Patents by Inventor Keita Shimizu

Keita Shimizu 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: 20200272089
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in an axial direction; a first helical gear and a second helical gear positioned at an outer surface of the housing; a cover covering part of the second helical gear; and an engaging member movable with the second helical gear. The second helical gear meshes with the first helical gear and is rotatable in first and second rotational directions. The second helical gear is movable in the axial direction between a first position and a second position farther away from the outer surface than the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the first rotational direction to move to the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the second rotational direction to move to the second position whereby the engaging member engages part of the cover to terminate rotation of the second helical gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita SHIMIZU, Tomitake ARATACHI
  • Publication number: 20200272071
    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: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10747173
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomoya Ichikawa, Takashi Shimizu, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10705456
    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 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20200192275
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge and developing cartridge. The drum cartridge may include a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The developing cartridge may include a developing roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the axial direction. The image forming apparatus may include a main casing including a slot extending in the axial direction. The image forming apparatus may include a first inner surface positioned inside of the slot, and a second inner surface positioned inside of the slot farther from the cover in the axial direction than the first inner surface from the cover in the axial direction. The first and second inner surfaces may be configured to press the developing roller toward the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao ICHIYANAGI, Keita SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 10678182
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in an axial direction; a first helical gear and a second helical gear positioned at an outer surface of the housing; a cover covering part of the second helical gear; and an engaging member movable with the second helical gear. The second helical gear meshes with the first helical gear and is rotatable in first and second rotational directions. The second helical gear is movable in the axial direction between a first position and a second position farther away from the outer surface than the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the first rotational direction to move to the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the second rotational direction to move to the second position whereby the engaging member engages part of the cover to terminate rotation of the second helical gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomitake Aratachi
  • Patent number: 10663910
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing; a developing roller rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction; a first helical gear and a second helical gear positioned at an outer surface of the housing; and an engaging member movable together with the second helical gear. The second helical gear meshes with the first helical gear and is rotatable in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. The second helical gear is movable in the axial direction between a first position and a second position closer to the outer surface than the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the first rotational direction to move toward the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the second rotational direction to move toward the second position whereby the engaging member engages a part of the outer surface to terminate rotation of the second helical gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20200094143
    Abstract: A gaming device is provided. The gaming device has: a state deciding unit configured to accept an input from the user while a display object displayed on a display screen is performing a given movement and thereby decide the state of the display object performing the given movement; a random number generating unit configured to randomly generate a value from among numerical values in a predetermined given range; and a determining unit configured to determine a game result based on a value corresponding to the state of the display object decided by the state deciding unit and the value generated by the random number generating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventor: Keita SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20200073319
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a drive gear; a first gear; and a second gear. The casing is configured to accommodate developing agent therein. The first gear is configured to receive a driving force from the drive gear. The first gear is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction in accordance with rotation of the drive gear. The first gear includes a first protrusion. the second gear is configured to receive the driving force from the drive gear. The second gear is rotatable about the first axis. the second gear includes a second protrusion. A rotational speed of the second gear is faster than a rotational speed of the first gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20200073318
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a drive gear, a first gear, and a second gear rotatable relative to the first gear. The drive gear includes a small-diameter gear part, and a large-diameter gear part. The first gear includes: a first gear teeth part having a plurality of gear teeth; and a first protrusion movable in accordance with rotation of the first gear teeth part. The second gear includes: a second gear teeth part having at least one gear tooth; and a second protrusion movable in accordance with rotation of the second gear teeth part. The second gear teeth part is configured to meshingly engage with the large-diameter gear part to rotate the second gear after the first gear rotates by a prescribed angle by meshing engagement between the small-diameter gear part and the first gear teeth part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20200019085
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller; a coupling for rotating the developing roller; a shaft; and a clutch. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The coupling is rotatable about a second axis extending in the axial direction. The shaft rotatably supports the coupling. The clutch is rotatable together with the coupling about the shaft in a case where the coupling rotates in a first rotational direction. In a case where the coupling rotates in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, the clutch engages with a portion of the shaft and the clutch and the coupling do not rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20190361391
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita SHIMIZU, Tomoya ICHIKAWA, Takashi SHIMIZU, Kazuna TAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20190339632
    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: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita SHIMIZU, Takashi SHIMIZU, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Naoya KAMIMURA, Tomonori WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20190265637
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing; a developing roller rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction; a first helical gear and a second helical gear positioned at an outer surface of the housing; and an engaging member movable together with the second helical gear. The second helical gear meshes with the first helical gear and is rotatable in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. The second helical gear is movable in the axial direction between a first position and a second position closer to the outer surface than the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the first rotational direction to move toward the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the second rotational direction to move toward the second position whereby the engaging member engages a part of the outer surface to terminate rotation of the second helical gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20190265638
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in an axial direction; a first helical gear and a second helical gear positioned at an outer surface of the housing; a cover covering part of the second helical gear; and an engaging member movable with the second helical gear. The second helical gear meshes with the first helical gear and is rotatable in first and second rotational directions. The second helical gear is movable in the axial direction between a first position and a second position farther away from the outer surface than the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the first rotational direction to move to the first position. The second helical gear rotates in the second rotational direction to move to the second position whereby the engaging member engages part of the cover to terminate rotation of the second helical gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita SHIMIZU, Tomitake ARATACHI
  • Patent number: 10379492
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomoya Ichikawa, Takashi Shimizu, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10365582
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Takashi Shimizu, Hideshi Nishiyama, Naoya Kamimura, Tomonori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20190187610
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomoya Ichikawa, Takashi Shimizu, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10254707
    Abstract: A developer cartridge may include a gear configured to be movable between an engagement position in which the gear engages an auger or supply gear to provide toner from a toner container to a developing unit and a disengaged position in which the gear does not engage the auger or supply gear. The gear may be moved by a cam and/or cam gear from the engagement position to the disengaged position and vice versa. The cam gear may include toothless and toothed portions to allow the developer cartridge to maintain the movable gear in either the engagement position or the disengaged position. In some arrangements, an urging member such as a spring may bias the cam gear in a rotation direction, while a lever may provide a counteracting force when the movable gear is to be maintained in a particular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomoya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: D849131
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Naoya Kamimura, Koji Abe, Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu, Shinya Kusuda, Atsushi Fukaya, Tomoya Ichikawa