Patents by Inventor Junichi Yokoi
Junichi Yokoi 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: 11067919Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in the first direction; a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the detection gear being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
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Publication number: 20210165360Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, and a first memory. The intermediate transfer belt is positioned above of the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the main body casing. The drum frame includes a first end and a second end being apart from the first end in an up-down direction. The photosensitive drum is positioned at the first end. The first memory is positioned at the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2021Publication date: June 3, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi YOKOI, Nao ITABASHI
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Patent number: 10996584Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a photosensitive drum assembly, an exposure head, and a bearing, is provided. The photosensitive drum assembly includes a photosensitive drum and a flange disposed at an end of the photosensitive drum in an axial direction of an axis of the photosensitive drum. The flange contacts an inner surface of the photosensitive drum. The exposure head includes a plurality of light emitters aligned along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a lens array focusing light from the light emitters on the photosensitive drum, and a head frame to support the light emitters and the lens array. The bearing has a first contact face to contact the exposure head to define a distance between the lens array and the photosensitive drum along a direction of an optical axis of the light.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takamasa Tsukada, Junichi Yokoi
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Patent number: 10935925Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, and a first memory. The intermediate transfer belt is positioned above of the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the main body casing. The drum frame includes a first end and a second end being apart from the first end in an up-down direction. The photosensitive drum is positioned at the first end. The first memory is positioned at the second end.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi Yokoi, Nao Itabashi
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Patent number: 10928752Abstract: A method of production or reproduction of an assembly is provided. The assembly includes: a storage medium having an electrical contact surface; and a holder holding the electrical contact surface. The holder has: first and second outer surfaces; and an elastic member positioned between the first and second outer surfaces. A separation distance in a first direction between the first and second outer surfaces is changeable in accordance with expansion and contraction of the elastic member. The method includes: reducing the separation distance to a prescribed distance by compressing the elastic member in the first direction; maintaining the separation distance at the prescribed distance; and performing at least one of writing information to, deleting information from, and updating information in the storage medium by bringing a probe into contact with the electrical contact surface in a state where the separation distance is maintained at the prescribed distance.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi Yokoi
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Publication number: 20210041804Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in the first direction; a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the detection gear being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
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Publication number: 20210003960Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing extending in a first direction; a developing roller; a memory held at the housing; a holder holding an electrical contact surface; and a relay component electrically connecting the memory to the electrical contact surface. The developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the housing in a second direction. The holder is movable relative to the housing in at least one of the second direction and a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction. The third direction also crosses the electrical contact surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi YOKOI
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Publication number: 20200401075Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing to accommodate developer; a storage medium including an electric contact surface; an elastic member extending in a first direction crossing the electric contact surface, and configured to be compressed or stretched in the first direction between a first state and a second state; and a holder including an outer surface positioned toward a side of the holder in the first direction, the electric contact surface positioned at the outer surface, and movable between first and second positions in the first direction relative to the casing. A length of the elastic member in the first direction is greater in the first state than in the second state. The electric contact surface is in the first position when the elastic member is in the first state, and the electric contact surface is in the second position when the elastic member is in the second state.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
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Patent number: 10831149Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body including a front wall and a rear wall. A side frame is disposed in the main body and has a photosensitive member cartridge guide and a developing cartridge guide. A sheet feeding tray is disposed in the main body. A photosensitive member cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing cartridge has a developing roller. An exposing unit is configured to emit light toward the photosensitive drum to expose the photosensitive drum. A fixing device has a heating roller and a pressing roller. When the photosensitive member cartridge is at the photosensitive member cartridge mounting position, the photosensitive member cartridge is disposed at a position between the fixing device and the sheet feeding tray. When the developing cartridge is at the developing cartridge mounting position, the developing member is disposed at a position between the photosensitive member cartridge and the sheet feeding tray.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi Yokoi, Shougo Sato
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Publication number: 20200310339Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, and a first memory. The intermediate transfer belt is positioned above of the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the main body casing. The drum frame includes a first end and a second end being apart from the first end in an up-down direction. The photosensitive drum is positioned at the first end. The first memory is positioned at the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi YOKOI, Nao ITABASHI
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Patent number: 10788787Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing extending in a first direction; a developing roller; a memory held at the housing; a holder holding an electrical contact surface; and a relay component electrically connecting the memory to the electrical contact surface. The developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the housing in a second direction. The holder is movable relative to the housing in at least one of the second direction and a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction. The third direction also crosses the electrical contact surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2020Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi Yokoi
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Patent number: 10782644Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing to accommodate developer; a storage medium including an electric contact surface; an elastic member extending in a first direction crossing the electric contact surface, and configured to be compressed or stretched in the first direction between a first state and a second state; and a holder including an outer surface positioned toward a side of the holder in the first direction, the electric contact surface positioned at the outer surface, and movable between first and second positions in the first direction relative to the casing. A length of the elastic member in the first direction is greater in the first state than in the second state. The electric contact surface is in the first position when the elastic member is in the first state, and the electric contact surface is in the second position when the elastic member is in the second state.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
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Publication number: 20200264536Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in the first direction; a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the detection gear being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
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Patent number: 10649369Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in the first direction; a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the detection gear being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
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Publication number: 20200142352Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing extending in a first direction; a developing roller; a memory held at the housing; a holder holding an electrical contact surface; and a relay component electrically connecting the memory to the electrical contact surface. The developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the housing in a second direction. The holder is movable relative to the housing in at least one of the second direction and a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction. The third direction also crosses the electrical contact surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2020Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi YOKOI
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Publication number: 20200142350Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body including a front wall and a rear wall, a feeding tray, and a pickup roller. A photosensitive member cartridge includes a photosensitive drum that is configured to feed recording sheets upward, and a photosensitive member cartridge grip. A developing cartridge has a developing roller that is disposed below the photosensitive drum and faces the photosensitive drum, and a developing cartridge grip. An exposing unit is closer to the front wall than to the rear wall and is disposed above the feeding tray. When the photosensitive member cartridge is disposed at a mounting position, the photosensitive member cartridge grip extends toward an opening beyond the rear end of the exposing unit, and when the developing cartridge is disposed at a mounting position, the developing cartridge grip extends toward the opening beyond the rear end of the exposing unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2020Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi YOKOI, Shougo SATO
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Publication number: 20200133158Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a photosensitive drum assembly, an exposure head, and a bearing, is provided. The photosensitive drum assembly includes a photosensitive drum and a flange disposed at an end of the photosensitive drum in an axial direction of an axis of the photosensitive drum. The flange contacts an inner surface of the photosensitive drum. The exposure head includes a plurality of light emitters aligned along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a lens array focusing light from the light emitters on the photosensitive drum, and a head frame to support the light emitters and the lens array. The bearing has a first contact face to contact the exposure head to define a distance between the lens array and the photosensitive drum along a direction of an optical axis of the light.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Takamasa Tsukada, Junichi Yokoi
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Publication number: 20200125007Abstract: A method of production or reproduction of an assembly is provided. The assembly includes: a storage medium having an electrical contact surface; and a holder holding the electrical contact surface. The holder has: first and second outer surfaces; and an elastic member positioned between the first and second outer surfaces. A separation distance in a first direction between the first and second outer surfaces is changeable in accordance with expansion and contraction of the elastic member. The method includes: reducing the separation distance to a prescribed distance by compressing the elastic member in the first direction; maintaining the separation distance at the prescribed distance; and performing at least one of writing information to, deleting information from, and updating information in the storage medium by bringing a probe into contact with the electrical contact surface in a state where the separation distance is maintained at the prescribed distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi Yokoi
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Patent number: 10627776Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with: an apparatus body; a photosensitive member; a developing cartridge configured to have a developer supporting body; a cleaner configured to collect developer remaining on the photosensitive member; and a waste developer container configured to contain developer collected by the cleaner. The apparatus body is configured to have an installment passage, through which the developing cartridge passes when the developing cartridge is installed into and removed from the apparatus body. The waste developer container is configured to be movable between a first position at which at least a part of the waste developer container is located within the installment passage and a second position at which the waste developer container is located away from the installment passage.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2019Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi Yokoi
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Publication number: 20200073322Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with: an apparatus body; a photosensitive member; a developing cartridge configured to have a developer supporting body; a cleaner configured to collect developer remaining on the photosensitive member; and a waste developer container configured to contain developer collected by the cleaner. The apparatus body is configured to have an installment passage, through which the developing cartridge passes when the developing cartridge is installed into and removed from the apparatus body. The waste developer container is configured to be movable between a first position at which at least a part of the waste developer container is located within the installment passage and a second position at which the waste developer container is located away from the installment passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi YOKOI