Fluid Supply System Patents (Class 347/85)
  • Patent number: 10300703
    Abstract: Provided is a printer wherein ink can be easily injected and filled into a tank. A printer including: a printing head; a housing; a body cover shiftable between a closed state of closing an opening of the housing and an open state of exposing the opening; a tank including an ink container and an ink inlet port receiving the ink injection into the ink container; and a tank cover shiftable between a closed state of closing the ink inlet port and an open state of exposing the ink inlet port. The body cover in the closed state covers a portion of the tank cover, and the ink inlet port is located outside a region of the body cover. The tank cover changes from the closed state to the open state, triggered by the body cover changing from the closed state to the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Okumura, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Patent number: 10300643
    Abstract: First and second constituting components are injection-molded and joined within one pair of molds. In order to join the first and second constituting components, one of the respective regions of the first and second constituting components abutted to each other is pushed into the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoko Tsujiuchi, Yukuo Yamaguchi, Mikiya Umeyama, Satoshi Oikawa, Hiromasa Amma, Takuya Iwano, Satoshi Kimura, Yasushi Iijima, Kyosuke Toda
  • Patent number: 10300707
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid ejecting module capable of performing stable ejection operation while circulating and supplying fresh ink to the vicinity of ejection ports arranged in high density. To achieve this, a liquid ejecting module includes an element arranged face in which a plurality of ejecting elements are arranged, a circulation flow path including a supply flow path which supplies liquid to a pressure chamber and a collection flow path which collects liquid from the pressure chamber, and a liquid delivery mechanism provided in the circulation flow path for circulating liquid in the pressure chamber. The liquid delivery mechanism is located lower than the element arranged face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Nakakubo, Takuro Yamazaki, Kazuhiro Yamada, Yoshiyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10293613
    Abstract: An recording device includes a recording head that performs recording using ink; a liquid containing body that is capable of accommodating ink; a casing of which at least the recording portion and the liquid containing body are provided on an inside portion; a tube that connects the liquid containing body and the recording head with each other; and a operating panel that constitutes a portion of an outer covering of the recording device and operates the recording device. The operating panel is provided to be capable of performing an opening/closing operation with respect to the casing between two positions which are an opened position which exposes and a closed position which does not expose an inside of the casing, and at least a portion of the liquid containing body is exposed, by an opening operation of the operating panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Soshi Okawa, Shoma Kudo, Nobuyuki Nishi, Munehide Kanaya
  • Patent number: 10261267
    Abstract: A terminal for making a hydraulic, electrical, or optical connection in an ink jet printing machine. The terminal extends along an axis XX?, and its external surface includes: a cylindrical portion, including a contact end and having a first diameter (d1), this end being provided with hydraulic or electrical or optical connection structure. The external surface also includes a collar, having a diameter (d2) higher than the first diameter (d1), and a throat, the bottom of which has a cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the axis XX?, having at least one arc of circle portion having a third diameter (d3) lower than that of the collar, at least one planar part, and a part of this cross-section having a width lower than the third diameter. The throat continues with a connection device, for connecting to at least one hydraulic conduit or one electrical cable or one optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: DOVER EUROPE SÀRL
    Inventors: Vincent Audouard, Jean-François Desse
  • Patent number: 10259234
    Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes an ink reservoir defining an ink-receiving chamber and a control chamber, a control fluid source fluidly communicating with the control chamber, and an orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the ink reservoir and generate an orientation signal. A processor is operably coupled to the control fluid source and the orientation sensor, the processor programmed to determine a desired pressure for the control chamber based, at least in part, on the orientation signal, and control the control fluid source to adjust an actual pressure level in the control chamber to the desired pressure for the control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Baker, Myles S. Duncanson, Robert G. Palifka, Bennett M. Moriarty, Shane E. Arthur
  • Patent number: 10252524
    Abstract: An inkjet printing system, including an inlet in a print head to receive ink from an ink supply, a plurality of nozzles to eject ink in the print head, an ink pressure sensor disposed in an ink path, the ink pressure sensor configured to determine an ink pressure of the ink in the print head and output a signal indicating the ink pressure, and a controller in the print head configured to receive and process the signal indicating the ink pressure from the ink pressure sensor. The inkjet printing system may also include a memory to store an ink pressure and time profile. The controller may also output a signal to stop ejecting ink from the plurality of nozzles when the ink pressure is either below a negative threshold or above a positive threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Ross Slotto, Jonathan R. Brick, David L. Knierim, Chad J. Slenes
  • Patent number: 10245840
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead; an ink line connected to the printhead; and a compliance fluidically communicating with the ink line. The compliance includes sealed flexible bellows configured for dampening ink pressure fluctuations in the ink line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Profaca, Gilbert Alemana, Richard Dimagiba, Brendan Shields, Rommel Balala
  • Patent number: 10245841
    Abstract: Provided are an inkjet head and an inkjet recording apparatus which are compact and are capable of realizing high resolution, and are capable of stably ejecting liquid droplets at a high frequency while having a structure capable of circulating ink. The inkjet head includes: a plurality of nozzles which eject ink; a plurality of pressure chambers which are respectively communicate with the plurality of nozzles and are filled with ink; a plurality of pressure generation portions which apply a pressure to ink inside the plurality of pressure chamber; a circulation flow passage that is provided to be branched from an ink flow passage ranging from an inlet of the pressure chambers and an outlet of the nozzles, and is capable of discharging ink inside the plurality of pressure chambers; and a first damper and a second damper which are provided to face the circulation flow passage, and is capable of changing a volume of the circulation flow passage through elastic deformation in correspondence with a pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Asaka, Takashi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 10245837
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus to which a cartridge is attachable includes: a tank including a storage chamber and an outlet port; a recording portion including a damper chamber and a recording head; an ink passage; a pump configured to suck fluid in the damper chamber; a first switch; and a controller. After attachment of the cartridge, the controller is configured to perform an initial ink introduction process to supply the ink from the cartridge to the storage chamber. The initial ink introduction process includes: a first suction process to drive the pump for a first period of time in a state where the first switch is in a first state to allow ink in the storage chamber to be sucked toward the damper chamber; and after performing the first suction process, an open process to switch the first switch to a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 10245838
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head ejecting liquid onto a medium transported on a transport path extending in a depth direction, a carriage holding the liquid ejecting head and reciprocally moving in a width direction so as to cross the transport path, and a waste liquid containing portion containing waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head. The carriage includes a plurality of liquid containers that contain the liquid and are mounted on the carriage in such a manner that a plurality of the liquid containers are arranged side by side with each other in the depth direction. A portion of the carriage overlaps the waste liquid containing portion in a vertical direction when the liquid ejecting head is outside the transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Hizawa, Tomoyuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 10239320
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a first tank; a second tank; a recording portion including a first damper chamber and a second damper chamber; a first switch; a pump; a second switch; and a controller. The first switch is configured to be switched between a first state and a second state. The second switch is configured to be switched between a third state and a fourth state. After attachment of first and second cartridges to the inkjet recording apparatus, the controller performs an initial ink introduction including one of: a first drive process to drive the pump in a state where the first switch is in the first state and the second switch is in the fourth state; and a second drive process to drive the pump in a state where the first switch is in the second state and the second switch is in the third state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 10232631
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface and a second surface facing a particular direction, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the second surface, and a liquid detection mechanism including a light access portion extends above the second surface further than the circuit board in the particular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayshi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Akihito Ono, Mikio Hirano, Suguru Tomoguchi, Yutao Wang, Tomohiro Kanbe
  • Patent number: 10232629
    Abstract: In some examples, a container assembly includes a first body to supply a printing composition, the first body comprising a first port, and the container assembly includes a second body to store a reserve printing composition, the second body comprising a second port. An interconnect has a storage position to fluidically isolate the first body from the second body, and a use position to fluidically connect the first body to the second body to allow the reserve printing composition to flow from the second body to the first body to replenish the printing composition in the first body and to allow air in the first body displaced by the reserve printing composition to flow from the first body to the second body. The interconnect in the storage position has a first orientation to fluidically isolate the first port from the second port, and the interconnect in the use position has a second orientation rotated with respect to the first orientation to fluidically connect the first port to the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Patrick V. Boyd, Mike M. Morrow, David Olsen, Milo A. Undlin, Steven T. Castle
  • Patent number: 10226936
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a liquid jetting unit which jets liquid; a casing including a tank storing part in which a tank containing the liquid to be supplied to the liquid jetting unit is stored, and having an opening which allows the tank storing part to communicate with an outside of the casing; and a cover pivotally attached to the casing and selectively positioned in a closed position where the opening is closed and an opened position where the opening is open. The casing includes an engaging part which engages with the cover in the closed position to prevent the pivoting of the cover. The liquid jetting apparatus further includes a movement mechanism which moves the cover relative to the casing between an engagement position where the engaging part is engaged with the cover and a release position where the pivoting of the cover is not prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10226937
    Abstract: A method for measuring the volume of liquid, such as ink or solvent, remaining in a container, such as a replacement cartridge for a continuous ink jet printer, uses a reservoir enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage. The reservoir is adapted to provide a reduction in the pressure of the internal space, the reduction substantially monotonically increasing in magnitude as liquid is drawn into the printer, such that the volume of liquid remaining may be calculated from knowledge of the minimum withdrawal pressure required to draw further liquid from the reservoir into the printer. Containers for use with the method have a liquid dispensing port adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed when a withdrawal pressure at the exterior of the port is less than the pressure of the internal space and adapted to prevent the ingress of air into the internal space of the reservoir as liquid is dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Carl Mann, Philip John Blowfield
  • Patent number: 10226939
    Abstract: A liquid circulation apparatus includes a circulation channel through which a liquid is circulated via a liquid discharge head including a supply port and a discharge port. The circulation channel includes a first manifold communicating with the supply port of the liquid discharge head, a second manifold communicating with the discharge port of the liquid discharge head, a supply channel connecting the first manifold and the supply port of the liquid discharge head, and a discharge channel connecting the second manifold and the discharge port of the liquid discharge head. A fluid resistance from the first manifold to the supply port of the liquid discharge head via the supply channel is smaller than a fluid resistance from the second manifold to the discharge port of the liquid discharge head via the discharge channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sawase, Takahiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10220634
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a first storage part, a second storage part, an ejection part, a first supply path, a regulation part, and a second supply path. The second storage part is provided higher than the first storage part. The ejection part includes an ejection port. The first supply path is used for supplying ink from the first storage part to the second storage part and has a discharge port which is provided in the second storage part at a level higher than a predetermined specific position and lower than the ejection port. The regulation part regulates a backflow of ink in the first supply path. The second supply path is used for supplying ink from the second storage part to the ejection part and has a supply port which is provided in the second storage part at a level lower than the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kikunosuke Tsuji
  • Patent number: 10220628
    Abstract: A technique of enhancing attachment of a liquid supply unit to a liquid ejection device is provided. A first ink cartridge 100a and a second ink cartridge 100b are attached to a carriage 27 of a printing device 10 via a holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b includes a circuit substrate 130 having a plurality of terminals 151 to 159 which are electrically connected with a device-side terminal assembly 250 provided on the holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b also includes a main engagement part 120 configured to engage with a lever member 230 of the holder structure 200 as an engaged part, such as to limit motion of the circuit substrate 130 away from the holder structure 200. The circuit substrate 130 includes a first terminal 151 and a second terminal 152 located on respective ends in an array direction of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiota, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Shun Oya
  • Patent number: 10220627
    Abstract: A technique of enhancing attachment of a liquid supply unit to a liquid ejection device is provided. A first ink cartridge 100a and a second ink cartridge 100b are attached to a carriage 27 of a printing device 10 via a holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b includes a circuit substrate 130 having a plurality of terminals 151 to 159 which are electrically connected with a device-side terminal assembly 250 provided on the holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b also includes a main engagement part 120 configured to engage with a lever member 230 of the holder structure 200 as an engaged part, such as to limit motion of the circuit substrate 130 away from the holder structure 200. The circuit substrate 130 includes a first terminal 151 and a second terminal 152 located on respective ends in an array direction of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiota, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Shun Oya
  • Patent number: 10220624
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a pressure generating chamber which is used for discharging a liquid in the pressure generating chamber through a nozzle by driving a driving element; a manifold which supplies a liquid to the pressure generating chamber; a discharge unit which discharges a liquid in the pressure generating chamber through the nozzle. Mode 1 is a mode in which air is drawn into the pressure generating chamber through the nozzle due to the operation of the discharge unit, and Mode 2 is a mode which drives the driving element such that air is not drawn into the pressure generating chamber through the nozzle due to the driving of the driving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10207512
    Abstract: An image-recording apparatus includes a cartridge including a first storage chamber, a tank including a second storage chamber, a recording portion, a detected portion, a detector, and a wall portion. Liquid supplied from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber through an inlet port is supplied from the second storage chamber to the recording portion through an outlet port. The wall portion partitions an internal space of the second storage chamber into a first region including the liquid inlet port and a second region including the detected portion. The wall portion extends upward than the liquid inlet port and the detected portion and downward than the liquid inlet port and the detected portion. Communication between the first region and the second region is allowed through upper and lower communication portions. The upper communication portion is positioned upward than the liquid inlet port and the detected portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yuma Tanabe, Akinari Ishibe, Masatake Sato, Akihito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10195868
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus has a liquid ejecting unit and a negative pressure regulating unit provided between passages connecting the tank to the liquid ejecting unit, regulates fluid pressure of liquid flowing into the liquid ejecting unit. The negative pressure regulating unit includes a negative pressure chamber whose internal pressure is regulated within a predetermined range, and a discharging passage for discharging liquid stored in the negative pressure chamber from the negative pressure regulating unit. The discharging passage has an outlet disposed in an upper portion of the negative pressure chamber in a direction of gravity, a bubble accumulation portion connected to the outlet and having a space above the outlet in the direction of gravity, and a passage guiding liquid flowing from the outlet to a discharging port opened in a bottom of the negative pressure regulating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamada, Shuzo Iwanaga, Seiichiro Karita, Shingo Okushima, Zentaro Tamenaga, Noriyasu Nagai, Tatsurou Mori, Akio Saito, Takatsuna Aoki, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10195869
    Abstract: A breaking switch for ink feeding channel and a printing device using the breaking switch prevents leakage of ink when a printing device is not level or not well placed. The printing device includes a case, an ink box, an ink feeding channel from the ink box, and a breaking switch for ink feeding channel. The breaking switch clamps or releases the ink feeding channel and includes a supporting base and a pressing plate. The pressing plate is rotatable between open and closed positions. When on a level working surface, the supporting leg lifts the pressing plate away from the supporting portion. When the supporting leg is free and suspended the pressing plate presses on the supporting portion and closes off the ink supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kao-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 10189264
    Abstract: A technique of enhancing attachment of a liquid supply unit to a liquid ejection device is provided. A first ink cartridge 100a and a second ink cartridge 100b are attached to a carriage 27 of a printing device 10 via a holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b includes a circuit substrate 130 having a plurality of terminals 151 to 159 which are electrically connected with a device-side terminal assembly 250 provided on the holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b also includes a main engagement part 120 configured to engage with a lever member 230 of the holder structure 200 as an engaged part, such as to limit motion of the circuit substrate 130 away from the holder structure 200. The circuit substrate 130 includes a first terminal 151 and a second terminal 152 located on respective ends in an array direction of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiota, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Shun Oya
  • Patent number: 10189266
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus is disclosed. One apparatus includes a nozzle through which fluid is ejected or purged, and a pressure regulating valve arranged upstream of the nozzle. The pressure regulating valve is configured to open in response to an open/close pressure differential of the fluid across the pressure regulating valve. The pressure regulating valve is configured to controllably regulate the open/close pressure differential. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to, when a suction pump is being operated to perform a first purging operation comprising creating a first negative pressure through suctioning by the suction pump to purge the fluid through the nozzle, control the pressure regulating valve to set the open/close pressure differential of the pressure regulating valve to a first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shohei Koide
  • Patent number: 10183512
    Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus including a frame, a recording head that is disposed in the frame, and performs recording by ejecting a liquid onto a recording medium, a stay that is disposed with the frame, and supports a liquid accommodation body, which accommodates a liquid to be ejected from the recording head, outside the frame, an ink supply tube that supplies a liquid that is accommodated in the liquid accommodation body, which is supported by the stay, to the recording head, and a frame cover that is detachable from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Iwaya, Yoshisada Aoki
  • Patent number: 10179459
    Abstract: A liquid container comprises a liquid supply portion, a liquid container body, and a container-side electrical connection structure provided to have a contact portion that is configured to come into contact with an apparatus-side electrical connection structure provided in a liquid consuming apparatus. The container-side electrical connection structure includes a placement portion configured to place the contact portion to be located above the liquid container body in the direction of gravity in a process of connecting the liquid container with the liquid consuming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawate, Tokujiro Okuno, Yoshiyuki Tanaka, Katsutomo Tsukahara
  • Patent number: 10179453
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejection head comprising: an ejection opening row along a first direction; a pressure chamber with print-element; a passage communicating with the pressure chamber; a supply opening row along the first direction with supply openings extending in a second direction to supply liquid to the passage; a collection opening row along the first direction with collection openings extending in the second direction to collect a liquid from the passage; a first common supply passage along the first direction to supply a liquid to the supply opening row; a first common collection passage along the first direction to collect a liquid from the collection opening row; a first supply side communication opening extending in the second direction to supply a liquid to the first common supply passage; and a first collection side communication opening extending in the second direction to collect a liquid from the first common collection passage, wherein at least one of the first supply side communication openi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Okushima, Seiichiro Karita, Takatsuna Aoki, Noriyasu Nagai, Eisuke Nishitani, Yumi Komamiya
  • Patent number: 10173435
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device including, at least, one recirculation system is disclosed. Such recirculation system contains, at least, one drop generator, recirculation channels that include an inlet channel, an outlet channel and a connection channel and a fluid feedhole that communicates with the drop generator via the inlet channel and the outlet channel of the recirculation channel. The recirculation channels can be asymmetrical with reference to the drop generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Erik D. Torniainen, David P. Markel
  • Patent number: 10173436
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid circulation apparatus for circulating liquid through a plurality of discharge heads that includes discharge nozzles. The liquid circulation apparatus includes a liquid circulating channel to circulate the liquid via the plurality of discharge heads, a first manifold connected to each supply port of the plurality of discharge heads, a second manifold connected to each discharge port of the plurality of discharge heads, a discharging channel to discharge the liquid in the second manifold, and a bubble-discharging channel separate from the discharging channel, to discharge bubbles in the second manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Yoshida, Yuta Moriwaki, Tomomi Katoh
  • Patent number: 10166798
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a medium support portion which supports a medium, and can move in a movement direction; a printing unit which can print an image on the medium; a housing portion which accommodates the printing unit, and includes an opening portion to or from which the medium support portion can advance or retreat at one side in the movement direction; and a cover portion which can cover the opening portion, in which the cover portion covers the opening portion when the medium support portion enters inside the opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seiya Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10167403
    Abstract: An ink according to an embodiment includes a functional layer forming material, wherein the ejection amount of a droplet ejected from a nozzle of an inkjet head is 9.5 ng or more and 11 ng or less, and the length of the droplet when the droplet is ejected from the nozzle at an ejection velocity of 6 m/sec or more and 9 m/sec or less is 250 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Imamura, Takuya Sonoyama
  • Patent number: 10160226
    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: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kohda, Takahiro Yoshida, Shiomi Andou, Takayuki Nakai, Kanshi Abe, Takeshi Shimizu, Ryo Kasahara
  • Patent number: 10160225
    Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a first intermediate storage and a second intermediate storage that store liquid and are provided such that the liquid can be supplied from a liquid ejecting unit which ejects the liquid, a liquid supply source holding unit that holds a liquid supply source which accommodates the liquid and that can supply the liquid accommodated in the liquid supply source to the first intermediate storage and the second intermediate storage, and a pressure regulating mechanism that can regulate pressures inside the first intermediate storage and inside the second intermediate storage. In the liquid supplying device, the inside of one intermediate storage, out of the first intermediate storage and the second intermediate storage, is depressurized, and the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply source to the one intermediate storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kaoru Koike, Ryoji Fujimori, Hiroki Matsuoka, Toshihiro Shinbara, Tsuyoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10137697
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes: a force sensor which outputs an output value corresponding to a force of expansion of a detection target site of a blockage detection tube communicating with a liquid election unit for ejecting a liquid; a pump for sending out a liquid in the blockage detection tube toward the liquid ejection unit; and a control unit which stops an operation of the pump when the output value reaches a threshold. The control unit decides the threshold, using, as a reference value, the output value acquired when a predetermined condition is satisfied including that the detection target site is filled with the liquid and that the pump is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Onishi, Takashi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10131140
    Abstract: In an inkjet type image forming apparatus, a cartridge includes a first storage chamber and a first fluid communication portion. The first air communication portion allows the first storage chamber to be in communication with an atmosphere. A second storage chamber stores the ink supplied from the first storage chamber by hydraulic head difference. The switch portion switches a state of the second air communication portion between a first state in which the second storage chamber communicates with the atmosphere and a second state in which an amount of air flow between the second storage chamber and the atmosphere is smaller than that in the first state. The controller controls the switch portion to switch the state of the second air communication portion from the first state to the second state. After the recording process, the controller controls the switch portion to switch the state to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Kobayashi, Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Masahiro Hayashi, Masatake Sato
  • Patent number: 10131146
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejection head comprising: an ejection opening row along a first direction; a pressure chamber with print-element; a passage communicating with the pressure chamber; a supply opening row along the first direction with supply openings extending in a second direction to supply liquid to the passage; a collection opening row along the first direction with collection openings extending in the second direction to collect a liquid from the passage; a first common supply passage along the first direction to supply a liquid to the supply opening row; a first common collection passage along the first direction to collect a liquid from the collection opening row; a first supply side communication opening extending in the second direction to supply a liquid to the first common supply passage; and a first collection side communication opening extending in the second direction to collect a liquid from the first common collection passage, wherein at least one of the first supply side communication openi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Okushima, Seiichiro Karita, Takatsuna Aoki, Noriyasu Nagai, Eisuke Nishitani, Yumi Komamiya
  • Patent number: 10124596
    Abstract: A supply apparatus includes a tank having a front wall, and an inlet via which liquid is poured into the tank; and a cover covering a part of the tank including the front wall, and being formed with an opening to partially expose the front wall of the tank. When the supply apparatus is viewed from the front wall side of the tank, the inlet of the tank and the opening of the cover are arranged to align in an up/down direction. The cover has a first liquid flow channel formed at a periphery of the opening in an inner surface facing the front wall of the tank, and the first liquid flow channel is arranged between the inlet and the opening in the up/down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masako Kawagoe, Yasuo Nishikawa, Yoshinori Osakabe, Taichi Shirono
  • Patent number: 10118402
    Abstract: A valve opening/closing mechanism includes a rotating shaft, first and second cams provided on the rotating shaft and rotatable together with the rotating shaft, first and second valves, and a rotating mechanism that rotates the rotating shaft. The first and second valves each include a flow channel in which ink flows and an opening/closing member at a position at which the opening/closing member contacts the first or second cam, so as to open or close the flow channel, depending on whether the opening/closing member is in contact with the cam. When the rotating shaft is rotated by the rotating mechanism, rotating positions of the first and second cams are at any of first, second, third or fourth positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Ueda, Kazuya Morizono
  • Patent number: 10112405
    Abstract: Liquid supply or reservoir therefore having multiple compartments, each compartment to hold a distinct liquid, comprising multiple liquid outlets, each fluidically connected to one of the compartments, multiple clearance cut outs disposed at a pitch equal to a pitch of the compartments to accommodate protrusions of a dispenser, and at least one latch protruding outwards from a supply wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John McNeilly, Fiona Coyle, Patrick Lynch, William S. Osborne, David B. Novak, John Breen, Kevin Rourke, Declan Coyne, James Mannion, Bryan Murphy, John Doran, Eugene Cahill
  • Patent number: 10105960
    Abstract: There is provided a set of tank and bottle. A tank includes a liquid chamber, an inclined wall and an inlet. A bottle includes a bottle body having a first opening, and a nozzle. The nozzle has: a trunk section fitted onto the end portion of the bottle body; a shoulder section brought into contact with the end portion of the bottle body; and a nozzle section having a second opening formed in a protruded end portion thereof. In a pouring posture of the bottle in which the nozzle section inserted into the inlet is positioned at a periphery of the inlet, an angle defined between a normal line of the inclined wall and an inner surface of the nozzle section is smaller than an angle defined between the normal line and a horizontal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Suguru Tomoguchi
  • Patent number: 10105959
    Abstract: A liquid supplying apparatus, configured to supply a liquid to a liquid ejecting section that is configured to eject the liquid, includes a tank configured to contain the liquid, the tank including a liquid containing section, and a container section connected to the tank. The container section is exposed to air through the tank, and the container section is connected to the liquid containing section of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenao Suzuki, Munehide Kanaya, Naomi Kimura, Koki Hayashi, Koji Nishimaki, Shoma Kudo
  • Patent number: 10105944
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head, includes a plurality of nozzles from which a liquid is discharged, a plurality of individual-liquid-chambers that communicate with the plurality of nozzles, a supply-side common-liquid-chamber to supply the liquid to the plurality of individual-liquid-chambers, a plurality of drainage channels that communicate with the plurality of nozzles, a drainage-side common-liquid-chamber to drain the liquid in the plurality of drainage channels, a supply-side filter disposed upstream from the plurality of nozzles in a liquid flow direction in which the liquid flows through the liquid discharge head; and a drainage-side filter disposed downstream from the plurality of nozzles in the liquid flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryohta Yoneta
  • Patent number: 10099481
    Abstract: A joint section of a fill device is coupled to a supply opening of an ink cartridge, and a pressing force section presses an inside plug of the ink cartridge into the supply opening, to press down the inside plug against a biasing unit and release an opening to connect an ink fill section with an ink container. A first pump is operated and fills ink to the inside of the ink container. After the filling, the joint section separates from the supply opening, and the inside plug seals the supply opening by the biasing unit. Ink is filled with no spilling, into the ink container having an ink supply section with valve, and the ink cartridge can be manufactured with good efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eijiro Arimura, Toshimasa Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10099480
    Abstract: A septum device usable with a fluid interconnect unit of a fluid supply device is disclosed. An example septum for use with a fluid supply device, the septum includes a body defining an interior aperture, the body, including: an exterior surface defining a groove to receive a locking member of the fluid supply device when the septum is inserted into the fluid supply device; and a protrusion extending into the interior aperture, the protrusion to rotate at least a portion of the exterior surface toward the locking member in response to an extraction member entering the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: David C. Harvey
  • Patent number: 10099484
    Abstract: A print head has an ink slot and a sensing chamber having a first port connected to the fluid slot and a second port. The sensing chamber contains an ink level sensor. A recirculation passage extends from the fluid slot and is fluidly coupled to the second port. A fluid pump circulates fluid through the recirculation passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Adam L Ghozeil, Boon Bing Ng, Patrick Leonard, Raymond Connolly
  • Patent number: 10093104
    Abstract: An ink cartridge for supplying the ink in an ink reserving chamber via an ink supply port into a recording head has a differential pressure valve mechanism disposed between an ink flow port and the ink supply port in the ink reserving chamber, whereby the ink is supplied an adequate amount to the recording head by opening or closing the differential pressure valve mechanism in accordance with an ink pressure of the recording head. As a result, it is possible to supply the ink at a substantially constant pressure to the recording head without regard to the variation in the amount of ink or the movement of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Usui, Hisashi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 10081197
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: an elongate fluid manifold having at least one longitudinally extending channel, the fluid manifold having a base defining a plurality of fluid outlets, the fluid outlets being spaced apart along a floor of the channel; a plurality of printhead chips bonded to the base of the fluid manifold, each printhead chip receiving ink from one or more fluid outlets; and a plurality of transverse ribs positioned across the channel, each transverse rib extending upwardly from the floor of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Garry Jackson, Norman Berry, Michael Hudson, Brian Brown, Samuel Mallinson, Geordie McBain
  • Patent number: RE47185
    Abstract: A tube support member that puts a tube connected to an ink jet head and an ink tank in a bent state is provided. Accordingly, when a pulling force acts between the bent support member and the tube, a component force acting as contact force occurs at the surface that makes contact with the tube, and a high degree of friction is generated in response to this component force. The tube is thus strongly supported in a state in which the tube does not shift with the dimensions of the tube changing. Meanwhile, when the pulling force is released, the component force is also eliminated, and the tube is freed; the dimensions of the tube return to normal, and the tension is eliminated. An ink jet recording apparatus that prints using an ink jet head is provided. The apparatus includes an ink tube that is connected to the ink jet head and an ink tank that is provided separately from the main body of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a tube support member that supports the ink tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Yoshiaki Shimizu