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: 10452022
    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: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20190196391
    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: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Aya ADACHI, Atsushi FUKAYA
  • Publication number: 20190121288
    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: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Ryosuke Hayashi, Masaaki Furukawa, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10254705
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Hideshi Nishiyama, Aya Adachi, Atsushi Fukaya
  • Publication number: 20190094797
    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: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10197969
    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: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Ryosuke Hayashi, Masaaki Furukawa, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 10168663
    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: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20180364638
    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: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Ryosuke Hayashi, Masaaki Furukawa, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20180356765
    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: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Atsushi FUKAYA
  • Patent number: 10082765
    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: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Ryosuke Hayashi, Masaaki Furukawa, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20180267459
    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: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Aya ADACHI, Atsushi FUKAYA
  • Patent number: 10067468
    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: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Atsushi Fukaya
  • Publication number: 20180107153
    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: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Atsushi FUKAYA
  • Publication number: 20170285568
    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: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Ryosuke Hayashi, Masaaki Furukawa, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20170285567
    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: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Aya Adachi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 9507315
    Abstract: A developing cartridge mountable in a main casing of an image forming apparatus in a mounting direction includes: a supply roller; a casing; a supply electrode; and a first protecting portion. The supply roller rotates about an axis extending in a first direction orthogonal to the mounting direction. The casing includes first and second wall portions orthogonal to the first direction. The supply electrode is electrically connected to the supply roller and disposed adjacent to the second wall portion in the first direction. The first protecting portion protects the supply electrode and is disposed downstream of the supply electrode in the mounting direction. The first protecting portion has a sloped surface having a first end and a second end upstream of the first end in the mounting direction. The sloped surface slopes away from the second wall portion in the first direction toward the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Iriyama, Soun Kanada, Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya
  • Patent number: 9417558
    Abstract: A development cartridge including a housing, a developer carrying body rotating around a first axis along a first direction, a supply member rotating around a second axis along the first direction, a first gear connected with the developer carrying body, a second gear connected with the supply member, and a gear cover covering the first gear and the second gear, the gear cover including a first cover portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second cover portion connected with the first cover portion, the second cover portion extending in the first direction, the second cover portion having an opening through which a part of the second gear protrudes from the second cover portion and is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya, Soun Kanada, Hirofumi Kuriki, Hiroya Fukuta
  • Publication number: 20160154339
    Abstract: A development cartridge including a housing, a developer carrying body rotating around a first axis along a first direction, a supply member rotating around a second axis along the first direction, a first gear connected with the developer carrying body, a second gear connected with the supply member, and a gear cover covering the first gear and the second gear, the gear cover including a first cover portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second cover portion connected with the first cover portion, the second cover portion extending in the first direction, the second cover portion having an opening through which a part of the second gear protrudes from the second cover portion and is exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya, Soun Kanada, Hirofumi Kuriki, Hiroya Fukuta
  • Patent number: 9256195
    Abstract: A development cartridge including a housing, a developer carrying body rotating around a first axis along a first direction, a supply member rotating around a second axis along the first direction, a first gear connected with the developer carrying body, a second gear connected with the supply member, and a gear cover covering the first gear and the second gear, the gear cover including a first cover portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second cover portion connected with the first cover portion, the second cover portion extending in the first direction, the second cover portion having an opening through which a part of the second gear protrudes from the second cover portion and is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya, Soun Kanada, Hirofumi Kuriki, Hiroya Fukuta
  • Patent number: D849131
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Naoya Kamimura, Koji Abe, Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu, Shinya Kusuda, Atsushi Fukaya, Tomoya Ichikawa