Patents by Inventor Masao MIMOTO

Masao MIMOTO 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).

  • Publication number: 20170008309
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a recording section which records an image on a sheet conveyed in a conveyance direction in a conveyance route; a first abutment member having a plurality of first abutment portions arranged apart from each other in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and configured to abut against the sheet conveyed in the conveyance route; a first supporting member which supports the first abutment member; and a plurality of second abutment members which are supported by the first supporting member at both sides in the width direction, respectively, of the first abutment member, at a distance from the first abutment member, and each of which has a second abutment portion capable of contacting with the sheet conveyed in the conveyance route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20160376115
    Abstract: A slider moving in a sliding direction between first and second positions shifts a second path-defining member, relative to a first path-defining member, between first and second states. A pair of movable members each disposed on a corresponding side of a slider in a width direction is movable individually in the sliding direction to shift between third and fourth states. The movable members, when both in the third state, position the slider to the first position and, when both in the fourth state, position the slider to the second position. Each movable member supports a corresponding widthwise end of the slider immovably in the sliding direction and movably in the width direction. A support frame supporting the second path-defining member supports a widthwise central portion of the slider movably in the sliding direction and rotatably on a plane parallel to the sliding direction and the width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota IIJIMA, Masao MIMOTO
  • Patent number: 9517645
    Abstract: A conveyer device, including a chassis defining a first conveyer path and a second conveyer path; a pair of path members opposing to each other to form a part of the first conveyer path; a flapper configured to be pivotable among a first condition, wherein the flapper blocks the first conveyer path, a second condition, wherein the flapper allows the sheet conveyed in the conveying direction to pass thereby, and a third condition, wherein the flapper is separated from an opposing member; an urging member to urge the flapper; and a movable member movable between a first position, wherein the flapper in the first condition is contactless from the movable member, and a second condition, wherein the movable member contacts the flapper, is provided. The movable member separates one of the pair of path members from the other when moving from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Masao Mimoto
  • Patent number: 9511963
    Abstract: A conveyor device is described in which a conveyor roller is used to convey a medium inside a printing device with the conveyor roller extending in a width direction of the printing device. The conveyor roller receives a force from a following roller configured to face the conveyor roller. The conveyor roller is supported by one or more bearings. The one or more bearings include a shaft supporting portion that extends in the width direction to support the conveyor roller against the force of the following roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Noriyuki Kawamata, Masao Mimoto, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Jie Xiu, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9446920
    Abstract: A slider moving in a sliding direction between first and second positions shifts a second path-defining member, relative to a first path-defining member, between first and second states. A pair of movable members each disposed on a corresponding side of a slider in a width direction is movable individually in the sliding direction to shift between third and fourth states. The movable members, when both in the third state, position the slider to the first position and, when both in the fourth state, position the slider to the second position. Each movable member supports a corresponding widthwise end of the slider immovably in the sliding direction and movably in the width direction. A support frame supporting the second path-defining member supports a widthwise central portion of the slider movably in the sliding direction and rotatably on a plane parallel to the sliding direction and the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Masao Mimoto
  • Patent number: 9421801
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus and method of operation are disclosed. One such apparatus includes a carriage configured to support a recording head that is configured to eject ink from nozzles onto a recording medium to be conveyed, and a first support member supporting the carriage. The carriage is movable in a scanning direction orthogonal to a transporting direction of the recording medium. The apparatus further includes a second support member configured to support the first support member and a transporting roller extending in the scanning direction and rotatable to transport the recording medium in the transporting direction. The apparatus also includes a bearing disposed at the second support member and supporting the transporting roller rotatably, the bearing comprising a contact portion that contacts the first support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Mimoto, Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 9409736
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a flap pivoting between a first state to contact a first path-defining member and a second state to be separated from a first path-defining member. The first path-defining member, which faces a second path-defining member in a facing direction, includes a guide surface for guiding a sheet conveyed along a first conveying path, a contact surface positioned farther from the second path-defining member in the facing direction than the guide surface and configured to contact the flap in the first state, and an inclined surface positioned downstream of the contact surface in a conveying direction and inclined such that an upstream end thereof in the conveying direction is closer to the second path-defining member in the facing direction than a downstream end thereof. The upstream end of the inclined surface is closer to the second path-defining member in the facing direction than the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Masao Mimoto, Takashi Omura
  • Patent number: 9381754
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a recording section which records an image on a sheet conveyed in a conveyance direction in a conveyance route; a first abutment member having a plurality of first abutment portions arranged apart from each other in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and configured to abut against the sheet conveyed in the conveyance route; a first supporting member which supports the first abutment member; and a plurality of second abutment members which are supported by the first supporting member at both sides in the width direction, respectively, of the first abutment member, at a distance from the first abutment member, and each of which has a second abutment portion capable of contacting with the sheet conveyed in the conveyance route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9352590
    Abstract: A sheet feeder, including: a sheet supply roller configured to supply a sheet to a sheet feeding path; a sheet feed roller configured to feed the sheet supplied to the sheet feeding path by the sheet supply roller to a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction in which the sheet is fed; a discharge roller configured to discharge the sheet fed by the feed roller to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction; a drive motor configured to drive a first shaft for rotating the feed roller; a first transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the first shaft to a second shaft for rotating the discharge roller; and a second transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the second shaft to a third shaft for rotating the sheet supply roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20160090252
    Abstract: A slider moving in a sliding direction between first and second positions shifts a second path-defining member, relative to a first path-defining member, between first and second states. A pair of movable members each disposed on a corresponding side of a slider in a width direction is movable individually in the sliding direction to shift between third and fourth states. The movable members, when both in the third state, position the slider to the first position and, when both in the fourth state, position the slider to the second position. Each movable member supports a corresponding widthwise end of the slider immovably in the sliding direction and movably in the width direction. A support frame supporting the second path-defining member supports a widthwise central portion of the slider movably in the sliding direction and rotatably on a plane parallel to the sliding direction and the width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota IIJIMA, Masao MIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160089903
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a recording section which records an image on a sheet conveyed in a conveyance direction in a conveyance route; a first abutment member having a plurality of first abutment portions arranged apart from each other in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and configured to abut against the sheet conveyed in the conveyance route; a first supporting member which supports the first abutment member; and a plurality of second abutment members which are supported by the first supporting member at both sides in the width direction, respectively, of the first abutment member, at a distance from the first abutment member, and each of which has a second abutment portion capable of contacting with the sheet conveyed in the conveyance route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20160090254
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a flap pivoting between a first state to contact a first path-defining member and a second state to be separated from a first path-defining member. The first path-defining member, which faces a second path-defining member in a facing direction, includes a guide surface for guiding a sheet conveyed along a first conveying path, a contact surface positioned farther from the second path-defining member in the facing direction than the guide surface and configured to contact the flap in the first state, and an inclined surface positioned downstream of the contact surface in a conveying direction and inclined such that an upstream end thereof in the conveying direction is closer to the second path-defining member in the facing direction than a downstream end thereof. The upstream end of the inclined surface is closer to the second path-defining member in the facing direction than the contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota IIJIMA, Masao MIMOTO, Takashi OMURA
  • Publication number: 20160089910
    Abstract: A conveyer device, including a chassis defining a first conveyer path and a second conveyer path; a pair of path members opposing to each other to form a part of the first conveyer path; a flapper configured to be pivotable among a first condition, wherein the flapper blocks the first conveyer path, a second condition, wherein the flapper allows the sheet conveyed in the conveying direction to pass thereby, and a third condition, wherein the flapper is separated from an opposing member; an urging member to urge the flapper; and a movable member movable between a first position, wherein the flapper in the first condition is contactless from the movable member, and a second condition, wherein the movable member contacts the flapper, is provided. The movable member separates one of the pair of path members from the other when moving from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota IIJIMA, Masao MIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160089899
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a recording section configured to record an image on a sheet conveyed in a conveyance direction in a conveyance route; and an abutment member having a plurality of abutment portions which are arranged apart from each other in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction so that the plurality of abutment portions abut against the sheet convened in the conveyance route respectively, and a connecting portion connecting adjacent abutment portions among the plurality of abutment portions. The connecting portion twists so as to rotate with the width direction as a rotation axis, under a condition that the plurality of abutment portions abuts against the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9296579
    Abstract: A transporting apparatus includes a base unit made of resin, a tray configured to support a sheet, a transporting section supported by an upper portion of the base unit and configured to transport the sheet, and a feeding section supported by a lower portion of the base unit and including a feeding roller configured to contact an upper surface of the sheet supported by the tray and to feed the sheet toward the transporting section. The base unit is integrally formed with an inner-side guide which defines an inner side of a curved path which is configured to guide the sheet fed by the feeding section to the transport section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Wakakusa, Noriyuki Kawamata, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Jie Xiu, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9221636
    Abstract: A conveying device includes: a conveyor for conveying a sheet; a path defining member having a first conveying surface that guides the sheet; and a sensor device for sensing the sheet. The sensor device includes: a sensor casing provided on the path defining member and including a second conveying surface that guides the sheet and a main wall whose outer surface is exposed from the path defining member and contiguous to the first conveying surface; a movable member including (i) a contact portion projecting to a second-conveying-surface side of the main wall through an opening formed in the main wall and (ii) a sensed portion located in the sensor casing and moved by the sheet conveyed on the second conveying surface while contacting the contact portion; and a signal output device, provided in the sensor casing, for sensing the sensed portion to output a signal related to its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Masao Mimoto, Iwane Sano, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Noriyuki Kawamata, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9187283
    Abstract: A conveyor device may include first and second conveyor units, and a movable member. The first conveyor unit includes a first roller that contacts an upper surface of a sheet and a second roller that contacts a lower surface of the sheet. The second conveyor unit includes a third roller that contacts the lower surface of the sheet and a fourth roller that contacts the upper surface of the sheet. The first and second rollers and the third and fourth rollers nip and convey the sheet along a conveyance path. When the movable member is located in a first position, the first roller contacts the second roller and the third roller contacts the fourth roller. When the movable member moves to the second position, the first roller is moved away from the second roller and the third roller is moved away from the fourth roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Noriyuki Kawamata, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Yasuhira Ota, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20150321491
    Abstract: A sheet feeder, including: a sheet supply roller configured to supply a sheet to a sheet feeding path; a sheet feed roller configured to feed the sheet supplied to the sheet feeding path by the sheet supply roller to a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction in which the sheet is fed; a discharge roller configured to discharge the sheet fed by the feed roller to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction; a drive motor configured to drive a first shaft for rotating the feed roller; a first transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the first shaft to a second shaft for rotating the discharge roller; and a second transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the second shaft to a third shaft for rotating the sheet supply roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9162458
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a support member having a plurality of ribs and supporting the sheet; a head disposed above the support member and ejecting ink to the sheet supported by the support member; and at least one contact portion disposed upstream of the head and configured to come in contact with the sheet so as to make the sheet a waved shape. The support member includes a first support portion comprising at least one first guide portions disposed corresponding to the at least one contact portion, and a plurality of second guide portions disposed corresponding to the plurality of ribs and disposed above the plurality of first guide portions. The support member further comprises a second support portion comprising a third guide portion disposed downstream of the first support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Jie Xiu, Noriyuki Kawamata, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9126780
    Abstract: A transport apparatus includes a transport roller having a first supported portion and a second supported portion at positions separated in a first direction, and configured to abut against a sheet, rotate in a second direction about a rotation axis extending in the first direction, and transport the sheet; a first support member configured to rotatably support the transport roller, the first support member having a first receiving portion which is in the form of a circular arc and configured to abut against a portion in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of the first supported portion; and a second support member configured to rotatably support the transport roller, the second support member having a second receiving portion which is in the form of a circular arc and configured to abut against a portion in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of the second supported portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Mimoto, Iwane Sano, Yasuhiro Ota, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Noriyuki Kawamata, Shingo Ito