Patents by Inventor Junichi Hashimoto

Junichi Hashimoto 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: 12656728
    Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction. A frame includes a first side plate located at first end in the first direction and a second side plate spaced from the first side plate in the first direction. The frame rotatably supports the photosensitive drum between the first side plate and the second side plate in the first direction. The frame holds a developer cartridge. A lock lever is pivotable about a pivot axis extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The lock lever is movable between a lock position at which the developer cartridge is locked on the frame and a release position at which the developer cartridge is unlocked from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Kazuaki Ooka
  • Publication number: 20260123350
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, semiconductor manufacturing equipment includes a processing chamber for processing a substrate on which a photoresist film is formed, a stage configured to support the substrate, an annular edge ring configured to enclose the substrate, an annular guard ring configured to cover a circumferential edge of the substrate from above, and a conveyor configured to convey at least the guard ring, in which the guard ring is configured to have an inner circumferential end located between an outer circumferential end of the substrate supported on the stage and an outer circumferential end of the photoresist film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Applicant: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki SASAKI, Junichi HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20260072374
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing, a developing roller, a first agitator, a supply roller, and a second agitator. The casing is configured to accommodate toner. The developing roller is rotatable about a developing roller rotation axis extending in a first direction. The first agitator is configured to agitate the toner. The first agitator is rotatable about a first agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. The supply roller is positioned between the first agitator and the developing roller. The supply roller is rotatable about a supply roller rotation axis extending in the first direction. The second agitator is positioned between the supply roller and the first agitator. The second agitator is rotatable about a second agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. A rotation locus of the second agitator is positioned outside of a rotation locus of the first agitator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2025
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuaki Ooka, Junichi Hashimoto, Shota Iriyama, Keigo Nakajima, Kengo Yada
  • Patent number: 12572090
    Abstract: A developing roller is located nearer a first end than a second end in a first direction. A first boss extends in a second direction and is movable together with a housing. The first boss bears the weight of a developer cartridge when the first boss is supported by a support surface of a first side plate of a drum unit, and is located away from the developing roller in the first direction and the third direction. A first pressure receiving surface is located farther away from the developing roller than the first boss in the third direction. The pressure receiving member receives a pressing force in the third direction from a pressing member of the first side plate of the drum unit. The first boss is located away from the developing roller in the first direction by a first distance. The first pressure receiving surface is located away from the developing roller in the first direction by the first distance or by a second distance smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Kazuaki Ooka, Isao Kishi, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 12547095
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing having an outer surface, a developing roller, a first electrode, and a boss. The developing roller is movable together with the casing and includes a developing roller shaft extending along a first axis extending in a first direction. The developing roller is rotatable about the first axis. The first electrode is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the developing roller shaft, and electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. The boss is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the outer surface. The boss extends in the first direction and is engageable with the drum unit. A part of the first electrode is configured to contact with a second electrode of the drum unit as a result of pivotal movement of the developing cartridge about the boss relative to the drum unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Kazuaki Ooka
  • Patent number: 12498650
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing, a developing roller, a first agitator, a supply roller, and a second agitator. The casing is configured to accommodate toner. The developing roller is rotatable about a developing roller rotation axis extending in a first direction. The first agitator is configured to agitate the toner. The first agitator is rotatable about a first agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. The supply roller is positioned between the first agitator and the developing roller. The supply roller is rotatable about a supply roller rotation axis extending in the first direction. The second agitator is positioned between the supply roller and the first agitator. The second agitator is rotatable about a second agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. A rotation locus of the second agitator is positioned outside of a rotation locus of the first agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuaki Ooka, Junichi Hashimoto, Shota Iriyama, Keigo Nakajima, Kengo Yada
  • Patent number: 12405568
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a process frame is movable into and out of a main casing in a first direction. The process frame includes a first wall and a second wall spaced apart from the first wall in a second direction. A first cartridge is detachably mountable to the process frame in a third direction crossing the second direction. A first electrode protrudes from an outer surface of the first cartridge outwardly in the second direction. In a state where the first cartridge is mounted to the process frame, the first cartridge is positioned between the first wall and second wall of the process frame in the second direction and a portion of the first wall aligns with the first electrode in the third direction such that the portion of the first wall is overlapped with the first electrode as viewed in the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Okabe, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20250181026
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft; and a cam. The casing is configured to accommodate developer therein. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The shaft extends along a second axis extending in the axial direction. The shaft is movable along the second axis. The cam is movable along the second axis in response to axial movement of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface non-parallel with the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2024
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Isao KISHI, Kazuaki OOKA
  • Patent number: 12300504
    Abstract: A film processing method includes forming a target film, the target film having an upper surface. The method includes forming a carbon film on the upper surface of the target film. The method includes performing a first etching to format least one recess in the target film, with the carbon film serving as a mask. The method includes performing a second etching, by directing an ion beam through the at least one recess, to increase a depth of the at least one recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Mitsuhiro Omura, Toshiyuki Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20250130517
    Abstract: A developing roller is located nearer a first end than a second end in a first direction. A first boss extends in a second direction and is movable together with a housing. The first boss bears the weight of a developer cartridge when the first boss is supported by a support surface of a first side plate of a drum unit, and is located away from the developing roller in the first direction and the third direction. A first pressure receiving surface is located farther away from the developing roller than the first boss in the third direction. The pressure receiving member receives a pressing force in the third direction from a pressing member of the first side plate of the drum unit. The first boss is located away from the developing roller in the first direction by a first distance. The first pressure receiving surface is located away from the developing roller in the first direction by the first distance or by a second distance smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen WANG, Kazuaki OOKA, Isao KISHI, Junichi HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20250116953
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing memory having an electrical contact surface, an agitator, an agitator gear rotatable about an agitator axis together with the agitator, a holder holding the electrical contact surface, and a plate movable between a first position and a second position in a second direction crossing the first direction relative to the casing. The holder is movable relative to the casing in a third direction crossing the first and second directions between a retracted position and an advancing position. The holder is movable from the retracted position to the advancing position in response to a movement of the plate from the first position to the second position. The plate is positioned farther away from the developing roller than the agitator gear and the holder are in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya KAMIMURA, Tomitake ARATACHI, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Saya MINOSHIMA, Nao ITABASHI, Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Misato OSUKA, Junya SUMIDA, Shinya KUSUDA
  • Patent number: 12271126
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20250110422
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing, a developing roller, a first agitator, a supply roller, and a second agitator. The casing is configured to accommodate toner. The developing roller is rotatable about a developing roller rotation axis extending in a first direction. The first agitator is configured to agitate the toner. The first agitator is rotatable about a first agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. The supply roller is positioned between the first agitator and the developing roller. The supply roller is rotatable about a supply roller rotation axis extending in the first direction. The second agitator is positioned between the supply roller and the first agitator. The second agitator is rotatable about a second agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. A rotation locus of the second agitator is positioned outside of a rotation locus of the first agitator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuaki Ooka, Junichi Hashimoto, Shota Iriyama, Keigo Nakajima, Kengo Yada
  • Patent number: 12228867
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a casing; a conveyer member rotatable about an axis; a shutter rotatable about the axis between a closed position and an open position; a toner coupling rotatable about the axis; a planet carrier rotatable about the axis with the toner coupling; a planetary gear rotatable about a pin of the planet carrier and rotatable about the axis in accordance with the rotation of the planet carrier; and a ring gear meshing with the planetary gear and rotatable about the axis with the shutter. When the shutter moves from the closed position to the open position, the planetary gear is not rotatable about the pin and is rotatable about the axis with the ring gear. In a state where the shutter is at the open position, the planetary gear is rotatable about the pin and is rotatable about the axis relative to the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto, Takuya Amaike
  • Patent number: 12210300
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing memory having an electrical contact surface, an agitator, an agitator gear rotatable about an agitator axis together with the agitator, a holder holding the electrical contact surface, and a plate movable between a first position and a second position in a second direction crossing the first direction relative to the casing. The holder is movable relative to the casing in a third direction crossing the first and second directions between a retracted position and an advancing position. The holder is movable from the retracted position to the advancing position in response to a movement of the plate from the first position to the second position. The plate is positioned farther away from the developing roller than the agitator gear and the holder are in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Tomitake Aratachi, Yasuo Fukamachi, Junichi Hashimoto, Saya Minoshima, Nao Itabashi, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Misato Osuka, Junya Sumida, Shinya Kusuda
  • Patent number: 12197168
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft; and a cam. The casing is configured to accommodate developer therein. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The shaft extends along a second axis extending in the axial direction. The shaft is movable along the second axis. The cam is movable along the second axis in response to axial movement of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface non-parallel with the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Kazuaki Ooka
  • Publication number: 20250013165
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing having an outer surface, a developing roller, a first electrode, and a boss. The developing roller is movable together with the casing and includes a developing roller shaft extending along a first axis extending in a first direction. The developing roller is rotatable about the first axis. The first electrode is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the developing roller shaft, and electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. The boss is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the outer surface. The boss extends in the first direction and is engageable with the drum unit. A part of the first electrode is configured to contact with a second electrode of the drum unit as a result of pivotal movement of the developing cartridge about the boss relative to the drum unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Junichi Hashimoto, Isao Kishi, Kazuaki Ooka
  • Publication number: 20250013170
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a housing, a toner cartridge, and a drum unit. The drum unit is movable through the opening between an accommodated position where the drum unit is positioned in the housing and a pulled-out position where the drum unit is pulled out of the housing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum and a developing unit. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a second direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a first auger and a second auger. The magnetic roller is positioned between the toner cartridge and the photosensitive drum. The magnetic roller faces a surface of the photosensitive drum. The developer container is formed with an inlet allowing the toner to be replenished from the toner cartridge. The first auger is positioned in the developer container. The second auger is positioned in the developer container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Yuwen WANG, Takuya AMAIKE, Soun KANADA, Kazuma HINOUE
  • Publication number: 20240427284
    Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a toner cartridge, a connector and a relay board. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a conveyer member and a toner sensor. The developer container accommodates therein carrier, and has an inlet. The conveyer member is positioned in the developer container, and configured to convey toner and the carrier from the inlet toward the magnetic roller. The toner cartridge accommodates therein toner and is attachable to the developer container to replenish toner in the developer container through the inlet. The connector is electrically connected to an image forming apparatus. The relay board electrically connects the toner sensor to the connector. The relay board is configured to transmit a detection signal from the toner sensor to the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen WANG, Takuya AMAIKE, Junichi HASHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 12174557
    Abstract: A developing roller is located nearer a first end than a second end in a first direction. A first boss extends in a second direction and is movable together with a housing. The first boss bears the weight of a developer cartridge when the first boss is supported by a support surface of a first side plate of a drum unit, and is located away from the developing roller in the first direction and the third direction. A first pressure receiving surface is located farther away from the developing roller than the first boss in the third direction. The pressure receiving member receives a pressing force in the third direction from a pressing member of the first side plate of the drum unit. The first boss is located away from the developing roller in the first direction by a first distance. The first pressure receiving surface is located away from the developing roller in the first direction by the first distance or by a second distance smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuwen Wang, Kazuaki Ooka, Isao Kishi, Junichi Hashimoto