Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Nobe

Hiroshi Nobe 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: 8695974
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet container, an image former that forms an image on a surface of a sheet conveyed from the sheet container, and a re-conveyor that re-conveys the sheet to the image former which forms another image on an opposite surface of the sheet. The re-conveyor includes a first conveyance roller set and a second conveyance roller set that convey the sheet therebetween. The first conveyance roller set includes a first driving roller that receives a driving force and a first pinch roller that contacts the surface. The second conveyance roller set includes a second driving roller that receives the driving force and a second pinch roller that contacts the surface. The first driving roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the first pinch roller. The second pinch roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the first pinch roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikaru Iino, Hiroshi Nobe
  • Patent number: 8690147
    Abstract: A sheet stackable device includes a sheet stackable plane. The sheet stackable device includes a first tray and a second tray, each of which is formed in a shape of a flat plate. The first tray includes a first contact part. The second tray is slidable along a slidable direction between a first position, in which the second tray overlaps the first tray, and a second position, in which the second tray is dawn out of the first tray. The second tray includes a second contact part, which is slidable on the first contact part. At least one of the first contact part and the second contact part includes a rack with rack teeth, which are aligned along the slidable direction. An upper plane of the first tray and an upper plane of the second tray in the second position form at least a part of the stackable plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okuchi, Hiroshi Nobe
  • Patent number: 8684354
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet conveyor, an image former that forms an image on a surface of a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor, and a re-conveyor that re-conveys the sheet to the image former which forms another image on an opposite surface of the sheet. The re-conveyor includes a guide member including upper and lower conveyance members, a regulation member that regulates a position of the sheet, a conveyer roller set that conveys the sheet therebetween, an urger that urges a pinch roller toward a driving roller, and a roller holder disposed above the upper conveyance member. The upper conveyance member has ends which are secured independently to the lower conveyance member. The roller holder secures the pinch roller overlaps the upper conveyance member in a vertical direction, and secures the pinch roller, such that the pinch roller contacts the sheet through the upper conveyance member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikaru Iino, Hiroshi Nobe
  • Patent number: 8657282
    Abstract: An image forming device, comprising: a device main body; a sheet cassette detachably attachable to a cassette accommodation space; an image formation unit; a re-carrying unit configured to re-carry the reversed sheet-like medium to the image formation unit and is exposed to the cassette accommodation space when the sheet cassette is detached; and a driving source supplying a driving force to the re-carrying unit, and wherein: the re-carrying unit comprises a driving roller and a pinch roller; a drive coupling mechanism having a transmission path transmitting the driving force to the driving roller is provided; the drive coupling mechanism comprises an acting part that brings the transmission path to a coupled state by moving in accordance with an attaching motion of the sheet cassette and brings the transmission path to a cut off state by moving in accordance with a detaching motion of the sheet cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Hashimoto, Hiroshi Nobe
  • Patent number: 8565656
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photosensitive members which each carry a developer image, transfer members which attract the developer images from the photosensitive members; a sheet housing unit which houses recording sheets; a recording sheet feeding mechanism, which feeds out a recording sheet from within the sheet housing unit and a guide member, which guides the sheet fed out by the recording sheet feeding mechanism towards a position between the photosensitive member and the transfer member. The guide member has a conductive member, which is brought into abutment with a leading end portion of a recording sheet while the recording sheet still remains in the sheet housing unit, and which is grounded electrically and insulation members which the recording sheet is brought into abutment when the leading end portion of the sheet reaches the transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ichikawa, Hiroshi Nobe, Toshio Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8534668
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet container unit that stores a plurality of sheets, an image forming unit that forms an image on a particular surface of a sheet that is conveyed from the sheet container unit, and a re-conveying unit that re-conveys the sheet to the image forming unit. The re-conveying unit includes a conveyor roller set that conveys the sheet. The conveyor roller set includes a pinch roller and a driving roller that receives a driving force and that contacts the particular surface of the sheet. The driving roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the pinch roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikaru Iino, Hiroshi Nobe
  • Publication number: 20130082433
    Abstract: An image forming device, comprising: a device main body; a sheet cassette detachably attachable to a cassette accommodation space; an image formation unit; a re-carrying unit configured to re-carry the reversed sheet-like medium to the image formation unit and is exposed to the cassette accommodation space when the sheet cassette is detached; and a driving source supplying a driving force to the re-carrying unit, and wherein: the re-carrying unit comprises a driving roller and a pinch roller; a drive coupling mechanism having a transmission path transmitting the driving force to the driving roller is provided; the drive coupling mechanism comprises an acting part that brings the transmission path to a coupled state by moving in accordance with an attaching motion of the sheet cassette and brings the transmission path to a cut off state by moving in accordance with a detaching motion of the sheet cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei HASHIMOTO, Hiroshi NOBE
  • Publication number: 20130032989
    Abstract: A sheet stackable device includes a sheet stackable plane. The sheet stackable device includes a first tray and a second tray, each of which is formed in a shape of a flat plate. The first tray includes a first contact part. The second tray is slidable along a slidable direction between a first position, in which the second tray overlaps the first tray, and a second position, in which the second tray is dawn out of the first tray. The second tray includes a second contact part, which is slidable on the first contact part. At least one of the first contact part and the second contact part includes a rack with rack teeth, which are aligned along the slidable direction. An upper plane of the first tray and an upper plane of the second tray in the second position form at least a part of the stackable plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki OKUCHI, Hiroshi NOBE
  • Publication number: 20120104675
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet container unit that stores a plurality of sheets, an image forming unit that forms an image on a particular surface of a sheet that is conveyed from the sheet container unit, and a re-conveying unit that re-conveys the sheet to the image forming unit. The re-conveying unit includes a conveyor roller set that conveys the sheet. The conveyor roller set includes a pinch roller and a driving roller that receives a driving force and that contacts the particular surface of the sheet. The driving roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the pinch roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hikaru IINO, Hiroshi NOBE
  • Publication number: 20120104677
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet conveyor, an image former that forms an image on a surface of a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor, and a re-conveyor that re-conveys the sheet to the image former which forms another image on an opposite surface of the sheet. The re-conveyor includes a guide member including upper and lower conveyance members, a regulation member that regulates a position of the sheet, a conveyer roller set that conveys the sheet therebetween, an urger that urges a pinch roller toward a driving roller, and a roller holder disposed above the upper conveyance member. The upper conveyance member has ends which are secured independently to the lower conveyance member. The roller holder secures the pinch roller overlaps the upper conveyance member in a vertical direction, and secures the pinch roller, such that the pinch roller contacts the sheet through the upper conveyance member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hikaru IINO, Hiroshi NOBE
  • Publication number: 20120104678
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet container, an image former that forms an image on a surface of a sheet conveyed from the sheet container, and a re-conveyor that re-conveys the sheet to the image former which forms another image on an opposite surface of the sheet. The re-conveyor includes a first conveyance roller set and a second conveyance roller set that convey the sheet therebetween. The first conveyance roller set includes a first driving roller that receives a driving force and a first pinch roller that contacts the surface. The second conveyance roller set includes a second driving roller that receives the driving force and a second pinch roller that contacts the surface. The first driving roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the first pinch roller. The second pinch roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the first pinch roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikaru IINO, Hiroshi NOBE
  • Patent number: 8112011
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a placement tray, an image forming unit, a drive unit, a control board, a power supply substrate, a high-voltage board, and low-voltage power supply harnesses. The placement tray holds a recording sheet thereon. The image forming unit forms an image on the recording sheet. The drive unit supplies driving force to the image forming unit. The control board controls the drive unit. The power supply substrate supplies electric power to the control board. The high-voltage board is disposed in one side of the placement tray. In the high-voltage board, voltage is generated higher than voltage in the power supply substrate. The low-voltage power supply harnesses are disposed in another side of the placement tray so as to supply electric power from the power supply substrate to the control board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Hiroyuki Okuchi
  • Patent number: 7957689
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a body casing having on upper surface thereof a paper ejection tray on which a sheet of paper ejected after formation of an image is stacked; a side cover capable of opening and closing a side surface of the body casing on the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper so as to cover the side surface of the body casing; and an extension tray being attached to an upper portion of the side cover. The extension tray is capable of extending to the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper with respect to the paper ejection tray so as to support an end portion of the sheet of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Sakae Ito
  • Publication number: 20110076047
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a placement tray, an image forming unit, a drive unit, a control board, a power supply substrate, a high-voltage board, and low-voltage power supply harnesses. The placement tray holds a recording sheet thereon. The image forming unit forms an image on the recording sheet. The drive unit supplies driving force to the image forming unit. The control board controls the drive unit. The power supply substrate supplies electric power to the control board. The high-voltage board is disposed in one side of the placement tray. In the high-voltage board, voltage is generated higher than voltage in the power supply substrate. The low-voltage power supply harnesses are disposed in another side of the placement tray so as to supply electric power from the power supply substrate to the control board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi NOBE, Hiroyuki OKUCHI
  • Patent number: 7873294
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a placement tray, an image forming unit, a drive unit, a control board, a power supply substrate, a high-voltage board, and low-voltage power supply harnesses. The placement tray holds a recording sheet thereon. The image forming unit forms an image on the recording sheet. The drive unit supplies driving force to the image forming unit. The control board controls the drive unit. The power supply substrate supplies electric power to the control board. The high-voltage board is disposed in one side of the placement tray. In the high-voltage board, voltage is generated higher than voltage in the power supply substrate. The low-voltage power supply harnesses are disposed in another side of the placement tray so as to supply electric power from the power supply substrate to the control board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Hiroyuki Okuchi
  • Publication number: 20100129121
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photosensitive members which each carry a developer image, transfer members which attract the developer images from the photosensitive members; a sheet housing unit which houses recording sheets; a recording sheet feeding mechanism, which feeds out a recording sheet from within the sheet housing unit and a guide member, which guides the sheet fed out by the recording sheet feeding mechanism towards a position between the photosensitive member and the transfer member. The guide member has a conductive member, which is brought into abutment with a leading end portion of a recording sheet while the recording sheet still remains in the sheet housing unit, and which is grounded electrically and insulation members which the recording sheet is brought into abutment when the leading end portion of the sheet reaches the transfer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi ICHIKAWA, Hiroshi NOBE, Toshio FURUKAWA
  • Patent number: 7641189
    Abstract: A sheet feeder feeds a sheet to an image forming unit. The sheet feeder can include a supply tray that holds a stack of sheets, a separation element disposed at an end of the supply tray, and configured to contact and apply a resistive force to a sheet in the stack, and a separation roller disposed facing the separation element, and configured to rotate, contact and apply a feeding force to an uppermost sheet in the stack. The sheet feeder may also include a pressing plate pivotally attached to the supply tray at an end remote from the separation element, and configured to move toward the separation element as a number of sheets in the stack decreases, and a pressure applying element that increases a contact surface pressure between the separation element and the uppermost sheet in response to the pressing plate moving toward the separation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Hikaru Iino
  • Patent number: 7599104
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a transport path that is inclined downwardly as advancing from an upstream side to a downstream side, an image reading section disposed in a middle of the transport path, a cover member that is bent to cause downward inclination of a face on the downstream side of the transport path to be larger than an inclination of a face on the upstream side, a support member having a plate form, the support member disposed on a rear face of the cover member and protruding toward the upstream side from a proximity of a position where the cover member is bent in the face on the downstream side, and a pressing member in which another end is supported by the support member to cause one end to be contactable with the image reading section, thereby pressing the transported medium against the image reading section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Atsushi Hayakawa, Hideaki Nagasaka
  • Publication number: 20090206543
    Abstract: A sheet feeder feeds a sheet to an image forming unit. The sheet feeder can include a supply tray that holds a stack of sheets, a separation element disposed at an end of the supply tray, and configured to contact and apply a resistive force to a sheet in the stack, and a separation roller disposed facing the separation element, and configured to rotate contact and apply a feeding force to an uppermost sheet in the stack. The sheet feeder may also include a pressing plate pivotally attached to the supply tray at an end remote from the separation element, and configured to move toward the separation element as a number of sheets in the stack decreases, and a pressure applying element that increases pressure of a contact surface between the separation element and the uppermost sheet in response to the pressing plate moving toward the separation element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Hikaru Iino
  • Patent number: 7518765
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a transport path through which a medium to be read is transported, an image reading section disposed in a middle of the transport path and reading an image formed on the medium to be read that is transported along the transport path, a cover member that covers the image reading section and the transport path, a pressing member in which another end is supported by the cover member to cause one end to be swingable, thereby pressing the transported medium to be read against the image reading section, a circuit board member which is disposed on the cover member, and on which a grounded electric circuit is formed, and a conductive member which electrically connects the pressing member to the electric circuit formed on the circuit board member to ground the pressing member through the electric circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Atsushi Hayakawa