Patents by Inventor Kenta Tosuji

Kenta Tosuji 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: 12135522
    Abstract: A cartridge includes: a housing; a storage medium having an electrical contact surface; and a holder movable relative to the housing. The holder includes a first holder member. and a second holder member movable relative to the first holder member. The first holder member includes at least one pawl and holds the electrical contact surface at one end surface of the first holder member in a first direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The second holder member includes at least one corner part engageable with the at least one pawl to provide an engaging portion therebetween. The second holder member has a through-hole that is open at another end face of the second holder member in the first direction. The engaging portion is accessible from an outside of the holder through the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Tosuji, Nao Itabashi, Kazuya Kamikawa
  • Publication number: 20240345534
    Abstract: Provided is a method for removing a first holder member from a second holder member in a cartridge. The cartridge includes: a housing; the first holder member holding an electrical contact surface; and the second holder member supported by the housing. The first holder member includes a pawl, and the second holder member includes a corner part engageable with the pawl of the first holder member. The electrical contact surface is held at one end surface of the first holder member in a first direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The method includes: disengaging the pawl from the corner part; and separating the housing and the second holder member from the first holder member in the first direction away from the one end surface of the first holder member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta TOSUJI, Nao ITABASHI, Kazuya KAMIKAWA
  • Patent number: 12066784
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a drawer, and a cartridge. The drawer is movable between an inside position inside the main housing and an outside position outside the main housing. The cartridge is installable into and removable from the drawer. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a drum axis. The drawer comprises a lock member movable between a lock position in which the drawer is locked to the main housing, and an unlock position in which the drawer is unlocked from the main housing. The cartridge installed in the drawer is rotatable about the drum axis between a first position and a second position. The lock member is positioned in the lock position when the cartridge is positioned in the first position, and positioned in the unlock position when the cartridge is positioned in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Misato Osuka, Keita Shimizu, Go Iwasa, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Ryosuke Hayashi, Tsubasa Kiriyama, Naoya Kamimura, Yuwen Wang, Masaaki Furukawa, Kazuma Hinoue, Kenta Tosuji
  • Publication number: 20240272575
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a drawer, and a cartridge. The drawer is movable between an inside position inside the main housing and an outside position outside the main housing. The cartridge is installable into and removable from the drawer. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a drum axis. The drawer comprises a lock member movable between a lock position in which the drawer is locked to the main housing, and an unlock position in which the drawer is unlocked from the main housing. The cartridge installed in the drawer is rotatable about the drum axis between a first position and a second position. The lock member is positioned in the lock position when the cartridge is positioned in the first position, and positioned in the unlock position when the cartridge is positioned in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Misato Osuka, Keita Shimizu, Go Iwasa, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Ryosuke Hayashi, Tsubasa Kiriyama, Naoya Kamimura, Yuwen Wang, Masaaki Furukawa, Kazuma Hinoue, Kenta Tosuji
  • Patent number: 12045003
    Abstract: Provided is a method for removing a first holder member from a second holder member in a cartridge. The cartridge includes: a housing; the first holder member holding an electrical contact surface; and the second holder member supported by the housing. The first holder member includes a pawl, and the second holder member includes a corner part engageable with the pawl of the first holder member. The electrical contact surface is held at one end surface of the first holder member in a first direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The method includes: disengaging the pawl from the corner part; and separating the housing and the second holder member from the first holder member in the first direction away from the one end surface of the first holder member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Tosuji, Nao Itabashi, Kazuya Kamikawa
  • Publication number: 20230324845
    Abstract: A cartridge includes: a housing; a storage medium having an electrical contact surface; and a holder movable relative to the housing. The holder includes a first holder member. and a second holder member movable relative to the first holder member. The first holder member includes at least one pawl and holds the electrical contact surface at one end surface of the first holder member in a first direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The second holder member includes at least one corner part engageable with the at least one pawl to provide an engaging portion therebetween. The second holder member has a through-hole that is open at another end face of the second holder member in the first direction. The engaging portion is accessible from an outside of the holder through the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta TOSUJI, Nao ITABASHI, Kazuya KAMIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11720051
    Abstract: A cartridge includes: a housing; a storage medium having an electrical contact surface; and a holder movable relative to the housing. The holder includes a first holder member and a second holder member movable relative to the first holder member. The first holder member includes at least one pawl and holds the electrical contact surface at one end surface of the first holder member in a first direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The second holder member includes at least one corner part engageable with the at least one pawl to provide an engaging portion therebetween. The second holder member has a through-hole that is open at another end face of the second holder member in the first direction. The engaging portion is accessible from an outside of the holder through the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Tosuji, Nao Itabashi, Kazuya Kamikawa
  • Publication number: 20230244179
    Abstract: Provided is a method for removing a first holder member from a second holder member in a cartridge. The cartridge includes: a housing; the first holder member holding an electrical contact surface; and the second holder member supported by the housing. The first holder member includes a pawl, and the second holder member includes a corner part engageable with the pawl of the first holder member. The electrical contact surface is held at one end surface of the first holder member in a first direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The method includes: disengaging the pawl from the corner part; and separating the housing and the second holder member from the first holder member in the first direction away from the one end surface of the first holder member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta TOSUJI, Nao ITABASHI, Kazuya KAMIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230176514
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a drawer, and a cartridge. The drawer is movable between an inside position inside the main housing and an outside position outside the main housing. The cartridge is installable into and removable from the drawer. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a drum axis. The drawer comprises a lock member movable between a lock position in which the drawer is locked to the main housing, and an unlock position in which the drawer is unlocked from the main housing. The cartridge installed in the drawer is rotatable about the drum axis between a first position and a second position. The lock member is positioned in the lock position when the cartridge is positioned in the first position, and positioned in the unlock position when the cartridge is positioned in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Misato Osuka, Keita Shimizu, Go Iwasa, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Ryosuke Hayashi, Tsubasa Kiriyama, Naoya Kamimura, Yuwen Wang, Masaaki Furukawa, Kazuma Hinoue, Kenta Tosuji
  • Patent number: 11635727
    Abstract: Provided is a method for removing a first holder member from a second holder member in a cartridge. The cartridge includes: a housing; the first holder member holding an electrical contact surface; and the second holder member supported by the housing. The first holder member includes a pawl, and the second holder member includes a corner part engageable with the pawl of the first holder member. The electrical contact surface is held at one end surface of the first holder member in a first direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The method includes: disengaging the pawl from the corner part; and separating the housing and the second holder member from the first holder member in the first direction away from the one end surface of the first holder member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Tosuji, Nao Itabashi, Kazuya Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 11537077
    Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a transport guide for guiding, along its transport surface, a sheet in a transport direction, a first transport roller pair, a second transport roller pair, a skew roller pair, a reference wall, and an actuator. The skew roller pair alone transports, in a skewed manner toward an end of the transport surface in a width direction orthogonal to the transport direction, the sheet spaced from the first transport roller and the second transport roller. The reference wall is positioned at the end of the transport surface in the width direction and extends along the transport direction. The actuator is disposed downstream of the skew roller pair and upstream of the second transport roller pair in the transport direction and between the end and a center of the transport surface in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenta Tosuji, Yuichiro Ichinose
  • Patent number: 11415917
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation engine configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-conveyer configured to convey the sheet having an image formed on one surface thereof by the image formation engine to the image formation engine again along a re-conveying path. The re-conveyer includes a conveying roller configured to convey the sheet in a re-conveying direction toward the image formation engine, a first guide member configured to be swingable between a first position at which the first guide member defines a portion of the re-conveying path upstream of the conveying roller in the re-conveying direction and guides the sheet to the conveying roller and a second position for exposing the potion of the re-conveying path, and a support member configured to swingably support the first guide member and rotatably support the conveying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Ichinose, Kenta Tosuji
  • Patent number: 11352234
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, an image forming unit, a sheet tray disposed below the image forming unit, and a retransport assembly configured to transport a sheet along a retransport path including first, second, and third retransport path portions in a transport direction. The retransport assembly includes a portion of the sheet tray defining the first retransport path portion, a connecting unit and a retransport unit, which are disposed below the sheet tray. The connecting unit defines the second retransport path portion connected to an upstream end of the third retransport path portion in the transport direction. The retransport unit is movable between a stored position and a pulled-out position. The retransport unit at the stored position defines the first retransport path portion connected to an upstream end of the second retransport path portion in the transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Inoue, Yuichiro Ichinose, Kenta Tosuji
  • Patent number: 11340549
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a retransport assembly, and a controller. The retransport assembly includes a first transport roller pair, a second transport roller pair, and a skew roller pair configured to alone transport, in a skewed manner, a sheet spaced from the first transport roller pair and the second transport roller pair, and a reference wall. The controller controls the retransport assembly and executes a waiting operation to cause the sheet to wait at the retransport assembly. The controller is configured to execute the waiting operation by stopping the skew roller pair and one of the first transport roller pair and the second transport roller pair in a state in which the sheet is nipped by the skew roller pair and the one of the first transport roller pair and the second transport roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenta Tosuji, Yuichiro Ichinose, Masafumi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20220082991
    Abstract: Provided is a method for removing a first holder member from a second holder member in a cartridge. The cartridge includes: a housing; the first holder member holding an electrical contact surface; and the second holder member supported by the housing. The first holder member includes a pawl, and the second holder member includes a corner part engageable with the pawl of the first holder member. The electrical contact surface is held at one end surface of the first holder member in a first direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The method includes: disengaging the pawl from the corner part; and separating the housing and the second holder member from the first holder member in the first direction away from the one end surface of the first holder member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta TOSUJI, Nao ITABASHI, Kazuya KAMIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220082992
    Abstract: A cartridge includes: a housing; a storage medium having an electrical contact surface; and a holder movable relative to the housing. The holder includes a first holder member and a second holder member movable relative to the first holder member. The first holder member includes at least one pawl and holds the electrical contact surface at one end surface of the first holder member in a first direction crossing the electrical contact surface. The second holder member includes at least one corner part engageable with the at least one pawl to provide an engaging portion therebetween. The second holder member has a through-hole that is open at another end face of the second holder member in the first direction. The engaging portion is accessible from an outside of the holder through the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta TOSUJI, Nao ITABASHI, Kazuya KAMIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220026838
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation engine configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-conveyer configured to convey the sheet having an image formed on one surface thereof by the image formation engine to the image formation engine again along a re-conveying path. The re-conveyer includes a conveying roller configured to convey the sheet in a re-conveying direction toward the image formation engine, a first guide member configured to be swingable between a first position at which the first guide member defines a portion of the re-conveying path upstream of the conveying roller in the re-conveying direction and guides the sheet to the conveying roller and a second position for exposing the potion of the re-conveying path, and a support member configured to swingably support the first guide member and rotatably support the conveying roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Yuichiro ICHINOSE, Kenta TOSUJI
  • Publication number: 20200249613
    Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a transport guide for guiding, along its transport surface, a sheet in a transport direction, a first transport roller pair, a second transport roller pair, a skew roller pair, a reference wall, and an actuator. The skew roller pair alone transports, in a skewed manner toward an end of the transport surface in a width direction orthogonal to the transport direction, the sheet spaced from the first transport roller and the second transport roller. The reference wall is positioned at the end of the transport surface in the width direction and extends along the transport direction. The actuator is disposed downstream of the skew roller pair and upstream of the second transport roller pair in the transport direction and between the end and a center of the transport surface in the width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kenta Tosuji, Yuichiro Ichinose
  • Publication number: 20200247641
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, an image forming unit, a sheet tray disposed below the image forming unit, and a retransport assembly configured to transport a sheet along a retransport path including first, second, and third retransport path portions in a transport direction. The retransport assembly includes a portion of the sheet tray defining the first retransport path portion, a connecting unit and a retransport unit, which are disposed below the sheet tray. The connecting unit defines the second retransport path portion connected to an upstream end of the third retransport path portion in the transport direction. The retransport unit is movable between a stored position and a pulled-out position. The retransport unit at the stored position defines the first retransport path portion connected to an upstream end of the second retransport path portion in the transport direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Masafumi Inoue, Yuichiro Ichinose, Kenta Tosuji
  • Publication number: 20200249612
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a retransport assembly, and a controller. The retransport assembly includes a first transport roller pair, a second transport roller pair, and a skew roller pair configured to alone transport, in a skewed manner, a sheet spaced from the first transport roller pair and the second transport roller pair, and a reference wall. The controller controls the retransport assembly and executes a waiting operation to cause the sheet to wait at the retransport assembly. The controller is configured to execute the waiting operation by stopping the skew roller pair and one of the first transport roller pair and the second transport roller pair in a state in which the sheet is nipped by the skew roller pair and the one of the first transport roller pair and the second transport roller pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Kenta Tosuji, Yuichiro Ichinose, Masafumi Inoue