Patents by Inventor Akira Sago

Akira Sago has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8096716
    Abstract: If a top cover 5 has been opened, a link lever 34 is moved backward in conjunction with the motion of the top cover 5, so that a release lever 51 is rotated clockwise as seen from the left side about a level shaft 50. Also, a release gear 49 and a release shaft 48 are rotated about 180° counterclockwise as seen from the left side, via a lever gear 52. Accordingly, a head supporting member 37 is rotated downward, resisting an urging force of a pressing spring 36, so that a thermal head 32 is separated from a platen roller 35 and entry of a roll sheet 3A becomes possible through an insertion port 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Kobayashi, Akira Sago, Takehiko Inaba, Keiji Seo, Atsushi Kasugai
  • Publication number: 20120008999
    Abstract: A tape cassette includes a cassette case having a pair of side faces, a tape roll contained within the cassette case, a discharge guide portion positioned in the cassette case in a first corner portion provided farthest downstream on a feed path for a tape, a tape exposing portion located on the feed path, in the vicinity of the discharge guide portion and on an upstream side in relation to the discharge guide portion, a tape feed roller provided on the upstream side on the feed path from the discharge guide portion and adjacent to a rear side of the tape exposing portion, a first recessed portion formed in the vicinity of the discharge guide portion in one of the side faces included in the first corner portion, and a second recessed portion disposed in a diagonally opposite position in the cassette case from the first corner portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Akira Sago
  • Publication number: 20120009001
    Abstract: A tape unit holds a tape roll that has a wound tape that is a print medium, and is adapted to be mounted in and removed from a cassette case. The tape unit is provided with a holder shaft portion and an indicator portion. The holder shaft portion is inserted into a shaft hole formed in a winding center of the tape roll and rotatably supports the tape roll. The indicator portion is disposed radially outside the tape roll which is supported by the holder shaft portion, and includes at least one hole portion and indicates a type of the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Sago, Koshiro Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110135373
    Abstract: A CPU detects whether or not a type of a tape cassette housed in a cassette housing portion is a stripped-tape accommodating cassette that creates an after-printed tape with a separator being peeled off from its adhesive layer. In case the CPU detects that the type of the tape cassette in the cassette housing portion is a stripped-tape accommodating cassette that creates an after-printed tape with a separator being peeled off from its adhesive layer, only one after-printed tape in predetermined length with a separator being peeled off from its adhesive layer is made subject to tape printing, and consequently conveyed to a cutting point, whereby tape printing is terminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro YAMAGUCHI, Teruo IMAMAKI, Akira SAGO
  • Publication number: 20100329767
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a cassette case, a printing tape fed along a specified first feed path, a double-sided adhesive tape fed along a specified second feed path, a cylindrical tape feed roller that guides the double-sided adhesive tape along a section of its outer circumferential surface, a laminated tape restricting member provided on a downstream side of the tape feed roller on the first feed path and the second feed path and at downstream ends of the first feed path and the second feed path where the first feed path and the second feed path overlap each other, and an adhesive tape restricting member disposed to oppose the section of the outer circumferential surface and apart from the outer circumferential surface by a distance that is shorter than a length of the channel of the laminated tape restricting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira SAGO, Susumu MURATA, Yasuhiro SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20100316427
    Abstract: A printer that includes a cassette housing portion into which a tape cassette is detachably installed in a vertical direction, a feeding device that feeds the tape mounted in the tape cassette, a printing head that performs printing on the tape, a platen roller that is located facing the printing head, a roller holder that rotatably supports the platen roller, a mechanical sensor having a switch terminal that is capable of protruding and retracting, a sensor holder that holds the mechanical sensor between the shaft of the roller holder and the platen roller and that is capable of moving independently of the roller holder between a third position and a fourth position, and a determination device that determines the type of the tape based on protrusion and retraction of the switch terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Sago
  • Patent number: 7819599
    Abstract: There is provided a tape printing apparatus capable of improving durability performance of a cutting mechanism constituted of a fixed blade and a movable blade tremendously. The bottom edge portion of an opening portion in a rear frame is formed to be located below the bottommost end portion of the V-shaped tip of this movable blade by a predetermined height (for example, about 3 mm to 5 mm) when the movable blade is located at the lowest point, that is, a home position. That is, even when the movable blade is located at the lowest point, there is formed a gap of a predetermined distance (for example, a distance of about 3 mm to 5 mm) in the vertical direction between the bottommost end portion of the V-shaped tip of the movable blade and the bottom end edge portion of the opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Kobayashi, Keiji Seo, Akira Sago, Atsushi Kasugai, Hiroaki Kita
  • Publication number: 20100254742
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing, at least one tape, and a color indicator portion disposed between the tape housing area and the periphery, and in a specified area adjacent to the tape housing area on a rear edge side of the bottom wall, the color indicator portion indicating color information relating to the at least one tape and including a plurality of lateral information sections that are a plurality of strip-shaped sections extending along the left-and-right direction of the housing and aligned in a front-rear direction of the housing, wherein, of the plurality of lateral information sections, whether a protrusion is formed in a first lateral information section indicates a base material color of the at least one tape, and whether a protrusion is formed in a second lateral information section indicates a print color of the at least one tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Masato Kato, Teruo Imamaki
  • Publication number: 20100247207
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top case and a bottom case, a tape, a printer head insertion portion, an arm portion including a first wall portion and a second wall portion extending perpendicularly upwards from a bottom wall of the bottom case, a first width direction regulating portion and a first print surface side regulating portion provided respectively provided on the second wall portion to restrict a movement of the tape in a tape width direction and toward a print surface side of the tape, a first lower joining portion provided on an upper end of the first width direction regulating portion, and a first upper joining portion provided on the top case to join with the first lower joining portion at a position that corresponds to a position of the first lower joining portion when the top case and the bottom case are joined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Sago, Takashi Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20100247210
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a generally rectangular box-like housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall defining a periphery of the housing, a first and second cavities extending from the bottom wall and disposed between a tape containing area and the periphery at opposite ends of a diagonal of the generally rectangular box-like housing, at least one tape wound and mounted within the housing in the tape containing area, the at least one tape including a first tape disposed in a first area, the first tape having a hole at a center of winding, and the first area being one of two areas formed by dividing the housing with respect to a line connecting the first and second cavities, and a third cavity that extends in the hole of the first tape from the bottom wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Akira Sago
  • Publication number: 20100247205
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing, at least one tape, and a color indicator portion disposed between the tape housing area and the periphery, and in a specified area adjacent to the tape housing area on a rear edge side of the bottom wall, the color indicator portion indicating color information relating to the at least one tape and including a plurality of lateral information sections that are a plurality of strip-shaped sections extending along the left-and-right direction of the housing and aligned in a front-rear direction of the housing, wherein, of the plurality of lateral information sections, whether an aperture is formed in a first lateral information section indicates a base material color of the at least one tape, and whether an aperture is formed in a second lateral information section indicates a print color of the at least one tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Akira Sago, Takashi Horiuchi, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Masato Kato, Teruo Imamaki
  • Publication number: 20100247212
    Abstract: A tape printer that includes a tape cassette having a housing, a tape, a head holder insertion portion, and a first support receiving portion that is a first indentation extending from the bottom surface in a direction toward the top surface, a cassette housing portion in which the tape cassette is inserted or removed, a head holder extending from the cassette housing portion in a direction of insertion and removal of the tape cassette with respect to the cassette housing portion and supporting a printhead, the head holder being adapted to be inserted in the head holder insertion portion, and a first supporting portion provided on the head holder to support a ceiling wall portion of the first indentation as the first support receiving portion, the first supporting portion being provided on an upstream side of the printhead in a feed direction of the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Akira Sago, Takashi Horiuchi, Tsutomu Kato, Teruo Imamaki, Yasuhiro Shibata, Susumu Murata, Kengo Noda
  • Publication number: 20100247209
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a generally rectangular box-like housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall defining a periphery of the housing, at least one tape wound and mounted within the housing in a tape containing area defined within the periphery, and a pair of cavities extending from the bottom wall and disposed between the tape containing area and the periphery at opposite ends of a diagonal of the generally rectangular box-like housing, the diagonal connecting a first corner portion and a second corner portion of the generally rectangular box-like housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Akira Sago
  • Publication number: 20100247208
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface and a front surface, a wound tape mounted within the housing, a printer head holder insertion portion that is a space extending through the housing in a vertical direction and having an oblong rectangular shape in a plan view, the oblong rectangular shape extending parallel to the front surface, and a printer first support receiving portion connected to a first end of the printer head holder insertion portion and facing the printer head holder insertion portion in a first direction that is parallel to the front surface, the first end being positioned on an upstream side of the printer head holder insertion portion in a feed direction of the tape, the printer first support receiving portion being a first indentation extending from the bottom surface toward the top surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Akira Sago, Takashi Horiuchi, Tsutomu Kato, Teruo Imamaki, Yasuhiro Shibata, Susumu Murata, Kengo Noda
  • Publication number: 20100247206
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a box-like housing that includes a top wall having a top surface, a bottom wall having a bottom surface and opposing the top wall, and a side wall having a specified height and being formed along peripheries of the top wall and the bottom wall, a tape that is mounted within the housing, a first indicator portion that is provided in the side wall of the housing and indicates a first element among a plurality of elements of a tape type of the tape, and a second indicator portion that is provided in the bottom wall of the housing and indicates a second element among the plurality of elements of the tape type, the second element being different from the first element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Masato Kato, Teruo Imamaki
  • Publication number: 20100166479
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a box-like housing having a front wall, a top surface and a bottom surface, a wound tape mounted within the housing, a tape guide, and an indicator of the tape type formed in the front wall. The housing directs the tape along a path to an exit, and at least a portion of the path extends parallel to the front wall. The tape guide is spaced downstream of the exit, whereby a section of tape is exposed between the exit and the tape guide. The indicator is formed in the front wall proximal to the exposed section of tape, and includes at least one aperture that extends generally parallel to the top and bottom surfaces and perpendicular to the portion of the path extending parallel to the front wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Masato Kato, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Publication number: 20100166475
    Abstract: A tape printer includes a tape cassette including a housing, a cassette housing portion, a feeding device, a printing device, a plurality of detecting switches that protrude toward a side surface of the housing of the tape cassette installed in the cassette housing portion, a first determining device that, if a part of the detecting switches is pressed, determines that the tape cassette is installed, and a second determining device that, if a specific detecting switch among the detecting switches is pressed, determines that the tape cassette is not installed at a proper position. The tape cassette includes a first pressing portion that, if the tape cassette is installed at the proper position, presses a part of the detecting switches, and a second pressing portion that, if the tape cassette is not installed at the proper position, presses the specific detecting switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Masato Kato, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Publication number: 20100166480
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a pair of side surfaces, a tape that is a print medium housed in the housing, a tape exit that discharges, from the housing, the tape guided in the housing along a predetermined feed path, at least a part of the feed path extending parallel to the front surface, and a type indicator portion provided adjacent to the tape exit and in a specified area of the front surface on an upstream side of the tape exit in a feed direction of the tape, the type indicator portion indicating a type of the tape and including vertical information sections and an aperture formed in at least one of the vertical information sections, the vertical information sections being strip-shaped sections extending along a direction orthogonal to the feed direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Publication number: 20100166478
    Abstract: A tape printer includes a tape cassette, a cassette housing portion, a feeding device, a printing device, a table storage device, detecting switches, and a tape type identifying device. The tape cassette includes a housing, a tape mounted within the housing, a tape guide, and an indicator of the tape type formed in the front wall of the housing and includes at least one aperture. The detecting switches protrude toward the front wall of the housing, and a part of the detecting switches that opposes a surface portion other than the at least one aperture in the indicator is pressed to thereby detect information indicating a pressing or non-pressing state of each of the detecting switches as identification information. The tape type identifying device identifies, with reference to a tape type table, the tape type associated with the detected identification as the tape type of the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Masato Kato, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Publication number: 20100166477
    Abstract: A tape printer includes a tape cassette, a cassette housing portion, a feeding device, a printing device, detecting switches, a table storage device, and a tape type identifying device. The tape cassette includes a housing, a tape mounted in the housing, a tape exit, and a type indicator portion provided adjacent to the tape exit and in a specified area of a front surface of the housing. The type indicator portion indicates a tape type and includes vertical information sections extending along a direction orthogonal to a feed direction of the tape and an aperture formed in at least one of the vertical information sections. A part of the detecting switches that opposes a surface portion other than the aperture is pressed to thereby detect identification information. The tape type identifying device identifies the tape type with reference to a tape type table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Masato Kato, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata