Patents by Inventor Shigeharu Katayama

Shigeharu Katayama 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: 9746806
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage for conveying the recording sheet extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Shigeharu Katayama, Mitsuko Hanai
  • Patent number: 8977185
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit. Further, a developer receptacle for storing developer that is supplied to the image forming unit is arranged adjacent to one longitudinal end of the developer carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Shigeharu Katayama, Mitsuko Hanai
  • Publication number: 20140086659
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage for conveying the recording sheet extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Shigeharu KATAYAMA, Mitsuko HANAI
  • Patent number: 8600284
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage for conveying the recording sheet extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Shigeharu Katayama, Mitsuko Hanai
  • Patent number: 8200118
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a casing; an image-forming section including a plurality of image-forming units; a paper supply unit; and a discharge unit. The plurality of image-forming units are arranged substantially vertically within the casing when the casing is disposed in an orientation in which it is intended to be used, each image-forming unit forming an image in a corresponding color. The paper supply unit is disposed above the image-forming units when the casing is disposed in the orientation in which it is intended to be used. The paper supply unit is configured to accommodate a recording medium substantially in a vertical orientation and to supply the recording medium to the image-forming section. The discharge unit is disposed above the image-forming units when the casing is disposed in the orientation in which it is intended to be used. The discharge unit is configured to receive the recording medium discharged from the image-forming section substantially in a vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yasushi Okabe, Shigeharu Katayama, Yasutake Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7689158
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and an original reading device disposed on top of the apparatus main body. A sheet supply cassette, a sheet discharge tray, an original feed tray, and the original discharge tray are oriented such that their lengthwise directions are aligned with the first horizontal direction, and are arranged to overlap with one another in the vertical direction. A pair of side walls is disposed at both widthwise ends of the sheet supply cassette, the sheet discharge tray, the original feed tray, and the original discharge tray. The both widthwise ends of these components are formed as edge portions. The pair of side walls covers an entire length of each of the edge portions, thereby supporting all of the sheet supply cassette, the sheet discharge tray, the original feed tray, and the original discharge tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Naoya Kamimura, Shigeharu Katayama, Hidenori Hisada
  • Publication number: 20100061757
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a casing; an image-forming section including a plurality of image-forming units; a paper supply unit; and a discharge unit. The plurality of image-forming units are arranged substantially vertically within the casing when the casing is disposed in an orientation in which it is intended to be used, each image-forming unit forming an image in a corresponding color. The paper supply unit is disposed above the image-forming units when the casing is disposed in the orientation in which it is intended to be used. The paper supply unit is configured to accommodate a recording medium substantially in a vertical orientation and to supply the recording medium to the image-forming section. The discharge unit is disposed above the image-forming units when the casing is disposed in the orientation in which it is intended to be used. The discharge unit is configured to receive the recording medium discharged from the image-forming section substantially in a vertical orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yasushi Okabe, Shigeharu Katayama, Yasutake Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7636528
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a casing; an image-forming section including a plurality of image-forming units; a paper supply unit; and a discharge unit. The plurality of image-forming units are arranged substantially vertically within the casing when the casing is disposed in an orientation in which it is intended to be used, each image-forming unit forming an image in a corresponding color. The paper supply unit is disposed above the image-forming units when the casing is disposed in the orientation in which it is intended to be used. The paper supply unit is configured to accommodate a recording medium substantially in a vertical orientation and to supply the recording medium to the image-forming section. The discharge unit is disposed above the image-forming units when the casing is disposed in the orientation in which it is intended to be used. The discharge unit is configured to receive the recording medium discharged from the image-forming section substantially in a vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yasushi Okabe, Shigeharu Katayama, Yasutake Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7489888
    Abstract: An image-forming device has a main casing, a cartridge, and a guiding unit. The main casing has a cartridge access opening and a cartridge loading section in communication with the cartridge access opening. The cartridge access opening has an opening plane. The cartridge is detachably counted in the cartridge loading section through the cartridge access opening. The guiding unit provides a loading path to load/unload the cartridge with respect to the cartridge loading section. The guide unit is configured to orient the loading path toward a direction substantially parallel to the opening plane outside of the main casing, thereby curving a track of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yasushi Okabe, Shigeharu Katayama, Yasutake Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080247793
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage for conveying the recording sheet extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Shigeharu Katayama, Mitsuko Hanai
  • Publication number: 20080240817
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit. Further, a developer receptacle for storing developer that is supplied to the image forming unit is arranged adjacent to one longitudinal end of the developer carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Shigeharu KATAYAMA, Mitsuko HANAI
  • Patent number: 7410313
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a case formed with a front face and a top face, a first accommodating portion formed in the case, an imaging unit that forms an image on a recording medium; the imaging unit being accommodated in the first accommodating portion detachably, and a front cover provided at the front face, the front cover being movable between a first position to open the accommodating portion and a second position to close the accommodating portion, the imaging unit being attached to and removed from the accommodating portion when the front cover is at the first position. The front cover is formed with a round portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeharu Katayama, Toshiya Inada
  • Publication number: 20070217851
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a case formed with a front face and a top face, a first accommodating portion formed in the case, an imaging unit that forms an image on a recording medium; the imaging unit being accommodated in the first accommodating portion detachably, and a front cover provided at the front face, the front cover being movable between a first position to open the accommodating portion and a second position to close the accommodating portion, the imaging unit being attached to and removed from the accommodating portion when the front cover is at the first position. The front cover is formed with a round portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeharu Katayama, Toshiya Inada
  • Patent number: 7252446
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a case formed with a front face and a top face, a first accommodating portion formed in the case, an imaging unit that forms an image on a recording medium; the imaging unit being accommodated in the first accommodating portion detachably, and a front cover provided at the front face, the front cover being movable between a first position to open the accommodating portion and a second position to close the accommodating portion, the imaging unit being attached to and removed from the accommodating portion when the front cover is at the first position. The front cover is formed with a round portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogoy Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeharu Katayama, Toshiya Inada
  • Patent number: D562884
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hoshiya, Shigeharu Katayama, Nobuyuki Iwai
  • Patent number: D562885
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hoshiya, Shigeharu Katayama, Nobuyuki Iwai
  • Patent number: D565649
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hoshiya, Shigeharu Katayama, Nobuyuki Iwai
  • Patent number: D571395
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeharu Katayama, Yasutake Yamaguchi, Yousuke Mase, Shinji Kojima
  • Patent number: D640737
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Tsuruta, Shigeharu Katayama
  • Patent number: D842711
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeharu Katayama