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: 9051144Abstract: 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: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima, Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
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Patent number: 9045302Abstract: 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: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima, Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
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Publication number: 20140339757Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprising a tray, a sheet feeder, first and second guide members, a separator, and an inclined guide portion. The first guide member disposed downstream of the tray and includes a first inclined surface that contacts and guides the sheets. The separator separates the sheets from other lower sheets. The second guide member is disposed downstream of the first guide member and includes a second inclined surface that contacts the sheets. The second inclined surface is inclined more steeply than the first inclined surface relative to a supporting surface of the tray. A first inclined guide portion extends from an upper end portion of the first guide member and includes a third inclined surface that contacts the sheets. The third inclined surface is inclined more steeply than the first inclined surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hirotaka AOKI
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Publication number: 20140312558Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA, Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA
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Publication number: 20140312554Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA, Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA
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Patent number: 8768235Abstract: 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 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima, Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
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Publication number: 20140168679Abstract: A conveyer device, including a body; a first path member forming a part of conveyer path with a curve; and a second path member arranged on an inner side of the curve of the conveyer path and forming a part of the conveyer path, is provided. The first path member is movable between a first position forming the conveyer path in conjunction with the second path member and a second position separated farther from second path member than the first position. The body includes a first supporting part supporting the first path member at a widthwise end of the first path member and the second supporting part supporting the first path member at a widthwise inner-side position along the widthwise direction with respect to the first supporting part. The second supporting part supports the first path member from a side opposite from the conveyer path.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hirotaka AOKI
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Publication number: 20140168308Abstract: 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: September 29, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji SAMOTO, Kenta HORADE, Mitsuhiro NOZAKI, Hirotaka AOKI
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Patent number: 8622381Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a supply tray and a supply unit. The supply unit includes a supporting shaft, an arm configured to pivot around the supporting shaft, and, a first roller and a second roller which are provided in the arm. The first and second rollers are pressedly contacted with a sheet placed on the supply tray. The supply tray is provided with a contact portion. The contact portion includes a first contact portion facing to the first roller and second rollers, and a second contact portion disposed in an upstream side of the first contact portion in the supply direction. A friction coefficient of the second contact portion is smaller than that of the first contact portion. When the first and second rollers rotatingly moves on the sheet, a friction force is applied by the second contact portion to the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirotaka Aoki, Tetsuo Asada
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Patent number: 8625173Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a main frame including (a) a pair of side plates facing each other in one direction and (b) a base plate whose opposite end portions in the one direction are respectively supported by the pair of side plates; a guide member provided at an inside area interposed between a pair of side plates in the one direction, so as to define a conveying path through which a recording medium is conveyed; and a sensor device supported by one of the pair of side plates and configured to sense the recording medium conveyed through the conveying path.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki
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Publication number: 20140002561Abstract: A feeding apparatus includes an apparatus main body; a feeding section which feeds sheets in a feeding orientation; a feed tray which has a first tray to load some of the sheets, and a second tray provided above the first tray to load the rest of the sheets, and which is movable relative to the apparatus main body along the feeding orientation; and a guide which guides the sheets by contact with the sheets fed by the feeding section. At an end portion of the first tray on the downstream side in the feeding orientation, a first projective portion is formed to project upward and have a supporting portion capable of supporting the second tray on its upper end, and a second projective portion is formed to project upward from a different position from the first projective portion in a width direction perpendicular to the feeding orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hirotaka AOKI, Tetsuo ASADA, Shinichi HISADA, Ryuji YAMAMOTO
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Publication number: 20130321548Abstract: 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: August 6, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA
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Publication number: 20130256977Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a supply tray and a supply unit. The supply unit includes a supporting shaft, an arm configured to pivot around the supporting shaft, and, a first roller and a second roller which are provided in the arm. The first and second rollers are pressedly contacted with a sheet placed on the supply tray. The supply tray is provided with a contact portion. The contact portion includes a first contact portion facing to the first roller and second rollers, and a second contact portion disposed in an upstream side of the first contact portion in the supply direction. A friction coefficient of the second contact portion is smaller than that of the first contact portion. When the first and second rollers rotatingly moves on the sheet, a friction force is applied by the second contact portion to the sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirotaka AOKI, Tetsuo ASADA
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Patent number: 8508819Abstract: 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: September 28, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima
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Patent number: 8480071Abstract: A recording device that includes a feed roller for feeding a first and a second sheets sequentially, a first and a second conveying devices that convey the sheets in synchronization, a recording device that records image on the sheets, and a controller, that, after image recording on the first sheet is complete, stops the first and second conveying devices when a trailing end of the first sheet reaches a particular position between the first and the second conveying devices. The controller further controls the feed roller to feed the second sheet, such that a leading end of the second sheet contacts a nip of the first conveying device. After the leading end of the second sheet contacts the nip, the controller rotates the first conveying device in a reverse direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Yasuhira Ota, Shingo Ito
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Publication number: 20120319345Abstract: A recording device including a feed roller that feeds a first and a second sheets sequentially, a first and a second conveying devices that convey the sheets in synchronization, a recording device that records image on the sheets, and a controller, that, after image recording on the first sheet is complete, stops the first and second conveying devices when a trailing end of the first sheet reaches a particular position between the first and the second conveying devices; controls the feed roller to feed the second sheet, such that a leading end of the second sheet contacts a nip of the first conveying device; stops the feed roller after the leading end of the second sheet contacts the nip; and rotates the first conveying device in a reverse direction by an amount of rotation, such that the trailing end of the first sheet does not reach the first conveying device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Yasuhira OTA, Shingo ITO
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Publication number: 20120081760Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a main frame including (a) a pair of side plates facing each other in one direction and (b) a base plate whose opposite end portions in the one direction are respectively supported by the pair of side plates; a guide member provided at an inside area interposed between a pair of side plates in the one direction, so as to define a conveying path through which a recording medium is conveyed; and a sensor device supported by one of the pair of side plates and configured to sense the recording medium conveyed through the conveying path.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI
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Publication number: 20110188097Abstract: 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: September 28, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA
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Publication number: 20110158725Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2010Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA, Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA