Patents by Inventor Shingo Hattori

Shingo Hattori 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: 8226189
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes a head having a nozzle which jets a liquid; a drive mechanism which reciprocately moves the head in a vertical direction to move the nozzle in the vertical direction; a nozzle protective member which is arranged in a moving area for the head and which protects the nozzle of the head; a controller which controls the drive mechanism to stop the head at a standby position which faces the nozzle protective member; a liquid container which contains the liquid; and a liquid tube which supplies the liquid to the head, and the liquid container is arranged such that, when the liquid container is filled with the liquid at a maximum capacity thereof, a liquid level of the liquid in the liquid container is same as or lower than a lowermost point of the nozzle in the head stopped at the standby position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Hattori, Yoshitsugu Morita, Narumi Kawai, Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8201929
    Abstract: A plurality of ink cartridges are installed to be arranged in a vertical direction. A carriage reciprocates in the vertical direction. An ink-jet head has nozzle rows arranged, in a row in the vertical direction, to be parallel mutually, and the ink cartridge is connected to the nozzle row via a tube. There is provided a vertically long and a stylish liquid jetting apparatus which can be installed vertically even in a narrow area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Narumi Kawai, Yoshitsugu Morita, Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8197044
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a frame and a movable member. At least the frame defines an ink chamber therein, and the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein. The movable member is configured to move within the ink chamber in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The movable member includes a plurality of projections, and each of the plurality of projections extend from a surface of the movable member in one of the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8182077
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink tank defining an ink chamber therein, in which the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein, and an adapter configured to be coupled to the ink tank. The adapter and the ink tank are separate members, and the adapter includes a main body, and an operation portion extending from the main body in a particular direction. When the adapter is coupled to the ink tank, the operation portion extends toward the ink tank and extends further in the particular direction than the ink tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura, Shingo Hattori, Akio Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 8172383
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink tank defining an ink chamber therein, in which the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein, and an adapter configured to be coupled to the ink tank. The adapter and the ink tank are separate members, and the adapter includes a main body having a main body opening formed therein. The main body opening is configured to receive at least a portion of the ink tank therein. The ink cartridge also includes at least one resilient member coupled to the adapter. When the adapter is coupled to the ink tank, the ink tank extends from a first face of the main body in a first direction, and the at least one resilient member extends from a second face of the main body in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura, Shingo Hattori, Akio Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 8172382
    Abstract: A container arrangement includes a packaging arrangement including an ink tank defining an ink chamber therein, in which the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein, and a packaging bag enclosing the ink tank therein. A pressure of an interior of the packaging bag is less than a pressure of an exterior of the packaging bag. The container arrangement also includes an adapter configured to be coupled to the ink tank, and a container enclosing each of the packaging arrangement and the adapter. The adapter is positioned outside the packaging bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura, Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8162457
    Abstract: An ink supply device includes a cartridge mounting portion for an ink cartridge. The ink cartridge includes: an ink chamber including a hole; and a cover configured to cover the hole. The cartridge mounting portion includes a cylinder extending in a horizontal direction and is configured to mount thereon the ink cartridge while opening the cover by the cylinder. The cylinder includes a tip surface including: a first contact surface provided in at least an entire first region of the tip surface and configured to contact the cover, the first region being located above an upper end of an inner surface of the cylinder and; a second contact surface provided in a second region of the tip surface other than the first region and configured to contact the cover, and a passage provided in the second region of the tip surface to extend in a radial direction of the cylinder to allow an inner space of the cylinder to communicate with an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotake Nakamura, Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8152287
    Abstract: An ink cartridge assembly includes an ink cartridge including a body defining an ink chamber therein, and a sealing member. The body has an opening formed therethrough, and an interior of the ink chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with an exterior of the ink chamber via the opening. The sealing member is configured to close the opening. The ink cartridge assembly also includes a cover member including a first portion configured to engage the body, and a second portion. The cover member is configured to cover the opening when the first portion engages the body. When the second portion moves the second portion is configured to apply a force to the sealing member to move the sealing member away from the opening to facilitate fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the ink chamber, and to disengage the first portion from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Hattori, Toyonori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8118415
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink tank which includes an ink chamber formed in an interior of the ink tank, and a first wall separating the interior of the ink tank and an exterior of the ink tank, in which the first wall has a first opening formed therethrough. The ink tank also includes a partition wall connected to the first wall. The partition wall defines a first chamber formed therein, and the first chamber is continuous with the first opening. Moreover, the ink tank includes a divider. The first chamber and the ink chamber are in fluid communication via the divider, and when ink flows through the divider from the first chamber to the ink chamber, the divider is configured to divide a first air bubble contained in the ink into a plurality of second air bubbles. Specifically, a size of the first air bubble is greater than a size of each of the plurality of second air bubbles. The ink cartridge also includes a pump configured to selectively force ink into and out of the interior of the ink tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8109615
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a frame, a first wall comprising a film connected to the frame, and a second wall opposite the first wall. The frame, the first wall, and the second wall define an ink chamber therein, and the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein. The ink cartridge also includes a movable member positioned within the ink chamber, and a shaft extending between the first wall and the second wall. The movable member is configured to pivot about the shaft. Moreover, the frame includes a first material, and the shaft includes a second material which is different than the first material. A rigidity of the second material is greater than a rigidity for the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8096646
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a first member that prevents a first signal, having first intensity, from passing entirely therethrough, wherein one portion of the first signal has a second intensity. A second member either prevents a second signal having a third intensity from entirely passing therethrough, or allows one first portion of the second signal to pass therethrough. The first portion of the second signal has a fourth intensity. The third intensity is greater than the fourth intensity. The first intensity is greater than the second intensity. A third member either prevents the second signal from passing entirely therethrough, or allows either the first portion of the second signal or one second portion of the second signal to pass therethrough. The second portion of the second signal has a fifth intensity. The third intensity is greater than the fifth intensity. An intermediate portion is formed between the second and third member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Hattori, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8079689
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a first member that alters a path of a first signal originating at a first position, a second member that alters a path of a second signal when the second member is aligned with each of a second position and a third position, and when the second member alters the path of the second signal, the second member prevents at least a first portion of the second signal from reaching the third position. The second signal originates at the second position and has a first intensity, and the first portion of the second signal has a second intensity. A difference between the first intensity and the second intensity is less than a predetermined intensity value. A third member alters a path of the second signal when the third member is aligned with the second position and the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Hattori, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8079685
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a frame, and a film connected to the frame. The frame and the film define an ink chamber therein, and the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein. The ink cartridge also includes a movable member configured to selectively move within the ink chamber based on an amount of ink within the ink chamber, and a spring positioned within the ink chamber. The spring is configured to urge the film away from the movable member in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8052261
    Abstract: An ink cartridge determination system includes a cartridge mounting portion, an optical sensor positioned at the cartridge mounting portion, at least one ink cartridge configured to be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, and a determiner. The optical sensor includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The optical sensor is configured to selectively output a first signal and a second signal based on an intensity of the light received by the light-receiving element. The at least one ink cartridge includes a first light altering portion, a second light altering portion, and a light passing portion, which are configured to sequentially intersect a optical path of the optical sensor when the at least one ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, and the determiner is configured to determine a type of the at least one ink cartridge based on a time profile of a signal outputted from the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toyonori Sasaki, Shingo Hattori, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8052260
    Abstract: An ink cartridge has a case which has an ink chamber, a first wall facing an exterior of the case, and a translucent portion at the first wall and having an inner space formed therein continuously with the ink chamber. The ink cartridge has a first movable member positioned in the case, and a second movable member coupled to the case. The first movable member moves relative to an amount of ink stored in the ink chamber, and has a signal blocking portion positioned in the inner space. The second movable member has a second wall that faces the first wall and that has an opening therethrough. The second movable member moves between a first position and a second position. The second wall is closer to the first wall when the second movable member is in the second position than when the second movable member is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8042925
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a case, an ink supply portion positioned at a front face of the case, a movable member configured to move relative to the case, and at least one resilient member coupled to a rear face of the case and the movable member. The at least one resilient member is configured to expand in an expansion direction and to contract in a contraction direction to move the movable member relative to the case, and a shape of the case in the expansion and contraction directions is unaltered. The entire moveable member is configured to substantially simultaneously move relative to the case when the at least one resilient member expands and contracts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8038275
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a case, a translucent portion, an ink supply portion, and a movable member. The case defines a liquid chamber which is configured to store a predetermined amount of liquid. The translucent portion extends away from the liquid chamber in a predetermined direction, and has an inner space formed therein. The ink supply portion has a center line which is parallel to the predetermined direction. The movable member is pivotably positioned within the liquid chamber, and includes a signal blocking portion, a float portion, and an arm portion. At least a portion of the signal blocking portion is configured to be positioned within the inner space. Moreover, when the liquid chamber stores the predetermined amount of liquid, at least a portion of the arm portion is positioned further from the center line than the signal blocking portion is positioned from the center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8025376
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber including one or more walls, and the one more walls include a film. The ink cartridge also includes one or more ribs disposed within the ink chamber. Specifically, the one or more ribs contact the film of the one or more walls, and a portion of the one or more ribs is positioned closer to a center of the ink chamber than to an edge of the ink chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Hattori, Tomohiro Kanbe, Toyonori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8025378
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a case including a front face and a rear face opposite the front face, in which the case has an ink chamber defined therein, and the ink chamber is configured to store ink. The ink cartridge also includes an extension portion extending from the from the front face of the case in a predetermined direction, and the extension portion includes a first end which is coupled to the front face of the case, and a second end opposite the first end. The extension portion also includes an opaque first portion, an opaque second portion positioned adjacent to the first end of the extension portion, and a translucent third portion positioned between the opaque first portion and the opaque second portion in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Hattori, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: D647134
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shingo Hattori