Patents Examined by Anh T Vo
  • Patent number: 11685145
    Abstract: A flow path structure including a first-flow path includes a first-flow path member that including a first-resin member made of a resin and a first-film member having a film, a second-flow path member laminated on the first-flow path member and adhered to the first-flow path member, in which the first-resin member includes a first-front surface that is a surface facing the second-flow path member and that is provided with a first-recessed portion, the first-film member includes a first-surface and a second-surface that is opposite from the first-surface, at least a portion of the first-surface is in close contact with a front surface of the first-resin member inside the first-recessed portion, and the second-surface and the second-flow path member define at least a portion of the first-flow path in a region overlapping the first-recessed portion in a laminating direction of the first-flow path member and the second-flow path member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nakajima, Shun Katsuie
  • Patent number: 11679595
    Abstract: There is provided a technology which can improve the mounting posture of a liquid ejection apparatus when mounted to a liquid container. The liquid container is flexible and includes a storage portion configured to store the liquid and a connection member. The connection member is provided with a liquid outlet which is inserted with a liquid introduction portion, a container-side electrical connector which makes electrical contact with an apparatus-side electrical connection unit while receive at least +Z direction force from the apparatus-side electrical connection unit, a first receiver configured to receive a first positioning portion, a second receiver configured to receive a second positioning portion, and a recess which houses a protrusion of the case. The recess and the container-side electrical connector are formed at positions which at least partially overlap each other when viewed from a Z direction in a mounting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawate, Akihiro Toya, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Mikinori Sawai
  • Patent number: 11679593
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a first connecting unit which is connectable to a first supply portion to supply a first-color ink into a recording head to eject the first-color ink, and a first prevention unit which prevents the first-color ink through a first supply path from being discharged from a second connecting portion, the second connecting portion being not connected to the recording head. The recording head includes the first supply portion without a portion to supply a second-color ink into the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Takenaga
  • Patent number: 11673402
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejection head that ejects a liquid, a supply flow path that supplies the liquid from a liquid containing portion, which is replaceable and contains the liquid, to the liquid ejection head, a liquid feeding portion that is provided in the supply flow path and is configured to suck the liquid from the liquid containing portion and to feed the liquid to the liquid ejection head, and a control unit that controls driving of the liquid feeding portion. The control unit changes driving control of the liquid feeding portion in accordance with a remaining amount of the liquid in the liquid containing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuaki Hirai, Shigenori Fukasawa, Mitsuhiro Koseki, Masato Haga
  • Patent number: 11673405
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an ink tank and a flow channel member. The tank includes an ink chamber that stores ink, an injection port through which the ink is injected into the chamber, and a first shape portion formed near the injection port. The flow channel member is configured to be disposed inside the injection port and form a channel through which the ink is injected into the chamber. The ink is injected to the chamber from an ink supply container which includes a second shape portion formed near an outlet port of the container and configured to engage the first shape portion. The flow channel member is displaceable in a direction intersecting an inserting direction of inserting the outlet port into the injection port. The container is fixed to the tank by engagement between the first and second shape portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taiji Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11673416
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink tank, a recording head, a monitor, an operation panel, and a controller. The ink tank forms an ink chamber and including an injection inlet. The recording head ejects ink from the ink chamber to record an image on a sheet. The operation panel receives user input. The controller controls operation of the recording head, the monitor, and the operation panel. The controller performs receiving a completion signal indicating completion of ink injection, decision processing deciding whether an initial processing has been completed, and inquiry processing based on receipt of the completion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mana Honoki, Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 11667127
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a housing; a circuit board including an electrode; and an ink supply portion extending from the housing in a depth direction. The housing includes: an cover; and a base provided with a plurality of engaging pawls. The cover includes: a top wall; a peripheral wall formed with a plurality of engaging holes for engagement with the engaging pawls; a support portion supporting the circuit board; a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding from the top wall. The plurality of engaging holes is open in a width direction and includes a first engaging hole and a second engaging hole spaced away from each other in the depth direction. A front end of the second protrusion is positioned further frontward than a foremost edge of the first engaging hole that is positioned foremost in the depth direction among the plurality of engaging holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinari Ishibe
  • Patent number: 11660876
    Abstract: A detection method for a liquid level of a storage tank is provided. The detection method determines that an optical sensor is for a liquid level detection purpose when a sensing value to a tank object is consistent with a first threshold condition. The detection method further determines the optical sensor as valid on liquid level detection when sensing values respectively corresponding to statuses of print material and non-print-material are consistent with a second threshold condition. During printing, the detection method starts/stops pouring print material into a storage tank when the sensing value of the optical sensor is consistent with a third threshold condition correspondingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Yao-Te Huang
  • Patent number: 11654705
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a main body. An ink containing unit is disposed in the main body and is configured to contain ink to be supplied. The ink containing unit includes an ink refill portion through which ink is refilled and an ink level display surface disposed on a side surface of the main body. The side surface has an opening through which a jammed sheet is removed and a first cover configured to cover the opening. The ink level display surface and the first cover are juxtaposed on the side surface in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinari Ishibe, Motohiro Momozaki
  • Patent number: 11654689
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a discharge section that discharges a liquid, a storage section that includes a first surface and a second surface separated from the first surface in a first direction, and is configured to store the liquid between the first surface and the second surface, a transmission electrode that is provided on the first surface, a reception electrode that is provided on the second surface, a filter circuit that removes a predetermined frequency component from an electric signal supplied from the reception electrode, and a detection circuit that detects a storage amount of the liquid stored in the storage section based on an output from the filter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Shinkawa
  • Patent number: 11642891
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes an ejection opening; a passage in which an energy generation element is disposed; an ejection opening portion that allows communication between the ejection opening and the passage; a supply passage for allowing the liquid to flow into the passage; and an outflow passage for allowing the liquid to flow out to the outside. An expression of H?0.34×P?0.66×W>1.7 is satisfied when a height of the passage is set to H [?m], a length of the ejection opening portion is set to P [?m], and a length of the ejection opening portion is set to W [?m].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Okushima, Seiichiro Karita, Takatsuna Aoki, Noriyasu Nagai, Eisuke Nishitani, Yoshiyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11642893
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a supply cartridge attachable to the main casing; a printing mechanism; a display; and a controller configured to perform: determining, based on information inputted into the controller, whether an agreement is made for the image forming apparatus; setting, when an agreement is made for the image forming apparatus, an operation mode for the image forming apparatus to a pre-contract mode; determining under the pre-contract mode whether a type of the supply cartridge attached to the main casing is a normal type or a subscription type; displaying, when the type of the supply cartridge attached to the main casing is the normal type, information related to the pre-contract mode on the display; and setting, when the type of the supply cartridge attached to the main casing is the subscription type, the operation mode from the pre-contract mode to a formal contract mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriaki Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 11628673
    Abstract: Provided is a storage device including a container that includes an accommodation chamber accommodating fluid or powder, a flexible film that is bonded to the container and covers an opening portion of the accommodation chamber, and a tank holder to which the container having the film bonded thereto is fixed by a screw, in which the screw penetrates the film and fixes the container to the tank holder, and a part of a bonded portion between the film and the container surrounds a portion of the film through which the screw penetrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Yabe
  • Patent number: 11623453
    Abstract: To provide a liquid storage container equipped with a plug member that can prevent leakage of a liquid from the liquid storage container and can be opened without causing scatter of the liquid, and a liquid ejection apparatus equipped with the liquid storage container. For the purpose, at least one of a connection part of the convex part with the cover part and an apical part of the convex part most apart from the connection part is provided offset from the centroid of the cover part, seen from a direction orthogonal to an opening surface of a supply port in a state that the plug member is mounted on a supply port of the liquid storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Shimamura, Akira Shiba, Kazuya Yoshii, Norihiro Ikebe, Takeho Miyashita, Tomoki Yamamuro, Atsushi Arai, Masatoshi Ohira, Tatsuaki Orihara, Hirofumi Okuhara, Kazumasa Matsushita, Misato Furuya
  • Patent number: 11623452
    Abstract: An apparatus controller performs: updating a number of mounting stored in an apparatus memory when a new consumable is mounted on an image processing apparatus; updating a life stored in the apparatus memory in response to execution of image processing; and transmitting, at a particular timing, the number of mounting and the life to a server. A server controller performs: in response to receiving the number of mounting and the life, not placing an order for the new consumable when the number of mounting is larger than a number of orders or the life is longer than or equal to a particular value, and placing the order for the new consumable when the number of mounting is smaller than or equal to the number of orders and the life is shorter than the particular value; and when the order is placed, updating the number of orders in a server memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takatsugu Yamada
  • Patent number: 11623450
    Abstract: A fluid container that includes body that provides a fluid reservoir. Additionally, the fluid container can also include an outlet structure. The outlet structure can include a conduit that extends from an outlet of the fluid container to the fluid reservoir. Moreover, the fluid container can include an outlet barrier and an interior barrier. The outlet barrier can be positioned within the conduit of the outlet structure in proximity to the outlet of the fluid container. Additionally, the outlet barrier can be structured to receive an inlet extension of a container device. The interior barrier can be positioned within the conduit of the outlet structure in proximity to the fluid reservoir. Additionally, the interior barrier can be displaceable relative to the outlet structure by the inlet extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Zachary McCourt, William J. Edwards, James Dewey, David M. Hagen
  • Patent number: 11623451
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid storage container that allows for a simplified structure and a reduction in the size and the cost of a printing apparatus. To this end, the liquid storage container includes: two liquid chambers partitioned from each other; a flow path through which liquid can move between the liquid chambers; a valve configured to open and close the flow path; a refilling port that is configured to be opened and closed and through which a liquid chamber can be refilled with the liquid; and a pressure adjustment mechanism that is provided in a liquid chamber configured not to be refilled with the liquid through the refilling port and that adjusts a pressure in the printing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taketsugu Murakami, Junichiro Iri, Hiroyuki Murayama, Satoru Takahashi, Yusuke Hashimoto, Hiroaki Kusano
  • Patent number: 11618262
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge capable of being attached to or detached from a predetermined apparatus includes: a container which stores a liquid; a supply port which supplies the predetermined apparatus with the liquid stored in the container; an air communication hole which allows the container to communicate with the atmosphere; and a valve mechanism capable of switching between opening and blocking of the air communication hole. The valve mechanism includes a valve element which can be brought into intimate contact with the air communication hole to block the air communication hole, and a lever which moves, while rotating, between a first position in which the valve element is brought into intimate contact with the air communication hole and a second position in which the valve element is separated from the air communication hole in response to attaching/detaching of the liquid cartridge to/from the predetermined apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsunori Oya
  • Patent number: 11613130
    Abstract: Provided is a sealing member to be used as a valve in a pressure adjustment mechanism. The sealing member includes a base member having high strength, and has high reliability. The sealing member includes an elastic member (valve portion) having an annular abutment portion (valve distal end portion) formed as an annular protrusion and the base member (lever portion). When a held portion having a tubular shape extending from the annular abutment portion is held in an annular groove formed in the base member, the elastic member is fixed to the base member. A holding length over which an annular groove holds the held portion along a depth direction of the base member is set longer than a width of the annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soji Kondo, Kazuya Yoshii
  • Patent number: 11612978
    Abstract: Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) for a forming polishing pad for a semiconductor fabrication operation are disclosed. Techniques for forming the polishing pads are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a polishing pad includes an interpenetrating polymer network formed from a free-radically polymerized material and a cationically polymerized material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Uma Sridhar, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Ashwin Murugappan Chockalingam, Mayu Felicia Yamamura, Daniel Redfield, Rajeev Bajaj, Yingdong Luo, Nag B. Patibandla