Patents by Inventor Shinya Kusuda

Shinya Kusuda 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: 11966194
    Abstract: A memory holder cover holds a memory holder so as to be movable with respect to the memory holder cover. An electrical contact contacts an electrical contact surface of a memory from above in a state where a cartridge is located at an attached position at which the cartridge is attached to a main housing. The main housing includes a guide groove having upper and lower guide surfaces. The upper guide surface guides movement of a memory holder from above when the cartridge is attached and detached. The lower guide surface guides movement of the memory holder from below when the cartridge is attached and detached. In a state where the cartridge is located at the attached position, the electrical contact surface is parallel to at least part of the upper guide surface or at least part of the lower guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Mori, Ryuji Noda, Shinya Kusuda
  • Publication number: 20240111239
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge; and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction; and a first memory having a first electrical contact surface. The developing cartridge is attachable to the drum frame and includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction; a second memory having a second electrical contact surface; and a developing holder holding the second electrical contact surface such that the second electrical contact surface is movable relative to the casing. The drum cartridge further includes an elastic member that can expand and contract in a second direction crossing the first direction. The developing holder is connected to the elastic member and is movable in the second direction in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Shinya KUSUDA, Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Junya SUMIDA, Hideshi NISHIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20240103430
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum; a first memory; and second memory. A developing cartridge including a developing roller is attachable to the drum frame. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction. The photosensitive drum is configured to contact the developing roller in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame. The first memory has a first electrical contact surface. The first memory stores therein information related to the drum cartridge. The second memory has a second electrical contact surface different from the first electrical contact surface. The second memory stores therein information related to the developing cartridge. The first electrical contact surface and the second electrical contact surface are positioned at an outer surface of the drum frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Shinya KUSUDA
  • Publication number: 20240103431
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge; a developing cartridge; and a plate. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum; a first holder; and a first memory having a first electrical contact surface that is movably supported by the first holder. The developing cartridge is attachable to the drum frame. The developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a second holder; and a second memory having a second electrical contact surface that is movably supported by the second holder. The plate connects the first holder and the second holder to each other in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame. The second holder moves together with the plate in accordance with movement of the first holder in a state where the plate connects the first holder and the second holder to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Junya SUMIDA, Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Shinya KUSUDA
  • Patent number: 11886129
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a developing cartridge; a transfer unit; a solvent cartridge accommodating solvent for dissolving toner; an applicator applying the solvent to the toner on a sheet; and a cover movable between an open position and a closed position. The developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are detachably attachable to the main casing independently of each other. The developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are positioned between the applicator and the cover in a second direction crossing the first direction, and the solvent cartridge is positioned closer to the applicator than the developing cartridge is to the applicator in a state where the developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are attached to the main casing and the cover is at the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Satoshi Murata, Masataka Kamiya, Masaaki Furukawa, Yasuo Fukamachi, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu, Keita Hironaka, Mariko Mogi, Naoya Kamimura, Kazuma Hinoue, Kouichi Sugimoto, Shinya Kusuda, Shunji Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 11867090
    Abstract: A stator vane provided rearward of a rotor blade, includes: an airfoil body having an airfoil profile. The maximum airfoil thickness position of the airfoil body on the airfoil profile satisfies following conditions at least on a tip side of the airfoil body: (a) on a plane expanded in a circumferential direction in which the stator vane is arranged, the position is located in a first region which is close to a trailing edge of the airfoil body from an intersection of the airfoil body and a line which is parallel to an extension line of a camber line of the rotor blade at a trailing edge of the rotor blade and passes through a leading edge of another stator vane adjacent in the circumferential direction, and (b) the position is located in a second region having a chord ratio from 0.2 to 0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Kusuda
  • Publication number: 20230375958
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing memory having an electrical contact surface, an agitator, an agitator gear rotatable about an agitator axis together with the agitator, a holder holding the electrical contact surface, and a plate movable between a first position and a second position in a second direction crossing the first direction relative to the casing. The holder is movable relative to the casing in a third direction crossing the first and second directions between a retracted position and an advancing position. The holder is movable from the retracted position to the advancing position in response to a movement of the plate from the first position to the second position. The plate is positioned farther away from the developing roller than the agitator gear and the holder are in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya KAMIMURA, Tomitake ARATACHI, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Saya MINOSHIMA, Nao ITABASHI, Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Misato OSUKA, Junya SUMIDA, Shinya KUSUDA
  • Publication number: 20230333498
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first agitator; an agitator gear; a first protrusion; a developing memory; a first electrical contact surface; and a first holder holding the first electrical contact surface. The agitator gear includes a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear positioned between the large diameter gear and the casing in the first direction. The first protrusion protrudes outward from one end of the casing in the first direction, and is positioned between the casing and the large diameter gear in the first direction. The first protrusion is positioned away from the small diameter gear. The first holder is positioned farther from the first protrusion than the large diameter gear is in the first direction. The first holder and the first electrical contact surface are movable relative to the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya KUSUDA, Yasuo FUKAMACHI
  • Patent number: 11762312
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing memory having an electrical contact surface, an agitator, an agitator gear rotatable about an agitator axis together with the agitator, a holder holding the electrical contact surface, and a plate movable between a first position and a second position in a second direction crossing the first direction relative to the casing. The holder is movable relative to the casing in a third direction crossing the first and second directions between a retracted position and an advancing position. The holder is movable from the retracted position to the advancing position in response to a movement of the plate from the first position to the second position. The plate is positioned farther away from the developing roller than the agitator gear and the holder are in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Tomitake Aratachi, Yasuo Fukamachi, Junichi Hashimoto, Saya Minoshima, Nao Itabashi, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Misato Osuka, Junya Sumida, Shinya Kusuda
  • Patent number: 11747749
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first agitator; an agitator gear; a first protrusion; a developing memory; a first electrical contact surface; and a first holder holding the first electrical contact surface. The agitator gear includes a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear positioned between the large diameter gear and the casing in the first direction. The first protrusion protrudes outward from one end of the casing in the first direction, and is positioned between the casing and the large diameter gear in the first direction. The first protrusion is positioned away from the small diameter gear. The first holder is positioned farther from the first protrusion than the large diameter gear is in the first direction. The first holder and the first electrical contact surface are movable relative to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Kusuda, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20230244183
    Abstract: A memory holder cover holds a memory holder so as to be movable with respect to the memory holder cover. An electrical contact contacts an electrical contact surface of a memory from above in a state where a cartridge is located at an attached position at which the cartridge is attached to a main housing. The main housing includes a guide groove having upper and lower guide surfaces. The upper guide surface guides movement of a memory holder from above when the cartridge is attached and detached. The lower guide surface guides movement of the memory holder from below when the cartridge is attached and detached. In a state where the cartridge is located at the attached position, the electrical contact surface is parallel to at least part of the upper guide surface or at least part of the lower guide surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro MORI, Ryuji NODA, Shinya KUSUDA
  • Publication number: 20230244156
    Abstract: A cartridge includes: a housing; a storage medium including an electrical contact surface; and a storage medium holder holding the storage medium and movable relative to the housing. The storage medium holder is positioned at one end portion of the housing in a first direction and includes: a first holder holding the electrical contact surface; a second holder positioned spaced away from the first holder in a second direction crossing the first direction; and an elastic member expandable and shrinkable in the second direction between the first holder and the second holder. The first holder has a first hole penetrating the first holder in the second direction. The first hole is positioned farther from the housing in the first direction than the second holder and the elastic member are from the housing in the first direction and is overlapped with the electrical contact surface as viewed in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya KUSUDA, Nao ITABASHI, Masaaki FURUKAWA, Shuhei HATANO, Yasuo FUKAMACHI
  • Patent number: 11567446
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a developing cartridge and a drum cartridge. The developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about a developing axis extending in a first direction; and a development-side IC chip having a development-side electrical contact surface. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in the first direction; a drum-side IC chip having a drum-side electrical contact surface; and a lock lever configured to lock the developing cartridge to the drum frame. The development-side electrical contact surface and the drum-side electrical contact surface are positioned opposite to the lock lever with respect to the casing in the first direction in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Shinya Kusuda
  • Publication number: 20220342345
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first agitator; an agitator gear; a first protrusion; a developing memory; a first electrical contact surface; and a first holder holding the first electrical contact surface. The agitator gear includes a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear positioned between the large diameter gear and the casing in the first direction. The first protrusion protrudes outward from one end of the casing in the first direction, and is positioned between the casing and the large diameter gear in the first direction. The first protrusion is positioned away from the small diameter gear. The first holder is positioned farther from the first protrusion than the large diameter gear is in the first direction. The first holder and the first electrical contact surface are movable relative to the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya KUSUDA, Yasuo FUKAMACHI
  • Patent number: 11474473
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing having an opening; a developing cartridge configured to accommodate toner therein; and a drum cartridge to which the developing cartridge is attachable. The drum cartridge is attachable to the casing through the opening in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a drum frame; a charge roller; a cleaning blade configured to clean a circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum; a waste toner collecting unit having an internal space allowing waste toner removed from the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum by the cleaning blade to be collected therein; a waste toner accumulating unit having an internal space allowing the waste toner to be accumulated therein; and a waste toner conveying unit configured to convey the waste toner from the waste toner collecting unit to the waste toner accumulating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Furukawa, Takashi Shimizu, Shinya Kusuda, Tomitake Aratachi, Yasuo Fukamachi, Keita Shimizu, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Kouichi Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20220317589
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing memory having an electrical contact surface, an agitator, an agitator gear rotatable about an agitator axis together with the agitator, a holder holding the electrical contact surface, and a plate movable between a first position and a second position in a second direction crossing the first direction relative to the casing. The holder is movable relative to the casing in a third direction crossing the first and second directions between a retracted position and an advancing position. The holder is movable from the retracted position to the advancing position in response to a movement of the plate from the first position to the second position. The plate is positioned farther away from the developing roller than the agitator gear and the holder are in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya KAMIMURA, Tomitake ARATACHI, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Saya MINOSHIMA, Nao ITABASHI, Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Misato OSUKA, Junya SUMIDA, Shinya KUSUDA
  • Publication number: 20220316351
    Abstract: A stator vane provided rearward of a rotor blade, includes: an airfoil body having an airfoil profile. The maximum airfoil thickness position of the airfoil body on the airfoil profile satisfies following conditions at least on a tip side of the airfoil body: (a) on a plane expanded in a circumferential direction in which the stator vane is arranged, the position is located in a first region which is close to a trailing edge of the airfoil body from an intersection of the airfoil body and a line which is parallel to an extension line of a camber line of the rotor blade at a trailing edge of the rotor blade and passes through a leading edge of another stator vane adjacent in the circumferential direction, and (b) the position is located in a second region having a chord ratio from 0.2 to 0.8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya KUSUDA
  • Patent number: 11442377
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a first agitator; an agitator gear; a first protrusion; a developing memory; a first electrical contact surface; and a first holder holding the first electrical contact surface. The agitator gear includes a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear positioned between the large diameter gear and the casing in the first direction. The first protrusion protrudes outward from one end of the casing in the first direction, and is positioned between the casing and the large diameter gear in the first direction. The first protrusion is positioned away from the small diameter gear. The first holder is positioned farther from the first protrusion than the large diameter gear is in the first direction. The first holder and the first electrical contact surface are movable relative to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Kusuda, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20220283537
    Abstract: A process cartridge includes a developing cartridge and a drum cartridge. The developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about a developing axis extending in a first direction; and a development-side IC chip having a development-side electrical contact surface. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum rotatable about a drum axis extending in the first direction; a drum-side IC chip having a drum-side electrical contact surface; and a lock lever configured to lock the developing cartridge to the drum frame. The development-side electrical contact surface and the drum-side electrical contact surface are positioned opposite to the lock lever with respect to the casing in the first direction in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Shinya KUSUDA
  • Publication number: 20220221811
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a developing cartridge; a transfer unit; a solvent cartridge accommodating solvent for dissolving toner; an applicator applying the solvent to the toner on a sheet; and a cover movable between an open position and a closed position. The developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are detachably attachable to the main casing independently of each other. The developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are positioned between the applicator and the cover in a second direction crossing the first direction, and the solvent cartridge is positioned closer to the applicator than the developing cartridge is to the applicator in a state where the developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are attached to the main casing and the cover is at the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Satoshi MURATA, Masataka KAMIYA, Masaaki FURUKAWA, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Keita SHIMIZU, Keita HIRONAKA, Mariko MOGI, Naoya KAMIMURA, Kazuma HINOUE, Kouichi SUGIMOTO, Shinya KUSUDA, Shunji YOSHIMOTO