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).
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Patent number: 12529995Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 16, 2024Date of Patent: January 20, 2026Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Sato, Daisuke Maeta, Kazuna Taguchi
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Patent number: 12461484Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 29, 2024Date of Patent: November 4, 2025Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
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Publication number: 20250013190Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Inventors: Shougo SATO, Daisuke MAETA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
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Patent number: 12147188Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 6, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Sato, Daisuke Maeta, Kazuna Taguchi
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Patent number: 12138934Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Maeta, Masahiko Hayakawa, Shougo Sato
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Publication number: 20240272584Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2024Publication date: August 15, 2024Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke MAETA, Shougo SATO
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Patent number: 12007713Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 27, 2022Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KAUBSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
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Publication number: 20230315005Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Shougo SATO, Daisuke MAETA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
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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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Patent number: 11714380Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 1, 2022Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Sato, Daisuke Maeta, Kazuna Taguchi
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Publication number: 20230125715Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke MAETA, Shougo SATO
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Patent number: 11609534Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 11573522Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 1, 2022Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
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Publication number: 20230010953Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Inventors: Shougo SATO, Daisuke MAETA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
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Publication number: 20220410580Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke MAETA, Masahiko HAYAKAWA, Shougo SATO
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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: 11372366Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 17, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Sato, Daisuke Maeta
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Patent number: 11366422Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 10, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke Maeta, Shougo Sato
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Publication number: 20220183636Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke MAETA, Shougo SATO
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Publication number: 20210373490Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisuke MAETA, Shougo Sato