Patents by Inventor Yosuke Aoi

Yosuke Aoi 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: 9720369
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a casing, a cover member having an opening and supported by the casing, a tray configured to pivot between a first position covering the opening and a second position uncovering the opening, and first and second lock members. The first lock member is configured to move between a first lock position in which the cover member is locked in a closed position and a first release position in which a locked state of the cover member is released. The second lock member is configured to move between a second lock position in which the tray is locked in the first position and a second release position in which a locked state of the tray is released, and is configured to move to the second lock position in response to movement of the first lock member to the first release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Aoi, Takuya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9471030
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main apparatus body; an opening/closing member; a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and can be pulled out of an accommodating space along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum; an exposing member provided in the main apparatus body and movable between an exposure position and an evacuation position; and a movable mechanism including: a first movable member movable in accordance with an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing member; and a second movable member for moving the exposing member between the exposure position and the evacuation position in accordance with movement of the first movable member. The second movable member supports both end portions of the exposing member. The second movable member moves the exposing member to the exposure position or the evacuation position by the movement of the first movable member in accordance with the movement of the opening/closing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yosuke Aoi
  • Publication number: 20160202658
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a casing, a cover member having an opening and supported by the casing, a first lock member configured to move between a first lock position in which the cover member is locked in an closed position and a first release position in which a locked state of the cover member is released, a tray configured to pivot between a first position covering the opening and a second position uncovering the opening, and a second lock member configured to move between a second lock position in which the tray is locked in the first position and a second release position in which a locked state of the tray is released, the second lock member being configured to move to the second lock position in response to movement of the first lock member to the first release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Yosuke Aoi, Takuya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9342038
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing having a first opening and a second opening. The first and second openings each extend between an interior of the casing and an exterior of the casing. A cover has a close position in which the cover covers the first opening and the second opening, and an open position in which cover does not cover the first opening and the second opening. A shutter has a shielding position in which the shutter covers the second opening, and a retracted position. The shutter is operably connected to the cover so as to move between the shielding position and the retracted position in response to movement of the cover. A protrusion extends from the cover, and the protrusion extends through the second opening when the cover is in the close position and the shutter is in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke Aoi
  • Patent number: 9256193
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a casing, a cover member having an opening and supported by the casing, a first lock member configured to move between a first lock position in which the cover member is locked in an closed position and a first release position in which a locked state of the cover member is released, a tray configured to pivot between a first position covering the opening and a second position uncovering the opening, and a second lock member configured to move between a second lock position in which the tray is locked in the first position and a second release position in which a locked state of the tray is released, the second lock member being configured to move to the second lock position in response to movement of the first lock member to the first release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Aoi, Takuya Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20150346677
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a casing, a cover member having an opening and supported by the casing, a first lock member configured to move between a first lock position in which the cover member is locked in an closed position and a first release position in which a locked state of the cover member is released, a tray configured to pivot between a first position covering the opening and a second position uncovering the opening, and a second lock member configured to move between a second lock position in which the tray is locked in the first position and a second release position in which a locked state of the tray is released, the second lock member being configured to move to the second lock position in response to movement of the first lock member to the first release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Yosuke Aoi, Takuya Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20150248105
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing having a first opening and a second opening. The first and second openings each extend between an interior of the casing and an exterior of the casing. A cover has a close position in which the cover covers the first opening and the second opening, and an open position in which cover does not cover the first opening and the second opening. A shutter has a shielding position in which the shutter covers the second opening, and a retracted position. The shutter is operably connected to the cover so as to move between the shielding position and the retracted position in response to movement of the cover. A protrusion extends from the cover, and the protrusion extends through the second opening when the cover is in the close position and the shutter is in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke AOI
  • Publication number: 20150050043
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main apparatus body; an opening/closing member; a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and can be pulled out of an accommodating space along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum; an exposing member provided in the main apparatus body and movable between an exposure position and an evacuation position; and a movable mechanism including: a first movable member movable in accordance with an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing member; and a second movable member for moving the exposing member between the exposure position and the evacuation position in accordance with movement of the first movable member. The second movable member supports both end portions of the exposing member. The second movable member moves the exposing member to the exposure position or the evacuation position by the movement of the first movable member in accordance with the movement of the opening/closing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yosuke Aoi
  • Patent number: 8902266
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a displacement member disposed at a cartridge and configured to move from a position where the displacement member receives a driving force from an apparatus main body to a position where the displacement member does not receive the driving force. The apparatus also includes a movable member disposed at the apparatus main body, the movable member moving in response to movement of the displacement member, so as to move a first electrode between a position where the first electrode contacts a second electrode and a position where the first electrode is spaced apart from the second electrode. Also, the apparatus includes a detector detecting information about the cartridge attached to the apparatus main body based on a conduction state between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosuke Aoi
  • Publication number: 20140348562
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can form images on both surfaces of a recording medium is provided. The apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a switchback roller that switches back the recording medium fed from the image forming unit, and first and second feed portions. The first feeding portion may include a feed roller assembly that feeds the recording medium in a switchback direction while moving the recording medium to a first side in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the switchback direction. The second feeding portion may feed the recording medium fed by the first feeding portion toward the image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosuke AOI
  • Patent number: 8879950
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main apparatus body; an opening/closing member; a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and can be pulled out of an accommodating space along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum; an exposing member provided in the main apparatus body and movable between an exposure position and an evacuation position; and a movable mechanism including: a first movable member movable in accordance with an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing member; and a second movable member for moving the exposing member between the exposure position and the evacuation position in accordance with movement of the first movable member. The second movable member supports both end portions of the exposing member. The second movable member moves the exposing member to the exposure position or the evacuation position by the movement of the first movable member in accordance with the movement of the opening/closing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yosuke Aoi
  • Publication number: 20140092197
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a displacement member disposed at a cartridge and configured to move from a position where the displacement member receives a driving force from an apparatus main body to a position where the displacement member does not receive the driving force, a movable member disposed at the apparatus main body, the movable member moving in response to movement of the displacement member, so as to move a first electrode between a position where the first electrode contacts a second electrode and a position where the first electrode is spaced apart from the second electrode, and a detector detecting information about the cartridge attached to the apparatus main body based on a conduction state between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke Aoi
  • Patent number: 8676111
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a fixing unit, a cooling roller disposed downstream relative to the fixing unit in a sheet feeding direction, an ejection roller disposed downstream relative to the cooling roller in the sheet feeding direction, a driving unit rotating the cooling roller and the ejection roller normally or reversely, and a controller including a determining unit determining whether a detected temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the controller switching between a first mode to, after a sheet passes through the cooling roller, control the driving unit to reversely rotate the cooling roller and the ejection roller being rotating normally and a second mode to, in a state where the cooling roller is nipping the sheet, control the driving unit to reversely rotate the cooling roller and the ejection roller being rotating normally, based on the determination of the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosuke Aoi
  • Patent number: 8660476
    Abstract: An image formation device is configured such that a feed roller and a discharge roller are rotated in a first direction so that the sheet is fed from the fixing unit to the discharge opening at a first speed V1, in a second direction so that the sheet is fed from the discharge opening to the diverging point at a second speed V2 if the entire sheet has reached a discharge opening side with respect to the diverging point, and the feeding speed is changed to a third speed V3 if the sheet has reached a position where it is nipped by the sheet feed rollers after the sheet was started to be fed at the second speed V2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosuke Aoi
  • Publication number: 20130164027
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main apparatus body; an opening/closing member; a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and can be pulled out of an accommodating space along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum; an exposing member provided in the main apparatus body and movable between an exposure position and an evacuation position; and a movable mechanism including: a first movable member movable in accordance with an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing member; and a second movable member for moving the exposing member between the exposure position and the evacuation position in accordance with movement of the first movable member. The second movable member supports both end portions of the exposing member. The second movable member moves the exposing member to the exposure position or the evacuation position by the movement of the first movable member in accordance with the movement of the opening/closing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Yosuke Aoi
  • Publication number: 20110318078
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a fixing unit, a cooling roller disposed downstream relative to the fixing unit in a sheet feeding direction, an ejection roller disposed downstream relative to the cooling roller in the sheet feeding direction, a driving unit rotating the cooling roller and the ejection roller normally or reversely, and a controller including a determining unit determining whether a detected temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the controller switching between a first mode to, after a sheet passes through the cooling roller, control the driving unit to reversely rotate the cooling roller and the ejection roller being rotating normally and a second mode to, in a state where the cooling roller is nipping the sheet, control the driving unit to reversely rotate the cooling roller and the ejection roller being rotating normally, based on the determination of the determining unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke AOI
  • Publication number: 20110268484
    Abstract: An image formation device is configured such that a feed roller and a discharge roller are rotated in a first direction so that the sheet is fed from the fixing unit to the discharge opening at a first speed V1, in a second direction so that the sheet is fed from the discharge opening to the diverging point at a second speed V2 if the entire sheet has reached a discharge opening side with respect to the diverging point, and the feeding speed is changed to a third speed V3 if the sheet has reached a position where it is nipped by the sheet feed rollers after the sheet was started to be fed at the second speed V2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke AOI
  • Patent number: 8014709
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a conveyor belt, an image forming unit, and a guide unit. The conveyor belt has a conveying surface that mounts and conveys a recording medium. The image forming unit forms an image on the recording medium placed on the conveying surface. The guide unit supports and conveys the recording medium to the conveying surface in a conveying direction. The guide unit includes a first guide plate and a second guide plate. The first guide plate is flexible. The first guide plate has a first distal end portion at a downstream side thereof in the conveying direction and is disposed near the conveyor belt. The second guide plate is flexible. The second guide plate has a second distal end portion disposed in direct confrontation with the first distal end portion to nip the recording medium in cooperation with the first distal end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosuke Aoi
  • Publication number: 20110188913
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can form images on both surfaces of a recording medium is provided. The apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a switchback roller that switches back the recording medium fed from the image forming unit, and first and second feed portions. The first feeding portion may include a feed roller assembly that feeds the recording medium in a switchback direction while moving the recording medium to a first side in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the switchback direction. The second feeding portion may feed the recording medium fed by the first feeding portion toward the image forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke AOI
  • Publication number: 20100021218
    Abstract: There is provided a recoding medium carrying device, comprising: a carrying unit configured to carry a recording medium in a carrying direction which is substantially perpendicular to a width direction of the recording medium; a guide member that is provided on an upstream side of the carrying unit in the carrying direction and has a guide surface located to face a surface of the recording medium to guide the recording medium along the guide surface; and a resistance member that is located on the guide member and applies stronger resistance to a center portion of the recording medium in the width direction in comparison with both ends of the recording medium in the width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Watanabe, Yosuke Aoi