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).

  • Patent number: 10558139
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamasa Tsukada, Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10551791
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Yokoi, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20200033754
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10534312
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10488815
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20190346790
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Takamasa Tsukada, Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10444663
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing, a developing roller, a storage medium having an electrical contact surface, a holder, and a holder cover configured to cover the holder. The holder has: a first outer surface holding the electrical contact surface, a second outer surface spaced away from the first outer surface in a third direction, and a resilient member connected to the first outer surface and to the second outer surface. The resilient member is configured to expand and contract to change a distance between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. The resilient member has a first length in the third direction in a state where the holder cover is detached from the holder. The resilient member has a second length in the third direction smaller than the first length in a state where the holder cover is attached to the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10444667
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20190265641
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi YOKOI
  • Publication number: 20190250553
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10372057
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamasa Tsukada, Junichi Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20190219946
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10324415
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a drum cartridge, and an electric contact. The developing cartridge includes a holder having a resilient member. In a state where the holder is positioned at a first position, the resilient member has a first length and the electric contact surface is in contact with the electric contact. In a state where the holder is positioned at a second position, the resilient member has a second length in the third direction longer than the first length and the electric contact surface is in contact with the electric contact. In a state where the holder moves from the first position to the second position, the holder pivots in a state where the holder is in contact with the first contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junichi Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20190155185
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Takamasa Tsukada, Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10275190
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of light emitting portions arrayed in an array direction. A lens array has a length in the array direction longer than a length in a direction orthogonal to the array direction. A controller is configured to perform: converting a reference printing pattern including a plurality of first linear patterns to a detection pattern including a plurality of second linear patterns, each of the plurality of first linear patterns forming a first angle with respect to a reference line parallel to the array direction, each of the plurality of second linear patterns forming a second angle smaller than the first angle with respect to the reference line; forming a detection pattern image on a transfer medium; detecting a print density of the detection pattern image with a sensor; and setting an image formation condition according to the print density detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Miyahara, Masahiko Hayakawa, Toshio Furukawa, Junichi Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20190121286
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi YOKOI
  • Publication number: 20190107795
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing, a developing roller, a storage medium having an electrical contact surface, a holder, and a holder cover configured to cover the holder. The holder has: a first outer surface holding the electrical contact surface, a second outer surface spaced away from the first outer surface in a third direction, and a resilient member connected to the first outer surface and to the second outer surface. The resilient member is configured to expand and contract to change a distance between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. The resilient member has a first length in the third direction in a state where the holder cover is detached from the holder. The resilient member has a second length in the third direction smaller than the first length in a state where the holder cover is attached to the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi YOKOI
  • Patent number: 10254681
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 10228631
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamasa Tsukada, Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: D865051
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Yokoi, Takuro Kusama, Hiromitsu Mizutani, Hiroki Mori