Patents by Inventor Akinari Ishibe

Akinari Ishibe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11235579
    Abstract: A system includes: a housing; a cover that is supported by the housing to be movable between a covering position and an opened position; a tank; a reservoir; and a liquid discharging head that is disposed inside the housing and discharges liquid supplied from the tank, wherein the reservoir includes a liquid passage hole; the tank includes a passage tube that extends upward from the tank and is connectable to the liquid passage hole of the reservoir, the cover includes: a first wall that is positioned above the housing at the covering position, and a second wall that extends downward from an edge of the first wall, and when the cover is positioned at the covering position and the reservoir is connected to the tank, an upper end of the reservoir is positioned above a lower end of the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi, Akihito Ono, Takahiro Miyao, Akinari Ishibe
  • Patent number: 11214072
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a tank, a pivot member and a first surface. The tank has a storage chamber configured to store a liquid therein. The pivot member is disposed in the storage chamber. The pivot member is configured to pivotally move about an axis extending in an axial direction in a case where a level of a liquid surface of the liquid becomes equal to a predetermined liquid level. The pivot member includes a float and a first protrusion. The float has a specific gravity smaller than that of the liquid. The first protrusion protrudes toward the first surface. The first protrusion and the first surface provide a gap therebetween. The first protrusion is at a position in contact with the liquid in a state where the level of the liquid surface of the liquid is at the predetermined liquid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuma Tanabe, Akinari Ishibe, Masatake Sato, Hiroshi Taira
  • Patent number: 11192382
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a housing; a liquid passage extending in a first lateral direction from the housing when the housing is in an operational posture; a sealing member provided in the liquid passage; a circuit board including an electrical contact; and a restricting surface positioned below the liquid passage. The restricting surface is capable of preventing the housing from moving in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction. When the housing is in an operational posture, the liquid passage is positioned closer to the restricting surface than the circuit board is to the restricting surface with respect to a vertical direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction; and the circuit board and the restricting surface are positioned further in the second lateral direction relative to the sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Akinari Ishibe
  • Publication number: 20210370679
    Abstract: A system includes: a housing; a first tank; a second tank; a first reservoir configured to be connected to the first tank; a second reservoir configured to be connected to the second tank; and a liquid discharge head that ejects the liquid supplied from the first tank and the second tank. The housing includes: a front wall; a rear wall facing the front wall; and a housing side contact, the first reservoir and the second reservoir includes: a liquid flow hole; a first outer wall; and a second outer wall facing the first outer wall, the first tank includes a first flow pipe, and the second tank includes a second flow pipe. The system further includes a circuit board that is disposed on the second outer wall and has a reservoir side contact that contacts the housing side contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Akinari ISHIBE, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Kosuke NUKUI
  • Publication number: 20210354471
    Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank and a cartridge configured to be attached to the tank. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The tank includes a second storage chamber, a liquid passage, a gas passage, and an air communication portion. The liquid passage has a first end formed with a first opening, and a second end formed with a second opening. The gas passage has a third end formed with a third opening, and a fourth end formed with a fourth opening. In an attachment state where the first storage chamber is in communication with both the second opening and the fourth opening, the first storage chamber has a portion positioned above the liquid passage and the gas passage, and the second storage chamber is positioned below the liquid passage and the gas passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Akinari ISHIBE, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20210347180
    Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank a tank and a cartridge. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The cartridge is formed with a communicating opening in communication with the first storage chamber. The tank has a second storage chamber and a joint having a hollow cylindrical shape. In an attachment state where the communicating opening of the cartridge is connected to the joint, the first storage chamber has a portion positioned above the joint and the second storage chamber is positioned below the joint. At least in the first end portion, the liquid passage has a rectangular shape in a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to an extending direction of the liquid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Akinari ISHIBE, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11161360
    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: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinari Ishibe, Motohiro Momozaki
  • Publication number: 20210331484
    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: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Akinari ISHIBE, Yuma TANABE, Masatake SATO, Akihito KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20210300054
    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: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinari ISHIBE
  • Publication number: 20210300050
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a housing, a circuit board including an electrode, and a liquid supply portion extending from the housing in a depth direction. The housing includes a top wall, and first and second protrusions protruding upward from the top wall. The first protrusion is positioned rearward but the second protrusion is positioned frontward relative to the circuit board. The first protrusion is higher than an upper edge of a front end of the second protrusion. No part of the liquid cartridge is positioned higher than an imaginary plane in a height direction in a region between a first point on the first protrusion and a second point on the second protrusion (the upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion) in the depth direction. The imaginary plane passes through the first and second points, and extends perpendicularly to the depth direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinari ISHIBE
  • Publication number: 20210300053
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a housing including first and second protrusions; and a circuit board including an electrode. The first protrusion is positioned rearward but the second protrusion is positioned forward relative to the circuit board. When viewed in a width direction crossing a gravitational direction, an outline of the liquid cartridge between a first point and a second point is lower than an imaginary line. The imaginary line passes through the first point on the first protrusion and the second point on the second protrusion. A distance between a front edge of the electrode and the first point is smaller than a distance between the front edge and the second point. A dimension between a front end and a rear end of the second protrusion is greater than a distance between a frontmost end of the housing and the front end of the second protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinari ISHIBE
  • Patent number: 11123992
    Abstract: A system includes: a casing that has a conveyance path and through which a sheet passes; a first tank that is disposed on one side of the conveyance path; a second tank that is disposed on the other side of the conveyance path; a first reservoir that is connectable to the first tank; a second reservoir that is connectable to the second tank; and a liquid ejection head that is disposed inside the casing and is configured to eject liquid supplied from the first tank and the second tank, wherein the first reservoir includes a first liquid flowing hole, the second reservoir includes a second liquid flowing hole, the first tank includes a first flow conduit connectable to the first liquid flowing hole, and the second tank includes a second flow conduit connectable to the second liquid flowing hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao
  • Patent number: 11117382
    Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank and a cartridge. The cartridge is configured to be detachably attached to the tank in an attachment-detachment direction crossing a vertical direction. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The tank includes a second storage chamber, a liquid passage, and a gas passage. The liquid passage has a first end, a second end, and a first extending portion. The second end is formed with a second opening open to an atmosphere. The first extending portion extends from the second opening in the attachment-detachment direction. The gas passage has a third end, a fourth end, and a second extending portion. The fourth end is formed with a fourth opening open to the atmosphere. The second extending portion extends from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction. The second opening is at a position different from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Tatsuya Shindo, Masahiro Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20210245518
    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: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Akinari ISHIBE, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11084294
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus a tank and a cartridge attachable to the tank along an attachment direction crossing a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The cartridge includes a first storing chamber configured to store liquid therein. The tank includes a second storing chamber configured to store liquid therein, a liquid channel and an air channel. When the cartridge is attached to the tank, the first storing chamber has a portion located above the liquid channel and the air channel, and the second storing chamber has a portion located below the liquid channel and the air channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tatsuya Shindo
  • Patent number: 11084292
    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: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Masatake Sato, Akihito Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20210237457
    Abstract: A system includes: a housing; a cover that is supported by the housing to be movable between a covering position and an opened position; a tank; a reservoir; and a liquid discharging head that is disposed inside the housing and discharges liquid supplied from the tank, wherein the reservoir includes a liquid passage hole; the tank includes a passage tube that extends upward from the tank and is connectable to the liquid passage hole of the reservoir, the cover includes: a first wall that is positioned above the housing at the covering position, and a second wall that extends downward from an edge of the first wall, and when the cover is positioned at the covering position and the reservoir is connected to the tank, an upper end of the reservoir is positioned above a lower end of the second wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO, Akinari ISHIBE
  • Patent number: 11077668
    Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank and a cartridge configured to be attached to the tank. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The tank includes a second storage chamber, a liquid passage, a gas passage, and an air communication portion. The liquid passage has a first end formed with a first opening, and a second end formed with a second opening. The gas passage has a third end formed with a third opening, and a fourth end formed with a fourth opening. In an attachment state where the first storage chamber is in communication with both the second opening and the fourth opening, the first storage chamber has a portion positioned above the liquid passage and the gas passage, and the second storage chamber is positioned below the liquid passage and the gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11072182
    Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank a tank and a cartridge. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The cartridge is formed with a communicating opening in communication with the first storage chamber. The tank has a second storage chamber and a joint having a hollow cylindrical shape. In an attachment state where the communicating opening of the cartridge is connected to the joint, the first storage chamber has a portion positioned above the joint and the second storage chamber is positioned below the joint. At least in the first end portion, the liquid passage has a rectangular shape in a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to an extending direction of the liquid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11065880
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge attachment section includes: a cartridge body having a liquid storage chamber, and a liquid supply portion configured to supply the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to an outside. The liquid supply portion includes: a front end face facing frontward, an outer peripheral surface extending rearward from the front end face, and at least one guide provided at the outer peripheral surface. Each of the at least one guide is guided by corresponding at least one projection of the cartridge attachment section during attachment of a liquid supply tube of the cartridge attachment section to the liquid supply portion at a time of attachment of the liquid cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. Each of the at least one guide includes: a first guide portion, and a second guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Akinari Ishibe