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).

  • Publication number: 20140232799
    Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus, a support frame has a support part, and supports a carriage on a first surface of the support part. A pinch roller is disposed on a second surface side of the support part, the second surface being opposite from the first surface. A conveying roller is disposed opposite to the support frame relative to the pinch roller and in confrontation with the pinch roller. A roller holder is disposed on the second surface side of the support part and supporting the pinch roller. An urging member is interposed between the roller holder and the support part, and urges the roller holder to press the pinch roller against the conveying roller. The carriage is in contact with the first surface of the support part while the urging member is in contact with the second surface of the support part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Noriyuki Kawamata, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20140232800
    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: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Noriyuki Kawamata, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Yasuhira Ota, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20140232801
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a base member; a conveyor unit for conveying a sheet in a first direction; and a recording unit for ejecting ink when opposed to a sheet in a second direction. The base member includes: a first side base portion; a second side base portion; a center base portion located between the first side base portion and the second side base portion in a third direction; first and second side walls extending in the first direction and projecting in the second direction from opposite edge portions of the center base portion in the third direction; and a main board connecting the first side wall and the second side wall and configured to support the conveyor unit and the recording unit. The main board is greater in stiffness than the first side wall and the second side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki KAWAMATA, Yasuhira Ota, Masao Mimoto, Iwane Sano, Jie Xiu, Keisuke Wakakusa, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 8777397
    Abstract: A conveyor device includes a drive roller that conveys a tray or a sheet through a conveying path, a rotating shaft that rotates between a first position and a second position, a spur roller that moves between a fourth position, in which the spur roller approaches the drive roller, and a fifth position, in which the spur roller separates from the drive roller at a distance greater than a thickness of the tray, an elastic shaft that supports the spur roller and urges the spur roller toward the drive roller, a first contacting portion that contacts one surface of the tray passing through the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the second position; and a second contacting portion that deforms the elastic shaft and that moves the spur roller to the fifth position when the rotating shaft rotates from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Iwane Sano
  • Publication number: 20140104359
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a first convey path; a support member which supports a first recording medium, a second recording medium, and a tray; a second convey path connected to the first convey path; a first guide member partly defining the second convey path; and a posture change mechanism which changes the support member and the first guide member between (a) a first posture in which the first convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough and (b) a second posture in which the first convey path has a height larger than the first height and allowing the second recording medium or the tray to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height smaller than the second height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Iwane SANO, Yasuhira OTA, Shota IIJIMA, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Shingo ITO
  • Publication number: 20140092188
    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: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 8668200
    Abstract: A carrying apparatus includes: a carry path which is defined to guide a first carried object and a second carried object; a first pulley; a first roller; a second pulley; a first belt which is wound on the first pulley and the second pulley; a first tensioner; and a first moving mechanism which moves the first roller between a first position and a second position. The first moving mechanism moves the first roller between a first position at which the first roller carries the first carried object and a second position which is farther from the carry path than the first position and at which the first roller carries the second carried object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Iwane Sano, Yasuhira Ota, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 8646905
    Abstract: A conveyor device includes a drive roller that conveys a tray or a sheet through a conveying path, a rotating shaft that rotates between a third position and a second position via a first position, a spur roller that moves between a fourth position and a fifth position, a first contacting portion that is disposed in the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the first position and that contacts one surface of the tray passing through the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the second position, and is separated from the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the third position, a second contacting portion that moves the spur roller, and a rotating unit configured to rotate the rotating shaft from the third position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Iwane Sano
  • Patent number: 8641303
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a first convey path; a support member which supports a first recording medium, a second recording medium, and a tray; a second convey path connected to the first convey path; a first guide member partly defining the second convey path; and a posture change mechanism which changes the support member and the first guide member between (a) a first posture in which the first convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height allowing the first recording medium to pass therethrough and (b) a second posture in which the first convey path has a height larger than the first height and allowing the second recording medium or the tray to pass therethrough, and the second convey path has a height smaller than the second height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Yasuhira Ota, Shota Iijima, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 8641038
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a tray configured to hold a first recording medium, an insertion guide configured to move between a guide position for guiding a second recording medium into a common path and a non-guide position, a conveyor configured to convey the tray along the common path in a first direction and to convey the second recording medium along the common path in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a recording unit configured to record an image selectively on the first recording medium and the second recording medium, a stopper disposed along the common path, and a moving unit configured to move the stopper between a retracted position and a protruding position in response to movement of the insertion guide between the non-guide position and the guide position. The stopper in the protruding position protrudes into the common path to stop the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Iwane Sano, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 8567941
    Abstract: There is provided a transporting device transporting a medium, including: a first member pair which changes a posture of the first member pair between a first posture and a second posture; a second member pair which changes a posture of the second member pair between a third posture and a fourth posture; and a movable member which is movable between a fifth posture and a sixth posture, and which has a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion, wherein, in a process that the movable member moves from the fifth posture to the sixth posture, the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture from the first posture to the second posture, and while the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture, the second abutting portion abuts on one of the second member pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Yasuhira Ota, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shota Iijima, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 8556410
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a recording portion; a tray on which a first recording medium is placed; a convey path for conveying a second recording medium and the tray; a tray guide changeable among (a) a first posture in which the tray guide supports the tray, (b) a second posture whose position is different from that of the first posture in a direction intersecting the convey path, and (c) a third posture in which an upstream portion of the tray guide in the tray-enter direction is nearer to the convey path than that in the second posture; a first posture-change portion which changes the tray guide from the second to the third posture; and a second posture-change portion which changes the tray guide from the third to the first posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Shota Iijima, Naokazu Tanahashi, Iwane Sano, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20130135641
    Abstract: A feeder feeds a first recording medium in a first direction. A curved guide guides the first recording medium fed by the feeder upward along a first path. An upper guide receives a leading edge of the first recording medium, guided by the curved guide, and guides the first recording medium in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction. An insertion guide guides, along a second path, a second recording medium inserted from an opening. A conveying unit disposed downstream of the upper guide in the second direction conveys the first recording medium and the second recording medium to a recording unit which records an image on each recording medium supported by a supporting unit. A deflecting member has a surface inclined with respect to the second direction and deflects a leading edge of the second recording medium, guided by the insertion guide, upward toward the upper guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota IIJIMA, Iwane SANO
  • Patent number: 8419015
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a first roller, a plurality of second rollers, a tray, and a recording portion. The tray includes a pair of thick-walled sections, a thin-walled section, and an accommodation portion. The pair of thick-walled sections extends in a lengthwise direction and protrudes from the first surface. The thin-walled section is positioned between the pair of thick-walled sections. The thin-walled section is thinner than the pair of thick-walled sections in a thickness direction of the tray. The accommodation portion is formed by a recess in the thickness direction in the thin-walled section. When the first roller and the plurality of second rollers nip the tray therebetween, the first surface of the tray does not contact any of the first roller or the plurality of second rollers, except at the pair of thick-walled sections of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano
  • Publication number: 20130082437
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a tray configured to hold a first recording medium, an insertion guide configured to move between a guide position for guiding a second recording medium into a common path and a non-guide position, a conveyor configured to convey the tray along the common path in a first direction and to convey the second recording medium along the common path in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a recording unit configured to record an image selectively on the first recording medium and the second recording medium, a stopper disposed along the common path, and a moving unit configured to move the stopper between a retracted position and a protruding position in response to movement of the insertion guide between the non-guide position and the guide position. The stopper in the protruding position protrudes into the common path to stop the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Iwane SANO, Shingo ITO
  • Publication number: 20120188321
    Abstract: A conveyor device includes a drive roller that conveys a tray or a sheet through a conveying path, a rotating shaft that rotates between a first position and a second position, a spur roller that moves between a fourth position, in which the spur roller approaches the drive roller, and a fifth position, in which the spur roller separates from the drive roller at a distance greater than a thickness of the tray, an elastic shaft that supports the spur roller and urges the spur roller toward the drive roller, a first contacting portion that contacts one surface of the tray passing through the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the second position; and a second contacting portion that deforms the elastic shaft and that moves the spur roller to the fifth position when the rotating shaft rotates from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Iwane Sano
  • Publication number: 20120188320
    Abstract: A conveyor device includes a drive roller that conveys a tray or a sheet through a conveying path, a rotating shaft that rotates between a third position and a second position via a first position, a spur roller that moves between a fourth position and a fifth position, a first contacting portion that is disposed in the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the first position and that contacts one surface of the tray passing through the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the second position, and is separated from the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the third position, a second contacting portion that moves the spur roller, and a rotating unit configured to rotate the rotating shaft from the third position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota IIJIMA, Iwane SANO
  • Publication number: 20120134733
    Abstract: A platen, which supports the recording paper to be transported, includes a first portion having an upper surface on which an ink discharged from nozzles disposed thereover can be landed, first ribs which are provided to extend in a transport direction in an area of the upper surface and which support the recording paper on an upper side beyond the upper surface, and a second portion which is provided on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhira OTA, Iwane SANO, Shingo ITO, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Masao MIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8162314
    Abstract: An image printing apparatus includes a printing unit and a supporting member opposing the printing unit and having a supporting surface for supporting the printing medium. The image printing apparatus further includes a first pair of rollers disposed upstream of the printing unit, a second pair of rollers and a third pair of rollers which are disposed downstream of the printing unit. The image printing apparatus further includes a guide member disposed between the second pair of rollers and the third pair of rollers. The guide member includes a guide portion which guides the printing medium transported by the second pair of rollers. The guide member is configured to pivot between a slanting position and a laying position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito, Shota Iijima, Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano
  • Publication number: 20120091650
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a first roller, a plurality of second rollers, a tray, and a recording portion. The tray includes a pair of thick-walled sections, a thin-walled section, and an accommodation portion. The pair of thick-walled sections extends in a lengthwise direction and protrudes from the first surface. The thin-walled section is positioned between the pair of thick-walled sections. The thin-walled section is thinner than the pair of thick-walled sections in a thickness direction of the tray. The accommodation portion is formed by a recess in the thickness direction in the thin-walled section. When the first roller and the plurality of second rollers nip the tray therebetween, the first surface of the tray does not contact any of the first roller or the plurality of second rollers, except at the pair of thick-walled sections of the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano