Patents by Inventor Masahito Saeki

Masahito Saeki 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: 8977146
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path; a driving device configured to drive the conveyor; a printing device configured to print an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyor; and a controller. The controller executes a first processing in which, when a first indicator reaches a preset first value, the controller suppresses rise of a temperature in the printing apparatus. The first indicator is a value that changes based on an increase in the number of sheets printed by the printing device. The controller further executes a second processing in which the controller reduces frequency of execution of the first processing when the number of printings performed by the printing device within a set specific period is equal to or greater than a set reference number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Saeki
  • Patent number: 8953959
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a printing device configured to print an image on a sheet; a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature in the printing apparatus; and a controller. The controller executes: a first processing in which the controller changes a first indicator based on printing performed by the printing device; a second processing in which the controller changes the first indicator based on a first temperature detected by the temperature detector at a first point in time and a second temperature detected by the temperature detector at a second point in time; and a third processing in which the controller suppresses a rise in the temperature in the printing apparatus when the first indicator reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Saeki
  • Publication number: 20140153976
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, sheet discharge unit, fixing unit, and conveying guide. The fixing unit thermally fixes a developer image deposited on a sheet to provide an image-fixed sheet. The conveying guide defines at least a part of a conveying path. The conveying guide guides one surface of the image-fixed sheet. The conveying guide includes a fixed guide unit and movable guide unit. The fixed guide unit guides end portions of the image-fixed sheet in a widthwise direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the image-fixed sheet. The fixed guide unit is immovable relative to the main body. The movable guide unit is disposed adjacent to the fixed guide unit in the widthwise direction and movable relative to the fixed guide unit. The movable guide unit guides the image-fixed sheet in a first position. The movable guide unit exposes the conveying path in a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Saeki
  • Publication number: 20140064753
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path; a driving device configured to drive the conveyor; a printing device configured to print an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyor; and a controller. The controller executes a first processing in which, when a first indicator reaches a preset first value, the controller suppresses rise of a temperature in the printing apparatus. The first indicator is a value that changes based on an increase in the number of sheets printed by the printing device. The controller further executes a second processing in which the controller reduces frequency of execution of the first processing when the number of printings performed by the printing device within a set specific period is equal to or greater than a set reference number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahito SAEKI
  • Publication number: 20140064766
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a printing device configured to print an image on a sheet; a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature in the printing apparatus; and a controller. The controller executes: a first processing in which the controller changes a first indicator based on printing performed by the printing device; a second processing in which the controller changes the first indicator based on a first temperature detected by the temperature detector at a first point in time and a second temperature detected by the temperature detector at a second point in time; and a third processing in which the controller suppresses a rise in the temperature in the printing apparatus when the first indicator reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahito SAEKI
  • Publication number: 20130195500
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body casing; a fixing unit accommodated in the casing and including a heating member and a pressing member; a first wall provided inside the casing at a position above the heating member and the pressing member and extending diagonally downward and forward; an uneven portion provided on the first wall at a position rearward of front end portion of the pressing member to restrain a dew droplet condensed on the first wall from running down along the first wall; a sheet ejection opening formed in the casing such that the recording sheet conveyed out from the fixing unit is ejected outside the casing through the sheet ejection opening; and an exhaust opening formed in the casing at a position rearward of the heating member such that air heated in the fixing unit is discharged outside the casing through the exhaust opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahito Saeki, Hidekazu Nogami, Koyo Yamamoto