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).
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Patent number: 8695974Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hikaru Iino, Hiroshi Nobe
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Patent number: 8690147Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Okuchi, Hiroshi Nobe
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Patent number: 8684354Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hikaru Iino, Hiroshi Nobe
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Patent number: 8657282Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 30, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yohei Hashimoto, Hiroshi Nobe
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Patent number: 8565656Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 24, 2009Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Ichikawa, Hiroshi Nobe, Toshio Furukawa
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Patent number: 8534668Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hikaru Iino, Hiroshi Nobe
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Publication number: 20130082433Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2012Publication date: April 4, 2013Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yohei HASHIMOTO, Hiroshi NOBE
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Publication number: 20130032989Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki OKUCHI, Hiroshi NOBE
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Publication number: 20120104675Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hikaru IINO, Hiroshi NOBE
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Publication number: 20120104677Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hikaru IINO, Hiroshi NOBE
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Publication number: 20120104678Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hikaru IINO, Hiroshi NOBE
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Patent number: 8112011Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 8, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Hiroyuki Okuchi
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Patent number: 7957689Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 6, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Sakae Ito
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Publication number: 20110076047Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi NOBE, Hiroyuki OKUCHI
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Patent number: 7873294Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Hiroyuki Okuchi
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Publication number: 20100129121Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi ICHIKAWA, Hiroshi NOBE, Toshio FURUKAWA
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Patent number: 7641189Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Hikaru Iino
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Patent number: 7599104Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2004Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Atsushi Hayakawa, Hideaki Nagasaka
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Publication number: 20090206543Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Hikaru Iino
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Patent number: 7518765Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2004Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Nobe, Atsushi Hayakawa