Patents by Inventor Hiromitsu Mizutani

Hiromitsu Mizutani 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: 11760109
    Abstract: A cassette tape includes: a cassette case; a first tape roll and a second tape roll accommodated in the cassette case and rotatably supported thereby; and an RFID tag disposed at one of an upper wall and a lower wall of the cassette case. The first tape roll includes a first tape wound about a first winding axis extending in an axial direction. The second tape roll includes a second tape wound about an axis different from the first winding axis and extending in the axial direction. The second tape roll has a smaller diameter than the first tape roll. The RFID tag includes an antenna and a storage element for radiocommunication to read and write data. A part of the RFID tag is positioned to overlap with a part of the first tape roll in a predetermined direction parallel to the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Mizutani, Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 11760110
    Abstract: A cassette tape includes: a cassette case; a first tape roll and a second tape roll accommodated in the cassette case and rotatably supported thereby; and an RFID tag disposed at one of an upper wall and a lower wall of the cassette case. The first tape roll includes a first tape wound about a first winding axis extending in an axial direction. The second tape roll includes a second tape wound about an axis different from the first winding axis and extending in the axial direction. The second tape roll has a smaller diameter than the first tape roll. The RFID tag includes an antenna and a storage element for radiocommunication to read and write data. A part of the RFID tag is positioned to overlap with a part of the first tape roll in a predetermined direction parallel to the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Mizutani, Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 11712909
    Abstract: A cutting device includes: a cutter blade configured to perform one of a half-cutting operation and a full-cutting operation with respect to a cut target; a cutter holder holding the cutter blade; a cutter cradle movable between a half-cutting position and a full-cutting position; and a cutter lever and a cutter cradle lever those operated by a user. When only the cutter lever is operated by the user, the cutter blade is moved so that the cutter blade and the cutter cradle at the half-cutting position perform the half-cutting operation with respect to the cut target. When both the cutter lever and the cutter cradle lever are operated by the user, the cutter cradle is moved to the full-cutting position and the cutter blade is moved so that the cutter blade and the cutter cradle at the full-cutting position perform the full-cutting operation with respect to the cut target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11673284
    Abstract: A cutting device includes: a movable blade; a moving mechanism moving the movable blade and having a first mechanism portion movable between a first operating position and a first non-operating position and a second mechanism portion movable between a second operating position and a second non-operating position; a first detecting portion and a second detecting portion detecting positions of the first mechanism portion and the second mechanism portion; and a controller configured to perform: setting, when one of the first detecting portion and the second detecting portion detects abnormally, updated positions of the first operating position and the second operating position or the first non-operating position and the second non-operating position. The updated positions are set based on detection result of another of the first detecting portion and the second detecting portion and are new start points of movement of the first mechanism portion and the second mechanism portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11654701
    Abstract: A cutting device includes: a cutter blade movable between a retracted position and a cutting position; a cutter cradle facing the cutter blade; and a first lever and a second lever those operated by a user. The cutter blade performs one of a half-cutting operation and a full-cutting operation with respect to a cut target when positioned at the cutting position. The cutter cradle is movable between: a full-cutting position where the full-cutting operation is performed by the cutter blade; and a half-cutting position where the half-cutting operation is performed by the cutter blade. When the first lever is operated, the cutter blade is moved to the cutting position while the cutter cradle remains at the half-cutting position. When the second lever is operated, the cutter blade is moved to the cutting position and the cutter cradle is moved between the full-cutting position and the half-cutting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11559999
    Abstract: A printer includes: a conveyor that performs a forward-conveyance operation for conveying a printing medium downstream in a conveying direction and a backward-conveyance operation for conveying the printing medium upstream in the conveying direction; a printing device; a roller provided downstream of the conveyor in the conveying direction; an opposed member opposed to the roller; a moving mechanism that moves a moving member, which is one of the roller and the opposed member, between (i) a first position at which the printing medium is nipped between the moving member and the other of the roller and the opposed member and (ii) a second position at which the moving member is separated from the printing medium; and a controller that executes a first conveyor-backward-conveyance processing for controlling the conveyor to perform the backward-conveyance operation in a state in which the moving member is located at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20230017162
    Abstract: A cassette tape includes: a cassette case; a first tape roll and a second tape roll accommodated in the cassette case and rotatably supported thereby; and an RFID tag disposed at one of an upper wall and a lower wall of the cassette case. The first tape roll includes a first tape wound about a first winding axis extending in an axial direction. The second tape roll includes a second tape wound about an axis different from the first winding axis and extending in the axial direction. The second tape roll has a smaller diameter than the first tape roll. The RFID tag includes an antenna and a storage element for radiocommunication to read and write data. A part of the RFID tag is positioned to overlap with a part of the first tape roll in a predetermined direction parallel to the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Mizutani, Shota Iijima
  • Publication number: 20230018550
    Abstract: A cassette tape includes: a cassette case; a first tape roll and a second tape roll accommodated in the cassette case and rotatably supported thereby; and an RFID tag disposed at one of an upper wall and a lower wall of the cassette case. The first tape roll includes a first tape wound about a first winding axis extending in an axial direction. The second tape roll includes a second tape wound about an axis different from the first winding axis and extending in the axial direction. The second tape roll has a smaller diameter than the first tape roll. The RFID tag includes an antenna and a storage element for radiocommunication to read and write data. A part of the RFID tag is positioned to overlap with a part of the first tape roll in a predetermined direction parallel to the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Mizutani, Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 11479052
    Abstract: A cassette tape includes: a cassette case; a first tape roll and a second tape roll accommodated in the cassette case and rotatably supported thereby; and an RFID tag disposed at one of an upper wall and a lower wall of the cassette case. The first tape roll includes a first tape wound about a first winding axis extending in an axial direction. The second tape roll includes a second tape wound about an axis different from the first winding axis and extending in the axial direction. The second tape roll has a smaller diameter than the first tape roll. The RFID tag includes an antenna and a storage element for radiocommunication to read and write data. A part of the RFID tag is positioned to overlap with a part of the first tape roll in a predetermined direction parallel to the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Mizutani, Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 11465424
    Abstract: A printing device includes a printing mechanism, a first member, a second member and a RFID. The printing mechanism is configured to perform printing. The first member has a portion constituting a receiving portion. The receiving portion configured to receive therein a holder. The holder retains therein a consumable goods and is provided with a RFID. The holder is contactable with the portion of the first member when the holder is attached to the receiving portion. The second member is movable relative to the first member. The RFID reader is provided at the second member and is configured to read data stored in the RFID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Mizutani, Kentaro Murayama, Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 11458647
    Abstract: In a cutting device, a cutting blade is reciprocally movable within a movable range including a first retracted position away from a target to be cut and a cut complete position at which cutting of the target is to be completed. A memory is configured to store cutting data indicating the first retracted position. A controller is configured to perform controlling, in response to determining that the cutting blade has stopped at an intervening position between a cut start position at which cutting of the target is started and the cut complete position, a drive portion to move the cutting blade from the intervening position to a second retracted position positioned within the movable range and away from the target. The controller is configured to further perform updating the cutting data stored in the memory so as to indicate the second retracted position in place of the first retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20220258499
    Abstract: In a print device, the conveyance member conveys a tape on which printing is performed. The tape has a base material and a release material bonded together. The tape includes a print portion on which an image is printed by the head. The printed tape is used to create a printed matter. The half cutter performs a half cut to cut through the release material without cutting through the base material. The full cutter performs a full cut to cut through the tape conveyed by the conveyance member. The controller controls the half cut so that the half cutter cuts through the release material at a position downstream side of a most downstream end of the print portion of the printed tape, which is conveyed by the conveyance member and is printed by the head, in a conveying direction of the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Shinji UKAI, Hiromitsu MIZUTANI, Kentaro MURAYAMA
  • Patent number: 11396194
    Abstract: A printer includes: a printing head configured to perform printing on a medium; a conveyor configured to convey the medium in a conveying direction; a cutter configured to cut the medium to provide a segmented medium; a discharge roller; a counter roller configured to nip the medium in cooperation with the discharge roller; a driver configured to rotate the discharge roller in a discharging direction; and a controller configured to perform: (a) controlling the printing head and the conveyor to perform the first print control based on a first print instruction to perform printing on the medium; (b) driving the driver to stop rotation of the discharge roller with the medium nipped between the discharge roller and the counter roller; and (c) driving, when a second print control subsequent to the first print control is allowed, the driver to rotate the discharge roller in the discharging direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11370235
    Abstract: A printer includes: a printing head; a conveyor; a cutter for cutting the medium to provide a segmented medium; a discharge roller; a counter roller; a sensor for detecting whether the segmented medium remains between the discharge roller and the counter roller; and a controller configured to perform: setting an operation mode to one of a first mode and a second mode depending on a medium kind; controlling the printing head and the conveyor to perform a first print control on the medium; controlling the sensor to detect whether the segmented medium has been removed; and permitting a second print control to be performed. When the operation mode is the first mode, the second print control is permitted after the sensor detects whether the segmented medium has been removed. When the operation mode is the first mode, the second print control is permitted without controlling the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20220176719
    Abstract: A cutting device includes: a cutter blade movable between a retracted position and a cutting position; a cutter cradle facing the cutter blade; and a first lever and a second lever those operated by a user. The cutter blade performs one of a half-cutting operation and a full-cutting operation with respect to a cut target when positioned at the cutting position. The cutter cradle is movable between: a full-cutting position where the full-cutting operation is performed by the cutter blade; and a half-cutting position where the half-cutting operation is performed by the cutter blade. When the first lever is operated, the cutter blade is moved to the cutting position while the cutter cradle remains at the half-cutting position. When the second lever is operated, the cutter blade is moved to the cutting position and the cutter cradle is moved between the full-cutting position and the half-cutting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20220176718
    Abstract: A cutting device includes: a cutter blade configured to perform one of a half-cutting operation and a full-cutting operation with respect to a cut target; a cutter holder holding the cutter blade; a cutter cradle movable between a half-cutting position and a full-cutting position; and a cutter lever and a cutter cradle lever those operated by a user. When only the cutter lever is operated by the user, the cutter blade is moved so that the cutter blade and the cutter cradle at the half-cutting position perform the half-cutting operation with respect to the cut target. When both the cutter lever and the cutter cradle lever are operated by the user, the cutter cradle is moved to the full-cutting position and the cutter blade is moved so that the cutter blade and the cutter cradle at the full-cutting position perform the full-cutting operation with respect to the cut target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11292277
    Abstract: A printing device includes: an RFID reader including a reader antenna; a cassette mounting portion in which a plurality of types of cassettes can be selectively mounted; a memory storing correlations between the types of cassettes and standard ranges concerning a return energy; and a controller. Each cassette includes an RFID tag storing cassette information related to the cassette. The RFID tag includes a tag antenna configured to communicate with the reader antenna. Communication sensitivity between the reader antenna and the tag antenna when the cassette is mounted in the cassette mounting portion is different for each type of cassette. The controller performs: communicating via the RFID reader with the RFID tag of the cassette mounted in the cassette mounting portion; and determining whether a value of the return energy received by the RFID reader in the communicating falls within any one of the standard ranges indicated by the correlations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11285736
    Abstract: A printer includes: a conveyor that conveys a printing medium; a printing device that prints an image; a roller provided downstream of the printing device in a conveying direction; an opposed member opposed to the roller; a motor; a coupling mechanism that power-transmittably couples the motor and the roller to each other and rotates the roller in a first direction during driving of the motor, the first direction being a rotational direction for conveying the printing medium downstream in the conveying direction; and a moving mechanism that moves the roller between (i) a first position at which the roller is power-transmittably coupled to the motor by the coupling mechanism, and the printing medium is nipped by the roller and the opposed member and (ii) a second position at which the roller is power-transmittably coupled to the motor by the coupling mechanism and separated from the printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20210339544
    Abstract: A cutting device includes a support base, a cutting blade, and a holding member. The cutting blade has first and second holes and a blade edge. The blade edge has a first convex portion and a second convex portion, provided at a position corresponding to the first and second holes, respectively. In a case where the cutting blade is arranged at a cutting position, a maximum value of a distance between the blade edge and the support base within a range between the first and second holes in a longitudinal direction of the cutting blade is smaller than a maximum value of a distance between the blade edge and the support base. The cutting blade is fixed to the holding member by a first hole coupling member, and the holding member holds the cutting blade so as to be movable to the cutting position and a spaced position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11130357
    Abstract: A printer includes: a conveyor; a printing device; a full-cut unit provided downstream of the printing device; a roller provided downstream of the full-cut unit; a nip member; a motor; and a controller configured to: control the full-cut unit to fully cut the printing medium; control the motor to establish a state in which a leading printing medium is nipped between the roller and the nip member; and control the conveyor to convey a succeeding printing medium downstream while controlling the printing device to perform printing on the succeeding printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Mizutani