Patents by Inventor Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha 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).

  • Publication number: 20130315644
    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: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130223911
    Abstract: A printer includes a feeding portion configured to feed a printing medium, a printing portion including a plurality of heating elements configured to perform printing of one line at a time on the printing medium, and a processor configured to specify numbers of ON dots for at least a first specified block and a second specified block, specify first speeds that respectively correspond to at least the first specified block and the second specified block based on the numbers of ON dots, set a second speed for the second specified block based on the first speeds that respectively correspond to the first specified block and the second specified block, such that the printing medium is fed at the first speed for the first specified block when the printing of the first specified block is performed, and control the feeding portion and the printing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130221126
    Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes: a liquid droplet jetting head having a nozzle; a cap member having a suction port and an air intake port, and being attached to the liquid droplet jetting head to cover the nozzle; a switching mechanism connected to the suction port and the air intake port of the cap member and switching the air intake port to one of a state that the air intake port communicates with the atmosphere and a state that the air intake port is disconnected from the atmosphere; and a suction mechanism connected to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism includes: a case member having a first opening, a suction port connection portion, and an air intake port connection portion; and a switching member contained in the case member to switch a position of the switching member with respect to the case member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130215193
    Abstract: When a jam detector detects jamming, forced discharging from a head and wiping of an ejection surface are performed after a recording medium jammed is removed from a conveyor. When the count on a jam counter matches with any of one or more thresholds, at least the number of times the wiping is executed after the jammed recording medium is removed from the conveyor is greater than that executed when the count on the jam counter does not match with any of one or more thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130209154
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a label producing apparatus. The label producing apparatus includes a cartridge holder, a feeder, a movable blade, a driving roller configured to contact and discharge the label tape, a driven roller provided so that it can advance and retreat between a contact position and a separated position, a motor configured to rotate in a single direction only and generate a driving force of the movable blade, and a rotational movement of the driving roller, a gear mechanism configured to transmit the driving force to the driving roller, and an advancing and retreating adjustment device configured to adjust an movement of the driven roller and the movable blade, associated with a rotation of the motor, the adjustment device advancing and retreating the driven roller and the movable blade so that the driven roller is in the contact position for a predetermined time period after cutting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130209129
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may includes: a heating unit including a heating member that is heated by a heat source and a backup member that forms a nip portion; a feeding unit; and a control unit configured to control the heat source and the feeding unit, wherein the control unit controls the feeding unit such that each of a plurality of recording sheets is fed to the nip portion, wherein some of the plurality of the recording sheets are sequentially conveyed at a second interval to each other, wherein a first recording sheet of the some of the plurality of the recording sheets is fed to have a first interval with respect to a previously conveyed recording sheet, and wherein the control unit increases the output of the heat source on a timing when a front end of the first recording sheet reaches a periphery of the nip portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130208071
    Abstract: In a printing control apparatus, there are arranged one pulse application period of which from-start-to-end is series of sub-pulse application time, main-pulse application time and non-heating time and other pulse application periods which follow the one pulse application period and of which from-start-to-end is repeated series of main-pulse application times and non-heating times. As temperature is higher, proportion of applied-for-sub-pulse energy amount to total energy amount in one pulse application period is made larger. As temperature is higher, proportion of applied-for-main-pulse energy amount to total energy amount in other pulse application periods that follow one pulse application period is made smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130201230
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet jetting apparatus configured to jet liquid droplets onto an object, including: a channel member in which a nozzle for jetting the liquid droplets and a liquid channel communicating with the nozzle are formed; an energy conversion element which is configured to apply a jetting energy to the liquid in the nozzle; a drive unit which is configured to supply a driving signal to the energy conversion element; a flow detecting sensor which is configured to detect a liquid flow inside the liquid channel; and a cabling member which includes a drive line connected to the energy conversion element, and a signal output line connected to the flow detecting sensor to transmit a detection signal corresponding to the liquid flow inside the liquid channel output from the flow detecting sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130192438
    Abstract: A rotary cutter device includes a rotating body, a plurality of rotary blades, a fixed blade, a feeding portion, and a control portion. The rotating body is configured to be rotatable around a central axis. The plurality of rotary blades are provided on the rotating body. The fixed blade is provided facing a trajectory that cutting edges of the plurality of rotary blades describe when the plurality of rotary blades rotate. The feeding portion is configured to feed a sheet-shaped object along a linear feed path that passes close to the fixed blade. The control portion is configured to rotate the plurality of rotary blades around the central axis toward the fixed blade from the opposite side of the feed path from the fixed blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130194589
    Abstract: image boundary detection devices and methods include processes. Processes include setting an image recording mode to a second recording mode. First and second recording modes utilize first and second density values, respectively. Second density values are less than corresponding first density values, Processes include reducing first density values to second density values when the second recording mode is set. Processes include setting an image boundary determination threshold to one of a first and second threshold value when a respective one of the first and second recording mode is set. The second threshold value is less than the first threshold value, Processes include calculating density gradient values based on one of the first and second density value when the respective one of the first and second recording mode is set. Processes include determining whether pixels are image boundaries using density gradient values and the image boundary determination threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130194606
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a reading portion and a communication portion. The reading portion reads an image. The communication portion performs communications with an external device by using a first class driver and a second class driver simultaneously. The communication portion includes a first transmission portion, a receiving portion, and a second transmission portion. The first transmission portion transmits to the external device, using the first class driver, data that are used for executing an application that enables the external device to issue a command to the image reading device. The receiving portion receives a command to read an image from the external device using the second class driver. The second transmission portion transmits to the external device, in a case where the receiving portion has received the command to read an image, using the second class driver, an image that has been read by the reading portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130194371
    Abstract: A method for controlling a printing speed of a thermal head having a plurality of heater elements arranged in a line includes: dividing a set of printing data into blocks each comprising one or more printing lines aligned in a main scanning direction, in which the dividing is in a sub scanning direction, and in which a block including a first predetermined number of printing lines is regarded as a unit block; calculating the number of the heater elements to be driven for each of printing lines included in a block as the number of on-dots, and comparing the numbers of on-dots for the block to obtain a maximum number of on-dots for the block; and setting a printing speed for one block to be slower than a printing speed for another block with smaller maximum number of on-dots than maximum number of on-dots for the one block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130188363
    Abstract: A light source device is provided, which includes: a hold member; a light source held by the hold member; an optical element held by the hold member; and a hardened first adhesive agent bonding at least one of the light source and the optical element to the holding member. The hardened first adhesive agent has elasticity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130188224
    Abstract: A control device that includes a connection device that connects via USB to a communication terminal that is able to perform communication based on a specific communication system, an acquisition portion that acquires configuration information, via USB, from the communication terminal connected to the connection device, the configuration information being information that is necessary for the communication terminal to perform communication based on the specific communication system and being set for the communication terminal, a reception portion that receives an instruction transmitted from the communication terminal, by performing communication with the communication terminal based on the specific communication system using the configuration information acquired by the acquisition portion, and a control portion that performs control in accordance with the instruction when the reception portion receives the instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130180374
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a cutting unit configured to move a holding member set on the cutting apparatus and a cutting blade relative to each other thereby to cut a desired pattern out of at least one object to be cut, by the cutting blade, the holding member holding the object so that the object is removable therefrom, a detection unit configured to detect information including a hold position of the object held by the holding member, a pattern selecting unit configured to select a desirable one of a plurality of patterns, and an arrangement unit which sets an arrangement position of the pattern selected by the pattern selecting unit, relative to the object, based on the detected hold position of the object. The pattern is cut off by the cutting unit with the arrangement position set by the arrangement unit serving as a cutting position of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130180373
    Abstract: A cutting plotter includes a cut mechanism, an operation device, a processor and a memory. The cut mechanism is to cut a pattern from a cut target. The holding member is to hold the cut target and set on the cutting plotter. The operation device is to receive input. The memory stores computer-readable instructions that instruct the cutting plotter to execute steps including designating, selecting, determining, and instructing. The designating includes designating a partial area based on an input. The partial area is a part of a holding area. The selecting includes selecting a certain pattern from plural patterns based on an input. The determining includes determining a position, included in the partial area, of the certain pattern on the cut target. The instructing includes instructing the cut mechanism to cut the certain pattern from the position on the cut target determined by the determining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130182041
    Abstract: An ink-jet head includes: a first nozzle group; a second nozzle group; a first common ink chamber; and a second common ink chamber. With respect to a first direction, nozzles constituting the first nozzle group and nozzles constituting the second nozzle group are arranged alternately to complement each other, the first nozzle group includes a first nozzle and a second nozzle which deviates from the first nozzle with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second nozzle group includes a third nozzle arranged adjacent to the first nozzle with respect to the first direction and a fourth nozzle arranged adjacent to the second nozzle with respect to the first direction, and with respect to the second direction, the fourth nozzle deviates from the third nozzle in a direction opposite to a direction in which the second nozzle deviates from the first nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130171489
    Abstract: A dry-battery housing includes an electrode terminal member made of a single wire, a dry-battery housing unit, a flange portion arranged so as to project at first side of the electrode terminal member, a first partition plate projecting along outside for first side of the electrode terminal member, a second partition plate projecting along outside for second of the electrode terminal member, a first fixing plate projecting from the first partition plate toward the second partition plate, a second fixing plate projecting from the second partition plate toward the first partition plate, a flange-root portion including a narrow space portion for allowing insertion and removal of a rim at the first side of the electrode terminal member and an engagement portion arranged between the narrow space portion of the flange-root portion and a border of an opening portion of the dry-battery housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130168219
    Abstract: A rubber key comprising: a key top portion having a rectangular shape in planar view; a skirt portion formed along a perimeter of the key top portion; and a contact portion projecting within the skirt portion from the key top portion on a same side of the skirt portion in a convex state in a length direction of the key top portion, wherein a shortest distance from the contact portion to a virtual plane defined by a ring of an edge of the skirt portion is longer as measured at a portion closer to a center of the key top portion in the length direction than at a portion closer to an end of the key top portion in the length direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130169728
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses a printer comprising a feeder, a thermal head, an energizing device configured to selectively energize heating elements of the thermal head, a driving device configured to control a driving of the feeder, a battery storage part, a voltage detecting device configured to detect an output voltage value of the battery, a display device, and a control device. The control device executes a dot count identification process where a dot count is identified at a first timing and a second timing, a dot voltage fluctuation value calculation process where a voltage fluctuation value per dot is calculated, a maximum load voltage estimation process where a voltage value of the battery is estimated at a time equivalent to maximum load, a consumption level determination process where a consumption level of the battery is determined, and a display process where a predetermined display is executed on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha