Patents Examined by Anh T Vo
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Patent number: 11203203Abstract: In a connection mechanism for a liquid flow path, in a case of connecting a container to an apparatus main body, a slide portion causes a first open/close valve to move to establish communication of the liquid flow path, and a first main body portion causes the slide portion to move to disconnect an air flow path from the liquid flow path. In the connection mechanism for the liquid flow path, in a case of disconnecting the container from the apparatus main body, a second biasing member biases the slide portion to connect the air flow path to the liquid flow path, and the first main body portion is separated from the slide portion, so that a first biasing member biases the first open/close valve to close a part of the liquid flow path included in the first main body portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Masanobu Maeshima
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Patent number: 11203210Abstract: A printing apparatus includes at least a tank configured to hold a first printing material at a first position and a tank configured to hold a second printing material at a second position different from the first position. A light emitting control unit controls light emitting states of a plurality of light emitters. If an amount of the printing material in the first tank is less than a predetermined amount, and an amount of the printing material in the second tank is greater than a predetermined amount, the light emitting control unit transits a state of a first light emitter from a state indicating that the amount of the printing material is greater than the predetermined amount to a state indicating that the amount of the printing material is less than the predetermined amount, and maintains a state of a second light emitter.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiro Watanabe, Keita Takatani, Takeshi Nakata
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Patent number: 11198304Abstract: In an image-recording device, a mount body detachably holds a cartridge. The cartridge has a first chamber configured to store consumable therein. A tank is in communication with the cartridge, and the tank has a second chamber. Consumable in the first chamber is capable of moving into the second chamber. A controller determines whether a residual quantity of consumable stored in the first chamber of the cartridge held by the mount body is lower than or equal to a prescribed threshold. The controller expands, when a specific condition is satisfied, a maximum quantity of consumable up to which consumable is capable of being stored in the second chamber. The specific condition includes a first condition that the residual quantity of consumable stored in the first chamber is higher than the prescribed threshold, and a second condition that information notifying that the cartridge is to be replaced is received.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jun Morikawa, Sadaaki Miyazaki, Shinya Esaki, Kenta Horade
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Patent number: 11198298Abstract: A technique for suppressing a contact failure between a contact portion and an apparatus-side terminal in a cartridge including a case, a liquid supply port, and a contact portion that is disposed at a corner where a front surface and a top surface intersect each other and is in contact with an apparatus-side terminal of a liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid supply port is disposed at the center of the case in a width direction in which a first side surface and a second side surface oppose each other, and the contact portion is disposed at a position shifted to one side of the first side surface side and the second side surface side in the width direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Yuji Aoki, Atsushi Yoshida, Naoki Naito
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Patent number: 11192383Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 4, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryo Shimamura, Akira Shiba, Kazuya Yoshii, Norihiro Ikebe, Takeho Miyashita, Tomoki Yamamuro, Atsushi Arai, Masatoshi Ohira, Tatsuaki Orihara, Hirofumi Okuhara, Kazumasa Matsushita, Misato Furuya
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Patent number: 11186093Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a spout for a print liquid reservoir is described. The spout includes a sleeve having an opening through which print liquid passes. A first flange extends outward from the sleeve to affix the spout to the print liquid reservoir. A second flange extends outward from the sleeve to sit on a wall a container in which the print liquid reservoir is disposed. The spout also includes an angled clamp flange having an angled surface and a straight surface opposite the angled surface. The angled clamp flange is to affix the spout to the container.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Peter R. Stokes, Judson M. Leiser
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Patent number: 11186091Abstract: In an image-recording device, a cartridge has a first chamber, an outlet, and a first air communication portion for air-communication between the first chamber and the atmosphere. A mount body includes a tank, and first and second sensors. The tank has an inlet, a second chamber, and a second air communication portion for air-communication between the second chamber and the atmosphere. Liquid in the first chamber flows into the second chamber. The first sensor outputs a first signal when a level of the liquid in the second chamber is higher than a first position, and outputs a second signal when the level is lower than the first position. The second sensor outputs a third signal when the level is higher than a second position which is higher than both the first position and the inlet, and outputs a fourth signal when the level is lower than the second position.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenta Horade, Tatsuya Shindo, Hiroaki Takahashi
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Patent number: 11179942Abstract: A liquid ejection system includes: a liquid ejection apparatus; and a liquid storage container, wherein the liquid ejection apparatus includes a mounting unit having an apparatus-side terminal portion that is elastically deformable in a mounting direction, and an apparatus-side locking portion that restricts the liquid storage container from moving in a direction opposite to the mounting direction of the liquid storage container, and the liquid storage container includes a top surface located on an upper side in a vertical direction in a mounted state in which the liquid storage container is mounted, a container-side locking portion, the container-side locking portion being provided on the top surface, and a container-side terminal portion coupled to the apparatus-side terminal portion, the container-side terminal portion being provided at a position closer to the top surface than to a center of the liquid storage container in the vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Naoki Naito, Takeshi Komaki, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Takanori Matsuda
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Patent number: 11179956Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mana Honoki, Kenta Horade
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Patent number: 11173721Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a head unit including: at least one liquid discharge head; a fill tank; and a drain tank. The liquid discharge apparatus further includes: a main tank; a pump; a first flow passage; a second flow passage; a third flow passage; a fourth flow passage; a fifth flow passage; a first valve; a second valve; a third valve; a fourth valve; and a fifth valve.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuki Takahashi, Hirotoshi Ishizaki, Motohiro Tsuboi
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Patent number: 11173719Abstract: In one embodiment a print liquid supply apparatus is provided to supply liquid to a liquid needle of a receiving station comprising a liquid container including an at least partially collapsible liquid reservoir an interface structure at a side of the container, including a liquid channel that includes a reservoir connecting portion that fluidically connects to the reservoir and a needle receiving portion to allow the liquid to flow from the reservoir to the needle; a liquid interface of the liquid channel adjacent the needle receiving portion and at a distance from the reservoir connecting portion, a front wall and/or edge adjacent the liquid interface including a push area which is disposed between the liquid interface and the container; and at least one key pen base and key pen protruding from the base in a direction parallel and opposite to the needle insertion direction; and a contact pad array next to the needle receiving liquid channel portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Judson M. Leiser, Miquel Boleda Busquets, Bernd Karlsboeck, David Olsen, Michael E. Peterschmidt
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Patent number: 11161343Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes an ejection orifice forming surface provided with an ejection orifice from which a liquid is ejected. The ejection orifice forming surface includes a first region in a vicinity of the ejection orifice, a second region that is further spaced apart from the ejection orifice than the first region and protrudes from the first region in a liquid ejection direction and a third region that connects the first region and the second region. When a contact angle of pure water in the first region is a first contact angle ?1 and a contact angle of pure water in the third region is a third contact angle ?3, ?1 is larger than ?3 by 10 degrees or more.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Tamamori, Masaki Ohsumi, Shingo Nagata
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Patent number: 11161347Abstract: A circuit board for a printing cartridge, having a number of contact surfaces, wherein two or more of the contact surfaces are arranged in a first row, two or more of the contact surfaces are arranged in a second row, the first row is at a distance from the second row, and the contact surfaces of the second row are designed to apply a higher operating voltage than the contact surfaces of the first row.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Artech GmbH design + production in plasticInventor: Marc Westermeyer
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Patent number: 11161360Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akinari Ishibe, Motohiro Momozaki
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Patent number: 11148426Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 18, 2017Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Kawate, Akihiro Toya, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Mikinori Sawai
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Patent number: 11141988Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a system for generating a unitary structure with a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. The unitary structure includes a cavity configured to contain a fluid and a passageway configured to route the fluid to or from the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Christopher Andrew Porter
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Patent number: 11141987Abstract: Operating a fluid delivering system in a printer, wherein the fluid delivering system comprises a fluid supply including a fluid bag which contains a fluid to be delivered to a fluid delivering tube connected to a printhead, and a closed pressurizing volume which surrounds the fluid bag to expel fluid from the fluid bag to the fluid delivering tube when applying pressure from a pressurizing system to the pressurizing volume, wherein pressure in the pressurizing system relative to atmosphere is measured by a first sensor, and wherein a second sensor provides an output signal which indicates a pressure difference between the pressurizing system and the fluid delivering tube, comprising disconnecting the pressurizing volume of the fluid supply from the pressurizing system, providing a connection of the pressurizing volume to atmosphere to transmit atmospheric pressure to the fluid, generating pressure in the pressurizing system, performing measurements of the pressure in the pressurizing system relative to atmosType: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Oriol Parera Fiestas, Tuomo Eljas Kaikkonen, Albert Crespi Serrano
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Patent number: 11141983Abstract: An apparatus to supply print fluid (9) to a print fluid delivery system (28) of a printer, the apparatus comprising a tank (4) to store print fluid (9); a print fluid supply conduit (12) coupled to the tank (4) to supply print fluid (9) to the print fluid delivery system (28); and a vent conduit (10) extending from the tank (4); the tank (4) movable from a first position to supply print fluid (9) and in which first position the print fluid supply conduit (12) and vent conduit (10) are open to a second position to permit filling of the tank (4) and in which movement to the second position closes the print fluid supply conduit (12) and vent conduit (10).Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: William Black, Declan Malone, Susan Henry
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Patent number: 11141982Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes pressure chambers arranged in a first direction, a common channel, and a communicating portion communicating with the common channel and each of the pressure chambers. The common channel includes a supply portion, a return portion, and a connection portion connecting them in a second direction crossing the first direction. The liquid ejection head has a first vector directed from the supply portion via the connection portion toward the return portion and has a component in the second direction. The second vector is directed from the common channel via the communicating portion toward each of the pressure chambers and has a component in the second direction. The component in the second direction of the first vector and the component in the second direction of the second vector point in the same direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Taisuke Mizuno
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Patent number: 11141985Abstract: A liquid supply unit includes an outer shell, a liquid supply portion that is arranged in the outer shell and can supply a liquid to the liquid ejection apparatus, and an engaged structure including an engaged portion that can engage with the engagement portion of the liquid ejection apparatus, and a first opening that is formed in the outer shell and through which the engagement structure can be inserted. The engaged portion is arranged further inward than an outer surface of the outer shell.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Taku Ishizawa, Satoshi Shinada, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Noriyuki Fukasawa