Patents by Inventor Naokazu Tanahashi

Naokazu Tanahashi 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: 9102174
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a first convey path; a support member which supports a first recording medium, a second recording medium, and a tray; a second convey path connected to the first convey path; a first guide member partly defining the second convey path; and a posture change mechanism which changes the support member and the first guide member between (a) a first posture in which the first convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough and (b) a second posture in which the first convey path has a height larger than the first height and allowing the second recording medium or the tray to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height smaller than the second height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Yasuhira Ota, Shota Iijima, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20150109393
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a first convey path; a support member which supports a first recording medium, a second recording medium, and a tray; a second convey path connected to the first convey path; a first guide member partly defining the second convey path; and a posture change mechanism which changes the support member and the first guide member between (a) a first posture in which the first convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough and (b) a second posture in which the first convey path has a height larger than the first height and allowing the second recording medium or the tray to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height smaller than the second height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Iwane SANO, Yasuhira OTA, Shota IIJIMA, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Shingo ITO
  • Patent number: 8955961
    Abstract: A platen, which supports the recording paper to be transported, includes a first portion having an upper surface on which an ink discharged from nozzles disposed thereover can be landed, first ribs which are provided to extend in a transport direction in an area of the upper surface and which support the recording paper on an upper side beyond the upper surface, and a second portion which is provided on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano, Shingo Ito, Naokazu Tanahashi, Masao Mimoto
  • Patent number: 8939661
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a first convey path; a support member which supports a first recording medium, a second recording medium, and a tray; a second convey path connected to the first convey path; a first guide member partly defining the second convey path; and a posture change mechanism which changes the support member and the first guide member between (a) a first posture in which the first convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough and (b) a second posture in which the first convey path has a height larger than the first height and allowing the second recording medium or the tray to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height smaller than the second height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Yasuhira Ota, Shota Iijima, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20140104359
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a first convey path; a support member which supports a first recording medium, a second recording medium, and a tray; a second convey path connected to the first convey path; a first guide member partly defining the second convey path; and a posture change mechanism which changes the support member and the first guide member between (a) a first posture in which the first convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough and (b) a second posture in which the first convey path has a height larger than the first height and allowing the second recording medium or the tray to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height smaller than the second height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Iwane SANO, Yasuhira OTA, Shota IIJIMA, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Shingo ITO
  • Patent number: 8668200
    Abstract: A carrying apparatus includes: a carry path which is defined to guide a first carried object and a second carried object; a first pulley; a first roller; a second pulley; a first belt which is wound on the first pulley and the second pulley; a first tensioner; and a first moving mechanism which moves the first roller between a first position and a second position. The first moving mechanism moves the first roller between a first position at which the first roller carries the first carried object and a second position which is farther from the carry path than the first position and at which the first roller carries the second carried object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Iwane Sano, Yasuhira Ota, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 8641303
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a first convey path; a support member which supports a first recording medium, a second recording medium, and a tray; a second convey path connected to the first convey path; a first guide member partly defining the second convey path; and a posture change mechanism which changes the support member and the first guide member between (a) a first posture in which the first convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough and (b) a second posture in which the first convey path has a height larger than the first height and allowing the second recording medium or the tray to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height smaller than the second height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Yasuhira Ota, Shota Iijima, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 8567941
    Abstract: There is provided a transporting device transporting a medium, including: a first member pair which changes a posture of the first member pair between a first posture and a second posture; a second member pair which changes a posture of the second member pair between a third posture and a fourth posture; and a movable member which is movable between a fifth posture and a sixth posture, and which has a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion, wherein, in a process that the movable member moves from the fifth posture to the sixth posture, the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture from the first posture to the second posture, and while the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture, the second abutting portion abuts on one of the second member pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Yasuhira Ota, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shota Iijima, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20130272770
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a particular tray, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the particular tray to a first conveying path in a feed direction, a recording unit positioned along the first conveying path, and a driving roller positioned along a second conveying path and configured to convey the sheet, after the sheet passes the recording unit, along the second conveying path and back to the first conveying path. The particular tray includes a side guide configured to position the sheets in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The side guide includes a guide member that defines at least a portion of the second conveying path and is configured to guide the sheet along the second conveying path, and a driven roller rotatably supported on the guide member and configured to pinch the sheet against the driving roller as the sheet is conveyed along the second conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Shota IIJIMA, Masatoshi IZUCHI, Satoru NAKAKITA
  • Patent number: 8556410
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a recording portion; a tray on which a first recording medium is placed; a convey path for conveying a second recording medium and the tray; a tray guide changeable among (a) a first posture in which the tray guide supports the tray, (b) a second posture whose position is different from that of the first posture in a direction intersecting the convey path, and (c) a third posture in which an upstream portion of the tray guide in the tray-enter direction is nearer to the convey path than that in the second posture; a first posture-change portion which changes the tray guide from the second to the third posture; and a second posture-change portion which changes the tray guide from the third to the first posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Shota Iijima, Naokazu Tanahashi, Iwane Sano, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 8503923
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a particular tray, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the particular tray to a first conveying path in a feed direction, a recording unit positioned along the first conveying path, and a driving roller positioned along a second conveying path and configured to convey the sheet, after the sheet passes the recording unit, along the second conveying path and back to the first conveying path. The particular tray includes a side guide configured to position the sheets in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The side guide includes a guide member that defines at least a portion of the second conveying path and is configured to guide the sheet along the second conveying path, and a driven roller rotatably supported on the guide member and configured to pinch the sheet against the driving roller as the sheet is conveyed along the second conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shota Iijima, Masatoshi Izuchi, Satoru Nakakita
  • Patent number: 8465147
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a pair of first rollers which transports a recording medium in a transporting direction, a platen arranged at a downstream side of the transporting direction with respect to the first rollers, and which supports the recording medium, a pair of second rollers arranged at the downstream side of the transporting direction with respect to the platen, and which transports the recording medium in the transporting direction, a recording head arranged to face the platen and which jets ink droplets onto the recording medium supported by the platen, and a guide mechanism which changes an attitude of the guide member between a first attitude in which a front end of the recording medium is guided to a nipping position of the second rollers, and a second attitude in which the front end of the recording medium is guided to a lower position than the nipping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naokazu Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 8254826
    Abstract: An image recording device includes: a tray having a placing surface; a feed unit comprising a rotating member configured to move in a first direction away from the placing surface of the tray and move in a second direction toward the placing surface of the tray; a frictional member disposed on the placing surface; a recording unit; a conveying unit configured to return the sheet, on one side of which the image has been recorded by the recording unit, to the placing surface; and a moving mechanism configured to move the rotating member in the first direction and in the second direction. The moving mechanism is configured to move the rotating member in the first direction before a leading end of the sheet returned by the conveying unit reaches the frictional member in a state where no sheet is placed on the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuta Uchino, Takashi Ohama, Naokazu Tanahashi, Wataru Sugiyama, Noriyuki Kawamata
  • Patent number: 8240842
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, including a movable support member which includes a supporting portion that supports a recording medium fed on a platen and which is slid in a feeding direction so as to the recording medium, wherein the movable support member includes an ink receiving portion which is provided such that a clearance is formed between the ink receiving portion and the supporting portion, which is relatively low in height, and which receives ink droplets ejected to an outside of the recording medium, or wherein the supporting portion includes: a step portion having a transfer preventing face which prevents adhering ink from transferring upward; and an ink receiving face continuous to the transfer preventing face and extending in a generally horizontal direction so as to receive ink droplets ejected to an outside of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Ito, Noritsugu Ito, Yoichi Shikai, Wataru Sugiyama, Naokazu Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 8205956
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus configured to record images on front and back surfaces of a sheet, including: a head which ejects ink onto the sheet for recording; a sheet-supply roller which contacts the sheet so as to transfer the sheet for supplying to the head; a sheet-supply path which is provided between the sheet-supply roller and the head, which has a U-shape, and through which the sheet is transferred such that one of surfaces thereof opposite to the other of the surfaces contacted by the sheet-supply roller faces the head; and a sheet-stopping control section configured to control the sheet-supply roller such that the sheet transferred by the sheet-supply roller is stopped for a first time in the sheet-supply path in a state in which the sheet is deformed so as to have a U-shape, after an image has been recorded on the front surface of the sheet and before an image is recorded on the back surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Takashi Ohama, Naokazu Tanahashi, Wataru Sugiyama, Yuta Uchino
  • Publication number: 20120134733
    Abstract: A platen, which supports the recording paper to be transported, includes a first portion having an upper surface on which an ink discharged from nozzles disposed thereover can be landed, first ribs which are provided to extend in a transport direction in an area of the upper surface and which support the recording paper on an upper side beyond the upper surface, and a second portion which is provided on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhira OTA, Iwane SANO, Shingo ITO, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Masao MIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8177317
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a recording head, a feeding mechanism feeding a recording medium such that a second surface is opposed to the head, a first-area determining portion determining a first area, a second-area determining portion determining a second area, a contact-position determining portion determining a contact position on a first surface at which position a roller contacts the first surface, a feed controller capable of controlling feeding of the medium such that where the second surface is opposed to the head, the recording on the second surface is implemented with the second area skipped, and a judging portion determining whether the contact position is included in the first area at the moment of initiation of a skip operation. The feed controller controls an acceleration or a speed at which the medium is fed in the skip operation, on the basis of the determination made by the judging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Takashi Ohama, Naokazu Tanahashi, Wataru Sugiyama, Noriyuki Kawamata, Yuta Uchino
  • Patent number: 8172225
    Abstract: A feeding device has a conveying roller that rotates in a forward direction and a reverse direction, to selectively convey a sheet in a conveying direction and a reverse conveying direction. A particular guide member is positioned on an upstream side, guides the conveyed sheet toward the conveying roller, and has a stopper that contacts an end portion of the sheet, thereby stopping movement of the sheet in the reverse conveying direction. A control unit causes the conveying roller to rotate the conveying roller in the forward direction, such that the sheet is conveyed to a predetermined position, then to rotate the conveying roller in the reverse direction, wherein the end portion of the sheet contacts the stopper while the conveying roller rotates in the reverse direction, and then to again rotate the conveying roller in the forward direction, such that the sheet is conveyed toward the conveying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naokazu Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 8162314
    Abstract: An image printing apparatus includes a printing unit and a supporting member opposing the printing unit and having a supporting surface for supporting the printing medium. The image printing apparatus further includes a first pair of rollers disposed upstream of the printing unit, a second pair of rollers and a third pair of rollers which are disposed downstream of the printing unit. The image printing apparatus further includes a guide member disposed between the second pair of rollers and the third pair of rollers. The guide member includes a guide portion which guides the printing medium transported by the second pair of rollers. The guide member is configured to pivot between a slanting position and a laying position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito, Shota Iijima, Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano
  • Publication number: 20120081445
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a pair of first rollers which transports a recording medium in a transporting direction, a platen arranged at a downstream side of the transporting direction with respect to the first rollers, and which supports the recording medium, a pair of second rollers arranged at the downstream side of the transporting direction with respect to the platen, and which transports the recording medium in the transporting direction, a recording head arranged to face the platen and which jets ink droplets onto the recording medium supported by the platen, and a guide mechanism which changes an attitude of the guide member between a first attitude in which a front end of the recording medium is guided to a nipping position of the second rollers, and a second attitude in which the front end of the recording medium is guided to a lower position than the nipping position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naokazu TANAHASHI