Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Shigeno
Hiroaki Shigeno 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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Publication number: 20230227284Abstract: A follow roller nips a sheet with a discharge roller. The follow roller is harder than the discharge roller. A paddle is rotatable together with the follow roller. The paddle includes protrusions and recesses arranged alternately in a circumferential direction of an axis of the follow roller. Each of the protrusions protrudes farther radially outward than an outer circumference of the follow roller to contact the sheet. Each of the recesses is recessed radially inward between two of the protrusions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. A groove is located between the follow roller and the paddle in a width direction parallel to a direction in which the axis extends. The groove is located at a same position as an end of the discharge roller in the width direction. The groove is recessed one round farther radially inward than the outer circumference of the follow roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroaki SHIGENO, Yuichiro ICHINOSE
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Patent number: 11622053Abstract: A multifunction device includes an image reading unit, an image forming unit, a lower housing, an upper housing, an operation panel, and a contacting/separating portion. The upper housing includes: a front wall from which the operation panel protrudes frontward; and a rear end portion pivotably connected to the lower housing. The upper housing is pivotable between a seated position and an ascent position relative to the lower housing. The operation panel has a panel front end and a panel bottom surface formed with a groove recessed upward therefrom. The contacting/separating portion is provided at the panel bottom surface. The contacting/separating portion abuts on the lower housing when the upper housing is at the seated position and is separated away from the lower housing when the upper housing is at the ascent position. The groove includes a first groove part positioned between the panel front end and the contacting/separating portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2022Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shota Shinoya, Hiroaki Shigeno
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Publication number: 20220321718Abstract: A multifunction device includes an image reading unit, an image forming unit, a lower housing, an upper housing, an operation panel, and a contacting/separating portion. The upper housing includes: a front wall from which the operation panel protrudes frontward; and a rear end portion pivotably connected to the lower housing. The upper housing is pivotable between a seated position and an ascent position relative to the lower housing. The operation panel has a panel front end and a panel bottom surface formed with a groove recessed upward therefrom. The contacting/separating portion is provided at the panel bottom surface. The contacting/separating portion abuts on the lower housing when the upper housing is at the seated position and is separated away from the lower housing when the upper housing is at the ascent position. The groove includes a first groove part positioned between the panel front end and the contacting/separating portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shota SHINOYA, Hiroaki SHIGENO
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Patent number: 10793387Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a supply tray which supports sheets and includes a movable plate configured to move in correspondence to reduction in a number of the sheets, a discharge tray which is located below the supply tray; a discharge unit which has a discharge opening for discharging the sheet and moves from a lower position and a higher position in correspondence to reduction in the number of the sheets supported on the supply tray, a controller which controls movements of the movable plate and the discharge unit, and a sheet detection unit which detects whether the sheets supported on the discharge tray is lower than a predetermined height. The controller determines a timing to move the discharge unit from the higher position toward the lower position based on a detection result of the sheet detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroaki Shigeno
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Publication number: 20190233239Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a supply tray which supports sheets and includes a movable plate configured to move in correspondence to reduction in a number of the sheets, a discharge tray which is located below the supply tray; a discharge unit which has a discharge opening for discharging the sheet and moves from a lower position and a higher position in correspondence to reduction in the number of the sheets supported on the supply tray, a controller which controls movements of the movable plate and the discharge unit, and a sheet detection unit which detects whether the sheets supported on the discharge tray is lower than a predetermined height. The controller determines a timing to move the discharge unit from the higher position toward the lower position based on a detection result of the sheet detection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventor: Hiroaki Shigeno
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Patent number: 9948800Abstract: An image scanner includes an image sensor with a plurality of scanning elements arrayed in a main scanning direction, a carriage carrying thereon the image sensor, a pair of pulleys, a belt looped around the pulleys, a connector, and a restricting member. The connector protrudes from the carriage and is connected to the belt which is inserted in an entry port of the connector. When the belt is driven to rotate, the connector moves with the belt and moves the carriage in a sub-scanning direction. The restricting member contacts the belt when, in a state where the carriage is at a standby position, the belt shifts in a disengaging direction in which the belt tends to disengage from the connector through the entry port.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2017Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroaki Shigeno
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Patent number: 9924054Abstract: An electronic device includes: wires; electronic components; a control board connected to the electronic components via the wires, configured to control the electronic components, and having a first surface and a second surface; a first frame opposed to the first surface and supporting the control board; connectors arranged on the second surface of the control board, at least one of the wires each being connected to a corresponding one of the connectors; an insulated member interposed between the first frame and the first surface of the control board in a first direction; and a positioner formed on the insulated member and extending from the insulated member toward the control board in the first direction. The positioner positions at least one specific wire at a position farther from the insulated member than the second surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroaki Shigeno
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Patent number: 9848099Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading device having an opening in an upper surface thereof, a main device disposed below the reading device, a first cable connected to the reading device and the main device and including a first portion, a retaining portion disposed in the main device, and a groove portion. The retaining portion is configured to retain the first portion of the first cable such that the first portion has a substantially U-shaped curve, which is curved downwardly, and such that a liquid passes through the opening of the reading device, runs on the first portion downwardly and drops down from a lower end of the substantially U-shaped curve in the first portion of the first cable. The groove portion is configured to receive the liquid dropping down from the lower end of the substantially U-shaped curve in the first portion of the first cable.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2016Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroaki Shigeno
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Publication number: 20170244849Abstract: An image scanner includes an image sensor with a plurality of scanning elements arrayed in a main scanning direction, a carriage carrying thereon the image sensor, a pair of pulleys, a belt looped around the pulleys, a connector, and a restricting member. The connector protrudes from the carriage and is connected to the belt which is inserted in an entry port of the connector. When the belt is driven to rotate, the connector moves with the belt and moves the carriage in a sub-scanning direction. The restricting member contacts the belt when, in a state where the carriage is at a standby position, the belt shifts in a disengaging direction in which the belt tends to disengage from the connector through the entry port.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroaki SHIGENO
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Publication number: 20170034373Abstract: An electronic device includes: wires; electronic components; a control board connected to the electronic components via the wires, configured to control the electronic components, and having a first surface and a second surface; a first frame opposed to the first surface and supporting the control board; connectors arranged on the second surface of the control board, at least one of the wires each being connected to a corresponding one of the connectors; an insulated member interposed between the first frame and the first surface of the control board in a first direction; and a positioner formed on the insulated member and extending from the insulated member toward the control board in the first direction. The positioner positions at least one specific wire at a position farther from the insulated member than the second surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroaki SHIGENO
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Publication number: 20160295047Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading device having an opening in an upper surface thereof, a main device disposed below the reading device, a first cable connected to the reading device and the main device and including a first portion, a retaining portion disposed in the main device, and a groove portion. The retaining portion is configured to retain the first portion of the first cable such that the first portion has a substantially U-shaped curve, which is curved downwardly, and such that a liquid passes through the opening of the reading device, runs on the first portion downwardly and drops down from a lower end of the substantially U-shaped curve in the first portion of the first cable. The groove portion is configured to receive the liquid dropping down from the lower end of the substantially U-shaped curve in the first portion of the first cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventor: Hiroaki Shigeno