Patents by Inventor Tomoya Ichikawa

Tomoya Ichikawa 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: 20220269217
    Abstract: A first cartridge support is configured to support a drum cartridge. The first cartridge support is configured to move in a first direction between a first position at which the drum cartridge is mounted on a housing and a second position at which the drum cartridge is detachable. A second cartridge support is configured to support a development cartridge. The second cartridge support is configured to move in the first direction between a third position at which the development cartridge is mounted on the drum cartridge and a fourth position at which the development cartridge is detachable. In a state where the second cartridge support is located at the third position, the second cartridge support is located between the first cartridge support located at the first position and a cover located at a closed position with respect to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Tomoya ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11415933
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomoya Ichikawa, Takashi Shimizu, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20220128093
    Abstract: In an outer ring rotating rolling bearing (10), an inclined surface is formed on an outer peripheral surface of an inner ring (12) and decreasing in diameter toward an axially outer side, a seal member (20) includes an annular core metal (21) and an annular elastic member (22) fixed to the core metal (21), and an elastic member (22) includes a neck portion (28) extending from an inner peripheral edge portion (24a) of the core metal (21) toward a radially inner side and a seal lip (30) formed at a tip end portion of a neck portion (28) and brought into contact with the inclined surface (41) of the inner ring (12) with a tightening margin. Here, T2?T1, where a width of the core metal (21) is T1 and a thickness of the neck portion (28) is T2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoya ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11262691
    Abstract: A first cartridge support is configured to support a drum cartridge. The first cartridge support is configured to move in a first direction between a first position at which the drum cartridge is mounted on a housing and a second position at which the drum cartridge is detachable. A second cartridge support is configured to support a development cartridge. The second cartridge support is configured to move in the first direction between a third position at which the development cartridge is mounted on the drum cartridge and a fourth position at which the development cartridge is detachable. In a state where the second cartridge support is located at the third position, the second cartridge support is located between the first cartridge support located at the first position and a cover located at a closed position with respect to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Tomoya Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20210382433
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing configured to accommodate therein toner; a developing roller; a supply roller configured to supply the toner to the developing roller; a layer thickness regulation blade in contact with a circumferential surface of the developing roller; a developing electrode electrically connected to the developing roller; and a supply electrode electrically connected to the supply roller and the layer thickness regulation blade. The supply electrode includes: an electrode member electrically connected to a rotation shaft of the supply roller and movable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft; and a connection member in contact with and electrically connecting the electrode member and the layer thickness regulation blade. The electrode member is movable relative to the connection member in the direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft in a state where the electrode member is in contact with the connection member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi FUKAYA, Tomoya ICHIKAWA, Koji ABE, Naoya KAMIMURA
  • Publication number: 20210349413
    Abstract: Disclosed is a layer transfer device which transfers a layer of a multilayer film onto a surface of a sheet. The layer transfer device includes a heating member including a first portion and a second portion, a first heater, a second heater, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the first heater with an input power set at a predetermined input power, control the second heater with an input power set at a first input power if both of the multilayer film and the sheet pass over a surface of the second portion, and control the second heater with an input power set at a second input power that is smaller than the first input power if at least one of the multilayer film and the sheet does not pass over the surface of the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Hiramatsu, Kyoko Sugiyama, Tomoya Ichikawa, Tomoya Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20210318656
    Abstract: Provided are a film cartridge, a film unit, and a layer transfer device capable of restraining a supported layer including a transfer layer from being touched by an operator and restraining the supported layer remaining on the supporting layer remaining on a supporting layer from coming off. A film cartridge includes a supply reel on which a multilayer film including a supported layer with a transfer layer included therein and a supporting layer is wound, and a take-up reel on which to take up the multilayer film. The multilayer film is wound on a supply shaft in such a manner that the supported layer is in contact with the supply shaft, and the multilayer film is wound on the take-up shaft in such a manner that the supported layer is in contact with the take-up shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20210311426
    Abstract: Disclosed is a layer transfer device for transferring a transfer layer onto a toner image formed on a sheet, in which a replacement of a film cartridge is easy for a user. The layer transfer device includes a housing, a film cartridge, and a holder. The film cartridge includes a supply reel including a supply shaft on which a multilayer film including a supported layer including a transfer layer, and a supporting layer supporting the supported layer is wound, and a take-up reel including a take-up shaft on which to take up the multilayer film. The holder supports the film cartridge, and is installable into and removable from the housing while supporting the film cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya ICHIKAWA, Ryosuke SAKAI
  • Patent number: 11131957
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a main body housing; a drawer; a developing cartridge detachably supported by the drawer; a toner container configured to be mounted to and demounted from the main body housing; and a supply tube being movable between a connection position at which the supply tube is connected to the developing cartridge and is capable of supplying toner from the toner container to the developing cartridge supported by the drawer and a non-connection position at which the supply tube is not connected to the developing cartridge, wherein in a case where the drawer is moved from an inner position to an outer position in a state where the developing cartridge is supported by the drawer, the supply tube comes into contact with a part of the developing cartridge and is thus moved from the connection position to the non-connection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11073785
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing configured to accommodate therein toner; a developing roller; a supply roller configured to supply the toner to the developing roller; a layer thickness regulation blade in contact with a circumferential surface of the developing roller; a developing electrode electrically connected to the developing roller; and a supply electrode electrically connected to the supply roller and the layer thickness regulation blade. The supply electrode includes: an electrode member electrically connected to a rotation shaft of the supply roller and movable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft; and a connection member in contact with and electrically connecting the electrode member and the layer thickness regulation blade. The electrode member is movable relative to the connection member in the direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft in a state where the electrode member is in contact with the connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukaya, Tomoya Ichikawa, Koji Abe, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11061362
    Abstract: A first drawer configured to support a drum cartridge moves in a first direction between a first mount position and a first detachment position. A second drawer configured to support a development cartridge moves in the first direction between a second mount position and a second detachment position. The second drawer is located between the first drawer located at the first mount position and a cover located at a closed position with respect to the first direction in a state where the second drawer is located at the second mount position. A lock member moves between a lock position at which the first drawer and the second drawer are locked together and a lock release position at which a lock state between the first drawer and the second drawer is released. A lock release member causes the lock member at the lock position to move to the lock release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Ichikawa, Shougo Sato
  • Publication number: 20200371470
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita SHIMIZU, Tomoya ICHIKAWA, Takashi SHIMIZU, Kazuna TAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200363767
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a main body housing; a drawer; a developing cartridge detachably supported by the drawer; a toner container configured to be mounted to and demounted from the main body housing; and a supply tube being movable between a connection position at which the supply tube is connected to the developing cartridge and is capable of supplying toner from the toner container to the developing cartridge supported by the drawer and a non-connection position at which the supply tube is not connected to the developing cartridge, wherein in a case where the drawer is moved from an inner position to an outer position in a state where the developing cartridge is supported by the drawer, the supply tube comes into contact with a part of the developing cartridge and is thus moved from the connection position to the non-connection position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventor: Tomoya Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20200319588
    Abstract: A first cartridge support is configured to support a drum cartridge. The first cartridge support is configured to move in a first direction between a first position at which the drum cartridge is mounted on a housing and a second position at which the drum cartridge is detachable. A second cartridge support is configured to support a development cartridge. The second cartridge support is configured to move in the first direction between a third position at which the development cartridge is mounted on the drum cartridge and a fourth position at which the development cartridge is detachable. In a state where the second cartridge support is located at the third position, the second cartridge support is located between the first cartridge support located at the first position and a cover located at a closed position with respect to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Tomoya ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10788784
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a main body housing; a drawer; a developing cartridge detachably supported by the drawer; a toner container configured to be mounted to and demounted from the main body housing; and a supply tube being movable between a connection position at which the supply tube is connected to the developing cartridge and is capable of supplying toner from the toner container to the developing cartridge supported by the drawer and a non-connection position at which the supply tube is not connected to the developing cartridge, wherein in a case where the drawer is moved from an inner position to an outer position in a state where the developing cartridge is supported by the drawer, the supply tube comes into contact with a part of the developing cartridge and is thus moved from the connection position to the non-connection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10747173
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Shimizu, Tomoya Ichikawa, Takashi Shimizu, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20200257244
    Abstract: A first drawer configured to support a drum cartridge moves in a first direction between a first mount position and a first detachment position. A second drawer configured to support a development cartridge moves in the first direction between a second mount position and a second detachment position. The second drawer is located between the first drawer located at the first mount position and a cover located at a closed position with respect to the first direction in a state where the second drawer is located at the second mount position. A lock member moves between a lock position at which the first drawer and the second drawer are locked together and a lock release position at which a lock state between the first drawer and the second drawer is released. A lock release member causes the lock member at the lock position to move to the lock release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya ICHIKAWA, Shougo SATO
  • Patent number: D906414
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoya Ichikawa
  • Patent number: D909470
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya Ichikawa, Hideshi Nishiyama, Ryosuke Sakai
  • Patent number: D948609
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoya Ichikawa