Patents by Inventor Yutaka KAKIGAHARA
Yutaka KAKIGAHARA 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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Patent number: 11914317Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device configured to supply toner onto the photosensitive drum, a transfer device configured to transfer the toner supplied onto the photosensitive drum onto a sheet, a spraying device configured to spray a fixing liquid toward the sheet onto which the toner has been transferred, the spraying device including a housing configured to accommodate the fixing liquid and nozzles configured to spray the fixing liquid inside the housing, and a collecting device configured to collect the fixing liquid sprayed from the nozzles and did not adhere to the sheet. The collecting device includes a collection tray configured to accommodate the fixing liquid, a collection pipe connected to the collection tray and configured to allow the fixing liquid in the collection tray to pass therethrough, and a collection pump configured to send the fixing liquid in the collection pipe toward the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masataka Kamiya, Yutaka Kakigahara, Satoshi Murata, Takashi Shimizu, Koya Morimoto, Masamitsu Takahashi
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Patent number: 11886129Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a developing cartridge; a transfer unit; a solvent cartridge accommodating solvent for dissolving toner; an applicator applying the solvent to the toner on a sheet; and a cover movable between an open position and a closed position. The developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are detachably attachable to the main casing independently of each other. The developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are positioned between the applicator and the cover in a second direction crossing the first direction, and the solvent cartridge is positioned closer to the applicator than the developing cartridge is to the applicator in a state where the developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are attached to the main casing and the cover is at the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Satoshi Murata, Masataka Kamiya, Masaaki Furukawa, Yasuo Fukamachi, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu, Keita Hironaka, Mariko Mogi, Naoya Kamimura, Kazuma Hinoue, Kouichi Sugimoto, Shinya Kusuda, Shunji Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 11709449Abstract: A fixing device 9 includes a nozzle unit 9A and an opposite electrode 9B. The nozzle unit 9A sprays a fixing solution to a sheet S on which a toner image is formed. The opposite electrode 9B is located at an interval from the nozzle unit 9A. The opposite electrode 9B is applied with a voltage. The opposite electrode 9B has a first flat plate 31 and a plurality of first projections 32. The first flat plate 31 extends in a first direction. The plurality of first projections 32 extends from the first flat plate 31 in a second direction that is a direction facing from the opposite electrode 9B toward the nozzle unit 9A. The plurality of first projections 32 are aligned in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kengo Takeda, Yutaka Kakigahara, Masamitsu Takahashi, Satoshi Murata, Masataka Kamiya
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Patent number: 11698596Abstract: A fixing device is for fixing a developing agent image to a recording sheet by electrostatically spraying a charged fixing solution toward the developing agent image on the sheet. The fixing device includes a container portion, a plurality of nozzles, and a potential difference generating portion. The container portion is configured to store therein the fixing solution. The plurality of nozzles is in communication with the container portion and configured to spray the fixing solution toward the developing agent image. The potential difference generating portion is configured to generate a potential difference between the fixing solution stored in the plurality of nozzles and the recording sheet conveyed at a position separated from the plurality of nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
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Patent number: 11635719Abstract: A fixing device 9 has a nozzle unit 9A. The nozzle unit 9A sprays the fixing solution to a sheet S on which a toner image is formed. The nozzle unit 9A has a housing 21, a nozzle electrode 23 and a plurality of nozzles 22. The plurality of nozzles 22 has a first nozzle 22A and a second nozzle 22B located at an interval from the first nozzle 22A in a first direction, and the nozzle electrode 23 is located inside the housing 21. The nozzle electrode 23 extends in the first direction. A length L1 of the nozzle electrode 23 in the first direction is greater than the interval between the first nozzle 22A and the second nozzle 22B in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Masamitsu Takahashi, Satoshi Murata, Kengo Takeda, Masataka Kamiya
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Publication number: 20230020065Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device configured to supply toner onto the photosensitive drum, a transfer device configured to transfer the toner supplied onto the photosensitive drum onto a sheet, a spraying device configured to spray a fixing liquid toward the sheet onto which the toner has been transferred, the spraying device including a housing configured to accommodate the fixing liquid and nozzles configured to spray the fixing liquid inside the housing, and a collecting device configured to collect the fixing liquid sprayed from the nozzles and did not adhere to the sheet. The collecting device includes a collection tray configured to accommodate the fixing liquid, a collection pipe connected to the collection tray and configured to allow the fixing liquid in the collection tray to pass therethrough, and a collection pump configured to send the fixing liquid in the collection pipe toward the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masataka KAMIYA, Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Satoshi MURATA, Takashi SHIMIZU, Koya MORIMOTO, Masamitsu TAKAHASHI
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Publication number: 20220221811Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a developing cartridge; a transfer unit; a solvent cartridge accommodating solvent for dissolving toner; an applicator applying the solvent to the toner on a sheet; and a cover movable between an open position and a closed position. The developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are detachably attachable to the main casing independently of each other. The developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are positioned between the applicator and the cover in a second direction crossing the first direction, and the solvent cartridge is positioned closer to the applicator than the developing cartridge is to the applicator in a state where the developing cartridge and the solvent cartridge are attached to the main casing and the cover is at the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2022Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Satoshi MURATA, Masataka KAMIYA, Masaaki FURUKAWA, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Hideshi NISHIYAMA, Keita SHIMIZU, Keita HIRONAKA, Mariko MOGI, Naoya KAMIMURA, Kazuma HINOUE, Kouichi SUGIMOTO, Shinya KUSUDA, Shunji YOSHIMOTO
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Patent number: 11243488Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a body casing; a toner image forming section including an image carrier and a transferring section; a fixing section; a heater; a temperature sensor; and a controller. In a case that the temperature is higher than a predetermined threshold value, the controller controls the image carrier and the transferring section such that a conveying velocity of the print medium by the image carrier and the transferring section becomes a first conveying velocity. In a case that the temperature is lower than the predetermined threshold value, the controller controls the image carrier and the transferring section such that the conveying velocity of the print medium by the image carrier and the transferring section becomes a second conveying velocity slower than the first conveying velocity.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Jun Mihara, Yutaka Kakigahara, Satoshi Murata, Kengo Takeda
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Publication number: 20220011700Abstract: A fixing device 9 has a nozzle unit 9A. The nozzle unit 9A sprays the fixing solution to a sheet S on which a toner image is formed. The nozzle unit 9A has a housing 21, a nozzle electrode 23 and a plurality of nozzles 22. The plurality of nozzles 22 has a first nozzle 22A and a second nozzle 22B located at an interval from the first nozzle 22A in a first direction, and the nozzle electrode 23 is located inside the housing 21. The nozzle electrode 23 extends in the first direction. A length L1 of the nozzle electrode 23 in the first direction is greater than the interval between the first nozzle 22A and the second nozzle 22B in the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Masamitsu TAKAHASHI, Satoshi MURATA, Kengo TAKEDA, Masataka KAMIYA
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Publication number: 20220011699Abstract: A fixing device 9 includes a nozzle unit 9A and an opposite electrode 9B. The nozzle unit 9A sprays a fixing solution to a sheet S on which a toner image is formed. The opposite electrode 9B is located at an interval from the nozzle unit 9A. The opposite electrode 9B is applied with a voltage. The opposite electrode 9B has a first flat plate 31 and a plurality of first projections 32. The first flat plate 31 extends in a first direction. The plurality of first projections 32 extends from the first flat plate 31 in a second direction that is a direction facing from the opposite electrode 9B toward the nozzle unit 9A. The plurality of first projections 32 are aligned in the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Kengo TAKEDA, Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Masamitsu TAKAHASHI, Satoshi MURATA, Masataka KAMIYA
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Publication number: 20210263458Abstract: A fixing device is for fixing a developing agent image to a recording sheet by electrostatically spraying a charged fixing solution toward the developing agent image on the sheet. The fixing device includes a container portion, a plurality of nozzles, and a potential difference generating portion. The container portion is configured to store therein the fixing solution. The plurality of nozzles is in communication with the container portion and configured to spray the fixing solution toward the developing agent image. The potential difference generating portion is configured to generate a potential difference between the fixing solution stored in the plurality of nozzles and the recording sheet conveyed at a position separated from the plurality of nozzles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
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Patent number: 11067929Abstract: There is provided a fixing apparatus configured to fix a toner image on a print medium by spraying a fixing solution, the fixing apparatus including: a plurality of first nozzles from which the fixing solution is sprayed, a first electrode which extends in a first direction, and which faces the first nozzles in a second direction, a holding groove which accommodates the first electrode, which is configured to hold the fixing solution sprayed from the first nozzles, and which has a discharge port through, and a container configured to contain the fixing solution discharged from the discharge port. The holding groove has a bottom surface which is positioned apart from the first electrode in the second direction so that the fixing solution held in the holding groove passes between the first electrode and the bottom surface to flow toward the discharge port.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Murata, Yutaka Kakigahara, Jun Mihara, Masamitsu Takahashi, Kengo Takeda
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Publication number: 20210170767Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a casing; a conveyance route formed in an internal space of the casing; a printing head positioned in the internal space of the casing, and configured to eject an ink to the sheet passing through the conveyance route; and a fixing device positioned in the internal space of the casing, at a location, of the conveyance route, at a downstream in the conveyance direction of the printing head, and configured to apply, to the sheet having the ink adhered thereon, an energy for fixing the ink so as to fix the ink to the sheet. A shortest distance A between the fixing device and the discharge port is longer than a shortest distance B between the printing head and the fixing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Kenta HAYASHIDA, Yoshikazu SHIMIZU
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Patent number: 11009820Abstract: A fixing device is for fixing a developing agent image to a recording sheet by electrostatically spraying a charged fixing solution toward the developing agent image on the sheet. The fixing device includes a container portion, a plurality of nozzles, and a potential difference generating portion. The container portion is configured to store therein the fixing solution. The plurality of nozzles is in communication with the container portion and configured to spray the fixing solution toward the developing agent image. The potential difference generating portion is configured to generate a potential difference between the fixing solution stored in the plurality of nozzles and the recording sheet conveyed at a position separated from the plurality of nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
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Publication number: 20210011407Abstract: There is provided a fixing apparatus configured to fix a toner image on a print medium by spraying a fixing solution, the fixing apparatus including: a plurality of first nozzles from which the fixing solution is sprayed, a first electrode which extends in a first direction, and which faces the first nozzles in a second direction, a holding groove which accommodates the first electrode, which is configured to hold the fixing solution sprayed from the first nozzles, and which has a discharge port through, and a container configured to contain the fixing solution discharged from the discharge port. The holding groove has a bottom surface which is positioned apart from the first electrode in the second direction so that the fixing solution held in the holding groove passes between the first electrode and the bottom surface to flow toward the discharge port.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi MURATA, Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Jun MIHARA, Masamitsu TAKAHASHI, Kengo TAKEDA
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Publication number: 20210003949Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a body casing; a toner image forming section including an image carrier and a transferring section; a fixing section; a heater; a temperature sensor; and a controller. In a case that the temperature is higher than a predetermined threshold value, the controller controls the image carrier and the transferring section such that a conveying velocity of the print medium by the image carrier and the transferring section becomes a first conveying velocity. In a case that the temperature is lower than the predetermined threshold value, the controller controls the image carrier and the transferring section such that the conveying velocity of the print medium by the image carrier and the transferring section becomes a second conveying velocity slower than the first conveying velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Jun MIHARA, Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Satoshi MURATA, Kengo TAKEDA
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Publication number: 20190391517Abstract: A fixing device is for fixing a developing agent image to a recording sheet by electrostatically spraying a charged fixing solution toward the developing agent image on the sheet. The fixing device includes a container portion, a plurality of nozzles, and a potential difference generating portion. The container portion is configured to store therein the fixing solution. The plurality of nozzles is in communication with the container portion and configured to spray the fixing solution toward the developing agent image. The potential difference generating portion is configured to generate a potential difference between the fixing solution stored in the plurality of nozzles and the recording sheet conveyed at a position separated from the plurality of nozzles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
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Patent number: 10509351Abstract: A fixing device is for fixing a developing agent image to a recording sheet by electrostatically spraying a charged fixing solution toward the developing agent image on the sheet. The fixing device includes a container portion, a plurality of nozzles, and a potential difference generating portion. The container portion is configured to store therein the fixing solution. The plurality of nozzles is in communication with the container portion and configured to spray the fixing solution toward the developing agent image. The potential difference generating portion is configured to generate a potential difference between the fixing solution stored in the plurality of nozzles and the recording sheet conveyed at a position separated from the plurality of nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
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Publication number: 20180217543Abstract: A fixing device is for fixing a developing agent image to a recording sheet by electrostatically spraying a charged fixing solution toward the developing agent image on the sheet. The fixing device includes a container portion, a plurality of nozzles, and a potential difference generating portion. The container portion is configured to store therein the fixing solution. The plurality of nozzles is in communication with the container portion and configured to spray the fixing solution toward the developing agent image. The potential difference generating portion is configured to generate a potential difference between the fixing solution stored in the plurality of nozzles and the recording sheet conveyed at a position separated from the plurality of nozzles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2018Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
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Patent number: 9662915Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a liquid ejecting head having an ejection surface; a platen; a capping mechanism including: a first member opposed to the ejection surface with the platen interposed therebetween when image recording is performed; and a second member disposed around the head so as to cooperate with the first member to hermetically close an ejection space; a distance adjusting mechanism for adjusting a distance between the ejection surface and the first member; a platen moving mechanism for moving the platen between the facing position and a non-facing position at which the platen does not face the ejection surface; and a controller configured to control the platen moving mechanism such that the platen is located at the non-facing position and controls the distance adjusting mechanism such that the distance is equal to a members-abuttable distance that allows the second and first members to abut on each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yutaka Kakigahara