Patents by Inventor Takuya AMAIKE
Takuya AMAIKE 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).
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Publication number: 20240027950Abstract: A developing cartridge is attachable to a drawer that is movable in a first direction relative to a main housing of an image forming apparatus. The developing cartridge includes: a casing having a toner chamber; and a developing roller positioned at one end of the casing in a second direction and rotatable about an axis extending in a third direction. The casing includes: a recessed portion recessed from an outer surface of the casing toward the developing roller; a first wall extending in the second direction; and a first boss positioned inside the toner chamber. The recessed portion is positioned at a center in the third direction of another end of the casing in the second direction. The first wall and the second wall form the toner chamber. The first boss extends from the first wall to be connected to the second wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji ABE, Takuya AMAIKE
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Publication number: 20230297006Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a casing; a conveyer member rotatable about an axis; a shutter rotatable about the axis between a closed position and an open position; a toner coupling rotatable about the axis; a planet carrier rotatable about the axis with the toner coupling; a planetary gear rotatable about a pin of the planet carrier and rotatable about the axis in accordance with the rotation of the planet carrier; and a ring gear meshing with the planetary gear and rotatable about the axis with the shutter. When the shutter moves from the closed position to the open position, the planetary gear is not rotatable about the pin and is rotatable about the axis with the ring gear. In a state where the shutter is at the open position, the planetary gear is rotatable about the pin and is rotatable about the axis relative to the ring gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Takuya AMAIKE
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Publication number: 20230297022Abstract: A drum cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main frame of an image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a drum frame; and a drum contact. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction. A toner cartridge including a storage medium having an electrical contact surface is attachable to and detachable from the drum frame. In a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the drum frame, the drum contact is movable in the first direction between: a separated position in which the drum contact is positioned away from the electrical contact surface; and a contacting position in which the drum contact is in contact with the electrical contact surface. The drum contact moves from the separated position to the contacting position in accordance with attachment of the drum cartridge to the main frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuwen WANG, Junichi HASHIMOTO, Takuya AMAIKE, Masayoshi MITA
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Publication number: 20230244159Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Yuwen WANG, Takuya AMAIKE, Soun KANADA, Kazuma HINOUE
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Patent number: 11650522Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 26, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Yuwen Wang, Takuya Amaike, Soun Kanada, Kazuma Hinoue
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Publication number: 20220187760Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a toner cartridge, a connector and a relay board. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a conveyer member and a toner sensor. The developer container accommodates therein carrier, and has an inlet. The conveyer member is positioned in the developer container, and configured to convey toner and the carrier from the inlet toward the magnetic roller. The toner cartridge accommodates therein toner and is attachable to the developer container to replenish toner in the developer container through the inlet. The connector is electrically connected to an image forming apparatus. The relay board electrically connects the toner sensor to the connector. The relay board is configured to transmit a detection signal from the toner sensor to the image forming apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuwen Wang, Takuya Amaike, Junichi Hashimoto
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Patent number: 11269292Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a toner cartridge, a connector and a relay board. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a conveyer member and a toner sensor. The developer container accommodates therein carrier, and has an inlet. The conveyer member is positioned in the developer container, and configured to convey toner and the carrier from the inlet toward the magnetic roller. The toner cartridge accommodates therein toner and is attachable to the developer container to replenish toner in the developer container through the inlet. The connector is electrically connected to an image forming apparatus. The relay board electrically connects the toner sensor to the connector. The relay board is configured to transmit a detection signal from the toner sensor to the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2021Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuwen Wang, Takuya Amaike, Junichi Hashimoto
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Publication number: 20210311433Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a toner cartridge, a connector and a relay board. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a conveyer member and a toner sensor. The developer container accommodate therein carrier, and has an inlet. The conveyer member is positioned in the developer container, and configured to convey the toner and the carrier from the inlet toward the magnetic roller. The toner cartridge accommodate therein toner and is attachable to the developer container to replenish the toner in the developer container through the inlet. The connector is electrically connected to the image forming apparatus. The relay board electrically connects the toner sensor to the connector. The relay board is configured to transmit a detection signal from the toner sensor to the image forming apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuwen WANG, Takuya AMAIKE, Junichi HASHIMOTO
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Publication number: 20210311414Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi HASHIMOTO, Yuwen WANG, Takuya AMAIKE, Soun KANADA, Kazuma HINOUE
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Patent number: 9588459Abstract: In a developing device, a developing roller has a circumferential surface and an axial end portion. A thickness-regulating blade includes a pressing part protruding to contact the circumferential surface. A first sealing member is provided between a housing and the axial end portion, and includes a first layer; and a second layer. The first layer has a first layer surface disposed to contact the circumferential surface. The second layer supports the first layer and has a protruding part protruding inward of the first layer in an axial direction of the developing roller and having a second layer surface opposing the circumferential surface. The housing has a wall part disposed between the pressing part and the protruding part in the rotating direction of the developing roller. The wall part has an opposing surface opposing the circumferential surface. A lubricant is applied to the first layer surface and the second layer surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike, Kenta Tosuji
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Patent number: 9557681Abstract: A developing device includes a casing configured to accommodate developer, a developing roller, a seal member, at least portion of which is disposed between the developing roller and the casing, and which includes a fabric member including a plurality of first fibers extending in a first direction, and a heat radiation member configured to contact end surfaces of the first fibers of the seal member and radiate heat of the seal member.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenjiro Nishiwaki, Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike, Masateru Kawamura, Kazuna Taguchi, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi, Shunji Yoshimoto, Masahiro Ishii
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Publication number: 20160259266Abstract: In a developing device, a developing roller has a circumferential surface and an axial end portion. A thickness-regulating blade includes a pressing part protruding to contact the circumferential surface. A first sealing member is provided between a housing and the axial end portion, and includes a first layer; and a second layer. The first layer has a first layer surface disposed to contact the circumferential surface. The second layer supports the first layer and has a protruding part protruding inward of the first layer in an axial direction of the developing roller and having a second layer surface opposing the circumferential surface. The housing has a wall part disposed between the pressing part and the protruding part in the rotating direction of the developing roller. The wall part has an opposing surface opposing the circumferential surface. A lubricant is applied to the first layer surface and the second layer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2016Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike, Kenta Tosuji
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Patent number: 9235157Abstract: A developing device including a housing, a developing roller rotatably provided to the housing, a layer thickness regulation blade contacting the developing roller, and a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, wherein the layer thickness regulation blade includes a blade main body extending along an axial direction of the developing roller, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body facing the developing roller and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in the axial direction is in contact with an inner end surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein a suppression part configured to suppress a strength of flow of the developer is provided at a corner part between the blade rubber part and the seal member.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenta Tosuji, Masahiro Ishii, Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike
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Patent number: 9098009Abstract: A developing device including a housing, a developing roller, a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, and a layer thickness regulation blade including a blade main body, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in an axial direction of the developing roller is in contact with an inner surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein the blade rubber part has an inclined surface at each end thereof in the axial direction, the inclined surface extending toward an upstream side in a rotating direction of the developing roller while extending toward an outer side in the axial direction so as to extend to the seal member.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenta Tosuji, Masahiro Ishii, Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike
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Publication number: 20150110521Abstract: A developing device including a housing, a developing roller, a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, and a layer thickness regulation blade including a blade main body, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in an axial direction of the developing roller is in contact with an inner surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein the blade rubber part has an inclined surface at each end thereof in the axial direction, the inclined surface extending toward an upstream side in a rotating direction of the developing roller while extending toward an outer side in the axial direction so as to extend to the seal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Kenta Tosuji, Masahiro Ishii, Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike
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Publication number: 20150110520Abstract: A developing device including a housing, a developing roller rotatably provided to the housing, a layer thickness regulation blade contacting the developing roller, and a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, wherein the layer thickness regulation blade includes a blade main body extending along an axial direction of the developing roller, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body facing the developing roller and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in the axial direction is in contact with an inner end surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein a suppression part configured to suppress a strength of flow of the developer is provided at a corner part between the blade rubber part and the seal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Kenta Tosuji, Masahiro Ishii, Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike
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Patent number: 8965228Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller capable of performing a printing control and a cleaning control. In the printing control, developer images carried on the image carriers are transferred toward the opposing surface or a recording sheet by applying a transfer current between each of the image carriers and the transfer device. In the cleaning control, developer collected by the cleaning rollers is transferred toward the image carriers and the transfer device and collected by the cleaning device by applying a transfer current between each of the image carriers and the transfer device and switching an electric field established between the image carrier and the corresponding cleaning roller. The controller is configured to control the transfer current such that an average absolute value of the transfer current in the cleaning control is smaller than that in the printing control.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takuya Amaike, Toshio Furukawa
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Publication number: 20140178093Abstract: A developing device includes a casing configured to accommodate developer, a developing roller, a seal member, at least portion of which is disposed between the developing roller and the casing, and which includes a fabric member including a plurality of first fibers extending in a first direction, and a heat radiation member configured to contact end surfaces of the first fibers of the seal member and radiate heat of the seal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2013Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenjiro Nishiwaki, Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike, Masateru Kawamura, Kazuna Taguchi, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi, Shunji Yoshimoto, Masahiro Ishii
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Publication number: 20120076522Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller capable of performing a printing control and a cleaning control. In the printing control, developer images carried on the image carriers are transferred toward the opposing surface or a recording sheet by applying a transfer current between each of the image carriers and the transfer device. In the cleaning control, developer collected by the cleaning rollers is transferred toward the image carriers and the transfer device and collected by the cleaning device by applying a transfer current between each of the image carriers and the transfer device and switching an electric field established between the image carrier and the corresponding cleaning roller. The controller is configured to control the transfer current such that an average absolute value of the transfer current in the cleaning control is smaller than that in the printing control.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya AMAIKE, Toshio FURUKAWA