Patents by Inventor Hirotaka AOKI
Hirotaka AOKI 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: 10207521Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2018Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima
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Patent number: 10207524Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a first motor, a feeding roller, a second motor, a first driven mechanism, a recorder, and a controller. The feeding roller is configured to rotate by receiving driving force from the first motor. The first driven mechanism is configured to be driven by receiving driving force from the second motor. The controller is configured to: perform a preparing operation in response to receiving first information that instructs starting image recording by the recorder; perform a driving operation of driving the second motor to drive the first driven mechanism, in response to completing the preparing operation and not receiving second information including a recording condition and printing data; and in response to receiving the second information, stop the second motor and drive the first motor to perform a feeding operation by the feeding roller.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hirotaka Aoki, Kenji Samoto, Takahiro Kuroki
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Patent number: 10191490Abstract: A marine vessel includes a distance detector that measures a distance to an object, a speed detector that detects a vessel speed, and a controller that executes on-shore/off-shore assistance control to control a propulsion unit to generate a thrust that moves a vessel body in a direction opposite to a direction toward the object based on the distance to the object measured by the distance detector and the vessel speed detected by the speed detector.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shu Akuzawa, Yusuke Ashida, Hirotaka Aoki, Yukitaka Okamoto
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Patent number: 10173445Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus is provided, including a transport mechanism provided with a roller, a motor, a controller, and a measuring input unit, wherein a transport route has a curved area for inverting the sheet, and the controller is constructed such that the control on the motor is executed by a closed loop control system by using a measured value of an control output at an initial stage of the transport of a sheet from a tray, and the control on the motor is switched from the control performed by the closed loop control system to control performed by an open loop control system on condition that a preset phenomenon arises after the sheet is taken out of the tray.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji Samoto, Kenta Horade, Mitsuhiro Nozaki, Hirotaka Aoki
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Patent number: 10086629Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima, Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
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Publication number: 20180273152Abstract: A watercraft includes a transversely leftward moving switch and a transversely rightward moving switch attached to a steering wheel. A controller is configured or programmed to control a marine propulsion device so as to move a vessel body of the watercraft transversely leftward when the transversely leftward moving switch is operated. The controller is configured or programmed to control the marine propulsion device so as to move the vessel body transversely rightward when the transversely rightward moving switch is operated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Satoshi KOYANO, Hirotaka AOKI
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Publication number: 20180257401Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA
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Patent number: 9975356Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima
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Publication number: 20180093506Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus is provided, including a transport mechanism provided with a roller, a motor, a controller, and a measuring input unit, wherein a transport route has a curved area for inverting the sheet, and the controller is constructed such that the control on the motor is executed by a closed loop control system by using a measured value of an control output at an initial stage of the transport of a sheet from a tray, and the control on the motor is switched from the control performed by the closed loop control system to control performed by an open loop control system on condition that a preset phenomenon arises after the sheet is taken out of the tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji Samoto, Kenta Horade, Mitsuhiro Nozaki, Hirotaka Aoki
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Publication number: 20180050772Abstract: A small craft includes a craft body, a propulsion device configured to propel the craft body, a position acquisition portion configured to acquire positional information about a trailer on which the craft body is loadable, and a controller configured to control the propulsion device on the basis of the positional information about the trailer acquired by the position acquisition portion during an operation for releasing the craft body from the trailer and/or an operation for attaching the craft body to the trailer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Satoshi KOYANO, Shu AKUZAWA, Yusuke ASHIDA, Hirotaka AOKI
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Patent number: 9862210Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus is provided, including a transport mechanism provided with a roller, a motor, a controller, and a measuring input unit, wherein a transport route has a curved area for inverting the sheet, and the controller is constructed such that the control on the motor is executed by a closed loop control system by using a measured value of an control output at an initial stage of the transport of a sheet from a tray, and the control on the motor is switched from the control performed by the closed loop control system to control performed by an open loop control system on condition that a preset phenomenon arises after the sheet is taken out of the tray.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji Samoto, Kenta Horade, Mitsuhiro Nozaki, Hirotaka Aoki
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Publication number: 20180004209Abstract: A marine vessel includes a distance detector that measures a distance to an object, a speed detector that detects a vessel speed, and a controller that executes on-shore/off-shore assistance control to control a propulsion unit to generate a thrust that moves a vessel body in a direction opposite to a direction toward the object based on the distance to the object measured by the distance detector and the vessel speed detected by the speed detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Shu AKUZAWA, Yusuke ASHIDA, Hirotaka AOKI, Yukitaka OKAMOTO
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Patent number: 9840095Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima
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Patent number: 9834396Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes: a support member having a support surface configured to support sheets, a feed unit configured to feed the sheets stacked on the support surface in a feed direction, a guide member provided on the downstream side of the support member in the feed direction, and a separating member projecting from an inclined surface of the guide member toward the support surface. The inclined surface is curved such that a separating area where the separating member is provided comes closest to the side of the support surface. The support surface has a first support surface located on the immediate upstream side in the feed direction to correspond to the separating area, and second support surfaces arranged respectively on both sides of the first support surface in a direction orthogonal to the feed direction to be lowered than the first support surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hirotaka Aoki
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Publication number: 20170297349Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA
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Publication number: 20170217224Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a first motor, a feeding roller, a second motor, a first driven mechanism, a recorder, and a controller. The feeding roller is configured to rotate by receiving driving force from the first motor. The first driven mechanism is configured to be driven by receiving driving force from the second motor. The controller is configured to: perform a preparing operation in response to receiving first information that instructs starting image recording by the recorder; perform a driving operation of driving the second motor to drive the first driven mechanism, in response to completing the preparing operation and not receiving second information including a recording condition and printing data; and in response to receiving the second information, stop the second motor and drive the first motor to perform a feeding operation by the feeding roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hirotaka AOKI, Kenji SAMOTO, Takahiro KUROKI
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Publication number: 20170217218Abstract: A sheet conveyor, including: a shaft defining an axis that extends in a first direction; an arm pivotable about the axis; a supply roller provided on the arm and configured to supply a sheet; a first frame formed of metal and supporting the shaft; a first conveyance roller configured to covey the sheet supplied from the supply roller; and a second frame formed of metal and supporting the first conveyance roller, wherein the second frame includes (a) a contact plate portion shaped like a plate and having a contact surface that is held in contact with the first frame and (b) a wall portion extending from the contact plate portion in a direction intersecting the contact surface, and wherein the second frame is coupled at the contact plate portion thereof to the first frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hirotaka AOKI
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Publication number: 20170120633Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2017Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA
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Patent number: 9630430Abstract: A conveyor includes: a slide gear and a clutch gear including a first gear and a second gear. The clutch gear includes: a first surface and a second surface provided on one of the first and second gears and facing each other; and a contact member provided on the other of the first and second gears and located between the first surface and the second surface. A controller is configured to: control a motor in a state in which the slide gear and the first gear are in mesh with each other, to rotate the clutch gear to establish a state in which the contact member is not in contact with the first surface or the second surface; and control a sliding mechanism to slide the slide gear in the state in which the contact member is not in contact with the first surface or the second surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirotaka Aoki, Kenji Samoto, Shohei Ichikawa
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Patent number: 9545798Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima