Patents by Inventor Nao Itabashi

Nao Itabashi 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: 11693334
    Abstract: In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11687016
    Abstract: In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11675289
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in the first direction; a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the detection gear being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230176501
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing for accommodating developer therein; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one side of the casing in a second direction; a storage medium having an electric contact surface; and a holder movable relative to the casing in the second direction with the electric contact surface between a first position and a second position, the holder having an outer surface at which the electric contact surface is positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 11669043
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11650518
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in the first direction; a coupling rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction, the coupling being positioned at one side of the casing in the first direction; a detection gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction, the detection gear being positioned at another side of the casing in the first direction; and a storage medium including an electric contact surface, the electric contact surface being positioned at the one side of the casing in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 11644790
    Abstract: A process cartridge including: a photosensitive member cartridge including a photosensitive member; and a developing cartridge including a developer carrier. The developing cartridge further includes: an inputting portion; a first cover; and a second cover. The first cover has a first engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The first engagement portion is positioned between an axis of the developer carrier extending in an axial direction and an axis of the inputting portion extending in the axial direction, when projected in the axial direction. The second cover has a second engagement portion configured to move the developer carrier away from the photosensitive member. The second engagement portion is positioned between the axis of the developer carrier and the axis of the inputting portion, when projected in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230118550
    Abstract: In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Nayoya Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20230114766
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main frame; a developing cartridge including a casing, a storage medium having an electrical contact surface, and developing roller; a photosensitive drum contactable with the developing roller; an electrical connector contactable with the electrical contact surface; a separation mechanism; and a controller configured to communicate with the storage medium via the electrical connector. The separation mechanism is configured to move the casing relative to the main frame in a separating direction in which the developing roller separates from the photosensitive drum. The controller is configured to perform: moving, by controlling the separation mechanism, the casing relative to the main frame in the separating direction; determining, in response to performing the moving, whether communication with the storage medium is established; and outputting, when determining in the determining that the communication with the storage medium is not established, an error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao Kyotani, Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 11609536
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first drum frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable; and a second drum frame having an outer surface; and a memory having an electrical contact surface. The first drum frame is at one end portion of the drum cartridge in a second direction and the second drum frame is at another end portion of the drum cartridge in the second direction. The electrical contact surface is positioned at the outer surface of the second drum frame and is movable in a predetermined direction relative to the second drum frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Publication number: 20230079258
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a developing roller, a casing capable of containing a developer therein, a developing electrode movable with the casing and the developing roller and pivotable about a developing roller shaft of the developing roller in a direction, a first lever movable relative to the casing, and a holder configured to hold the first lever relative to the casing, in case where the developing electrode pivots from one side of the direction to an other side of the direction, the first lever stops the pivotable movement of the developing electrode from one side of the direction to the other side of the direction and the holder prevents the first lever from coming off the holder from the one side of the direction to the other side of the direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 11592764
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing for accommodating developer therein; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one side of the casing in a second direction; a storage medium having an electric contact surface; and a holder movable relative to the casing in the second direction with the electric contact surface between a first position and a second position, the holder having an outer surface at which the electric contact surface is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Publication number: 20230057407
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable; a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a memory having an electrical contact surface; and a resilient member positioned between the electrical contact surface and the drum frame. The resilient member is configured to expand and compress in a second direction crossing the electrical contact surface between a first state and a second state, the resilient member having a shorter length in the second state than in the first state. A distance between the drum frame and the electrical contact surface in the second direction when the resilient member is in the second state is smaller than a distance between the drum frame and the electrical contact surface in the second direction when the resilient member is in the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20220404759
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a casing; a first cam and a first gear rotatable together relative to the casing about a first axis extending in the first direction; and a second cam and a second gear rotatable together relative to the casing about a second axis extending in the first direction. The second gear contacts the first gear. When the developing cartridge is attached to a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum: at a first position of the first cam, the second cam is at a third position and the developing roller and the photosensitive drum contact each other; and at a second position of the first cam, the second cam is at a fourth position and contacts a part of the drum cartridge to move the developing cartridge to separate the developing roller from the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao ITABASHI, Atsushi FUKAYA, Naoya KAMIMURA, Daisuke MAETA, Keigo NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 11526119
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a casing having a first outer surface and a second outer surface spaced apart from each other in the first direction; a first separation member positioned at the first outer surface; and a second separation member positioned at the second outer surface. The second separation member has a first end portion configured to contact a body-side cam of an image-forming apparatus. In a state where a drum cartridge is attached to an apparatus body of the image-forming apparatus in an attached state of the developing cartridge to the drum cartridge, the first separation member is pressed by a drum cam of the drum cartridge, and the first end portion of the second separation member is pressed by the body-side cam to move the developing roller from a contacting position to a separated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuhei Hatano, Wataru Yamaguchi, Yasuhiro Hosokawa, Nao Itabashi
  • Publication number: 20220390878
    Abstract: In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao ITABASHI, Naoya KAMIMURA
  • Publication number: 20220388299
    Abstract: A foil transfer film cartridge includes a supply reel on which a foil film including a transfer layer containing foil is wound, a take-up reel on which to take up the foil film, a first connecting portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a first axial direction along a rotation axis of the supply reel and connecting the supply reel and the take-up reel at a position apart from the foil film, and a film guide member extending in a second axial direction along a rotation axis of the take-up reel the film guide member being capable of assuming an out-of-contact state and an in-contact state with the foil film extended between the supply reel and the take-up reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao ITABASHI, Tomoya ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220390890
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge is removably insertable into to the main body casing in a first direction. The developing cartridge is removably insertable into the main body casing in the first direction. The drum cartridge includes a first handle. The first handle has a first recess having a first hollow. The developing cartridge includes a second handle. The second handle has a second recess having a second hollow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao ITABASHI