Patents by Inventor Shinji UKAI

Shinji UKAI 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: 11951753
    Abstract: A printing cassette includes: a case including a first case portion, a second case portion, and a third case portion; a first tape, at least a portion of which is accommodated in the third case portion; and a gear, a portion of which is accommodated in the second case portion and the other portion of which is located outside of the case, the gear being rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to a first direction. The first case portion has an outlet through which the first tape is discharged. The first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion are disposed in an order of the first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Ukai, Kentaro Murayama
  • Publication number: 20240092105
    Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge includes a first spool, a first case covering the first spool, a second spool, a second case covering the second spool, a first rib provided at the first case, a second rib provided at the second case, an ink ribbon, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The first spool extends in a first direction and the second spool extends in a second direction. The first protrusion protrudes in the first direction from an end of the first case in the first direction. The second protrusion protrudes in the second direction from an end of the second case in the second direction. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are respectively fitted in a first hole and a second hole of a first frame of a printing device in a state where the ink ribbon cartridge is attached the printing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Yuya NAKAMURA, Shinji UKAI
  • Patent number: 11932011
    Abstract: A printing cassette that is to be attached to and detached from a printing apparatus main body is provided. The printing cassette includes: a first roll in which a first tape is wound around a winding center axis parallel to a first direction; and an input gear that is disposed at a different position from the first roll in the first direction, engaging another gear, and configured to transmit a driving force of a drive shaft of the printing apparatus to the another gear. The first roll has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface. The drive shaft is inserted into the hollow portion of the first roll and the input gear is engaged with the drive shaft in a state where the printing cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ukai
  • Patent number: 11932028
    Abstract: A printing device includes a housing, a print head, a platen roller, a holder, and a cover. The housing has a cassette attaching opening through which a printing cassette accommodating a printing tape is attachable to the housing. The holder holds one of the print head and the platen roller. The holder is movable between a nip position in which the print head and the platen roller nip the printing tape and a non-nip position in which the print head and the platen roller do not nip the printing tape. The cover is attachable to the housing. The cover is movable between a covering position to cover at least part of the cassette attaching opening and an engaged position to engage with the housing. The holder moves from the non-nip position to the nip position in conjunction with movement of the cover from the covering position to the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya Tagami, Shinji Ukai
  • Publication number: 20240051314
    Abstract: A printing device includes a printing cassette, and a platen roller. The printing cassette includes: a print tape; an input part into which a drive force is to be inputted; an output part rotatable about a rotational axis extending in a first direction; a transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive force from the input part to the output part; and a case. The case houses therein at least a part of the print tape, at least a part of the input part, at least a part of the output part, and at least part of the transmission mechanism. At least a part of the output part is positioned outside the case. The output part is positioned inside an outer edge of the case in a projection view where the output part and the case are projected onto a plane perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Shinji Ukai, Kentaro Murayama
  • Publication number: 20240010014
    Abstract: There is provided a printing cassette attachable to a printer body including a cassette accommodating portion provided with a first engaging portion. The printing cassette includes a printing tape roll configured of a printing tape, and a guide case arranged at a different position from the printing tape roll in a first direction parallel to a center axis of the printing tape roll. The guide case has a guide portion configured to guide the printing tape paid out from the printing tape roll, a first side surface positioned to overlap with the guide portion in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a first engagement surface engageable with the first engaging portion. The first engagement surface extends from the first side surface to cross therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Shinji UKAI, Kentaro MURAYAMA, Yuya TAGAMI
  • Publication number: 20240010013
    Abstract: A printing cassette is attachable to a printer body including a cassette accommodating portion provided with a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion. The printing cassette includes a power transmission mechanism including an input rotational part and an output rotational part, and a guide case accommodating the power transmission mechanism therein. The guide case has a guide portion configured to guide a printing tape, a first side surface and a second side surface interposing the power transmission mechanism therebetween, a first engagement surface engageable with the first engaging portion, and a second engagement surface engageable with the second engaging portion. A first imaginary straight line is defined in the printing cassette, the first imaginary straight line passing through the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface and being interposed between a rotation axis of the input rotational part and a rotation axis of the output rotational part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Shinji UKAI, Kentaro MURAYAMA, Kosuke HIGASHI
  • Patent number: 11840069
    Abstract: A printing device includes a printing cassette, and a platen roller. The printing cassette includes: a print tape; an input part into which a drive force is to be inputted; an output part rotatable about a rotational axis extending in a first direction; a transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive force from the input part to the output part; and a case. The case houses therein at least a part of the print tape, at least a part of the input part, at least a part of the output part, and at least part of the transmission mechanism. At least a part of the output part is positioned outside the case. The output part is positioned inside an outer edge of the case in a projection view where the output part and the case are projected onto a plane perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Ukai, Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 11813879
    Abstract: A printer includes a housing having a first surface having a cassette mounting opening, a print head extending toward the cassette mounting opening from an inside of the housing, a platen roller, and a printing cassette mountable on the housing by insertion to the cassette mounting opening in a first direction. The first surface has first and second areas both adjacent to the cassette mounting opening. The second area is opposite to the first area with respect to the cassette mounting opening in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first and second areas are located upstream from the print head in a cassette mounting direction. In a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing, respective portions of the printing cassette adjacent to the first and second areas are located outside the housing beyond the first and second areas, respectively, in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Ukai, Kentaro Murayama
  • Publication number: 20230302826
    Abstract: A printing device includes a cassette accommodation portion, a platen roller, a cutter, a motor, a first drive transmission portion and a second drive transmission portion. A printing cassette incorporating a printing tape is detachably attachable to the cassette accommodation portion. The platen roller is rotatable to convey the printing tape of the printing cassette. The first drive transmission portion is configured to transmit a drive force of the motor to the platen roller in a state where the printing cassette is attached to the cassette accommodation portion. The second drive transmission portion is configured to transmit the drive force of the motor to the cutter. The motor has at least a portion overlapping the cassette accommodation portion in a first direction parallel to a rotational axis of the platen roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Yuya TAGAMI, Shinji UKAI
  • Publication number: 20230234387
    Abstract: A printing device includes a housing, a printing head, and an input unit. The housing includes a cassette accommodating portion to which a tape cassette accommodating a roll of a printing tape is detachably attachable. The cassette accommodating portion has an insertion opening through which the tape cassette can be inserted in an insertion direction. The printing head includes heat-generating elements arrayed in a scanning direction crossing an imaginary plane perpendicular to the insertion direction. The housing has: a principal surface at which the input unit is provided; a side surface crossing the principal surface and the imaginary plane; and a discharge opening formed in the side surface. The insertion opening is positioned above the input unit. At the discharge opening, a normal direction of a printed surface of the printing tape and a normal direction of the principal surface define an interior angle of less than 45 degrees therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Masahide ASANO, Takahiro OGAWA, Shinji UKAI
  • Publication number: 20230219354
    Abstract: An auxiliary tape cassette includes: an auxiliary tape; a gear; and a case. The auxiliary tape is used for printing on a printing tape. The gear transmits a driving force from an outside. The case accommodates therein at least a part of the auxiliary tape and at least a part of the gear. The case has: a discharge opening; and a guide part. The discharge opening discharges the printing tape to an outside. The guide part guides the printing tape supplied from an outside of the case toward the discharge opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Kosuke HIGASHI, Kentaro MURAYAMA, Shinji UKAI
  • Publication number: 20230219353
    Abstract: A printing cassette includes a case, a tape, and a label. The case includes a first case part and a second case part. The first case part and the second case part are coupled to each other. The tape is for printing. At least a portion of the tape is housed in the case. The label is provided with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag having an antenna. The label is affixed across both the first case part and the second case part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Kosuke HIGASHI, Shinji UKAI
  • Publication number: 20230219357
    Abstract: An auxiliary tape cassette includes a roll configured of a wound auxiliary tape and a case housing the roll. The auxiliary tape is for printing on a printing tape. The case has a discharge port for discharging the printing tape and a guide surface for guiding the printing tape toward the discharge port. The guide surface is defined on an inner surface or an outer surface of the case. The printing tape is wrapped around the guide surface to form a spiral portion whose angle of rotation about a central axis of the spiral portion is greater than or equal to 180 degrees. The central axis is parallel to a winding axis of the roll. The guide surface includes a curved surface for guiding at least a portion of the spiral portion on an upstream side of the discharge port in a discharging direction of the printing tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Shinji UKAI, Kosuke HIGASHI
  • Publication number: 20220258499
    Abstract: In a print device, the conveyance member conveys a tape on which printing is performed. The tape has a base material and a release material bonded together. The tape includes a print portion on which an image is printed by the head. The printed tape is used to create a printed matter. The half cutter performs a half cut to cut through the release material without cutting through the base material. The full cutter performs a full cut to cut through the tape conveyed by the conveyance member. The controller controls the half cut so that the half cutter cuts through the release material at a position downstream side of a most downstream end of the print portion of the printed tape, which is conveyed by the conveyance member and is printed by the head, in a conveying direction of the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Shinji UKAI, Hiromitsu MIZUTANI, Kentaro MURAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220242145
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a housing having a cassette attachment opening; a cover; a printing head; a platen roller; a holder holding one of the printing head and the platen roller; and a restriction member. The cover is movable between: a closed position where the cover covers at least a portion of the cassette attachment opening; and an open position where a printing cassette accommodating a printing tape is attachable to the housing. The holder is movable between: a nipping position where the printing head and the platen roller nip the printing tape therebetween; and a non-nipping position where the printing head and the platen roller do not nip the printing tape therebetween. The restriction member restricts movement of the holder when the cover is at a position other than the closed position. The restriction member allows the movement of the holder when the cover is at the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventor: Shinji UKAI
  • Publication number: 20220242153
    Abstract: A printing device includes a housing, a print head, a platen roller, a holder, and a cover. The housing has a cassette attaching opening through which a printing cassette accommodating a printing tape is attachable to the housing. The holder holds one of the print head and the platen roller. The holder is movable between a nip position in which the print head and the platen roller nip the printing tape and a non-nip position in which the print head and the platen roller do not nip the printing tape. The cover is attachable to the housing. The cover is movable between a covering position to cover at least part of the cassette attaching opening and an engaged position to engage with the housing. The holder moves from the non-nip position to the nip position in conjunction with movement of the cover from the covering position to the engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Yuya TAGAMI, Shinji UKAI
  • Publication number: 20220212484
    Abstract: A printing cassette that is to be attached to and detached from a printing apparatus main body is provided. The printing cassette includes: a first roll in which a first tape is wound around a winding center axis parallel to a first direction; and an input gear that is disposed at a different position from the first roll in the first direction, engaging another gear, and configured to transmit a driving force of a drive shaft of the printing apparatus to the another gear. The first roll has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface. The drive shaft is inserted into the hollow portion of the first roll and the input gear is engaged with the drive shaft in a state where the printing cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventor: Shinji Ukai
  • Patent number: D1009990
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Ukai, Kentaro Murayama, Yuya Tagami, Kosuke Higashi
  • Patent number: D1009991
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Ukai, Kentaro Murayama, Yuya Tagami, Kosuke Higashi