Patents by Inventor Soun Kanada

Soun Kanada 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: 20230408954
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a magnetic roller; a transfer belt; a drum cleaning roller for collecting toner on the photosensitive drum and discharging collected toner to the photosensitive drum; a belt cleaner; a waste toner accommodating unit; and a controller configured to perform a printing operation for forming an image on a sheet and a cleaning operation for cleaning the drum cleaning roller. The controller is configured to perform: when performing the printing operation, collecting toner on the photosensitive drum using the drum cleaning roller; and when performing the cleaning operation, discharging the toner on the drum cleaning roller collected in the collecting to the photosensitive drum; transferring the toner on the photosensitive drum onto the transfer belt; and collecting the toner on the transfer belt using the belt cleaner so that the collected toner is accommodated in the waste toner accommodating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio FURUKAWA, Koji OGAWA, Fan XU, Kazuma HINOUE, Hotaka KAKUTANI, Shintaro FUKUOKA, Soun KANADA, Masahiko HAYAKAWA, Marika OZAKI, Masaki UEJI, Ayaka KOMORI, Enao YAMADA, Miho ISHIDA, Keigo NAKAJIMA, Shota IRIYAMA, Kengo YADA, Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230244159
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a housing, a toner cartridge, and a drum unit. The drum unit is movable through the opening between an accommodated position where the drum unit is positioned in the housing and a pulled-out position where the drum unit is pulled out of the housing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum and a developing unit. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a second direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a first auger and a second auger. The magnetic roller is positioned between the toner cartridge and the photosensitive drum. The magnetic roller faces a surface of the photosensitive drum. The developer container is formed with an inlet allowing the toner to be replenished from the toner cartridge. The first auger is positioned in the developer container. The second auger is positioned in the developer container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Yuwen WANG, Takuya AMAIKE, Soun KANADA, Kazuma HINOUE
  • Patent number: 11662676
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, upon receipt of a printing instruction, a controller starts rotation of a heating member, starts rotation of a photoconductor drum when a standby time has elapsed from a time of the start of the rotation of the heating member, starts conveyance of a sheet after the start of the rotation of the photoconductor drum, and forms a toner image on the sheet after the start of the conveyance of the sheet. The controller is configured to be operated in one of selectable modes including a multicolor mode in which a toner image is formed using both of toner of a first color and a second color and a monochrome mode in which a toner image is formed using toner of the second color only. The standby time adopted in the monochrome mode is longer than the standby time adopted in the multicolor mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soun Kanada, Yuki Fukusada, Tatsuya Koyama, Kotaro Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 11650522
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a housing, a toner cartridge, and a drum unit. The drum unit is movable through the opening between an accommodated position where the drum unit is positioned in the housing and a pulled-out position where the drum unit is pulled out of the housing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum and a developing unit. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a second direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a first auger and a second auger. The magnetic roller is positioned between the toner cartridge and the photosensitive drum. The magnetic roller faces a surface of the photosensitive drum. The developer container is formed with an inlet allowing the toner to be replenished from the toner cartridge. The first auger is positioned in the developer container. The second auger is positioned in the developer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Yuwen Wang, Takuya Amaike, Soun Kanada, Kazuma Hinoue
  • Publication number: 20220373943
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, upon receipt of a printing instruction, a controller starts rotation of a heating member, starts rotation of a photoconductor drum when a standby time has elapsed from a time of the start of the rotation of the heating member, starts conveyance of a sheet after the start of the rotation of the photoconductor drum, and forms a toner image on the sheet after the start of the conveyance of the sheet. The controller is configured to be operated in one of selectable modes including a multicolor mode in which a toner image is formed using both of toner of a first color and a second color and a monochrome mode in which a toner image is formed using toner of the second color only. The standby time adopted in the monochrome mode is longer than the standby time adopted in the multicolor mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soun KANADA, Yuki FUKUSADA, Tatsuya KOYAMA, Kotaro FUJISHIRO
  • Publication number: 20210311414
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a housing, a toner cartridge, and a drum unit. The drum unit is movable through the opening between an accommodated position where the drum unit is positioned in the housing and a pulled-out position where the drum unit is pulled out of the housing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum and a developing unit. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a second direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a first auger and a second auger. The magnetic roller is positioned between the toner cartridge and the photosensitive drum. The magnetic roller faces a surface of the photosensitive drum. The developer container is formed with an inlet allowing the toner to be replenished from the toner cartridge. The first auger is positioned in the developer container. The second auger is positioned in the developer container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Yuwen WANG, Takuya AMAIKE, Soun KANADA, Kazuma HINOUE
  • Patent number: 9766572
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller with a shaft, a housing with a wall portion, a developing electrode, a first contact portion, a second contact portion, and a connecting portion. The developing electrode includes a first contact portion contacting the shaft and has a first surface against which an apparatus electrode of an image forming apparatus body slides, a second contact portion disposed next to the first contact portion, and a second surface configured to contact an electrode of the image forming apparatus. The connecting portion includes a first inclined surface connecting the first surface and the second surface with each other and being contiguous with the first surface. The first inclined surface is inclined toward the second contact portion from the first contact portion such that the first inclined surface extends in a direction away from the wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iriyama, Soun Kanada, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9703258
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing configured to store a developing agent, a developing agent carrying member disposed rotatably in the casing and configured to carry the developing agent, and a layer-thickness regulating member configured to regulate a thickness of a layer of the developing agent. The casing includes an attachment portion to which the layer-thickness regulating member is attached, a receiving portion configured to receive pressing force for pressing the developing agent carrying member toward an image carrying member in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the developing agent carrying member, and a wall portion disposed between the attachment portion and the receiving portion. The receiving portion is disposed to overlap with at least a portion of the attachment portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the developing agent carrying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soun Kanada, Satoru Ishikawa, Hiroya Fukuta, Ryuji Noda, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9507315
    Abstract: A developing cartridge mountable in a main casing of an image forming apparatus in a mounting direction includes: a supply roller; a casing; a supply electrode; and a first protecting portion. The supply roller rotates about an axis extending in a first direction orthogonal to the mounting direction. The casing includes first and second wall portions orthogonal to the first direction. The supply electrode is electrically connected to the supply roller and disposed adjacent to the second wall portion in the first direction. The first protecting portion protects the supply electrode and is disposed downstream of the supply electrode in the mounting direction. The first protecting portion has a sloped surface having a first end and a second end upstream of the first end in the mounting direction. The sloped surface slopes away from the second wall portion in the first direction toward the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Iriyama, Soun Kanada, Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya
  • Publication number: 20160266516
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller with a shaft, a housing with a wall portion, a developing electrode, a first contact portion, a second contact portion, and a connecting portion. The developing electrode includes a first contact portion contacting the shaft and has a first surface against which an apparatus electrode of an image forming apparatus body slides, a second contact portion disposed next to the first contact portion, and a second surface configured to contact an electrode of the image forming apparatus. The connecting portion includes a first inclined surface connecting the first surface and the second surface with each other and being contiguous with the first surface. The first inclined surface is inclined toward the second contact portion from the first contact portion such that the first inclined surface extends in a direction away from the wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Shota Iriyama, Soun Kanada, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9417558
    Abstract: A development cartridge including a housing, a developer carrying body rotating around a first axis along a first direction, a supply member rotating around a second axis along the first direction, a first gear connected with the developer carrying body, a second gear connected with the supply member, and a gear cover covering the first gear and the second gear, the gear cover including a first cover portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second cover portion connected with the first cover portion, the second cover portion extending in the first direction, the second cover portion having an opening through which a part of the second gear protrudes from the second cover portion and is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya, Soun Kanada, Hirofumi Kuriki, Hiroya Fukuta
  • Patent number: 9360793
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller with a shaft, a housing with a wall portion, a developing electrode, a first contact portion, a second contact portion, and a connecting portion. The developing electrode includes a first contact portion contacting the shaft and has a first surface against which an apparatus electrode of an image forming apparatus body slides, a second contact portion disposed next to the first contact portion, and a second surface configured to contact an electrode of the image forming apparatus. The connecting portion includes a first inclined surface connecting the first surface and the second surface with each other and being contiguous with the first surface. The first inclined surface is inclined toward the second contact portion from the first contact portion such that the first inclined surface extends in a direction away from the wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iriyama, Soun Kanada, Takashi Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20160154339
    Abstract: A development cartridge including a housing, a developer carrying body rotating around a first axis along a first direction, a supply member rotating around a second axis along the first direction, a first gear connected with the developer carrying body, a second gear connected with the supply member, and a gear cover covering the first gear and the second gear, the gear cover including a first cover portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second cover portion connected with the first cover portion, the second cover portion extending in the first direction, the second cover portion having an opening through which a part of the second gear protrudes from the second cover portion and is exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya, Soun Kanada, Hirofumi Kuriki, Hiroya Fukuta
  • Patent number: 9280129
    Abstract: A developer cartridge has a rotatable body, a casing, a conveying guide structure, and a cover. The cover includes a facing part and a first covering part. The conveying guide structure includes a first conveying guide extending in the second direction, and a second conveying guide connected from the first conveying guide at an end on the other side of the second direction and extends toward the other side of the second direction so as to curve in the first direction with respect to the first conveying guide. The first covering part includes a first contacting part configured to contact the first conveying guide, and a second contacting part configured to curve in the first direction with respect to the first contacting part so as to extend toward the other side in the second direction, and contact the second conveying guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Satoru Ishikawa, Soun Kanada
  • Publication number: 20160062263
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller with a shaft, a housing with a wall portion, a developing electrode, a first contact portion, a second contact portion, and a connecting portion. The developing electrode includes a first contact portion contacting the shaft and has a first surface against which an apparatus electrode of an image forming apparatus body slides, a second contact portion disposed next to the first contact portion, and a second surface configured to contact an electrode of the image forming apparatus. The connecting portion includes a first inclined surface connecting the first surface and the second surface with each other and being contiguous with the first surface. The first inclined surface is inclined toward the second contact portion from the first contact portion such that the first inclined surface extends in a direction away from the wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Shota Iriyama, Soun Kanada, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9256195
    Abstract: A development cartridge including a housing, a developer carrying body rotating around a first axis along a first direction, a supply member rotating around a second axis along the first direction, a first gear connected with the developer carrying body, a second gear connected with the supply member, and a gear cover covering the first gear and the second gear, the gear cover including a first cover portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second cover portion connected with the first cover portion, the second cover portion extending in the first direction, the second cover portion having an opening through which a part of the second gear protrudes from the second cover portion and is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya, Soun Kanada, Hirofumi Kuriki, Hiroya Fukuta
  • Patent number: 9195165
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller with a shaft, a housing with a wall portion, a developing electrode, a first contact portion, a second contact portion, and a connecting portion. The developing electrode includes a first contact portion contacting the shaft and has a first surface against which an apparatus electrode of an image forming apparatus body slides, a second contact portion disposed next to the first contact portion, and a second surface configured to contact an electrode of the image forming apparatus. The connecting portion includes a first inclined surface connecting the first surface and the second surface with each other and being contiguous with the first surface. The first inclined surface is inclined toward the second contact portion from the first contact portion such that the first inclined surface extends in a direction away from the wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iriyama, Soun Kanada, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9116463
    Abstract: A developing device including: a first seal member arranged between a housing and a layer thickness regulation blade, and a second seal member arranged between the housing and a developing roller, wherein the first seal member is arranged adjacent to the second seal member in a rotating direction of the developing roller, wherein the second seal member includes a first member contacting a circumferential surface of the developing roller and a second member arranged between the housing and the first member, wherein the second member includes a protruding portion that, in the rotating direction of the developing roller, protrudes more towards the first seal member than the first member, and wherein end portions of the first and second members in the rotating direction of the developing roller are respectively configured to contact with the first seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Handa, Soun Kanada
  • Publication number: 20150192878
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller with a shaft, a housing with a wall portion, a developing electrode, a first contact portion, a second contact portion, and a connecting portion. The developing electrode includes a first contact portion contacting the shaft and has a first surface against which an apparatus electrode of an image forming apparatus body slides, a second contact portion disposed next to the first contact portion, and a second surface configured to contact an electrode of the image forming apparatus. The connecting portion includes a first inclined surface connecting the first surface and the second surface with each other and being contiguous with the first surface. The first inclined surface is inclined toward the second contact portion from the first contact portion such that the first inclined surface extends in a direction away from the wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Shota Iriyama, Soun Kanada, Takashi Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20150192892
    Abstract: A developing cartridge mountable in a main casing of an image forming apparatus in a mounting direction includes: a supply roller; a casing; a supply electrode; and a first protecting portion. The supply roller rotates about an axis extending in a first direction orthogonal to the mounting direction. The casing includes first and second wall portions orthogonal to the first direction. The supply electrode is electrically connected to the supply roller and disposed adjacent to the second wall portion in the first direction. The first protecting portion protects the supply electrode and is disposed downstream of the supply electrode in the mounting direction. The first protecting portion has a sloped surface having a first end and a second end upstream of the first end in the mounting direction. The sloped surface slopes away from the second wall portion in the first direction toward the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota IRIYAMA, Soun KANADA, Takashi SHIMIZU, Atsushi FUKAYA