Waste Storage Patents (Class 347/36)
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9555633
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a waste liquid container accommodation part, and a waste liquid drain passage member. The waste liquid container accommodation part replaceably accommodates a first waste liquid container to contain waste liquid. The waste liquid drain passage member guides waste liquid into the waste liquid container accommodation part. The apparatus body includes a mount portion to mount a second waste liquid container having a capacity greater than the waste liquid container accommodation part. The mount portion of the apparatus body is different from the waste liquid container accommodation part. The waste liquid container accommodation part accommodates a relay unit to relay a drain passage from the waste liquid drain passage member to the second waste liquid container, replaceably with the first waste liquid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 9545794
    Abstract: A method of performing maintenance on a printhead of an imaging device includes the detection of at least one contaminated ink jet in a printhead. A first pressure is applied to ink in the printhead in response to the detection of the at least one contaminated ink jet. The first pressure is configured to prevent ink from entering a plurality of apertures in an aperture plate of the printhead and to prevent ink from drooling from the plurality of apertures unless the apertures are wiped by a wiper blade. A first portion of apertures in the plurality of apertures in the aperture plate is wiped with a wiper blade while leaving a second portion of the apertures untouched by the wiper blade while the first pressure is applied to the ink in the printhead. The wiping of the first portion of apertures enables ink to drool from the first portion of apertures. The first portion of apertures includes the at least one detected contaminated ink jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James Matthew Cunnington, Trevor James Snyder, Edward F. Burress, Heidi Noce
  • Patent number: 9539838
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having 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 tape type indicator apertures formed on the front wall, wherein a combination of the tape type indicator apertures forms a pattern corresponding to a type of the tape included at least partially within the housing. The tape type indicator apertures may be positioned proximate to the tape feed exit, and may comprise a first hole and a second hole, the first hole is formed at a bottom edge of the front wall, and the second hole is disposed on a downstream side of the first hole in a feed direction of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9533507
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Patent number: 9522556
    Abstract: A tape cassette for use with a label printer having a plurality of tape type detecting switches that includes a housing having a front wall, a tape feed exit on the front wall, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, a recess on the front wall extending from the bottom surface towards the top surface, and an aperture on the front wall. The aperture is positioned downstream, in a tape feed path direction, of the recess, and is configured to receive one of the tape type detecting switches. The tape feed path direction is a direction in which the tape is configured to be fed along a portion of the tape feed path proximate to the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9517647
    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: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki
  • Patent number: 9511609
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a tape feed path, a front wall, and a tape feed exit adjacent to the front wall configured to expose a tape guided in the housing along the tape feed path. The tape cassette also includes a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path to the tape feed exit, a first aperture, formed on the front wall above a first centerline bisecting the front wall into top and bottom halves, and to the right of a second centerline on the front wall bisecting the housing into right and left halves, and a second aperture, formed on the front wall to the left of the second centerline, wherein at least a portion of the second aperture is below the first centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9511611
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front wall, a tape feed exit located on the front wall, and an arm portion formed by the front wall and an arm rear surface behind the front wall. The arm portion partially surrounds an opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface behind the front wall, and a tape feed path passes through the arm portion from an upstream portion of the arm portion to a downstream end of the arm portion. The tape cassette also has a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, and a first aperture formed on a bottom edge of the front wall and positioned downstream of an upstream end of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9498997
    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 an aperture 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: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9493021
    Abstract: A tape cassette for use with a label printer having a plurality of tape type detecting switches that includes a housing having a front wall, a tape feed exit on the front wall, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, a recess on the front wall extending from the bottom surface towards the top surface, and an aperture on the front wall. The aperture is positioned downstream, in a tape feed path direction, of the recess, and is configured to receive one of the tape type detecting switches. The tape feed path direction is a direction in which the tape is configured to be fed along a portion of the tape feed path proximate to the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9481191
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a tape feed path, a front wall, and a tape feed exit adjacent to the front wall configured to expose a tape guided in the housing along the tape feed path. The tape cassette also includes a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path to the tape feed exit, a first aperture, formed on the front wall above a first centerline bisecting the front wall into top and bottom halves, and to the right of a second centerline on the front wall bisecting the housing into right and left halves, and a second aperture, formed on the front wall to the left of the second centerline, wherein at least a portion of the second aperture is below the first centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9475325
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front wall, a tape feed exit located on the front wall, and an arm portion formed by the front wall and an arm rear surface behind the front wall. The arm portion partially surrounds an opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface behind the front wall, and a tape feed path passes through the arm portion from an upstream portion of the arm portion to a downstream end of the arm portion. The tape cassette also has a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, and a first aperture formed on a bottom edge of the front wall and positioned downstream of an upstream end of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9475322
    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: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki
  • Patent number: 9469141
    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 an aperture 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: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9457604
    Abstract: A tape cassette for use with a label printer having a plurality of tape type detecting switches that includes a housing having a front wall, a tape feed exit on the front wall, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, a recess on the front wall extending from the bottom surface towards the top surface, and an aperture on the front wall. The aperture is positioned downstream, in a tape feed path direction, of the recess, and is configured to receive one of the tape type detecting switches. The tape feed path direction is a direction in which the tape is configured to be fed along a portion of the tape feed path proximate to the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9421806
    Abstract: A tape cassette for use with a label printer having a plurality of tape type detecting switches that includes a housing having a front wall, a tape feed exit on the front wall, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, a recess on the front wall extending from the bottom surface towards the top surface, and an aperture on the front wall. The aperture is positioned downstream, in a tape feed path direction, of the recess, and is configured to receive one of the tape type detecting switches. The tape feed path direction is a direction in which the tape is configured to be fed along a portion of the tape feed path proximate to the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9421805
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having 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 tape type indicator apertures formed on the front wall, wherein a combination of the tape type indicator apertures forms a pattern corresponding to a type of the tape included at least partially within the housing. The tape type indicator apertures may be positioned proximate to the tape feed exit, and may comprise a first hole and a second hole, the first hole is formed at a bottom edge of the front wall, and the second hole is disposed on a downstream side of the first hole in a feed direction of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 9399345
    Abstract: A waste liquid container is detachably mounted on a mounting unit which includes a discharge portion discharging a waste liquid and a projection to which a substrate connection portion is joined. The waste liquid container includes: a containing portion that is able to contain the waste liquid; a connection concave portion that is opened in a mounting direction; a circuit substrate that includes connection terminals electrically connected to the substrate connection portion and is joined to the connection concave portion; and a waste liquid introduction portion that is connected to the discharge portion. In the connection concave portion, one pair of guide portions guiding the projection is formed so that the connection terminals are interposed therebetween in a width direction intersecting the mounting direction. Of the pair of guide portions, one guide portion is disposed between the connection terminals and the waste liquid introduction portion in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yusuke Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 9375935
    Abstract: A waste liquid container includes a fitted portion, in which a discharge unit is fittable in a removable manner, a container connection terminal, which contacts a device connection terminal, an insertion restriction portion, which contacts a device contact portion and restricts movement of the waste liquid container in the insertion direction, and an engaged portion, which includes a contacted portion that contacts a removal restriction unit and restricts movement of the waste liquid container in the removal direction. The engaged portion is located toward an inner side in the lateral direction from a side wall at a position lower than both of the container connection terminal and the insertion restriction portion. The removal restriction unit is receivable in a region located toward an outer side in the lateral direction from the engaged portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Harada, Masanori Nakata, Shigenori Fukasawa, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9302489
    Abstract: A liquid discharge recording apparatus includes: a liquid; a liquid discharge head configured to discharge the liquid; an absorber configured to absorb the liquid discharged from the liquid discharge head; and unsaturated fatty acid of which specific gravity is smaller than that of the liquid and which is contained in the absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichiro Sugimoto, Noriaki Satoh, Ayako Ohishi, Akihiko Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9272551
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head unit which has liquid ejecting heads that eject liquid; an in-head roller which abuts against a landing surface of an ejecting medium; and a frame which pivotally supports the in-head roller. The liquid ejecting head unit is provided to be able to ascend and descend with respect to the frame. In the liquid ejecting head unit, at least two head rows, each of which includes the liquid ejecting heads and a void aligned in a reference direction intersecting a transporting direction of the ejecting medium, are arranged in the transporting direction. The in-head roller is disposed at a position where at least a part of the in-head roller faces the void, in a direction which is orthogonal to the landing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiya Takino, Taku Hirashima
  • Patent number: 9193169
    Abstract: The method of this invention for discharging a shipping ink from a newly installed print head filled with that ink minimizes the amount of shipping ink that may remain in the print head after the ink discharging process is performed. The shipping ink discharging method according to this invention comprises: a print head; an ink tank; a first pump; a second pump; a switch valve; and a cleaning mechanism; wherein the switch valve is closed and the first pump is operated to discharge the shipping ink from the ink ejection nozzles and the cleaning mechanism is operated to clean the print head, after which the switch valve is opened and the second pump is operated to supply ink from the ink tank to the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya Sunouchi, Seiji Suzuki, Takaya Sato
  • Patent number: 9193165
    Abstract: To provide a waste ink absorber having excellent permeability and retention performance, in a waste ink absorber to absorb waste ink discharged from a head for ejecting ink, maximum parts where the density is locally high and a low density portion where the density is lower than the high density portion are provided in a single piece of the waste ink absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Takano, Shunichi Seki
  • Patent number: 9162467
    Abstract: An ink cartridge (1) for inserting into an inkjet printer, with an outer housing (2) and an ink container (4) located inside, wherein the ink contained comprises an ink outlet piece (5) through which the ink container (4) can be contacted from the outside in a fluid-conductive manner, wherein on the outer housing (2) of the ink cartridge (1) guiding means (136) are provided in order to align the outer housing (2) on inserting the ink cartridge (1) in the inkjet printer relative to puncturing means, arranged in the inkjet printer in a fixed location, the outer housing (2) of the ink cartridge (1) at least for the greatest part is of a cellulose material and the guiding means are formed as a component that is separate from the outer housing (2) and fixed to the latter, and the component comprises a material that differs from the material of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Marabu GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Constanze Marceddu, Uwe Wiesebrock, Ulrich Zech
  • Patent number: 9150034
    Abstract: A printing assistance apparatus for a media width printhead, the apparatus having: an elongate platen having a surface for supporting media across the media width during printing on the media by fluid ejection nozzles of the printhead; and a wick element positioned within the platen for wicking fluid ejected by the nozzles from the supporting surface, the wick element having an elongate body positioned within the platen and a plurality of pads projecting from the body along the longitudinal length body toward the printhead, the pads being separated by notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: John Christian Love, Biagio Agostinelli, Javier Escobedo, Antoni Murcia, David Tyvoll
  • Patent number: 9144982
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting head that can eject a solution; a rotational body that has a circumferential surface which can accommodate the solution ejected from the ejecting head; a scraper that can come into sliding contact with the circumferential surface of the rotational body; and an accommodation container that accommodates the solution which is scraped off from the circumferential surface by the scraper. The accommodation container has a liquid storage section that stores a liquid which can dissolve a solute component of the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Miyamoto, Kazuyuki Fujioka
  • Patent number: 9144981
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head including: an element substrate; a first recess having inner walls including a first side surface of the element substrate, a second side surface facing thereto, and a part of a fitting surface to which the element substrate is fitted; and a second recess having inner walls including a third side surface of the element substrate, which is a rear surface of the first side surface, a fourth side surface facing the third side surface, and another part of the fitting surface; and the liquid ejection apparatus also includes a wiping member configured to move from the second recess toward the first recess to wipe the ejection port surface. The first recess is provided with a sealing material to a level higher than the level of a sealing material in the second recess, in a direction of ejecting liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihisa Saikawa
  • Patent number: 9132644
    Abstract: In a waste liquid container which is attachable and detachable to a recording portion including a liquid ejecting head which discharges a waste liquid and can store the waste liquid which is discharged from the liquid ejecting head in a state of being mounted on the recording portion, an engagement portion which protrudes from a side wall of the waste liquid container and is disposed lower in a vertical direction than a guide portion which is provided on the recording portion in the state of being mounted on the recording portion is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Harada, Masanori Nakata, Taisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9096068
    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: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Renejane Larrobis, Jr., Jeffrey Grengia Abanto
  • Patent number: 9073372
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a head, a liquid-receiving face and a flushing box. The head is configured and arranged to eject a liquid. The liquid-receiving face is configured and arranged to receive the liquid ejected from the head when flushing is carried out by the head. The flushing box is configured and arranged to receive the liquid deposited on the liquid-receiving face and dripped from the liquid-receiving face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuaki Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 9050836
    Abstract: A printer is provided with a transfer belt, a sucking fan, a printing portion, and an inter-head guide roller. The printing portion has a head row and a head holder. The inter-head guide roller is rotatably supported by a pair of support portions fixedly arranged on the head holder on one end side and the other end side of the inter-head guide roller. A plurality of belt holes is arranged on the transfer belt so that the plurality of belt holes passes just below each support portion when the transfer belt is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomohisa Oe
  • Patent number: 9033462
    Abstract: The case 22 of a waste ink tank 13 has ribs 51, 52 that partition the space between a waste ink inlet 36 and an air vent 33. Air passages 65, 66 that connect the waste ink storage spaces S1, S2, S3 partitioned by the ribs are formed at the top ends of the ribs 51, 52. Waste ink permeates all of a sponge 21 through the space between the ribs 51, 52 and the bottom wall 24. Because a path for air to flow to the air vent 33 is constantly maintained inside the case 22 by the air passages 65, 66, air is discharged from the air vent 33 as waste ink is introduced to the case 22. The strength of the case can therefore be increased without interfering with introducing waste ink to the case and absorption of introduced waste ink by the sponge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Komaki
  • Patent number: 9028043
    Abstract: A printhead cleaning device is configured to use a cleaning web to absorb the residual ink left on the faceplate of the printhead. The cleaning web is supplied from a feed cartridge and taken up by a take-up cartridge. The cartridges include indexing mechanisms that are configured to dispense and pull-in, respectively, a predetermined length of the cleaning web during each maintenance cycle of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey John Bradway, Matthew D. Savoy, Frank Berkelys Tamarez Gomez, Jorge M. Rodriquez, Jeffrey Swing
  • Patent number: 9028044
    Abstract: First, second, and third ink absorbing bodies are accommodated in a container of a recovery reservoir in this order from the side corresponding to a bottom surface of the container, so that an introduction chamber is defined in the middle of a recovery space. A lid having a shutter plate and a communication hole is located over the third ink absorbing body. The upper side of the introduction chamber is covered by the shutter plate to suppress volatilization of solvent element of waste ink introduced into the introduction chamber. In addition, the communication hole is located in a portion of the upper surface of the third ink absorbing body, so that solvent element of ink absorbed by the third ink absorption body volatilizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Harada, Keiji Matsumoto, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 9028039
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, an ejection detector, a cleaner and cleaning ejection controller. The ejection detector has a droplet landing member disposed in an area in which the droplet landing member faces the head. The ejection detector detects ejection or non-ejection by detecting electric change caused by landing of the droplets on the droplet landing member. The cleaner cleans a droplet landing surface of the droplet landing member. The cleaning ejection controller controls the recording head to eject droplets on the droplet landing surface for cleaning the droplet landing surface before cleaning the droplet landing surface by the cleaner. A quantity of the droplets for cleaning the droplet landing surface is greater than a quantity of the droplets for detecting ejection or non-ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Masaoka, Shotaro Takeuchi, Masahiko Hisada
  • Patent number: 8998392
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Patent number: 8998379
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus prevents the problem of reduced utilization efficiency of a waste fluid tank caused by the storage of waste fluids with high and low viscosities in the same open-type waste fluid tank. The image forming apparatus includes a first waste fluid tank for storing waste ink fluid ejected from a recording head, and a second waste fluid tank for storing waste ink fluid ejected into a cap of the recording head. The waste ink fluid ejected into the cap is guided to the second waste fluid tank via a tube. The second waste fluid tank is an airtight structure having an inlet at one end to which the tube is detachably connected via a needle or a valve. At the other end of the second waste fluid tank, there is disposed an opening communicating the inside and the outside of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Ohnishi, Junji Seto, Tsutomu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8967767
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from nozzles; a liquid accommodation body having a liquid receiving surface configured to accommodate the liquid flushed from the nozzles; a pump that discharges the liquid; a liquid supply flow path that discharges the liquid discharged by the pump toward the liquid receiving surface in the liquid accommodation body; and a liquid discharge flow path that discharges the liquid from the liquid accommodation body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8955948
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device forming a continuous inkjet printer cabinet including a combined ventilation system for the electronic compartment and consumable fluids compartment (ink and solvent). According to the invention, condensates derived from solvent vapors not condensed by the condenser are extracted through a pipe then retained in order to be evaporated by the ventilation airflow. The solution according to the invention ensures that the increase in solvent concentration around the printer remains below the legal limits for unpleasant smells for persons. One advantageous embodiment consists of using a heat exchanger on the ventilation airflow path, to condensate solvent vapor in the ink reservoir to enable gravity flow of vapors thus condensed and return them to the ink reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Markem-Imaje
    Inventor: Nicolas Rolland
  • Patent number: 8950847
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head which discharges liquid onto a recording material, thereby performing recording; and a waste liquid recovery device which recovers waste liquid which has not been attached to the recording material, of liquid discharged from the recording head, wherein the waste liquid recovery device includes a movable sheet-like member which is provided on a side facing the recording head and receives the waste liquid which has not been attached to the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Seki, Kenichi Ishihara, Hidenori Usuda
  • Publication number: 20150035901
    Abstract: In order to perform recording head maintenance by discharge and reflux of ink with higher pressures without creating instability of the meniscus in the nozzle surface, this image forming device may be provided with a recording head having multiple nozzles, a first reservoir unit and a second reservoir unit which store the ink supplied to the recording head, a supply unit which is opened and closed by a solenoid valve and connects the recording head and the first reservoir unit, a pump which supplies the ink in the second reservoir unit to the first reservoir unit, a recovery passage which is opened and closed by solenoid valves and connects the recording head and the second reservoir unit, and a control unit which controls operation of the solenoid valves and the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc
    Inventor: Mitsuru Obata
  • Publication number: 20150035902
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an apparatus main body which includes an accommodation chamber for detachably accommodating a cartridge capable of accommodating liquid and a cover which opens and closes the accommodation chamber, a gap is formed in the accommodation chamber when the cartridge is attached to the accommodation chamber, and a stopper unit provided at the cover enters the gap when the cover is closed in a state where the cartridge is attached to the accommodation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuhiko TSUYAMA, Ryoichi SHUTO
  • Patent number: 8926062
    Abstract: Printers and duplexers are described herein. An example duplexer for a printer includes a waste ink roller movable between a concealed region and a receiving region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel Fredrickson, Russell Yearout
  • Patent number: 8919919
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device characterized in that it comprises a base (3) including a cleaning plate (4), provided with cleaning elements (5), which can be moved along said base (3) and which defines three positions: an injection position which allows the passage of the ink through holes (6) in said base complementary to holes or recesses (7); a cleaning position in which said cleaning elements (5) contact the cartridges (2); and a resting position; and a resting plate (8), provided with closing elements (9), which can be moved along said base (3) by means of the movement of the print head (1) between a position of use of the print cartridges (2) and a resting position in which said closing elements (9) contact the cartridges (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: TKT Brainpower, S.L.
    Inventors: Antoni Guimerá Predola, Francesc Masgrau Lagresa, Antoni Balsells Mercadé
  • Patent number: 8911068
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image and an ink cartridge that includes a deformable ink supply bag having an ink supply port; a deformable waste ink collection bag having a fluid gateway; and a cartridge housing to accommodate the deformable ink supply bag and the deformable waste ink collection bag at the same time. A connecting member having a non-return valve is provided to connect the deformable ink supply bag and the deformable waste ink collection bag with each other at a section other than the ink supply port and the fluid gateway. The non-return valve prevents ink from flowing from the waste ink collection bag into the ink supply bag. A non-return valve control mechanism is provided not to operate the non-return valve in an initial state in which the ink supply bag is initially filled with ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Honriku Jo
  • Patent number: 8899723
    Abstract: A waste liquid container for storing a waste liquid discharged from an image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a first container having a single waste liquid inlet into which the waste liquid enters and a second container communicating with the first container. The first and second containers are detachably attached to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Suzuki, Shigeyuki Ito
  • Patent number: 8888237
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a liquid jetting head configured to jet liquid; a liquid discharge unit configured to discharge the liquid from the liquid jetting head; a waste liquid recover unit including a waste liquid absorber configured to absorb a waste liquid discharged from the liquid jetting head by the liquid discharge unit and detection electrodes configured to detect a waste liquid amount absorbed into the waste liquid absorber; and a vibration generating source configured to vibrate the waste liquid absorber in a vibration direction, wherein the detection electrodes are disposed to make contact with an end surface defining the waste liquid absorber, and a normal direction of the end surface intersects with the vibration direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kondo, Shuhei Hiwada, Masato Sueyasu, Yasuhiro Kato, Reiko Higashikawa, Tomoyuki Kubo, Toru Yamashita, Shigeru Suzuki, Hiroto Sugahara, Masayoshi Hayashi, Tatsuya Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8888236
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes: a carriage which is movable in a forward direction from one end to the other end; a recording head provided in the carriage and having a plurality of nozzle groups from which the ink is discharged; an ink receiver provided at a side of the one end including a flushing position and configured to receive the ink discharged by a flushing operation; and a controller configured to control operations of the carriage and the recording head. In a case that the carriage is moved in the forward direction, the controller executes: an acceleration process for accelerating the carriage; a selecting process for selecting at least one nozzle group for which the flushing operation is performed; a flushing process for performing the flushing operation for the nozzle group selected in the selecting process during the acceleration process; and a recording process for recording the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8882248
    Abstract: A supporting section is disposed to confront an ejection surface and supports a recording medium. A first tank is mounted on a first-tank mount section. A liquid conveying section conveys liquid to a liquid ejecting head. A receiving section receives liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head. A waste-liquid conveying section conveys liquid to the waste-liquid tank. A first casing holds the liquid ejecting head, the first-tank mount section, and the liquid conveying section. A second casing holds the supporting section, the receiving section, the waste-liquid tank, and the waste-liquid conveying section. The first casing is connected with the second casing such that the first casing is movable relative to the second casing. The first casing takes a first position at which the ejection surface confronts the supporting section and a second position at which the ejection surface is farther away from the supporting section than at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Yamamoto