an outer surface of one side in the first direction of the drum frame. The electrical contact surface is positioned closer to another side in the second direction of the drum frame than the drum coupling is to the another side in the second direction of the drum frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2024Publication date: August 15, 2024Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki MORI, Atsushi FUKAYA, Tsubasa KIRIYAMA, Nao ITABASHI
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Patent number: 11947307Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a drum frame; a drum coupling; and an electrical contact surface. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum frame has one end portion in a second direction at which the photosensitive drum is positioned. The drum coupling is rotatable together with the photosensitive drum. The drum coupling is positioned at an outer surface of one side in the first direction of the drum frame. The electrical contact surface is positioned closer to another side in the second direction of the drum frame than the drum coupling is to the another side in the second direction of the drum frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Mori, Atsushi Fukaya, Tsubasa Kiriyama, Nao Itabashi
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Patent number: 11916502Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus includes a rotating electric machine including armature windings, a first inverter connecting the armature windings with a first storage battery, a second inverter connecting the armature windings with a second storage battery, a changeover switch configured to connect or disconnect between first and second positive buses or between first and second negative buses, and an operating unit configured to perform, with the changeover switch being in an ON state, first and second energization processes alternately. In the first energization process, electric current is supplied from the first storage battery to the second storage battery via the first inverter, at least one of the armature windings and the second inverter. In the second energization process, electric current is supplied from the second storage battery to the first storage battery via the second inverter, at least one of the armature windings and the first inverter.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsutaka Ito, Atsushi Fukaya, Hisashi Umemoto
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Publication number: 20230350342Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a casing, a toner cartridge, and a process cartridge, is provided. The toner cartridge detachably attached to the casing stores toner therein. The process cartridge detachably attached to the casing includes a developing unit and a drum unit. The developing unit includes a developer roller and a toner conveyer tube. The toner conveyer tube has a first opening, through which the toner from the toner cartridge is acceptable into the toner conveyer tube while the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the casing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum supporting the toner conveyer tube by contacting a circumferential surface of the toner conveyer tube. The developing unit is pivotable with respect to the drum unit with the toner conveyer tube and the drum unit being slidable on each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo SATO, Atsushi FUKAYA
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Publication number: 20230341810Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing configured to accommodate therein toner; a developing roller; a supply roller configured to supply the toner to the developing roller; a layer thickness regulation blade in contact with a circumferential surface of the developing roller; a developing electrode electrically connected to the developing roller; and a supply electrode electrically connected to the supply roller and the layer thickness regulation blade. The supply electrode includes: an electrode member electrically connected to a rotation shaft of the supply roller and movable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft; and a connection member in contact with and electrically connecting the electrode member and the layer thickness regulation blade. The electrode member is movable relative to the connection member in the direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft in a state where the electrode member is in contact with the connection member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Atsushi FUKAYA, Tomoya ICHIKAWA, Koji ABE, Naoya KAMIMURA
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Patent number: 11733643Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing configured to accommodate therein toner; a developing roller; a supply roller configured to supply the toner to the developing roller; a layer thickness regulation blade in contact with a circumferential surface of the developing roller; a developing electrode electrically connected to the developing roller; and a supply electrode electrically connected to the supply roller and the layer thickness regulation blade. The supply electrode includes: an electrode member electrically connected to a rotation shaft of the supply roller and movable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft; and a connection member in contact with and electrically connecting the electrode member and the layer thickness regulation blade. The electrode member is movable relative to the connection member in the direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft in a state where the electrode member is in contact with the connection member.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Tomoya Ichikawa, Koji Abe, Naoya Kamimura
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Patent number: 11726429Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a toner cartridge, and a process cartridge. The toner cartridge detachably attached to the casing stores toner therein. The process cartridge detachably attached to the casing includes a developing unit and a drum unit. The developing unit includes a developer roller and a toner conveyer tube. The toner conveyer tube has a first opening, through which the toner from the toner cartridge is acceptable into the toner conveyer tube while the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the casing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum supporting the toner conveyer tube by contacting a circumferential surface of the toner conveyer tube. The developing unit is pivotable with respect to the drum unit with the toner conveyer tube and the drum unit being slidable on each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo Sato, Atsushi Fukaya
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Patent number: 11720049Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a casing; a first cam and a first gear rotatable together relative to the casing about a first axis extending in the first direction; and a second cam and a second gear rotatable together relative to the casing about a second axis extending in the first direction. The second gear contacts the first gear. When the developing cartridge is attached to a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum: at a first position of the first cam, the second cam is at a third position and the developing roller and the photosensitive drum contact each other; and at a second position of the first cam, the second cam is at a fourth position and contacts a part of the drum cartridge to move the developing cartridge to separate the developing roller from the photosensitive drum.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nao Itabashi, Atsushi Fukaya, Naoya Kamimura, Daisuke Maeta, Keigo Nakajima
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Publication number: 20230086550Abstract: The present disclosure includes an inverter connected to a power supply unit via a positive electrode side electrical path and a negative electrode side electrical path and including switching elements, a rotary electric machine including windings connected to each other at a neutral point and inputting and outputting power from and to the power supply unit via the inverter, a connection path electrically connecting an intermediate point between the storage batteries of the power supply unit to the neutral point of the windings, and a device including a first terminal and a second terminal enabling energization between the power supply unit and the device. The first terminal is connected to the connection path, and the second terminal is connected to at least one of the positive electrode side electrical path and the negative electrode side electrical path.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Masaki UCHIYAMA, Daisuke KURODA, Atsushi FUKAYA, Keiya TANI
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Publication number: 20220404759Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a casing; a first cam and a first gear rotatable together relative to the casing about a first axis extending in the first direction; and a second cam and a second gear rotatable together relative to the casing about a second axis extending in the first direction. The second gear contacts the first gear. When the developing cartridge is attached to a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum: at a first position of the first cam, the second cam is at a third position and the developing roller and the photosensitive drum contact each other; and at a second position of the first cam, the second cam is at a fourth position and contacts a part of the drum cartridge to move the developing cartridge to separate the developing roller from the photosensitive drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nao ITABASHI, Atsushi FUKAYA, Naoya KAMIMURA, Daisuke MAETA, Keigo NAKAJIMA
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Patent number: 11531298Abstract: A process cartridge including a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a waste toner container, is provided. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum including a photosensitive layer and a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, a drum cleaner arranged to contact the photosensitive drum, a cleaner frame configured to accommodate the drum cleaner therein, and a waste toner conveyer tube connected with the cleaner frame. The developing cartridge is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge and includes a developer roller. The waste toner container is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge. When the developing cartridge and the waste toner container are attached to the drum cartridge, the waste toner container is connected with the waste toner conveyer tube and is located on an opposite side of the developing cartridge to the photosensitive drum.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2022Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Ryosuke Hayashi, Masaaki Furukawa, Shougo Sato
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Publication number: 20220365478Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a drum frame; a drum coupling; and an electrical contact surface. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum frame has one end portion in a second direction at which the photosensitive drum is positioned. The drum coupling is rotatable together with the photosensitive drum. The drum coupling is positioned at an outer surface of one side in the first direction of the drum frame. The electrical contact surface is positioned closer to another side in the second direction of the drum frame than the drum coupling is to the another side in the second direction of the drum frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki MORI, Atsushi FUKAYA, Tsubasa KIRIYAMA, Nao ITABASHI
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Patent number: 11454899Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a holder, a toner memory, an electrical contact and a wiring. The holder is positioned at an outer surface of one side in a first direction of the casing. The electric contact surface is positioned at an outer surface of one side in a second direction of the holder. The second direction crosses the electric contact surface. The electrical contact is positioned on an outer surface of another side in the second direction of the holder. The wiring electrically connects the electrical contact and the electric contact surface. The electric contact surface includes a first electric contact surface and a second electric contact surface. The first electric contact surface electrically is connected to the electrical contact through the wiring. The second electric contact surface electrically is connected to the toner memory.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2021Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tsubasa Kiriyama, Hiroki Mori, Nao Itabashi, Atsushi Fukaya
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Patent number: 11442398Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a drum frame; a drum coupling; and an electrical contact surface. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The drum frame has one end portion in a second direction at which the photosensitive drum is positioned. The drum coupling is rotatable together with the photosensitive drum. The drum coupling is positioned at an outer surface of one side in the first direction of the drum frame. The electrical contact surface is positioned closer to another side in the second direction of the drum frame than the drum coupling is to the another side in the second direction of the drum frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2021Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroki Mori, Atsushi Fukaya, Tsubasa Kiriyama, Nao Itabashi
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Publication number: 20220231619Abstract: A power converter includes a connection path electrically connecting a negative side of a first rechargeable battery, a positive side of a second rechargeable battery electrically connected in series with the first rechargeable battery, and a neutral point of windings of a rotating electric machine. The power converter further includes a control unit configured to perform switching control of an upper-arm switch and a lower-arm switch for each phase in order to transfer energy between the first and second rechargeable batteries by conducting current between the first and second rechargeable batteries via an inverter, the windings, and the connection path.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Seiji IYASU, Syusei NISHIMURA, Atsushi FUKAYA
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Publication number: 20220179358Abstract: A process cartridge including a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a waste toner container, is provided. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum including a photosensitive layer and a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, a drum cleaner arranged to contact the photosensitive drum, a cleaner frame configured to accommodate the drum cleaner therein, and a waste toner conveyer tube connected with the cleaner frame. The developing cartridge is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge and includes a developer roller. The waste toner container is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge. When the developing cartridge and the waste toner container are attached to the drum cartridge, the waste toner container is connected with the waste toner conveyer tube and is located on an opposite side of the developing cartridge to the photosensitive drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2022Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Ryosuke Hayashi, Masaaki Furukawa, Shougo Sato
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Publication number: 20220155721Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a casing, a toner cartridge, and a process cartridge, is provided. The toner cartridge detachably attached to the casing stores toner therein. The process cartridge detachably attached to the casing includes a developing unit and a drum unit. The developing unit includes a developer roller and a toner conveyer tube. The toner conveyer tube has a first opening, through which the toner from the toner cartridge is acceptable into the toner conveyer tube while the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the casing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum supporting the toner conveyer tube by contacting a circumferential surface of the toner conveyer tube. The developing unit is pivotable with respect to the drum unit with the toner conveyer tube and the drum unit being slidable on each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2022Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shougo SATO, Atsushi FUKAYA
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Patent number: 11320154Abstract: The present invention improves the user-friendliness of a hot-water supply apparatus when using hot water supply and air conditioning. A switching control unit 27, which switches between heat medium flow paths 4 and 5 according to an air conditioning ready state or a hot-water supply ready state, switches a heat medium flow path to the hot-water supply ready state by a switching valve 21 in the case where air conditioning is not used by the time an air conditioning standby time elapses during standby in the air conditioning ready state.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: RINNAI CORPORATIONInventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Shigeki Takeuchi