Waste Storage Patents (Class 347/36)
  • Patent number: 11981139
    Abstract: A recording device includes a device body, a recording unit configured to record by ejecting liquid onto a medium, a waste liquid collecting unit configured to collect waste liquid generated inside the device body, a waste liquid storage unit configured to store the waste liquid collected via the waste liquid collecting unit, wherein the waste liquid storage unit is configured to be mountable to and removable from the device body and the waste liquid collecting unit includes a discharge portion configured to discharge the collected waste liquid to the waste liquid storage unit, and the discharge portion has a dam portion for blocking the waste liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakata
  • Patent number: 11964490
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a discard absorbing member (first absorbing member) that absorbs a liquid discarded from a discharge head to an outer side of an end portion of a medium supported by a support section as a waste liquid. Further, the recording apparatus includes: a cap which is an example of a waste liquid receiving section that receives the liquid ejected from the discharge head as a waste liquid; a waste liquid absorbing member (second absorbing member) that absorbs the waste liquid sent from the cap; and a waste liquid box (accommodating section) that holds the waste liquid absorbing member. The discard absorbing member and the waste liquid absorbing member 50A are coupled to each other such that the waste liquid can be delivered from the discard absorbing member to the waste liquid absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Yamada, Takatoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11964488
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a first absorbing member (extended absorbing member or the like) that absorbs a liquid discarded from a discharge head to an outer side of an end portion of a medium supported by a support section as a waste liquid. The recording apparatus includes a second absorbing member (waste liquid absorbing member) that absorbs the waste liquid sent from a cap, an accommodating section (waste liquid box) that holds the second absorbing member, and a delivery section that delivers the liquid between the first absorbing member and the second absorbing member. In a state where the accommodating section is inserted into an apparatus main body, the delivery section 141 is inclined downward from the first absorbing member toward the second absorbing member, and an inclination of the delivery section when the accommodating section is removed from the apparatus main body varies depending on an inserted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Yamada, Takatoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11932020
    Abstract: A liquid container includes: a case having a liquid introduction port through which liquid is introduced and a storage portion that stores the liquid; and an absorber stored in the case and configured to absorb the liquid. The absorber includes multiple absorbent resins that swell by absorbing the liquid and a substrate that supports the absorbent resins and allows the liquid to permeate therethrough. With the absorbent resins swelling by absorbing the ink, at least some of the absorbent resins are spaced apart from the adjacent absorbent resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Kumagai, Shogo Nakada
  • Patent number: 11865841
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spittoon assembly for a printing device, a printing device comprising a spittoon assembly, and a method of cleaning a print head using a spittoon assembly. The spittoon assembly comprises a waste receptacle and a spit plate with a receiving surface. The receiving surface is inclined relative to a horizontal direction by an inclination angle when the spittoon assembly is mounted in the printing device. A fluid path extends from the receiving surface to the waste receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ignasi Bonjoch Roma, Andreu Vinets Alonso, Javier Deocon Mir
  • Patent number: 11820146
    Abstract: A waste liquid container includes an accommodation chamber including an opening that is open upward of the waste liquid container in a mounted state where the waste liquid container is mounted in the mounting portion, the accommodation chamber being configured to accommodate the liquid, and a contact portion provided at a surface that intersect with a bottom surface and an upper surface of the waste liquid container, the contact portion being configured to contact a horizontal plane and set a posture of the accommodation chamber with respect to the horizontal plane in a placement state where the waste liquid container is placed at the horizontal plane with the surface facing downward, wherein in the placement state, an inner surface is in an inclined state where the bottom surface is lower than the upper surface, the inner surface serving as a lower surface of the accommodation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Uchiyama, Toshio Nakata
  • Patent number: 11813877
    Abstract: A printer includes a recording unit, a platen unit, a maintenance tank, and a guide unit. The recording unit ejects ink onto a medium. The platen unit includes a support surface that supports the medium and a discard portion in which waste ink is discarded. The maintenance tank recovers the waste ink. The guide unit has a receiving surface, and guides the waste ink to the maintenance tank. Second surface energy is larger than first surface energy when the first surface energy indicates surface energy at a first position on the receiving surface with respect to the waste ink and the second surface energy indicates surface energy at a second position closer to the maintenance tank than the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Kanahara
  • Patent number: 11813872
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a discard absorbing member (first absorbing member) that absorbs a liquid discarded from a discharge head to an outer side of an end portion of a medium supported by a support section as a waste liquid. Further, the recording apparatus includes: a cap which is an example of a waste liquid receiving section that receives the liquid ejected from the discharge head as a waste liquid; a waste liquid absorbing member (second absorbing member) that absorbs the waste liquid sent from the cap; and a waste liquid box (accommodating section) that holds the waste liquid absorbing member. The discard absorbing member and the waste liquid absorbing member 50A are coupled to each other such that the waste liquid can be delivered from the discard absorbing member to the waste liquid absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Yamada, Takatoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11794484
    Abstract: An ink maintenance system for a printer comprising a first tray having a base and a plurality of side walls, the first tray having a first length and an open top along the length and a second tray having a base and a plurality of side walls, the second tray having a second length and an open top along its length. The system also includes a fan and a filter. To use the system, a print head is positioned in a standby or cleaning position within the printer and ink is ejected from one or more print nozzles into an ink maintenance system within the printer such that the ejected ink is collected in at least one of a catch tray or a filter of the ink maintenance system. The system is then removable from the printer for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Primera Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Erick Hagstrom
  • Patent number: 11740840
    Abstract: Arrangement processing for arranging image data on a printing medium can differ according to a printer type, and it may not be possible to obtain the print product intended by a user. A method is provided that includes determining, at a processor configured to perform the determining, to perform processing for generating image data without appending margins in a case where the printer type is identified to be a large-format printer based on printer type information, and determining, at the processor configured to perform the determining, to perform processing for generating the image data with appended margins in a case where the printer type is identified to be a small-format printer based on the printer type information and borderless printing is identified to be executed based on print setting information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sakai
  • Patent number: 11691425
    Abstract: Provided is an inkjet recording apparatus that performs inkjet recording on a recording medium in a recording region. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head that includes an ejection port surface where an ejection port for ejecting ink is provided, is the recording head being movable within a range including the recording region and a non-recording region where the recording is not performed, a cap capable of letting the ejection port in a capping state in the non-recording region, a blade that is placed between the recording region and the cap in a moving direction of the recording head, the blade being capable of wiping the ejection port of the recording head as the recording head moves from the non-recording region to the recording region, a blade moving unit capable of moving the blade up and down, and a control unit that controls the blade moving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Nisca Inc.
    Inventors: Yukito Ookubo, Masaki Oota, Noritaka Oota
  • Patent number: 11685157
    Abstract: A printing platform includes a printing engine with one or more printheads arranged such that the ink drops are jetted vertically upwards against the action of gravity; and a substrate transportation system where the normal to the surface in contact with the substrate is parallel and with opposite direction to the travelling direction of the jetted ink drops. It is necessary to counteract the weight of the substrate during the printing process to avoid it from falling under the action of gravity. This is achieved through any of a mechanical element that interferes with the falling of the substrate and that keeps it in place; or a system that generates adhesion forces between the element that transmits the motion to the substrate, typically a conveyor belt, and the substrate through the action of electrostatic forces, an air pressure differential between both faces of the substrate, or any other suitable mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Eduardo Bueno Espinal, Juan Escudero Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11643567
    Abstract: An ink set according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first ink and a second ink, the ink set described above is used for an ink jet recording apparatus which includes a recording head having at least one first ejection port which ejects the first ink and at least one second ejection port which ejects the second ink; and a cap which collectively caps the first ejection port and the second ejection port, the first ink contains water and a self-dispersible pigment, and the second ink contains water, a water-soluble dye, and a pigment dispersant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventors: Yusuke Mizutaki, Kiyomi Kumamoto
  • Patent number: 11642880
    Abstract: Techniques for handling and reducing ink overspray of an ink jet printer are provided. In an example, an ink overspray collector for an ink jet printer can include a first opening defining a first print area of the ink jet printer, and a frame about the first opening. The frame is configured to receive overspray from operation of the ink jet printer and can be formed of a woven material. In some examples, a controller of the ink jet printer can reduce an amount of ink ejected near the edges of the print media to reduce overspray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY AB
    Inventors: John P. Skoglund, Tanya Jegeris Snyder, Dale James Ziebarth, Mark Mizen, Ruben Rosario
  • Patent number: 11376856
    Abstract: A cartridge for a printing system comprises a receptacle to receive waste printing material from the printing system, a floater to change its position based on a varying filling level of the waste printing material in the receptacle, and a flag mechanically coupled to the floater, wherein a position of the flag depends on the position of the floater and indicates, outside of the receptacle, the filling level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Santiago Forcada Pardo, Alejandro Mielgo Barba, Jeffrey Thielman
  • Patent number: 11267250
    Abstract: In an example, a pressure system includes a fluid movement device, a buffer reservoir coupled to the fluid movement device, and a first fluid interface coupled to the buffer reservoir. In that example, the first fluid interface is able to couple to a pressurizable chamber of a print fluid container (that can apply force on a print fluid bag of the print fluid container).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Joan Albert Miravet Jimenez, Albert Crespi Serrano, Aleix Fort Filgueira
  • Patent number: 11254133
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided with a print head having at least a first type nozzles and a second type nozzles positioned on a first direction side with respect to the first type of nozzles and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a first ejection control with performing a main scanning. The first ejection control includes a control of performing flushing when the print head is in a first state where the second type of nozzles are located at a position corresponding to an ink receiver and the first type of nozzles are located at a position corresponding to the medium range, and a control of causing the first type nozzles to eject the ink toward the printing medium during a period where the ink is ejected from the second type of nozzles toward the ink receiver when the print head is in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Arakane
  • Patent number: 11241884
    Abstract: A waste liquid box management method sets a type of ink to be contained in a container, for a waste liquid box that includes a coupling portion coupled to a printer, the container containing ink discharged from the printer via the coupling portion, and a storage unit. The waste liquid box management method individually allocates different storage regions, in the storage unit, to a plurality of ink types, writes predetermined type specification data into a selected storage region, that is the storage region allocated to the ink type to be contained in the container, and inhibits writing to the storage region other than the selected storage region in a state in which data other than the type specification data is stored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 11192374
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus performs a recording operation by ejecting ink from a recording head. The apparatus includes a first absorber configured to absorb ink, a second absorber disposed apart from the first absorber having a larger ink absorption capacity than the first absorber, and a flow path portion that does not absorb ink. The second absorber has a second lower end portion arranged below a first lower end portion of the first absorber. The flow path portion connects the first lower end portion and a portion of the second absorber below the first lower end portion. As a result, ink is prevented from overflowing from the absorbers, even if an apparatus is arranged at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11192379
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus. A cap caps an ink ejection surface of a printhead. An ink suction path is connected to the cap and sucks the ink in the cap. An ink tank stores the ink to be supplied to the printhead. An ink supply path connects the printhead to the ink tank. A first closing unit closes the ink suction path. A second closing unit closes the ink supply path. A control unit is able to execute a first control mode in which the first closing unit closes the ink suction path and a second control mode in which the second closing unit closes the ink supply path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Narazaki, Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Kei Kosaka, Koki Shimada, Yusuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11179939
    Abstract: A liquid absorber includes an absorbing member. The absorbing member includes a plurality of segments. One segment of the plurality of segments includes a liquid landing surface and a side surface. The liquid landing surface is configured to receive liquid discharged from a liquid discharge head to absorb the liquid. The side surface is perpendicular to the liquid landing surface and contacts a side surface of another segment of the plurality of segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11117375
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a first-valve-mechanism, a second-valve-mechanism, a nozzle plate, and a holder housing the first-valve-mechanisms and the second-valve-mechanisms. When a direction perpendicular to the nozzle plate is a first-direction, the nozzle plate extends in a second-direction and a third-direction. The first-valve-mechanism and the second-valve-mechanism arranged in the third-direction, with a space therebetween. The first-valve-mechanism includes a first-valve-element and a first-downstream-cover-member defining a first-downstream-chamber downstream of the first-valve-element. The second-valve-mechanism includes a second-valve-element and a second-downstream-cover-member defining a second-downstream-chamber downstream of the second-valve-element. The first-downstream-cover-member faces the second-downstream-cover-member. An interval between the nozzle plate and the first-valve-element is equal to an interval between the nozzle plate and the second-valve-element in the first-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11104137
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid discharging apparatus including a liquid discharging unit configured to discharge a liquid, and a dummy discharge receptacle including an absorbing member configured to absorb a liquid dummy-discharged by the liquid discharging unit, wherein the liquid discharging unit discharges a liquid having a resin content of 5% by mass or greater, and wherein the absorbing member of the dummy discharge receptacle is formed of melamine foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tanioku, Hisashi Habashi, Yuusuke Koizuka, Koji Katsuragi, Yuuki Yokohama, Masaki Kudo
  • Patent number: 11072179
    Abstract: A liquid absorbent body according to the present disclosure includes a water absorbent resin and a pulp fiber, in which an evaporation rate of a pure water until elapse of 360 minutes after the pure water is absorbed is 0.0006 g/(cm2·min) or more and 0.0020 g/(cm2·min) or less, when the pure water of 20 mL is absorbed into the liquid absorbent body of 2.57 g, under an environment of 60° C. and 20% RH. It is preferable that the liquid absorbent body is configured to include an aggregate of small pieces in which a fiber base material containing the pulp fiber carries the water absorbent resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naotaka Higuchi, Yoichi Miyasaka, Shogo Nakada
  • Patent number: 10953654
    Abstract: An ink absorber includes: an ink absorbing member that is capable of absorbing ink; an accommodation section that accommodates the ink absorbing member; and a detachment structure section that detaches the ink absorbing member from the accommodation section. In the ink absorber, it is preferable that the accommodation section have a bottom section and side wall sections standing up from the bottom section, that inclined surfaces inclined relative to the bottom section be formed inside the side wall sections, and that the detachment structure section be configured with the inclined surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Yoichi Miyasaka, Kaneo Yoda, Nobutaka Urano, Seiichi Taniguchi, Akio Ito, Shunichi Seki
  • Patent number: 10875309
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a first liquid from a nozzle, a liquid receiving portion configured to receive, in a state where a second liquid is accommodated in the liquid receiving portion, for a purpose of maintenance of the liquid ejecting portion, the first liquid discharged from the nozzle, a maintenance portion that maintains a liquid surface of a liquid accommodated in the liquid receiving portion at an upper limit position, and a discharge portion configured to discharge, from a discharge port open to the liquid receiving portion, the liquid accommodated in the liquid receiving portion. The discharge port is positioned below the upper limit position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Arimura, Yuji Kanazawa, Masaaki Ando, Noritaka Mitsuo
  • Patent number: 10766260
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording unit that performs a recording by ejecting a liquid on a medium; a carriage that includes the recording unit and is movable in a width direction; a casing that has the carriage therein and constitutes an external appearance of the apparatus; an adapter that is mounted on an upper portion of the recording unit and accommodates the liquid to be supplied to the recording unit; at least one liquid accommodating unit that supplies the liquid to the adapter through a tube and includes a filling port into which the liquid can be filled; and a waste liquid receiving unit that receives the liquid discharged as a waste liquid during a maintenance operation of the recording unit, in which the casing has a cover for covering both the liquid accommodating unit and the waste liquid receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tanaka, Atsuya Hirabayashi, Nobuhisa Nomoto, Masahide Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10696058
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a first shell having a liquid storage chamber configured to store liquid and a liquid inlet portion through which the liquid is poured to the liquid storage chamber, a second shell that is a different member from the first shell, a holding member for holding a mutual positional relationship between the first shell and the second shell to be constant, and an atmospheric communication channel that makes outside and the liquid storage chamber communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura, Yusuke Hirasawa, Yuta Komatsu
  • Patent number: 10661388
    Abstract: A three dimensional printing system includes a powder delivery system and a controller. The powder delivery system includes a cartridge, a powder transfer assembly, a vacuum source, and source of inert gas. The cartridge includes a lower portion defining a lower cavity containing powder and an upper portion. The powder transfer assembly includes a cowling and a loader suction tube that extends through the cowling. The controller is configured to: (1) lower the cowling into sealing engagement with the upper portion of the cartridge whereby an upper cavity is defined between the cowling and the upper portion of the cartridge, (2) operate the source of inert gas to positively pressurize the upper cavity, and (3) lower the loader suction tube into the powder while operating the vacuum source to extract the powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Beauchamp
  • Patent number: 10562297
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet printer comprising: a recording head, an electric power supply, and a controller which is configured: to determine an ink amount in which an ink is jetted by the recording head in a flushing processing; in a case that the determined ink amount is less than a first ink amount, to boost a driving voltage of the electric power supply to a target voltage value, in accordance with a predetermined first voltage boosting pattern; and in a case that the determined ink amount is not less than the first ink amount, to boost the driving voltage to the target voltage value, in accordance with a predetermined second voltage boosting pattern in which a voltage boosting time is shorter than that in the first voltage boosting pattern. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten FPOT while reducing the load on the constitutive elements of the ink-jet printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Arakane
  • Patent number: 10518542
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects a liquid, a discharge portion which discharges a waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head, and a mounting unit which is provided with the discharge portion and in which is mounted a waste liquid container capable of storing the waste liquid which is discharged from the discharge portion, in which the mounting unit includes a liquid holding portion capable of holding the waste liquid in a periphery of the discharge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ochiai, Tsutomu Kobayashi, Takeshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10479091
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge section configured to discharge liquid onto a medium, a holding section capable of holding a waste liquid container capable of containing waste liquid exhausted from the liquid discharge section, a sensor capable of detecting a state in which a containing amount of the waste liquid container has reached a threshold value, and a calculation section configured to calculate a waste liquid amount based on an exhaust amount of the waste liquid exhausted by the liquid discharge section. In the case where the sensor has detected the state in which the containing amount has reached the threshold value, the calculation section calculates the waste liquid amount by adding the exhaust amount of the waste liquid exhausted after the detection of the state by the sensor to the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Mashima, Seijun Horie
  • Patent number: 10357972
    Abstract: A waste pack for a printer includes a port, a sealing member configured to seal the port, and an urging member. When the waste pack is attached to the printer, a discharge port of the printer pushes the sealing member and enters the waste pack through the port. When the waste pack is detached, the sealing member urged by the urging member closes the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Matsuura, Noboru Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 10226932
    Abstract: A supply apparatus includes: tanks; a binder which holds the tanks in a state of being arranged in a first direction; a casing which supports the binder; and a positioning part disposed between adjacent two tanks, the positioning part positioning the two tanks at an interval in the first direction. Each tank includes two side walls facing the first direction to define a liquid storage chamber and an inlet to supply liquid to the liquid storage chamber. The two side walls include portions formed from resin. At least one of the two side walls includes a portion formed from a film. The positioning part is in contact with: the portion formed from the resin of one of the two side walls of one of the two tanks; and the portion formed from the resin of one of the two side walls of the other of the two tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Masako Kawagoe, Masahiro Hayashi, Taichi Shirono
  • Patent number: 10220621
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus, comprising: a recording head; an ink reservoir; an ink receiver; a first waste liquid reservoir comprising a first holding body; a second waste liquid reservoir comprising a second holding body; and a housing, wherein: the second waste liquid reservoir is movable between a first position where the first and second holding bodies contact and a second position; in a state where the second waste liquid reservoir is at the second position, the first holding body overlaps with the second holding body in an intersecting direction intersecting with a moving direction in which the second waste liquid reservoir moves; and in a state where the second waste liquid reservoir is disposed at the first position, the first and second holding bodies contact such that at least one of the first and second holding bodies elastically deforms to show an restoring force in the intersecting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohiro Wada
  • Patent number: 10173426
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus (liquid droplet discharge apparatus) including a discharge portion that has a nozzle surface to which a nozzle that discharges ink on a medium is open, a reflecting mirror that reflects light, an imaging portion that images the reflecting mirror, a wiping portion that wipes the nozzle surface, and a movement mechanism that moves at least one out of the discharge portion, the reflecting mirror, and the imaging portion so as to switch a state of the nozzle between a state in which the nozzle surface faces the medium and a state in which the nozzle surface faces the imaging portion via the reflecting mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10137690
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a liquid collecting device including a compression member configured to compress a first porous body from a second surface opposite to a first surface that comes into contact with a first image, to extrude and collect a liquid component containing a first liquid from the first surface of the first porous body, and the liquid collecting device includes a second porous body configured to absorb the liquid component extruded from the first surface of the first porous body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Hirokawa, Toru Yamane, Akihiro Mouri, Hiroaki Motooka
  • Patent number: 10086614
    Abstract: There is provided a cap device including: a cap unit which is tiltable in a plane direction of the jetting surface and which comes into close contact with the jetting surface of the liquid jetting head; a flexible discharge tube of which one end is connected to the cap unit, which communicates with an inner space defined by the cap unit and the jetting surface under a condition that the cap unit comes into close contact with the jetting surface, and through which a liquid in the inner space is discharged; and a fixing mechanism which fixes a portion, of the discharge tube, other than the one end to the cap unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ayumu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10000064
    Abstract: Technology enabling stably attaching a cartridge having a fluid supply port and a waste fluid inlet to a fluid ejection device. The cartridge has a bottom wall with a fluid supply port for supplying fluid to the fluid ejection device, and a waste fluid inlet for recovering waste fluid from the fluid ejection device, a first side wall having a first contact part capable of contacting a first fastening member of the cartridge holder when the cartridge is installed in the cartridge holder, and a second side wall having a second contact part capable of contacting a second fastening member of the cartridge holder when the cartridge is installed in the cartridge holder. When looking at the cartridge from the bottom wall side, an imaginary first line passing through the first contact part and the second contact part passes between the fluid supply port and the waste fluid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoteru Katsuki, Tomohiro Mizuta
  • Patent number: 9969172
    Abstract: A liquid consuming apparatus includes: a liquid consumer; a liquid receiver; a first waste-liquid storage including (i) a first housing connected to the liquid receiver to allow liquid communication between the first housing and the liquid receiver, and (ii) a first liquid absorber disposed in the first housing; and a second waste-liquid storage including (a) a second housing connected to the first waste-liquid storage to allow liquid communication between the second housing and the first waste-liquid storage, and (b) a second liquid absorber disposed in the second housing. The first housing has a first opening that opens toward the second housing. The second housing has a second opening that opens toward the first housing. The first liquid absorber protrudes from the first opening to an outside of the first housing. The second liquid absorber is in contact with the first liquid absorber protruding from the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Nishikawa, Toshiro Ueda, Yuya Tatematsu, Hideo Fukue
  • Patent number: 9889671
    Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of reducing the possibility that liquid reaches a visual check face. A liquid container includes a liquid retaining portion that can retain liquid and has an injection port forming face in which a liquid injection port is arranged, a visual check face that intersects the injection port forming face and through which a liquid surface in the liquid containing portion can be visually checked from the outside, and a container guiding path that guides the liquid existing in the injection port forming face in a direction different from a direction toward the visual check face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Koji Nishimaki
  • Patent number: 9878550
    Abstract: A container for holding a volume of fluid includes a housing defining an interior for retaining the volume of fluid, a vent system disposed at an upper portion of the interior adjacent to a fluid chamber to vent air to atmosphere. The vent system includes an air chamber in fluid communication with the fluid chamber through an air inlet and disposed within the interior. The air chamber includes a bottom surface angling from the air inlet towards a distal end of the air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael R. Larrobis, Jeffrey G. Abanto
  • Patent number: 9656497
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a tape feed path, a front wall having a front surface, and a tape feed exit adjacent to the front wall. The tape cassette also includes a tape at least partially included within the housing, an ink ribbon at least partially included within the housing, and a take-up spool included within the housing and configured to take-up the ink ribbon. A first aperture is formed on the front surface of the front wall, wherein a first virtual line orthogonal to the front wall and passing through a most upstream end of the first aperture also passes through the take-up spool, and wherein a second virtual line orthogonal to the front wall and passing through a most downstream end of the first aperture also passes through the take-up spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9649861
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a rear wall, a front wall, and a tape feed exit located on the front wall, a tape included at least partially within the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, and a first indicator aperture positioned on the front wall and a second indicator aperture position on a rear portion of the bottom surface. A position of the first indicator aperture on the front wall indicates a type of the tape included within the housing. A position of the second indicator aperture indicates a color of characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Masato Kato, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9643418
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes multiple nozzle rows, in which a plurality of nozzles capable of discharging liquid onto a medium are arranged, that are arranged in an intersection direction intersecting with a nozzles-arranged direction where the nozzles are arranged, a shielding portion that shields an area between the nozzle rows, and a collecting portion that collects mist which is attached to the shielding portion and is generated due to discharging of the liquid from the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Katagami, Tsutomu Sasaki, Manabu Suzuki, Kazutoshi Fujishima
  • Patent number: 9616671
    Abstract: An object is to provide a cartridge that is configured to be readily mountable and stir a liquid contained in the cartridge. A cartridge includes an ink pack, a first air bag and a casing provided to place the ink pack and the first air bag therein. The casing has an ink supply port, an air flow port for first air bag and an air flow port for casing that are provided on a front face of the casing in a mounting direction so that this configuration enables the cartridge to be readily mounted to the inkjet printer. The pressurized air is introduced through the air flow port for first air bag into the first air bag. This expands the first air bag to press the ink pack and thereby stir ink I contained in the ink pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Koizumi, Masaru Kumagai, Hitoshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9573401
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a pair of side surfaces, a tape that is a print medium housed in the housing, a tape exit that discharges, from the housing, the tape guided in the housing along a predetermined feed path, at least a part of the feed path extending parallel to the front surface, and a type indicator portion provided adjacent to the tape exit and in a specified area of the front surface on an upstream side of the tape exit in a feed direction of the tape, the type indicator portion indicating a type of the tape and including vertical information sections and a protrusion formed in at least one of the vertical information sections, the vertical information sections being strip-shaped sections extending along a direction orthogonal to the feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki
  • Patent number: 9573380
    Abstract: A printer which is configured so that an ink tank which accommodates ink is fixed and a user can refill the ink tank with the ink, includes one pair of electrodes which are disposed in the ink tank and serve as sensors for detecting whether or not the ink is present at a predetermined height (first threshold value). A control portion which controls the printer performs liquid presence detection to detect whether or not the ink is present at the predetermined height (first threshold value) by using the sensors, and performs initial filling which corresponds to the result of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishida, Shuichi Koganehira, Ryohei Ito, Masaki Tsukida
  • Patent number: 9566812
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a front wall and a tape feed exit located on the front wall, a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path in a tape feed direction toward the tape feed exit, a first aperture formed on the front wall, and a tape type indicator aperture formed on the front wall. At least one of the first aperture and the tape type indicator aperture is located in a trench in the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koshiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9555637
    Abstract: A cartridge 1 is provided with an ink pack 9, an air bag 10 capable of abutting the ink pack 9, and a pressurizing chamber 11 that stores the ink pack 9 and the air bag 10. In the case where the amount of ink in the ink pack 9 decreases, pressurized air is introduced into the air bag 10, the ink pack 9 is pressed against the air bag 10, and thereby the internal pressure of the ink pack 9 is increased. After that, pressurized air is introduced into the pressurizing chamber 11 so as to increase the internal pressure of the pressurizing chamber 11 and pressurize the ink pack 9 from outside. Accordingly, the ink in the ink pack 9 is supplied from an ink supply port 12 to the inkjet printer 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Kumagai, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Masaru Kobashi