Patents by Inventor Tetsuo Asada
Tetsuo Asada 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: 8967614Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yukio Shiohara, Tetsuo Asada, Yuji Koga
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Patent number: 8955960Abstract: A tray unit includes a first tray, a second tray, and a cover. The first tray includes a first holding surface for holding thereon a first sheet. The second tray includes a second holding surface for holding thereon a second sheet and is configured to slide above and along the first holding surface from a second position to a first position in a first sliding direction and from the first position to the second position in a second sliding direction opposite to the first sliding direction. The cover is configured to cover from above at least a part of the second tray when the second tray is in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Satoru Nakakita
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Patent number: 8937755Abstract: A first feeder contacts a first surface of a first sheet held in a first tray and feeds the first sheet toward a recording unit. A second feeder contacts a first surface of a second sheet held in a second tray and feeds the second sheet toward the recording unit. An inner member is disposed above a standing plate. An outer member comprises an upstream portion opposing the standing plate, and a downstream portion opposing the inner member. The inner member guides the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet. The standing plate guides the first surface of the second sheet. The upstream portion of the outer member guides a second surface of the second sheet, and the downstream portion guides a second surface of the first sheet and the second surface of the second sheet. The standing plate moves relative to the outer member.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Kensuke Hirate, Yoshiyuki Washino
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Publication number: 20140312558Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA, Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA
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Publication number: 20140312554Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA, Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA
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Patent number: 8858106Abstract: An image recording device includes a tray having a recess, a recording unit, a drive roller, a first driven roller, a second driven roller, a first urging member and a second urging member. The first driven roller is movable between a first basic position to contact the drive roller and press with a first force and a first nip position to press a first portion, corresponding to the recess, with a third force. The second driven roller is movable between a second basic position to contact the drive roller and press with a second force and a second nip position to press a second portion, not corresponding to the recess, with a fourth force. A difference between the first force and the second force is smaller than a difference between the third force and the fourth force, and the third force is smaller than the fourth force.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhira Ota, Tetsuo Asada
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Publication number: 20140232769Abstract: An image recording device includes a recording unit, a feeding mechanism, a guide member, and a lock portion. The feeding mechanism is configured to feed a first feeding object along a feeding path. The feeding path has a straight path and a curved path. The recording unit faces the straight path. The guide member defines the curved path and is rotatable between an exposed position and a closed position. The lock portion is movable between a locked position at which the guide member is locked in the closed position and an unlocked position at which the lock is released. The guide member has a recess formed therein and the feeding mechanism further feeds a second feeding object to the recess along the straight path. When the second feeding object is disposed in the recess, the lock portion is disposed at the locked position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2014Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Satoru NAKAKITA
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Patent number: 8807553Abstract: An image recording device includes a tray unit, a sheet feeder disposed above the tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the sheet feeder, and a unit for discharging the sheet having as image recorded thereon. The tray unit includes a first tray for holding thereon a first sheet, a second tray disposed above the first tray to hold thereon a second sheet, and a third tray disposed above the first tray. The second tray selectively moves between a first position and a second position. When the second tray is in the first position, the sheet feeder feeds the second sheet from the second tray, and the third tray receives the second sheet discharged from the discharging unit. When the second tray is in the second position, the sheet feeder feeds the first sheet from the first tray, and the first tray, the second tray, and the third tray overlap one another vertically.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Satoru Nakakita
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Publication number: 20140210154Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yukio SHIOHARA, Tetsuo ASADA, Yuji KOGA
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Publication number: 20140203493Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a sheet-supply tray device which accommodates and holds a plurality of recording sheets and which supplies the recording sheets, one by one, in a sheet-supply direction; and an image recording device which records an image on each of the recording sheets supplied from the sheet-supply tray device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Yukio SHIOHARA
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Publication number: 20140191462Abstract: A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Yukio SHIOHARA
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Patent number: 8768235Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima, Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
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Patent number: 8721066Abstract: An image recording device includes a recording unit, a feeding mechanism, a guide member, and a lock portion. The feeding mechanism is configured to feed a first feeding object along a feeding path. The feeding path has a straight path and a curved path. The recording unit faces the straight path. The guide member defines the curved path and is rotatable between an exposed position and a closed position. The lock portion is movable between a locked position at which the guide member is locked in the closed position and an unlocked position at which the lock is released. The guide member has a recess formed therein and the feeding mechanism further feeds a second feeding object to the recess along the straight path. When the second feeding object is disposed in the recess, the lock portion is disposed at the locked position.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Satoru Nakakita
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Patent number: 8714852Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a sheet-supply tray device which accommodates and holds a plurality of recording sheets and which supplies the recording sheets, one by one, in a sheet-supply direction; and an image recording device which records an image on each of the recording sheets supplied from the sheet-supply tray device.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
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Patent number: 8714540Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yukio Shiohara, Tetsuo Asada, Yuji Koga
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Patent number: 8702092Abstract: A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Yukio Shiohara
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Patent number: 8684349Abstract: A sheet feeder, including; a sheet holding portion; a sheet supply portion; an inclined member having an inclined surface and configured to guide each sheet in a sheet feed direction; and separation protrusions which are provided on the inclined member and each of which protrudes from the inclined surface such that a distal end thereof is located more downstream in the sheet feed direction than a proximal end thereof, wherein each separation protrusion has a contact surface and said each sheet comes into contact with one or more contact surfaces of the separation protrusions, and wherein each separation protrusion protrudes from the inclined surface such that the distal end of one of the separation protrusions is located more downstream in the sheet feed direction than the proximal end of another of the separation protrusions that is located immediately downstream of the one of the separation protrusions in the sheet feed direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Keisuke Wakakusa
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Patent number: 8662770Abstract: Image recording apparatus including manual medium insertion tray manually loaded with recording medium, the tray being connected to rear end portion of housing such that the tray is pivotable in vertical direction about horizontal axis of first hinge portion located below first hinge portion provided for image reading device, between its operative position in which the second recording medium is fed to feeding path leading to image recording device, and its retracted position, the tray placed in the operative position having upwardly inclined posture extending outwardly from the rear end portion of the housing, while the tray placed in the retracted position having posture extending generally downwards into accommodating space formed within the housing and on rear side of U-turn sheet transfer path connecting the sheet supply cassette and the feeding path, the tray being pivotable between the operative and retracted positions through rear opening formed in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Satoru Nakakita
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Patent number: 8641038Abstract: An image recording device includes a tray configured to hold a first recording medium, an insertion guide configured to move between a guide position for guiding a second recording medium into a common path and a non-guide position, a conveyor configured to convey the tray along the common path in a first direction and to convey the second recording medium along the common path in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a recording unit configured to record an image selectively on the first recording medium and the second recording medium, a stopper disposed along the common path, and a moving unit configured to move the stopper between a retracted position and a protruding position in response to movement of the insertion guide between the non-guide position and the guide position. The stopper in the protruding position protrudes into the common path to stop the tray.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Iwane Sano, Shingo Ito
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Patent number: 8622381Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a supply tray and a supply unit. The supply unit includes a supporting shaft, an arm configured to pivot around the supporting shaft, and, a first roller and a second roller which are provided in the arm. The first and second rollers are pressedly contacted with a sheet placed on the supply tray. The supply tray is provided with a contact portion. The contact portion includes a first contact portion facing to the first roller and second rollers, and a second contact portion disposed in an upstream side of the first contact portion in the supply direction. A friction coefficient of the second contact portion is smaller than that of the first contact portion. When the first and second rollers rotatingly moves on the sheet, a friction force is applied by the second contact portion to the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirotaka Aoki, Tetsuo Asada