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: 8567941
    Abstract: There is provided a transporting device transporting a medium, including: a first member pair which changes a posture of the first member pair between a first posture and a second posture; a second member pair which changes a posture of the second member pair between a third posture and a fourth posture; and a movable member which is movable between a fifth posture and a sixth posture, and which has a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion, wherein, in a process that the movable member moves from the fifth posture to the sixth posture, the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture from the first posture to the second posture, and while the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture, the second abutting portion abuts on one of the second member pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwane Sano, Yasuhira Ota, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shota Iijima, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20130272770
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a particular tray, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the particular tray to a first conveying path in a feed direction, a recording unit positioned along the first conveying path, and a driving roller positioned along a second conveying path and configured to convey the sheet, after the sheet passes the recording unit, along the second conveying path and back to the first conveying path. The particular tray includes a side guide configured to position the sheets in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The side guide includes a guide member that defines at least a portion of the second conveying path and is configured to guide the sheet along the second conveying path, and a driven roller rotatably supported on the guide member and configured to pinch the sheet against the driving roller as the sheet is conveyed along the second conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Shota IIJIMA, Masatoshi IZUCHI, Satoru NAKAKITA
  • Patent number: 8556410
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a recording portion; a tray on which a first recording medium is placed; a convey path for conveying a second recording medium and the tray; a tray guide changeable among (a) a first posture in which the tray guide supports the tray, (b) a second posture whose position is different from that of the first posture in a direction intersecting the convey path, and (c) a third posture in which an upstream portion of the tray guide in the tray-enter direction is nearer to the convey path than that in the second posture; a first posture-change portion which changes the tray guide from the second to the third posture; and a second posture-change portion which changes the tray guide from the third to the first posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Shota Iijima, Naokazu Tanahashi, Iwane Sano, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 8508819
    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: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Hirotaka Aoki, Satoru Nakakita, Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 8503923
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a particular tray, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the particular tray to a first conveying path in a feed direction, a recording unit positioned along the first conveying path, and a driving roller positioned along a second conveying path and configured to convey the sheet, after the sheet passes the recording unit, along the second conveying path and back to the first conveying path. The particular tray includes a side guide configured to position the sheets in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The side guide includes a guide member that defines at least a portion of the second conveying path and is configured to guide the sheet along the second conveying path, and a driven roller rotatably supported on the guide member and configured to pinch the sheet against the driving roller as the sheet is conveyed along the second conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shota Iijima, Masatoshi Izuchi, Satoru Nakakita
  • Publication number: 20130135641
    Abstract: A feeder feeds a first recording medium in a first direction. A curved guide guides the first recording medium fed by the feeder upward along a first path. An upper guide receives a leading edge of the first recording medium, guided by the curved guide, and guides the first recording medium in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction. An insertion guide guides, along a second path, a second recording medium inserted from an opening. A conveying unit disposed downstream of the upper guide in the second direction conveys the first recording medium and the second recording medium to a recording unit which records an image on each recording medium supported by a supporting unit. A deflecting member has a surface inclined with respect to the second direction and deflects a leading edge of the second recording medium, guided by the insertion guide, upward toward the upper guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota IIJIMA, Iwane SANO
  • Patent number: 8419007
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a first arm configured to pivot between a first position and a second position in response to mounting and removal of a tray to and from the image recording device, a first driving roller attached to an end of the first arm and configured to convey a sheet from the tray toward a first conveying path, a recording unit configured to record an image on the sheet conveyed along the first conveying path, a second arm configured to pivot between a third position and a fourth position, and a second driving roller attached to an end of the second arm and configured to convey the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof, along a second conveying path toward the first conveying path. The second arm pivots from the third position to the fourth position when the first arm pivots from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Iijima
  • Publication number: 20130084119
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a first transporting portion with a first transporting path formed to guide a sheet with its recording surface facing upward, a recording portion, a transporting roller, a second transporting portion with a second transporting path, a first flap, a sandwiching member sandwich the sheet between itself and the first flap, and a second flap. The first flap turn between a first position being able to guide the sheet along the first transporting path and a second position spaced downward from the sandwiching member farther than in the first position, and the second flap change between a third position for a third surface to define a guide surface of the second transporting path and a fourth position to open up the second transporting path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota IIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20130083146
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a platen provided on a lower side of a first transporting path; a recording portion facing the platen; a contacting member contacts on the sheet; a transporting roller; a flap having a first surface defining the first transporting path and a second surface defining a second transporting path; a sandwiching member; and a biasing member biasing the flap toward the sandwiching member. The flap is turnable to be in a first position capable of guiding the sheet in the first transporting path and in a second position blocking the first transporting path. A lower end of the sandwiching member is positioned higher than a lower end of the contacting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota IIJIMA
  • Patent number: 8379264
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a reading mechanism having an original placement portion on which an original document is placed for reading an image; a recording mechanism having a medium supply tray on which a recording medium is set, the recording mechanism being disposed in such a manner that a longitudinal direction of the medium supply tray is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the original placement portion; an angular casing that houses the reading mechanism and the recording mechanism while stacking the reading mechanism and the recording mechanism vertically; and a cartridge holder that houses an ink cartridge and is disposed in a space located at a corner position of the casing below the reading mechanism and surrounded by a circumferential wall of the casing and a side wall of the medium supply tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Hattori, Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 8272722
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a case defining an ink chamber therein, in which the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein, and the case comprises a particular wall having an opening formed therethough. The ink cartridge also includes an ink supply portion configured to dispense ink from an interior of the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber, and a sealing portion positioned at the particular wall. A predetermined portion of the sealing portion is configured to selectively cover a first portion of the opening. Moreover, the ink cartridge includes a protrusion positioned at the particular wall, in which the protrusion is configured to selectively cover a second portion of the opening, and a predetermined portion of the protrusion is configured to be selectively connected to the predetermined portion of the sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Iijima
  • Publication number: 20120188321
    Abstract: A conveyor device includes a drive roller that conveys a tray or a sheet through a conveying path, a rotating shaft that rotates between a first position and a second position, a spur roller that moves between a fourth position, in which the spur roller approaches the drive roller, and a fifth position, in which the spur roller separates from the drive roller at a distance greater than a thickness of the tray, an elastic shaft that supports the spur roller and urges the spur roller toward the drive roller, a first contacting portion that contacts one surface of the tray passing through the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the second position; and a second contacting portion that deforms the elastic shaft and that moves the spur roller to the fifth position when the rotating shaft rotates from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Iwane Sano
  • Publication number: 20120188320
    Abstract: A conveyor device includes a drive roller that conveys a tray or a sheet through a conveying path, a rotating shaft that rotates between a third position and a second position via a first position, a spur roller that moves between a fourth position and a fifth position, a first contacting portion that is disposed in the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the first position and that contacts one surface of the tray passing through the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the second position, and is separated from the conveying path when the rotating shaft is in the third position, a second contacting portion that moves the spur roller, and a rotating unit configured to rotate the rotating shaft from the third position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota IIJIMA, Iwane SANO
  • Publication number: 20120161380
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a first arm configured to pivot between a first position and a second position in response to mounting and removal of a tray to and from the image recording device, a first driving roller attached to an end of the first arm and configured to convey a sheet from the tray toward a first conveying path, a recording unit configured to record an image on the sheet conveyed along the first conveying path, a second arm configured to pivot between a third position and a fourth position, and a second driving roller attached to an end of the second arm and configured to convey the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof, along a second conveying path toward the first conveying path. The second arm pivots from the third position to the fourth position when the first arm pivots from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota IIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20120147408
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a reading mechanism having an original placement portion on which an original document is placed for reading an image; a recording mechanism having a medium supply tray on which a recording medium is set, the recording mechanism being disposed in such a manner that a longitudinal direction of the medium supply tray is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the original placement portion; an angular casing that houses the reading mechanism and the recording mechanism while stacking the reading mechanism and the recording mechanism vertically; and a cartridge holder that houses an ink cartridge and is disposed in a space located at a corner position of the casing below the reading mechanism and surrounded by a circumferential wall of the casing and a side wall of the medium supply tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuharu HATTORI, Shota IIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20120105889
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a reading mechanism having an original placement portion on which an original document is placed for reading an image; a recording mechanism having a medium supply tray on which a recording medium is set, the recording mechanism being disposed in such a manner that a longitudinal direction of the medium supply tray is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the original placement portion; an angular casing that houses the reading mechanism and the recording mechanism while stacking the reading mechanism and the recording mechanism vertically; and a cartridge holder that houses an ink cartridge and is disposed in a space located at a corner position of the casing below the reading mechanism and surrounded by a circumferential wall of the casing and a side wall of the medium supply tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuharu HATTORI, Shota IIJIMA
  • Patent number: 8162314
    Abstract: An image printing apparatus includes a printing unit and a supporting member opposing the printing unit and having a supporting surface for supporting the printing medium. The image printing apparatus further includes a first pair of rollers disposed upstream of the printing unit, a second pair of rollers and a third pair of rollers which are disposed downstream of the printing unit. The image printing apparatus further includes a guide member disposed between the second pair of rollers and the third pair of rollers. The guide member includes a guide portion which guides the printing medium transported by the second pair of rollers. The guide member is configured to pivot between a slanting position and a laying position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito, Shota Iijima, Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano
  • Publication number: 20110291347
    Abstract: There is provided a transporting device transporting a medium, including: a first member pair which changes a posture of the first member pair between a first posture and a second posture; a second member pair which changes a posture of the second member pair between a third posture and a fourth posture; and a movable member which is movable between a fifth posture and a sixth posture, and which has a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion, wherein, in a process that the movable member moves from the fifth posture to the sixth posture, the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture from the first posture to the second posture, and while the first abutting portion makes the first member pair change the posture, the second abutting portion abuts on one of the second member pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Iwane SANO, Yasuhira OTA, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Shota IIJIMA, Shingo ITO
  • Publication number: 20110242246
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a recording portion; a tray on which a first recording medium is placed; a convey path for conveying a second recording medium and the tray; a tray guide changeable among (a) a first posture in which the tray guide supports the tray such that the tray can enter into the convey path, (b) a second posture whose position is different from that of the first posture in a direction intersecting the convey path, and the tray guide is located on a downstream side of the position of the first posture in a tray-enter direction, and (c) a third posture in which an upstream portion of the tray guide in the tray-enter direction is nearer to the convey path than that in the second posture; a first posture-change portion which changes the tray guide from the second to the third posture; and a second posture-change portion which changes the tray guide from the third to the first posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Shota Iijima, Naokazu Tanahashi, Iwane Sano, Shingo Ito
  • Publication number: 20110222947
    Abstract: A carrying apparatus includes: a carry path which is defined to guide a first carried object and a second carried object; a first pulley; a first roller; a second pulley; a first belt which is wound on the first pulley and the second pulley; a first tensioner; and a first moving mechanism which moves the first roller between a first position and a second position. The first moving mechanism moves the first roller between a first position at which the first roller carries the first carried object and a second position which is farther from the carry path than the first position and at which the first roller carries the second carried object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota IIJIMA, Iwane SANO, Yasuhira OTA, Naokazu TANAHASHI, Shingo ITO