Patents by Inventor Masao Ichiyanagi

Masao Ichiyanagi 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: 12271145
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Ichiyanagi, Keita Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20240272581
    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: April 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao ICHIYANAGI, Keita SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 11994825
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Ichiyanagi, Keita Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20230315004
    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: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao ICHIYANAGI, Keita SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 11714379
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Ichiyanagi, Keita Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20220390891
    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: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao ICHIYANAGI, Keita SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 11448999
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Ichiyanagi, Keita Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11320778
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a cover, a maneuver lever, a first locking member, and a second locking member. The cover is attached to the housing and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The maneuver lever is attached to the cover and extends parallel to the rotation axis. The first and second locking members are attached to the cover and are configured to engage with the maneuver lever. The first locking member is rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to the rotation axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. The second locking member is rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the maneuver lever moves from the closed position to the open position, each of the first locking member and the second locking member rotates from the locked position to the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Ichiyanagi, Hikaru Iino
  • Publication number: 20220026845
    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: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao ICHIYANAGI, Keita SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 11150600
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Ichiyanagi, Keita Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20210247716
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a cover, a maneuver lever, a first locking member, and a second locking member. The cover is attached to the housing and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The maneuver lever is attached to the cover and extends parallel to the rotation axis. The first and second locking members are attached to the cover and are configured to engage with the maneuver lever. The first locking member is rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to the rotation axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. The second locking member is rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the maneuver lever moves from the closed position to the open position, each of the first locking member and the second locking member rotates from the locked position to the unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao ICHIYANAGI, Hikaru IINO
  • Patent number: 10871604
    Abstract: A display device includes a light guide member, a light source substrate and a liquid crystal panel. The light guide member has a first incidence surface, and an emission surface orthogonal to the first incidence surface. The light source substrate has a light source emitting light toward the first incidence surface, and a substrate on which the light source is arranged. The liquid crystal panel has a second incidence surface arranged to be inclined relative to a surface of the substrate in a position where the liquid crystal panel faces the emission surface of the light guide member. A second angle between the emission surface and the surface of the substrate is greater than 0°, and is equal to or smaller than a first angle between the second incidence surface and the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ominato, Toshio Sakai, Yohei Hashimoto, Masao Ichiyanagi
  • Publication number: 20200310021
    Abstract: A display device includes a light guide member, a light source substrate and a liquid crystal panel. The light guide member has a first incidence surface, and an emission surface orthogonal to the first incidence surface. The light source substrate has a light source emitting light toward the first incidence surface, and a substrate on which the light source is arranged. The liquid crystal panel has a second incidence surface arranged to be inclined relative to a surface of the substrate in a position where the liquid crystal panel faces the emission surface of the light guide member. A second angle between the emission surface and the surface of the substrate is greater than 0°, and is equal to or smaller than a first angle between the second incidence surface and the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyuki OMINATO, Toshio SAKAI, Yohei HASHIMOTO, Masao ICHIYANAGI
  • 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: 10474090
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a switchback roller, and a re-conveying device. The re-conveying device includes a guide configured to change a conveying direction of a sheet conveyed by the switchback roller from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction and to guide the sheet in a width direction. The guide has a first guide surface and a second guide surface. The first guide surface and the second guide surface define a conveying path therebetween. The second guide surface is located closer to a center of a curvature of the conveying path than the first guide surface in a radial direction of the curvature. The first guide surface has a first area being planar and a second area downstream of the first area. The first area is configured to be contacted by a leading end of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Ichiyanagi, Takeshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9989916
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a cartridge, a driver unit, a first universal joint, and a second universal joint, is provided. The cartridge is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and has a first joint to receive a driving force from the image forming apparatus. The driver unit is configured to supply the driving force to the cartridge. The first universal joint is rotatable about a first axis and extends in a first direction based on the driving force. The second universal joint is coupled with the first universal joint and is rotatable along with the first universal joint. The second universal joint has a second joint coupled with the first joint and is rotatable along with the first joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Yamaguchi, Masao Ichiyanagi, Yohei Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20180095409
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a switchback roller, and a re-conveying device. The re-conveying device includes a guide configured to change a conveying direction of a sheet conveyed by the switchback roller from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction and to guide the sheet in a width direction. The guide has a first guide surface and a second guide surface. The first guide surface and the second guide surface define a conveying path therebetween. The second guide surface is located closer to a center of a curvature of the conveying path than the first guide surface in a radial direction of the curvature. The first guide surface has a first area being planar and a second area downstream of the first area. The first area is configured to be contacted by a leading end of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Ichiyanagi, Takeshi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20170261916
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a cartridge, a driver unit, a first universal joint, and a second universal joint, is provided. The cartridge is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and has a first joint to receive a driving force from the image forming apparatus. The driver unit is configured to supply the driving force to the cartridge. The first universal joint is rotatable about a first axis and extends in a first direction based on the driving force. The second universal joint is coupled with the first universal joint and is rotatable along with the first universal joint. The second universal joint has a second joint coupled with the first joint and is rotatable along with the first joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Wataru Yamaguchi, Masao Ichiyanagi, Yohei Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8898910
    Abstract: A cutter formed by detachably attaching a replaceable blade to a cutter body. The cutter body can include a main body block and slide block. The main body block includes a main body supporting section supporting the replaceable blade back face, and a main body connecting section connecting with the replaceable blade from the front face side. The slide block includes a rear side supporting section supporting the replaceable blade back face, a slide connecting section connecting with and retracting the replaceable blade toward the rear side, and a back side protruding section protruding on the back side in a thickness direction. When attached, the replaceable blade elastically deforms to curve in the thickness direction, the slide block presses toward a main body block side in the thickness direction by elastic force of the replaceable blade, and the back side protruding section engages with a main body block engaged section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Feather Safety Razor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Ichiyanagi, Akira Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140059863
    Abstract: A cutter includes a replaceable blade detachably attached to a cutter body. A main body block of the cutter body includes a container section that houses a slide block, a main body supporting section, and a main body connecting section that connects with the replaceable blade. The slide block includes a rear-side supporting section, a slide connecting section, a flexible section, and a wing section. A front side retaining section that retains the wing section from a front side is formed in at least one side of the container section in a height direction, and the front side retaining section includes a protruding engaging section. In an attached state, the wing section is engaged from a foreside by the protruding engaging section, and the wing section is released from the protruding engaging section by bending the flexible section of the slide block from the attached state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: FEATHER SAFETY RAZOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao Ichiyanagi, Akira Takahashi