Frame, Casing, Or Support For Typewriter Patents (Class 400/691)
  • Patent number: 10864760
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a feeding unit that feeds a medium placed on a medium placing unit located on a back side (?Y) of the apparatus; a transport unit that transports the medium fed from the feeding unit; a recording unit that performs recording on the medium transported from the transport unit; a reverse path that transports the medium in a reverse direction after recording is performed by the recording unit to turn over the medium; and a feed driving motor that drives the feeding unit, wherein the feed driving motor is disposed above the reverse path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shirane, Shinji Kanemaru, Kazuhisa Nakamura, Yoshikazu Nagai, Keisuke Sasaki, Haruki Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 10549561
    Abstract: Sealing assemblies for preventing water intrusion into the interior of a casing are provided. In one exemplary implementation, a water-resistant casing comprises a sealing element over-molded on a wall, wherein the sealing element includes a first feature and a second feature. The water-resistant casing includes a top section constrained in a lower position by the first feature of the sealing element. The water-resistant casing further includes a bottom section constrained in an upper position by the second feature of the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: DATAMAX-O'NEIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ching Hong Chua, Guy Heaton, Eng Hing Lim
  • Patent number: 10308045
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor, including: a shaft defining an axis that extends in a first direction; an arm pivotable about the axis; a supply roller provided on the arm and configured to supply a sheet; a first frame formed of metal and supporting the shaft; a first conveyance roller configured to covey the sheet supplied from the supply roller; and a second frame formed of metal and supporting the first conveyance roller, wherein the second frame includes (a) a contact plate portion shaped like a plate and having a contact surface that is held in contact with the first frame and (b) a wall portion extending from the contact plate portion in a direction intersecting the contact surface, and wherein the second frame is coupled at the contact plate portion thereof to the first frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Aoki
  • Patent number: 10007227
    Abstract: An imaging device having a door closing sequencing device to ensure a proper closing sequence of two mating doors. The sequencing device includes a door stop, a link, and a hinge. The hinge and door stop are pivotally connected to a side panel of a frame. The hinge, link, and door stop are pivotally connected together. The hinge is affixed to a first of the mating doors, and, when the first of the mating doors is in an open position, the hinge and link rotate the door stop into an extended position preventing a second of the mating doors from closing until the first of the mating doors is returned to its closed position moving the door stop into a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Ryan Keniston, Jimmy Zamora Lucas
  • Patent number: 9862205
    Abstract: The ridge part T projecting from an interior surface of an opening and closing cover 3 of a printer 1 is provided at part of a head 3b that make contact with a mountless label continuous body P including an adhesive agent layer on one surface thereof. The head 3b is located at a free end of the opening and closing cover 3. A third ridge part T3 is provided on a third surface S3, which is located in vicinity of an intersecting line between a first surface S1 and a second surface S2. The third ridge T3 has a longer projecting length than a ridge part T1 projecting from the first surface S1, and has a longer projecting length than a ridge part T2 projecting from the second surface S2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Obara
  • Patent number: 9711903
    Abstract: A connector is provided that includes an RFID circuit. Before the connector is mated with a corresponding connector the RFID circuit is tuned so that it does not function in a desired manner at a desired frequency. Once the connector is mated the tuning of the RFID circuit is modified so that the RFID circuit functions in the desired manner at the desired frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: Lily T. C. Chang, Timothy Gagnon, Steven Zeilinger
  • Patent number: 9623681
    Abstract: A printer paper tray comprising a paper tray bezel, and a paper tray cassette coupled to the paper tray bezel, in which the paper tray bezel moves in the x and y direction independent of the paper tray cassette. A printer comprising a paper tray comprising a bezel coupled to a cassette in which the bezel moves independent of the cassette and is biased towards the cassette in the x direction. A bezel mounting system comprising a number of biasing members to bias a printer tray bezel towards a printer tray cassette in the x-direction, and a number of biasing pads to bias the bezel in a substantially centered position with respect to the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Lo, Brian F. Davis
  • Patent number: 9483014
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is provided with a casing, a panel unit provided with at least one of an operation unit acquiring an operation to control the image forming apparatus and a display unit, a discharge tray configured to receive a recording medium discharged from the casing. The casing has a first cover arranged above an image forming unit and constituted at least a part of an upper surface of the casing. The first cover includes a tray part which is at least a part of the discharge tray, a surrounding part configured to surround the tray part. The panel unit is arranged to be inserted in the surrounding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: Yasumasa Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 9456097
    Abstract: A printing apparatus and an image forming apparatus are provided. The printing apparatus includes a printing unit to form an image on a printing medium, a scanning unit pivotally coupled to the printing unit, and a cover unit pivotally coupled to the scanning unit and having a pressing portion. The printing apparatus includes a first member rotatably mounted to the scanning unit to latch the scanning unit to the printing unit when the cover unit is in an open state with respect to the scanning unit, and a second member mounted to the scanning unit to rotate the first member to unlatch the scanning unit from the printing unit when pressed by the pressing portion of the cover unit moving from the open state to a closed state with respect to the scanning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Kon Jo, Myoung Jin Kim, Heung Kyu Jang
  • Patent number: 9304487
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing member movably provided in the apparatus main body and configured to take a closing position to close a first opening and a second opening and an opening position to open the first opening and the second opening. The opening/closing member includes a first opening/closing portion configured to close the first opening at the closing position and a second opening/closing portion configured to close the second opening at the closing position and provided so as to be movable with respect to the first opening/closing portion. A cartridge support member moving, at the opening position, in a pull-out direction from an inner position to an outer position causes the second opening/closing portion to move downstream in the pull-out direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Tomio Noguchi, Yuichiro Osawa
  • Patent number: 9180706
    Abstract: A credential production device is disclosed. The credential production device includes a frame, a support member and a credential processing device component. The support member is coupled to the frame and includes a first portion cantilevered from the frame. The credential processing device component is coupled to the first portion of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
    Inventors: Ted M. Hoffman, Thomas G. Gale, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9180665
    Abstract: A printer includes a carriage which includes a recording head which performs recording on a sheet, and can move in a predetermined direction, and a frame assembly which is configured of a plurality of frames which configure the periphery of the carriage. The frame assembly is formed by including a main frame, side frames, and a sub-frame as a first frame which does not form a contact face which comes into contact with the carriage, and guide frames as a second frame which forms the contact face, and of which hardness is higher than that of the first frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakata, Akio Todoriki, Naoki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9031422
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus or an image forming apparatus includes: a housing including an opening and closing member that can be opened and closed; a conveying path that conveys an object to be conveyed, at least a part of the conveying path being provided adjacent to an inner side of the opening and closing member; a first detector that detects whether the object is present in a predetermined region and outputs a detection signal corresponding to a result of the detection; and an interlocking mechanism that causes, when the opening and closing member is opened, the first detector to change at least one of a position and a structure of the first detector in mechanically association with movement of opening of the opening and closing member, and to output a detection signal which is the same as a detection signal output when the object is present in the predetermined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naohisa Fujita
  • Patent number: 9011030
    Abstract: A platen support mechanism of a printer moves a platen unit of the printer. When moving the platen unit from a closed position to an open position, the platen support mechanism of the printer first moves the platen unit along a straight first path, and then moves the platen unit along a curved second path. A posture of the platen unit is held constant during this time by a six joint linkage mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsugo Ishida
  • Patent number: 8965266
    Abstract: Automatic document feeder includes a transport path member having a transport path surface configuring a transport path in a device body, a latching member that is mounted on a rotating shaft provided in the other end side, is urged in a first rotation direction latched to a latched portion, and holds the transport path member in closed transport path, and an operating member that is rotated up to an operating position by own weight thereof or urging force in a second rotation direction when the device body moves to an exposed position of the transport path member, and is mounted with allowance so that the latching member is rotated in the second rotation direction according to a further rotating operation in the second rotation direction from the operating position and the latching member is detached from the latched portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Yamazaki, Hyundeok Ha, Senggyu Cho
  • Patent number: 8950958
    Abstract: A printer, particularly for thermal paper is provided. Such printer includes those having a support structure which is fixed in use, and in which there is formed a receptacle for receiving a roll of paper tape which is unwound in use by rotation about an axis, a cover which is hinged to the structure about an axis which is substantially parallel to the unwinding axis of the roll, and which can be oscillated between a closed position and an open position in which it covers and uncovers the receptacle, respectively, a printing device carried by the support structure, and a transport roller for the paper tape unwound from the roll, interacting with the printing device; the roller being carried by the cover in such a way that it can be coupled to or uncoupled from the printing device as a result of the closing or opening of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: K.F.I. S.R.L.
    Inventor: Antonino Giovanni Fallica
  • Patent number: 8939666
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a first support unit which is disposed at an intermediate location of a transport path of the target and supports the target; a second support unit which is disposed at a location of a downstream side of the transport path of the target further than the first support unit and supports the target; a tension applying member which is disposed at a location of the target transport path between the first support unit and the second support unit and pressures the target from one side thereof to apply a tension to the target; and an optical detection unit which is disposed at a location corresponding to the tension applying member to face the other side of the target and irradiates detection light to a surface of the other side of the target to which the tension is applied by the tension applying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Tamai, Satoshi Morikawa
  • Patent number: 8934810
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: a replaceable image forming structure body including elements for image formation; a recording medium transporting structure body including elements for transporting a recording medium to the image forming structure body; an output recording medium transporting structure body transporting, to an output port, a recording medium outputted from the image forming structure body; and a connection structure body electrically connected to structure bodies. They each form at least a part of the appearance of the image forming apparatus. The latter three bodies are adjacent to each other, and attachable in a state where the image forming structure body is not attached, the image forming structure body is in contact with at least three surfaces included in surfaces of the other bodies adjacent to each other, and the image forming structure body is attachable in a state where the other bodies have been attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishino, Hidekazu Amamoto
  • Patent number: 8920056
    Abstract: An electronic equipment of the embodiment comprises a housing that has an attaching wall with an inclined surface on which a covered object is arranged, an attaching body that has a covering surface covering the covered object and is amounted on the attaching wall, a first convex portion, wherein the projection tip portion of the first convex portion contacts the covering surface, and a second convex portion, wherein the projection tip portion of the second convex portion contacts the inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8915661
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device for a printer includes a movable tray for supporting a print media. The tray is movable between an open position in which media may be moved on to the tray and a closed position in which media is blocked from moving on to the tray. The device also includes a rotatable media drive component for moving print media on to the tray and a movable restraint operatively connected to the tray. The restraint is movable between: a first position, corresponding to the open position of the tray, in which the restraint does not restrain the media drive component; and a second position, corresponding to the closed position of the tray, in which the restraint restrains rotation of the media drive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark G Miranda, Keith Janabka, Robert Winburne
  • Patent number: 8876420
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a first transporting portion with a first transporting path formed to guide a sheet with its recording surface facing upward, a recording portion, a transporting roller, a second transporting portion with a second transporting path, a first flap, a sandwiching member sandwich the sheet between itself and the first flap, and a second flap. The first flap turn between a first position being able to guide the sheet along the first transporting path and a second position spaced downward from the sandwiching member farther than in the first position, and the second flap change between a third position for a third surface to define a guide surface of the second transporting path and a fourth position to open up the second transporting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 8870483
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a thermal printer includes a housing in which a space is formed, printing means disposed in the housing, a cover disposed in the housing and which comes into contact with and separates from the housing when rotated, thereby opening and closing the space, urging means for urging the cover in a direction away from the housing, an engaging part which is disposed in the housing and which prevents the movement of the cover in a direction away from the housing when engaged with the cover, a pressed part which is disposed rotatably in the cover and which moves the engaging part when pressed, thereby releasing engagement between the cover and the engaging part, and elastic means arranged to urge the pressed part in a direction away from the engaging part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kousuke Takahashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Tsuyoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 8870482
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a thermal printer includes a housing in which a space is formed, printing means disposed in the housing, a cover disposed in the housing and which comes into contact with and separates from the housing when rotated, thereby opening and closing the space, urging means for urging the cover in a direction away from the housing, an engaging part which is disposed in the housing and which prevents the movement of the cover in a direction away from the housing when engaged with the cover, a pressed part which is disposed rotatably in the cover and which moves the engaging part when pressed, thereby releasing engagement between the cover and the engaging part, and elastic means arranged to urge the pressed part in a direction away from the engaging part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kousuke Takahashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Tsuyoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 8858107
    Abstract: A device for processing media may include a front panel, a rear panel, a side panel, a support surface, and an access door assembly. The access door assembly may be pivotally coupled to the support surface and may include a major door pivotally coupled to a minor door. The minor door may be movable from an operational position to a minor support position and the major door may be movable from the operational position to a major support position in which the major door is positioned against and supported by the support surface. The side panel may define an imaginary plane that extends upward beyond the support surface and the access door assembly may be sized to be supported on the support surface without crossing the imaginary plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventor: Mark B. Urban
  • Patent number: 8842142
    Abstract: A print station system having a chassis for housing a modular print station; a power source in communication with the print station; a controller circuit card assembly in communication with the print station; a display panel in communication with the print station; a media rewind hub; a pair of adjustable media guides connected about a base of the print station; and at least one sensor affixed to the print station base and being operable for detecting the presence and position of media passing through a media feed path of the print station system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Bouverie, Richard Hatle, Dwayne Steven Tobin, Marjorie Hitz
  • Patent number: 8838007
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover capable of opening and closing an opening, an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet, and a cam member provided in the image forming portion for moving a contact member toward and away from an opposing member. A controller controls the image forming portion and rotation of the cam member. The controller stops an operation of the image forming portion when a detecting unit detects opening of the openable cover, and then controls rotation of the cam member at least one full turn when the detecting unit detects closing of the openable cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yu Shuhama, Yuichiro Osawa, Masao Amano, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Nobukazu Adachi
  • Patent number: 8801308
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a media path within a body of the printing apparatus. The media path moves sheets of media through the body of the printing apparatus. A marking engine is also within the body of the printing apparatus. The media path supplies the printing media to the marking engine. A processor is within the body of the printing apparatus. The processor is operatively connected to the marking engine, and the processor controls actions of the marking engine. Sensors are within the body of the printing apparatus. The sensors are operatively connected to the processor, and the sensors are positioned along the media path. The sensors detect locations and conditions of the sheets of media as the sheets of media travel along the media path. The sensors have a first clip shape. Further, clip connectors are located within the body of the printing apparatus. The clip connectors are connected to the sensors. Additionally, light structures are connected to the clip connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Cole, Richard G. Hubbard, David K. Halden, Kenneth G. Dixon, Anthony J. Peters
  • Patent number: 8790028
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image reading unit to read an image of a document, disposed in an upper portion of the image forming apparatus; an image forming unit to form the image on a sheet, disposed below the image reading unit; at least upper and lower sheet roll supporters provided one above the other below the image forming unit to support a sheet roll, the lower sheet roll supporter offset proximally toward a front surface of the image forming apparatus from the upper sheet roll supporter; and multiple openings provided in the front surface of the image forming apparatus for the at least upper and lower sheet roll supporters through which the sheet roll is set to the at least upper and lower sheet roll supporters from a front surface side of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takayuki Niihara, Masahiko Yamada, Yuichiro Maeyama, Masato Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8777502
    Abstract: A printer has an automatic cutter and a recording paper guide member. The automatic cutter includes a fixed knife attached to the printer case and a movable knife attached to an access cover. The movable knife is attached to the open side of the access cover relative to the fixed knife. The recording paper guide member is disposed to the printer case at a position closer to the open side of the access cover than the movable knife. The movable knife protruding to the fixed knife side and the recording paper guide member interfere if the access cover is opened when the movable knife has moved to the cutting start position. As a result, because movement of the access cover is limited and the access cover will not open, the movable knife protruding to the fixed knife side is not exposed outside the printer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Patent number: 8708588
    Abstract: A horizontal adjustment device of upper base of barcode printer includes a barcode printer chassis formed with at least one threaded hole. A printing-device upper base is mourned to a chassis side wall of the barcode printer, and having a through bore. At least one adjustment bolt has an end received through the through bore, and is rotatably coupled with an end of the through bore. The adjustment bolt has an opposite end forming at least one screwing engagement section. The screwing engagement section engages with the threaded hole, and another end of the adjustment bolt is rotatably received in the opposite end of the through bore. At least one adjustment threaded fastener engages the adjustment bolt so that the printing-device upper base is adjusted to move horizontally by rotating the adjustment threaded fastener and the adjustment bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Lun Chen, Sheng Chia Chen
  • Patent number: 8702329
    Abstract: A label printer for performing printing on a label temporarily adhered to a pasteboard of a sheet roll includes a main body on which a platen roller and a peeling bar are mounted, an installing part configured to have the sheet roll installed therein, an installing cover configured to close when the sheet roll is installed in the installing part, and a printing head and a peeling roller mounted to the installing cover. The peeling roller is configured to move along a groove formed in the installing cover and contact the platen roller when the installing cover is closed. The peeling bar is configured to peel the label from the pasteboard by bending the pasteboard after the pasteboard is wrapped around the peeling bar and is conveyed between the peeling roller and the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinari Takabatake, Yukihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 8696225
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a thermal printer includes a housing in which a space is formed, printing means disposed in the housing, a cover disposed in the housing and which comes into contact with and separates from the housing when rotated, thereby opening and closing the space, urging means for urging the cover in a direction away from the housing, an engaging part which is disposed in the housing and which prevents the movement of the cover in a direction away from the housing when engaged with the cover, a pressed part which is disposed rotatably in the cover and which moves the engaging part when pressed, thereby releasing engagement between the cover and the engaging part, and elastic means arranged to urge the pressed part in a direction away from the engaging part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kousuke Takahashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Tsuyoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 8662773
    Abstract: In order to cope with a change in design between a printer having a hip down design specification (first specification) and another printer having a hip up design specification (second specification), each of a lower frame and an upper frame has a structure common to both of the specifications. The lower frame and the upper frame are coupled to each other by a hinge structure removably attached to the lower frame and the upper frame. The hinge structure is selected from a first hinge structure and a second hinge structure. By changing the hinge structure from the first hinge structure to the second hinge structure and vice versa, the height of a hinge center can easily be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8651757
    Abstract: A platen support mechanism that movably supports a platen unit to which a platen is attached has a platen positioning mechanism that positions the platen unit in a specific posture at four locations, bosses that protrude from both sides at the front in the front-back direction of the printer, and shaft ends that protrude from both sides at the back in the front-back direction of the printer. The platen unit is thereby positioned in a specific posture at the closed position regardless of play in the platen support mechanism. As a result, the platen is positioned to the printing position in a specific posture with a constant gap to the nozzle surface of the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 8600284
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage for conveying the recording sheet extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Shigeharu Katayama, Mitsuko Hanai
  • Patent number: 8585304
    Abstract: A label printer enables drop-in loading of linerless label paper rolls and prevents print defects caused by variation in the label paper transportation and the readhesion of chaff to the label paper. A pair of roll guiding members 37 and 38 limit the position of the outside of the label paper roll 5 to a position separated a predetermined distance from the label paper entrance 11 by contacting the outside of the label paper roll 5 inside the roll paper compartment 7 of the label printer 31 at a position offset from the label paper entrance 11 toward the center of the roll paper compartment 7. The roll guiding members 37 and 38 are members with low friction resistance when in contact with the outside of the label paper roll 5, and thus reduce the friction that can cause inconsistent paper transportation and chaff from wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8570724
    Abstract: An exemplary suspension apparatus for suspending built-in equipment is provided. The suspension apparatus includes a fixing plate having a main plate and a recessed portion formed at the main plate, and a rotator rotatably engaged with the fixing plate. The rotator includes an engagement head and a connection pole; the engagement head is received in the recessed portion of the fixing plate, an end of the connection pole is connected to the engagement head, and an opposite end of the connection pole is a suspended end for suspending the built-in equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Yu Chou, Qun Huang, Tai-Shan Zhu, Tao Jiang, Yue-Ping Liu, Jun-Liang Zhang, Jian-Bin Zhou, Wei-Wei Yu, Zhi-Jun Shi, Hai-Qian Ge, Ya-Ping Gu, Wen-Chih Lan
  • Patent number: 8550733
    Abstract: A printing apparatus having shorter length in the longitudinal direction and a dust-protecting feature is disclosed. The printer includes a main frame, a subframe assembly, first and second pulse motors each have a reduction gear drive mechanism, a thermal head, a platen roller, a rotary blade, and a stationary blade. The first motor for driving the platen roller and the second motor for driving the rotary blade are disposed between two side plates provided one on each end of the main frame. The reduction gear drive mechanisms are substantially sealed and disposed inside the corresponding side plates. Two pulleys and a timing belt are provided outside each of the side plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Yukihiro Mori, Sumio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8538315
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus main body, an image forming unit that is provided in the image forming apparatus main body and forms an image on a recording medium, and a transport unit transporting the recording medium, wherein the image forming apparatus main body has a forward port for forwarding the recording medium having the image thereon by the image forming unit to outside of the image forming apparatus main body, and further has a guide unit by which the recording medium forwarded to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body is guided to be retrieved into the image forming apparatus main body, and to be led to the transport unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Okamoto, Atsuyuki Kitamura, Masahiro Sato, Atsushi Ogihara, Satoru Torimaru, Junichi Murakami, Shuichi Nishide
  • Patent number: 8529146
    Abstract: A printer including a lower frame on which roll paper is loaded, a cutter section mounted above the lower frame for cutting the roll paper on which printing is made, and a cover that allows a front of the lower frame to be opened and closed is provided. A slope portion for causing paper dust or a slip of paper, which falls from the cutter section, to slip down toward the front of the lower frame is provided at a portion of the lower frame below the cutter section. The cover is provided with a pocket portion for receiving the paper dust or the slip of paper slipping down on the slope, and the pocket portion is adjacent to the lowest portion of the slope portion when the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8506191
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body having a first opening; a main cover supported by the main body, having a second opening and rotatable between a first closed position and a first opening position with respect to the first opening; a feeder cover supported by the main cover and rotatable between a second closed position and a second opening position with respect to the second opening; and a link arm jointed to the main body at a first joint, jointed to the main cover at a second joint, the first joint movable relative to the main body, and the link arm rotating the feeder cover from the second opening position toward the second closed position when the main cover rotates from the first closed position with the feeder cover at the second opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koyo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8500351
    Abstract: A compact printer having improved operational features. The printer includes an articulating print frame assembly coupled to a top cover that is adapted to rotate out of the top cover to an open position and to rotate into the top cover to a closed position. When the print frame is in an open position, the top cover is prevented from rotating toward the bottom housing to a closed position. The print frame includes a media guide bar that facilitates loading of ribbon and media. The disclosed printer also includes a fixed or adjustable media sensor, and is configurable to accommodate an internal supply of web (roll) media or an external supply of fanfold media. a bottom housing having a top cover coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Colonel, Raul Palacios, Ching-Yang Chou, Dick Feng Yi Tai
  • Patent number: 8475068
    Abstract: A printer according to the present invention selectively comprises, a cutting configuration for a receipt printer for printing a receipt and a cutting configuration for a ticket printer for printing a ticket, as a cutting configuration for cutting a printed part of the paper roll. The cutting configuration for the receipt printer includes a fixed blade mounted to the upper frame and a movable cutter unit mounted on the lower frame to oppose the fixed blade through the paper roll to be driven by a driving source to cut the paper roll. The cutting configuration for the ticket printer includes a hand cutter mounted to at least one of the upper frame and the lower frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8469617
    Abstract: A platen support mechanism of a printer moves a platen unit of the printer. When moving the platen unit from a closed position to an open position, the platen support mechanism of the printer first moves the platen unit along a straight first path, and then moves the platen unit along a curved second path. A posture of the platen unit is held constant during this time by a six joint linkage mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsugo Ishida
  • Patent number: 8459888
    Abstract: A paper cutting device comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade, a movable blade drive mechanism for moving the movable blade, wherein the movable blade and the fixed blade are disposed in substantially perpendicular positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Hironori Maekawa
  • Patent number: 8454251
    Abstract: A bracket for a printer includes a frame with first and second side supports. A print area is defined in part by the side supports. A plurality of web support members laterally extends between the first and second side supports. The plurality of web support members include a top web support member disposed adjacent a top portion of the print area and a bottom web support member disposed adjacent a bottom portion of the print area. A printer support is configured for supporting a printer adjacent the print area. A window assembly is hingedly attached to the frame adjacent the print area. The window assembly includes a platen support member extending laterally between the first and second side supports. The window assembly is movable to provide access to the print area. At least one platen is disposed on the platen support member, the platen adapted for lateral positioning along the platen support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventors: Chandrakant Bhatia, David Haas, Carlos Medina
  • Patent number: 8401459
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: an image-forming unit; a sheet discharge unit; a sheet support unit; and a reading unit. The image-forming unit forms images on a recording sheet. The sheet discharge unit discharges, in a sheet discharging direction, a recording sheet formed with an image by the image-forming unit. The sheet support unit is disposed above the image-forming unit, and supports sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The reading unit is disposed above the sheet support unit, with an underside surface of the reading unit opposing a top surface of the sheet support unit. The sheet discharge unit is configured to discharge the sheet diagonally upwardly so that sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit contacts the underside surface of the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Hattori, Sakae Ito
  • Patent number: 8366264
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses a handheld type print label producing apparatus comprising: a housing that has a dimension along a longwise direction that is longer than a dimension along a width direction, and has a grip portion; a cartridge holder provided at one side of said housing along said longwise direction; a power source holder provided at the other side of said housing along said longwise direction; and a motor that drives at least one roller positioned on a feeding path, that is driven by power supplied from said power source device; wherein: a plurality of mechanisms is disposed in the interior of said housing so that a position of the center of gravity along said longwise direction of said handheld type print label producing apparatus to which said cartridge and said power source device are mounted falls within a range of said longwise direction corresponding to said grip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Inaba, Keiji Seo, Toshihiro Takahashi, Hidenori Jo, Toshiyuki Furuyama
  • Patent number: 8337106
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a recording medium conveying section; an image forming section, disposed to the recording medium conveying section and relatively moveably supported by the recording medium conveying section at one end side, that forms an image on a recording medium; a side panel that configures a side face portion of the image forming section in a width direction intersecting with the conveying direction, and supports a drive source that drives the image forming section; a support plate, provided between the recording medium conveying section and the image forming section to cover the bottom side of the image forming section, and is supported at a support portion provided at the other end side of the recording medium conveying section; and a resilient member that resiliently supports the support plate and the side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Komatsu, Masanori Seto, Yasuhide Saito
  • Patent number: 8272798
    Abstract: In a printer which prints on a roll paper transported toward a discharge port and cuts the roll paper, an exchangeable lower cover is attached to the printer. The exchangeable lower cover defines a lower edge of the discharge port. A change of height of the discharge port is allowed by exchanging the exchangeable lower cover for another one. Hereby, it is possible to change specifications between one for holding a printed slip and the other for allowing the printed slip to fall freely. In the former specification, a brush provided at a periphery of an upper edge of the discharge port is in contact with a lower cover. On the other hand, in the latter specification, the brush is in distant from another lower cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka