Patents by Inventor Yuji Koga

Yuji Koga 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: 8590892
    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: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawamata, Yuji Koga, Wataru Sugiyama, Kenji Samoto
  • Publication number: 20130300051
    Abstract: An image recording device having a recording unit to record an image on a sheet is provided. The image recording unit includes a feed guide defining a first conveying path; an arm disposed between the recording unit and the tray, the arm having a feed roller rotatably disposed at a free end and configured to feed the sheet in the tray to the first conveying path. The arm pivots between a first arm position, and a second arm position. The return guide pivots between a first return guide position, and a second return guide position. A space occupied by the return guide in the first return guide position overlaps a space occupied by the arm in the second arm position. The return guide is in the second return guide position when the arm is in the second arm position which is retracted from an insertion space occupied by the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA
  • Publication number: 20130293654
    Abstract: A printer has a carriage being movable between a first end and a second end of a reciprocating path; and a driving force transmitting path selecting mechanism provided at the second end of the reciprocating path. The selecting mechanism has: a common driving force outputting member; a plurality of force receiving members; a selecting member; and a position retainer for keeping the position of the selecting member. The selecting member connects the force outputting member to one of the plurality of force receiving members, and moves in association with the carriage when the carriage moves in a vicinity of the second end in a first direction extending from the first end to the second end. The position retainer keeps the position of the selecting member when the carriage moves in a second direction extending from the second end to the first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Koga, Masatoshi Izuchi
  • Publication number: 20130256984
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a first upper-position guide member, a first lower-position guide member defining a first feeding path and a first feeding portion feeding a sheet in a feeding direction along the first feeding path. The image recording apparatus further includes a recording portion located downstream of the first feeding portion in the feeding direction, a second upper-position guide member, a second lower-position guide member defining a second feeding path and a second feeding portion comprising at least one pair of rollers each consisting of an upper-position roller and a lower-position roller. The second feeding portion feeds the sheet along the second feeding path and a first axis of the upper-position roller is located upstream of a second axis of the lower-position roller in the feeding direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA, Takashi OMURA
  • Publication number: 20130256976
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a drive source foratable forwardly and reversely; a first roller rotatable in a first direction by the forward rotation of the drive source to convey a conveyed medium and rotatable in a second direction reverse to the first direction by the reverse rotation of the drive source; a recording device; a second roller; a first power transmitter which transmits a first-direction driving power to the second roller and not to transmit a second-direction driving power to the second roller, wherein the first-direction driving power is a rotational driving power of the first roller rotating in the first direction, and the second-direction driving power is a rotational driving power of the first roller rotating in the second direction; and a second power transmitter which transmits the second-direction driving power to the second roller and not to transmit the first-direction driving power to the second roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA, Wataru SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8523168
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a first and a second feeding roller; a recording head; a carriage; a first and a second drive motor; and a drive transmission switching mechanism transmitting a driving force of the second drive motor to the first and the second feeding roller. The drive transmission switching mechanism includes: a first to a fourth gear; a supporting shaft; a first transmitting section transmitting a rotation of the third gear to the first feeding roller and preventing transmission of rotation of the third gear to the first feeding roller, when the second gear is in a first posture; and a second transmitting section transmitting a rotation of the fourth gear to the second feeding roller and preventing transmission of rotation of the fourth gear to the second feeding roller, when the second gear is in the first posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
  • Publication number: 20130221598
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, includes: an accommodation portion configured to accommodate a sheet; a supply mechanism configured to supply the sheet from the accommodation portion; a recording portion configured to record an image on the sheet supplied by the supply mechanism; and a first discharged tray arranged above the accommodation portion, and configured to support the sheet on which the image had been recorded by the recording portion. The accommodation portion includes: a body portion configured to accommodate the sheet; and a second discharged tray provided for the body portion and configured to move to a first position and to a second position in which the second discharged tray is positioned higher than the second discharged tray in the first position. The second discharged tray supports the sheet on which the image had been recorded, together with the first discharged tray in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki WASHINO, Yuji KOGA
  • Patent number: 8517370
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Shiohara, Tetsuo Asada, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8517374
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: an image forming unit; a casing; a tray; a cover; and a handle portion. The image forming unit is configured to form an image on a sheet. The casing is formed with an opening and configured to accommodate the image forming unit therein. The tray is configured to accommodate in a stacked state a plurality of sheets to be fed toward the image forming unit. The tray is configured to be inserted into the casing through the opening to be attached to the casing and removed from the casing through the opening to be detached from the casing. The cover is configured to be connected to the tray and moved relative to the tray. The cover is configured to cover at least a part of the opening when the tray is attached to the casing. The handle portion is provided at the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Washino, Yuji Koga, Wataru Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8493639
    Abstract: An image recording device having a recording unit to record an image on a sheet is provided. The image recording unit includes a feed guide defining a first conveying path; an arm disposed between the recording unit and the tray, the arm having a feed roller rotatably disposed at a free end and configured to feed the sheet in the tray to the first conveying path. The arm pivots between a first arm position, and a second arm position. The return guide pivots between a first return guide position, and a second return guide position. A space occupied by the return guide in the first return guide position overlaps a space occupied by the arm in the second arm position. The return guide is in the second return guide position when the arm is in the second arm position which is retracted from an insertion space occupied by the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8474809
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus according to one aspect comprises: a first tray disposed within an opening of a main body to allow a recording medium to be placed thereon; a second tray disposed above the first tray, the second tray having a second end portion located on a side of the opening; a conveying unit; and a recording unit. The second tray is movable between a first posture and a second posture. When the second tray is in the first posture, a top surface of the second tray in the vicinity of the second end portion is positioned at a predetermined height relative to the first tray. When the second tray moves from the first posture to the second posture, the top surface in the vicinity of the second end portion is moved toward the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Izuchi, Yuji Koga, Keisuke Wakakusa, Kenji Samoto
  • Patent number: 8475067
    Abstract: A printer has a carriage being movable between a first end and a second end of a reciprocating path; and a driving force transmitting path selecting mechanism provided at the second end of the reciprocating path. The selecting mechanism has: a common driving force outputting member; a plurality of force receiving members; a selecting member; and a position retainer for keeping the position of the selecting member. The selecting member connects the force outputting member to one of the plurality of force receiving members, and moves in association with the carriage when the carriage moves in a vicinity of the second end in a first direction extending from the first end to the second end. The position retainer keeps the position of the selecting member when the carriage moves in a second direction extending from the second end to the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Koga, Masatoshi Izuchi
  • Publication number: 20130140764
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a rockable member which is configured to rotate about an axis defined at a first end portion among: a first position at which a second end portion at a downstream side in the forward feed direction with respect to the first end portion is supported by the guide member having the first orientation; a second position at which the second end portion is located at a higher position that the second end portion when located at the first position; and a third position at which the second end portion is located at a lower position that the second end portion when located at the first position; and a signal generating unit configured to output a signal corresponding to the position of the rockable member. A photo sensor is provided to generate a signal in accordance with an orientation of the rockable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Kenji SAMOTO, Yuji KOGA, Takashi OMURA
  • Publication number: 20130135389
    Abstract: There is provided an ink jet recording apparatus which includes a recording portion, and a contact portion configured to come into contact with an upper surface of the sheet. The contact portion has a storage portion provided on a side of the recording portion and configured to store an ink, and a protruding portion is provided between both ends in a width direction intersecting the transporting direction of the storage portion, and which is protruded toward the recording section, and an upper end of the protruding portion is the highest in the contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Yuji Koga, Wataru Sugiyama, Kenji Samoto
  • Publication number: 20130135409
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a mechanism for forming a corrugated shape in a sheet to be conveyed. The mechanism may include various components include one or more pressing portions, one or more ribs, one or more discharge rollers, a switching mechanism and the like. In one arrangement, ribs and pressing portions configured to create the corrugated shape may be disposed at various locations upstream or downstream of the platen, recording portion and/or nozzles thereof. In one example, pressing portions may be disposed both upstream and downstream of the nozzles of the recording portion to maintain a corrugated shape in the conveyed sheet. Various other configurations may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Yuji Koga, Wataru Sugiyama, Kenji Samoto
  • Publication number: 20130134649
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukio SHIOHARA, Tetsuo ASADA, Yuji KOGA
  • Publication number: 20130135413
    Abstract: There is provided an ink jet recording apparatus including: a platen, a contact portion disposed between a pair of first ribs of the plurality of first ribs with respect to a scanning direction. A lower end of the contact portion is located lower than each upper end of the pair of first ribs. The platen includes a second rib disposed between one first rib of the pair of first ribs and the contact portion with respect to the scanning direction, and an upper end of the second rib is located lower than the upper end of the one first rib of the pair of first ribs and higher than the lower end of the contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Yuji Koga
  • Publication number: 20130135388
    Abstract: An image forming device may include a contact member and a support member configured to support a recording portion. In one or more arrangements, the contact member may be disposed on the support member and include a contact portion configured to contact a sheet being conveyed. In some examples, the support member may include a carriage frame. Additionally or alternatively, the image forming device may include a platen having a plurality of ribs. In one or more examples, the ribs may be configured to form a corrugated shape in a sheet in conjunction with the contact member. Still further, one or more of the ribs and the contact member may be movable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga, Noriyuki Kawamata, Wataru Sugiyama, Tsuyoshi Ito
  • Publication number: 20130063751
    Abstract: A multifunction device including an image recording unit and a scanner unit is provided. The scanner unit includes an image readable plane. The image recording unit includes a first tray, a conveyer path to convey the recording sheet in a first orientation, and a second tray, which is formed along an edge of an opening formed on the front face, and in which the recording sheet having been conveyed in the conveyer path is disposed. The recording sheet in a maximum conveyable size for the conveyer path is disposed to occupy a discharge area in the second tray. A downstream end of the discharge area along a second orientation is in a displaced and downstream position with respect to a downstream end of an image readable area of the image readable plane along the second orientation for a first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuro Miura, Yuji Koga, Isao Kubo, Yasunari Yoshida, Jiro Yamamoto, Masayuki Takata, Takashi Ohama, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Publication number: 20130063532
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a cartridge installing section including a case which is formed with an opening and which is configured to receive printing fluid cartridges respectively via the opening; a flat plate-shaped lid which has a rotational shaft and which undergoes posture change to a closed posture and an open posture by being rotated around the rotational shaft. The lid has a curved section which is disposed on a side of one end in a widthwise direction along the rotational shaft and which is curved so that the one end is directed to a side of the ending surface of the case in a state in which the lid is in the closed posture; and the curved section is upstanding upwardly from a side of a bottom surface of the case in a state in which the lid is in the open posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Masayuki TAKATA, Hisaki Sakurai, Jiro Yamamoto, Yasunari Yoshida, Yuji Koga, Katsuro Miura, Isao Kubo, Motohito Muraki