Patents by Inventor Masanari YOSHIKAWA
Masanari YOSHIKAWA 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: 10466646Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a particular direction. A frame rotatably supports the photosensitive drum. A developing roller is rotatable according to driving force about a second axis extending in the particular direction. A surface of the developing roller contacts a surface of the photosensitive drum through toner. A resistance generating member generates a resistance torque TQ1 serving as resistance between the frame and photosensitive drum in a case where the photosensitive drum rotates relative to the frame. In a case where the developing roller rotates according to the driving force in a state where the surface of the developing roller contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum through toner, the resistance torque TQ1 is smaller than a torque TQ2 that causes the photosensitive drum to rotate due to friction between the surface of the developing roller and the surface of the photosensitive drum.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomoya Ichikawa, Takashi Shimizu, Masaaki Furukawa, Naoya Kamimura, Takashi Yasuda, Masanari Yoshikawa, Koji Abe
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Publication number: 20190033779Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a particular direction. A frame rotatably supports the photosensitive drum. A developing roller is rotatable according to driving force about a second axis extending in the particular direction. A surface of the developing roller contacts a surface of the photosensitive drum through toner. A resistance generating member generates a resistance torque TQ1 serving as resistance between the frame and photosensitive drum in a case where the photosensitive drum rotates relative to the frame. In a case where the developing roller rotates according to the driving force in a state where the surface of the developing roller contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum through toner, the resistance torque TQ1 is smaller than a torque TQ2 that causes the photosensitive drum to rotate due to friction between the surface of the developing roller and the surface of the photosensitive drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomoya ICHIKAWA, Takashi SHIMIZU, Masaaki FURUKAWA, Naoya KAMIMURA, Takashi YASUDA, Masanari YOSHIKAWA, Koji ABE
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Patent number: 9459585Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge, a first unit, and a second unit. The first unit includes a sheet discharge tray and a guide. The cartridge has an accommodating portion configured to accommodate a color material. The guide is positioned below the sheet discharge tray and is configured to guide the cartridge to its assembled position. The first unit has an opening directing downward, and the guide has a lower end. The second unit includes a sheet supply tray positioned below the guide. The first unit and the second unit are pivotally movably connected to each other about a pivot axis to provide a first position and a second position. In the first position, the opening is closed by the second unit and the lower end of the guide is directed toward the sheet supply tray. In the second position, the opening is exposed to an outside.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masanari Yoshikawa, Yasushi Okabe
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Patent number: 9383694Abstract: An image forming device includes: a photosensitive drum; a first roller; a second roller; an intermediate transfer belt; a transfer roller; a cleaner; a waste toner accommodating portion; and a paper guide. The intermediate transfer belt is looped around the first roller and the second roller to circularly move in a moving direction. The intermediate transfer belt contacts the photosensitive drum. The transfer roller is disposed opposite to the first roller with respect to the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner collects waste toner on the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner is disposed upstream of the photosensitive drum in the moving direction and downstream of the transfer roller in the moving direction. The waste toner accommodating portion accommodates the waste toner collected by the cleaner. The paper guide guides a recording medium and disposed between the cleaner and the waste toner accommodating portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masanari Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 9377746Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a casing including a side wall having an opening; a drawer member configured to support a plurality of cartridges in such a manner as to allow the cartridges to be detachably attached thereto, and to be movable through the opening from an inside position in which the drawer member is located inside the casing to an outside position in which the drawer member is located outside the casing in a moving direction; and a leg portion configured to support the casing. In this image forming apparatus, the leg portion includes a portion located downstream from the opening in the moving direction of the drawer member.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuichi Kato, Seiichi Senda, Atsushi Kato, Masanari Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 9280126Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a casing including a side wall having an opening; a drawer member configured to support a plurality of cartridges in such a manner as to allow the cartridges to be detachably attached thereto, and to be movable through the opening from an inside position in which the drawer member is located inside the casing to an outside position in which the drawer member is located outside the casing in a moving direction; and a leg portion configured to support the casing. In this image forming apparatus, the leg portion includes a portion located downstream from the opening in the moving direction of the drawer member.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuichi Kato, Seiichi Senda, Atsushi Kato, Masanari Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20150378288Abstract: An image forming device includes: a photosensitive drum; a first roller; a second roller; an intermediate transfer belt; a transfer roller; a cleaner; a waste toner accommodating portion; and a paper guide. The intermediate transfer belt is looped around the first roller and the second roller to circularly move in a moving direction. The intermediate transfer belt contacts the photosensitive drum. The transfer roller is disposed opposite to the first roller with respect to the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner collects waste toner on the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner is disposed upstream of the photosensitive drum in the moving direction and downstream of the transfer roller in the moving direction. The waste toner accommodating portion accommodates the waste toner collected by the cleaner. The paper guide guides a recording medium and disposed between the cleaner and the waste toner accommodating portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventor: Masanari Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 9201391Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to form an image by using photosensitive drums. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an endless belt, a drawing member which rotatably supports cartridges, and is movable to a mounting position at which the photosensitive drums oppose the endless belt and to a separation position at which the photosensitive drums are further spaced from the endless belt than at the mounting position, and a cleaning unit including a first housing having a collecting member which is configured to contact the endless belt to collect developer on the endless belt and a second housing having an accommodating part which is configured to accommodate the developer collected by the collecting member. The first housing is provided to the apparatus main body and the second housing is provided to the drawing member.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masanari Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 9134686Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a belt cleaning unit; a waste toner container; a conveying unit; and a support member. The cleaning unit collects waste toner adhered to a belt. The container stores the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit. The conveying unit conveys the waste toner from the cleaning unit to the container. The support member moves between an internal position inside the main casing and an external position outside the main casing. The support member in the internal position moves between a contact position where the photosensitive body contacts the belt and a separated position where the photosensitive body separates from the belt. The conveying unit moves along with the support member moving between the contact position and the separated position. The conveying unit is uncoupled from the container while the support member moves from the internal position to the external position.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2013Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masanari Yoshikawa, Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 9128423Abstract: An image forming device includes: a photosensitive drum; a first roller; a second roller; an intermediate transfer belt; a transfer roller; a cleaner; a waste toner accommodating portion; and a paper guide. The intermediate transfer belt is looped around the first roller and the second roller to circularly move in a moving direction. The intermediate transfer belt contacts the photosensitive drum. The transfer roller is disposed opposite to the first roller with respect to the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner collects waste toner on the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner is disposed upstream of the photosensitive drum in the moving direction and downstream of the transfer roller in the moving direction. The waste toner accommodating portion accommodates the waste toner collected by the cleaner. The paper guide guides a recording medium and disposed between the cleaner and the waste toner accommodating portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masanari Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 9122198Abstract: There is provided a developing unit, including: a body defining a developing chamber and a developer accommodating chamber, and a developer delivery member. The body includes a sliding portion, a restoring portion and a colliding portion at the developer accommodating chamber. The developer delivery member includes an elastic member configured to be made a sliding contact with the sliding portion while being curved elastically, configured to be restored elastically at the restoring portion, and configured to collide with the colliding portion. The developer delivery member is configured so that, the elastic member which has been elastically restored at the restoring portion is collided with the colliding portion to generate an air flow and to deliver the developer in the developer accommodating chamber toward the connection port.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Seiichi Senda, Shuichi Kato, Masanari Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 9025995Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a belt unit having a belt and a belt cleaning unit; a waste toner container; and a supporting member supporting the waste toner container and a cartridge storing toner supplied to a photosensitive member. The supporting member in the main casing is movable between a contact position where the photosensitive member contacts the belt and a separation position where the photosensitive member separates from the belt. One of the waste toner container and the belt cleaning unit is movable between a connected position providing connection to each other and a disconnected position providing disconnection from each other when the support member is in the contact position. The supporting member moves between the contact position and the separation position when one of the waste toner container and the belt cleaning unit is in the disconnected position.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masanari Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20150093125Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge, a first unit, and a second unit. The first unit includes a sheet discharge tray and a guide. The cartridge has an accommodating portion configured to accommodate a color material. The guide is positioned below the sheet discharge tray and is configured to guide the cartridge to its assembled position. The first unit has an opening directing downward, and the guide has a lower end. The second unit includes a sheet supply tray positioned below the guide. The first unit and the second unit are pivotally movably connected to each other about a pivot axis to provide a first position and a second position. In the first position, the opening is closed by the second unit and the lower end of the guide is directed toward the sheet supply tray. In the second position, the opening is exposed to an outside.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Masanari YOSHIKAWA, Yasushi OKABE
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Patent number: 8995884Abstract: A developing apparatus is provided, including a developing unit including a developing roller; a developer accommodating unit; a partition wall partitioning the developing unit and the developer accommodating unit; a supply port which makes communication between the developing unit and the developer accommodating unit; a transport member configured so that the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit is supplied to the developing unit via the supply port in accordance with rotation; a return port configured so that the developer contained in the developing unit is permitted to fall into the developer accommodating unit; an opening/closing member configured to be movable between an open position for opening the return port and a closed position for closing the return port; and a driving mechanism configured so that the opening/closing member is moved to the closed position and the open position.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuichi Kato, Seiichi Senda, Tomoaki Hattori, Masanari Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 8971768Abstract: A developer container includes a developer accommodating chamber and a transporting member configured to elastically deform, to rotate, and to transport the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber. The developer accommodating chamber includes a dividing wall configured to deform the transporting member by making a sliding contact with the transporting member. The developer accommodating chamber further includes a communicating portion configured to allow the transporting member, which has been elastically deformed by the sliding portion, to restore. The developer accommodating chamber still further includes a contacting portion. The transporting member restored by the communicating portion being configured to contact with the contacting portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Seiichi Senda, Masanari Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20150050047Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to form an image by using photosensitive drums. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an endless belt, a drawing member which rotatably supports cartridges, and is movable to a mounting position at which the photosensitive drums oppose the endless belt and to a separation position at which the photosensitive drums are further spaced from the endless belt than at the mounting position, and a cleaning unit including a first housing having a collecting member which is configured to contact the endless belt to collect developer on the endless belt and a second housing having an accommodating part which is configured to accommodate the developer collected by the collecting member. The first housing is provided to the apparatus main body and the second housing is provided to the drawing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventor: Masanari Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20140376952Abstract: An image forming device includes: a photosensitive drum; a first roller; a second roller; an intermediate transfer belt; a transfer roller; a cleaner; a waste toner accommodating portion; and a paper guide. The intermediate transfer belt is looped around the first roller and the second roller to circularly move in a moving direction. The intermediate transfer belt contacts the photosensitive drum. The transfer roller is disposed opposite to the first roller with respect to the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner collects waste toner on the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaner is disposed upstream of the photosensitive drum in the moving direction and downstream of the transfer roller in the moving direction. The waste toner accommodating portion accommodates the waste toner collected by the cleaner. The paper guide guides a recording medium and disposed between the cleaner and the waste toner accommodating portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masanari Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 8879947Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to form an image by using photosensitive drums. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an endless belt, a drawing member which rotatably supports cartridges, and is movable to a mounting position at which the photosensitive drums oppose the endless belt and to a separation position at which the photosensitive drums are further spaced from the endless belt than at the mounting position, and a cleaning unit including a first housing having a collecting member which is configured to contact the endless belt to collect developer on the endless belt and a second housing having an accommodating part which is configured to accommodate the developer collected by the collecting member. The first housing is provided to the apparatus main body and the second housing is provided to the drawing member.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masanari Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 8867959Abstract: An image forming device includes: a belt; a developing unit; a support unit; a cleaning member; a waste toner box; and a main casing. The developing unit is configured to accommodate developing agent therein. The support unit is configured to support the developing unit. The cleaning member is configured to collect residual toner deposited on the belt. The waste toner box is configured to accommodate therein the residual toner collected by the cleaning member. The main casing has a first wall having a first opening through which the support unit passes; and a second wall disposed spaced apart from the first wall in a first direction and having a second opening through which the waste toner box passes. The main casing includes: a first cover configured to expose the first opening and to cover the first opening; and a second cover configured to expose the second opening and to cover the second opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masanari Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 8831470Abstract: In an image-forming device, a first roller and a second roller are arranged in a first direction, the first roller being disposed upstream of the second roller in the first direction. An endless belt spanned between the first roller and the second roller forms a straight plane extending in the first direction. The straight plane moves in the first direction when the endless belt is circularly moved. Photosensitive members are arranged in the first direction and face the straight plane. A transfer member is opposed to the first roller across the endless belt. A cleaning unit includes: a cleaning member opposed to the straight plane at an upstream of an upstream most photosensitive member in the first direction; and a treating member disposed upstream of the cleaning member in the first direction to treat residual toner collected by the cleaning member. A conveying path formed between the transfer member and a fixing member passes between the cleaning member and the treating member.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masanari Yoshikawa