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).

  • Publication number: 20120082476
    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: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori ITO, Satoru SUZUKI, Masashi IMAI, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20120051800
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a first photosensitive member, a second photosensitive member, an exposure unit, a first developing unit and a second developing unit. The first developing unit includes a first developing roller, a first casing and a first thickness-regulating blade having a first base end and a first free end. The second developing unit includes a second developing roller, a second casing and a second thickness-regulating blade having a second base end and a second free end. The first thickness-regulating blade is disposed between the first developing roller and the exposure unit, or between the first developing roller and a first optical axis of the light to which the first photosensitive member is exposed. The first thickness-regulating blade extends from the first base end to the first free end in a following direction with respect to a moving direction of a peripheral surface of the first developing roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuya YAMAZAKI, Naoya KAMIMURA
  • Patent number: 8126377
    Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a housing for accommodating developer, a rotation shaft rotatably supported by the housing and passing across an inside of the housing. Also, the cartridge includes a supply opening formed in a wall of the housing opposite in a diameter direction of the rotation shaft, and a return opening formed in a wall of the housing at a position displaced from the supply opening in an axial direction of the rotation shaft. In addition, the cartridge includes a first agitation blade supported by the rotation shaft and passing through a position opposite the return opening along an inner surface of the housing from above to below the position opposite the return opening along with a rotation of the rotation shaft, and a second agitation blade supported by the rotation shaft and passing through a position opposite the supply opening along an inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeyuki Takagi, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20120027454
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a main casing; a retaining member; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner cartridges; and an operating member. The main casing defines an accommodation space. The retaining member is movably disposed between an accommodated position, in which the retaining member is accommodated inside the accommodation space, and a pull-out position. The plurality of developing units are retained by the retaining member. The plurality of toner cartridges are detachably attachable to the retaining member, one for each of the developing units, when the retaining member is at the pull-out position. Each of the toner cartridges includes: a casing in which a through-hole is formed for supplying toner accommodated inside the casing to the corresponding developing unit; and a shutter that is configured so as to be capable of moving between an open position exposing the through-hole and a closed position closing the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao ITABASHI, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20120003000
    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: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Naoya KAMIMURA, Nao ITABASHI, Ryuya YAMAZAKI, Masashi IMAI
  • Patent number: 8036579
    Abstract: A developing device and a developer cartridge are provided. The developing device includes a first housing that receives a developing roller; a second housing that is disposed adjacent to and detachable from the first housing and stores developer; first and second communication paths that allow an inside of the first housing to communicate with an inside of the second housing and an agitator that is provided within the second housing and conveys the developer from the first communication path toward the second communication path. The developing cartridge includes a housing that stores developer and an agitator including a rotational shaft that is disposed in one direction and a first blade that is provided at a midpoint in the axial direction of the rotational shaft and conveys the developer from the midpoint in the axial direction of the rotational shaft to both end portions of the rotational shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8019250
    Abstract: A developer cartridge includes an inner casing, an outer casing, a sealing member, an inner protrusion and an outer protrusion. The inner casing is configured to accommodate toner therein, the inner casing having a circular cylindrical shape whose axis extends in an axial direction, the inner casing being formed with an inner opening, the inner casing having an outer peripheral surface defining a circumferential direction. The outer casing is configured to accommodate the inner casing therein, the outer casing having a circular cylindrical shape and being formed with an outer opening, the outer casing and the inner casing being capable of rotating relative to each other between a first position where the inner opening and the outer opening are in communication with each other and a second position where the outer casing covers the inner opening. The sealing member is elastically deformable and is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner casing and surrounds the inner opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20110217068
    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: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya KAMIMURA, Shougo SATO, Masashi IMAI, Nao ITABASHI, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20110217069
    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: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi IMAI, Shougo SATO, Naoya KAMIMURA, Nao ITABASHI, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20100272465
    Abstract: A developer cartridge includes an inner casing, an outer casing, a sealing member, an inner protrusion and an outer protrusion. The inner casing is configured, to accommodate toner therein, the inner casing having a circular cylindrical shape whose axis extends in an axial direction, the inner casing being formed with an inner opening, the inner casing having an outer peripheral surface defining a circumferential direction. The outer casing is configured to accommodate the inner casing therein, the outer casing having a circular cylindrical shape and being formed with an outer opening, the outer casing and the inner casing being capable of rotating relative to each other between a first position where the inner opening and the outer opening are in communication with each other and a second position where the outer casing covers the inner opening. The sealing member is elastically deformable and is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner casing and surrounds the inner opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20100202803
    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: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Susumu SAKUMA, Ryuya YAMAZAKI, Shunsuke ISHII
  • Patent number: 7742726
    Abstract: A developer cartridge, developing unit, and image forming apparatus are provided. The developer cartridge includes a cartridge cabinet including a developer accommodate chamber, a supply opening, and a return opening. The developer cartridge further includes a rotational shaft that is rotatably supported in the cartridge cabinet, a first agitating blade that is attached to the rotational shaft and that is located in a position opposed to the return opening, a distance from the rotational shaft to a distal end of the first agitating blade being shorter than a distance from the rotational shaft to the return opening, and a second agitating blade that is attached to the rotational shaft and that is located in a position opposed to the supply opening, a distance from the rotational shaft to a distal end of the second agitating blade being longer than a distance from the rotational shaft to the supply opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Mase, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20090087227
    Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a housing for accommodating developer, a rotation shaft rotatably supported by the housing and passing across an inside of the housing, a supply opening formed in a wall of the housing opposite in a diameter direction of the rotation shaft, a return opening formed in a wall of the housing at a position displaced from the supply opening in an axial direction of the rotation shaft, a first agitation blade supported by the rotation shaft and passing through a position opposite the return opening along an inner surface of the housing from an above to a below of the position opposite the return opening along with a rotation of the rotation shaft, and a second agitation blade supported by the rotation shaft and passing through a position opposite the supply opening along an inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeyuki TAKAGI, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20090087226
    Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a housing attachable to and detachable from a developing device and accommodating developer and an agitator agitating the developer in the housing and supplying the developer to the developing device through a supply opening of the housing. The agitator includes a rotation shaft, a support plate, a delivery agitation blade supported by the support plate and passing through a position opposing the supply opening along an inner surface of the housing by rotation of the rotation shaft, an entire width of a first end portion of the delivery agitation blade being supported by a distal end portion of the support plate, and an oblique agitation blade erected from a surface of the support plate and oblique to the rotation shaft in order to move the developer in an axial direction of the rotation shaft toward the supply opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuya YAMAZAKI, Susumu Sakuma, Takeyuki Takagi
  • Publication number: 20090087222
    Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a housing for accommodating developer, a rotation shaft rotatably supported by the housing and passing across an inside of the housing, a supply opening formed in a wall of the housing opposite in a diameter direction of the rotation shaft, a return opening formed in the wall of the housing at a position displaced from the supply opening in an axial direction of the rotation shaft, a first agitation blade supported by the rotation shaft and passing through a position opposite the return opening along an inner surface of the housing, and a second agitation blade supported by the rotation shaft and passing through a position opposite the supply opening along an inner surface of the housing, wherein the first agitation blade is configured to allow the developer returned through the return opening to flow into the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soichiro MASE, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20090086243
    Abstract: A multi-function printer includes an image forming unit and a scanner unit. The image forming unit includes a body casing, a developing unit having a developing roller extending in a lateral direction, a developer cartridge provided on one side of the axis of the developing roller and detachably attached to the body casing, a discharge tray, a side cover, a support unit for supporting the developer cartridge such that the developer cartridge is detachably attached to a front side of the body casing, a sheet feeding tray detachably attachable to the front side of the body casing, and a discharge unit provided on the front side of the body casing and discharging sheet on which an image is formed to the rear side of the body casing. The scanner unit is provided above the image forming unit having a predetermined space opened on the one side therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20080240790
    Abstract: A developing device and a developer cartridge are provided. The developing device includes a first housing that receives a developing roller; a second housing that is disposed adjacent to and detachable from the first housing and stores developer; first and second communication paths that allow an inside of the first housing to communicate with an inside of the second housing and an agitator that is provided within the second housing and conveys the developer from the first communication path toward the second communication path. The developing cartridge includes a housing that stores developer and an agitator including a rotational shaft that is disposed in one direction and a first blade that is provided at a midpoint in the axial direction of the rotational shaft and conveys the developer from the midpoint in the axial direction of the rotational shaft to both end portions of the rotational shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20080205940
    Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a cartridge cabinet including a developer accommodating chamber configured to accommodate developer, and a supply opening that is provided in one wall surface and is configured to supply the developer from an inside of the developer accommodating chamber to an outside of the developer accommodating chamber, a rotational shaft that is rotatably supported in the cartridge cabinet, extends parallel to the one wall surface and extends through the inside of the developer accommodating chamber, an agitating blade that is supported by the rotational shaft and rotates with the rotational shaft to supply the developer toward the supply opening while agitating the developer, and an obstruction member that is supported by the rotational shaft and rotates with the rotational shaft following the agitating blade to obstruct the supply opening during rotation of the rotational shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soichiro MASE, Ryuya YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20080205939
    Abstract: A developer cartridge, developing unit, and image forming apparatus are provided. The developer cartridge includes a cartridge cabinet including a developer accommodate chamber, a supply opening, and a return opening. The developer cartridge further includes a rotational shaft that is rotatably supported in the cartridge cabinet, a first agitating blade that is attached to the rotational shaft and that is located in a position opposed to the return opening, a distance from the rotational shaft to a distal end of the first agitating blade being shorter than a distance from the rotational shaft to the return opening, and a second agitating blade that is attached to the rotational shaft and that is located in a position opposed to the supply opening, a distance from the rotational shaft to a distal end of the second agitating blade being longer than a distance from the rotational shaft to the supply opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soichiro MASE, Ryuya YAMAZAKI