Patents by Inventor Masatoshi Shiraki
Masatoshi Shiraki 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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Publication number: 20140356034Abstract: A developing device includes: a housing made of resin; a developer carrier, which is rotatably supported by the housing, and which is configured to carry developer on a circumferential surface thereof; a receiving-side coupling member, which is provided rotatably to one of end portions of the developer carrier and is configured to couple with a driving-side coupling member in the rotational axial direction to transmit driving force to the developer carrier; a blade, which is provided along the rotational axial direction, and which configured to contact the circumferential surface of the developer carrier to regulate a layer thickness of the developer on the circumferential surface; and a support member, which is bent into an L-shape as viewed from the rotational axial direction, and which supports the blade, wherein the receiving-side coupling member is overlapped with a bending portion of the support member, as viewed from the rotational axial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masatoshi SHIRAKI, Hiroshi HANDA, Hiroki MORI
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Patent number: 8867964Abstract: A first rotary body is configured to rotate by a drive force input from an external source and has a first outer peripheral surface. A second rotary body has a second outer peripheral surface and is configured to rotate by following a rotation of the first rotary body through a friction generated between the first outer peripheral surface and the second outer peripheral surface. A first gear is configured to rotate together with the first rotary body. A second gear is configured to rotate together with the second rotary body and is directory engaged with the first gear. The first gear has a first pitch circle and the second gear has a second pitch circle. A radius of the first pitch circle is smaller than a radius of the first rotary body, and a radius of the second pitch circle is larger than a radius of the second rotary body.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Koji Abe, Masatoshi Shiraki, Yasushi Okabe, Aya Tamura
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Publication number: 20140270849Abstract: A cartridge including: a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall which are opposed to each other; a driving input member provided to the first side wall and is configured to rotate; and a first rotary member provided at an outer side of the first side wall and is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis in response to a rotational driving force from the driving input member, wherein the first rotary member includes a protrusion protruding to the outer side, wherein the first rotary member is configured to be moved relative to the first side wall in a direction along the first rotational axis, and wherein an end portion of the first rotary member at an opposite side of the first side wall is configured to be displaced in a direction crossing the first rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shota Shinoya, Masatoshi Shiraki, Fumikazu Sato, Naoto Ozeki
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Publication number: 20140212158Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: including: an image forming unit; and a controller. The image forming unit includes: an image bearing member; a charging member; a transfer member; and a cleaning member. The controller selectively applies first and second transfer biases to the transfer member. A first transfer current flows between the image bearing member and the transfer member upon application of the first transfer bias. A second transfer current flows therebetween upon application of the second transfer bias. The controller selectively applies first and second charging biases to the charging member. The image bearing member has a first surface potential upon application of the first charging bias, and a second surface potential upon application of the second charging bias. The controller applies the first charging bias when applying the first transfer bias, and applies the second charging bias when applying the second transfer bias.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Aya Adachi, Masatoshi Shiraki
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Patent number: 8781377Abstract: A developing device includes: a housing made of resin; a developer carrier, which is rotatably supported by the housing, and which is configured to carry developer on a circumferential surface thereof; a receiving-side coupling member, which is provided rotatably to one of end portions of the developer carrier and is configured to couple with a driving-side coupling member in the rotational axial direction to transmit driving force to the developer carrier; a blade, which is provided along the rotational axial direction, and which configured to contact the circumferential surface of the developer carrier to regulate a layer thickness of the developer on the circumferential surface; and a support member, which is bent into an L-shape as viewed from the rotational axial direction, and which supports the blade, wherein the receiving-side coupling member is overlapped with a bending portion of the support member, as viewed from the rotational axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Hiroshi Handa, Hiroki Mori
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Patent number: 8761634Abstract: A cartridge assembly detachably mounted on a main casing of an image forming device includes a first cartridge having a first handle, a second cartridge having a second handle, and a lock member having a lock section and an operation section. The first handle and the second handle provide a relative position capable of realizing single-handed simultaneous access to the first handle and the second handle in case of an assembled state between the second cartridge and the first cartridge for integral attachment to or detachment from the main casing. The second handle and the operation section are configured to provide a relative position capable of realizing single-handed simultaneous access to the second handle and the operation section to move the lock section from the lock position to the unlock position for detachment of the second cartridge from the first cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Mori, Masatoshi Shiraki
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Patent number: 8744288Abstract: A cartridge including: a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall which are opposed to each other; a driving input member provided to the first side wall and is configured to rotate; and a first rotary member provided at an outer side of the first side wall and is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis in response to a rotational driving force from the driving input member, wherein the first rotary member includes a protrusion protruding to the outer side, wherein the first rotary member is configured to be moved relative to the first side wall in a direction along the first rotational axis, and wherein an end portion of the first rotary member at an opposite side of the first side wall is configured to be displaced in a direction crossing the first rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shota Shinoya, Masatoshi Shiraki, Fumikazu Sato, Naoto Ozeki
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Publication number: 20140105638Abstract: A cartridge is detachably mountable on a main casing. The main casing is provided with a coupling member providing a driving force. The cartridge comprises: a first roller extending in a first direction and configured to rotate about a first rotational axis; a driving force receiving portion configured to receive the driving force from the coupling member to drive the first roller and rotate about a second rotational axis, the driving force receiving portion comprising a contact portion configured to be in contact with the coupling member; and a first gear comprising a gear tooth, the gear being configured to transmit the driving force received at the driving force receiving portion to the first roller. The contact portion is overlapped with the gear tooth when projected in the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Fumikazu Sato
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Patent number: 8693919Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive drum having a circumferential surface, on which a developer image is formed; a transfer member configured to transfer the developer image from the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum to a recording medium conveyed along the conveying path in a conveying direction; a collecting member; and a motor capable of performing a forward rotation and a reverse rotation; wherein, based on a timing when a portion of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum faces an upstream side edge of the developer image on the recording medium in the conveying direction, a time elapsed until the motor is stopped to change from performing the forward rotation to the reverse rotation is longer than a time elapsed until the portion of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum that faced the upstream side edge of the developer image faces the collecting member.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masatoshi Shiraki
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Publication number: 20140093259Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member and a cleaning member. The image forming apparatus: determines whether the electric resistance of a recording medium is low or high; applies a first transfer bias to the transfer member if the electric resistance is low; applies a second transfer bias to the transfer member if the electric resistance is high; applies a first cleaning bias to the cleaning member if the electric resistance is low; and applies a second cleaning bias to the cleaning member so that a potential difference between a portion of a surface of the image carrier against which the cleaning member is rubbed and the cleaning member becomes smaller than that in a case of applying the first cleaning bias if the electric resistance is high.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masatoshi Shiraki
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Publication number: 20140086631Abstract: A process unit includes a drum frame supporting a photoconductor drum and a development frame supporting a development roller. The development cartridge is swingably supported by the drum frame at a coupling joint provided at a first side of the development frame and a support portion provided at a second side of the development frame. A center of rotation of the development roller is located in a position shifted from a line segment connecting a center of rotation of the coupling joint and a center of rotation of the photoconductor drum to an upstream side with respect to a direction of rotation of the coupling joint as viewed in an axial direction of the development roller, such that the development roller is pressed against the photoconductor drum by the action of the rotatory force received by the coupling joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Hiroki Mori
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Patent number: 8620180Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge and a developing cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, an input gear, a transmission gear, and a supporting cover. The input gear includes a contact portion, an outer circumferential wall, and a gear portion. The contact portion is in contact with a coupling member to receive the driving force. The outer circumferential wall and the gear portion rotate about a rotational axis defining an axial direction when the contact portion receives the driving force. The outer circumferential wall has a curved surface whose center of radius of a curvature is coincident with the rotational axis. The transmission gear is meshingly engaged with the gear portion to transmit the driving force from the input gear to the developing roller. The supporting cover covers the curved surface of the outer circumferential wall to rotatably support the outer circumferential wall.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Fumikazu Sato
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Patent number: 8611787Abstract: A process unit includes a drum frame supporting a photoconductor drum and a development frame supporting a development roller. The development cartridge is swingably supported by the drum frame at a coupling joint provided at a first side of the development frame and a support portion provided at a second side of the development frame. A center of rotation of the development roller is located in a position shifted from a line segment connecting a center of rotation of the coupling joint and a center of rotation of the photoconductor drum to an upstream side with respect to a direction of rotation of the coupling joint as viewed in an axial direction of the development roller, such that the development roller is pressed against the photoconductor drum by the action of the rotatory force received by the coupling joint.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Hiroki Mori
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Patent number: 8494419Abstract: A processing unit is provided. The processing unit includes: a housing; a developing roller that carries developer on a surface thereof, the developing roller including, a roller body, and a covering layer covering an outer circumferential surface of the roller body; a photosensitive drum that contacts the developing roller, wherein an end face of the photosensitive drum at a first side in an axial direction of the developing roller is located at an outer side in the axial direction compared to an end face of the developing roller at the first side in the axial direction, and wherein the developer on the developing roller is supplied to the photosensitive drum; and a supporting member that contacts an inner circumferential surface of the roller body at the first side in the axial direction, and supports the developing roller rotatably in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Hiroshi Handa
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Publication number: 20130136460Abstract: A cartridge includes: a casing for accommodating developer; a rotatable body rotatably provided at the casing; a pivot member; and a biasing member. The rotatable body is rotatable about a rotational axis, the rotatable body having an outer circumference defining a rotational path during rotation. The pivot member is disposed at the rotatable body at a position offset from the rotational axis and is pivotable about a pivot fulcrum extending in a direction parallel to a tangential direction of the rotational path. The pivot member being pivotably movable between an erect position in which the pivot member erects to form a first angle relative to the rotatable body and a collapsed position in which the pivot member pivots toward the rotatable body to form a second angle smaller than the first angle relative to the rotational body. The biasing member biases the pivot member toward the erect position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Yasuo Fukamachi
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Publication number: 20130084103Abstract: A first rotary body is configured to rotate by a drive force input from an external source and has a first outer peripheral surface. A second rotary body is configured to rotate by following a rotation of the first rotary body through the friction generated between the first outer peripheral surface and the second outer peripheral surface. A first gear is configured to rotate together with the first rotary body. A second gear is configured to rotate together with the second rotary body and is directory engaged with the first gear. The first gear had a first pitch circle and the second gear has a second pitch circle. A radius of the first pitch circle is smaller than the radius of the first rotary body, and a radius of the second pitch circle is larger than the radius of the second rotary body.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2012Publication date: April 4, 2013Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Koji ABE, Masatoshi SHIRAKI, Yasushi OKABE, Aya TAMURA
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Patent number: 8412065Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing roller, a toner supply roller, and a charging member. The toner supply roller supplies single-component non-magnetic toner to the developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. In a toner cleaning mode, the toner supply roller removes the toner from the developing roller. To this effect, the charging member charges up the toner held on the developing roller. A bias circuit and a controller are further provided, wherein the bias circuit applies bias voltages to the developing roller, supply roller, and charging member, and the controller controls the bias circuit to produce the bias voltages such that a potential difference between the charging member and the supply roller is greater than a potential difference between the developing roller and the supply roller in the toner cleaning mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Hiroshi Handa, Hiroki Mori
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Patent number: 8346125Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge that has a photosensitive drum and a developing cartridge that is detachably mounted on the photosensitive cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, an input gear, and a transmission gear. The developing gear supplies toner to the photosensitive drum. The input gear includes a contact portion that is in contact with a coupling member to receive the driving force and a gear portion. The input gear rotates about a rotational axis defining an axial direction when the contact portion receives the driving force. The transmission gear is meshingly engaged with the gear portion to transmit the driving force from the input gear to the developing roller. The gear portion has a pitch circle defined by being meshingly engaged with the transmission gear. The pitch circle of the gear portion is arranged to overlap with the contact portion in the axial direction of the input gear.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Fumikazu Sato
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Publication number: 20120321345Abstract: A cartridge including: a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall which are opposed to each other; a driving input member provided to the first side wall and is configured to rotate; and a first rotary member provided at an outer side of the first side wall and is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis in response to a rotational driving force from the driving input member, wherein the first rotary member includes a protrusion protruding to the outer side, wherein the first rotary member is configured to be moved relative to the first side wall in a direction along the first rotational axis, and wherein an end portion of the first rotary member at an opposite side of the first side wall is configured to be displaced in a direction crossing the first rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shota SHINOYA, Masatoshi SHIRAKI, Fumikazu SATO, Naoto OZEKI
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Publication number: 20120263506Abstract: A process unit includes a drum frame supporting a photoconductor drum and a development frame supporting a development roller. The development cartridge is swingably supported by the drum frame at a coupling joint provided at a first side of the development frame and a support portion provided at a second side of the development frame. A center of rotation of the development roller is located in a position shifted from a line segment connecting a center of rotation of the coupling joint and a center of rotation of the photoconductor drum to an upstream side with respect to a direction of rotation of the coupling joint as viewed in an axial direction of the development roller, such that the development roller is pressed against the photoconductor drum by the action of the rotatory force received by the coupling joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masatoshi SHIRAKI, Hiroki MORI