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).

  • Patent number: 11914317
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masataka Kamiya, Yutaka Kakigahara, Satoshi Murata, Takashi Shimizu, Koya Morimoto, Masamitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11886129
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11709449
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kengo Takeda, Yutaka Kakigahara, Masamitsu Takahashi, Satoshi Murata, Masataka Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11698596
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 11635719
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Masamitsu Takahashi, Satoshi Murata, Kengo Takeda, Masataka Kamiya
  • Publication number: 20230020065
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masataka KAMIYA, Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Satoshi MURATA, Takashi SHIMIZU, Koya MORIMOTO, Masamitsu TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20220221811
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11243488
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Mihara, Yutaka Kakigahara, Satoshi Murata, Kengo Takeda
  • Publication number: 20220011699
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Kengo TAKEDA, Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Masamitsu TAKAHASHI, Satoshi MURATA, Masataka KAMIYA
  • Publication number: 20220011700
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Masamitsu TAKAHASHI, Satoshi MURATA, Kengo TAKEDA, Masataka KAMIYA
  • Publication number: 20210263458
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 11067929
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Murata, Yutaka Kakigahara, Jun Mihara, Masamitsu Takahashi, Kengo Takeda
  • Publication number: 20210170767
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Kenta HAYASHIDA, Yoshikazu SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 11009820
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
  • Publication number: 20210011407
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi MURATA, Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Jun MIHARA, Masamitsu TAKAHASHI, Kengo TAKEDA
  • Publication number: 20210003949
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun MIHARA, Yutaka KAKIGAHARA, Satoshi MURATA, Kengo TAKEDA
  • Publication number: 20190391517
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 10509351
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
  • Publication number: 20180217543
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakigahara, Kengo Takeda, Jun Mihara, Satoshi Murata, Shinya Yamamoto, Tomoaki Hattori, Kumiko Sakaguchi, Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Emi Shimizu, Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 9662915
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Kakigahara