Patents by Inventor Hideki Ogura

Hideki Ogura 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: 20080055376
    Abstract: In an ink supply system for connecting with an ink container with a hollow communicating tube provided in the ink container, in order to prevent leakage of the ink from the communicating tube and simultaneously to prevent damage of the communicating tube projected from the ink container, the communicating tube 60 is made movable to be projected from the inside of the ink container and to be inserted into a recording head, thus establishing liquid communication between the inside of the ink container and the inside of the recording head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoji Inoue, Ryoichi Matsumoto, Hideki Ogura, Shogo Kawamura, Satoshi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7311388
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid supplying apparatus which enables a liquid housing container to be appropriately and smoothly attached to and detached from a print head. Thus, the present invention includes a liquid supplying tube projected from the print head and having a liquid introducing port which is in communication with the print head, a seal member rotatably movably held on the liquid supplying tube, the seal member being movable from a position at which the liquid introducing port is closed to a position at which the liquid introducing port is opened, a housing container main body in which the liquid is housed, the housing container main body having a liquid supplying port into and from which the liquid supplying tube can be inserted and removed, and a movable member which rotatably moves the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabsuhiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Ogura, Ryoji Inoue, Ryoichi Matsumoto, Shogo Kawamura, Satoshi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7309121
    Abstract: An ink supplying system for supplying ink to a recording head of a recording apparatus. The ink supplying system includes an ink tank for containing the ink and an ink supplying unit, connected to the ink tank via communication paths, for supplying the ink from the ink tank to the recording head. The ink in the ink tank is introduced into the ink supplying unit through at least one of the communication paths, and gas in the ink supplying unit is transported into the ink tank through at least a different one of the communication paths. At least one of the ink tank and the ink supplying unit has storage means for storing information regarding the amount of ink in the ink supplying system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hatasa, Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Ryoji Inoue, Hideki Ogura
  • Publication number: 20070263052
    Abstract: An ink tank includes two stirring members having different masses in an ink containing chamber. The two stirring members are moved by an inertial force according to movement of a carriage and stir ink. The two stirring members have different movement start times and movement speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Iijima, Shogo Kawamura, Yasuo Kotaki, Ryoji Inoue, Hideki Ogura, Tetsuya Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20070257974
    Abstract: This liquid supply system has a liquid storing portion, and a first communication hole and a second communication hole formed in the bottom of the liquid storing portion. The liquid supply system has a gas circulation mode of leading a gas in the liquid storing portion to the outside through the second communication hole and forcing the gas into the liquid storing portion through the first communication hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hatasa, Hideki Ogura
  • Patent number: 7290861
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a mechanism for opening and closing an ink supply route between an ink tank and a printing head and capable of attaching and removing the ink tank by a horizontal movement. More specifically, a moving member 60 and the communication pipe 51 engaged therewith are moved upward by moving an operation member 70 upward. As a result, the communication pipe 51 moves into an ink lead chamber 16 and a communication channel 52 of the communication pipe 51 comes into communication with the ink lead chamber 16 through its opening. In this way, the ink lead chamber 16, namely, an ink storage chamber 12 comes into communication with a liquid chamber 50 of a printing head 20. An ink supply route is opened in this manner. The ink supply route is closed by the reverse operation to that mentioned above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoji Inoue, Ryoichi Matsumoto, Shogo Kawamura, Hideki Ogura, Satoshi Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20070171263
    Abstract: A liquid (ink) supply system having a closed structure with respect to an inkjet recording head is configured such that a gas hindering a recording operation and a liquid supply operation can be rapidly and smoothly eliminated from a liquid supply system without involving any complication in structure. An ink tank (10) and a liquid chamber (50) for leading ink supplied to the recording head (20) are brought into fluid communication via two communication channels (53 and 54). Thus, in the state where the gas exists inside the liquid chamber, the ink is moved from the ink tank (10) via one communication channel (53), while the gas is transferred to the ink tank (10) via the other communication channel (54).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoji Inoue, Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Nobuyuki Kuwabara, Tetsuya Ohashi, Hideki Ogura
  • Publication number: 20070145059
    Abstract: A liquid storage container capable of ensuring a sufficient ink storage space and preventing liquid leakage without large variations in liquid pressure even when the container is deformed by an external force during shipping or in operating time. The container includes a protection member positioned outside of a flexible member, and an opening is defined on a plane member arranged in contact with the flexible member so as to face the protection member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Ogura, Ryoichi Matsumoto, Tetsuya Ohashi, Shogo Kawamura, Ryoji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20070052769
    Abstract: An ink tank includes a stirrer supported in a freely moveable manner near an inner wall of an ink storage chamber. When the stirrer moves closest to the inner wall, a predetermined gap is formed between opposing surfaces of the inner wall and the stirrer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Kubo, Shogo Kawamura, Tetsuya Ohashi, Ryoji Inoue, Hideki Ogura, Yasuo Kotaki
  • Publication number: 20070052771
    Abstract: An ink tank includes a tank case and a stirrer. The proximal end of the stirrer is supported by the inner surface of the tank case in a pivotal manner. When the stirrer moves close to the inner surface of the ink tank, the stirrer is substantially parallel to the inner surface. The stirrer includes a through-hole in the vicinity of the proximal end thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoji Inoue, Yasuo Kotaki, Tetsuya Ohashi, Shogo Kawamura, Hideki Ogura
  • Publication number: 20070052773
    Abstract: A liquid container includes an air-tight liquid-storage chamber or reservoir, a movable member for agitating liquid, and a protrusion portion for supporting the movable member. The movable member and the protrusion portion are disposed in the liquid-storage chamber. The movable member includes a first end that is linearly movable along the protrusion portion and a second end that is free.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shogo Kawamura, Yasuo Kotaki, Hideki Ogura, Ryoji Inoue, Tetsuya Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20070052768
    Abstract: A liquid container having a liquid containing portion adapted to contain a liquid, a supplying portion facilitating supplying the liquid from the liquid containing portion to outside, and an agitating member configured to agitate the liquid, in which the agitating member has a bending portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ohashi, Ryoji Inoue, Hideki Ogura, Shogo Kawamura, Yasuo Kotaki
  • Publication number: 20070052772
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a housing, a flexible film, a liquid reservoir configured to directly store liquid therein and defined by the housing on one side and the flexible film on the other side, a liquid supply port provided in the liquid reservoir and configured to supply liquid to a recording head, and an overhang protruding from the housing and located in the liquid reservoir and substantially near the liquid supply port. The absorbing member is configured to absorb the inertial force of liquid, the inertial force being generated in liquid in the liquid reservoir by an external force applied to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shogo Kawamura, Yasuo Kotaki, Hideki Ogura, Ryoji Inoue, Tetsuya Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7185976
    Abstract: An ink supply system in which gas is promptly and smoothly discharged without having a complex structure. The ink supply system includes a hermetically-sealed structure communicating with a liquid-using section, a liquid accommodating section having a liquid storage adapted to store liquid, the liquid accomodating section including a negative pressure generation means, and a plurality of communication paths, including first and second communication paths, that facilitates communication between the liquid chamber and the liquid accommodating section. Each of the first and second communication paths includes a liquid chamber side opening extending into the liquid chamber and a liquid accommodating section side opening extending into the liquid accommodating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoji Inoue, Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Hideki Ogura, Nobuyuki Kuwabara, Tetsuya Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20060274133
    Abstract: An ink supply system comprises an ink tank which contains ink, and a liquid chamber which is connected to the ink tank through a plurality of communication paths, and supplies ink taken from the ink tank to a recording head, wherein the liquid chamber, except the plurality of communication paths and a connection section to the recording head, forms a substantially sealed space; the liquid chamber is provided with a filter which can partition the inside of the liquid chamber into a first region at the side of the ink tank and a second region at the side of the recording head, and can form a meniscus of ink which is broken by a pressure of gas in the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoji Inoue, Hideki Ogura
  • Patent number: 7128407
    Abstract: An ink supply system comprises an ink tank which contains ink, and a liquid chamber which is connected to the ink tank through a plurality of communication paths, and supplies ink taken from the ink tank to a recording head, wherein the liquid chamber, except the plurality of communication paths and a connection section to the recording head, forms a substantially sealed space; the liquid chamber is provided with a filter which can partition the inside of the liquid chamber into a first region at the side of the ink tank and a second region at the side of the recording head, and can form a meniscus of ink which is broken by a pressure of gas in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoji Inoue, Hideki Ogura
  • Patent number: 7104640
    Abstract: This invention provides a liquid container capable of stably supplying a liquid contained therein, a liquid using device, a printing apparatus, and a method of manufacturing the liquid container. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a one-way valve used in an ink tank is constructed of a flexible sheet. In an area of the flexible sheet, an undulated portion is formed whose undulated form is maintained in an operation range of the one-way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Ogura, Ryoichi Matsumoto, Ryoji Inoue, Tatsuo Nanjo
  • Patent number: 7086725
    Abstract: In a structure of an ink tank having a deformable sheet that constitutes the tank and a spring for imparting a negative pressure, unstableness of the negative pressure attributable to the deformation of the sheet as a result of ink consumption is prevented. For this purpose, a plate-like member is joined to a top section of the sheet formed in a convex shape, and the spring for generating the negative pressure in the tank is mounted to the same member. This makes it possible to maintain a high volume ratio of the ink tank and to achieve stableness of the negative pressure by adequately regulating the deformation of the sheet when the sheet is displaced in the direction of retracting toward the interior of the tank as a result of a reduction of the amount of ink in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Ogura, Naoji Otsuka, Hiroyuki Inoue, Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Nobuyuki Kuwabara, Tetsuya Ohashi, Ryoji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20060170742
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a mechanism for opening and closing an ink supply route between an ink tank and a printing head and capable of attaching and removing the ink tank by a horizontal movement. More specifically, a moving member 60 and the communication pipe 51 engaged therewith are moved upward by moving an operation member 70 upward. As a result, the communication pipe 51 moves into an ink lead chamber 16 and a communication channel 52 of the communication pipe 51 comes into communication with the ink lead chamber 16 through its opening. In this way, the ink lead chamber 16, namely, an ink storage chamber 12 comes into communication with a liquid chamber 50 of a printing head 20. An ink supply route is opened in this manner. The ink supply route is closed by the reverse operation to that mentioned above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoji Inoue, Ryoichi Matsumoto, Shogo Kawamura, Hideki Ogura, Satoshi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7077514
    Abstract: A liquid container is provided which can prevent a leakage of liquid from an air introduction portion under any environment of use and storage and which can maintain a stable negative pressure characteristic irrespective of a degree of liquid consumption. The liquid container includes a liquid containing portion, a liquid supply portion to supply liquid from the liquid containing portion to a liquid using portion, a valve chamber having a one-way valve which permits a gas introduction into the liquid containing portion and prevents the liquid and gas from getting out of the liquid containing portion, a communication path to communicate the liquid containing portion with the valve chamber, a mechanism having a function of maintaining a volume of the liquid containing space, and a communication path closing member capable of enabling or disabling a communication between the liquid containing portion and the valve chamber through the communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoji Inoue, Ryoichi Matsumoto, Tatsuo Nanjo, Hideki Ogura