Patents by Inventor Keisuke Wakakusa

Keisuke Wakakusa 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: 20160332831
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a tray and a body supporting the tray. The tray is pivotable about a first shaft between a first position at which a free end of the tray is located above its basal end and a second position at which the free end is located farther from the body than at the first position. The tray is slidable between the second position and a third position and pivotable about a second shaft between the third position and a fourth position at which the free end is located farther from the body than at the third position. The first shaft protrudes from one of the tray and the body toward the other. The second shaft protrudes from the other to the one. The one includes a first guide that guides the first shaft. The other includes a second guide that guides the second shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke WAKAKUSA
  • Publication number: 20160332828
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a main unit; a tray main body pivotable between a standing position and an inclined position; and a tray cover connected to the tray main body and pivotable between a bent position and a straight position. A space formed between the main unit and the tray main body is covered by the tray cover located at the bent position relative to the tray main body at the standing position and exposed by the tray cover located at the straight position relative to the tray main body at the inclined position. The tray cover pivoting from the straight position to the bent position relative to the tray main body at the inclined position causes the tray main body to pivot from the inclined position to the standing position, so that the tray cover covers the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke WAKAKUSA, Yoichiro NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 9327533
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a carriage configured to reciprocate in main scanning directions composed of a first direction and a second direction; and a lever member having a lever arm; and a first guide member for guiding the lever arm that protrudes into a movement region of the carriage, wherein the first guide member has an elongate hole through which the lever arm passes and which is defined by first and second edge portions extending in the main scanning directions, the second edge portion located more distant from the carriage than the first edge portion extending outward, in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning directions, from a carriage region over which the carriage passes, the second edge portion having a guide portion inclined such that its downstream end in the second direction is closer to the carriage region than its upstream end in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Wakakusa, Yoichiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9315348
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor device includes a first housing having a sheet conveyance path. A second housing is pivotably disposed above the first housing and movable between a first position at which the second housing is adjacent to an upper side of the first housing and a second position at which the second housing is angled relative to the upper side of the first housing. A sheet support member is connected to the first housing and has a sheet inlet communicating with the conveyance path. An interlock mechanism is pivotable about a second rotational axis that is parallel to the first rotational axis in response to movement of the second housing between the first position and the second position to move a cover between a first state and a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke Wakakusa
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20160089915
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a carriage configured to reciprocate in main scanning directions composed of a first direction and a second direction; and a lever member having a lever arm; and a first guide member for guiding the lever arm that protrudes into a movement region of the carriage, wherein the first guide member has an elongate hole through which the lever arm passes and which is defined by first and second edge portions extending in the main scanning directions, the second edge portion located more distant from the carriage than the first edge portion extending outward, in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning directions, from a carriage region over which the carriage passes, the second edge portion having a guide portion inclined such that its downstream end in the second direction is closer to the carriage region than its upstream end in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke WAKAKUSA, Yoichiro NISHIMURA
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9162458
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a support member having a plurality of ribs and supporting the sheet; a head disposed above the support member and ejecting ink to the sheet supported by the support member; and at least one contact portion disposed upstream of the head and configured to come in contact with the sheet so as to make the sheet a waved shape. The support member includes a first support portion comprising at least one first guide portions disposed corresponding to the at least one contact portion, and a plurality of second guide portions disposed corresponding to the plurality of ribs and disposed above the plurality of first guide portions. The support member further comprises a second support portion comprising a third guide portion disposed downstream of the first support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Jie Xiu, Noriyuki Kawamata, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20150259166
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a housing; first through third conveyance paths, the second and third paths merging with the first conveyance path at a joining position; and a first guide member disposed at the joining position, wherein (a) the first guide member is configured to be kept, in a normal state, at a first position at which the first guide member closes at least part of the first conveyance path and opens the second and third conveyance paths to the first conveyance path, at the joining position and (b) the first guide member is configured to be moved, by contacting a sheet conveyed through the first conveyance path, to a second position at which the first guide member opens the first conveyance path and closes at least part of the second conveyance path and at least part of the third conveyance path with respect to the first conveyance path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke WAKAKUSA, Iwane SANO
  • Patent number: 9126780
    Abstract: A transport apparatus includes a transport roller having a first supported portion and a second supported portion at positions separated in a first direction, and configured to abut against a sheet, rotate in a second direction about a rotation axis extending in the first direction, and transport the sheet; a first support member configured to rotatably support the transport roller, the first support member having a first receiving portion which is in the form of a circular arc and configured to abut against a portion in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of the first supported portion; and a second support member configured to rotatably support the transport roller, the second support member having a second receiving portion which is in the form of a circular arc and configured to abut against a portion in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of the second supported portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Mimoto, Iwane Sano, Yasuhiro Ota, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Noriyuki Kawamata, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9096086
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Noriyuki Kawamata, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9033490
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a base member; a conveyor unit, supported by the base member, for conveying a sheet in a conveying direction parallel to a first direction; and a recording unit, supported by the base member, for ejecting ink when the recording unit is opposed to the sheet in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The base member is divided into a first base portion that supports the conveyor unit and the recording unit, a second base portion contiguous to the first base portion and located downstream of the first base portion in the conveying direction, and a third base portion contiguous to the second base portion and located downstream of the second base portion in the conveying direction. A stiffness of the second base portion is less than that of each of the first base portion and the third base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Yasuhira Ota, Masao Mimoto, Iwane Sano, Jie Xiu, Keisuke Wakakusa, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 9028059
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Yasuhira Ota, Masao Mimoto, Iwane Sano, Jie Xiu, Keisuke Wakakusa, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20150091241
    Abstract: A sheet conveyor device includes a first housing having a sheet conveyance path. A second housing is pivotably disposed above the first housing and movable between a first position at which the second housing is adjacent to an upper side of the first housing and a second position at which the second housing is angled relative to the upper side of the first housing. A sheet support member is connected to the first housing and has a sheet inlet communicating with the conveyance path. An interlock mechanism is pivotable about a second rotational axis that is parallel to the first rotational axis in response to movement of the second housing between the first position and the second position to move a cover between a first state and a second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke WAKAKUSA
  • Publication number: 20140232058
    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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Wakakusa, Noriyuki Kawamata, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Jie Xiu, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20140232059
    Abstract: A transport apparatus includes a transport roller having a first supported portion and a second supported portion at positions separated in a first direction, and configured to abut against a sheet, rotate in a second direction about a rotation axis extending in the first direction, and transport the sheet; a first support member configured to rotatably support the transport roller, the first support member having a first receiving portion which is in the form of a circular arc and configured to abut against a portion in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of the first supported portion; and a second support member configured to rotatably support the transport roller, the second support member having a second receiving portion which is in the form of a circular arc and configured to abut against a portion in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of the second supported portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao MIMOTO, Iwane SANO, Yasuhira OTA, Keisuke WAKAKUSA, Jie XIU, Noriyuki KAWAMATA, Shingo ITO
  • Publication number: 20140232798
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a base member a conveyor unit supported by the base member, for conveying a sheet in a conveying direction parallel to a first direction; and a recording unit, supported by the base member for ejecting ink when the recording unit is opposed to the sheet in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The base member is divided into a first base portion that supports the conveyor unit and the recording unit, a second base portion contiguous to the first base portion and located downstream of the first base portion in the conveying direction, and a third base portion contiguous to the second base portion and located downstream of the second base portion in the conveying direction. A stiffness of the second base portion is less than that of each of the first base portion and the third base portion.
    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
  • Publication number: 20140231225
    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: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Noriyuki Kawamata, Masao Mimoto, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Jie Xiu, Shingo Ito