Fluid Supply System Patents (Class 347/85)
  • Patent number: 10569558
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a liquid ejection portion configured to eject a liquid and a liquid supplying member. The liquid supplying member includes a first face, a second face that is the back face of the first face, a first connecting portion provided on the first face and fluidly connected to a main body, a second connecting portion provided on the second face and fluidly connected to the liquid ejection portion, and an interior channel communicating the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The interior channel includes a portion extending toward the first face and a portion extending toward the second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyasu Nagai, Koichi Kubo, Naozumi Nabeshima, Soji Kondo, Kazuya Yoshii
  • Patent number: 10569559
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having nozzles and an opening surface through which the nozzles are opened, the liquid ejecting head being configured to eject liquid from the nozzles, a supply flow path configured to supply the liquid to the liquid ejecting head, a pressurizing mechanism that can pressurize the inside of the supply flow path, an opening/closing mechanism that can open and close the supply flow path, and a control unit that controls operations of the liquid ejecting head, the pressurizing mechanism, and the opening/closing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hanaoka, Takuya Okina, Eiichiro Watanabe, Masaru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 10562317
    Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a number of print heads, each of which has a first port and a second port; an ink supply; a drain line; a first manifold connecting the ink supply to the first port of each print head; and a second manifold connected to the second port of each print head and connectable to the drain line. A valve system is arranged to disconnect the second manifold from the drain line and to connect the second manifold to the ink supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: OCÉ HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Guus M. C. Peeters
  • Patent number: 10549541
    Abstract: A supply channel member includes a plate, a plurality of main channels formed inside the plate, the plurality of main channels disposed parallel to each other along a surface of the plate in an arrangement direction of the plurality of main channels, a plurality of branch channels branched from the plurality of main channels, respectively, and a connection tube to connect one of the plurality of branch channels to another of the plurality of branch channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki Nagatsuka
  • Patent number: 10549539
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head including: a plurality of individual channels arranged in a row in a first direction; an inflow channel extending in the first direction and connected to the plurality of individual channels; and an outflow channel extending in the first direction and connected to the plurality of individual channels, wherein first connecting parts connected respectively to the plurality of individual channels are provided on both end parts in a second direction of an upper surface of the outflow channel, the second direction being horizontal and orthogonal to the first direction; the upper surface of the outflow channel has a convex part having a shape which is, as projected in the first direction, convex upward; and a highest point of the convex part is located, in the second direction, between the both end parts in the second direction of the upper surface of the outflow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Katayama, Keita Sugiura, Shohei Koide, Jiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10549543
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head including a supply port, a recovery port, and nozzles to discharge a liquid from the nozzles, a circulation channel connected to the supply port and the recovery port of the liquid discharge head to circulate the liquid through the liquid discharge head, and a cap to cap a nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head in which the nozzles are formed and to suck the liquid from the nozzles in a maintenance operation. The circulation channel includes an individual supply channel communicating with the supply port of the liquid discharge head, an individual recovery channel communicating with the recovery port of the liquid discharge head to circulate the liquid through the liquid discharge head, a supply-side fluid resistance variable section disposed in the individual supply channel to vary fluid a resistance of the individual supply channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaya Kubodera, Yuta Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 10543693
    Abstract: A tank includes: a first surface which extends in a first direction, which defines a liquid storage chamber, and which has an inlet for injecting the liquid into the liquid storage chamber; and a pair of second surfaces which extend in a second direction intersecting the first surface and which define the liquid storage chamber, wherein at least a part of each of the second surfaces is composed of a film, and at least one of the pair of second surfaces has a first area which has a first length in the second direction from the first surface and which is composed of a wall having a rigidity higher than that of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Masahiro Hayashi, Taichi Shirono, Masako Kawagoe
  • Patent number: 10538102
    Abstract: A degassing device can include one or more passive components, such as a gas-permeable membrane. The passive components may not directly be monitored. The state (e.g. the permeability) of the passive components may be reliably determined via evaluation of pressure information with regard to the pressure (e.g. negative pressure) in the degassing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Océ Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Ulrich Stöckle, Stefan Adelsperger
  • Patent number: 10538100
    Abstract: An apparatus connected to a printhead has two states and switches between them. In the first state, ink is circulated in a channel of supplying ink from a tank that reserves ink to respective print elements via a common supply fluid channel and a plurality of individual supply fluid channels, and collecting the ink from the respective print elements to the tank via a plurality of individual collection fluid channels and a common collection fluid channel. In the second state, the ink is circulated in a channel of supplying the ink from the tank to the respective print elements via the common collection fluid channel and the plurality of individual collection fluid channels, and collecting the ink from the respective print elements to the tank via the plurality of individual supply fluid channels and the common supply fluid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Fujikake, Takaya Sato
  • Patent number: 10538098
    Abstract: A liquid circulation device includes a housing having an outlet and an inlet, a circulation unit configured to convey liquid out of the housing through the outlet and recover liquid into the housing through the inlet, a liquid supplying unit configured to supply liquid into the housing, an air conveying unit configured to convey air into and out of the housing, a level detecting unit configured to detect a level of the liquid in the housing, a pressure sensing unit configured to detect a pressure of the air in the housing, and a control unit configured to control a pressure of the liquid in the housing by controlling the liquid supplying unit or the air conveying unit, based on the level and the pressure of the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10538101
    Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes: a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles from which liquid is discharged; a channel member including a plurality of individual liquid chambers that lead to the plurality of nozzles, respectively, and including a plurality of circulation channels that lead to the plurality of individual liquid chambers, respectively; and a common liquid chamber member for forming a common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to the plurality of individual liquid chambers and for forming a circulation common liquid chamber that leads to the plurality of circulation channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kohda, Takahiro Yoshida, Shiomi Andou, Takayuki Nakai, Kanshi Abe, Takeshi Shimizu, Ryo Kasahara
  • Patent number: 10525714
    Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus having a support member with a printhead slot, a first tubing to provide a first printing fluid, and a second tubing to provide a second printing fluid. An end portion of the first tubing is arranged in an active position to provide the first printing fluid to a printhead in the printhead slot. An end portion of the second tubing is arranged in a standby position to not provide the second printing fluid to a printhead. A mechanical structure to which the end portion of the first tubing is attached allows to remove the end portion of the first tubing from the active position and to arrange the end portion of the second tubing in the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jose Antonio Alvarez, Carlos Chover, Emilio Angulo
  • Patent number: 10525751
    Abstract: In a liquid ejecting apparatus, a cover member, which is provided so that a part thereof is located in an external region of a housing and is displaceable between a closed position where a pouring port pouring a liquid is not exposed and an opened position where the pouring port is exposed, is at a position different from a position where the cover member overlaps an apparatus main body in a case where the apparatus main body is viewed from an upper surface of an image reading device at the opened position, and a liquid containing portion is provided at a position where at least a part of a liquid replenishment member connected to the pouring port overlaps the image reading device in a case where the apparatus main body is viewed from the side surface when the cover member is located at the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okazawa, Atsuhiko Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10525732
    Abstract: The ink jet printer for the labelling of goods has a write head, which comprises at least one outlet opening for ink droplets, a printing mechanism connected to said outlet opening, a pneumatic pump and an electrical control. It has at least one supply tank for fluid flowing through the outlet opening. The supply tank is releasably connected to the write head in a coupling area. In the write head, a first pressure sensor is arranged at the compressed-air line, which detects the air pressure in the compressed-air line and outputs an air pressure signal to the controller. A second pressure sensor is arranged at the ink line, which detects the pressure in the ink line and outputs an ink pressure signal to the controller. Said controller outputs a signal “ink empty”, if the ink pressure signal declines by more than 10% in relation to the air pressure signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: EBS Ink Jet Systeme GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Slomianny
  • Patent number: 10525708
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head including: a head body having a nozzle surface; a fixing plate including a bottom surface to be fixed to the head body and a side surface intersecting the bottom surface; and first filler filled between the head body and the side surface, wherein the side surface is in contact with a biasing plate biased from the side surface toward the head body, and the first filler is filled at least to a height of contact position between the fixed plate and the biasing plate with respect to the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoo Kinoshita, Toshihiro Sawamoto, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10518551
    Abstract: An ink reservoir in an ink delivery system of an inkjet printer is selectively pressurized and depressurized to fluctuate an ink meniscus at the nozzle of each inactive inkjet in the printhead connected to the ink reservoir. The cycle of pressurization and depressurization is repeated for a predetermined number of times to replenish ink at the nozzles and reduce the likelihood of the ink at the nozzles obtaining a high viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. McConville, Christopher D. Atwood, Seemit Praharaj, Michael J. Levy
  • Patent number: 10493763
    Abstract: Features for various embodiments of a self-contained printhead unit, including an on-board fluidic system, quick-coupling electrical and pneumatic interfacing, in conjunction with the features of various embodiments of a kinematic mounting and air bearing clamping assembly, as well as contactless integration to a waste assembly, together provide for the ready interchangeability of a plurality of printhead units in a printing system during a printing process, while at the same time preventing cross-contamination of a plurality of end-user selected inks contained in each of a plurality of printhead units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Mauck, Alexander Sou-Kang Ko, Eliyahu Vronsky
  • Patent number: 10479089
    Abstract: The supply liquid tank unit of the disclosure includes a supply liquid tank, and a detection sensor. The detection sensor detects a liquid level of liquid in the supply liquid tank. The supply liquid tank includes a first chamber provided with an inflow port, a second chamber provided with an outflow port, a partition wall for partitioning the first chamber and the second chamber from each other, and a lower communicating path which is formed from a lower end of the partition wall and a lower surface of the supply liquid tank and which makes the first chamber and the second chamber communicating with each other. The detection sensor detects a liquid level of the liquid in the second chamber and is placed above the lower end of the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Yoshii
  • Patent number: 10471711
    Abstract: In a printing apparatus including a circulation system circulating a liquid, a volatile component included in the liquid evaporates from an ejection opening and thus characteristics of the liquid involving with concentration or viscosity change. The invention provides a printing apparatus that uses a liquid ejection head including an ejection opening ejecting a liquid, a print element generating energy for ejecting a liquid, and a pressure chamber having the print element provided therein, the printing apparatus including: a circulator configured to circulate the liquid so that the liquid passes through the pressure chamber; and a concentration adjustment unit configured to adjust a concentration of a liquid inside a liquid circulation system by discharging the liquid from the inside of the liquid circulation system and replenishing the liquid into the liquid circulation system from the outside of the liquid circulation system in response to the amount of the discharged liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichiro Karita, Shuzo Iwanaga, Kazuhiro Yamada, Takatsuna Aoki, Shingo Okushima, Zentaro Tamenaga, Yumi Komamiya, Noriyasu Nagai, Tatsurou Mori, Yoshiyuki Nakagawa, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10466626
    Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus includes an alignment member pivotable to an alignment location for blocking and aligning fore-ends of media contained on a loading table, and a transport-allowing location for allowing a medium picked up by a pickup member to be transported, a cam gear including a gear portion partially including a tooth-omitted portion, and a cam portion for switching the alignment member between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location at first and second rotating locations, a swing arm pivotable about a same axis as a rotation axis of a main gear, and first and second swing gears supported by the swing arm to interlock with the main gear, selectively interlocking with the gear portion according to a rotating direction of the main gear, and rotating the cam gear to the first and second rotating locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: HP PRINTING KOREA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-beom Yang, Sung-dae Kim
  • Patent number: 10464330
    Abstract: An efficiency of a liquid supply to an ejection head such as an inkjet head is improved. An ink supply apparatus is provided that supplies ink to an inkjet head of a printer which is an example of inkjet recording apparatuses. The ink supply apparatus includes a non-replaceable ink pack disposed at a position at which the ink stored inside is suppliable by a hydraulic head differential to the printer, and a replaceable pack holder that replaceably holds a replaceable ink pack provided apart from the non-replaceable ink pack. The ink to be supplied to the non-replaceable ink pack is containable in the replaceable ink pack at a position preceding the non-replaceable ink pack. The ink that the non-replaceable ink pack receives from the replaceable ink pack is supplied to the printer under a pressure generated by the hydraulic head differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 10464334
    Abstract: A device for measuring the flow rate and viscosity of ink sent to a print head of an ink jet printer comprises: a restriction of the diameter of a conduit for the flow of ink arranged in the path thereof defined by the conduit; a sensor for measuring the pressure difference (Pin-Pout) between the pressure of fluid upstream of the restriction and the pressure of ink downstream of the restriction; a viscous leak, creating a pressure drop by friction loss, the viscous leak being in series with the restriction, in the path of the ink defined by the conduit; a sensor for measuring the pressure difference (PinV-PoutV) between the pressure of fluid upstream of the viscous leak and the pressure of ink downstream of the viscous leak; and a circuit for calculating the flow rate and viscosity of ink as a function of: (Pin-Pou)t and (PinV-PoutV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: DOVER EUROPE SÀRL
    Inventors: Alain Pagnon, Joao Paulo Ribeiro
  • Patent number: 10464261
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a dual printhead assembly and a 3D printing apparatus. The dual printhead assembly includes a base, a printhead module and a switching module. The printhead module includes a positioning swing arm with a bearing disposed at the middle portion thereof, a first printhead unit and a second printhead unit fixed nearby two opposite edges of the bearing, respectively, and a fixing piece passing through the bearing to assemble the printhead module on the base. While a rotation shaft of the switching module is rotated to drive a first cam or a second cam to press an end or another end of an elastic sheet, a third or fourth connecting element disposed on the elastic sheet is driven to press an end or another end of the positioning swing arm, so as to adjust the height difference between the first printhead unit and the second printhead unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TECO IMAGE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ting-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 10457059
    Abstract: For various embodiments of a printhead assembly or ink stick assembly of the present teachings, each an ink stick assembly can be a self-contained assembly, of which a plurality of self-contained ink stick assemblies can be readily interchanged into a printing system during a printing process. Various embodiments of a self-contained ink stick assembly can have a fluidic system that can include a local ink reservoir, which can be in fluid communication with a bulk ink reservoir. Filling of a bulk ink reservoir can be done in a manual or automated mode. According to the present teachings, a bulk ink reservoir can have a volume sufficient to provide a continuous supply of ink to a local ink reservoir over the course of a printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Todd, Stephen Mark Smith, Alexander Sou-Kang Ko, Robert B. Lowrance, Eliyahu Vronsky
  • Patent number: 10457058
    Abstract: A valve for connecting a second-flow-channel, which supplies a liquid to a liquid-ejecting-head, with a first-flow-channel of the liquid-ejecting-head which ejects the liquid, includes a valve-casing, a first-connector that detachably connects the first-flow-channel, a second-connector that connects the second-flow-channel, a first-connection-port that communicates with the first-flow-channel which is connected with the first-connector, a second-connector that communicates with the second-flow-channel which is connected with the second-connector, and a valve-body in which a connecting-flow-channel is formed for connecting the first-connection-port and the second-connection-port, and that is moved inside the valve-casing to switch a connection state between the first-connection-port and the second-connection-port among a plurality of states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Fujio Akahane
  • Patent number: 10449777
    Abstract: A print system or a method to apply a negative pressure to a substantially dry volume through at least one vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin E. Swier, David R Otis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10442199
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes an individual flow passage member; and a common flow passage member joined to the individual flow passage member in a first direction. The individual flow passage member has nozzle groups formed on a surface on a side opposite to the common flow passage member and connecting hole groups formed on a surface on a side of the common flow passage member; and the common flow passage member has manifold flow passages corresponding to the connecting hole groups respectively. Each of the nozzle groups includes nozzles aligned in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and each of the connecting hole groups includes connecting holes aligned in the second direction and connected to the nozzles respectively. Each of the manifold flow passages extends in the second direction and is connected to the nozzles via the connecting holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10442206
    Abstract: An image-recording apparatus includes: a first tank defining a first storage chamber; a second tank defining a second storage chamber; a conveying mechanism for conveying sheets along a conveying path extending in a depthwise direction and a widthwise direction perpendicular to a vertical direction and the depthwise direction; and a recording head including a nozzle. Liquid in the first storage chamber is supplied through a communication port to the second storage chamber and then to the recording head through a liquid outlet port. The second storage chamber is positioned further in a first depthwise direction relative to the nozzle and further in a first widthwise direction relative to the conveying path. A volume of a prescribed space above a liquid level equal to a height of the communication port in the second storage chamber is greater than that of a liquid channel between the liquid outlet port and the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Masatake Sato, Akihito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10434781
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus, comprising: a carriage to move in a 1st direction; a recording head; an ink reservoir; an ink receiver; and a waste liquid reservoir configured to be connected to the ink receiver to let the ink move between the ink receiver and the waste liquid reservoir, wherein: the ink reservoir is disposed not to overlap with the carriage in a 2nd direction perpendicularly intersecting with the 1st direction and an up and down direction, and at least a part of the ink reservoir is disposed at a position outside of a moving range of the carriage in the 1st direction; and in the 1st direction, the waste liquid reservoir is disposed to overlap with the ink reservoir and is disposed at a position outside of the moving range of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohiro Wada, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 10434694
    Abstract: A resin molding method includes a first molding step of molding a first molded part and a second molded part in a mold and a second molding step of joining the first molded part and the second molded part. In the first molding step, the second molded part is formed by injecting resin into an area where a first core movable in the first direction and a second core movable in a second direction are engaged. In the second molding step, the second molded part is joined to the first molded part by injecting the resin while the first core is in contact with the second molded part and the second core is removed from the second molded part. Areas where the first core and the second core are located in the first molding step become hollow areas connected to each other and part of ends of the first core in the first direction is not in contact with the second core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Iijima, Yukuo Yamaguchi, Mikiya Umeyama, Satoshi Oikawa, Hiromasa Amma, Takuya Iwano, Satoshi Kimura, Naoko Tsujiuchi, Kyosuke Toda
  • Patent number: 10427928
    Abstract: A fluidic interconnect includes a first interface including a liquid port, a gas port, and a cradle; a second interface including a liquid port, a gas port, and a swing bar to engage the cradle, a weight of a container attached to one of the first or second interfaces to drive the liquid port of the first interface into connection with the liquid port of the second interface and the gas port of the first interface into connection with the gas port of the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd Roswech, Jonathan Schultz, Chun Ho
  • Patent number: 10421283
    Abstract: There is provided an ejection material receiving unit capable of increasing the filling amount of ejection material with as little enlargement of the container itself as possible and an ejection material ejecting apparatus including the unit. Therefore, an ejection material receiving unit includes: a first receiving space capable of receiving ejection material; a second receiving space capable of receiving liquid; and a flexible member separating the first receiving space and the second receiving space, and is characterized in that the flexible member has a concave part which takes a concave shape in a state where the first receiving space is not filled with the ejection material and the second receiving space is not filled with the liquid, and the concave shape is a shape dented toward the second receiving space from the first receiving space, and is also a shape conforming to a wall forming the second receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Araki, Yutaka Mita, Masahiro Kuri, Noriyasu Hasegawa, Tsuyoshi Arai
  • Patent number: 10391774
    Abstract: There is provided a tank including: a liquid storing chamber; a first wall which expands in a first direction parallel to a horizontal direction and via which a liquid stored in the liquid storing chamber is visible from outside of the liquid storing chamber; a second wall formed with a supply port located above the first wall; a third wall defining a bottom of the liquid storing chamber; and a fourth wall arranged in the liquid storing chamber. A first gap is formed between one of the first and second walls and at least a part of a first end in the first direction, of the fourth wall, located closely to the one of the first and second walls; and a second gap is formed between the third wall and at least a part of a second end in the first direction, of the fourth wall, located closely to the third wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Shirono, Masako Kawagoe, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 10384454
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a refilled cartridge is provided for performing refilling of printing material after use of a cartridge comprising a chamber of variable capacity, a detection section that optically detects the printing material inside the chamber, an air introduction port that introduces outside air into the chamber, a valve section that opens and closes the air introduction port according to the negative pressure inside the chamber, and a supply port that supplies the printing material within the chamber to the outside. With this manufacturing method, the printing material is refilled into the chamber so that a designated volume of air exists after refilling of the printing material is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Atsushi Kobayashi, Izumi Nozawa, Hidetoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 10384480
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus which includes a tank including a liquid storage chamber, an inlet, a liquid lead-out channel, and an atmosphere communication channel, a conveyance mechanism, a carriage, and a head. A lower end of the inlet is positioned at a lower side of the nozzles, and the liquid storage chamber is arranged at a position shifted from the nozzles, in a first-direction side of the front-rear direction, and shifted from the conveyance route, to a second-direction side of the left-right direction. The liquid storage chamber is connected to the liquid outflow channel at a position on a lower side of a center in a up-down direction of the liquid storage chamber, and in the first direction from a center in the front-rear direction of the liquid storage chamber, and on the second-direction side of a center in the left-right direction of the liquid storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinori Igarashi, Masataka Kamiya
  • Patent number: 10377144
    Abstract: In an ink supply system, an ink tank is connected with an inlet flow channel that is connected with a connection flow channel that is connected with an upstream flow channel, and the upstream flow channel is connected with an ink head. The ink head and the connection flow channel are connected with each other by a downstream flow channel. An upstream pump and an upstream damper are provided in the upstream flow channel, and a downstream pump and a downstream damper are provided in the downstream flow channel. A controller controls the upstream pump and the downstream pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Ueda, Yoshitaka Hatano, Kenji Seki
  • Patent number: 10375273
    Abstract: A supply item has toner for use in an imaging device. A chip has memory storing quanta indicating allowed usage of the supply item over its lifetime and a multiplier correlating the quanta to toner mass. The imaging device requires quanta to conduct imaging operations and loads the quanta and multiplier by way of a certificate stored in the memory. The imaging device retrieves quanta from the chip over time and both devices keep tally. Initialization between the supply item and imaging device includes providing encrypted and unencrypted instances of firmware versions and certificates from the supply item that the imaging device can compare for security. Alternatively, the supply item defines a fuser assembly, imaging unit, intermediate transfer member, or other component installed for use in the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Porter Bush, Timothy John Rademacher, Christopher Alan Adkins
  • Patent number: 10369802
    Abstract: An ink filter for an ink delivery system. The ink filter includes: a filter chamber having a filter inlet port, a filter outlet port and a vent port, the vent port being positioned in a roof of the filter chamber; a filter material positioned between the filter inlet port and the filter outlet port; and a closed vent chamber connected to the vent port. The vent chamber has wall exposed to atmosphere formed of an air-permeable polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventor: Patrick McAuliffe
  • Patent number: 10363762
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects a liquid to a medium, a liquid storage unit including at least one liquid container for storing the liquid and located on a front side of the apparatus, an operation panel located on the front side of the apparatus, and through which operations are inputted, and a medium output tray located on the front side of the apparatus to receive the medium discharged. The liquid storage unit and the medium output tray are both protruding forward with respect to the operation panel. The liquid storage unit includes a pivotal cover that opens and closes at least a part of the liquid container, a lock unit that locks the cover with a lock device when the cover is closed, and a lock device mounting base on which the lock device is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunori Takabayashi
  • Patent number: 10363742
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from nozzles; a liquid supply path which includes a liquid chamber partly formed of a flexible member, and supplies liquid to the liquid ejecting head; and a flow path unit which includes a displacement detecting unit which detects a displacement of the flexible member, and the liquid chamber, in which the flexible member closes the liquid supply path by being displaced in a direction in which a volume of the liquid chamber is reduced due to a decrease in liquid in the liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Maruyama, Akihiro Toya
  • Patent number: 10350897
    Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank; and a cartridge configured to be attached to the tank and having a first storage chamber configured to store liquid. The cartridge is formed with a communicating opening in communication with the first storage chamber. The tank has a second storage chamber configured to store the liquid, a liquid passage, a gas passage, a joint, an outer wall, an inner wall, an air communication portion, and a narrow-width portion. The liquid passage is in communication with the second storage chamber and has a first vertical portion. The gas passage has a second vertical portion. The first vertical portion, the second vertical portion, and the air communication portion are arranged in this order in the first direction and a direction away from the fifth end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10343402
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a rigid elongate manifold having one or more ink supply channels extending along its length, each ink supply channel having a base defining a plurality of ink outlets and a roof comprising an elongate flexible film; and a plurality of printhead chips mounted to the manifold, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more of the ink outlets The flexible film includes a plurality of operatively independent bellows positioned along a length of one or more ink supply channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: Jason Thelander, David Burke, Andrew Thomas
  • Patent number: 10343409
    Abstract: In conventional liquid jet apparatuses, improvement in usability is desired. A liquid jet apparatus including a liquid jet head, a liquid container that can store liquid, a housing that covers the liquid jet head and the liquid container, and an operation unit can be operated by a user, a liquid injection port that enables liquid to be injected is formed in the liquid container, when the operation unit is viewed from the front, the first liquid container is arranged between the operation unit and one side wall of the housing, and the second liquid container is arranged between the other side wall opposite to the one side wall of the housing and the operation unit, the housing includes a first cover that covers at least a portion of the first liquid container, and a second cover that covers at least a portion of the second liquid container, and the first cover and the second cover are independently configured to be openable/closable relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Higuchi, Takaaki Ishikawa, Hidenao Suzuki, Naomi Kimura, Koji Kawai, Shoma Kudo, Takanori Matsuda, Ekie Purnomo, Muhamad Gigih Agung Pratomo, Muhamad Auf
  • Patent number: 10336085
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a tank, a print head including a pressure chamber filled with ink supplied from the tank and an ejection opening which is communicated with the pressure chamber and which ejects ink filled in the pressure chamber a supply flow path for supplying ink from the tank to the print head, a collection flow path for collecting ink from the print head to the tank, a circulation unit configured to circulate ink so as to flow through the supply flow path, an inside of the pressure chamber, and the collection flow path, and a buffer chamber disposed inside the print head or in the collection flow path and which is volume variable. The tank is disposed higher than the print head in a vertical direction, and a one-way valve is provided between the buffer chamber and the tank in the collection flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoma Arai, Junya Kosuge, Takashi Abe, Yumi Mukoyama, Kyoshiro Okude
  • Patent number: 10336072
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a recording element board, a support member that supports the recording element board, and includes a first surface having a plurality of first openings that communicate with a first supply port and a second supply port, a second surface contacting a supply member and having a second opening that communicates with a supply path, and a flow path through which the plurality of first openings and the second opening communicate with each other. The support member includes a beam that is provided between the plurality of first openings and extends from the first surface to middle of the flow path, and in an arrangement direction of the plurality of first openings, a length of the second opening is shorter than a sum of lengths of the plurality of first openings and a length of the beam on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kyosuke Toda, Yasushi Iijima, Tomohisa Atsuta
  • Patent number: 10336084
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, first and second storage chambers, a liquid flow path, and a communication opening. The rear wall is spaced away from the front wall in a rear direction perpendicular to a gravitational direction in an upright posture, and is spaced away from the front wall in an upward direction in a rotated posture. The communication opening is provided at the bottom wall and is configured to provide communication therethrough between the first and second storage chambers. The communication opening defines an imaginary horizontal plane. The first storage chamber in the rotated posture defines a first capacity above the imaginary horizontal plane and a second capacity below the imaginary horizontal plane. The first capacity is less than the second capacity. The liquid flow path is positioned downward relative to the imaginary horizontal plane in the rotated posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10328695
    Abstract: A fluid manifold may include a number of blades and a number of end pieces securing the blades in place wherein the fluid manifold interfaces between a printhead die and a number of fluid source slots. A method of manufacturing a fluid manifold may include arranging a number of metal blades to form a relatively larger pitch between blades on a bottom side of the arranged blades than on a top side the arranged blades and mounting the arranged blades to a mounting structure formed to receive each blade as arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Silam J. Choy
  • Patent number: 10322586
    Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure provides an image recording apparatus including a liquid supplying device. The liquid supplying device includes a tank, a cartridge, an atmospheric communication portion, and a recording portion. The tank has a second storage chamber configured to store liquid, a liquid passage in communication with the second storage chamber, and a gas passage in communication with the second storage chamber. The atmospheric communication portion includes a buffer tank defining a buffer chamber configured to store gas, a single communication flow passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicate with the second storage chamber, and an air communication passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicate with an atmosphere. When the cartridge is attached to the tank, the buffer chamber is positioned below the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber is positioned below the buffer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10315432
    Abstract: A fluid discharging apparatus includes a storage chamber storing a fluid, a discharge port communicating with the storage chamber, a supply unit supplying the fluid to the storage chamber by pressure, a moving object moving in a first direction toward the discharge port and in a second direction away from the discharge port, a pressure changing mechanism, and a control unit controlling the moving object and the pressure changing mechanism. The control unit performs discharge processing, moving processing, and pressure control processing. In the discharge processing, the moving object moves from a closed position closing the discharge port in the first direction to discharge the fluid. In the moving processing, the moving object moves in the second direction while the fluid is discharged from the discharge port. In the pressure control processing, the pressure changing mechanism suppresses a pressure increase in storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Sakai, Keigo Sugai, Takahiro Katakura, Junichi Sano, Shinichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10315429
    Abstract: There is provided a tank including a casing provided with first and second walls; first and second chambers; an atmosphere open port; a first communicating channel; a second communicating channel; a liquid inlet port; a first communicating port; a second communicating port; a liquid inflow port; and a liquid outflow port. Under a condition that the tank is in a posture in which the first wall constructs an upper portion of the tank and that the second wall constructs a lower portion of the tank in a vertical direction and that a maximum amount, of the liquid, storable in the tank in an usable posture of the tank, is stored in the first and second chambers, the first and second communicating ports are located at a position above a liquid surface of the maximum amount of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Shirono, Masako Kawagoe, Yoshinori Osakabe, Masahiro Hayashi