Patents by Inventor Shota SHINOYA

Shota SHINOYA 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: 10838333
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing member; a holding member; and a cam member. The holding member holds the fixing member such that the fixing member can be displaced between a pressure contact position and a separation position. The cam member is rotatable about an axis in a first direction and a second direction. A distance between a cam surface of the cam member and the axis is reduced in the second direction. A part of the cam surface is in contact with the holding member at a first position in a state where the fixing member is at the separation position, and away from the holding member at a second position in a state where the fixing member is at the pressure contact position. The first direction is opposite to a direction from the first position to the second position about the axis with a smaller central angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Shinoya, Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10816929
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a drawer and a main body. The drawer includes a frame holding a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction and a drawer-side connector including a drawer-side electrical contact part. The main body includes: a housing including a main body-side electrical contact part; a shaft extending in the first direction; a unit removably insertable to the housing; and a connection member. One end in a third direction intersecting with the first and second directions of the unit is fitted to the housing and the other end is supported to the shaft via the connection member. The main body-side connector is supported to the unit. The drawer-side electrical contact part and the main body-side electrical contact part are interconnected when the drawer is accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Shinoya
  • Publication number: 20200272084
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a drawer and a main body. The drawer includes a frame holding a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction and a drawer-side connector including a drawer-side electrical contact part. The main body includes: a housing including a main body-side electrical contact part; a shaft extending in the first direction; a unit removably insertable to the housing; and a connection member. One end in a third direction intersecting with the first and second directions of the unit is fitted to the housing and the other end is supported to the shaft via the connection member. The main body-side connector is supported to the unit. The drawer-side electrical contact part and the main body-side electrical contact part are interconnected when the drawer is accommodated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota SHINOYA
  • Publication number: 20200272085
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drawer and a main body. The drawer includes a drawer-side electrical contact part and a socket. The main body includes a main body-side connector including: a main body-side electrical contact part; and a holder including a base, a panel, and an elastic member interposed between the base and the panel. The holder holds the main body-side electrical contact part to be movable in an intersection direction intersecting with an extension and contraction direction of the elastic member. When the holder contacts the socket, the panel moves relative to the base in the intersection direction together with the main body side-electrical contact part, and the main body side-electrical contact part and drawer-side electrical contact part are in contact with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota SHINOYA, Isao KISHI
  • Publication number: 20200272086
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drawer, a drawer-side electrical contact, a cover, a main body-side electrical contact and an elastic member interposed between a base and a panel. The main body-side electrical contact and the panel are held to be movable relative to the base in a third direction as being an extension and contraction direction of the elastic member. The image forming apparatus takes: a first state where the cover is open, the drawer-side electrical contact contacts the main body-side electrical contact, and the elastic member has a first length; and a second state where the cover is closed, the drawer-side electrical contact contacts the main body-side electrical contact, and the elastic member in the third direction has a second length shorter than the first length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota SHINOYA
  • Patent number: 10663899
    Abstract: A fuser includes a heater, a presser, a support member that supports the presser to allow the presser to move between a nip position where the presser is in pressured contact with the heater, and a separated position where the presser is separated from the heater, a first spring, a first cam, a first gear, a second gear, a second spring, and a second cam. The second cam has a cam profile that, when the presser moves from the separated position to the nip position, causes the second gear to move in a direction along a second axis against urging force of the second spring to increase the urging force of the second spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Shinoya
  • Publication number: 20200073305
    Abstract: A fuser includes a heater, a presser, a support member that supports the presser to allow the presser to move between a nip position where the presser is in pressured contact with the heater, and a separated position where the presser is separated from the heater, a first spring, a first cam, a first gear, a second gear, a second spring, and a second cam. The second cam has a cam profile that, when the presser moves from the separated position to the nip position, causes the second gear to move in a direction along a second axis against urging force of the second spring to increase the urging force of the second spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Shota SHINOYA
  • Publication number: 20190302648
    Abstract: A developing cartridge including: a housing capable of accommodating therein toner; a developing roller rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction; a supply roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the axial direction; a coupling rotatable about a third axis extending in the axial direction; a developing roller gear rotatable about the first axis together with the developing roller; a supply roller gear rotatable about the second axis together with the supply roller; a large-diameter gear rotatable about the third axis together with the coupling and meshing with the developing roller gear; a small-diameter gear rotatable about the third axis together with the coupling and having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the large-diameter gear, and an idle gear rotatable about a fourth axis extending in the axial direction and meshing with the supply roller gear and the small-diameter gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota SHINOYA, Junichi HASHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 10372064
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a first gear, a second gear, and a protrusion. The first gear is rotatable about a first axis extending in a predetermined direction. The second gear is configured to engage with the first gear and rotatable about a second axis extending in the predetermined direction. The protrusion extends in the predetermined direction and circularly movable together with rotation of the second gear. The first gear is movable in a direction away from the second gear from a first position to engage with the second gear to a second position to disengage from the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Shota Shinoya
  • Publication number: 20190094769
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first fixing member; a second fixing member; a holding member; a cam member; an urging member; a spring member; a drive source; a transmission section; a regulating member; and a controller. The cam member is rotatable about an axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. The spring member has one end portion movable in interlocking relation with the cam member and another end portion whose movement is regulated by the regulating member. The spring member suppresses rotation of the cam member in the first direction while storing a restoring force by the rotation of the cam member in the first direction; and facilitates rotation of the cam member in the second direction while releasing the restoring force by the rotation of the cam member in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota SHINOYA, Yasuhiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20190094768
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing member; a holding member; and a cam member. The holding member holds the fixing member such that the fixing member can be displaced between a pressure contact position and a separation position. The cam member is rotatable about an axis in a first direction and a second direction. A distance between a cam surface of the cam member and the axis is reduced in the second direction. A part of the cam surface is in contact with the holding member at a first position in a state where the fixing member is at the separation position, and away from the holding member at a second position in a state where the fixing member is at the pressure contact position. The first direction is opposite to a direction from the first position to the second position about the axis with a smaller central angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Shinoya, Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10241454
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first fixing member; a second fixing member; a holding member; a cam member; an urging member; a spring member; a drive source; a transmission section; a regulating member; and a controller. The cam member is rotatable about an axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. The spring member has one end portion movable in interlocking relation with the cam member and another end portion whose movement is regulated by the regulating member. The spring member suppresses rotation of the cam member in the first direction while storing a restoring force by the rotation of the cam member in the first direction; and facilitates rotation of the cam member in the second direction while releasing the restoring force by the rotation of the cam member in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Shinoya, Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20180356751
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a first gear, a second gear, and a protrusion. The first gear is rotatable about a first axis extending in a predetermined direction. The second gear is configured to engage with the first gear and rotatable about a second axis extending in the predetermined direction. The protrusion extends in the predetermined direction and circularly movable together with rotation of the second gear. The first gear is movable in a direction away from the second gear from a first position to engage with the second gear to a second position to disengage from the second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Shota Shinoya
  • Patent number: 10054875
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a first gear, a second gear, and a protrusion. The first gear is rotatable about a first axis extending in a predetermined direction. The second gear is configured to engage with the first gear and rotatable about a second axis extending in the predetermined direction. The protrusion extends in the predetermined direction and circularly movable together with rotation of the second gear. The first gear is movable in a direction away from the second gear from a first position to engage with the second gear to a second position to disengage from the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Shota Shinoya
  • Patent number: 9927767
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing, a developing roller, a coupling, a coupling gear, a detection gear, an agitator, a first gear cover, a second gear cover, and a lock rib. The casing accommodates developing agent. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis. The coupling and the coupling gear are rotatable about a second axis. The detection gear is rotatable about a third axis. The agitator agitates developing agent in the casing and performs power transmission from the coupling gear to the detection gear. The first gear cover covers at least the coupling gear. The second gear cover covers at least a portion of the detection gear. The lock rib is positioned at the other end of the casing. The lock rib is configured to be locked to a portion of a drum cartridge in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Hiroki Mori, Shota Shinoya, Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9915917
    Abstract: A process cartridge has a drum unit having a photosensitive drum; a developing unit having a developing roller and movable relative to the drum unit; a first electrically conductive member provided at the drum unit and configured to contact a terminal of an image forming apparatus; a second electrically conductive member provided at the developing unit; and a third electrically conductive member electrically connected to the first electrically conductive member and to the second electrically conductive member, the third electrically conductive member being deformable in accordance with the movement of the developing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isamu Sakata, Shota Shinoya
  • Publication number: 20180004123
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing, a developing roller, a coupling, a coupling gear, a detection gear, an agitator, a first gear cover, a second gear cover, and a lock rib. The casing accommodates developing agent. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis. The coupling and the coupling gear are rotatable about a second axis. The detection gear is rotatable about a third axis. The agitator agitates developing agent in the casing and performs power transmission from the coupling gear to the detection gear. The first gear cover covers at least the coupling gear. The second gear cover covers at least a portion of the detection gear. The lock rib is positioned at the other end of the casing. The lock rib is configured to be locked to a portion of a drum cartridge in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao ITABASHI, Hiroki MORI, Shota SHINOYA, Hiromitsu MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 9791827
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body and a cartridge attached to the main body. The cartridge includes: a casing extending in a longitudinal direction; a photosensitive drum extending in the longitudinal direction; and a separating member that is detachably attached to the casing. The photosensitive drum has a peripheral surface and is positioned in confrontation with the endless belt as a result of attachment of the cartridge to the main body. The separating member is attached to the casing and separates the photosensitive drum from the endless belt when the main body is packaged while the cartridge is attached to the main body. The separating member includes first and second end portions disposed on both end portions of the casing, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second end portions and is configured to cover the peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Shinoya
  • Publication number: 20170285570
    Abstract: A process cartridge has a drum unit having a photosensitive drum; a developing unit having a developing roller and movable relative to the drum unit; a first electrically conductive member provided at the drum unit and configured to contact a terminal of an image forming apparatus; a second electrically conductive member provided at the developing unit; and a third electrically conductive member electrically connected to the first electrically conductive member and to the second electrically conductive member, the third electrically conductive member being deformable in accordance with the movement of the developing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Isamu Sakata, Shota Shinoya
  • Publication number: 20170277076
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a first gear, a second gear, and a protrusion. The first gear is rotatable about a first axis extending in a predetermined direction. The second gear is configured to engage with the first gear and rotatable about a second axis extending in the predetermined direction. The protrusion extends in the predetermined direction and circularly movable together with rotation of the second gear. The first gear is movable in a direction away from the second gear from a first position to engage with the second gear to a second position to disengage from the second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Shota Shinoya