Patents by Inventor Daisuke MAETA

Daisuke MAETA 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: 12529995
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body casing having an opening; a cover movable between a closing position to close the opening and an opening position to open the opening; and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body casing through the opening while the cover is at the opening position. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing device; a toner receiving part; and a toner conveying part. The toner receiving part has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion has a receiving opening for receiving toner. When the cover is at the closing position and the process cartridge is in the attached state, the first end portion is outside the main body casing while the second end portion is inside the main body casing. The toner conveying part conveys toner in the toner receiving part to the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Daisuke Maeta, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 12461484
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. A toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20250013190
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body casing having an opening; a cover movable between a closing position to close the opening and an opening position to open the opening; and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body casing through the opening while the cover is at the opening position. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing device; a toner receiving part; and a toner conveying part. The toner receiving part has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion has a receiving opening for receiving toner. When the cover is at the closing position and the process cartridge is in the attached state, the first end portion is outside the main body casing while the second end portion is inside the main body casing. The toner conveying part conveys toner in the toner receiving part to the developing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Daisuke MAETA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 12147188
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body casing having an opening; a cover movable between a closing position to close the opening and an opening position to open the opening; and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body casing through the opening while the cover is at the opening position. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing device; a toner receiving part; and a toner conveying part. The toner receiving part has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion has a receiving opening for receiving toner. When the cover is at the closing position and the process cartridge is in the attached state, the first end portion is outside the main body casing while the second end portion is inside the main body casing. The toner conveying part conveys toner in the toner receiving part to the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Daisuke Maeta, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 12138934
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit and a supplier having a first supply port though which a first consumable item is supplied to a first accommodating portion and a second supply port through which a second consumable item is supplied to a second accommodating portion, and a guide. The image forming system further includes a first bottle including a first connector having a first outlet port connectable to the supplier and a first guided portion configured to be guided by the guide in a state in which the first connector is attached to the supplier, and a second bottle including a second connector having a second outlet port connectable to the supplier and a second guided portion configured to be guided by the guide in a state in which the second connector is attached to the supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Maeta, Masahiko Hayakawa, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20240272584
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. A toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke MAETA, Shougo SATO
  • Patent number: 12007713
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. A toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KAUBSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20230315005
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body casing having an opening; a cover movable between a closing position to close the opening and an opening position to open the opening; and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body casing through the opening while the cover is at the opening position. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing device; a toner receiving part; and a toner conveying part. The toner receiving part has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion has a receiving opening for receiving toner. When the cover is at the closing position and the process cartridge is in the attached state, the first end portion is outside the main body casing while the second end portion is inside the main body casing. The toner conveying part conveys toner in the toner receiving part to the developing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Daisuke MAETA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11720049
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Atsushi Fukaya, Naoya Kamimura, Daisuke Maeta, Keigo Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11714380
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body casing having an opening; a cover movable between a closing position to close the opening and an opening position to open the opening; and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body casing through the opening while the cover is at the opening position. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing device; a toner receiving part; and a toner conveying part. The toner receiving part has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion has a receiving opening for receiving toner. When the cover is at the closing position and the process cartridge is in the attached state, the first end portion is outside the main body casing while the second end portion is inside the main body casing. The toner conveying part conveys toner in the toner receiving part to the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Daisuke Maeta, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20230125715
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. A toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke MAETA, Shougo SATO
  • Patent number: 11609534
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drawer movable in a first direction relative to the main casing; a process cartridge detachably mountable on the drawer; and a toner cartridge. The drawer includes a first drawer side plate and a second drawer side plate spaced apart from each other in a second direction crossing the first direction. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in the second direction when the process cartridge is mounted on the drawer; and a developing device for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum. When the process cartridge is mounted on the drawer and the toner cartridge is attached to the process cartridge, the toner cartridge has a length in the second direction greater than a distance in the second direction between the first drawer side plate and the second drawer side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11573522
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. The toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20230010953
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body casing having an opening; a cover movable between a closing position to close the opening and an opening position to open the opening; and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body casing through the opening while the cover is at the opening position. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing device; a toner receiving part; and a toner conveying part. The toner receiving part has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion has a receiving opening for receiving toner. When the cover is at the closing position and the process cartridge is in the attached state, the first end portion is outside the main body casing while the second end portion is inside the main body casing. The toner conveying part conveys toner in the toner receiving part to the developing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Daisuke MAETA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20220410580
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit and a supplier having a first supply port though which a first consumable item is supplied to a first accommodating portion and a second supply port through which a second consumable item is supplied to a second accommodating portion, and a guide. The image forming system further includes a first bottle including a first connector having a first outlet port connectable to the supplier and a first guided portion configured to be guided by the guide in a state in which the first connector is attached to the supplier, and a second bottle including a second connector having a second outlet port connectable to the supplier and a second guided portion configured to be guided by the guide in a state in which the second connector is attached to the supplier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke MAETA, Masahiko HAYAKAWA, Shougo SATO
  • Publication number: 20220404759
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao ITABASHI, Atsushi FUKAYA, Naoya KAMIMURA, Daisuke MAETA, Keigo NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 11372366
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drawer movable in a first direction relative to the main casing; a process cartridge detachably mountable on the drawer; and a toner cartridge detachably mountable on the drawer. The drawer is movable between: an inner position where the drawer is accommodated in the main casing; and an outer position where a part of the drawer is located outside the main casing. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a second direction crossing the first direction when the process cartridge is mounted on the drawer; and a developing device configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum. The toner cartridge is configured to store the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Daisuke Maeta
  • Patent number: 11366422
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. The toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20220183636
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. The toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke MAETA, Shougo SATO
  • Publication number: 20210373490
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drawer movable in a first direction relative to the main casing; a process cartridge detachably mountable on the drawer; and a toner cartridge. The drawer includes a first drawer side plate and a second drawer side plate spaced apart from each other in a second direction crossing the first direction. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in the second direction when the process cartridge is mounted on the drawer; and a developing device for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum. When the process cartridge is mounted on the drawer and the toner cartridge is attached to the process cartridge, the toner cartridge has a length in the second direction greater than a distance in the second direction between the first drawer side plate and the second drawer side plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke MAETA, Shougo Sato