Patents by Inventor Noriyuki Kawamata

Noriyuki Kawamata 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: 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
  • Patent number: 9162493
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a transporting roller; a driven roller provided opposite the transporting roller to sandwich the recording medium between the driven roller and the transporting roller, while moving in an approaching-departing direction based on a thickness of the recording medium; a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller; a platen; a recording portion configured to jet ink droplets from nozzles; and a cooperative portion moving along with the movement of the driven roller in the approaching-departing direction to move the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriyuki Kawamata
  • Publication number: 20150274463
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a housing including a frame and a conveyance path; a recording device which records an image on a sheet conveyed along the conveyance path; a first roller located upstream of the recording device; a second roller opposed to the first roller; a guide member pivotable between a first position for partly defining the conveyance path and a second position where the conveyance path is open; a roller holder coupled to the guide member and supporting the second roller; an urging portion which urges the second roller toward the first roller; and an engaging portion supported by the roller holder and configured to, when the guide member is located at the first position, be engaged with the frame to position the roller holder to a third position where the second roller contacts the first roller by an urging force of the urging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki KAWAMATA, Yasuhira OTA
  • Publication number: 20150274462
    Abstract: A conveying device includes: a housing having a conveyance path; a first roller disposed on the conveyance path; a second roller which is opposed to the first roller; a guide member whose state is changeable between a first state in which the guide member partly defines the conveyance path and a second state in which the guide member exposes the conveyance path; a roller holder supporting the second roller; an urging force applier configured to apply, to the second roller, an urging force in a first direction directed from the second roller toward the first roller; and an urging force adjuster configured to adjust the urging force to a first value when the guide member is in the first state and adjust the urging force to a second value when the guide member is in the second state, the second value being less than the first value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki KAWAMATA, Yasuhira OTA
  • Publication number: 20150273902
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a housing having a sheet conveyance path having curved and extending portions; and a pivotable guide member at least partly defining the curved portion and pivotable. The guide member has a first guide portion and a second guide portion pivotably coupled to it. The first guide portion is pivotable between a first position for partly defining the curved portion and a second position where the curved portion is open. The second guide portion is movable between a third position where the second guide portion partly defines the curved portion with the first guide portion located at the first position and a fourth position where the second guide portion extends in a direction from an inner side to the outer side of the curved portion with the first guide portion located at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhira OTA, Noriyuki KAWAMATA
  • Publication number: 20150274474
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a casing; a sheet-feeder tray having a supporting surface for supporting a sheet-shaped recording medium; a recording unit which is configured to record an image on the recording medium fed from the sheet-feeder tray; a discharge roller pair configured to discharge, from the casing, the recording medium on which the image has been recorded by the recording unit; an opening-closing member which is provided on the downstream of the discharge roller pair in a direction in which the recording medium is discharged by the discharge roller pair and is rotatable between a first position where a discharging slot of the recording medium discharged by the discharge roller pair is closed and a second position where the discharging slot is open; and a restricting mechanism configured to restrict the rotation of the opening-closing member from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhira OTA, Noriyuki KAWAMATA, Motohiro OKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20150274461
    Abstract: A first actuator is detected at a first detection position by a detecting unit when no sheet is held on a feed tray, and is not detected at a first non-detection position by the detecting unit when the first actuator is in contact with a sheet held on the feed tray. A second actuator is detected at a second detection position by the detecting unit when the second actuator is in contact, at a predetermined position downstream of the first actuator in a conveying direction, with a sheet conveyed, and is not detected at a second non-detection position by the detecting unit when the second actuator is out of contact, at the predetermined position, with the sheet conveyed. A restricting member restricts the first actuator from moving from the first non-detection position to the first detection position when the second actuator is at the second detection position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhira OTA, Noriyuki KAWAMATA, Takashi OMURA
  • Publication number: 20150266684
    Abstract: A conveyor includes: a supporting member which supports the first and second roller units to allow the first and second rollers to take one of a first conveyance position and a first retracted position; a movable member which is movable between a first position where the first roller and the second roller take the first conveyance position and a second position where the rollers take the first retracted position; a cover member which is switchable between a closed state where the cover member is a part of the conveyance passage and an open state where a part of the conveyance passage is open; and an interlocking mechanism which is configured to move the movable member to the second position when the cover member is in the open state and moves the movable member to the first position when the cover member is in the closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki KAWAMATA, Yasuhira OTA
  • Publication number: 20150266686
    Abstract: A conveyor includes: a conveyor roller unit including a conveyor roller; a transmission mechanism; a driven roller unit including a driven roller; a supporting member which supports the conveyor roller unit and the driven roller unit to allow the conveyor roller unit and the driven roller unit to take a conveyance position or a retracted position; and a movable member which is movable between a first position where the conveyor roller and the driven roller take the conveyance position and a second position where the conveyor roller and the driven roller take the refracted position. The movable member moves from the second position to the first position when the conveyor roller in the second position rotates in one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki KAWAMATA, Yasuhira OTA
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150231903
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a first transporting portion provided in a first transport path; a support member configured to support the sheet; a recording portion; a plurality of contact portions configured to come into contact with the sheet; a plurality of support ribs; a second transporting portion provided in a second transport path connected with the first transport path; and a third transporting portion configured to sandwich and transport the sheet in the first transporting direction or toward the second transport path. On the upstream side to the second transporting portion in the second transporting direction, a projecting portion is formed with the upper guide member to project toward the lower guide member below a virtual line linking a nip position of the sheet due to the third transporting portion with another nip position of the sheet due to the second transporting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Noriyuki Kawamata, Takashi Omura
  • 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: 20150124036
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a transporting roller; a driven roller provided opposite the transporting roller to sandwich the recording medium between the driven roller and the transporting roller, while moving in an approaching-departing direction based on a thickness of the recording medium; a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller; a platen; a recording portion configured to jet ink droplets from nozzles; and a cooperative portion moving along with the movement of the driven roller in the approaching-departing direction to move the platen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Noriyuki Kawamata
  • Patent number: 9022555
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a first transporting portion provided in a first transport path; a support member configured to support the sheet; a recording portion; a plurality of contact portions configured to come into contact with the sheet; a plurality of support ribs; a second transporting portion provided in a second transport path connected with the first transport path; and a third transporting portion configured to sandwich and transport the sheet in the first transporting direction or toward the second transport path. On the upstream side to the second transporting portion in the second transporting direction, a projecting portion is formed with the upper guide member to project toward the lower guide member below a virtual line linking a nip position of the sheet due to the third transporting portion with another nip position of the sheet due to the second transporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Noriyuki Kawamata, Takashi Omura
  • Publication number: 20150062274
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including a transporting path, a recording section, a first and second rollers pinching the recording medium therebetween, a supporting member which rotatably supports the second roller, a holding member which is movable along a transporting direction of the recording medium, a bias applying member which applies a bias on the holding member, in an opposite direction opposite to the transporting direction and a load member which generates a load in the opposite direction, with respect to the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Yuji Koga, Wataru Sugiyama, Kenji Samoto
  • Patent number: 8950857
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a transporting roller; a driven roller provided opposite the transporting roller to sandwich the recording medium between the driven roller and the transporting roller, while moving in an approaching-departuring direction based on a thickness of the recording medium; a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller; a platen; a recording portion configured to jet ink droplets from nozzles; and a cooperative portion moving along with the movement of the driven roller in the approaching-departuring direction to move the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriyuki Kawamata
  • Patent number: 8919320
    Abstract: In an engine having an oil pump wherein an oil filter is incorporated into the oil pump without allowing the oil pump to become large in size. An oil pump and a hydraulic line changeover valve including a spool valve are disposed so as to have axes extending in parallel with each other. The oil pump has a plate-shaped oil filter disposed at a discharge port thereof. The plate-shaped oil filter is curved arcuately along an outer periphery of a pump rotor as viewed from a pump axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Hayato Maehara, Eisuke Kajihara, Kazuhiro Takeuchi, Norihiko Gogami, Satoshi Ino
  • Patent number: 8882108
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including a transporting path, a recording section, a first and second rollers pinching the recording medium therebetween, a supporting member which rotatably supports the second roller, a holding member which is movable along a transporting direction of the recording medium, a bias applying member which applies a bias on the holding member, in an opposite direction opposite to the transporting direction and a load member which generates a load in the opposite direction, with respect to the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Yuji Koga, Wataru Sugiyama, Kenji Samoto