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).
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Patent number: 10569564Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a cartridge includes: a first storage chamber; and a supply portion. A cartridge attachment portion includes: a connecting portion; and a second storage chamber. The connecting portion is disposed at a first height and connectable to the supply portion. A detecting portion is configured to detect one of a level of a liquid stored in the first storage chamber and at a position adjacent to the supply portion and a level of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber and at a position adjacent to the connecting portion. The first storage chamber has a first cross-sectional area taken along a horizontal plane at a predetermined height between the first height and a second height above the first height. The second storage chamber has a second cross-sectional area taken along the horizontal plane. The second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akihito Kobayashi, Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Masahiro Hayashi, Masatake Sato
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Patent number: 10569557Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a cartridge-attachment portion and an ink cartridge attachable thereto. The ink cartridge includes: a main body formed with an opening; an ink chamber disposed in the main body; a first valve opening and closing the opening; and a first pressing surface. The cartridge-attachment portion includes: an ink supply member providing an ink passage formed with an inlet; a second valve opening and closing the inlet; and a second pressing surface. In the attachment process, the ink supply member enters the ink chamber through the opening, the first pressing surface moves the second valve to a position opening the inlet, and the second pressing surface moves the first valve to a position opening the opening. In an attached state, the inlet is opened and positioned in the ink chamber, and the ink passage is in communication with the ink chamber through the inlet.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Akinari Ishibe, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akihito Ono, Hiroaki Takahashi, Akihito Kobayashi
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Patent number: 10556439Abstract: An image-recording apparatus includes a cartridge including a first storage chamber, a tank including a second storage chamber, a head, and a detection component for detecting a residual amount of liquid in the second chamber. The cartridge is connectable to the tank. The first storage chamber and second storage chamber are both allowed to communicate with an atmosphere. The tank includes a first base portion and a first protruding portion protruding from a lower end portion of the first base portion in a first direction perpendicular to a vertical direction. Internal spaces of the first base portion and the first protruding portion communicate each other to constitute part of the second storage chamber. The detection component is positioned: above the first protruding portion; to overlap with the first base portion as viewed in the first direction; and to overlap with the first protruding portion as viewed in the vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Masatake Sato, Akihito Kobayashi
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Patent number: 10549531Abstract: An image-recording apparatus includes a cartridge including a first storage chamber, a tank including a second storage chamber, a recording portion for ejecting liquid stored in the second storage chamber, a detected portion, and a detector. The first and second storage chambers can communicate with an atmosphere. The tank includes a liquid inlet port and a liquid outlet port positioned lower than the liquid inlet port. Liquid in the first storage chamber is supplied to the second storage chamber through the liquid inlet port, and from the second storage chamber to the recording portion through the liquid outlet port. The detected portion can change in state when a level of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber becomes equal to a vertical position of the liquid inlet port. The detector is configured to detect the change in state of the detected portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Masahiro Hayashi, Masatake Sato, Yoshinori Osakabe, Hiroaki Takahashi, Akihito Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20200031133Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Akinari ISHIBE, Yuma TANABE, Masatake SATO, Akihito KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
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Publication number: 20200001613Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akihito ONO, Akinari ISHIBE
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Publication number: 20190381800Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Akinari ISHIBE, Tatsuya SHINDO, Masahiro HAYASHI
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Patent number: 10457064Abstract: In a state where a supply portion of a cartridge is connected to a connecting portion of a cartridge attachment section, a first base part and a first protruding part of the cartridge and a second base part and a second protruding part of the cartridge attachment section have the following positional relationship: as viewed in the horizontal direction, the first base part is overlapped with both of the second base part and second protruding part, the first protruding part is overlapped with the second base part, but is not overlapped with the second protruding part; and as viewed in the vertical direction, the first base part is not overlapped with the second base part, and is not overlapped with the second protruding part, and the first protruding part is overlapped with the second protruding part, but is not overlapped with the second base part.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Masahiro Hayashi, Masatake Sato, Akihito Kobayashi
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Patent number: 10442206Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 26, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Masatake Sato, Akihito Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20190299630Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank; and a cartridge configured to be attached to the tank and having a first storage chamber configured to store liquid. The cartridge is formed with a communicating opening in communication with the first storage chamber. The tank has a second storage chamber configured to store the liquid, a liquid passage, a gas passage, a joint, an outer wall, an inner wall, an air communication portion, and a narrow-width portion. The liquid passage is in communication with the second storage chamber and has a first vertical portion. The gas passage has a second vertical portion. The first vertical portion, the second vertical portion, and the air communication portion are arranged in this order in the first direction and a direction away from the fifth end portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Akinari ISHIBE, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
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Publication number: 20190291446Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
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Patent number: 10421285Abstract: An image-recording apparatus includes a cartridge including a first storage chamber, a tank including a second storage chamber, a recording portion, a pivoting member disposed in the second storage chamber, a detector for detecting pivoting of the pivoting member, and a controller. Liquid in the first storage chamber is supplied to the second storage chamber through a liquid inlet port, and from the second storage chamber to the recording portion through a liquid outlet port. The pivoting member is pivotable about a pivot axis when a liquid level of the liquid in the second storage chamber is not higher than a prescribed position. The controller notifies the cartridge should be replaced upon receipt of a detection signal from the detector. A shaft defining the pivot axis is positioned lower than the liquid level of the liquid in the second storage chamber at the time of execution of the notification.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuma Tanabe, Masahiro Hayashi, Akinari Ishibe, Masatake Sato, Akihito Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20190248146Abstract: For an image forming apparatus including first and second storage chambers, an inequality expression of “R2>A×R1” is met. R1 is a sum of a passage resistance value obtained by flowing air through a first air communication portion and a passage resistance value obtained by flowing liquid through a supply portion. R2 is a passage resistance value obtained by flowing air through a second air communication portion. A is a cross-sectional area ratio obtained by dividing a first average cross-sectional area of a first space of the first storage chamber taken along a plurality of horizontal planes by a second average cross-sectional area of a second space of the second storage chamber taken along the plurality of horizontal planes. The first space contains at least a portion adjacent to the supply portion and accumulating the liquid. The second space contains at least a portion accumulating the liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2018Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akihito KOBAYASHI, Akinari ISHIBE, Yuma TANABE, Masahiro HAYASHI, Masatake SATO
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Publication number: 20190248151Abstract: In a state where a supply portion of a cartridge is connected to a connecting portion of a cartridge attachment section, a first base part and a first protruding part of the cartridge and a second base part and a second protruding part of the cartridge attachment section have the following positional relationship: as viewed in the horizontal direction, the first base part is overlapped with both of the second base part and second protruding part, the first protruding part is overlapped with the second base part, but is not overlapped with the second protruding part; and as viewed in the vertical direction, the first base part is not overlapped with the second base part, and is not overlapped with the second protruding part, and the first protruding part is overlapped with the second protruding part, but is not overlapped with the second base part.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akinari ISHIBE, Yuma TANABE, Masahiro HAYASHI, Masatake SATO, Akihito KOBAYASHI
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Publication number: 20190232693Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akinari ISHIBE, Motohiro MOMOZAKI
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Patent number: 10357976Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akihito Ono, Akinari Ishibe
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Patent number: 10350897Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank; and a cartridge configured to be attached to the tank and having a first storage chamber configured to store liquid. The cartridge is formed with a communicating opening in communication with the first storage chamber. The tank has a second storage chamber configured to store the liquid, a liquid passage, a gas passage, a joint, an outer wall, an inner wall, an air communication portion, and a narrow-width portion. The liquid passage is in communication with the second storage chamber and has a first vertical portion. The gas passage has a second vertical portion. The first vertical portion, the second vertical portion, and the air communication portion are arranged in this order in the first direction and a direction away from the fifth end portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
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Publication number: 20190193406Abstract: The liquid ejection device includes a cartridge, a cartridge receiving portion and a head. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber, a first air communication port, and a supply portion. The cartridge receiving portion includes a joint, a second storage chamber, a second air communication port, and an outlet port. Liquid is supplied from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber through the supply portion connected to the joint by water head difference. The second storage chamber includes: an upper region connected to the joint; and a lower region positioned below the upper region. The lower region has a portion positioned below a lowermost surface of the cartridge and extending along the lowermost surface when the supply portion is connected to the joint. The portion of the lower region extends away from the upper region to protrude further relative to the upper region in a protruding direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akinari ISHIBE
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Patent number: 10322586Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 26, 2018Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
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Patent number: 10308033Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a cartridge; a cartridge attachment portion; and a switching portion. The cartridge includes: a first storage chamber; a first air communication portion; and a first supply portion. The cartridge attachment portion includes: a second storage chamber; and a second air communication portion. The switching portion changes a passage resistance value of air flowing through one of the first and second air communication portions. An inequality of R2>A×R1 is met, in which R1: a passage resistance value obtained by air flowing through the first air communication portion and a passage resistance value of the liquid flowing through the first supply portion; R2: a passage resistance value of air flowing through the second air communication portion; A: a cross-sectional area ratio obtained by dividing an average cross-sectional area of the first storage chamber by an average cross-sectional area of the second storage chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masatake Sato, Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Masahiro Hayashi, Akihito Kobayashi