Patents by Inventor Hideshi Nishiyama

Hideshi Nishiyama 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).

  • Publication number: 20240111239
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge; and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction; and a first memory having a first electrical contact surface. The developing cartridge is attachable to the drum frame and includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction; a second memory having a second electrical contact surface; and a developing holder holding the second electrical contact surface such that the second electrical contact surface is movable relative to the casing. The drum cartridge further includes an elastic member that can expand and contract in a second direction crossing the first direction. The developing holder is connected to the elastic member and is movable in the second direction in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Shinya KUSUDA, Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Junya SUMIDA, Hideshi NISHIYAMA
  • Patent number: 11947277
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge. The main body casing has an opening and a slot extending in from the opening toward an inside of the main body casing along a first direction. The drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the slot. The main body casing includes a drum guide groove configured to guide movement of the drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a drum protrusion configured to be engaged with the drum guide groove. A width of the drum guide groove in the second direction is decreased toward the inside of the main body casing from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20240103431
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge; a developing cartridge; and a plate. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum; a first holder; and a first memory having a first electrical contact surface that is movably supported by the first holder. The developing cartridge is attachable to the drum frame. The developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a second holder; and a second memory having a second electrical contact surface that is movably supported by the second holder. The plate connects the first holder and the second holder to each other in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame. The second holder moves together with the plate in accordance with movement of the first holder in a state where the plate connects the first holder and the second holder to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Junya SUMIDA, Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Shinya KUSUDA
  • Patent number: 11940743
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a shutter that opens and closes when the cartridge is attached and detached to a developing unit or image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a casing having a chamber with a first opening at one end portion allowing toner to flow out of the casing. The cartridge includes a cover that covers the first opening, movable with the casing and having a second opening allowing toner to flow out of the cover. The shutter is located at the one end portion and has a protrusion further from the one end portion than the cover. The developing unit supports the protrusion when the cartridge is mounted thereon, and the casing pivots with the cover relative to the developing unit between a first position where the shutter closes the second opening and a second position where a third opening of the shutter overlaps the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11886129
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a developing cartridge; a transfer unit; a solvent cartridge accommodating solvent for dissolving toner; an applicator applying the solvent to the toner on a sheet; and a cover movable between an open position and a closed position. The developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are detachably attachable to the main casing independently of each other. The developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are positioned between the applicator and the cover in a second direction crossing the first direction, and the solvent cartridge is positioned closer to the applicator than the developing cartridge is to the applicator in a state where the developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are attached to the main casing and the cover is at the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Satoshi Murata, Masataka Kamiya, Masaaki Furukawa, Yasuo Fukamachi, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu, Keita Hironaka, Mariko Mogi, Naoya Kamimura, Kazuma Hinoue, Kouichi Sugimoto, Shinya Kusuda, Shunji Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 11886138
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing including an image forming unit and a discharge tray, and an optional device configured to be removably attached to the main casing. The main casing includes a conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed from the image forming unit, a discharge path through which the sheet is conveyed toward one of the discharge tray and the optional device, the discharge path diverging from the conveying path, and a return path including a first path through which the sheet is conveyed temporarily out of the main casing via an opening formed in the main casing, and a second path through which the sheet is conveyed toward the image forming unit. The first path diverges from the conveying path. The second path diverges from the first path. The optional device is disposed closer to the discharge tray than the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Yusuke Ikegami
  • Publication number: 20240004343
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11846896
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a casing extending in a first direction; a toner conveying unit; a first cover; a shutter; a memory; and an electrical contact surface electrically connected to the memory. The casing includes a first toner accommodating portion having an opening. The first cover and the shutter are positioned at one end portion of the first toner accommodating portion in the first direction. The first cover has a discharge opening. The shutter has a shutter opening and a first protrusion extending in the first direction and positioned farther from the one end portion of the first toner accommodating portion than the first cover is in the first direction. When the toner cartridge is mounted to a developing device, the first protrusion is fixed in position relative to the developing device and the casing is pivotable together with the first cover relative to the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Furukawa, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20230393521
    Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a first supporting member is attached to a housing and has a first developing supporting portion and a driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion, the first developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a first part of a rotational shaft, the driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a driving-force-receiving member. The second supporting member is attached to the housing and has a second developing supporting portion and a detection-rotational-body supporting portion, the second developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a second part of the rotational shaft, the detection-rotational-body supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a detection rotational body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20230297007
    Abstract: Toner cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, an auger, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The housing includes a first toner accommodating portion having and a second toner accommodating portion. The auger is rotatable about a second axis extending in a first direction and is configured to convey toner from a first toner accommodating portion to the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion is positioned at a first side of the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion extends in the first direction. The second protrusion is positioned at a second side of the second toner accommodating portion and extends in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11747765
    Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a first supporting member is attached to a housing and has a first developing supporting portion and a driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion, the first developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a first part of a rotational shaft, the driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a driving-force-receiving member. The second supporting member is attached to the housing and has a second developing supporting portion and a detection-rotational-body supporting portion, the second developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a second part of the rotational shaft, the detection-rotational-body supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a detection rotational body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 11733646
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20230251591
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a casing having a first toner accommodating portion and a second toner accommodating portion; an agitator; an auger; a first protrusion positioned at one side in a first direction of the second toner accommodating portion; a second protrusion positioned at another side in the first direction of the second accommodating portion; a memory; and a toner-side electrical contact surface electrically connected to the memory. The toner cartridge is attachable to a drum cartridge by the casing pivotally moving from a first position to a second position relative to the drum cartridge about the first protrusion and the second protrusion. When the casing is at the first position, the toner-side electrical contact surface does not contact a first electrical contact surface of the drum cartridge. When the casing is at the second position, the toner-side electrical contact surface contacts the first electrical contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya KAMIMURA, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Masaaki FURUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230213885
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a cover, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, an intermediate transfer belt and a movable cam. The movable cam is movable among a first position when the cover is in the open position, a second positon and a third position when the cover is in the closed position. In a case where the movable cam is in the first position, the photosensitive drum is in a first drum position spaced from the intermediate transfer belt, and the developing roller is in a first developing position spaced from the photosensitive drum. In a case where the movable cam is in the second position, the photosensitive drum is positioned toward the the intermediate transfer belt from the first drum position. In a case where the cam is in the third position, the developing roller is positioned toward the photosensitive drum from the first developing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Ishizuka, Atsushi Ozawa, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20230195008
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a shutter that opens and closes when the cartridge is attached and detached to a developing unit or image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a casing having a chamber with a first opening at one end portion allowing toner to flow out of the casing. The cartridge includes a cover that covers the first opening, movable with the casing and having a second opening allowing toner to flow out of the cover. The shutter is located at the one end portion and has a protrusion further from the one end portion than the cover. The developing unit supports the protrusion when the cartridge is mounted thereon, and the casing pivots with the cover relative to the developing unit between a first position where the shutter closes the second opening and a second position where a third opening of the shutter overlaps the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20230176499
    Abstract: A developer cartridge may include: a first gear having a small-diameter gear portion and a large-diameter gear portion; and a second gear including: a first columnar portion centered on a second axis; a second columnar portion having a smaller diameter than the first columnar portion; a first engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the first columnar portion and engageable with the small-diameter gear portion; a second engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the second columnar portion and positioned closer to a housing than the first engagement portion in an axial direction and engageable with the large-diameter gear portion; and a protruding portion protruding in the axial direction and rotatable together with the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion. The second engagement portion may engage the large-diameter gear portion after the first engagement portion engages the small-diameter gear portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Takashi Shimizu, Hideshi Nishiyama, Naoya Kamimura, Tomonori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11669043
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11650520
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a casing having a first toner accommodating portion and a second toner accommodating portion; an agitator; an auger; a first protrusion positioned at one side in a first direction of the second toner accommodating portion; a second protrusion positioned at another side in the first direction of the second accommodating portion; a memory; and a toner-side electrical contact surface electrically connected to the memory. The toner cartridge is attachable to a drum cartridge by the casing pivotally moving from a first position to a second position relative to the drum cartridge about the first protrusion and the second protrusion. When the casing is at the first position, the toner-side electrical contact surface does not contact a first electrical contact surface of the drum cartridge. When the casing is at the second position, the toner-side electrical contact surface contacts the first electrical contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Hideshi Nishiyama, Masaaki Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11644790
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11635707
    Abstract: Toner cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, an auger, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The housing includes a first toner accommodating portion having and a second toner accommodating portion. The auger is rotatable about a second axis extending in a first direction and is configured to convey toner from a first toner accommodating portion to the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion is positioned at a first side of the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion extends in the first direction. The second protrusion is positioned at a second side of the second toner accommodating portion and extends in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu