Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Taira

Hiroshi Taira 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: 20070229634
    Abstract: An inkjet head includes a flow channel member comprising a first orifice which opens in a first direction, in which ink flows into the first orifice. The flow channel member also includes a second orifice which opens in a second direction opposite to the first direction, in which ink flows out from the second orifice, and an ink flow channel formed therein, in which the ink flow channel extends from the first orifice to the second orifice. Moreover the inkjet head includes a flexible film which is attached to the flow channel member, and the flexible film seals the ink flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadanobu Chikamoto, Hiroshi Taira, Yoshirou Kita
  • Publication number: 20070229610
    Abstract: An ink-jet head of the present invention includes a discharge valve that includes a valve chamber and an opening/closing mechanism. The valve chamber has an ink supply port through which ink is supplied from outside, an outside discharge port through which ink is discharged to outside, and a reservoir discharge port through which ink is discharged to an ink reservoir. The opening/closing mechanism is able to selectively take either one of a state where a passage is formed between the ink supply port and the outside discharge port while access between the ink supply port and the reservoir discharge port is blocked and a state where a passage is formed between the ink supply port and the reservoir discharge port while access between the ink supply port and the outside discharge port is blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Taira, Yoshirou Kita, Tadanobu Chikamoto
  • Publication number: 20070229581
    Abstract: An ink-jet head protection assembly of the present invention comprises an ink-jet head, a head cap that protects the ink-jet head and a support member supporting the head cap so that the head cap contacts an ejection face of the ink-jet head. In the head cap, a surface confronting the ejection face of the ink-jet head is formed with a protrusion contacting the ejection face. A contact surface of the protrusion to the ejection face surrounds, in plan view, an area in which ejection ports are formed. Gas is filled in a closed space defined by a surface of the head cap, the protrusion and the ejection face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Taira, Yoshirou Kita, Tadanobu Chikamoto
  • Publication number: 20070229593
    Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a first passage forming member, a second passage forming member, and a circuit board. The first passage forming member has an ink inlet port, an ink outlet port, and a first ink passage extending from the ink inlet port to the ink outlet port. The first passage forming member is sandwiched between the circuit board and the second passage forming member. An electronic element is mounted on the circuit board. A projection defining a recess is formed on a surface of the first passage forming member. The electronic element is mounted on position facing the recess of the circuit board, and is received therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadanobu Chikamoto, Hiroshi Taira, Yoshirou Kita
  • Publication number: 20070229607
    Abstract: There are provided an ejection actuator that ejects ink from a nozzle, and a driver chip that supplies a signal for driving the ejection actuator. In a first location, the driver chip is sandwiched between a flat plate member and an elastic member. The elastic member biases the driver chip to the flat plate member. The elastic member is supported by the support member. A restricting portion is provided on at least either one of the support member and the flat plate member. When the support member and the flat plate member get close to each other in a second location different from the first location, the restricting portion restricts movement of at least either one of the support member and the flat plate member so as to prevent the driver chip and the support member in the first location from getting closer to each other beyond a minimum distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Taira, Yoshirou Kita, Tadanobu Chikamoto
  • Publication number: 20070229596
    Abstract: The confronting area of flexible printed circuit is interposed between the leading face and the passage unit. A protruding length of the protrusion region from the spaced face is equal or larger than that of the fixed region. A recess is formed on the support face of the passage unit at a position confronting the leading face. Both ends of the leading face are interposed between both ends of the opening of the recess with respect to a draw-out direction. The confronting area of the flexible printed circuit passes through the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadanobu Chikamoto, Hiroshi Taira, Yoshirou Kita
  • Publication number: 20070229580
    Abstract: A passage unit formed with ink ejection ports, an actuator mounted on the passage unit, and a cover member are provided. Further provided is a side plate member that is in contact with a mounting face of the passage unit on which the actuator is mounted. The side plate member has a side plate and an opposing plate that is connected to the side plate. The side plate extends in the longitudinal direction of the passage unit and along a contour line of the passage unit. The side plate is in crosswise contact with the mounting face. The opposing plate is opposed to the mounting face. The cover member is placed at such a position that the actuator and the side plate member are sandwiched between the cover member and the passage unit. The cover member presses the opposing plate toward the passage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadanobu Chikamoto, Hiroshi Taira, Yoshirou Kita
  • Publication number: 20070229602
    Abstract: An inkjet head includes a passage member having an ink passage formed therein. The ink passage has a first end and a second end opposite the second end, and the ink passage includes a supply port configured to receive an ink from an outside of the passage member and to dispense the ink into the ink passage, and a discharge port configured to dispense the ink from the ink passage to the outside of the passage member. Moreover, the supply port and the discharge port are each positioned adjacent to a predetermined end of the passage member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Taira, Tadanobu Chikamoto, Yoshirou Kita
  • Publication number: 20070139484
    Abstract: A layered structure has a first metal plate having a first hole, a second metal plate having a second hole designed to communicate with the first hole, and a filter plate at least a surface of which is made of a metal. The filter plate is sandwiched between the first and second metal plates so that the first hole and the second hole communicate with each other through the filter. The first and second metal plates are bonded to each other by means of an adhesive that is disposed between the first and second metal plates. The adhesive is not opposed to the filter plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Taira, Tatsuo Terakura
  • Patent number: 7219981
    Abstract: An ink-jet head is formed by laminating a passage unit including a plurality of individual ink passages running to a nozzle through a pressure chamber and a reservoir unit including an ink reservoir in which ink is stored and from which the stored ink is fed to the passage unit. The reservoir unit has a bonded portion bonded to the passage unit and a spaced portion spaced apart from and opposite to the passage unit which are formed on a bottom thereof. The spaced portion has a protrusion formed at an end thereof opposite to the bonded portion to protrude in a direction of the passage unit. FPC is drawn out from an opening between the protrusion and the passage unit and an adhesive is applied to this opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taira
  • Patent number: 7213911
    Abstract: An ink-jet head comprises a passage unit, an actuator unit, an ink supply unit, a flexible substrate, and a driver IC. The actuator unit is fixed to one surface of the passage unit in order to change the volume of pressure chambers included in the passage unit. The ink supply unit is fixed to the passage unit and supplies ink to the passage unit. The flexible substrate is connected to the actuator unit and has a signal wire formed thereon for feeding electric power to the actuator unit. The driver IC is connected to the flexible substrate in order to drive the actuator unit, and held on the ink supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taira
  • Patent number: 7198420
    Abstract: A printer 1 includes a sheet storage unit 6 in which a stack of sheets can be set, a pickup roller 12 which contacts one side of the stack of sheets set in the sheet storage unit 6, and a lid 10 which covers the other side of the stack of sheets. In this structure, each sheet 7 is conveyed toward a print mechanism unit 14 by the revolution of the pickup roller 12. The printer 1 is provided with first ribs 10a and a second rib 3a which forcibly curl the sheets 7 set in the sheet storage unit 6 in the sheet width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Yamamoto, Takashi Okumura, Hiroshi Taira, Keiji Seo
  • Patent number: 7159966
    Abstract: An ink-jet head comprises a passage unit formed with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, a reservoir unit bonded to the passage unit, and actuator units for applying an ejection energy to ink in the passage unit. The reservoir unit is formed therein with an ink reservoir extending along a bonding surface between the reservoir unit and the passage unit. The ink reservoir reserves ink supplied from an ink tank and supplies the reserved ink to the passage unit. The ink reservoir is formed therein with a plurality of pillars supporting upper and lower walls of the ink reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taira
  • Publication number: 20060227174
    Abstract: An inkjet head includes a flow path unit and a reservoir unit. The reservoir unit stores ink and includes an ink flow path, a reservoir flow path and an ink drop flow path. The reservoir flow path includes a main flow path formed with plural tributary communication ports, and plural tributary flow paths. A section area of the main flow path taken along a width direction of the reservoir unit is larger than each of section areas of the tributary flow paths taken along a direction perpendicular to a flow direction of ink. The ink drop flow path drops ink onto a substantially center of the main flow path as viewed in a plan view. The tributary communication ports are substantially equal to each other in an opening area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taira
  • Publication number: 20060181579
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet head and a frame supporting the inkjet head. The inkjet head includes a channel unit is fixed to the reservoir unit and a reservoir unit. The reservoir unit includes a laminated structure in which plural plate members are laminated. The plate members include a fixed plate. In a plan view, both end portions of the fixed plate are located outside the channel unit. The fixed plate includes first and second surfaces. The first surface is closer to the channel unit than the second surface. The both end portions of the fixed plate are fixed to the frame so that the both end portions of the fixed plate face the frame and the first surface is closer to the frame than the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taira
  • Publication number: 20060139415
    Abstract: When all metal plates for forming a passage unit of an ink jet head are bonded together by metal bonding, a top metal plate will warp, and an actuator unit cannot be fitted in a uniform manner to this warped top metal plate, and if the actuator units are not fitted in a uniform manner to the top metal plate, a uniform amount of ink cannot be discharged from nozzles of the ink jet head. To deal with this, metal diffusion bonding of the metal plates is performed without the top metal plate being included therein, and the top metal plate is then caused to adhere by means of adhesive. There is thus no warping of the top metal plate, and consequently the actuator units can be fitted in a uniform manner to the top metal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taira
  • Publication number: 20060103700
    Abstract: Pressure fluctuations that occur inside an ink jet head will be controlled. The ink jet head has a body. A common ink storage chamber is formed inside the body. A plurality of nozzles and a plurality of pressure chambers are formed in the surface of the body. One nozzle corresponds to one pressure chamber, and one pressure chamber corresponds to one nozzle. A plurality of individual ink storage chambers are formed inside the body. Each individual ink path extends from the common ink storage chamber, through one corresponding pressure chamber, and to one corresponding nozzle. The ink jet head is provided with an adjustor that allows the volume of the common ink storage space to increase or decrease. When the pressure of the ink that is stored in the ink jet head fluctuates, the volume of the common ink storage space will increase or decrease, and the pressure fluctuations will be smoothed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taira
  • Patent number: D537115
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hirota, Atsuo Sakaida, Hiroshi Taira, Hidetoshi Watanabe, Tadanobu Chikamoto
  • Patent number: D539338
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hirota, Atsuo Sakaida, Hiroshi Taira, Hidetoshi Watanabe, Tadanobu Chikamoto
  • Patent number: D539339
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hirota, Atsuo Sakaida, Hiroshi Taira, Hidetoshi Watanabe, Tadanobu Chikamoto