Patents Assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Patent number: 11875069
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main memory, and a controller. The main memory stores mode information indicating whether the image forming apparatus is set to a contract mode, an upper limit to which printing can be performed during a prescribed period, and an actual print sheet number actually printed during the prescribed period. The controller performs a printing permission process in a case that mode information indicates the contract mode and the actual print sheet number is less than the upper limit when the controller receives a print job even in a case that a sum of a specific print sheet number specified in advance in the print job and the actual print sheet number is greater than the upper limit. The printing permission process permits printing for the specific sheet number as a permission print sheet number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Fukusada
  • Patent number: 11875076
    Abstract: Printing apparatus includes a controller configured to execute a first selection reception process of receiving selection of a first template, a first print data acquisition process of acquiring first print data, a first incorporation process of incorporating the first print data into a first print object of the first template, a first printing process of generating a first printed matter by the first template, a second selection reception process of receiving selection of a second template, an association determination process of determining whether a second print object satisfy a predetermined association rule with respect to the first print object, a second incorporation process of, when it is determined that the second print object satisfy the predetermined association rule, incorporating the first print data into the second print object of the second template, and a second printing process of generating a corresponding second printed matter by the second template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11872807
    Abstract: A roller pair includes lower and upper rollers that contact each other at a conveyance path. A platen is located downstream of the roller pair in the conveyance path, and has an end facing toward a surface. A recording head faces the platen from above and ejects ink to a sheet. A movement mechanism moves the platen and the lower roller in conjunction with movement of a tray in a drawing direction such that: the end of the platen moves from a first support position at which the platen supports a sheet to a first lower position at which the platen is separated farther downward from the recording head than at the first support position; and the lower roller moves from a contact position at which the lower roller contacts the upper roller to a second lower position at which the lower roller is separated downward from the upper roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyase, Masao Mimoto
  • Patent number: 11875074
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores computer-readable instructions that are executable by a processor of an information processing device and compatible with a printer connected with the information processing device. The instructions support a general-purpose printing program incorporated in an operating system of the information processing device. The general-purpose printing program is configured to handle data for displaying a print setting screen on the information processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshito Hosomizo
  • Publication number: 20240012588
    Abstract: A printer may include a print executing unit. The printer may, in a case where a predetermined operation is accepted from a user of the printer, cause the print executing unit to execute a print preparation action; and in a case where the print preparation action is executed by the print executing unit, display on a display unit a promotion message for prompting subscription to a service related to the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirokazu SATO
  • Publication number: 20240012345
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a toner housing, a toner conveyor unit, a first cover, a shutter, a toner memory, and a memory holder. The first cover covers a toner housing opening and is movable together with the toner housing. The shutter includes a protrusion. The memory holder holds the toner memory and is movable relative to the toner housing. When the toner cartridge is attached, the protrusion is located in place, and the toner housing is movable between a close position in which the shutter closes a cover opening of the first cover and an open position in which at least part of a shutter opening of the shutter is aligned with at least part of the cover opening to allow toner to be let out through the cover opening. The position of the memory holder is different from the position of the shutter in a first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Saya MINOSHIMA, Tomitake ARATACHI, Keita SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20240012355
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming engine, a sheet tray, a discharge tray, a main body including the image forming engine, a feeding path, and a reconveying path configured to reconvey a sheet which an image has been formed on one side thereof to the feeding path, and a controller. The controller is configured to, when successively printing a preceding job whose page count is three or more and a successive job whose page count is two or more in duplex printing, feed a first sheet while printing the preceding job and print an image corresponding to the successive job on one side of the first sheet, and discharge a last sheet of the preceding job in a state where the first sheet which the image has been formed on the one side thereof is in the feeding or reconveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke MIZUNO, Shintaro SAKAGUCHI, Noriaki KISHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20240010006
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet printer, including a casing, a recording head arranged in the casing and configured to jet the ink, and a tank arranged in the casing and configured to store ink which is to be supplied to the recording head. The tank includes: an ink chamber; a lower wall located lower the ink chamber; an upper wall located upper the ink chamber; an inlet communicating with the ink chamber; a positioning section disposed on the lower wall; and a connecting section provided to project from the upper wall and connected to an ink tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinori IGARASHI
  • Publication number: 20240011208
    Abstract: When a displacement member is located at an open position, an action member causes urging force of an elastic urging member to act on the displacement member such that the displacement member is held at the open position. When the displacement member is located at a closed position, the action member causes urging force of the elastic urging member to act on the displacement member such that the displacement member is held at the closed position. When a connection pin fits into an opening through an entrance for attaching an embroidery frame to a carriage, the connection pin contacts a contact portion of the displacement member and press the contact portion toward a side opposite to the entrance of the opening, and the displacement member is displaced from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Amane NAGUMO
  • Patent number: 11869215
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions executable by a computer is provided. The computer readable instructions cause the computer to obtain first image data composing a first image and second image data composing a second image, specify first edge pixels in the first image using the first image and second edge pixels in the second image using the second image data, determine positional relation between the first image and the second image in a first degree of accuracy, based on positional relation between the first edge pixels and the second edge pixels, determine first usable pixels among the first edge pixels and the second usable pixels among the second edge pixels, and using the first usable pixels and the second usable pixels, determine positional relation between the first image and the second image in a second degree of accuracy being higher than the first degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Takasu, Chisato Inoue
  • Patent number: 11868081
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main frame; a developing cartridge including a casing, a storage medium having an electrical contact surface, and developing roller; a photosensitive drum contactable with the developing roller; an electrical connector contactable with the electrical contact surface; a separation mechanism; and a controller configured to communicate with the storage medium via the electrical connector. The separation mechanism is configured to move the casing relative to the main frame in a separating direction in which the developing roller separates from the photosensitive drum. The controller is configured to perform: moving, by controlling the separation mechanism, the casing relative to the main frame in the separating direction; determining, in response to performing the moving, whether communication with the storage medium is established; and outputting, when determining in the determining that the communication with the storage medium is not established, an error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadao Kyotani, Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 11868830
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a controller. The controller acquires an appearance image configured of a plurality of colors, identifies the plurality of colors configuring the acquired appearance image, and specifying a plurality of printing medium types based on the plurality of identified colors. The plurality of printing medium types includes a first printing medium type and a second printing medium type. The controller generates a first print dataset and a second print dataset by using the appearance image. The first print dataset corresponds to the specified first printing medium type. The second print dataset corresponds to the specified second printing medium type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromichi Nampo, Koichi Kondo, Tomoyasu Fukui, Ryuichi Kanda
  • Patent number: 11868667
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a memory and a controller. The memory stores first mode information indicating whether the apparatus is set to a contract mode or a normal mode, and second mode information indicating whether a print permission mode is active or inactive. The controller sets the second mode information to active information indicating that the print permission mode is active in a state in which the first mode information indicates the normal mode, sets the second mode information to inactive information indicating that the print permission mode is inactive in a state in which the first mode information indicates the contract mode, and rewrites the second mode information to the active information when an instruction to activate the print permission mode is received in a state in which the first mode information indicates the contract mode and the second mode information is set to the inactive information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11868061
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body, a light source, a deflector to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system to image the deflected light beam onto the photoconductive body, a developing unit to supply developer to the photoconductive body, an optical sensor to detect the deflected light beam, a moving mechanism to move the developing unit to a first position and to a second position, and a controller configured to start driving the deflector, when the developing unit is in the second position, the light source to emit the light beam, thereby obtaining a detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, and after obtaining the detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, control the moving mechanism to move the developing unit to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sota Yanagihara, Yusuke Ikegami, Kotaro Haruta, Shoichiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11865844
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a housing, a circuit board including an electrode, and a liquid supply portion extending from the housing in a depth direction. The housing includes a top wall, and first and second protrusions protruding upward from the top wall. The first protrusion is positioned rearward but the second protrusion is positioned frontward relative to the circuit board. The first protrusion is higher than an upper edge of a front end of the second protrusion. No part of the liquid cartridge is positioned higher than an imaginary plane in a height direction in a region between a first point on the first protrusion and a second point on the second protrusion (the upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion) in the depth direction. The imaginary plane passes through the first and second points, and extends perpendicularly to the depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinari Ishibe
  • Patent number: 11866864
    Abstract: In a sewing machine, an arm includes, on one side thereof in a first direction, a head. A needle bar is disposed at the head to reciprocally move in a second direction. A feed mechanism feeds a workpiece from one side toward the other side of the head in a third direction. The projection unit disposed at the head projects a projection image toward a bed. The projection unit includes an emitter for projecting image light of the projection image. The photographing unit disposed at the head captures a photographing target. The photographing unit includes an incident portion on which light reflected by the photographing target is incident. The emitter and the incident portion are disposed further toward the one side of the arm in the first direction than the needle bar, and further toward the one side of the head in the third direction than the needle bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidenori Oka, Mitsuhiro Iida
  • Patent number: 11868084
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a cover configured to open the opening in an open state and to close the opening in a close state, a photosensitive drum, a heater, a fan configured to force air out of the housing, and a controller. The cover in the open state is configured to allow a sheet with a toner image fixed thereon to be ejected through the opening. The heater is configured to heat a sheet to fix a toner image on the sheet, and is located between the cover in the close state and the photosensitive drum. During execution of a printing process, the controller is configured to cause the fan to rotate at a first speed if the cover is in the closed state, and to rotate at a second speed lower than the first speed if the cover is in the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Abe
  • Patent number: 11865859
    Abstract: A layer transfer device includes: a cover; a heat roller; a controller; temperature sensors including first and second sensors; and a locking member movable between a locking position to lock the cover to a closed position and an unlocking position to permit movement of the cover from the closed position to an open position. The first sensor measures temperature of a first member heated by a multilayer film or a sheet having been heated by the heat roller. The second sensor measures temperature of a second member heated by the heat roller. The controller determines evaluated temperatures based on temperatures measured by the temperature sensors, places the locking member in the locking position when at least one of the evaluated temperatures is not lower than a first threshold value, and places the locking member in the unlocking position when the evaluated temperatures are all lower than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Mori, Ryosuke Sakai
  • Patent number: 11868077
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drawer, a first drum cartridge having a first shutter, a second drum cartridge having a second shutter and a shutter driving member. In a state in which the shutter driving member is positioned at a first positon, the first shutter is positioned at a first closed position at which a first discharging outlet of the first drum cartridge is close and the second shutter is positioned at the second closed position at which a second discharging outlet of the second drum cartridge is close. In a state in which the shutter driving member is positioned at the second position, the first shutter is positioned at a first open position at which the first discharging outlet is open and the second shutter is positioned at a second open position at which the second discharging outlet is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Aya Adachi, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11870958
    Abstract: In a reading device, a light transmissive member has a front surface on which an original is placed. A peripheral member is adjacent to the light transmissive member, and includes a back surface in which a reference hole is formed. The reference hole includes a first edge and a second edge intersecting with each other. A reading sensor faces the back surface of the light transmissive member and the back surface of the peripheral member. The controller controls the reading sensor to read a reading range including the reference hole to obtain a read image, and determines a reference position in the reading range based on the read image. The reference position is determined to an intersection between the first edge and the second edge. The controller sets a reading start position based on the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiki Motoyama, Yoshihiro Oyama, Yoshihiro Okamoto, Kazushi Shumiya, Kentaro Aoyama