Patents by Inventor Ryuya Yamazaki

Ryuya Yamazaki 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: 9323214
    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: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki, Hideshi Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20160091828
    Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a first accommodating chamber, a first conveyer, a cleaner, and a developing agent conveyer. The accommodating chamber is configured to accommodate therein developing agent. The accommodating chamber has one end portion and another end portion. The first conveyer is configured to convey the developing agent from the one end portion toward the another end portion. The cleaner is configured to collect developing agent from a belt in contact with a photosensitive member. The developing agent conveyer has a collection opening through which developing agent collected from a component other than the belt. The developing agent conveyer is configured to convey the developing agent from the collection opening toward the first accommodating chamber. The cleaner and the developing agent conveyer are positioned at the one end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okazaki, Junichi Hashimoto, Ryuya Yamazaki, Takamasa Tsukada
  • Patent number: 9298133
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller; a casing; and a seal. The developing roller has a rotational axis extending in an axial direction. The casing has a first wall, and a second wall extending from the first wall toward the developing roller in an extending direction. The seal is disposed on the first wall and in contact with a peripheral surface of the developing roller. The seal includes: a film contacting with the peripheral surface of the developing roller; and a substrate disposed between the film and the first wall. The second wall has a first surface facing in a first direction and a second surface facing in a second direction. The first surface extends in the extending direction and contacts with the substrate of the seal. The second surface faces away from the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ito, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9239564
    Abstract: A drum unit includes: a first side plate; a second side plate; a photosensitive drum; a cleaner; a first frame; and a bearing. The first side plate has a first opening. The second side plate is spaced apart from the first side plate in a first direction. The photosensitive drum has an axis extending along the first direction and a first end portion in the first direction. The photosensitive drum has a circumferential surface. The cleaner is configured to clean the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. The first frame includes: a support portion configured to support the cleaner; and a wall portion having a second opening. The bearing is configured to support the first end portion of the photosensitive drum. The bearing extends through both the first opening and the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20150277349
    Abstract: A drum unit includes: a photosensitive drum; a side plate; a cleaning member; a support member; a frame; and a connecting member. The photosensitive drum has an axis extending in an axial direction. The photosensitive drum has a surface. The side plate has electrical conductive properties. The side plate is configured to support the photosensitive drum. The side plate includes a contact portion configured to contact an external member having electrical conductive properties. The cleaning member is configured to clean the surface of the photosensitive drum. The support member has electrical conductive properties and is configured to support the cleaning member. The frame has electrical insulating properties. The frame is configured to support the support member and fixed to the side plate. The connecting member is configured to electrically connect the support member to the side plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20150277350
    Abstract: A drum unit includes: a first side plate; a second side plate; a photosensitive drum; a cleaner; a first frame; and a bearing. The first side plate has a first opening. The second side plate is spaced apart from the first side plate in a first direction. The photosensitive drum has an axis extending along the first direction and a first end portion in the first direction. The photosensitive drum has a circumferential surface. The cleaner is configured to clean the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. The first frame includes: a support portion configured to support the cleaner; and a wall portion having a second opening. The bearing is configured to support the first end portion of the photosensitive drum. The bearing extends through both the first opening and the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20150277343
    Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a side plate, a cleaning unit, a waste-toner conveyor unit. The photosensitive drum has a first drum body and a second drum body, each having a photosensitive layer and a supported portion extending from one end of the drum body in a first direction along a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum. The side plate supports the supported portions. The cleaning unit has cleaners and conveyors corresponding to the drum bodies so as to remove waste toner from the photosensitive drums and convey the waste toner removed by the cleaners in the first direction. The waste-toner conveyor unit has a collecting conveyor configured to convey the waste toner conveyed by the. The collecting conveyor is disposed between the side plate and the drum bodies. The collecting conveyor is disposed below the first conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20150277344
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body; a photosensitive drum defining an axis extending in a first direction; a support member movable between an inside position and an outside position relative to the apparatus body; a cleaner for removing waste toner from the photosensitive drum; a first conveyer for conveying the waste toner in the first direction; a conveying unit; and a container for storing the waste toner conveyed by the conveying unit. The conveying unit includes a second conveyer for conveying the waste toner conveyed by the first conveyer in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and a conveying pipe accommodating the second conveyer and connectable to the container. The conveying pipe includes a shutter for opening and closing a conveyer-side opening formed in a downstream end portion of the conveying pipe in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 9141033
    Abstract: A cartridge includes: a housing that has a first wall part and a second wall part arranged at an interval from the first wall part and is configured to accommodate developer; a developer carrier that is rotatably supported to the housing and carries the developer; a layer thickness regulation member that is supported to the housing so that it is arranged at an opposite side to the second wall part with respect to the first wall part and that is configured to regulate a layer thickness of the developer carried on a surface of the developer carrier, and a covering member that is arranged at an opposite side to the second wall part with respect to the layer thickness regulation member and covers the layer thickness regulation member, wherein the covering member has a grip to grip the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9020389
    Abstract: A developing device is capable of preventing developing agent from leaking from a developing frame of a developer cartridge. The developer cartridge includes a developing agent carrying member including a rubber roller, a first seal including a first fluffing member, and a second seal including a second base member and a second fluffing member fixed thereto. The second base member and the second fluffing member have downstream end portions in a rotational direction of the developing agent carrying member. The downstream end portion of the second base member is positioned upstream of the downstream end portion of the second fluffing member. The downstream end portion of the second fluffing member is nipped between the first fluffing member and the rubber roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ito, Hirofumi Kuriki, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8995872
    Abstract: The developing device includes a casing, a developing roller, a thickness regulating blade, and a seal member. The developing roller has an outer peripheral surface carrying developer. The thickness regulating blade is configured to regulate a thickness of the developer carried on the outer peripheral surface and has an opposed surface confronting the casing. The thickness regulating blade further has one end part supported on the casing and another end part provided with a press member in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface. The press member is located on the opposed surface and protrudes toward the developing roller. The press member is formed with a receiving portion depressed inward at its widthwise ends in an axial direction of the developing roller. The seal member is disposed between the thickness regulating blade and the casing and contacting at least a part of the receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ito, Hirofumi Kuriki, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8989622
    Abstract: A toner cartridge is mountable on a process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a supply roller. The toner cartridge includes a first accommodating unit and an agitating member. The first toner accommodating unit has a peripheral surface in which an inner hollow space for accommodating a toner is formed. The agitating member is disposed in the first toner accommodating unit and rotates in a rotating direction to agitate the toner. The peripheral surface has a wall portion formed with a first supply-hole at an upstream side in the rotating direction. The wall portion is curved about a reference line as a center of curvature and depressed inward the first toner accommodating unit. The reference line is outside of the first toner accommodating unit in a radial direction of the agitating member and extending in a prescribed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma, Ryuya Yamazaki, Shunsuke Ishii
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150023687
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller; a casing; and a seal. The developing roller has a rotational axis extending in an axial direction. The casing has a first wall, and a second wall extending from the first wall toward the developing roller in an extending direction. The seal is disposed on the first wall and in contact with a peripheral surface of the developing roller. The seal includes: a film contacting with the peripheral surface of the developing roller; and a substrate disposed between the film and the first wall. The second wall has a first surface facing in a first direction and a second surface facing in a second direction. The first surface extends in the extending direction and contacts with the substrate of the seal. The second surface faces away from the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ito, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8855526
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a casing; a developing roller mounted on the casing, and having a rotational axis extending in an axis direction and a peripheral surface on which a developer is carried, the developing roller being configured to rotate in a rotational direction about the rotational axis; and a seal provided between the casing and the developing roller to prevent the developer from leaking between peripheral surface and the casing. The seal includes: a film member opposed to the peripheral surface of the peripheral surface of the developing roller; and an elastic member provided between the film member and the casing to press the film member against the peripheral surface of developing member. The casing includes a restricting wall provided downstream of the seal member in the rotational direction to restrict the seal from moving in the rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ito, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8837993
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a first frame; a second frame; a developer-carrying member; and a thickness-regulating member. The first frame includes: a pair of first walls opposed with each other; and a second wall connecting the pair of first walls and having a first fixing part. The second frame includes a third wall opposed to the second wall and attached to the pair of first walls when assembled to the first frame. The developer-carrying member has an axis extending in a first direction, is configured to rotate about the axis, and is disposed between the pair of first walls. The thickness-regulating member is fixed to the first fixing part and is configured to regulate a thickness of developer carried on the developer-carrying member. The third wall is disposed between the second wall and the thickness-regulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8805250
    Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a blade, a first blade pressing member and a second blade pressing member. The casing is configured to store developer therein. The developing roller is rotatably supported by the casing. The blade has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The first end portion is supported by the casing. The blade is configured to regulate the developer carried on a peripheral surface of the developing roller to a predetermined thickness at the second end portion. The first blade pressing member is configured to press the first end portion of the blade. The second blade pressing member is configured to be attached to and removed from the casing. The second blade pressing member includes a pressing portion configured to press the second end portion of the blade toward the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Takami, Ryuya Yamazaki, Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 8792802
    Abstract: A developing device is capable of preventing developing agent from leaking from a developing frame of a developer cartridge. The developer cartridge includes a developing agent carrying member, a layer thickness regulator, and a first seal positioned between the developing agent carrying member and the layer thickness regulator. The regulator includes a plate member provided with a projecting portion. The projecting portion has a laterally outer end portion positioned inward of laterally outer end portion of the first seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ito, Ryuya Yamazaki, Masahiro Ishii, Hirofumi Kuriki
  • Patent number: D718378
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: D718381
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Naoya Kamimura, Ryuya Yamazaki