Patents by Inventor Shota Iijima

Shota Iijima 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: 10654296
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, including: a head holder; a platen roller; a first support shaft; a roller holder; a moving mechanism configured to move the roller holder; and a biasing member configured to bias the roller holder in an inclined direction inclined with respect to a first direction which is substantially orthogonal to a conveyance direction and in which the roller faces a thermal head toward a second direction side, the second direction opposite to the conveyance direction, wherein, in a state in which the roller holder is located at a pressing position, the roller is held in contact with the head while receiving a biasing force in the first direction from the biasing member, and a first contact portion of the roller holder is held in contact with the head holder in the second direction while receiving a biasing force in the second direction from the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Kentaro Murayama, Takanori Izumi
  • Publication number: 20200108634
    Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA, Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA
  • Patent number: 10589541
    Abstract: A printer includes: a head holder supporting a thermal head; a platen holder supporting a platen roller that presses a printing medium toward the thermal head; an engagement member movably supported by one of the platen holder and the platen roller and engageable with and removable from the head holder; and a moving mechanism configured to move the platen holder and the engagement member and configured to move the engagement member from a disengaged position at which the engagement member is separated from and not engaged with the head holder, to an engaged position at which the engagement member is located at and engaged with the head holder, in conjunction with moving the platen holder from a separated position at which the platen roller is separated from the head holder, to a pressing position at which the platen roller presses the printing medium against the thermal head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Takanori Izumi
  • Patent number: 10438517
    Abstract: A medium includes a base layer and a separation layer. Regions are defined along a first direction. The regions include: a first region in which a portion of the medium which is in contact with the separation layer includes opposite end portions in a second direction, and at least the opposite end portions are stickable; a second region in which a portion of the medium which is in contact with the separation layer is non-stickable; and a third region in which a portion of the medium which is in contact with the separation layer is stickable. A longest length of the first region in the second direction is less than a length of the second region or the third region in the second direction at a particular position in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Murayama, Kazuyuki Katagiri, Daisuke Baba, Yukihiko Sato, Shota Iijima, Haruki Matsumoto, Harumitsu Inoue
  • Patent number: 10414174
    Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima, Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
  • Publication number: 20190263140
    Abstract: A printer includes: a head holder supporting a thermal head; a platen holder supporting a platen roller that presses a printing medium toward the thermal head; an engagement member movably supported by one of the platen holder and the platen roller and engageable with and removable from the head holder; and a moving mechanism configured to move the platen holder and the engagement member and configured to move the engagement member from a disengaged position at which the engagement member is separated from and not engaged with the head holder, to an engaged position at which the engagement member is located at and engaged with the head holder, in conjunction with moving the platen holder from a separated position at which the platen roller is separated from the head holder, to a pressing position at which the platen roller presses the printing medium against the thermal head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Takanori Izumi
  • Publication number: 20190263150
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, including: a head holder; a platen roller; a first support shaft; a roller holder; a moving mechanism configured to move the roller holder; and a biasing member configured to bias the roller holder in an inclined direction inclined with respect to a first direction which is substantially orthogonal to a conveyance direction and in which the roller faces a thermal head toward a second direction side, the second direction opposite to the conveyance direction, wherein, in a state in which the roller holder is located at a pressing position, the roller is held in contact with the head while receiving a biasing force in the first direction from the biasing member, and a first contact portion of the roller holder is held in contact with the head holder in the second direction while receiving a biasing force in the second direction from the biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Kentaro Murayama, Takanori Izumi
  • Publication number: 20190152239
    Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA, Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA
  • Publication number: 20190105924
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA
  • Patent number: 10245857
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a main body; an image recorder; a sheet supporter movable between an opposed position and a retracted position; a cap movable between a contact position and a distant position; a distance-defining member movable between a first position and a second position and configured to define a distance between an upper surface of a sheet and a lower surface of the recorder, the first position being a position where the member partially overlaps a region of the cap at the contact position, the second position being a position where at least a part of the member does not overlap the region; and a controller to control the cap to move from the distant position to the contact position after the supporter has been moved from the opposed position to the retracted position and the member has been moved from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 10207521
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima
  • Publication number: 20180286292
    Abstract: A medium includes a base layer and a separation layer. Regions are defined along a first direction. The regions include: a first region in which a portion of the medium which is in contact with the separation layer includes opposite end portions in a second direction, and at least the opposite end portions are stickable; a second region in which a portion of the medium which is in contact with the separation layer is non-stickable; and a third region in which a portion of the medium which is in contact with the separation layer is stickable. A longest length of the first region in the second direction is less than a length of the second region or the third region in the second direction at a particular position in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Kentaro MURAYAMA, Kazuyuki KATAGIRI, Daisuke BABA, Yukihiko SATO, Shota IIJIMA, Haruki MATSUMOTO, Harumitsu INOUE
  • Patent number: 10086629
    Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima, Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
  • Publication number: 20180257401
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20180215178
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a main body; an image recorder; a sheet supporter movable between an opposed position and a retracted position; a cap movable between a contact position and a distant position; a distance-defining member movable between a first position and a second position and configured to define a distance between an upper surface of a sheet and a lower surface of the recorder, the first position being a position where the member partially overlaps a region of the cap at the contact position, the second position being a position where at least a part of the member does not overlap the region; and a controller to control the cap to move from the distant position to the contact position after the supporter has been moved from the opposed position to the retracted position and the member has been moved from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota IIJIMA
  • Patent number: 9975356
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 9873271
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a main body; an image recorder; a sheet supporter movable between an opposed position and a retracted position; a cap movable between a contact position and a distant position; a distance-defining member movable between a first position and a second position and configured to define a distance between an upper surface of a sheet and a lower surface of the recorder, the first position being a position where the member partially overlaps a region of the cap at the contact position, the second position being a position where at least a part of the member does not overlap the region; and a controller to control the cap to move from the distant position to the contact position after the supporter has been moved from the opposed position to the retracted position and the member has been moved from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Iijima
  • Publication number: 20170355203
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a main body; an image recorder; a sheet supporter movable between an opposed position and a retracted position; a cap movable between a contact position and a distant position; a distance-defining member movable between a first position and a second position and configured to define a distance between an upper surface of a sheet and a lower surface of the recorder, the first position being a position where the member partially overlaps a region of the cap at the contact position, the second position being a position where at least a part of the member does not overlap the region; and a controller to control the cap to move from the distant position to the contact position after the supporter has been moved from the opposed position to the retracted position and the member has been moved from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota IIJIMA
  • Patent number: 9840095
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima
  • Publication number: 20170297349
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Hirotaka AOKI, Satoru NAKAKITA, Shota IIJIMA