Patents by Inventor Chiaki Muraoka

Chiaki Muraoka 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).

  • Publication number: 20230391103
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a discharge port array having a plurality of discharge ports and a supply port array having a plurality of supply ports. The discharge port array and the supply port array extend from a first to a second end of the liquid discharge head. The plurality of discharge ports includes a first-end discharge port closest to the first end and a second-end discharge port closest to the second end. The plurality of supply ports includes a first-end supply port closest to the first end and a second-end supply port closest to the second end. Seen from a position facing openings of the plurality of discharge ports, an end of an opening of the first-end supply port adjacent to the first end is at a position nearer to the first end than an end of an opening of the first-end discharge port adjacent to the first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: HIROKI TAJIMA, CHIAKI MURAOKA, KYOSUKE TODA, TAKEHO MIYASHITA, SHIMPEI YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230373218
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes an ejection unit, a channel member, and a circulation unit. The ejection unit includes an ejection port array in which ejection ports configured to eject a liquid are arrayed, and a communication channel communicating with the ejection port array. The channel member includes a channel that supplies and collects the liquid to and from the communication channel. The circulation unit supplies the liquid to the channel of the channel member and collects the liquid from the channel of the channel member. The ejection unit further includes a plurality of ejection port arrays that eject a liquid of the same type, and a plurality of communication channels corresponding to the plurality of ejection port arrays. The channel member includes a plurality of individual channels respectively through which the plurality of communication channels communicate with one of the circulation unit as a single circulation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: SHIMPEI YOSHIKAWA, TAKEHO MIYASHITA, KYOSUKE TODA, CHIAKI MURAOKA
  • Publication number: 20230373224
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a printing element board, supply and collection flow passages, a liquid feeding mechanism, and first and second bubble reservoir units. The printing element board includes a pressure chamber having an ejection port from which the printing element board ejects a liquid. The supply and collection flow passages communicate with the pressure chamber. The liquid feeding mechanism generates a difference in pressure between the supply and collection flow passages to supply the liquid from the supply flow passage to the pressure chamber and to recover the liquid in the pressure chamber from the collection flow passage. The first bubble reservoir unit connects the supply flow passage to the liquid feeding mechanism. The second bubble reservoir unit connects the collection flow passage to the liquid feeding mechanism. A volume of the first bubble reservoir unit is larger than a volume of the second bubble reservoir unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: YASUAKI KITAYAMA, CHIAKI MURAOKA, KYOSUKE TODA, TAKEHO MIYASHITA, SHIMPEI YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230373223
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head and a liquid ejection apparatus suppressing the occurrence of an ejection failure without increasing the size of the apparatus are provided. To this end, between a circulation unit and a supply flow path communicating with a pressure chamber, a flow path is provided, having a vertical cross-sectional area in a liquid circulation direction, which is double or more a vertical cross-sectional area in a liquid circulation direction in the supply flow path and having a flow path inner wall inclined with respect to the gravitational direction and whose component force of a normal vector has a component in the gravitational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: KYOSUKE TODA, CHIAKI MURAOKA, TAKEHO MIYASHITA, SHIMPEI YOSHIKAWA, YASUAKI KITAYAMA
  • Patent number: 11820151
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a liquid ejection cartridge unit that ejects ink droplets and includes a liquid chamber that stores liquid, and a first and a second electrode pins inserted in the liquid chamber; an application portion that applies a voltage between the first and the second electrode pins; and a detection portion that includes a detection resistance to which a voltage is applied by the application portion and detects a voltage value or a current value. When the application portion applies a voltage, the detection portion detects the voltage value or the current value so that the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid chamber is detected. At least one of the determination threshold value of the amount of the liquid in the liquid chamber, the applied voltage value, or the detection resistance value is set at intervals based on the cumulative application time of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Takagi, Chiaki Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20230364919
    Abstract: A circulation channel for circulating liquid, which is configured at least with an ejection unit, a first pressure adjusting unit, a second pressure adjusting unit, a pump, and a temperature adjusting unit, is included, and, in the circulation channel, liquid supplied from the outside flows into the first pressure adjusting unit and then is flowed out of the first pressure adjusting unit into the ejection unit and the second pressure adjusting unit, the liquid flowed out of the ejection unit and the liquid flowed out of the first pressure adjusting unit flow into the second pressure adjusting unit and then are flowed out of the second pressure adjusting unit into the pump, the pump sends the liquid flowed out of the second pressure adjusting unit to the first pressure adjusting unit, and the temperature of the circulating ink is adjusted by the temperature adjusting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: RYO SATO, KYOSUKE TODA, TAKEHO MIYASHITA, SHIMPEI YOSHIKAWA, CHIAKI MURAOKA
  • Patent number: 11794481
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head configured to discharge ink and an ink tank including a plurality of ink storage portions in which the ink is stored to supply the ink to the inkjet head via a connected tube, and replenishing ports via which the plurality of ink storage portions is replenished with ink, wherein the ink tank has an outer wall facing an outer side of the ink tank and having a thickness greater than a thickness of a partition wall arranged between the plurality of ink storage portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatomo Ojima, Hirofumi Okuhara, Tatsuo Nanjo, Chiaki Muraoka
  • Patent number: 11780233
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a discharge head that discharges ink, and a housing that contains the discharge head, wherein the housing contains a first ink storage member and a second ink storage member that each store ink, and the ink is supplied from each of the first ink storage member and the second ink storage member to the discharge head, wherein the first ink storage member is an ink cartridge not having an ink refilling port for enabling ink refilling by opening a stopper member, and detachable from the inkjet printing apparatus, and wherein the second ink storage member has the ink refilling port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiaki Muraoka, Yuji Tamaru, Kazumasa Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20230256744
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head configured to discharge ink and an ink tank including a plurality of ink storage portions in which the ink is stored to supply the ink to the inkjet head via a connected tube, and replenishing ports via which the plurality of ink storage portions is replenished with ink, wherein the ink tank has an outer wall facing an outer side of the ink tank and having a thickness greater than a thickness of a partition wall arranged between the plurality of ink storage portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Masatomo Ojima, Hirofumi Okuhara, Tatsuo Nanjo, Chiaki Muraoka
  • Patent number: 11685165
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a liquid chamber that stores liquid, a first electrode pin and a second electrode pin to be inserted into the liquid chamber, applying unit for applying voltage across the first electrode pin and the second electrode pin, with the first electrode pin as an anode side and the second electrode pin as a cathode side, and detecting unit for detecting electric current flowing, and detection operation of detecting amount of liquid in the liquid chamber by the detecting unit detecting the electric current when the applying unit applies voltage. Prior to the detection operation, an oxidization aging operation is performed, in which the applying unit applies voltage across the first electrode pin and the second electrode pin. An amount of an oxide layer formed on at least a portion of the first electrode pin exposed inside the liquid chamber is greater than the second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kyosuke Toda, Yosuke Takagi, Akira Goto, Chiaki Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20230191797
    Abstract: An object is to provide a liquid ejection head and liquid ejection apparatus capable of preventing a deterioration in ink circulation efficiency in the vicinities of ejection ports and an increase in apparatus size. To this end, a common supply channel and a common collection channel are provided as separate channels. An ink supplied from the common supply channel is supplied to a pressure chamber through a supply connection channel, and collected from the pressure chamber into the common collection channel through a collection connection channel. Also, the ink is caused to flow along a main scanning direction through the pressure chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: YOSUKE TAKAGI, CHIAKI MURAOKA, KYOSUKE TODA, TAKEHO MIYASHITA, SHIMPEI YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230120077
    Abstract: An object is to provide a liquid ejection head and liquid ejection apparatus capable of preventing a deterioration in ink circulation efficiency in the vicinities of ejection ports. To this end, a common supply channel and a common collection channel are provided as separate channels. An ink supplied from the common supply channel is supplied to pressure chambers through supply connection channels, and collected from the pressure chambers into the common collection channel through collection connection channels. Also, the common supply channel and the common collection channel extend in a direction crossing a main scanning direction in which the liquid ejection head is scanned and the ejection direction of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: TAKEHO MIYASHITA, CHIAKI MURAOKA, KYOSUKE TODA, SHIMPEI YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220410577
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head configured to discharge ink and an ink tank including a plurality of ink storage portions in which the ink is stored to supply the ink to the inkjet head via a connected tube, and replenishing ports via which the plurality of ink storage portions is replenished with ink, wherein the ink tank has an outer wall facing an outer side of the ink tank and having a thickness greater than a thickness of a partition wall arranged between the plurality of ink storage portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Masatomo Ojima, Hirofumi Okuhara, Tatsuo Nanjo, Chiaki Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20220410570
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes an electric connecting portion between a flexible wiring substrate and a contact wiring substrate. The contact wiring substrate has a first surface on which a contact pad is provided and a second surface opposite the first surface. The electric connecting portion is disposed on the second surface side of the contact wiring substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Kyosuke Toda, Takeho Miyashita, Chiaki Muraoka
  • Patent number: 11458734
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head configured to discharge ink and an ink tank including a plurality of ink storage portions in which the ink is stored to supply the ink to the inkjet head via a connected tube, and replenishing ports via which the plurality of ink storage portions is replenished with ink, wherein the ink tank has an outer wall facing an outer side of the ink tank and having a thickness greater than a thickness of a partition wall arranged between the plurality of ink storage portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatomo Ojima, Hirofumi Okuhara, Tatsuo Nanjo, Chiaki Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20220274412
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid container for containing liquid which has a refilling port for refilling the liquid container with liquid, a contained liquid information memory unit for storing information on the liquid contained in the liquid container, a refilling liquid information memory unit for storing information on the liquid to be supplied for refilling the liquid container, a liquid ejection head for ejecting the liquid supplied from the liquid container and a control unit for controlling operation of the liquid ejection apparatus according to the information stored in the contained liquid information memory unit and the information stored in the refilling liquid information memory unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Yuji Tamaru, Kazumasa Matsushita, Chiaki Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20220266598
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a liquid ejection cartridge unit that ejects ink droplets and includes a liquid chamber that stores liquid, and a first and a second electrode pins inserted in the liquid chamber; an application portion that applies a voltage between the first and the second electrode pins; and a detection portion that includes a detection resistance to which a voltage is applied by the application portion and detects a voltage value or a current value. When the application portion applies a voltage, the detection portion detects the voltage value or the current value so that the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid chamber is detected. At least one of the determination threshold value of the amount of the liquid in the liquid chamber, the applied voltage value, or the detection resistance value is set at intervals based on the cumulative application time of the voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Yosuke Takagi, Chiaki Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20220219459
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a discharge head that discharges ink, and a housing that contains the discharge head, wherein the housing contains a first ink storage member and a second ink storage member that each store ink, and the ink is supplied from each of the first ink storage member and the second ink storage member to the discharge head, wherein the first ink storage member is an ink cartridge not having an ink refilling port for enabling ink refilling by opening a stopper member, and detachable from the inkjet printing apparatus, and wherein the second ink storage member has the ink refilling port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Chiaki Muraoka, Yuji Tamaru, Kazumasa Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11383511
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a liquid chamber, a first electrode pin and a second electrode pin which are inserted into the liquid chamber, application unit for applying a voltage between the first electrode pin and the second electrode pin, and detection unit for detecting a current which flows between the first electrode pin and the second electrode pin, the image recording apparatus has: a first period in which the application unit applies the voltage between the first electrode pin and the second electrode pin, with the first electrode pin as an anode side and the second electrode pin as a cathode side, and the detection unit detects the current; and a second period in which the application unit applies the voltage between the first electrode pin and the second electrode pin, with the first electrode pin as the cathode side and the second electrode pin as the anode side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Takagi, Chiaki Muraoka, Akira Goto, Kyosuke Toda
  • Publication number: 20220184961
    Abstract: A liquid replenishing system includes a liquid tank and a liquid storage bottle for storing liquid to be replenished to the liquid tank. The liquid tank includes a tank body, a cylindrical adapter, and a needle penetrating into the tank body inside the cylindrical adapter. One end of the needle is located outside the tank body and another end of the needle is located inside the tank body. The liquid storage bottle includes a bottle body, a nozzle having an ejection port for ejecting a liquid stored in the bottle body, and includes a slit valve provided at the ejection port. In a case where the nozzle of the liquid storage bottle and the cylindrical adapter of the liquid tank are fitted to each other, one end of the needle is inserted into the slit valve so that the liquid storage bottle is secured to the liquid tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Takanori Yashiro, Chiaki Muraoka, Tatsuo Nanjo, Hirofumi Okuhara, Kazumasa Matsushita, Yuji Tamaru