Patents by Inventor Noritsugu Ito

Noritsugu Ito 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).

  • Publication number: 20130175272
    Abstract: The method includes: (a) preparing a liquid cartridge to be recycled and including a liquid storing unit, a liquid delivery path having an opening, a blocking member detachably mounted in the liquid delivery path to block the opening, and a valve configured to be switched between an open state and a closed state; (b) removing the blocking member from the liquid delivery path; (c) switching the valve from the closed state to the open state; (d) injecting liquid into the liquid storing unit through the opening with the blocking member removed in step (b) and the valve maintained in the open state achieved in step (c); (e) switching the valve from the open state to the closed state after performing step (d); and (f) assembling the blocking member or another blocking member different from the blocking member in the liquid delivery path to block the opening after performing step (e).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taichi SHIRONO, Noritsugu ITO, Mikio HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20130141499
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a substrate and an engagement portion. The first surface faces a first direction and has a first surface on which an electrical terminal is disposed. The engagement portion includes a second surface disposed upstream from the substrate in the first direction and a third surface. The second surface faces a second direction, which forms an obtuse angle with the first direction. The third surface faces a third direction, which forms an acute angle with the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Noritsugu ITO, Akinori IGARASHI, Tadanobu CHIKAMOTO, Hideki SHIOYA
  • Publication number: 20130136522
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid accommodating unit, a delivery channel, a valve, and a locking mechanism. The liquid accommodating unit is configured to accommodate liquid. The delivery channel is configured to discharge the liquid outside. The delivery channel is in fluid communication with the liquid accommodating unit. The valve includes a valve body provided in the delivery channel. The valve body is configured to selectively move between a closed position where the delivery channel is closed and an open position where the delivery channel is open. The locking mechanism includes a locking member configured to selectively move between a locking position to prevent the valve body positioned at the closed position from moving to the open position and a disengaged position to allow the valve body positioned at the closed position to move to the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio HIRANO, Noritsugu ITO
  • Patent number: 8240842
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, including a movable support member which includes a supporting portion that supports a recording medium fed on a platen and which is slid in a feeding direction so as to the recording medium, wherein the movable support member includes an ink receiving portion which is provided such that a clearance is formed between the ink receiving portion and the supporting portion, which is relatively low in height, and which receives ink droplets ejected to an outside of the recording medium, or wherein the supporting portion includes: a step portion having a transfer preventing face which prevents adhering ink from transferring upward; and an ink receiving face continuous to the transfer preventing face and extending in a generally horizontal direction so as to receive ink droplets ejected to an outside of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Ito, Noritsugu Ito, Yoichi Shikai, Wataru Sugiyama, Naokazu Tanahashi
  • Publication number: 20120075392
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid storing portion that stores liquid therein, a liquid path that is in fluid communication with the liquid storing portion, a sealing member that is selectively penetrated and closed, and a storage. The storage includes a first count storage area configured to store first count data corresponding to a number of times the sealing member has been penetrated at a first position, and a first position sealing data corresponding to a first number that is comparable to the first count data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taichi SHIRONO, Noritsugu ITO, Mikio HIRANO
  • Patent number: 8141994
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a cartridge main body, an ink-outputting section, and at least two first light-shielding parts. The cartridge main body has an ink accommodating chamber accommodating ink therein. The ink-outputting section that outputs the ink in the ink accommodating chamber. The at least two first light-shielding parts are juxtaposed in the prescribed mounting direction at a prescribed interval and that are incapable of moving relative to the cartridge main body. Lengths in the prescribed mounting direction of the at least two first light-shielding parts are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritsugu Ito, Shingo Ito, Wataru Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20120069068
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid storing portion that stores liquid therein, a liquid path that is in fluid communication with the liquid storing portion, a sensor, and a memory. The sensor outputs a particular data corresponding to a particular value indicating that the liquid storing portion is in fluid communication with an exterior of the liquid cartridge, and a further data corresponding to a further value indicating that the liquid storing portion is not in fluid communication with the exterior of the liquid cartridge. The memory includes a first data corresponding to a first value and a second data corresponding to a second value. The first value and the second value are defined such that when the particular data and the further data are outputted, one half of a sum of the first value and the second value is between the particular value and the further value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritsugu ITO, Mikio HIRANO
  • Patent number: 8113623
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a medium conveying mechanism which conveys a medium in a first direction; a head pair composed of two liquid ejecting heads respectively having liquid ejection surfaces in which liquid ejection areas are respectively formed, the two heads having respective one end portions overlapping each other as viewed in the first direction, and disposed such that the respective one end portions are adjacent to each other in the first direction; two wipers for wiping the respective ejection surfaces; and a wiper moving mechanism configured to move the two wipers in mutually opposite directions, wherein the ejection areas partly overlap each other as viewed in the first direction, wherein, when each wiper is placed by the wiper moving mechanism at a wiping start position at which each wiper does not face the corresponding ejection surface, the two wipers partly overlap each other as viewed in the first direction, and wherein, when each wiper is placed at a wiping complete position at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Tamaki, Tadanobu Chikamoto, Akira Shinoda, Noritsugu Ito
  • Publication number: 20110292139
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge detachably mountable on a body of an image forming device and capable of supplying liquid to the image forming device when mounted on the body. A liquid delivery path has a first portion and a second portion positioned between a liquid accommodating unit and the first portion. A first opening/closing unit is configured so as to be capable of being switched between an open state in which the first portion is opened and a closed state in which the first portion is closed. A second opening/closing unit is configured so as to be capable of being switched between an open state in which the second portion is opened and a closed state in which the second portion is closed. A storing unit is configured to store time length data indicating a length of a prescribed time. A second opening/closing unit is changed from the closed state to the open state when the prescribed time has elapsed after the liquid cartridge is mounted on the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritsugu ITO, Mikio HIRANO, Hisashi IGI
  • Publication number: 20110267388
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is detachably mountable on a body of an image forming device and capable of supplying liquid to the image forming device when mounted on the body. A liquid delivery path has a first portion and a second portion positioned between a liquid accommodating unit and the first portion. The first opening/closing unit is configured so as to be capable of being switched between an open state in which the first portion is opened and a closed state in which the first portion is closed. The second opening/closing unit is configured so as to be capable of being switched between an open state in which the second portion is opened and a closed state in which the second portion is closed. The interlocking mechanism is configured so as to be capable of being operated in association with an operation of an actuator provided on the body to switch the second opening/closing unit between the open state and the closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritsugu ITO, Mikio HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20110249065
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink storing portion that stores ink therein, a detection portion in fluid communication with the ink storing portion, a movable member that is disposed in the detection portion, and a sensor that outputs a signal relative to a position of the movable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio HIRANO, Noritsugu ITO
  • Publication number: 20110242233
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid storing portion that stores liquid therein, a detection portion in fluid communication with the liquid storing portion, a movable member that is disposed in the detection portion, and a sensor that outputs a signal relative to a position of the movable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio HIRANO, Noritsugu ITO
  • Publication number: 20110242232
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid storing portion configured to store liquid therein, a liquid outlet path configured to place an interior of the liquid storing portion in fluid communication with an exterior of the liquid storing portion, a particular valve disposed at the liquid outlet path configured to selectively close the liquid outlet path, and a further valve. The further valve is disposed at the liquid outlet path. The further valve includes a valve seat separately formed from the particular valve, and a further valve member that closes the further valve when the further valve member contacts the valve seat. The further valve member is urged against the valve seat toward the particular valve when the further valve is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritsugu ITO, Mikio HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20110228019
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink storing portion configured to store ink therein, an ink outlet path configured to place an interior of the ink storing portion in fluid communication with an exterior of the ink storing portion, a particular valve disposed at the ink outlet path configured to selectively close the ink outlet path, and a further valve. The further valve is disposed at the ink outlet path. The further valve includes a valve seat separately formed from the particular valve, and a further valve member that closes the further valve when the further valve member contacts the valve seat. The further valve member is urged against the valve seat toward the particular valve when the further valve is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritsugu ITO, Mikio HIRANO
  • Patent number: 8011767
    Abstract: An ink cartridge loading device has: a casing, a door, and a guiding member. The casing has a chamber that accommodates an ink cartridge, and an opening communicated with the chamber for loading and unloading the ink cartridge therethrough. The door is provided at the casing and is movable between a first position and a second position. The door closes the opening at the first position. The door opens the opening at the second position. The guiding member is provided on the door and partially guides the ink cartridge from the chamber through the opening to outside when the door moves from the first position to the second position. The guiding member supports the ink cartridge together with the door when the door is at the second position. The guiding member guides the ink cartridge into the chamber when the door is closing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Sugiyama, Noritsugu Ito, Naokazu Tanahashi, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 7997670
    Abstract: A liquid-ejection apparatus, including: a head configured to eject a liquid from a plurality of liquid-ejection openings; a main tank configured to accommodate the liquid supplied to the head; a liquid-supply pump configured to supply the liquid in the main tank to the head; a sub-tank in which are formed (a) a connection opening for connecting the sub-tank to the head and (b) an air-discharge opening for communicating the sub-tank with ambient air; a first channel extending from the liquid-supply pump to the sub-tank via the head and the connection opening; a second channel extending from the sub-tank to the liquid-supply pump; a third channel extending from the air-discharge opening of the sub-tank to the ambient air; an air-discharge valve provided in the third channel so as to be openable and closable; and a controller configured to control the air-discharge valve such that the air-discharge valve is temporarily opened in a liquid introducing operation in which the liquid is introduced from the main tank
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Taira, Tadanobu Chikamoto, Shuichi Tamaki, Noritsugu Ito
  • Publication number: 20110187772
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes: an ink accommodating unit; and a storing unit. The ink accommodating unit is configured to accommodate ink therein. The storing unit is configured to store time length data indicative of a length of time to be taken by the ink cartridge to move from a first position to a second position different from the first position, the first position and the second position being defined within a mounting unit in a recording device, the ink cartridge reaching the first position before reaching the second position when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Noritsugu ITO
  • Patent number: 7980547
    Abstract: The invention describes an image recording device having a sheet supplying device that supplies sheets. The sheet supplying device has a first tray and a second tray that hold sheets, and a first and second shaft positioned over the first and second trays. A first rotating member contacts a sheet in the first tray, and a second rotating member contacts a sheet in the second tray. A first arm extends from the first shaft to the first rotating member, and a second arm extends from the second shaft to the second rotating member. A transmission device is coupled to the first arm member and the second arm member, and transmits selectively a rotational drive force from the first shaft to either the first or second rotating members. A recording unit records an image on the sheet supplied by the sheet supplying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Ito, Noritsugu Ito, Naokazu Tanahashi, Wataru Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7918518
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a setting portion on which a recording medium is set; a feeder which feeds the recording medium from the setting portion in a feed direction; a recording head which ejects ink so that an image is recorded on the recording medium fed by the feeder; a gap changing device which changes a gap between the recording head and the recording medium; a judgment portion which judges a setting direction of the recording medium on the setting portion; and a changing control portion which controls the gap changing device to change the gap between the recording head and the recording medium, according to the judged setting direction of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naokazu Tanahashi, Noritsugu Ito, Shingo Ito, Wataru Sugiyama
  • Patent number: D686278
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Noritsugu Ito