Patents by Inventor Hotaka Kakutani
Hotaka Kakutani 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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Publication number: 20240094659Abstract: A cartridge includes: a casing having a first opening; a storage bag accommodated in the casing and having a second opening; a seal for closing the second opening; a shaft rotatable; and a cap for closing the first opening. Toner is configured to be replenished through the first opening. Toner stored in the storage bag is configured to be discharged into the casing through the second opening. The shaft is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction together with the seal such that the seal closing the second opening is peeled off to open the second opening. The cap is attachable to and detachable from the casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nao ITABASHI, Masahiko HAYAKAWA, Sakiho HAYAKAWA, Hotaka KAKUTANI, Shintaro FUKUOKA, Haruka KIZU, Yuki NAGASHIMA
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Publication number: 20240061374Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing in which an exhaust port is formed, a fan, a duct extending in an exhausting direction and configured to accommodate the fan, the duct including a downstream end in the exhausting direction, and an exhaust filter disposed between the duct and the exhaust port in the exhausting direction, the exhaust filter including a first surface facing the exhaust port and a second surface facing the duct. Dimensions of the duct each orthogonal to the exhausting direction are smaller than dimensions of the exhaust filter each orthogonal to the exhausting directions. A perimeter of the downstream end of the duct in the exhausting direction is in contact with the second surface of the exhaust filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke ISHIZUKA, Takuya TSUJI, Yasuhiro SUZUKI, Kazuma HINOUE, Hotaka KAKUTANI, Masafumi INOUE, Haruka KIZU
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Publication number: 20230408954Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a magnetic roller; a transfer belt; a drum cleaning roller for collecting toner on the photosensitive drum and discharging collected toner to the photosensitive drum; a belt cleaner; a waste toner accommodating unit; and a controller configured to perform a printing operation for forming an image on a sheet and a cleaning operation for cleaning the drum cleaning roller. The controller is configured to perform: when performing the printing operation, collecting toner on the photosensitive drum using the drum cleaning roller; and when performing the cleaning operation, discharging the toner on the drum cleaning roller collected in the collecting to the photosensitive drum; transferring the toner on the photosensitive drum onto the transfer belt; and collecting the toner on the transfer belt using the belt cleaner so that the collected toner is accommodated in the waste toner accommodating unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshio FURUKAWA, Koji OGAWA, Fan XU, Kazuma HINOUE, Hotaka KAKUTANI, Shintaro FUKUOKA, Soun KANADA, Masahiko HAYAKAWA, Marika OZAKI, Masaki UEJI, Ayaka KOMORI, Enao YAMADA, Miho ISHIDA, Keigo NAKAJIMA, Shota IRIYAMA, Kengo YADA, Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO
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Patent number: 11415912Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a supply roller, a first agitator and a second agitator. The casing is configured to accommodate toner therein. The supply roller is configured to supply the toner to the developing roller. The first agitator is configured to agitate the toner in the casing. The second agitator is configured to agitate the toner in the casing. The second agitator is positioned between the first agitator and the supply roller. The second agitator includes a blade having a tip end configured to contact a peripheral surface of the supply roller.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hotaka Kakutani, Kazuaki Ooka, Kengo Yada, Ayaka Komori, Shota Iriyama, Keigo Nakajima, Junichi Hashimoto
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Patent number: 11392083Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge. The controller is configured to perform determining a value of a first initial developing bias for a first toner cartridge based on a cumulative number of drum rotations that is stored in a drum memory of the drum cartridge at the time when the cumulative dot count stored in the toner memory of the first toner cartridge is equal to zero. After determining the first initial developing bias, the controller is configured to perform determining a value of a second initial developing bias for a second toner cartridge based on the cumulative number of drum rotations that is stored in the drum memory at the time when the cumulative dot count stored in the toner memory of the second toner cartridge is equal to zero.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2021Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shunji Yoshimoto, Naoya Kamimura, Masashi Imai, Masaki Ueji, Keita Hironaka, Hotaka Kakutani
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Publication number: 20210255567Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a supply roller, a first agitator and a second agitator. The casing is configured to accommodate toner therein. The supply roller is configured to supply the toner to the developing roller. The first agitator is configured to agitate the toner in the casing. The second agitator is configured to agitate the toner in the casing. The second agitator is positioned between the first agitator and the supply roller. The second agitator includes a blade having a tip end configured to contact a peripheral surface of the supply roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hotaka KAKUTANI, Kazuaki OOKA, Kengo YADA, Ayaka KOMORI, Shota IRIYAMA, Keigo NAKAJIMA, Junichi HASHIMOTO
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Publication number: 20210141336Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge. The controller is configured to perform determining a value of a first initial developing bias for a first toner cartridge based on a cumulative number of drum rotations that is stored in a drum memory of the drum cartridge at the time when the cumulative dot count stored in the toner memory of the first toner cartridge is equal to zero. After determining the first initial developing bias, the controller is configured to perform determining a value of a second initial developing bias for a second toner cartridge based on the cumulative number of drum rotations that is stored in the drum memory at the time when the cumulative dot count stored in the toner memory of the second toner cartridge is equal to zero.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2021Publication date: May 13, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shunji YOSHIMOTO, Naoya KAMIMURA, Masashi IMAI, Masaki UEJI, Keita HIRONAKA, Hotaka KAKUTANI
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Patent number: 10915064Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge. The controller is configured to perform determining a value of a first initial developing bias for a first toner cartridge based on a cumulative number of drum rotations that is stored in a drum memory of the drum cartridge at the time when the cumulative dot count stored in the toner memory of the first toner cartridge is equal to zero. After determining the first initial developing bias, the controller is configured to perform determining a value of a second initial developing bias for a second toner cartridge based on the cumulative number of drum rotations that is stored in the drum memory at the time when the cumulative dot count stored in the toner memory of the second toner cartridge is equal to zero.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shunji Yoshimoto, Naoya Kamimura, Masashi Imai, Masaki Ueji, Keita Hironaka, Hotaka Kakutani
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Publication number: 20200310344Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge. The controller is configured to perform determining a value of a first initial developing bias for a first toner cartridge based on a cumulative number of drum rotations that is stored in a drum memory of the drum cartridge at the time when the cumulative dot count stored in the toner memory of the first toner cartridge is equal to zero. After determining the first initial developing bias, the controller is configured to perform determining a value of a second initial developing bias for a second toner cartridge based on the cumulative number of drum rotations that is stored in the drum memory at the time when the cumulative dot count stored in the toner memory of the second toner cartridge is equal to zero.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shunji YOSHIMOTO, Naoya KAMIMURA, Masashi IMAI, Masaki UEJI, Keita HIRONAKA, Hotaka KAKUTANI
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Patent number: 10691039Abstract: An image forming apparatus executes reverse charging, toner-supply suspension, second exposure, and second charging, while a photosensitive member rotates at least a full turn. In the reverse charging, a charger charges a portion of a circumferential surface of the photosensitive member to a specified polarity. In the toner-supply suspension, before the portion, which has been charged to the second polarity in the reverse charging, of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive member passes a position at which the developer from the developing unit is configured to initially adhered to the circumferential surface, a developing unit stops supplying developer to the circumferential surface. In the second exposure, an exposure device exposes the portion, which has been charged to the specified polarity in the reverse charging, of the circumferential surface. In the second charging the charger charges the portion, which has been exposed in the second exposure, of the circumferential surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shota Iriyama, Kazutoshi Kotama, Chieko Mimura, Kengo Yada, Hotaka Kakutani
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Patent number: 10488807Abstract: An image forming apparatus executes charging, exposure, toner-supply suspension, and electric-field generation while a photosensitive member rotates at least a full turn. In the charging, a charger charges a portion of a circumferential surface of the photosensitive member. In the exposure, an exposure device exposes the portion, which has been charged in the charging, of the circumferential surface. In the toner-supply suspension, before the portion, which has been exposed in the exposure, of the circumferential surface passes a position at which developer from a developing unit is configured to initially adhere to the circumferential surface, a developing unit stops supplying developer to the photosensitive member. In the electric-field generation, an electric field is generated in a portion of the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive member corresponding to the portion, which has been exposed by the exposure device, of the circumferential surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shota Iriyama, Kazutoshi Kotama, Chieko Mimura, Kengo Yada, Hotaka Kakutani
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Patent number: 10444657Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer-readable mediums are described for adjusting a charge voltage for a photosensitive member to account for accumulated charge quantity. In one example, currents related to charging a charger, which imparts a charge to a photosensitive member, are monitored. Based on the monitored currents, a new charging voltage may be determined and applied that accounts for accumulated charge quantity in the photosensitive member. A transfer current related to a transfer charge may also be monitored or a predetermined value used. The determination of the new charging voltage may be performed at various times.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kengo Yada, Hiroshige Hiramatsu, Shota Iriyama, Chieko Mimura, Hotaka Kakutani
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Patent number: 10437189Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with: an image forming unit having a photosensitive member, a charger, and a developer carrier, the image forming unit being configured to transfer the developer image to a recording sheet to form an image on the recording sheet; a motor configured to drive the photosensitive member and the developer carrier; a controller configured to control the motor and the charger, and a re-conveyance mechanism configured to reverse the recording sheet discharged from the image forming unit and to convey the recording sheet back towards the image forming unit. The controller is configured to turn off the charger after the motor is turned off, during a time period after the recording sheet is discharged from the image forming unit until the recording sheet is re-conveyed to the image forming unit by the re-conveyance mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kensuke Miyahara, Kunihiko Kondo, Hotaka Kakutani
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Publication number: 20190163085Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer-readable mediums are described for adjusting a charge voltage for a photosensitive member to account for accumulated charge quantity. In one example, currents related to charging a charger, which imparts a charge to a photosensitive member, are monitored. Based on the monitored currents, a new charging voltage may be determined and applied that accounts for accumulated charge quantity in the photosensitive member. A transfer current related to a transfer charge may also be monitored or a predetermined value used. The determination of the new charging voltage may be performed at various times.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2018Publication date: May 30, 2019Inventors: Kengo Yada, Hiroshige Hiramatsu, Shota Iriyama, Chieko Mimura, Hotaka Kakutani
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Patent number: 10289019Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to, in a case where a difference between a charging current flowing through a first charging roller and a charging current flowing through a second charging roller is larger than a first threshold value, perform first cleaning processing in which a cleaning ability of one cleaner of a first cleaner and a second cleaner, which corresponds to one of the first charging roller and the second charging roller, is lower than a cleaning ability of another cleaner of the first cleaner and the second cleaner, which corresponds to another of the first charging roller and the second charging roller, a charging current flowing through the one charging roller being larger than a charging current flowing through the other charging roller.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hotaka Kakutani, Kazutoshi Kotama, Chieko Mimura, Kengo Yada, Shota Iriyama
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Patent number: 10254678Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, the image bearing member has a surface and configured to rotate about an axis. The collection device is in contact with the surface, and configured to collect materials adhered to the surface. The developing roller is configured to provide a charged toner having a first polarity. The processor is configured to perform: executing a print job in a printing period; executing, in a non-printing period, a first process in which the image bearing member is rotated at least one rotation while a holding bias is applied to the collection device, the holding bias having a second polarity opposite to the first polarity; and executing, in a non-printing period after the first process, a second process in which the image bearing member is rotated while an ejection bias is applied to the collection device, the ejection bias having the first polarity.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuichi Matsushita, Hiroshige Hiramatsu, Chieko Mimura, Kengo Yada, Hotaka Kakutani, Shota Iriyama
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Patent number: 10248072Abstract: A cleaning roller includes a shaft and an elastic body. The shaft extends in an axial direction where a center axis of the shaft extends. The shaft defines a radial direction and has a circumferential surface. The elastic body is helically wound about the shaft and defines a helical direction. The elastic body has a widthwise dimension in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the helical direction and to the radial direction. The elastic body has a base end portion extending in the helical direction and a distal end portion extending in the helical direction. The base end portion is in contact with the circumferential surface and fixed thereto. The distal end portion has a sharp edge and is positioned farthest from the circumferential surface in the radial direction. The widthwise dimension is gradually reduced from the base end portion to the distal end portion in the radial direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2018Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kengo Yada, Keigo Nakajima, Yuichi Matsushita, Hotaka Kakutani, Shota Iriyama, Atsushi Ozawa
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Publication number: 20190004461Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to, in a case where a difference between a charging current flowing through a first charging roller and a charging current flowing through a second charging roller is larger a first threshold value, perform first cleaning processing in which a cleaning ability of one cleaner of a first cleaner and a second cleaner, which corresponds to one of the first charging roller and the second charging roller, is lower than a cleaning ability of another cleaner of the first cleaner and the second cleaner, which corresponds to another of the first charging roller and the second charging roller, a charging current flowing through the one charging roller being larger than a charging current flowing through the other charging roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Hotaka Kakutani, Kazutoshi Kotama, Chieko Mimura, Kengo Yada, Shota Iriyama
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Publication number: 20180299819Abstract: A cleaning roller includes a shaft and an elastic body. The shaft extends in an axial direction where a center axis of the shaft extends. The shaft defines a radial direction and has a circumferential surface. The elastic body is helically wound about the shaft and defines a helical direction. The elastic body has a widthwise dimension in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the helical direction and to the radial direction. The elastic body has a base end portion extending in the helical direction and a distal end portion extending in the helical direction. The base end portion is in contact with the circumferential surface and fixed thereto. The distal end portion has a sharp edge and is positioned farthest from the circumferential surface in the radial direction. The widthwise dimension is gradually reduced from the base end portion to the distal end portion in the radial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Kengo YADA, Keigo NAKAJIMA, Yuichi MATSUSHITA, Hotaka KAKUTANI, Shota IRIYAMA, Atsushi OZAWA
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Publication number: 20180284634Abstract: An image forming apparatus executes reverse charging, toner-supply suspension, second exposure, and second charging, while a photosensitive member rotates at least a full turn. In the reverse charging, a charger charges a portion of a circumferential surface of the photosensitive member to a specified polarity. In the toner-supply suspension, before the portion, which has been charged to the second polarity in the reverse charging, of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive member passes a position at which the developer from the developing unit is configured to initially adhered to the circumferential surface, a developing unit stops supplying developer to the circumferential surface. In the second exposure, an exposure device exposes the portion, which has been charged to the specified polarity in the reverse charging, of the circumferential surface. In the second charging the charger charges the portion, which has been exposed in the second exposure, of the circumferential surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Shota Iriyama, Kazutoshi Kotama, Chieko Mimura, Kengo Yada, Hotaka Kakutani