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).

  • Publication number: 20210063960
    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: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao ITABASHI
  • Publication number: 20210063911
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a holder, a toner memory, an electrical contact and a wiring. The holder is positioned at an outer surface of one side in a first direction of the casing. The electric contact surface is positioned at an outer surface of one side in a second direction of the holder. The second direction crosses the electric contact surface. The electrical contact is positioned on an outer surface of another side in the second direction of the holder. The wiring electrically connects the electrical contact and the electric contact surface. The electric contact surface includes a first electric contact surface and a second electric contact surface. The first electric contact surface electrically is connected to the electrical contact through the wiring. The second electric contact surface electrically is connected to the toner memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsubasa KIRIYAMA, Hiroki MORI, Nao ITABASHI, Atsushi FUKAYA
  • Patent number: 10935925
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, and a first memory. The intermediate transfer belt is positioned above of the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the main body casing. The drum frame includes a first end and a second end being apart from the first end in an up-down direction. The photosensitive drum is positioned at the first end. The first memory is positioned at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Yokoi, Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 10921731
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 10921732
    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: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20210041804
    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: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20210026277
    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: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao ITABASHI, Naoya KAMIMURA
  • Publication number: 20210026274
    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: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 10901361
    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: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20210011395
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a separation mechanism moves a developing roller from a contact position to a separation position. At the contact position a surface of the developing roller is in contact with a surface of a photosensitive drum. At the separation position the surface of the developing roller is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum. A sensor detects whether the developing roller is at the separation position. A controller executes a transmission process transmitting to the motor a command to drive the separation mechanism, a determination process determining whether or not the sensor detects that the developing roller is positioned at the separation position within a predetermined period of time after the command is transmitted in the transmission process, and a stop process stopping image formation operation in a case where the sensor does not detect that the developing roller is positioned at the separation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao ITABASHI
  • Publication number: 20200401075
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing to accommodate developer; a storage medium including an electric contact surface; an elastic member extending in a first direction crossing the electric contact surface, and configured to be compressed or stretched in the first direction between a first state and a second state; and a holder including an outer surface positioned toward a side of the holder in the first direction, the electric contact surface positioned at the outer surface, and movable between first and second positions in the first direction relative to the casing. A length of the elastic member in the first direction is greater in the first state than in the second state. The electric contact surface is in the first position when the elastic member is in the first state, and the electric contact surface is in the second position when the elastic member is in the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Junichi Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20200371452
    Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a first supporting member is attached to a housing and has a first developing supporting portion and a driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion, the first developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a first part of a rotational shaft, the driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a driving-force-receiving member. The second supporting member is attached to the housing and has a second developing supporting portion and a detection-rotational-body supporting portion, the second developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a second part of the rotational shaft, the detection-rotational-body supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a detection rotational body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 10845731
    Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a developing roller, a housing, an electrode, a gear, and a hook. The developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The housing extends in the first direction and is configured to store toner therein. The electrode is positioned at an outer surface of the housing in the first direction and extends in the first direction. The gear is rotatable about the electrode. The hook is positioned opposite to the developing roller relative to the gear in a second direction and is movable between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 10845755
    Abstract: A drum unit includes: a frame; a first photosensitive drum; a second photosensitive drum; a charger; and a storage medium. The frame includes: a first frame plate; a second frame plate spaced apart from the first frame plate in a first direction; a third frame plate connecting one end of the first frame plate to one end of the second frame plate; and a fourth frame plate connecting another end of the first frame plate to another end of the second frame plate. The first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are rotatably supported by the frame. The second photosensitive drum is spaced apart from the first photosensitive drum and positioned closer to the third frame plate than the first photosensitive drum to the third frame plate in a second direction. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface positioned at an outer surface of the third frame plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Kishi, Nao Itabashi, Yohei Hashimoto, Kouji Watanabe, Makoto Souda
  • Publication number: 20200348617
    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: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao ITABASHI, Naoya KAMIMURA
  • Publication number: 20200326643
    Abstract: In a cartridge, a developing roller is configured to rotate around a first rotational axis extending in a predetermined direction and to carry developer thereon, the developing roller having a first end and a second end apart from each other in the predetermined direction, a from-first-to-second direction being defined along the predetermined direction as being directed from the first end to the second end. A developing electrode is formed of a conductive material and is configured to be electrically connected to the developing roller, the developing electrode including a main part and a protruding portion protruding from the main part in the from-first-to-second direction. A detection body is formed of an insulating material and is rotatably supported by the protruding portion, the detection body including a first opening that exposes part of the protruding portion and a covering portion covering part of the protruding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao ITABASHI
  • Publication number: 20200310291
    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: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao ITABASHI
  • Publication number: 20200310288
    Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a developing roller, a housing, an electrode, a gear, and a hook. The developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction. The housing extends in the first direction and is configured to store toner therein. The electrode is positioned at an outer surface of the housing in the first direction and extends in the first direction. The gear is rotatable about the electrode. The hook is positioned opposite to the developing roller relative to the gear in a second direction and is movable between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao ITABASHI
  • Publication number: 20200310343
    Abstract: A drum cartridge that enables a developing cartridge to be mountable thereon, includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about a shaft extending in a first direction, and an electrically conductive movable member, when the developing cartridge 1 is mounted on the drum cartridge, the movable member applies pressure to a developing electrode included in the developing cartridge toward the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao ITABASHI
  • Publication number: 20200310279
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a developing roller including a developing roller shaft extending in a first direction, a casing, and a developing electrode, or a pivotable member configured to be electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. The developing electrode or pivotable member has a first end portion electrically connected to the developing roller shaft and a second end portion located farther away from the developing roller shaft than the first end portion, the second end portion being pivotable about a rotation axis extending in the first direction with respect to the first end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao ITABASHI