公开(公告)号：US20250013165A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-09

申请号：US18740621

申请日：2024-06-12

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yuwen Wang ,  Junichi Hashimoto ,  Isao Kishi ,  Kazuaki Ooka

IPC: G03G15/08 ,  G03G21/16 ,  G03G21/18

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing having an outer surface, a developing roller, a first electrode, and a boss. The developing roller is movable together with the casing and includes a developing roller shaft extending along a first axis extending in a first direction. The developing roller is rotatable about the first axis. The first electrode is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the developing roller shaft, and electrically connected to the developing roller shaft. The boss is positioned at one end portion in the first direction of the outer surface. The boss extends in the first direction and is engageable with the drum unit. A part of the first electrode is configured to contact with a second electrode of the drum unit as a result of pivotal movement of the developing cartridge about the boss relative to the drum unit.

公开(公告)号：US12147171B2

公开(公告)日：2024-11-19

申请号：US18064360

申请日：2022-12-12

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Kazuaki Ooka ,  Junichi Hashimoto ,  Shota Iriyama ,  Keigo Nakajima ,  Kengo Yada

IPC: G03G15/08 ,  G03G21/16 ,  G03G21/18

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing, a developing roller, a first agitator, a supply roller, and a second agitator. The casing is configured to accommodate toner. The developing roller is rotatable about a developing roller rotation axis extending in a first direction. The first agitator is configured to agitate the toner. The first agitator is rotatable about a first agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. The supply roller is positioned between the first agitator and the developing roller. The supply roller is rotatable about a supply roller rotation axis extending in the first direction. The second agitator is positioned between the supply roller and the first agitator. The second agitator is rotatable about a second agitator rotation axis extending in the first direction. A rotation locus of the second agitator is positioned outside of a rotation locus of the first agitator.

公开(公告)号：US12032329B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-09

申请号：US18307843

申请日：2023-04-27

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yuwen Wang ,  Junichi Hashimoto ,  Isao Kishi ,  Kazuaki Ooka

IPC: G03G21/16 ,  G03G15/01 ,  G03G21/18

CPC classification number: G03G21/1676 ,  G03G15/0121 ,  G03G21/1647 ,  G03G21/1671 ,  G03G21/1821 ,  G03G21/1864 ,  G03G2221/1678

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft; and a cam. The casing is configured to accommodate developer therein. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The shaft extends along a second axis extending in the axial direction. The shaft is movable along the second axis. The cam is movable along the second axis in response to axial movement of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface non-parallel with the second axis.

公开(公告)号：US11947310B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-02

申请号：US18147819

申请日：2022-12-29

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yuwen Wang ,  Junichi Hashimoto

IPC: G03G15/04 ,  G03G21/16 ,  G03G21/18

CPC classification number: G03G21/1814 ,  G03G21/1642 ,  G03G21/1671 ,  G03G21/1821

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft extending in a first direction; a first inclined surface; a second inclined surface; an elastic member; and a first protrusion. The shaft is movable in the first direction relative to the casing and the developing roller, and is movable in the second direction together with the same. The first inclined surface is positioned at one end portion of the shaft, while the second inclined surface is positioned at another end portion of the shaft. The first and second inclined surfaces are inclined relative to the first direction. The first protrusion is movable in the first direction together with the second inclined surface. The shaft is movable from a first position to a second position when the second inclined surface receives a pressing force directed in a direction from the another end portion to the one end portion.

公开(公告)号：US11921457B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-05

申请号：US17717555

申请日：2022-04-11

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yuwen Wang ,  Junichi Hashimoto ,  Isao Kishi ,  Kazuaki Ooka

IPC: G03G15/08 ,  G03G21/16 ,  G03G21/18

CPC classification number: G03G21/1671 ,  G03G15/0889 ,  G03G21/1623 ,  G03G21/1647 ,  G03G21/1853 ,  G03G2221/1678

Abstract: A photosensitive drum is rotatable about a drum axis extending in a first direction. A frame includes a first side plate located at first end in the first direction and a second side plate spaced from the first side plate in the first direction. The frame rotatably supports the photosensitive drum between the first side plate and the second side plate in the first direction. The frame holds a developer cartridge. A lock lever is pivotable about a pivot axis extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The lock lever is movable between a lock position at which the developer cartridge is locked on the frame and a release position at which the developer cartridge is unlocked from the frame.

公开(公告)号：US11714378B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-01

申请号：US17573738

申请日：2022-01-12

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yuwen Wang ,  Junichi Hashimoto ,  Isao Kishi ,  Kazuaki Ooka

IPC: G03G21/16 ,  G03G21/18 ,  G03G15/01

CPC classification number: G03G21/1676 ,  G03G15/0121 ,  G03G21/1647 ,  G03G21/1671 ,  G03G21/1821 ,  G03G21/1864 ,  G03G2221/1678

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft; and a cam. The casing is configured to accommodate developer therein. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The shaft extends along a second axis extending in the axial direction. The shaft is movable along the second axis. The cam is movable along the second axis in response to axial movement of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface non-parallel with the second axis.

公开(公告)号：US11269292B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-08

申请号：US17212449

申请日：2021-03-25

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yuwen Wang ,  Takuya Amaike ,  Junichi Hashimoto

IPC: G03G15/00 ,  G03G21/18 ,  G03G15/09 ,  G03G15/08

Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a toner cartridge, a connector and a relay board. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The developing unit includes a magnetic roller, a developer container, a conveyer member and a toner sensor. The developer container accommodates therein carrier, and has an inlet. The conveyer member is positioned in the developer container, and configured to convey toner and the carrier from the inlet toward the magnetic roller. The toner cartridge accommodates therein toner and is attachable to the developer container to replenish toner in the developer container through the inlet. The connector is electrically connected to an image forming apparatus. The relay board electrically connects the toner sensor to the connector. The relay board is configured to transmit a detection signal from the toner sensor to the image forming apparatus.

公开(公告)号：US11204579B2

公开(公告)日：2021-12-21

申请号：US16999273

申请日：2020-08-21

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yuwen Wang ,  Junichi Hashimoto ,  Isao Kishi ,  Kazuaki Ooka

IPC: G03G21/16

Abstract: A drawer includes: a photosensitive drum; and a frame to which a developing cartridge is attachable. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a rotational axis extending in an axial direction. The photosensitive drum has an outer circumferential surface. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller having an outer circumferential surface. The developing cartridge is attachable to the frame in a state where the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller faces the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. The frame is configured to move the developing roller in a separation direction in response to movement in the axial direction of at least a portion of the developing cartridge attached to the frame. The separation direction is a direction in which the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller separates from the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum.

公开(公告)号：US11169467B2

公开(公告)日：2021-11-09

申请号：US16774640

申请日：2020-01-28

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Junichi Hashimoto ,  Go Iwasa ,  Masayoshi Mita

IPC: G03G15/08 ,  G03G21/18 ,  G03G21/16 ,  G03G15/00

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a housing, a developing roller, an agitator, a memory, and a cover. The housing is configured to store toner therein and has one end portion and the other end portion in a first direction. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction. The agitator is rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction. The agitator is positioned spaced apart from the developing roller. The memory includes an electrical contact surface. The electrical contact surface is positioned at an outer surface of the housing and at the one end portion of the housing in the first direction, and is disposed between the developing roller and the agitator in a second direction from the first axis toward the second axis. The cover has an opening open in the second direction and covers the electrical contact surface.

公开(公告)号：US20210048778A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-18

申请号：US17089879

申请日：2020-11-05

Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Yasushi Okabe ,  Junichi Hashimoto

IPC: G03G21/18 ,  G03G15/00 ,  G03G21/16 ,  G03G15/01

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, endless belt, photosensitive drums, setting unit, contacting/separating mechanism, transmitting mechanism, and coupling members. The photosensitive drums are disposed in confrontation with the endless belt and are arranged in a first direction. Each photosensitive drum has an axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The setting unit sets the image forming apparatus to a monochrome mode or color mode. The contacting/separating mechanism controls at least one photosensitive drum to contact or separate from the endless in accordance with the set mode. The transmitting mechanism selectively transmits drive power to photosensitive drums. Each coupling member is selectively coupled to the corresponding photosensitive drum and has a coupling axis extending in the second direction. Each coupling member is uncoupled from the corresponding photosensitive drum when the contacting/separating mechanism controls the corresponding photosensitive drum to separate from the endless belt.