Patents by Inventor Yasuo Fukamachi

Yasuo Fukamachi 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: 20170160697
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cover, is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a switching member. The switching member switches states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein the toner cartridge is restricted from being detached, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The process cartridge is movable between an attached position to be placed entirely inside the main body and a detached position to be entirely outside the main body. The main body includes a restrictor to restrict the process cartridge from moving from an intermediate position toward the detached position. While the process cartridge is restricted by the restrictor, a supportive part in the cover supports the process cartridge with the switching member being at least partly placed outside the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Motoaki MUSHIKA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20170153597
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cartridge supporter is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge; a toner cartridge attachable to the drum cartridge; and a switching member switchable states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein detachment of the toner cartridge is restricted, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The cartridge supporter is movable between a first position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be placed entirely in an inner space in the main body on an inner side of the opening, and a second position, wherein the cartridge supporter supports the process cartridge to be at least partly placed outside the inner space. When the cartridge supporter is in the second position, the switching member is at least partly placed outside the inner space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Motoaki MUSHIKA, Kazuna TAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20170108821
    Abstract: A developer cartridge comprises a first gear. The first gear may include a first protrusion extending in a radial direction of the first gear. The first protrusion may be positioned at a circumference of a column of the first gear. The first protrusion may be spaced apart from a second end face opposite to a first end face facing an exterior surface of a casing configured to accommodate developer therein. The first protrusion may be further from the second end face than a large-diameter gear in an axial direction. A rotational circumference of the first protrusion defined by rotation of the first protrusion and a portion of the large-diameter gear are aligned in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuna TAGUCHI, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Motoaki MUSHIKA
  • Publication number: 20170108820
    Abstract: A developer cartridge comprises a first gear. The first gear may be rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The first gear may include a first surface rotatable with the first gear, and a second surface rotatable with the first gear. The first surface may extend in a circumferential direction of the first gear. The second surface may extend in the circumferential direction. The second surface may be separated from the first surface in the circumferential direction. A length of the second surface in the circumferential direction may be greater than a length of the first surface in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuna TAGUCHI, Motoaki MUSHIKA, Yasuo FUKAMACHI
  • Patent number: 9625856
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, and an agitator. The casing is configured to accommodate developing agent. The casing has a first wall and a second wall disposed away from the first wall in a first direction. The agitator includes a rotational shaft and an agitating blade. The rotational shaft extends in the first direction and has a first end portion. The first end portion defines a circumferential surface and is supported to the first wall. The rotational shaft is configured to rotate in a rotating direction about a rotational center. The first wall has a concave portion having a plurality of protruding portions extending toward the circumferential surface and arranged at intervals from each other in the rotating direction. The agitating blade is positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion in the first direction and extending in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuna Taguchi, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika
  • Publication number: 20170097588
    Abstract: A developing cartridge may include: a casing; a developing roller extending in a first direction; a developing-roller gear; a coupling including a coupling gear; a first idle gear; a second idle gear; an agitator; a first agitator gear; and a protrusion. The developing-roller gear, the coupling, the first idle gear, the second idle gear, the first agitator gear, and the protrusion may be positioned at an outer surface of the casing. The protrusion may be positioned between a first axis of the coupling and a third axis of the first agitator gear in a second direction connecting the first and third axes. The protrusion may be positioned outside an addendum circle of the developing-roller gear, an addendum circle of the coupling gear, an addendum circle of the first idle gear, and an addendum circle of the second idle gear. The first agitator gear may be spaced apart from the protrusion in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Kazuna TAGUCHI, Takuya KANDA
  • Patent number: 9612569
    Abstract: A cartridge including a housing configured to accommodate therein developer, a driving receiving part configured to receive a driving force, a transmission member configured to rotate by receiving a driving force from the driving receiving part, a first rotary member configured to rotate by abutting on the transmission member and receiving a driving force from the transmission member, a second rotary member configured to abut on the transmission member by receiving a driving force from the first rotary member, and rotate by abutting on the transmission member and receiving a driving force from the transmission member, and a detected part configured to move in accordance with the rotation of the second rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 9612548
    Abstract: A cartridge includes: a casing for accommodating developer; a rotatable body rotatably provided at the casing; a pivot member; and a biasing member. The rotatable body is rotatable about a rotational axis, the rotatable body having an outer circumference defining a rotational path during rotation. The pivot member is disposed at the rotatable body at a position offset from the rotational axis and is pivotable about a pivot fulcrum extending in a direction parallel to a tangential direction of the rotational path. The pivot member being pivotably movable between an erect position in which the pivot member erects to form a first angle relative to the rotatable body and a collapsed position in which the pivot member pivots toward the rotatable body to form a second angle smaller than the first angle relative to the rotational body. The biasing member biases the pivot member toward the erect position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Labushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Shiraki, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 9612552
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus which includes a main body, a driving unit and a detecting unit, includes: a housing that is configured to accommodate a developer therein, and includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall in a longitudinal direction; a passive unit that is configured to receive a driving force from the driving unit, is mounted on the first side wall, and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction; and a detected body mounted on the first side wall and including a detected part which is detected by the detecting unit. The detected body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall by the driving force received by the passive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masamitsu Ukai, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika
  • Patent number: 9612551
    Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Tsutomu Suzuki, Yasuo Fukamachi, Fumikazu Sato, Hikaru Yoshizumi, Takahiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 9606473
    Abstract: A cartridge including a housing configured to accommodate therein developer, a driving receiving part configured to rotate by receiving a driving force, a rotary member configured to rotate from a first position by receiving a driving force from the driving receiving part, and a detected member including a detected part and configured to move in an axis direction parallel with a rotational axis of the rotary member while being restrained from rotating, by receiving a driving force from the rotary member, wherein the detected member includes a first restraint part configured to restrain the rotation of the rotary member at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi, Kazuna Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9599929
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus which includes a main body, a driving unit and a detecting unit, includes: a housing that is configured to accommodate a developer therein, and includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall in a longitudinal direction; a passive unit that is configured to receive a driving force from the driving unit, is mounted on the first side wall, and is rotatable around a first axis line parallel to the longitudinal direction; and a detected body mounted on the first side wall and including a detected part which is detected by the detecting unit. The detected body advances outwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall and retracts inwards in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first side wall by the driving force received by the passive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masamitsu Ukai, Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika
  • Patent number: 9599953
    Abstract: A cartridge including a housing, a driving receiving part, a rotary member configured to rotate, and move in an axis direction thereof while rotating, and a detected member configured to move in the axis direction by receiving a driving force from the rotary member, wherein the rotary member includes a main body part having a first surface facing the detected member in the axis direction and a second surface positioned at an opposite side of the first surface in the axis direction, an operating part arranged on the first surface and configured to apply a force for moving the detected member in the axis direction to the detected member, and an operated part arranged on the second surface and configured to receive a force for moving the main body part in the axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20170052481
    Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a first supporting member is attached to a housing and has a first developing supporting portion and a driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion. The first developing supporting portion is configured to rotatably support a first part of a rotational shaft and the driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion is configured to rotatably support a driving-force-receiving member. The second supporting member is attached to the housing and has a second developing supporting portion and a detection-rotational-body supporting portion. The second developing supporting portion is configured to rotatably support a second part of the rotational shaft and the detection-rotational-body supporting portion is configured to rotatably support a detection rotational body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 9557684
    Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a first supporting member is attached to a housing and has a first developing supporting portion and a driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion. The first developing supporting portion is configured to rotatably support a first part of a rotational shaft and the driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion is configured to rotatably support a driving-force-receiving member. The second supporting member is attached to the housing and has a second developing supporting portion and a detection-rotational-body supporting portion. The second developing supporting portion is configured to rotatably support a second part of the rotational shaft and the detection-rotational-body supporting portion is configured to rotatably support a detection rotational body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Hideshi Nishiyama, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 9557681
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenjiro Nishiwaki, Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike, Masateru Kawamura, Kazuna Taguchi, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi, Shunji Yoshimoto, Masahiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 9535367
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller; a first frame; and a second frame. The first frame includes: a first melt-bonding surface extending in a first direction; and a second melt-bonding surface positioned closer to the developing roller than the first melt-bonding surface. The second melt-bonding surface forms an obtuse angle with the first melt-bonding surface. The second frame is melt-bonded to the first frame. The second frame includes: a first wall having a third melt-bonding surface melt-bonded to the first melt-bonding surface and extending in parallel to the first melt-bonding surface; a second wall having a fourth melt-bonding surface melt-boned to the second melt-bonding surface and extending in parallel to the second melt-bonding surface; and a protruding portion having a surface intersecting the fourth melt-bonding surface and protruding in the first direction from the second wall toward the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 9513577
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing configured to hold developing agent therein, a developing roller rotatably supported by the casing, the developing roller configured to rotate about a first axis, an agitator configured to agitate the developing agent in the casing and to rotate about a second axis and a window member disposed around a through hole. The casing includes a first frame including a first wall having the through hole and a second wall spaced apart from the first wall and a second frame that contacts the first wall and the second wall and includes an extension extending along an outer surface of the first wall. The window member is disposed between the second axis and the second frame. The window member is also disposed between the first wall and the extension and supported by the first wall and the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika
  • Patent number: 9501033
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a light source; and a photosensitive cartridge. The light source is provided in the main casing and configured to emit a light. The photosensitive cartridge is mountable in the main casing in a mounting direction. The photosensitive cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a light guide; a first wall and a second wall. The photosensitive drum has a surface. The light guide is configured to guide the light emitted from the light source to the surface of the photosensitive drum to eliminate static on the surface of the photosensitive drum. The second wall is spaced apart from the first wall in a first direction that crosses the mounting direction. The light source is disposed between the first wall and the second wall when the photosensitive cartridge has been mounted in the main casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Abe, Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: D783087
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukamachi, Motoaki Mushika, Koji Abe, Takuya Kanda, Kazuna Taguchi