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).

  • Patent number: 11281155
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Ryosuke Hayashi, Masaaki Furukawa, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11281159
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Atsushi Fukaya
  • Patent number: 11231181
    Abstract: A heating and hot-water supply apparatus shortens the time taken for hot-water supply to stabilize at a set temperature in response to a request for a hot-water supply operation during a heating operation. The apparatus performs, using a common heating medium heated by a heater, a heating operation by circulating the heating medium through a heating terminal, and a hot-water supply operation of heating service water through heat exchange with the heating medium circulated through a hot-water supply heat exchanger and supplying hot water. A distribution unit (three-way valve) changes a distribution ratio of the heating medium between the heating terminal and the hot-water supply heat exchanger. A controller controls an amount of heat generated by the heater for the heating operation or the hot-water supply operation, and stops heating with the heater when the temperature of the heating medium reaches a predetermined upper-limit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Rinnai Corporation
    Inventors: Yuya Miyazaki, Atsushi Fukaya
  • Patent number: 11226580
    Abstract: A photosensitive drum rotates about a first axis extending in a first direction. A photosensitive drum is located at one end portion of a housing in a second direction. A cleaning roller cleans a surface of the photosensitive drum. The cleaning roller rotates about a second axis extending in the first direction. A cleaning electrode is electrically connected to the cleaning roller. The cleaning electrode is located at an outer surface of the housing in the first direction. The cleaning electrode is located at a tip end of the one end portion of the housing in the second direction. The cleaning electrode includes a contact surface and a guide surface. The contact surface contacts an electrical contact to which a voltage is supplied. The contact surface is perpendicular to the first direction. The guide surface guides the electrical contact to the contact surface when the drum cartridge is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Hiroki Mori, Nao Itabashi, Tsubasa Kiriyama
  • Publication number: 20210382433
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi FUKAYA, Tomoya ICHIKAWA, Koji ABE, Naoya KAMIMURA
  • Publication number: 20210364946
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsubasa KIRIYAMA, Hiroki MORI, Nao ITABASHI, Atsushi FUKAYA
  • Publication number: 20210351684
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes: a rotating electric machine that has a winding; an inverter that has a series-connection body of an upper arm switch and a lower arm switch; and a capacitor that is connected in parallel to the series-connection body. The power conversion apparatus includes: a connection path that, in a first storage battery and a second storage battery that are connected in series, electrically connects the winding with both a negative-electrode side of the first storage battery and a positive-electrode side of the second storage battery; and a control unit that controls switching of the upper arm switch and the lower arm switch such that a current flows between the first storage battery and the second storage battery through the inverter, the winding, and the connection path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shusei NISHIMURA, Seiji IYASU, Hisashi UMEMOTO, Atsushi FUKAYA
  • Patent number: 11163262
    Abstract: A process cartridge, comprising: a drum cartridge; and a waste toner case, the drum cartridge comprising: a development roller; a first side wall to support one end of a shaft of the development roller; a second wall to support the other end of the shaft; a photosensitive drum; a cleaner; and a conveying tube, the conveying tube comprising: a first part disposed on an opposite side of the second side wall with respect to the first side wall in an axis direction, the first part being connected to the cleaner; a second part disposed closer to the second side wall relative to the first part and connected to the waste toner case; and a third part connecting the first part with the second part, wherein a direction in which the waste toner case is attached is equal to a direction in which the second part extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20210311430
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki MORI, Atsushi FUKAYA, Tsubasa KIRIYAMA, Nao ITABASHI
  • Patent number: 11099501
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsubasa Kiriyama, Hiroki Mori, Nao Itabashi, Atsushi Fukaya
  • Publication number: 20210255573
    Abstract: A photosensitive drum rotates about a first axis extending in a first direction. A photosensitive drum is located at one end portion of a housing in a second direction. A cleaning roller cleans a surface of the photosensitive drum. The cleaning roller rotates about a second axis extending in the first direction. A cleaning electrode is electrically connected to the cleaning roller. The cleaning electrode is located at an outer surface of the housing in the first direction. The cleaning electrode is located at a tip end of the one end portion of the housing in the second direction. The cleaning electrode includes a contact surface and a guide surface. The contact surface contacts an electrical contact to which a voltage is supplied. The contact surface is perpendicular to the first direction. The guide surface guides the electrical contact to the contact surface when the drum cartridge is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi FUKAYA, Hiroki MORI, Nao ITABASHI, Tsubasa KIRIYAMA
  • Patent number: 11073785
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Tomoya Ichikawa, Koji Abe, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11054787
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Mori, Atsushi Fukaya, Tsubasa Kiriyama, Nao Itabashi
  • Publication number: 20210088963
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Atsushi FUKAYA
  • Publication number: 20210063952
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki MORI, Atsushi FUKAYA, Tsubasa KIRIYAMA, Nao ITABASHI
  • Publication number: 20210063911
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsubasa KIRIYAMA, Hiroki MORI, Nao ITABASHI, Atsushi FUKAYA
  • Publication number: 20210048774
    Abstract: A process cartridge having a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge is provided. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaner, a conveyer tube, a developing roller, and a developing device. The toner cartridge is attachable to the drum cartridge and is located on a side of the developing roller opposite to the photosensitive drum in an attaching direction. The toner cartridge includes a waste toner container to store the toner conveyed through the conveyer tube and a toner container to store the toner to be supplied to the photosensitive drum. The toner container communicates with a developing chamber in the developing device and is located at least partly between the waste toner container and the developing chamber. The conveyer tube extends in the attaching direction and is arranged to overlap the photosensitive drum, the toner container, and the waste toner container in a view along an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Aya ADACHI, Atsushi FUKAYA
  • Publication number: 20210026294
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Ryosuke Hayashi, Masaaki Furukawa, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10884375
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Atsushi Fukaya
  • Publication number: 20200393791
    Abstract: A process cartridge, comprising: a drum cartridge; and a waste toner case, the drum cartridge comprising: a development roller; a first side wall to support one end of a shaft of the development roller; a second wall to support the other end of the shaft; a photosensitive drum; a cleaner; and a conveying tube, the conveying tube comprising: a first part disposed on an opposite side of the second side wall with respect to the first side wall in an axis direction, the first part being connected to the cleaner; a second part disposed closer to the second side wall relative to the first part and connected to the waste toner case; and a third part connecting the first part with the second part, wherein a direction in which the waste toner case is attached is equal to a direction in which the second part extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Shougo Sato