Patents by Inventor Mitsugi Tanaka

Mitsugi Tanaka 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: 11964476
    Abstract: A print device includes a supply unit, a print unit, a conveyer, a tensioner, and a rotor. The conveyer is configured to nip and to convey, with a pair of rollers, a long medium in a conveyance direction. The tensioner is configured to contact a second surface of the medium to cause the medium to bend. The tensioner is pivotably supported at a position upstream of the conveyer in the conveyance direction. The rotor is rotatably supported at a position upstream of the conveyer in the conveyance direction, and positioned downstream, in the conveyance direction, of an upstream end portion, in the conveyance direction, of the tensioner. The rotor is positioned such that an upper end of the rotor and a nipped point are at a same height. The rotor is configured to contact the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiya Tomatsu, Mitsugi Tanaka, Yoji Tsujishita, Masayuki Okumura
  • Publication number: 20230202171
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a casing; a conveyor positioned inside the casing and configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction; a recording part positioned inside the casing and configured to record an image, with an ink, on the sheet conveyed by the conveyor; a heater positioned inside the casing, on a downstream side in the conveying direction of the recording part, and configured to heat at least one of the sheet and the ink; a reading part positioned inside the casing, on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the heater, and configured to optically read the image recorded on the sheet; and a blower positioned inside the casing and configured to generate an air current toward the reading part and toward the sheet located at a position on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Mitsugi TANAKA, Yoshikazu SHIMIZU, Takahiro NISHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230202781
    Abstract: There is provided a sheet conveying apparatus including: a casing having an opening; a cover configured to uncover and cover the opening; a holder configured to hold a roll body, the roll body including a sheet being rolled; a slidable support attached to the casing, the slidable support being configured to support the holder, the slidable support being configured to slide to an accommodated position at which the slidable support is accommodated within the casing and to a drawn position at which at least a part of the slidable support is positioned at outside of the casing with respect to the opening; and a conveyer configured to convey the sheet of the roll body in a state that the slidable support is at the accommodated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Yoji Tsujishita, Yoshiya Tomatsu, Mitsugi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20230144080
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a conveyer configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction; a head configured to discharge a liquid toward the sheet; a heater configured to heat the sheet and/or the liquid on the sheet; a reader positioned downstream in the conveying direction of the heater, the reader being configured to read an image, on the sheet, formed by the head and the heater; and a holder positioned between the reader and the heater in the conveying direction, the holder being configured to hold a body of rotation configured to contact a recording surface of the sheet. In a crossing direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and crossing the recording surface of the sheet being conveyed by the conveyer, both ends in the crossing direction of the holder are positioned outside of both ends in the crossing direction of the reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Mitsugi TANAKA, Yoshikazu SHIMIZU, Takahiro NISHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230144530
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a casing; a first cover configured to move to an open position and to a close position; a conveyor configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction; a recording head configured to discharge a liquid onto the sheet; a heater configured to heat at least one of the sheet and the liquid discharged to the sheet; a second cover configured to cover the heater. The second cover is configured to move to a cover position at which the second cover covers the heater so that the heater is not exposed to the outside and to an expose position at which the second cover allows the heater to be exposed to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Mitsugi TANAKA, Yoshikazu SHIMIZU, Takahiro NISHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11628671
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a head unit including two first heads and a second head; a support unit arranged to face the head unit and has a support surface; and a sensor arranged between a first virtual line extending in a conveyance direction so as to pass an end of a nozzle group area, of one of the two first heads, defined on a side of other of the two first heads and a second virtual line extending in the conveyance direction so as to pass an end of a nozzle group area, of the other of the two heads, defined on a side of the one of the two first heads, and arranged, in the conveyance direction, upstream of a nozzle group of the second head, the sensor including a projecting member which projects toward the supporting surface with respect to a nozzle surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsugi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11590756
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus is provided, which comprises a conveyor, a support member which supports a medium existing in a conveying passage, a head, a maintenance mechanism which has a wiper, and a wiper cleaner. The maintenance mechanism is opposed to a nozzle surface of the head and movable to a wiping position at which the wiper abuts against the nozzle surface and a cleaning position at which the wiper abuts against the wiper cleaner. The wiper cleaner is disposed at a position at which a part thereof is overlapped with the support member in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface under or below the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsugi Tanaka, Yoshikazu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11586137
    Abstract: A conveyor includes: a receiver that detachably receives a roll-like sheet; a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet in a conveyance orientation along a conveyance surface; and a tensioner that applies tension to the sheet at a position upstream of the conveyance unit in the conveyance orientation. The tensioner includes: a frame having a groove pair extending in a first direction along the conveyance orientation; a guide having a curved surface that contacts the sheet and an engagement member pair that engages with the groove pair; a pivoting member that pivots around an axis extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and parallel to the conveyance surface; a transmission member that transmits pivoting of the pivoting member to the guide; and an urging member that applies urging force including a component in the first direction to the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiya Tomatsu, Mitsugi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11554599
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a printing unit which performs printing on a medium, a main body; a conveyer which conveys the medium; a post-processing unit which performs a post-processing for the medium on which the printing has been performed by the printing unit; a first cover rotatably supported by the main body and in which at least the post-processing part is installed; a second cover arranged to be adjacent to the first cover and supported by the main body such that the second cover is rotatable coaxially with the first cover; and an engaging mechanism which changes a state of the first cover and the second cover between an engaged state and a non-engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsugi Tanaka, Akito Uekihara
  • Publication number: 20220402284
    Abstract: A print device includes a supply unit, a print unit, a conveyer, a tensioner, and a rotor. The conveyer is configured to nip and to convey, with a pair of rollers, a long medium in a conveyance direction. The tensioner is configured to contact a second surface of the medium to cause the medium to bend. The tensioner is pivotably supported at a position upstream of the conveyer in the conveyance direction. The rotor is rotatably supported at a position upstream of the conveyer in the conveyance direction, and positioned downstream, in the conveyance direction, of an upstream end portion, in the conveyance direction, of the tensioner. The rotor is positioned such that an upper end of the rotor and a nipped point are at a same height. The rotor is configured to contact the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshiya Tomatsu, Mitsugi Tanaka, Yoji Tsujishita, Masayuki Okumura
  • Patent number: 11458735
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a casing having: a first surface and a second surface positioned apart in a first direction; a third surface and a fourth surface positioned apart in a second direction; and a fifth surface and a sixth surface positioned apart in a third direction; a head; a tank storing a liquid to be supplied to the head; and a sheet accommodating portion accommodating a sheet. The tank is positioned between the first surface and the sheet accommodating portion in the first direction. A range occupied by the tank at least partially overlaps with a range occupied by the sheet accommodating portion in the second direction. A range occupied by the tank at least partially overlaps with a range occupied by the sheet accommodating portion in the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsugi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11427004
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus is provided, which comprises a conveyer, a rotatable support mechanism which supports a medium, a head, and a maintenance mechanism which has a cap configured to cover nozzles of the head. The support mechanism is configured to rotate about a rotation shaft to a first rotation position and a second rotation position at which a rotation end is separated further from the head as compared with a situation provided at the first rotation position. The maintenance mechanism is configured to move to a waiting position which is positioned oppositely to the rotation shaft of the support mechanism with respect to the rotation end of the support mechanism and a maintenance position which is positioned between the head and the support mechanism disposed at the second rotation position and at which the cap covers the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsugi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20220169046
    Abstract: A first conveyor conveys a print medium in a conveyance direction from a holder toward a print head and in a return direction opposite to the conveyance direction. A tensioner applies back tension to the print medium between the holder and the first conveyor. A first motor drives the first conveyor. The controller controls the print head and the first motor. The controller performs a correction process of controlling the first motor to repeat a first conveyance and a second conveyance sequentially a plurality of times. The first conveyance is conveying the print medium in the conveyance direction in a state where the back tension is applied to the print medium by the tensioner. The second conveyance is conveying the print medium in the return direction in a state where the back tension is not applied to the print medium by the tensioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsugi TANAKA
  • Patent number: 11345175
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus is provided, which comprises a head, a maintenance mechanism which has a cap and which is movable to a maintenance position and a waiting position, a first support mechanism which supports the maintenance mechanism disposed at the maintenance position, and a second support mechanism which supports the maintenance mechanism disposed at the waiting position. One of the first and second support mechanisms is relatively movable to a first position and a second position with respect to the other. When the one of them is disposed at the first position, both of them is configured to support the maintenance mechanism simultaneously. When the one of them is disposed at the second position, the other of them is separated away from the maintenance mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio Ogawa, Mitsugi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11235595
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a sheet storing part configured to store a sheet; a conveying mechanism configured to convey the sheet taken out from the sheet storing part; a first frame and a second frame arranged in an opposing direction with the conveying mechanism interposed therebetween; a printing part configured to perform printing on the sheet conveyed by the conveying mechanism; a cover composing at least a part of an upstream side, of the printing apparatus, with respect to the printing part in a conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed by the conveying mechanism; and a rotational shaft extending in the opposing direction and configured to support the cover to be rotatable. The rotational shaft has a first end and a second end in the opposing direction, and the first end is supported by the first frame and the second end is separated away from the second frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsugi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20210178766
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus is provided, which comprises a conveyor, a support member which supports a medium existing in a conveying passage, a head, a maintenance mechanism which has a wiper, and a wiper cleaner. The maintenance mechanism is opposed to a nozzle surface of the head and movable to a wiping position at which the wiper abuts against the nozzle surface and a cleaning position at which the wiper abuts against the wiper cleaner. The wiper cleaner is disposed at a position at which a part thereof is overlapped with the support member in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface under or below the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Mitsugi TANAKA, Yoshikazu SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20210178782
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a sheet storing part configured to store a sheet; a conveying mechanism configured to convey the sheet taken out from the sheet storing part; a first frame and a second frame arranged in an opposing direction with the conveying mechanism interposed therebetween; a printing part configured to perform printing on the sheet conveyed by the conveying mechanism; a cover composing at least a part of an upstream side, of the printing apparatus, with respect to the printing part in a conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed by the conveying mechanism; and a rotational shaft extending in the opposing direction and configured to support the cover to be rotatable. The rotational shaft has a first end and a second end in the opposing direction, and the first end is supported by the first frame and the second end is separated away from the second frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: Mitsugi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210178787
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a printing unit which performs printing on a medium, a main body; a conveyer which conveys the medium; a post-processing unit which performs a post-processing for the medium on which the printing has been performed by the printing unit; a first cover rotatably supported by the main body and in which at least the post-processing part is installed; a second cover arranged to be adjacent to the first cover and supported by the main body such that the second cover is rotatable coaxially with the first cover; and an engaging mechanism which changes a state of the first cover and the second cover between an engaged state and a non-engaged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Mitsugi TANAKA, Akito UEKIHARA
  • Publication number: 20210178789
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus is provided, which comprises a head, a maintenance mechanism which has a cap and which is movable to a maintenance position and a waiting position, a first support mechanism which supports the maintenance mechanism disposed at the maintenance position, and a second support mechanism which supports the maintenance mechanism disposed at the waiting position. One of the first and second support mechanisms is relatively movable to a first position and a second position with respect to the other. When the one of them is disposed at the first position, both of them is configured to support the maintenance mechanism simultaneously. When the one of them is disposed at the second position, the other of them is separated away from the maintenance mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Mikio OGAWA, Mitsugi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210181666
    Abstract: A conveyor includes: a receiver that detachably receives a roll-like sheet; a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet in a conveyance orientation along a conveyance surface; and a tensioner that applies tension to the sheet at a position upstream of the conveyance unit in the conveyance orientation. The tensioner includes: a frame having a groove pair extending in a first direction along the conveyance orientation; a guide having a curved surface that contacts the sheet and an engagement member pair that engages with the groove pair; a pivoting member that pivots around an axis extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and parallel to the conveyance surface; a transmission member that transmits pivoting of the pivoting member to the guide; and an urging member that applies urging force including a component in the first direction to the guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshiya Tomatsu, Mitsugi Tanaka