Patents by Inventor Iwane Sano

Iwane Sano 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: 9713930
    Abstract: An inkjet recording device is described in which maintenance is performed by a maintenance unit upon a recording head. The maintenance unit is located on a base unit. The base unit includes a wall portion supporting a plurality of gear shafts protruding in a width direction from the wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jie Xiu, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Shingo Ito, Noriyuki Kawamata
  • Patent number: 9694606
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a roller; a first supporting member; a recording section; a second supporting member; and a first waved-shape imparting mechanism configured to impart, to the sheet, the waved shape so that both end portions of the sheet in the width direction are oriented downward. An upstream end portion, of the second supporting surface, in the conveyance direction is located below a downstream end portion of a first supporting surface of the first supporting member in the conveyance direction. The second supporting surface of the second supporting member is formed with projections arranged respectively at locations, of the second supporting surface, at which the both end portions of the sheet in the width direction are supported, the projections projecting upward above a location of the second supporting surface at which a central portion of the sheet in the width direction is supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Iwane Sano, Gakuro Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 9663313
    Abstract: A sheet conveyer has a casing defined with first and second conveying passages and respectively having first and second curved passages. The first and second curved passages curve in opposite directions. A flap rotatably provided to a second guide member constituting a curved outside part of the first curved passage. When the flap is at a first position, the flap blocks passage from a part of the first conveying passage to the connection position, while the second conveying passage is opened to the connection position. When the flap is at the second position, the first conveying passage is opened toward the connection position and a part of the second conveying passage is blocked with respect to the connection position. A guide surface constituting an upper surface of the first curved passage is closer to the third guide member than a guide roller when the flap is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Keisuke Wakakusa
  • Publication number: 20170120630
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a body including a first conveyance route; a recording unit; a switchback conveyance part; a first flap moving between a first state in which the first flap guides, to the switchback conveyance part, a sheet conveyed to one side in a first direction and a second state in which the first flap guides, from the first conveyance route to a second conveyance route, the sheet conveyed to the other side in the first direction; and second flaps moving between a third state in which the second flaps guide, to the switchback conveyance part, the sheet conveyed to one side in the first direction and a fourth state in which the second flaps guide, from the first conveyance route to the second conveyance route, the sheet conveyed to the other side in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Gakuro KANAZAWA, Iwane SANO, Tsuyoshi ITO
  • Publication number: 20170087886
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a roller; a first supporting member; a recording section; a second supporting member; and a first waved-shape imparting mechanism configured to impart, to the sheet, the waved shape so that both end portions of the sheet in the width direction are oriented downward. An upstream end portion, of the second supporting surface, in the conveyance direction is located below a downstream end portion of a first supporting surface of the first supporting member in the conveyance direction. The second supporting surface of the second supporting member is formed with projections arranged respectively at locations, of the second supporting surface, at which the both end portions of the sheet in the width direction are supported, the projections projecting upward above a location of the second supporting surface at which a central portion of the sheet in the width direction is supported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Iwane Sano, Gakuro Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 9580265
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a tray configured to support a sheet; a chassis defining a first conveyer path, in which the sheet on the tray is conveyed in a first conveying direction, and a second conveyer path, through which the sheet is conveyed in a second conveying direction through a branch point to be inverted to reenter the first conveyer path through a merging point; a base member integrally formed of resin and including a guiding section to define a form of a part of the second conveyer path; a recording unit to record an image on the sheet conveyed in the first conveyer path; a drive shaft supported by the base member; and a return-conveyer roller disposed in the second conveyer path and configured to convey the sheet to be guided on the guiding section in the second conveying direction by rotation of the drive shaft, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 9573397
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a conveyance unit; a support part including ribs; a recording head; a carriage carrying the recording head; a detecting unit configured to detect a position of the sheet conveyed; and a controller. In a case that the sheet supported by the support part is in a position in which the sheet is nipped by the conveyance unit, the controller is configured to shift nozzles, from which ink droplets are jetted to a center area of an upper surface of the support part in the width direction, to an upstream or a downstream in the conveyance direction by a predetermined number relative to nozzles from which ink droplets are jetted to outer areas positioned outside the center area in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Iwane Sano, Gakuro Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 9517646
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a tray, a chassis defining a first conveyer path and a second conveyer path, a base member including a guiding section that forms a part of the second conveyer path, a recording unit, and a conveyer roller to convey the sheet in the first conveyer path in a first conveying direction, is provided. The second conveyer path guides an inverted sheet from an upstream of the recording unit with regard to the first conveying direction to the first conveyer path through a curved path. The guiding section includes a first guiding plane, which forms a part of the second conveyer path on an upstream of the curved path with regard to the second conveying direction, and a second guiding plane, which adjoins the first guiding plane along a widthwise direction and is formed to dent with respect to the first guiding plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Iwane Sano
  • Patent number: 9511963
    Abstract: A conveyor device is described in which a conveyor roller is used to convey a medium inside a printing device with the conveyor roller extending in a width direction of the printing device. The conveyor roller receives a force from a following roller configured to face the conveyor roller. The conveyor roller is supported by one or more bearings. The one or more bearings include a shaft supporting portion that extends in the width direction to support the conveyor roller against the force of the following roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Noriyuki Kawamata, Masao Mimoto, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Jie Xiu, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20160279971
    Abstract: In a conveying device, a cover member includes a guide portion and is configured to move relative to a casing between a first position at which the guide portion defines a first conveying path, and a second position at which the guide portion exposes the first conveying path to an exterior of the conveying device. A conveying unit is configured to convey a medium along a second conveying path. A flap is supported by the cover member and pivotable about a pivot axis between a third position and a fourth position. The flap is configured to guide the medium toward the conveying unit. A restricting mechanism is configured to selectively allow and restrict pivoting of the flap to the fourth position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Iwane Sano
  • Patent number: 9370926
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a media tray; a roller pair capable of selectively conveying the media tray and a sheet; a recording device disposed downstream of the roller pair in a conveying direction and configured to eject ink droplets; lower contact portions disposed downstream of the roller pair in the conveying direction; and an upper contact portion configured to cooperate with the lower contact portions to corrugate the sheet. The media tray has a downstream edge portion in a tray inserting direction in which the media tray is inserted. The downstream edge portion has at least one inclined portion inclining obliquely upward toward an upstream side in the tray inserting direction. The at least one inclined portion contacts the upper contact portion to move the upper contact portion upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Iwane Sano
  • Patent number: 9352590
    Abstract: A sheet feeder, including: a sheet supply roller configured to supply a sheet to a sheet feeding path; a sheet feed roller configured to feed the sheet supplied to the sheet feeding path by the sheet supply roller to a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction in which the sheet is fed; a discharge roller configured to discharge the sheet fed by the feed roller to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction; a drive motor configured to drive a first shaft for rotating the feed roller; a first transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the first shaft to a second shaft for rotating the discharge roller; and a second transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the second shaft to a third shaft for rotating the sheet supply roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20160089901
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a tray, a chassis defining a first conveyer path and a second conveyer path, a base member including a guiding section that forms a part of the second conveyer path, a recording unit, and a conveyer roller to convey the sheet in the first conveyer path in a first conveying direction, is provided. The second conveyer path guides an inverted sheet from an upstream of the recording unit with regard to the first conveying direction to the first conveyer path through a curved path. The guiding section includes a first guiding plane, which forms a part of the second conveyer path on an upstream of the curved path with regard to the second conveying direction, and a second guiding plane, which adjoins the first guiding plane along a widthwise direction and is formed to dent with respect to the first guiding plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Iwane SANO
  • Publication number: 20160089902
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus, including: a conveyance unit configured to convey the sheet in a sheet conveyance direction; a recording unit configured to record the image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit; a support member having a first surface and a second surface which is opposite to the first surface, the first surface being configured to support the recording unit; a contact member including an engaging part configured to engage with the first surface and a contact part configured to make contact with the sheet on a downstream side of the engaging part in the sheet conveyance direction; and an biasing member configured to bias the contact member toward the second surface of the support member between the contact part and the engaging part in the sheet conveyance direction, and thereby making the contact member contact with the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventor: Iwane Sano
  • Publication number: 20160090258
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a tray configured to support a sheet; a chassis defining a first conveyer path, in which the sheet on the tray is conveyed in a first conveying direction, and a second conveyer path, through which the sheet is conveyed in a second conveying direction through a branch point to be inverted to reenter the first conveyer path through a merging point; a base member integrally formed of resin and including a guiding section to define a form of a part of the second conveyer path; a recording unit to record an image on the sheet conveyed in the first conveyer path; a drive shaft supported by the base member; and a return-conveyer roller disposed in the second conveyer path and configured to convey the sheet to be guided on the guiding section in the second conveying direction by rotation of the drive shaft, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Iwane SANO, Shota IIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20160090253
    Abstract: A sheet conveyer has a casing defined with first and second conveying passages and respectively having first and second curved passages. The first and second curved passages curve in opposite directions. A flap rotatably provided to a second guide member constituting a curved outside part of the first curved passage. When the flap is at a first position, the flap blocks passage from a part of the first conveying passage to the connection position, while the second conveying passage is opened to the connection position. When the flap is at the second position, the first conveying passage is opened toward the connection position and a part of the second conveying passage is blocked with respect to the connection position. A guide surface constituting an upper surface of the first curved passage is closer to the third guide member than a guide roller when the flap is at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Iwane SANO, Keisuke WAKAKUSA
  • Patent number: 9296579
    Abstract: A transporting apparatus includes a base unit made of resin, a tray configured to support a sheet, a transporting section supported by an upper portion of the base unit and configured to transport the sheet, and a feeding section supported by a lower portion of the base unit and including a feeding roller configured to contact an upper surface of the sheet supported by the tray and to feed the sheet toward the transporting section. The base unit is integrally formed with an inner-side guide which defines an inner side of a curved path which is configured to guide the sheet fed by the feeding section to the transport section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Wakakusa, Noriyuki Kawamata, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Jie Xiu, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9221636
    Abstract: A conveying device includes: a conveyor for conveying a sheet; a path defining member having a first conveying surface that guides the sheet; and a sensor device for sensing the sheet. The sensor device includes: a sensor casing provided on the path defining member and including a second conveying surface that guides the sheet and a main wall whose outer surface is exposed from the path defining member and contiguous to the first conveying surface; a movable member including (i) a contact portion projecting to a second-conveying-surface side of the main wall through an opening formed in the main wall and (ii) a sensed portion located in the sensor casing and moved by the sheet conveyed on the second conveying surface while contacting the contact portion; and a signal output device, provided in the sensor casing, for sensing the sensed portion to output a signal related to its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Masao Mimoto, Iwane Sano, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Noriyuki Kawamata, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9187283
    Abstract: A conveyor device may include first and second conveyor units, and a movable member. The first conveyor unit includes a first roller that contacts an upper surface of a sheet and a second roller that contacts a lower surface of the sheet. The second conveyor unit includes a third roller that contacts the lower surface of the sheet and a fourth roller that contacts the upper surface of the sheet. The first and second rollers and the third and fourth rollers nip and convey the sheet along a conveyance path. When the movable member is located in a first position, the first roller contacts the second roller and the third roller contacts the fourth roller. When the movable member moves to the second position, the first roller is moved away from the second roller and the third roller is moved away from the fourth roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Noriyuki Kawamata, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Yasuhira Ota, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20150321491
    Abstract: A sheet feeder, including: a sheet supply roller configured to supply a sheet to a sheet feeding path; a sheet feed roller configured to feed the sheet supplied to the sheet feeding path by the sheet supply roller to a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction in which the sheet is fed; a discharge roller configured to discharge the sheet fed by the feed roller to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction; a drive motor configured to drive a first shaft for rotating the feed roller; a first transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the first shaft to a second shaft for rotating the discharge roller; and a second transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the second shaft to a third shaft for rotating the sheet supply roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito