Patents by Inventor Yasuhira Ota
Yasuhira Ota 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).
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Patent number: 10160240Abstract: An inkjet recording device is described in which maintenance is performed by a maintenance unit upon a recording head. The maintenance unit is located on a base unit. The base unit includes a wall portion supporting a plurality of gear shafts protruding in a width direction from the wall portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2017Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jie Xiu, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Shingo Ito, Noriyuki Kawamata
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Patent number: 10099487Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet conveyed in a conveyance direction; a first wavy shape applying mechanism provided downstream in the conveyance direction from the recording unit and configured to allow the sheet to be in a wavy state in a width direction; and a guide member configured to guide the sheet to the first wavy shape applying mechanism. The first wavy shape applying mechanism includes first spur rollers configured to abut against a first surface of the sheet respectively; abutment members provided between the mutually adjoining first spur rollers respectively and configured to abut against a second surface of the sheet; and second spur rollers configured to abut against the first surface of the sheet downstream of the first spur rollers in the conveyance direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Gakuro Kanazawa, Kenji Samoto, Wataru Sugiyama, Yasuhira Ota
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Publication number: 20180037039Abstract: An inkjet recording device is described in which maintenance is performed by a maintenance unit upon a recording head. The maintenance unit is located on a base unit. The base unit includes a wall portion supporting a plurality of gear shafts protruding in a width direction from the wall portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2017Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: Jie Xiu, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Shingo Ito, Noriyuki Kawamata
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Patent number: 9783381Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Yasuhira Ota
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Patent number: 9713930Abstract: An inkjet recording device is described in which maintenance is performed by a maintenance unit upon a recording head. The maintenance unit is located on a base unit. The base unit includes a wall portion supporting a plurality of gear shafts protruding in a width direction from the wall portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jie Xiu, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Shingo Ito, Noriyuki Kawamata
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Patent number: 9650221Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 16, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Yasuhira Ota
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Patent number: 9617109Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuhira Ota, Noriyuki Kawamata, Motohiro Okamura
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Patent number: 9592977Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuhira Ota, Noriyuki Kawamata, Takashi Omura
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Patent number: 9555986Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Yasuhira Ota
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Patent number: 9511963Abstract: A conveyor device is described in which a conveyor roller is used to convey a medium inside a printing device with the conveyor roller extending in a width direction of the printing device. The conveyor roller receives a force from a following roller configured to face the conveyor roller. The conveyor roller is supported by one or more bearings. The one or more bearings include a shaft supporting portion that extends in the width direction to support the conveyor roller against the force of the following roller.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhira Ota, Noriyuki Kawamata, Masao Mimoto, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Jie Xiu, Shingo Ito
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Patent number: 9493318Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Yasuhira Ota
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Publication number: 20160214409Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet conveyed in a conveyance direction; a first wavy shape applying mechanism provided downstream in the conveyance direction from the recording unit and configured to allow the sheet to be in a wavy state in a width direction; and a guide member configured to guide the sheet to the first wavy shape applying mechanism. The first wavy shape applying mechanism includes first spur rollers configured to abut against a first surface of the sheet respectively; abutment members provided between the mutually adjoining first spur rollers respectively and configured to abut against a second surface of the sheet; and second spur rollers configured to abut against the first surface of the sheet downstream of the first spur rollers in the conveyance direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Gakuro Kanazawa, Kenji Samoto, Wataru Sugiyama, Yasuhira Ota
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Patent number: 9352590Abstract: A sheet feeder, including: a sheet supply roller configured to supply a sheet to a sheet feeding path; a sheet feed roller configured to feed the sheet supplied to the sheet feeding path by the sheet supply roller to a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction in which the sheet is fed; a discharge roller configured to discharge the sheet fed by the feed roller to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction; a drive motor configured to drive a first shaft for rotating the feed roller; a first transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the first shaft to a second shaft for rotating the discharge roller; and a second transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the second shaft to a third shaft for rotating the sheet supply roller.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2015Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito
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Patent number: 9296579Abstract: A transporting apparatus includes a base unit made of resin, a tray configured to support a sheet, a transporting section supported by an upper portion of the base unit and configured to transport the sheet, and a feeding section supported by a lower portion of the base unit and including a feeding roller configured to contact an upper surface of the sheet supported by the tray and to feed the sheet toward the transporting section. The base unit is integrally formed with an inner-side guide which defines an inner side of a curved path which is configured to guide the sheet fed by the feeding section to the transport section.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keisuke Wakakusa, Noriyuki Kawamata, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Jie Xiu, Shingo Ito
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Patent number: 9221636Abstract: A conveying device includes: a conveyor for conveying a sheet; a path defining member having a first conveying surface that guides the sheet; and a sensor device for sensing the sheet. The sensor device includes: a sensor casing provided on the path defining member and including a second conveying surface that guides the sheet and a main wall whose outer surface is exposed from the path defining member and contiguous to the first conveying surface; a movable member including (i) a contact portion projecting to a second-conveying-surface side of the main wall through an opening formed in the main wall and (ii) a sensed portion located in the sensor casing and moved by the sheet conveyed on the second conveying surface while contacting the contact portion; and a signal output device, provided in the sensor casing, for sensing the sensed portion to output a signal related to its position.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhira Ota, Masao Mimoto, Iwane Sano, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Noriyuki Kawamata, Shingo Ito
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Patent number: 9187283Abstract: A conveyor device may include first and second conveyor units, and a movable member. The first conveyor unit includes a first roller that contacts an upper surface of a sheet and a second roller that contacts a lower surface of the sheet. The second conveyor unit includes a third roller that contacts the lower surface of the sheet and a fourth roller that contacts the upper surface of the sheet. The first and second rollers and the third and fourth rollers nip and convey the sheet along a conveyance path. When the movable member is located in a first position, the first roller contacts the second roller and the third roller contacts the fourth roller. When the movable member moves to the second position, the first roller is moved away from the second roller and the third roller is moved away from the fourth roller.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Noriyuki Kawamata, Keisuke Wakakusa, Jie Xiu, Yasuhira Ota, Shingo Ito
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Publication number: 20150321491Abstract: A sheet feeder, including: a sheet supply roller configured to supply a sheet to a sheet feeding path; a sheet feed roller configured to feed the sheet supplied to the sheet feeding path by the sheet supply roller to a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction in which the sheet is fed; a discharge roller configured to discharge the sheet fed by the feed roller to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction; a drive motor configured to drive a first shaft for rotating the feed roller; a first transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the first shaft to a second shaft for rotating the discharge roller; and a second transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the second shaft to a third shaft for rotating the sheet supply roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Yasuhira Ota, Iwane Sano, Masao Mimoto, Shingo Ito
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Patent number: 9180704Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuhira Ota, Noriyuki Kawamata
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Patent number: 9162458Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 2, 2014Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masao Mimoto, Yasuhira Ota, Jie Xiu, Noriyuki Kawamata, Keisuke Wakakusa, Iwane Sano, Shingo Ito
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Publication number: 20150274474Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuhira OTA, Noriyuki KAWAMATA, Motohiro OKAMURA