Patents by Inventor Susumu Sakuma

Susumu Sakuma 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: 8831471
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8805232
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20140147164
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the plurality of photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; a cleaning unit having a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt; and a positioning member configured to cause the cleaning member to be positioned at a contacting position where the cleaning member contacts with the conveyor belt and at a spaced-apart position where the cleaning member is away from the conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8682210
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes photosensitive drums arranged parallel to each other and extending in a first direction; developing units corresponding to the photosensitive drums; a belt in contact with the photosensitive drums and moving in a second direction crossing the first direction; a cleaner for cleaning waste toner on the belt; a first conveying unit extending in the first direction; a second conveying unit extending in the first direction separately from the first conveying unit in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions; and a connecting unit connecting the first and second conveying units. The toner is conveyed by the first conveying unit to pass through the connecting unit, and conveyed by the second conveying unit. One of the developing units includes a toner container. The connecting unit is positioned on one end side of the photosensitive drums and overlaps the container in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8682209
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the plurality of photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; a cleaning unit having a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt; and a positioning member configured to cause the cleaning member to be positioned at a contacting position where the cleaning member contacts with the conveyor belt and at a spaced-apart position where the cleaning member is away from the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8666282
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus is provided, to which developing devices, each having an opening, and developer cartridges for respectively supplying a developing agent to the openings of the developing devices are mountable. The apparatus includes developing device shutters, each configured to open and close a respective one of the openings of the developing devices mounted to the apparatus; and a link mechanism configured to move the developing device shutters linked with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20140044464
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes photosensitive drums arranged parallel to each other and extending in a first direction; developing units corresponding to the photosensitive drums; a belt in contact with the photosensitive drums and moving in a second direction crossing the first direction; a cleaner for cleaning waste toner on the belt; a first conveying unit extending in the first direction; a second conveying unit extending in the first direction separately from the first conveying unit in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions; and a connecting unit connecting the first and second conveying units. The toner is conveyed by the first conveying unit to pass through the connecting unit, and conveyed by the second conveying unit. One of the developing units includes a toner container. The connecting unit is positioned on one end side of the photosensitive drums and overlaps the container in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20140023406
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a first conveying unit provided within a developing agent storage chamber and that is configured to convey a developing agent from one end of the developing agent storage chamber to another end of the developing agent storage chamber in a longitudinal direction of a developing agent carrier that is disposed with in a developing chamber and to supply the developing agent from the developing agent storage chamber to the developing chamber; a second conveying unit provided within the developing chamber and that is configured to convey the developing agent from the other end of the developing chamber to the one end of the developing chamber in the longitudinal direction and to supply the developing agent toward a developing agent carrier; and a third conveying unit provided between the one end of the developing agent storage chamber and the one end of the developing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20140003835
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20130302062
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8571448
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a first conveying unit provided within a developing agent storage chamber and that is configured to convey a developing agent from one end of the developing agent storage chamber to another end of the developing agent storage chamber in a longitudinal direction of a developing agent carrier that is disposed with in a developing chamber and to supply the developing agent from the developing agent storage chamber to the developing chamber; a second conveying unit provided within the developing chamber and that is configured to convey the developing agent from the other end of the developing chamber to the one end of the developing chamber in the longitudinal direction and to supply the developing agent toward a developing agent carrier; and a third conveying unit provided between the one end of the developing agent storage chamber and the one end of the developing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8548351
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes a plurality of developing units, an endless belt, and a cleaning unit. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning member and a conveying unit. The cleaning member contacts the endless belt to clean toner remaining on the endless belt. The conveying unit includes a first conveying unit, a second conveying unit, and a first relaying member. The first relaying member relays the remaining toner conveyed by the first conveying unit to the second conveying unit, and has a relay-axis. The cleaning member pivots about the relay axis to move between a contacting position for contacting the endless belt and a separating position for separating from the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8532521
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8498551
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20130142555
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8457518
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing; an endless belt; a cleaning unit configured to collect a waste toner remaining on the endless belt; a first cartridge including a first accommodating portion to accommodate toner to be supplied to a first photosensitive member; a second cartridge including a second accommodating portion to accommodate toner to be supplied to a second photosensitive member, and a waste toner retainer to accommodate waste toner collected by the cleaning unit; a waste toner conveying unit configured to convey the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit to the waste toner retainer; and a moving member configured to support the first cartridge, the second cartridge, and the cleaning unit, the moving member being movable in a first direction from an inner position in the casing to an outer position out of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20130121728
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing; an endless belt; a cleaning unit configured to collect a waste toner remaining on the endless belt; a first cartridge including a first accommodating portion to accommodate toner to be supplied to a first photosensitive member; a second cartridge including a second accommodating portion to accommodate toner to be supplied to a second photosensitive member, and a waste toner retainer to accommodate waste toner collected by the cleaning unit; a waste toner conveying unit configured to convey the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit to the waste toner retainer; and a moving member configured to support the first cartridge, the second cartridge, and the cleaning unit, the moving member being movable in a first direction from an inner position in the casing to an outer position out of the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20130071140
    Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer casing, a developer carrying member, and a receptacle. The developer carrying member is mounted on the developer casing. The receptacle is supported on the developer casing to be slidable linearly with respect to the developing casing, and is configured to accommodate a waste developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Kensuke Miyahara, Hikaru Yoshizumi, Susumu Sakuma, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20130064590
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes a plurality of developing units, an endless belt, and a cleaning unit. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning member and a conveying unit. The cleaning member contacts the endless belt to clean toner remaining on the endless belt. The conveying unit includes a first conveying unit, a second conveying unit, and a first relaying member. The first relaying member relays the remaining toner conveyed by the first conveying unit to the second conveying unit, and has a relay-axis. The cleaning member pivots about the relay axis to move between a contacting position for contacting the endless belt and a separating position for separating from the endless belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: D718379
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Sakuma, Takeyuki Takagi