Patents Assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20240025186
    Abstract: An image forming method includes: applying a resin powder to a first area of an object to be subjected to image forming; applying a water-based ink comprising pigments to a second area of the object by an inkjet method to form an image, the first area and the second area at least partially overlapping each other; and heating the first area and the second area to fix the resin powder and the water-based ink to the object. By contact with the resin powder, the water-based ink either thickens, or causes an aggregation of the pigments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20240027955
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drawer movable in a first direction between a first position inside the main casing and a second position outside the main casing; process cartridges attachable to and detachable from the drawer; a controller; and a device-side terminal connected to the controller. The process cartridges are arranged in the first direction in an attached state to the drawer. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a magnetic roller, a developing container for storing carrier, a conveying member, a toner sensor, a process memory, and a process-side terminal. The toner sensor is configured to output a detection signal corresponding to a concentration of toner in the developing container. The process-side terminal is for both outputting the detection signal of the toner sensor and outputting information about the process cartridge stored in the process memory. The device-side terminal is configured to contact the process-side terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinta SUGIURA, Shunsuke AIBA, Keita INOUE, Kentaro AOYAMA, Toshinori ARAKI
  • Publication number: 20240027935
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a cartridge, and a controller. The cartridge is attachable to the main casing. The cartridge includes a cartridge memory configured to store identification information. The controller is configured to perform a rewriting process to rewrite the identification information to information indicating that the cartridge is the normal cartridge, in a case where the controller receives a cancellation instruction to instruct to cancel the service contract and the identification information, which is stored in a cartridge memory of the cartridge attached to the main casing, indicates that the cartridge is the contract cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20240031499
    Abstract: A document scanner includes a casing and a document cover disposed above the casing. The casing includes a document glass and houses an image scanner. The document cover has one end portion and the other end portion opposite to the first end portion in a first direction and is configured to pivotally move about the one end portion between a closed position in which the other end portion covers the document glass and an open position in which the other end portion uncovers the document glass. The other end portion has an end surface that intersects, when the document cover is at the closed position, with an upper surface of the document glass. The end surface has an indication indicating a location to which an external device is to be brought into proximity to establish short-range wireless communication between the document scanner and the external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi HAYAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20240027951
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge may include a first handle positioned at a first end of a frame of the drum cartridge. The developing cartridge may include a second handle positioned at a first end of a developing casing the developing cartridge. The main casing may include a first edge surface in the axial direction and a second edge surface opposite the first edge surface in the axial direction. The second handle may extend farther from the second edge surface than the first handle extends from the second edge surface in the axial direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the main casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutoshi NAKAMURA, Yasuo FUKAMACHI, Masaaki FURUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20240025183
    Abstract: An image forming method, includes: applying water-based ink to a first region of an object to be subjected to image forming by an inkjet method; applying a resin powder to a second region of the object, the first region and the second region at least partially overlapping each other; and heating the first region and the second region to thermally fix the water-based ink and the resin powder to the object. The water-based ink includes a pigment and at least one of a water-soluble resin and a resin emulsion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ai SAKAGUCHI, Nao Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11880619
    Abstract: A non-transitory storage medium stores a supporting program configured to support a printing program of an operating system of the information processing apparatus. A print queue for each of a plurality of printers is provided in the operating system. The printing program is capable of making a request to the supporting program for processing in a state in which the print queue for any one of the plurality of printers is selected. The supporting program causes the information processing apparatus to execute identifying a printer of the plurality of printers to which processing is requested, reading setting data into which a common setting value indicating a setting value of a print setting commonly used by the plurality of printers is written, and changing a setting value of the print setting of an identified printer based on the common setting value written into the read setting data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshito Hosomizo
  • Patent number: 11878528
    Abstract: A controller of a liquid ejection device obtains a temperature of a head after recording and before a pre-cap flushing and determines a pre-cap flushing voltage based on the temperature. Then, the controller outputs the pre-cap flushing voltage to the head in the pre-cap flushing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Shotaro Iida
  • Patent number: 11880622
    Abstract: A non-transitory storage medium stores a supporting program executable by a computer of an information processing apparatus. The supporting program causes the information processing apparatus to execute obtaining a print setting, generating a character string for displaying indicating at least a part of the obtained print setting, obtaining image data indicating the image of a selected print job, and transmitting the print job and the generated character string for displaying in a state in which the print job and the character string for displaying are associated with each other. The job name and the character string for displaying are displayed on a display of a connected printer in the state in which the job name and the character string for displaying are associated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshito Hosomizo
  • Patent number: 11878524
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a first pressure chamber group formed by pressure chambers arranged in a first direction; a second pressure chamber group formed by pressure chambers arranged in the first direction, and disposed side by side with the first pressure chamber group in a second direction; a first common channel extending in the first direction and communicating with the pressure chambers composing the first pressure chamber group; a second common channel extending in the first direction and communicating with the pressure chambers composing the second pressure chamber group; a first dummy pressure chamber disposed on one side in the first direction relative to the first pressure chamber group; and a second dummy pressure chamber disposed on the one side in the first direction relative to the second pressure chamber group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taisuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11880158
    Abstract: A drawer is moveable between an inner position and an outer position through an opening when a cover is located at an opening position. A waste toner conveying tube is movable in a second direction between a first connection position and a first disconnection position when a drum cartridge is attached to a drawer and the drawer is at the inner position. When the cover moves from a closing position toward the opening position, the waste toner conveying tube moves from the first connection position toward the first disconnection position in conjunction with the movement of the cover. The drawer is movable from the inner position toward to the outer position when the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer, the drawer is at the inner position, and the waste toner conveying tube is at the first disconnection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Masato Makino
  • Patent number: 11878533
    Abstract: A liquid supplying apparatus having a tank with a hole, a reservoir chamber to store a portion of liquid in the tank, and a flow path to store another portion of the liquid in the tank, is provided. The flow path connects the reservoir chamber and the hole. The flow path has a first funnel section to reduce a cross-sectional area of a part of the flow path. The first funnel section is located at a position equal to or higher than a surface of a predetermined maximum amount of the liquid storable in the tank in a usable posture. The first funnel section creates a meniscus with the liquid stored in the tank in an X1-rotated posture, in which the tank is rotated about a first axis by a first angle from the usable posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Taichi Shirono, Fumio Nakazawa, Sosuke Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 11880146
    Abstract: In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nao Itabashi, Naoya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11878539
    Abstract: A control system is configured such that a carriage that a processing head is mounted is driven by a motor and reciprocates. The motor is controlled by a controller. The controller reciprocates the carriage by selecting a control mode as a target mode based on temperature information related to temperature of the motor and controlling the motor in the target mode. The controller selects the target mode to be applied to the control of the motor for each of particular work units. The target mode is selected from a group of particular control modes. Each control mode in the group of particular control modes is a control mode in which a maximum temperature, which is estimated based on the temperature information, when the control of the motor using the selected control mode would be executed until the processing is completed, is less than a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hoga, Shohei Ichikawa, Satoru Arakane, Eisuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11878516
    Abstract: A tape cassette includes: a tape roll which is a roll of a tape wound about an axis extending in a first direction; and a nipping member configured to nip the tape conveyed in a second direction in cooperation with a conveying roller of a printing device. The nipping member includes: a first region configured to face one end portion of the tape; a second region configured to face another end portion of the tape; and a third region positioned between the first region and the second region. The first region and an imaginary reference surface provide a first length in a third direction. The second region and the imaginary reference surface provide a second length in the third direction. The third region and the imaginary reference surface provide a third length in the third direction. The third length is greater than the first length and the second length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Hokari, Shota Iijima, Masaya Fujita, Satoru Ito
  • Patent number: 11880159
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge is removably insertable into to the main body casing in a first direction. The developing cartridge is removably insertable into the main body casing in the first direction. The drum cartridge includes a first handle. The first handle has a first recess having a first hollow. The developing cartridge includes a second handle. The second handle has a second recess having a second hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 11878529
    Abstract: A first frame holds a platen. A second frame holds a head. When the second frame is at a first position, the head faces the platen. When the second frame is at a second position, the second frame is positioned farther away from the first frame than when the second frame is at the first position. At the second position, the head is positioned farther away from the platen than when the second frame is at the first position. A head lifter is held by the second frame. At the first position, the head lifter moves the head with respect to the second frame between a printing position and a separate position. At the printing position, the head ejects liquid toward a medium supported by the platen. At the separate position, the head is farther away from the platen in an intersecting direction than at the printing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11880618
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print head, a conveyance device and a control device configured to: obtain image data each corresponding to a respective divided image; generate print data, including combining at least two lines of a plurality of lines obtained by dividing the divided image; print the print image based on the print data; determine whether to perform printing based on next print data after performing the printing based on one print data; if yes, stop printing of a predetermined number of lines from an end of the one print data when performing the printing based on the one print data; and combine a first line of the one print data and a second line of the next print data, the number of the first and the second lines corresponding to the predetermined number of the lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Feng Zhu
  • Patent number: 11878517
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes: a head having a plurality of nozzles; and a controller. The controller executes: a discharging processing of discharging liquid, from each of the nozzles toward a recording medium, in a liquid droplet amount which is selected for each of pixels from at least three kinds of liquid droplet amounts; and a total discharge amount calculating processing of calculating a total discharge amount of the liquid to be discharged from the nozzles in the discharging processing, based on the liquid droplet amount selected for each of the pixels and a discharge duty which is density of the liquid droplet per a unit area of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Tomohiro Nodsu
  • Patent number: 11878515
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a head, a conveyer having a roller arranged at the downstream of the head according to a conveyance direction, and a controller. The controller is configured to carry out: a recording process, a first determining process to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the recording process, a conveying process to convey a medium in if the first determining process determines that the predetermined time has elapsed, and a setting process to set a predetermined time based on a discharge amount of a liquid from a plurality of nozzles onto a recording area and a conveyance time for the conveyer to convey the medium from the recording area to the roller, before the first determining process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Shohei Ichikawa, Taichiro Kimoto, Yusuke Arai