Patents by Inventor Masashi Imai

Masashi Imai 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: 20150277277
    Abstract: In a developing device, a developing roller has an outer peripheral surface movable in a moving direction upon rotation of the developing roller to transfer developing agent to a developing region having a width in an axial direction of the developing roller. A thickness regulation blade includes a rubber portion. The rubber portion provides a contact region in contact with the outer peripheral surface to provide a nip region relative to the developing roller. The contact region includes a first region; and a second region. The first region and the second region each extends in the axial direction by a length at least equal to or greater than the width of the developing region. The first region has a first surface roughness. The second region is positioned downstream of the first region in the moving direction and has a second surface roughness finer than the first surface roughness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Marika OGISO, Masashi IMAI
  • Patent number: 8948648
    Abstract: A developing device includes a casing having an opening extending in a first direction, a developing roller, a thickness-regulation member, an engagement portion and a sealing member. The thickness-regulation member includes a thin-plate member and a regulating portion. The thin-plate member is fixed to the casing and has a lateral end extending in a second direction. The regulating portion is fixed on the thin-plate member and has an end face extending in a direction. The engagement portion is fixed on the thin-plate member and positioned closer to the lateral end than the end face to the lateral end to provide a groove between the engagement portion and the end face. The sealing member is fitted in the groove and has a length in the first direction longer than a length of the groove prior to assembly of the sealing member into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ito, Satoru Suzuki, Masashi Imai, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8948666
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatably supported to the casing; a resiliently deformable blade supported to the casing; a regulation portion; and a covering portion. The developing roller is rotatable in a rotational direction and carries a layer of developer thereon. The blade extends in an axial direction of the developing roller and has one axial end portion formed with a through-hole, the blade having a first surface facing the developing roller and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The regulation portion is configured to be in contact with the developing roller to regulate a thickness of the layer of the developer carried on the developing roller. The covering portion is provided on the second surface and positioned to cover the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Imai, Marika Ogiso
  • Patent number: 8934797
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit for a monochrome printing including a first photosensitive member for black, a first charging member and a first collection member; a second image forming unit for a multi-color printing including a second photosensitive member for a color, a second charging member and a second collection member; and a control device configured to, at the color printing mode, apply a first charging bias to the second charging member and apply a first bias having a reverse polarity to a charged polarity of developer to the first and second collection members, and at the monochrome printing mode, apply a second charging bias to the second charging member, apply a second bias having the reverse polarity to the first collection member and apply a third bias to the second collection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Miyahara, Masashi Imai, Yoh Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8909109
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatably supported to the casing; a resiliently deformable blade supported to the casing and extending in an axial direction of the developing roller; and a regulation portion. The developing roller is rotatable in a rotational direction and to carry a layer of developer thereon. The blade has a first surface facing the developing roller. The regulation portion is configured to be in contact with the developing roller to regulate a thickness of the layer of the developer. The blade is formed with a through-hole to allow a material of the regulation portion to pass therethrough to form the regulation portion, the through-hole being exclusively formed in a central area in the axial direction assuming that the blade were divided into three areas each having an identical length in the axial direction with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Imai, Marika Ogiso
  • Publication number: 20140294434
    Abstract: A developing roller configured to carry developer and extending in an axial direction includes: a hollow cylindrical rubber portion; and a shaft. The hollow cylindrical rubber portion has axial end faces. The shaft extends through the hollow cylindrical rubber portion and has a shaft portion positioned inward of the axial end faces of the hollow cylindrical rubber portion in the axial direction. The shaft portion has an axially middle portion and axial end portions positioned outward of the axially middle portion in the axial direction. The axially middle portion has an outer diameter smaller than that of each of the axial end portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi IMAI, Marika OGISO
  • Publication number: 20140294433
    Abstract: A developing roller configured to carry developer and extending in an axial direction includes: a first rotation shaft; a second rotation shaft; a rubber body portion; a first cylindrical rubber portion; and a second cylindrical rubber portion. The body portion has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in the axial direction. The first cylindrical rubber portion is disposed on the first side. The first rotation shaft is configured to be fitted with the first cylindrical rubber portion. The second cylindrical rubber portion is disposed on the second side. The second rotation shaft is configured to be fitted with the second cylindrical rubber portion. The rubber body portion is configured to be deformable more than the first cylindrical rubber portion and the second cylindrical rubber portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi IMAI, Marika OGISO
  • Publication number: 20140255059
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer cartridge and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a first guide and a second guide. The second is movable with respect to the developing frame between a first position where the second guide is in continuous with the first guide and a second position where a continuous state of the second guide with the first guide is interrupted. The developer cartridge includes a developer frame that accommodates a developer and a first guided member movable with respect to the developer frame. The first guide and the second guide at the first position guide the first guided member in the course of attaching the developer cartridge to the developing unit. When an attachment of the developer cartridge to the developing unit completes, the first guide receives the first guided member, and the second guide is at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiko Hayakawa, Masashi Imai, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 8737876
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer cartridge and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a first guide and a second guide. The second is movable with respect to the developing frame between a first position where the second guide is in continuous with the first guide and a second position where a continuous state of the second guide with the first guide is interrupted. The developer cartridge includes a developer frame that accommodates a developer and a first guided member movable with respect to the developer frame. The first guide and the second guide at the first position guide the first guided member in the course of attaching the developer cartridge to the developing unit. When an attachment of the developer cartridge to the developing unit completes, the first guide receives the first guided member, and the second guide is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Hayakawa, Masashi Imai, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 8706004
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a holder, photosensitive drums, developing units, and toner cartridges. Each toner cartridge includes a case, shutter, and operation member. The case contains the toner therein and has an opening at a position confronting the corresponding developing unit in a state that the toner cartridge is attached to the holder. The shutter is movable between a block position and an open position. The shutter is located at the open position when the operation member is located at a first position. The shutter is located at the block position when the operation member is located at a second position. The operation member has: a base end fixed to the shutter; and a distal end configured to move from a lower position to a position higher than the lower position when the operation member is moved from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Shougo Sato, Masashi Imai, Nao Itabashi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8634744
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: a main casing; a retaining member; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner cartridges; and an operation unit. The retaining member is configured to be movable in a first direction between an accommodated position and a pulled-out position. The retaining member includes a first side plate and a second side plate extending in the first direction and disposed in confrontation with and spaced apart from each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The developing units are retained in the retaining member. The toner cartridges have one-on-one correspondence to the developing units and are configured to be mountable in or detachable from the retaining member when the retaining member is located at the pulled-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Naoya Kamimura, Nao Itabashi, Ryuya Yamazaki, Masashi Imai
  • Patent number: 8611806
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt operating as an intermediate image transfer member. A plurality of process cartridges is juxtaposed along the endless belt. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum confronting the endless belt and a developing agent carrying member disposed in confronting relation with the photosensitive drum for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum. A first conveying member is provided in each process cartridge. A second conveying member is provided in the housing, and the first conveying member conveys a recording sheet in cooperation with the second conveying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Imai
  • Publication number: 20130322902
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit for a monochrome printing including a first photosensitive member for black, a first charging member and a first collection member; a second image forming unit for a multi-color printing including a second photosensitive member for a color, a second charging member and a second collection member; and a control device configured to, at the color printing mode, apply a first charging bias to the second charging member and apply a first bias having a reverse polarity to a charged polarity of developer to the first and second collection members, and at the monochrome printing mode, apply a second charging bias to the second charging member, apply a second bias having the reverse polarity to the first collection member and apply a third bias to the second collection member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Miyahara, Masashi Imai, Yoh Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20130243477
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a holder, photosensitive drums, developing units, and toner cartridges. Each toner cartridge includes a case, shutter, and operation member. The case contains the toner therein and has an opening at a position confronting the corresponding developing unit in a state that the toner cartridge is attached to the holder. The shutter is movable between a block position and an open position. The shutter is located at the open position when the operation member is located at a first position. The shutter is located at the block position when the operation member is located at a second position. The operation member has: a base end fixed to the shutter; and a distal end configured to move from a lower position to a position higher than the lower position when the operation member is moved from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya KAMIMURA, Shougo SATO, Masashi IMAI, Nao ITABASHI, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20130188998
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatably supported to the casing; a resiliently deformable blade supported to the casing; a regulation portion; and a covering portion. The developing roller is rotatable in a rotational direction and carries a layer of developer thereon. The blade extends in an axial direction of the developing roller and has one axial end portion formed with a through-hole, the blade having a first surface facing the developing roller and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The regulation portion is configured to be in contact with the developing roller to regulate a thickness of the layer of the developer carried on the developing roller. The covering portion is provided on the second surface and positioned to cover the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Masashi Imai, Marika Ogiso
  • Publication number: 20130188997
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatably supported to the casing; a resiliently deformable blade supported to the casing and extending in an axial direction of the developing roller; and a regulation portion. The developing roller is rotatable in a rotational direction and to carry a layer of developer thereon. The blade has a first surface facing the developing roller. The regulation portion is configured to be in contact with the developing roller to regulate a thickness of the layer of the developer. The blade is formed with a through-hole to allow a material of the regulation portion to pass therethrough to form the regulation portion, the through-hole being exclusively formed in a central area in the axial direction assuming that the blade were divided into three areas each having an identical length in the axial direction with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Masashi Imai, Marika Ogiso
  • Patent number: 8457523
    Abstract: A holder unit is movable between an accommodated position and a pulled out position. A plurality of toner cartridges is detachably attached to the holder unit. A shutter provided on each toner cartridge is movable between a block position where the shutter blocks an opening of a case and an open position where the shutter opens the opening. An operation member of each toner cartridge operates the shutter such that the shutter moves between a first position and a second position. The shutter is located at the open position when the operation member is located at the first position. The shutter is located at the block position when the operation member is located at the second position. An interference member is configured such that the operation members abut the interference member to be displaced from the second position to the first position when the holder unit is moved from the pulled out position to the accommodated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Shougo Sato, Masashi Imai, Nao Itabashi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8444520
    Abstract: A gear device has an outer cylinder fixed to a first mating member and a crankshaft inside the outer cylinder. An external gear is mounted to an eccentric portion of the crankshaft and meshes with internal teeth of the outer cylinder. A carrier is fixed to a second mating member. Rocking rotation of the external gear rotates the carrier coaxially to the outer cylinder. A cylindrical body is inserted in an axial through-hole of the carrier. The carrier has a first portion on one end of the cylindrical body and a second portion on an axially intermediate portion of the cylindrical body. The other end of the cylindrical body extends toward a corresponding mating member while protruding axially beyond the second portion. An outer diameter of remaining portions of the cylindrical body do not exceed an outermost diameter of the portion on which the first and second portions are fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Nabtesco Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nakamura, Masashi Imai, Kenichi Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20130063557
    Abstract: An eyewear device which adjusts a transmitted light amount to a left eye and a right eye of a viewer to perform an assistance operation, which assists the viewer in viewing images so that the viewer stereoscopically perceives the images, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a synchronization signal in synchronization with display of the images; and a controller which analyzes a signal configuration of the synchronization signal after power supply is started for the assistance operation, and switches a control mode between a first control mode and a second control mode, which is different from the first control mode, based on an analysis result of the signal configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Katsuo Saigo, Kazuhiro Mihara, Masashi Imai, Norikazu Kaneshiro
  • Patent number: 8385774
    Abstract: Each of the toner cartridges includes a case, a shutter, a first operation portion and a second operation portion. The shutter is located at an open position where the shutter opens an opening of a case when the first operation portion is located at a first position. The shutter is located at a block position the shutter blocks the opening when the first operation portion is located at a second position. The shutter is located at the open position when the second operation portion is located at a third position. The shutter is located at the block position when the second operation portion is located at a fourth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Imai, Shougo Sato, Naoya Kamimura, Nao Itabashi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Ryuya Yamazaki