Patents Assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Patent number: 11904489
    Abstract: A cutting device includes a placement member on which an object to be cut is placed and a mounting portion to which a cutting blade is mounted. The cutting device detects, in the course of the mounting portion moving, a pressure correspondence value corresponding to a pressure applied to the mounting portion, and a movement amount of the mounting portion, decides a cutting pressure correspondence value that is the pressure correspondence value corresponding to a cutting pressure, on the basis of the pressure correspondence value and the movement amount after the cutting blade has come into contact with the object to be cut, and acquires cutting data. The cutting device further applies in accordance with the acquired cutting data, the cutting pressure corresponding to the decided cutting pressure correspondence value to the mounting portion, and cuts the object to be cut, using the cutting blade mounted to the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Sugiyama, Yukitoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11906914
    Abstract: In an image forming device, a first fixing member has a roller. A second fixing member has a belt to form a nip together with the first fixing member. A pressure modifying mechanism modifies a nip pressure at the nip to selected one of a first nip pressure and a second nip pressure smaller than the first nip pressure. A controller drives the first motor to drive the roller and fixes the developer image on a sheet in a state that the nip pressure is the first nip pressure. The controller modifies the nip pressure from the first nip pressure to the second nip pressure while driving the first motor in a case where a final sheet among one or more sheets fixed according to a print job has passed the nip, and halts the first motor after the nip pressure is modified to the second nip pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Mizuno, Fumitake Tajiri, Tokifumi Tanaka, Tomonori Watanabe, Sadaharu Kato, Hirotaka Imaeda
  • Publication number: 20240053704
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body housing and a process cartridge demountable from the main-body housing. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a drum cleaner, an outlet with an outlet opening, an outlet shutter, and a lever. The lever is pivotable between a first position at which the lever places the outlet shutter closing the outlet opening and a second position at which the lever places the outlet shutter opening the outlet opening. When the lever is located at the first position, the process cartridge is demountable from the main-body housing. When the lever is located at the second position, the process cartridge is disabled to be demounted from the main-body housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo SATO, Kazuna TAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11900564
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of program instructions for an image processing apparatus is disclosed. The set of program instructions, when executed by a controller of the image processing apparatus, causes the image processing apparatus to: acquire input image data indicating an input image; and input the input image data to a trained machine learning model configured to perform calculation processing on the input image data and to generate output image data corresponding to the input image data. The machine learning model is trained to generate the output image data indicating a first area and a second area. The first area is an area in the input image in which it is preferable to perform first image processing. The second area is an area in the input image in which it is preferable to perform second image processing different from the first image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 11897258
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a conveyor; a first conveyance path through which a print medium is conveyed in a first conveyance direction; an image recording device; a cutter provided downstream of the image recording device and configured to cut the print medium into a first print medium having a first region and a second print medium having a second region; and a controller configured to cause the printing apparatus to: record an image in the first region; after the recording, cut the print medium into the first and second print medium; after the cutting, discharge the first print medium to an outside; after the discharging, convey the second print medium in a second conveyance direction; and after the conveying, record an image in the second region of the second print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11898600
    Abstract: A tube for a power transmission shaft is made of fiber-reinforced plastic, rotated to transmit power, and includes a main body in a shape of cylinder about an axis, wherein the main body has an outer diameter thereof gradually decreasing from a central portion thereof toward both ends thereof, and has a thickness thereof gradually decreasing from said both ends toward the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Mori, Takahiro Nakayama, Kazuki Ohta
  • Patent number: 11900188
    Abstract: There is provided a printer including: a printing part having: a conveyor configured to convey a medium in a conveying direction; a printing head having a plurality of nozzles from which an ink of a specified color is discharged and of which positions in the conveying direction are mutually different, the printing head being configured to discharge the ink from the plurality of nozzles to the medium so as to form dots in the medium; and a facing member configured to be capable of facing a print surface of the medium on an upstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the plurality of nozzles of the printing head; and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shingo Saito
  • Patent number: 11899996
    Abstract: A set of computer-readable instructions, when executed by a computer in an information processing device, causes the information processing device to perform: a capability responding process; and in response to receiving a print instruction in which a special size is selected through an application program: a generation process; and a transmission process. The capability responding process transfers capability information of a printer to the application program. The capability information includes sheet size information indicating at least one sheet size available in the printer. The at least one sheet size includes a special size with which a cut print setting is associated. The generation process acquires target image data according to the print instruction to generate cut print image data based on the target image data and the cut print setting. The transmission process transmits print data based on the cut print image data and a cut command to the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yushi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11897267
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Fumio Nakazawa, Naoya Okazaki, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroshi Taira, Toyonori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11897268
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid consuming apparatus including a casing, a liquid consuming section, and a tank. The tank includes a box-shaped body having a light-transmitting property and having five walls and a partition wall; a film adhered to rear end portions of the walls; and a positioning section disposed at least on an outer surface of each of the upper and lower walls, or of each of the right and left walls. In a state that the liquid consuming apparatus is placed on a horizontal plane, the box-shaped body is positioned at a posture at which the positioning section is brought into contact with the casing to thereby allow the front wall to be exposed from a side surface of the casing which extends in a direction crossing the horizontal plane, and at which the rear end portions are located inside the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinori Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11899392
    Abstract: A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame to which a developing cartridge including a storage medium having an electrical contact surface is detachably attachable; a photosensitive drum; a transfer roller; and a conveying roller. The drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one end portion of the frame in a second direction. The transfer roller is rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction and in contact with the drum. The conveying roller is rotatable about a third axis extending in the first direction and separated from the transfer roller in the second direction. A first opening of the frame is positioned between the transfer roller and the conveying roller in the second direction. The electrical contact surface is exposed to an outside through the first opening in a case where the developing cartridge is attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Koji Abe
  • Patent number: 11897261
    Abstract: A head includes: a head unit; and a wiring film configured to be connected to the head unit. The wiring film includes: a flexible substrate; a first IC provided on the flexible substrate; a second IC provided on the flexible substrate; a first wire provided on the flexible substrate to connect the first IC and a first contact portion of the head unit; a second wire provided on the flexible substrate to connect the second IC and a second contact portion of the head unit; and a third wire provided on the flexible substrate. The first IC has a long side extended in a predetermined direction and connected to the first wire, the second IC has a long side extended in the predetermined direction and connected to the second wire, and the first IC and the second IC are aligned along the predetermined direction to be apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11900000
    Abstract: An image forming device may be configured to repeatedly send an inquiry request to a server at a first interval and, in a case where a job execution response is received from the server, control the image forming engine to start image forming. The image forming device may be configured to in the case where the job execution response is received from the server, repeatedly send the inquiry request to the server at a second interval which is shorter than the first interval. In a case where the server receives a job stop instruction from the terminal device, the server sends a job stop response to the image forming device in response to the inquiring request received from the image forming device. In a case where the job stop response is received, the image forming is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Miyake
  • Patent number: 11902482
    Abstract: A controller of a scanner is configured to determine whether use ID associated with a destination is stored in a memory. When it is determined that the user ID is not stored, the controller disables an operation key, and when it is determined that the user ID is stored, the controller enables the operation key. When the enabled operation key is operated, the controller executes a push scan process that generated scan data is transmitted to the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuya Okuno
  • Patent number: 11902485
    Abstract: A firmware of the image forming device stores USB configuration information in a memory when updating the firmware in a normal operation. When updating of the firmware is not completed normally, the image forming device operates a recovery operation by executing a recovery program. The recovery program transmits USB configuration information, which is stored in the memory, to a terminal device when performing USB communication with the terminal device in the recovery operation. Thus, the USB configuration of the normal operation and that of the recovery operation are identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Okajima
  • Patent number: 11902869
    Abstract: A communication device may execute a wireless communication of object data with a mobile device via a first target network using a second type of interface after executing a sending process of sending a wireless setting, for causing the mobile device to belong to the first target network, to the mobile device using a first type of interface in a case where the communication device is determined as currently belonging to the first target network. The communication device may execute the wireless communication of the object data with the mobile device via a second target network using the second type of interface after executing a specific process of causing both the communication device and the mobile device to belong to the second target network in a case where the communication device is determined as currently not belonging to the target network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11897271
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, having a power source, a drivable device, a head, a motor, a carriage, a sensor, and a controller, is provided. In a recording process, the controller sets a limitation current calculated by subtracting a variable first driving current from an allowable current to the power source, controls the power source to supply the first driving current to the drivable device and simultaneously supply a variable second driving current not exceeding the maximum current to the motor, and when the controller determines, based on a signal output from the sensor, that a behavior of the carriage satisfies an error condition, on condition that the drivable device has completed a targeted conveying action, issue an error alert, and on condition that the drivable device has not completed the targeted conveying action, control the motor to cause the carriage to continue moving without issuing the error alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuta Arakawa
  • Patent number: 11899993
    Abstract: A communication device may include a controller. The controller may be configured to, in a case where a process executing instruction is sent to a notification server from a terminal device, receive a process executing notification from the notification server, and in a case where the process executing notification is received from the notification server, execute a predetermined process. The process executing notification may be received by operating in parallel in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the process executing notification may be received by sending a polling signal to the notification server. In the second mode, the process executing notification may be received by establishing a connection of server-push type between the communication device and the notification server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11899990
    Abstract: A printing device includes a printing unit and a controller. The controller performs: acquiring image data; acquiring an image color gamut that is a specific area of a predetermined color space occupied by color values included in the image data; receiving information on a first color that is specified by a user and is present in the image color gamut; executing, on the basis of whether the first color is present in a printing color gamut that is a specific area of the predetermined color space occupied by color values of colors printable by the printing unit, different gamut mapping processes on the image data; displaying, prior to printing based on the image data, the first color and preview images corresponding to results of the gamut mapping processes; and printing, using the printing unit, an image corresponding to the preview image selected by the user among the displayed preview images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 11897265
    Abstract: There is provided a cleaning liquid usable for cleaning of an ink-jet recording apparatus, the cleaning liquid including: a first water-soluble organic solvent, a vapor pressure at 20° C. of the first water-soluble organic solvent being not less than 7 Pa; a second water-soluble organic solvent, a vapor pressure at 20° C. of the second water-soluble organic solvent being not more than 1 Pa; a nonionic surfactant; and water. The cleaning liquid satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): Condition (1): 10?A+B?60; Condition (2): A/B?1; Condition (3): (A+B)/C?10. In the conditions (1) to (3), A: a content amount (% by mass) of the first water-soluble organic solvent, B: a content amount (% by mass) of the second water-soluble organic solvent, and C: a content amount (% by mass) of the nonionic surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Nagano, Hirofumi Kuriki, Shunichi Higashiyama