Patents by Inventor Ayaka OHIRA
Ayaka OHIRA 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: 11971673Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit, a heating unit, and a controller unit. The process unit is configured to transfer an image onto a sheet. The heating unit is configured to fix the image transferred at the process unit onto the sheet, and to transfer a transfer layer onto an image formed on a sheet overlaid on a multilayer film. The controller unit is capable of operating in a first printing mode in which processes of transferring an image at the process unit, fixing the image at the heating unit, and transferring the transfer layer at the heating unit are executed, and a second printing mode in which processes of transferring an image at the process unit and fixing the image at the heating unit are not executed, and a process of transferring the transfer layer at the heating unit is executed.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoya Ichikawa, Tomoya Yamamoto, Ryosuke Sakai, Kentaro Mori, Kyoko Sugiyama, Ayaka Ohira, Isami Fujisawa
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Publication number: 20240077826Abstract: A chute is located between a transfer roller and a fuser in a direction crossing both a first direction along a drum axis direction and a second direction crossing the first direction. The chute causes a sheet having passed through a transfer nip to be directed toward a fixing nip. The chute is movable in the second direction between a first position and a second position shifted from the first position toward one side in the second direction. The chute located at the second position is farther away from an imaginary plane passing through the nips than the chute located at the first position. A reciprocating mechanism is located on an other side of the chute in the second direction. The reciprocating mechanism reciprocates by drive force from the drive source and presses the chute to move between the first position and the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Saya MINOSHIMA, Tomonori WATANABE, Ayaka OHIRA, Tetsuya MORITA
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Patent number: 11892794Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing device frame, a chute rotatable between a path forming position and a path opening position, an optical sensor including a light-emitting element, and an actuator. The actuator has a shaft, a first lever configured to contact an anti-pivot rib, and a second lever configured to shield light emitted from the light-emitting element. The actuator is movable to a position where the first lever contacts the anti-pivot rib when the chute is at the path forming position, a position where the first lever and the anti-pivot rib are separated from each other when the chute is at the path forming position, and a position where the first lever and the anti-pivot rib are separated from each other when the chute is at the path opening position. The actuator and the optical sensor are supported by the fixing device frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ayaka Ohira, Tomonori Watanabe
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Patent number: 11835906Abstract: In a foil transfer device for transferring a transfer layer from a foil film onto a sheet laid on the foil film, the foil film is wound on a supply reel, and taken up on a take-up reel. A heating member heats the foil film, and a pressure member is provided to press the foil film and the sheet between the pressure member and the heating member. A separator changes a traveling direction of the foil film having passed through between the heating member and the pressure member into a direction different from a direction of conveyance of the sheet, to thereby separate the foil film from the sheet. A first fan blows air toward the foil film positioned between the heating member and the separator.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro Mori, Ryosuke Sakai, Ayaka Ohira, Tomoya Yamamoto, Seiji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20230234118Abstract: A foil transfer device which transfers foil onto a sheet is disclosed herein. When a nip/release mechanism moves a first roller and starts causing a foil film to be pressed against a confined surface region on a sheet, located apart from a leading edge of the sheet, a controller executes: a first process of causing a conveyor roller to start conveyance of the sheet, while the first roller is positioned in a separate position; a second process of causing the conveyor roller to stop conveyance of the sheet before a foil transfer area reaches a transfer position; a third process of causing the nip/release mechanism to start moving the first roller from the separate position to a nipping position while the conveyance of the sheet is stopped; and a fourth process of causing the conveyor roller to restart conveyance of the sheet before the first roller reaches the nipping position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Ryosuke Sakai, Tomoya Yamamoto, Ayaka Ohira
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Publication number: 20230205125Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing device frame, a chute rotatable between a path forming position and a path opening position, an optical sensor including a light-emitting element, and an actuator. The actuator has a shaft, a first lever configured to contact an anti-pivot rib, and a second lever configured to shield light emitted from the light-emitting element. The actuator is movable to a position where the first lever contacts the anti-pivot rib when the chute is at the path forming position, a position where the first lever and the anti-pivot rib are separated from each other when the chute is at the path forming position, and a position where the first lever and the anti-pivot rib are separated from each other when the chute is at the path opening position. The actuator and the optical sensor are supported by the fixing device frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2022Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ayaka OHIRA, Tomonori WATANABE
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Publication number: 20230022321Abstract: In a foil transfer device, a controller causes a sheet to be conveyed by conveyor rollers to reach a transfer position in which a foil film and the sheet are to be nipped between a heating roller and a pressure roller (of which one is called “first roller”, and the other is called “second roller”), while the first roller is positioned in a release position, separated from the second roller, and a state of transport of the foil film is kept in a restricted state by a film-transport regulator. The first roller is moved and positioned in a nipping position while the sheet is laid on the transfer position and before a foil transfer area of the sheet reaches the transfer position. The state of transport of the foil film is changed from the restricted state to a release state after the first roller gets positioned in the nipping position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Ayaka Ohira, Tomoya Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20230026662Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit, a heating unit, and a controller unit. The process unit is configured to transfer an image onto a sheet. The heating unit is configured to fix the image transferred at the process unit onto the sheet, and to transfer a transfer layer onto an image formed on a sheet overlaid on a multilayer film. The controller unit is capable of operating in a first printing mode in which processes of transferring an image at the process unit, fixing the image at the heating unit, and transferring the transfer layer at the heating unit are executed, and a second printing mode in which processes of transferring an image at the process unit and fixing the image at the heating unit are not executed, and a process of transferring the transfer layer at the heating unit is executed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Tomoya Ichikawa, Tomoya Yamamoto, Ryosuke Sakai, Kentaro Mori, Kyoko Sugiyama, Ayaka Ohira, Isami Fujisawa
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Publication number: 20220214639Abstract: In a foil transfer device for transferring a transfer layer from a foil film onto a sheet laid on the foil film, the foil film is wound on a supply reel, and taken up on a take-up reel. A heating member heats the foil film, and a pressure member is provided to press the foil film and the sheet between the pressure member and the heating member. A separator changes a traveling direction of the foil film having passed through between the heating member and the pressure member into a direction different from a direction of conveyance of the sheet, to thereby separate the foil film from the sheet. A first fan blows air toward the foil film positioned between the heating member and the separator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2022Publication date: July 7, 2022Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro MORI, Ryosuke SAKAI, Ayaka OHIRA, Tomoya YAMAMOTO, Seiji HIRAMATSU