Patents by Inventor Hirotake Nakamura

Hirotake Nakamura 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: 8596771
    Abstract: A print liquid cartridge comprising a print liquid chamber, print liquid supply portion, a stopper, and a release member. The print liquid supply portion establishes a communication between an interior of the print liquid chamber and an exterior of the print liquid chamber. The stopper prevents the printing-liquid cartridge from moving in a direction opposite to the liquid communication direction. The release member releases the stopper, such that the printing-liquid cartridge is permitted to move in a direction opposite to the fluid outflow direction. The stopper is aligned with the release member in a height direction orthogonal to the liquid communication direction and a width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Takagi, Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8585193
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge includes a front face oriented toward a first direction, a printing fluid supply portion positioned at the front face, a rear face positioned opposite the front face and oriented toward a second direction opposite the first direction, at least one electrical interface positioned between the front face and the rear face, and an engagement surface facing in the second direction. The at least one electrical interface is offset from the printing supply portion with respect to a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The at least one electrical interface is positioned closer to the front face than the engagement surface is, and the at least one electrical interface and the engagement surface intersect a plane which is parallel with the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130278683
    Abstract: In a print fluid cartridge, a main body has a first surface facing in a first direction. A print fluid outlet part is provided on the main body, and has an opening at the first surface. An electric interface is provided at an external surface of the main body and faces in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The electric interface moves relative to the main body in the first direction and in a direction opposite to the first direction between a first position and a second position that are apart from each other in the first direction and the direction opposite to the first direction. The main body supports the electric interface at the second position against pressure that is applied to the electric interface in a direction opposite to the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Tomohiro KANBE, Yuki Takagi, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130278684
    Abstract: An ink containing device includes an ink cartridge and an adaptor. The ink cartridge includes a first main body having a first surface facing a first direction and a chamber that stores ink, an ink outlet portion disposed on the first surface of the first main body and that directs the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the first main body; and an ink detecting portion that detects an amount of the ink stored in the chamber. The adapter is attachable to the ink cartridge. The adapter includes a second main body and a movable member that moves with respect to the second main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Tomohiro KANBE, Yuki TAKAGI, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8562116
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge includes a front face oriented toward a first direction, a printing fluid supply portion positioned at the front face, a rear face positioned opposite the front face and oriented toward a second direction opposite the first direction, an electrical interface positioned between the front face and the rear face and facing, and an engagement surface facing in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Yuki Takagi, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8550608
    Abstract: An ink cartridge for an inkjet recording apparatus includes a membrane for sealing an opening from which air flows out to atmosphere and introduced into an ink chamber. The membrane has a gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable characteristic. A characteristic recapture enhancement section is provided for enhancing recapturement of the gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable characteristic of the membrane. This section is operable when ink from the ink chamber clings to the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130258008
    Abstract: An ink containing device includes an ink cartridge and an adaptor. The ink cartridge comprises a first main body comprising a chamber configured to store ink, and an ink outlet portion disposed on a first surface of the first main body configured to direct the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the first main body, and an ink detecting portion configured to detect an amount of the ink stored in the ink chamber. The adaptor is configured to attach to the ink cartridge. The adaptor comprises a second main body comprising a second surface, and an electrical interface disposed on the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro KANBE, Yuki TAKAGI, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8534811
    Abstract: A plurality of tubes each corresponds to each of a plurality of connection ports and each has one end connected to a storage portion and the other end connected to the corresponding connection port. Ink is configured to be supplied from the storage portion to a flow channel member through the plurality of tubes. Each of the plurality of tubes has a first portion adjacent to the other end and a second portion adjacent to the first portion. The first portion is positioned between the other end and the second portion. A tube retaining member is provided on the carriage and includes a first retaining portion configured to retain the first portions to be arranged in a second direction, and a second retaining portion configured to retain the second portions to be arranged in a third direction intersecting with an imaginary plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihito Kobayashi, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8534816
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a main body having a chamber formed therein and configured to receive an imaging material, a circuit board having a first opening and a second opening formed through the circuit board, and an electrode disposed on the circuit board. The main body includes a support surface that supports the circuit board, a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding from the support surface, such that a portion of the first protrusion is disposed in the first opening of the circuit board and a portion of the second protrusion is disposed in the second opening of the circuit board, a third protrusion protruding from the support surface adjacent to the circuit board; and a fixing element that contacts a portion of the circuit board and a portion of the third protrusion to affix the circuit board to the support surface of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Takagi, Toyonori Sasaki, Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8534813
    Abstract: A set of ink cartridges is configured to mount in a cartridge mounting portion of a recording apparatus in an insertion direction. The set of cartridges includes a first and a second ink cartridge, and each cartridge includes a main body and a particular protrusion positioned adjacent to a bottom wall of the main body and extending from a portion of the main body in the insertion direction away from an ink chamber. The main body includes a first wall, the ink chamber, a communication portion disposed at the first wall; a second wall disposed opposite the first wall, and the bottom wall. The ink chamber is disposed between the first and second walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8517520
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes a liquid jetting head which reciprocates in a first direction along a first plane and jets a liquid, liquid supply sources which stores the liquid, a plurality of flexible tubes each of which constructs a part of a liquid flow passage from one of the liquid supply sources to the liquid jetting head, which are fixed to the liquid jetting apparatus at predetermined fixed portions which are different from connecting portions of the tubes at which the tubes are connected to the liquid jetting head respectively, and which are arranged in a state that the tubes are bent and twisted at portions between the connecting portions and the fixed portions, respectively; and a regulating member which is arranged to regulate movement of the tubes caused by bending of the tubes and which has a facing surface facing the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8500254
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus configured to supply a liquid for a liquid-consuming apparatus, includes: a liquid container including a storage chamber which stores the liquid and an engaging portion which is provided on an outer surface of the liquid container; and an attaching section to which the liquid container is attachable, which is formed with an opening, and which includes: a holding member configured to have an attitude which is changable between a first attitude and a second attitude; a cover configured to selectively have an open attitude for opening the opening and a close attitude for closing the opening; and a closing-preventive member on the cover and configured to prevent the cover from having the close attitude when the holding member has an attitude different from the first attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Yazawa, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8485649
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes a liquid jetting head which reciprocates in a first direction on a predetermined plane and which jets the liquid from a nozzle; a liquid supply source which stores the liquid to be supplied to the liquid jetting head; a flexible tube which is fixed to the liquid jetting apparatus at a predetermined fixed portion different from a connecting portion of the tube at which the tube is connected to the liquid jetting head, and which is arranged in a state that the tube is bent at a portion between the fixed portion and the connecting portion; and a regulating member which is arranged to regulate a movement of the tube caused by the bending of the tube, and the regulating member has an accommodating portion which extends in the first direction and accommodates the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8480218
    Abstract: A set of ink cartridges is configured to mount in a cartridge mounting portion of a recording apparatus in an insertion direction. The set of cartridges includes a first and a second ink cartridge, and each cartridge includes a main body and a particular protrusion positioned adjacent to a bottom wall of the main body and extending from a portion of the main body in the insertion direction away from an ink chamber. The main body includes a first wall, the ink chamber, a communication portion disposed at the first wall; a second wall disposed opposite the first wall, and the bottom wall. The ink chamber is disposed between the first and second walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130162721
    Abstract: A circuit substrate includes: a substrate body and an electrode. The substrate body has four sides including first and second sides extending in a first direction and opposing each other in a second direction. The substrate body has a top surface on which the electrode is mounted. The electrode has first and second outer points positioned closest to the first and second sides in the second direction respectively. The top surface has: a first area between the first side and a first imaginary line extending in the first direction and passing through the first outer point; a second area between the second side and a second imaginary line extending in the first direction and passing through the second outer point; and a third area interposed between the first area and the second area in the second direction, the substrate body being formed with a first opening in the first area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki TAKAGI, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20130162730
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a main body with a chamber formed therein that receives an imaging material, a circuit board having at least one opening formed through the circuit board; and an electrode disposed on the circuit board. The main body includes a support surface that supports the circuit board, a first protrusion protruding from the support surface and that contacting a first surface of the circuit board. The first surface of the circuit board extends in a direction perpendicular to the support surface. The main body also includes a second protrusion protruding from the support surface and disposed in the at least one opening. The second protrusion includes an end portion that covers a portion of the circuit board. In addition, a method for manufacturing the cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki TAKAGI, Toyonori SASAKI, Tomohiro KANBE, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20130162731
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a main body having a chamber formed therein and configured to receive an imaging material, a circuit board having a first opening and a second opening formed through the circuit board, and an electrode disposed on the circuit board. The main body includes a support surface that supports the circuit board, a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding from the support surface, such that a portion of the first protrusion is disposed in the first opening of the circuit board and a portion of the second protrusion is disposed in the second opening of the circuit board, a third protrusion protruding from the support surface adjacent to the circuit board; and a fixing element that contacts a portion of the circuit board and a portion of the third protrusion to affix the circuit board to the support surface of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki TAKAGI, Toyonori SASAKI, Tomohiro KANBE, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20130162729
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a main body having a chamber formed therein for receiving an imaging material, a circuit board having a first opening and a second opening formed through the circuit board, and an electrode disposed on the circuit board. The main body includes a support surface that supports the circuit board; a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding from the support surface, such that a portion of the first protrusion is disposed in the first opening of the circuit board and a portion of the second protrusion is disposed in the second opening of the circuit board, and a third protrusion protruding from the support surface. A portion of the third protrusion contacts a first surface of the circuit board facing away from the support surface. A method for manufacturing the cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki TAKAGI, Toyonori SASAKI, Tomohiro KANBE, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20130162733
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge includes a front side, a rear side, an upper side, a lower side, a tubular fluid supply portion positioned at the lower side of the front side, a pivotable member configured to pivot about a pivot point and comprising an end portion. The pivot point is positioned at the upper side and the end portion is positioned at the rear side. The printing fluid cartridge also includes a light attenuating portion protruding from the upper side of the front side and configured to attenuate light, and an electrical interface positioned between the pivotable member and the light attenuating portion. An upper end of the light attenuating portion is positioned below the electrical interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotake NAKAMURA, Tomohiro KANBE, Yuki TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20130162732
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber, a shaft, and a pivotable member including a float The pivotable member is configured to move about the shaft between a first position and a second position when the float moves. The float is positioned higher when the pivotable member is in the first position than when the pivotable member is in the second position. The float has a triangular shape when viewed in an axial direction of the shaft, and the triangular shape comprises a first side having a first dimension, a second side having a second dimension, and a third side having a third dimension. The first dimension is greater than each of the second dimension and the third dimension, and the first side is positioned above a vertex between the second side and the third side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki TAKAGI, Tomohiro KANBE, Hirotake NAKAMURA