Patents by Inventor Shougo Sato

Shougo Sato 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: 12292704
    Abstract: A development unit includes a development housing configured to store toner and a development roller rotatable about a development axis extending in a first direction. The development roller supplies the toner in the development housing to a photosensitive drum. The development housing includes a reception port and a slope. The reception port receives toner from a toner container configured to store the toner to be supplied to the development housing. The reception port is located away from the development roller in a second direction crossing the first direction. The slope is located below the reception port in the development housing. The slope includes a first slope portion and a second slope portion. The first slope portion is inclined downward away from the reception port in the first direction. The second slope portion is inclined downward toward the development roller in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 12287604
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; a drum cartridge as a first cartridge including a photosensitive drum; a second cartridge accommodating toner; and a drawer movable between an inside position where the drawer in its entirety is positioned inside the housing and an outside position where at least a part of the drawer is positioned outside the housing. The drum cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drawer. The drawer includes: a side plate configured to receive the photosensitive drum; and a locking member supported by the side plate. The locking member is movable relative to the side plate between a locking position where the locking member locks the photosensitive drum to the side plate and an unlocking position where the locking member unlocks the photosensitive drum from the side plate in an attached state of the drum cartridge to the drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20250130526
    Abstract: A process cartridge mountable on an image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive drum, a developing unit including a developing roller and a toner storage unit. The toner storage includes a first toner storage chamber, a second toner storage chamber located above the first toner storage chamber, a first toner conveying member located in the first toner storage chamber and configured to convey the toner in the first toner storage chamber upward toward the second toner storage chamber in an area wider than the toner discharge outlet in the first direction, and a second toner conveying member located in the second toner storage chamber and configured to convey, in the first direction, the toner in the second toner storage chamber toward the toner discharge outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Yasutada KATO, Yasuo FUKAMACHI
  • Publication number: 20250130516
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a photosensitive member, a developing device including a developing roller, pressing members configured to engage with the developing device and springs configured to urge the pressing members. In some examples, each of the pressing members may be configured to contact and move the developing device between various positions based on the urging of the springs. Additionally or alternatively, various ends of a contact surface of the developing roller configured to contact developer may be disposed relative to an axis line of the developing roller and pressing surfaces of the pressing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Yoh Nishimura, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 12282288
    Abstract: A first cartridge is movable in a first direction through an opening between: a first position inside a housing; and a second position outside the housing. The first cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, and a first handle. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction. The drum frame supports the photosensitive drum. The first handle is located at a downstream end of the drum frame in a movement direction in which the first cartridge moves from the first position to the second position. A second cartridge is configured to contain toner. The second cartridge is unattachable to and undetachable from the first cartridge in a state where the first cartridge is located at the first position. The second cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the first cartridge in a state where the first cartridge is located at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20250110446
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, including a housing; a drum cartridge; a developing cartridge; a drawer movable between an inner position and an outer position; and a lock member provided on the drawer and movable between a lock position at which the lock member locks the drum cartridge to the drawer, and a release position at which a lock between the drum cartridge and the drawer is released. The lock member includes an operation portion for moving the lock member between the lock position and the release position. The developing cartridge includes a cover member that covers at least a portion of the operation portion in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer, and the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo SATO
  • Publication number: 20250110445
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a main housing, a first photosensitive drum, a second photosensitive drum, a first developing device to supply toner to the first photosensitive drum, a second developing device to supply toner to the second photosensitive drum, a first reloading device to reload the first developing device with the toner, and a second reloading device to reload the second developing device with the toner, is provided. The first reloading device has a first reloading port, which accepts the toner for reloading the first developing device. The first reloading port is openable to an outside of the main housing. The second reloading device has a second reloading port, which accepts the toner for reloading the second developing device. The second reloading port is openable to the outside of the main housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Yasutada KATO, Shunsuke ISHII, Masatoshi SHIRAKI, Shougo SATO
  • Patent number: 12259680
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cartridge supporter is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge attachable to the drum cartridge; and a switching member switchable states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein detachment of the toner cartridge is restricted, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The cartridge supporter is movable between a first position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be placed entirely in an inner space in the main body on an inner side of the opening, and a second position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be at least partly placed outside the inner space. When the cartridge supporter is in the second position, the switching member is at least partly placed outside the inner space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 12259678
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a first cover; a drum cartridge; and a toner cartridge. The main casing has a first opening. The first cover is movable between: a first closed position in which the first cover closes the first opening; and a first open position in which the first opening is opened. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum. The drum cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the main casing through the first opening in a state where the first cover is in the first open position. The toner cartridge is configured to accommodate toner therein. The toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The first cover has a second opening smaller than the first opening. The second opening allows the toner cartridge to pass therethrough but does not allow the drum cartridge to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Miho Ishida, Enao Yamada, Shunsuke Ishii
  • Publication number: 20250068097
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main housing; a first drum cartridge including a first photosensitive drum; a second drum cartridge including a second photosensitive drum; a first toner cartridge to be coupled to the first drum cartridge; and a second toner cartridge to be coupled to the second drum cartridge. The first drum cartridge and the second drum cartridge are attachable to and detachable from the main housing. The first drum cartridge further includes: a first frame; a second frame; a third frame immovable relative to the first photosensitive drum; a developing housing movable relative to the first photosensitive drum; and a sealing member sealing a gap between the developing housing and the third frame. The third frame has a first passage opening configured to allow toner from the first toner cartridge to pass therethrough. The sealing member is positioned around and away from the first passage opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo SATO
  • Patent number: 12235605
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main casing, an opening-closing member configured to open and close an opening on a side of the main casing and to move between an open position and a closed position, a belt unit configured to move between a first position and a second position, a drum unit configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, a developing device unit configured to move in an arrangement direction of developing rollers, and an interlock mechanism configured such that in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position, the belt unit moves from the first position to the second position and the drum unit moves from the third position to the fourth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20250060691
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main-body housing, a drum unit, and a toner cartridge. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, a developing roller, a toner-inlet shutter to open and close a toner-inlet opening, a cleaning member, and a collected-toner outlet shutter to open and close a collected-toner outlet opening. The toner cartridge includes a toner casing having a toner container and a collected-toner container, and a shutter-driving member having a transmission device and an operable device. The transmission device is movable by the operable device between a first position, at which the toner-inlet shutter and the collected-toner outlet shutter are located at positions to close the toner-inlet opening and the collected-toner outlet opening, and a second position, at which the toner-inlet shutter and the collected-toner outlet shutter are located at positions to open the toner-inlet opening and the collected-toner outlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki UEJI, Shougo SATO
  • Patent number: 12228879
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a drawer movable through the opening between a housing position and a drawn position, a process cartridge mountable to and removable from the drawer and including a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum rotating about a first axis, and a developing cartridge including a developing roller that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum and rotates about a second axis extending in parallel with the first axis, and an intermediate transfer belt located above the drum cartridge in a state where the process cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located in the housing position. The developing cartridge includes a handle. The handle is located opposite to the photosensitive drum with respect to the developing roller in a direction of drawing the drawer, in a state where the process cartridge is removed from the drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20250053117
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum, and a developing housing configured to store the toner therein. The developing housing includes a first housing supporting the developing roller, a second housing having an inlet port, and a gasket providing a sealing between the first housing and the second housing. The first housing is movable relative to the photosensitive drum. The second housing is immovable relative to the photosensitive drum. The gasket is elastically deformable in response to movement of the first housing relative to the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo SATO
  • Publication number: 20250053134
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; a drawer; and first and second process cartridges attachable to the drawer. The first process cartridge includes a first drum cartridge including a first photosensitive drum and a first developing cartridge including a first developing roller. When attached to the first drum cartridge, the first developing cartridge is movable between a first position where the first developing cartridge is detachable from the first drum cartridge and a second position where the first developing cartridge is not detachable from the first drum cartridge. In a state where the first and second process cartridges are attached to the drawer at positions adjacent to each other, the first developing cartridge comes into contact with the second process cartridge during movement of the first developing cartridge from the second position to the first position before the first developing cartridge reaches the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Miho Ishida
  • Patent number: 12222662
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a photosensitive member, a developing device including a developing roller, pressing members configured to engage with the developing device and springs configured to urge the pressing members. In some examples, each of the pressing members may be configured to contact and move the developing device between various positions based on the urging of the springs. Additionally or alternatively, various ends of a contact surface of the developing roller configured to contact developer may be disposed relative to an axis line of the developing roller and pressing surfaces of the pressing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoh Nishimura, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 12216416
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main-body housing, a drum unit, and a toner cartridge. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, a developing roller, a toner-inlet shutter to open and close a toner-inlet opening, a cleaning member, and a collected-toner outlet shutter to open and close a collected-toner outlet opening. The toner cartridge includes a toner casing having a toner container and a collected-toner container, and a shutter-driving member having a transmission device and an operable device. The transmission device is movable by the operable device between a first position, at which the toner-inlet shutter and the collected-toner outlet shutter are located at positions to close the toner-inlet opening and the collected-toner outlet opening, and a second position, at which the toner-inlet shutter and the collected-toner outlet shutter are located at positions to open the toner-inlet opening and the collected-toner outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Ueji, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 12216417
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a photosensitive drum, a development housing, a development roller, a container, and a return toner pipe. The development housing is configured to contain toner. The development roller is configured to supply toner in the development housing to the photosensitive drum. The container has an insertion opening configured such that a toner container is inserted therein. The toner container contains toner to be replenished to the development housing. The return toner pipe is configured to allow passage of return toner. The return toner is toner that returns from the photosensitive drum to the development housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 12216430
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a main housing, a first photosensitive drum, a second photosensitive drum, a first developing device to supply toner to the first photosensitive drum, a second developing device to supply toner to the second photosensitive drum, a first reloading device to reload the first developing device with the toner, and a second reloading device to reload the second developing device with the toner, is provided. The first reloading device has a first reloading port, which accepts the toner for reloading the first developing device. The first reloading port is openable to an outside of the main housing. The second reloading device has a second reloading port, which accepts the toner for reloading the second developing device. The second reloading port is openable to the outside of the main housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasutada Kato, Shunsuke Ishii, Masatoshi Shiraki, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20250036075
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body housing, a drum cartridge, and a toner cartridge. The drum cartridge is movable inside the main body housing between a drum first position and a drum second position. The toner cartridge is movable between a toner first position and a toner second position in a state where the toner cartridge is coupled to the drum cartridge. In a state where the toner cartridge is coupled to the drum cartridge, the drum cartridge is at the drum second position, and the toner cartridge is at the toner second position, the toner cartridge is pivotally movable relative to the drum cartridge between a first pivot position at which coupling of the toner cartridge to the drum cartridge is not releasable and a second pivot position at which the coupling of the toner cartridge to the drum cartridge is releasable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo SATO