Patents by Inventor Tadao KYOTANI

Tadao KYOTANI 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: 20240118656
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes a frame on which a toner cartridge is attachable, a photosensitive drum, and a drum memory. The drum cartridge relays information stored in the toner memory to the image forming apparatus when the toner cartridge is attached to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyasu YABUKI, Takashi SUZUKI, Tadao KYOTANI
  • Patent number: 11934144
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a toner cartridge, a replaceable part, an apparatus body memory, and a controller. The replaceable part includes a replaceable part memory storing therein extended-use allowance-and-restriction information. The extended-use allowance-and-restriction information indicates one of allowance information and restriction information. The extended use is defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory. The apparatus body memory stores life information indicating remaining life of the replaceable part. In a case where the controller determines that the extended-use allowance-and-restriction information indicates the restriction information, the controller is configured to restrict the extended use of the replaceable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao Kyotani, Chieko Mimura
  • Patent number: 11899387
    Abstract: In an image-forming device, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge are detachably attached to a frame. A controller is configured to perform: a drum replacement necessity determination process; and a mode switch process. The drum replacement necessity determination process determines, based on life information for the drum cartridge, whether replacement of the drum cartridge is necessary. The mode switch process switches a mode of a printing process between a normal printing mode and an extended printing mode. The normal printing mode allows the image-forming device to perform the printing process when the replacement of the drum cartridge is determined to be unnecessary. The extended printing mode allows the image-forming device to perform the printing process on a condition that the developing cartridge attached to the frame is not replaced with another developing cartridge in a state where the replacement of the developing cartridge is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao Kyotani, Takashi Suzuki, Shingo Fujiwara, Nao Itabashi
  • Publication number: 20240045362
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a main memory and a controller. The controller is configured to perform determining whether the developing cartridge is reached a lifetime on a basis of: at least one of s developing maximum printable number of sheets which corresponds to developing identification information, a maximum developing roller rotation number which corresponds to the developing identification information, and a maximum dot count which corresponds to the developing identification information; and at least one of a developing cumulative number of printed sheets, a cumulative developing roller rotation number and a cumulative dot count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadao Kyotani
  • Patent number: 11868081
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main frame; a developing cartridge including a casing, a storage medium having an electrical contact surface, and developing roller; a photosensitive drum contactable with the developing roller; an electrical connector contactable with the electrical contact surface; a separation mechanism; and a controller configured to communicate with the storage medium via the electrical connector. The separation mechanism is configured to move the casing relative to the main frame in a separating direction in which the developing roller separates from the photosensitive drum. The controller is configured to perform: moving, by controlling the separation mechanism, the casing relative to the main frame in the separating direction; determining, in response to performing the moving, whether communication with the storage medium is established; and outputting, when determining in the determining that the communication with the storage medium is not established, an error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao Kyotani, Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 11860558
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to execute image forming processing of forming an image on a sheet. The apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a fixing device including a heater and a roller, a main motor configured to generate a driving force, a driving mechanism having a connected state in which the driving force is transmittable to both the roller and the photosensitive drum, and a disconnected state in which the driving force is transmittable to the roller but is not transmitted to the photosensitive drum, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the fixing device, and a controller. In a case where the image forming processing is started, the controller sets the driving mechanism into the disconnected state, rotates the main motor at a preheating speed, and executes preheating processing in which the fixing device is heated by the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Furukawa, Sota Hirano, Takahito Yamaji, Toshiyuki Sano, Tadao Kyotani
  • Patent number: 11852998
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge; a display; and a controller. The drum cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the main casing. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum memory. The toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The toner cartridge includes a toner memory. The controller is configured to: determine whether an error occurs in the drum cartridge through a communication with the drum memory; determine whether an error occurs in the toner cartridge through a communication with the toner memory; and when determining that an error occurs in the drum cartridge and determining that an error occurs in the toner cartridge, display on the display an error relating to the drum cartridge in preference to displaying on the display an error relating to the toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadao Kyotani
  • Patent number: 11846905
    Abstract: In an image forming device, a photosensitive drum forms an image on a sheet based on the image formation data. The roller conveys the sheet. A motor provides the roller with driving force to rotate the roller. A controller acquires an advance command which is received from the external terminal prior to reception of the image formation data. The advance command includes option information. The controller determines a rotational speed of the roller based on the option information. The rotational speed is determined to be changeable depending on the optional information. The controller performs a preliminary process before the photosensitive drum forms an image on the sheet based on the image formation data. The preliminary process is to control the motor so that the roller rotates at the rotational speed determined in the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao Kyotani, Yoshihiro Itogawa
  • Patent number: 11835904
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a main memory and a controller. The controller is configured to perform determining whether the developing cartridge is reached a lifetime on a basis of: at least one of s developing maximum printable number of sheets which corresponds to developing identification information, a maximum developing roller rotation number which corresponds to the developing identification information, and a maximum dot count which corresponds to the developing identification information; and at least one of a developing cumulative number of printed sheets, a cumulative developing roller rotation number and a cumulative dot count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadao Kyotani
  • Patent number: 11829099
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes a frame on which a toner cartridge is attachable, a photosensitive drum, and a drum memory. The drum cartridge relays information stored in the toner memory to the image forming apparatus when the toner cartridge is attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Yabuki, Takashi Suzuki, Tadao Kyotani
  • Publication number: 20230367250
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing to which a consumable is attached; a controller; and a main memory. The consumable includes a consumable memory in which lifetime information relating to a service life of the consumable is stored. The controller is configured to perform: a reception process to receive an instruction to initialize the lifetime information; an initialization process to initialize the lifetime information stored in the consumable memory in accordance with the received instruction; and a write process to write initialization information into the consumable memory, the initialization information indicating that the lifetime information was initialized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao KYOTANI, Yosuke IMANISHI
  • Patent number: 11809113
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger and a drum cartridge memory storing a life count value and discharge history information. The controller includes a voltage applying circuit, and an abnormal discharge detection circuit. In a case where the abnormal discharge detection circuit detects an abnormal discharge, the controller does not permit printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than a first reference value and a number of abnormal discharges which is included in the discharge history information read from the drum cartridge memory is equal to or more than a particular threshold value, or permits printing in a case where the life count value is equal to or more than the first reference value and the number of abnormal discharges is less than the particular threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadao Kyotani, Chieko Mimura
  • Patent number: 11809128
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a toner cartridge, a replaceable part, a controller and an apparatus body memory. An operating mode of the controller is set to one of a subscription mode and a normal mode. The controller is configured to perform processes in accordance with the set operating mode. The apparatus body memory is configured to store life information indicating a remaining life of the replaceable part attached to the apparatus body. The controller is configured to switch a control between: a control for allowing an extended use of the replaceable part; and a control for restricting the extended use of the replaceable part, according to the set operating mode. The extended use is defined as use of the replaceable part even after the replaceable part exceeds the remaining life indicated by the life information stored in the apparatus body memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao Kyotani, Chieko Mimura
  • Publication number: 20230333499
    Abstract: A printing device, including: a cartridge storing developer; a memory provided in the cartridge; and a controller configured to execute a printing process of operating the cartridge form a developer image on a sheet by use of the developer in the cartridge, a first access process of performing access to the memory when the printing process is not being executed, and a second access process of performing access to the memory in a period in which the printing process is being executed, in response to a predetermined operation of the printing device, wherein, when an access failure occurs in the first access process, the controller notifies an error, and wherein, when an access failure occurs in the second access process, the controller continues the printing process and executes the second access process again in response to a next timing of the predetermined operation of the printing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi SUZUKI, Tadao KYOTANI
  • Patent number: 11774894
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge those attachable to the main body; a main memory; and a controller. The controller is configured to perform: determining a number of sheets printable using the toner cartridge attached to the main body; determining a number of sheets printable using the drum cartridge attached to the main body; determining a number of sheets printable using a new toner cartridge; and when determining that a sum of the number of sheets printable using the toner cartridge attached to the main body and the number of sheets printable using a new toner cartridge is greater than or equal to the number of sheets printable using the drum cartridge attached to the main body, transmitting to a server a signal for ordering a new drum cartridge together with a new toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Tadao Kyotani, Shingo Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11762310
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cover, a cartridge, and a controller. The cartridge includes a second memory storing lifetime information indicating lifetime of the cartridge and identification information unique to the cartridge. In a case where the lifetime information indicates the initial value for the lifetime, the controller is configured to perform setting the cartridge to be usable in the image forming apparatus. In a case where the controller determines that the lifetime information does not indicate the initial value for the lifetime of the cartridge, the controller is configured to perform judging whether the identification information stored in the second memory matches a registration identification information stored in a first memory of the apparatus body. In a case where the identification information matches the registration identification information, the controller is configured to perform determining that the cartridge is usable for the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadao Kyotani
  • Publication number: 20230266703
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus a toner cartridge includes a toner memory storing toner identification information. The toner cartridge is detachably attachable to a drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a drum memory storing drum identification information. The drum cartridge is detachably attached to the main-body casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao KYOTANI, Keigo NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 11720038
    Abstract: A printing device, including: a cartridge storing developer; a memory provided in the cartridge; and a controller configured to execute a printing process of operating the cartridge form a developer image on a sheet by use of the developer in the cartridge, a first access process of performing access to the memory when the printing process is not being executed, and a second access process of performing access to the memory in a period in which the printing process is being executed, in response to a predetermined operation of the printing device, wherein, when an access failure occurs in the first access process, the controller notifies an error, and wherein, when an access failure occurs in the second access process, the controller continues the printing process and executes the second access process again in response to a next timing of the predetermined operation of the printing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Tadao Kyotani
  • Patent number: 11681253
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing and a controller. A cartridge is to be attached to the main casing. The cartridge includes a memory stores usage status information indicating whether the cartridge is a new cartridge or an old cartridge which indicates a used product. The controller reads the usage status information stored in the memory in a case that attachment of the cartridge to the main casing is detected. The controller determines, based on the usage status information, whether the cartridge is the new cartridge or the old cartridge. The controller rewrites the usage status information to information indicating that the cartridge is the old cartridge in a case that the cartridge is determined to be the new cartridge. The rewriting is performed before the controller receives a print instruction and before the material or the part of the cartridge is consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadao Kyotani
  • Publication number: 20230185225
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge; a display; and a controller. The drum cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the main casing. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum memory. The toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The toner cartridge includes a toner memory. The controller is configured to: determine whether an error occurs in the drum cartridge through a communication with the drum memory; determine whether an error occurs in the toner cartridge through a communication with the toner memory; and when determining that an error occurs in the drum cartridge and determining that an error occurs in the toner cartridge, display on the display an error relating to the drum cartridge in preference to displaying on the display an error relating to the toner cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadao Kyotani