Patents by Inventor Hiroyuki Kawate

Hiroyuki Kawate 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: 12227011
    Abstract: A print material storage container has: a substrate on which an electric circuit having terminals is provided; a fixing portion on which the substrate can be mounted by re-fixing; and a fixing member that fixes the fixing portion and a non-terminal portion, which is formed by excluding the terminals from the substrate, to each other. The non-terminal portion includes a re-fixed portion, which can be re-fixed to the fixing portion by the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Kudo, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Hiroyuki Kawate
  • Patent number: 12122164
    Abstract: A liquid container refillable with liquid to be supplied to a printer includes a bag; a liquid supplying port member having a liquid supplying port; a liquid supply flow passage provided inside the liquid supplying port member; a liquid filling flow passage branching off from the liquid supply flow passage; and a communication port provided inside the liquid supplying port member and being in communication with the liquid filling flow passage and facing an internal surface of the bag. The bag is fixed to the liquid supplying port member such that a gap is formed between the bag and the peripheral portion of the communication port due to a flow of the liquid from the liquid supply flow passage to the liquid filling flow passage, the gap being in communication with the liquid containing portion through the communication port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Kudo, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Hiroyuki Kawate
  • Patent number: 12064972
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a storage portion configured to store the liquid and a connection member. The connection member is provided with a liquid outlet which is inserted with a liquid introduction portion, a container-side electrical connector which makes electrical contact with an apparatus-side electrical connection unit while receive at least +Z direction force from the apparatus-side electrical connection unit, a first receiver configured to receive a first positioning portion, a second receiver configured to receive a second positioning portion, and a recess which houses a protrusion of the case. The recess and the container-side electrical connector are formed at positions which at least partially overlap each other when viewed from a Z direction in a mounting state. In the mounting state, the width of the liquid container in the Z directions is larger than the width in the Y directions and the width in the X directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawate, Akihiro Toya, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Mikinori Sawai
  • Publication number: 20240131851
    Abstract: A print material storage container has: a substrate on which an electric circuit having terminals is provided; a fixing portion on which the substrate can be mounted by re-fixing; and a fixing member that fixes the fixing portion and a non-terminal portion, which is formed by excluding the terminals from the substrate, to each other. The non-terminal portion includes a re-fixed portion, which can be re-fixed to the fixing portion by the fixing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Kudo, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Hiroyuki Kawate
  • Patent number: 11897269
    Abstract: A print material storage container has: a substrate on which an electric circuit having terminals is provided; a fixing portion on which the substrate can be mounted by re-fixing; and a fixing member that fixes the fixing portion and a non-terminal portion, which is formed by excluding the terminals from the substrate, to each other. The non-terminal portion includes a re-fixed portion, which can be re-fixed to the fixing portion by the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Kudo, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Hiroyuki Kawate
  • Patent number: 11745512
    Abstract: An ink supply container configured to supply an ink to a printer includes a container part configured to contain the ink, a conduit part on a top side of the container part, the conduit part being configured to lead the ink out, a cap configured to protect the conduit part, the cap being detachably attached to the conduit part, and a film attached to at least one of an inner surface of the container part, an inner surface of the conduit part, and an inner surface of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawate, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Atsushi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20230271422
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a storage portion configured to store the liquid and a connection member. The connection member is provided with a liquid outlet which is inserted with a liquid introduction portion, a container-side electrical connector which makes electrical contact with an apparatus-side electrical connection unit while receive at least +Z direction force from the apparatus-side electrical connection unit, a first receiver configured to receive a first positioning portion, a second receiver configured to receive a second positioning portion, and a recess which houses a protrusion of the case. The recess and the container-side electrical connector are formed at positions which at least partially overlap each other when viewed from a Z direction in a mounting state. In the mounting state, the width of the liquid container in the Z directions is larger than the width in the Y directions and the width in the X directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KAWATE, Akihiro TOYA, Yoshiaki SHIMIZU, Mikinori SAWAI
  • Patent number: 11718097
    Abstract: An ink refill container includes a bottle and a cap. The bottle includes: an ink outlet forming portion having an ink outlet and an outer peripheral portion with a first screw thread; and a valve with a valve member in the ink outlet. The cap includes: a trunk having a second screw thread engageable with the first screw thread; a top portion; and a projection. The projection is configured to move and push the valve member to open the valve member when the cap is rotated in a first direction in which engagement between the first screw thread and second screw thread is cancelled. The projection is configured to relatively rotate in the first direction and move away from the valve member to close the valve member when the cap is rotated in a second direction in which the first screw thread engages with the second screw thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyuki Fukasawa, Hiroyuki Kawate
  • Patent number: 11679595
    Abstract: There is provided a technology which can improve the mounting posture of a liquid ejection apparatus when mounted to a liquid container. The liquid container is flexible and includes a storage portion configured to store the liquid and a connection member. The connection member is provided with a liquid outlet which is inserted with a liquid introduction portion, a container-side electrical connector which makes electrical contact with an apparatus-side electrical connection unit while receive at least +Z direction force from the apparatus-side electrical connection unit, a first receiver configured to receive a first positioning portion, a second receiver configured to receive a second positioning portion, and a recess which houses a protrusion of the case. The recess and the container-side electrical connector are formed at positions which at least partially overlap each other when viewed from a Z direction in a mounting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawate, Akihiro Toya, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Mikinori Sawai
  • Publication number: 20230028547
    Abstract: A liquid container refillable with liquid to be supplied to a printer includes a bag; a liquid supplying port member having a liquid supplying port; a liquid supply flow passage provided inside the liquid supplying port member; a liquid filling flow passage branching off from the liquid supply flow passage; and a communication port provided inside the liquid supplying port member and being in communication with the liquid filling flow passage and facing an internal surface of the bag. The bag is fixed to the liquid supplying port member such that a gap is formed between the bag and the peripheral portion of the communication port due to a flow of the liquid from the liquid supply flow passage to the liquid filling flow passage, the gap being in communication with the liquid containing portion through the communication port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji KUDO, Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Hiroyuki KAWATE
  • Patent number: 11465419
    Abstract: A liquid container includes: a bag that contains a liquid; and a pair of members configured to be reused when the liquid container is reassembled by replacing the bag used. The pair of members are fixed to each other by one or more swaging pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyuki Fukasawa, Hiroyuki Kawate, Taku Ishizawa, Takumi Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20220281226
    Abstract: A print material storage container has: a substrate on which an electric circuit having terminals is provided; a fixing portion on which the substrate can be mounted by re-fixing; and a fixing member that fixes the fixing portion and a non-terminal portion, which is formed by excluding the terminals from the substrate, to each other. The non-terminal portion includes a re-fixed portion, which can be re-fixed to the fixing portion by the fixing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji KUDO, Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Hiroyuki KAWATE
  • Publication number: 20220227137
    Abstract: An ink refill container includes a bottle and a cap. The bottle includes: an ink outlet forming portion having an ink outlet and an outer peripheral portion with a first screw thread; and a valve with a valve member in the ink outlet. The cap includes: a trunk having a second screw thread engageable with the first screw thread; a top portion; and a projection. The projection is configured to move and push the valve member to open the valve member when the cap is rotated in a first direction in which engagement between the first screw thread and second screw thread is cancelled. The projection is configured to relatively rotate in the first direction and move away from the valve member to close the valve member when the cap is rotated in a second direction in which the first screw thread engages with the second screw thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Hiroyuki KAWATE
  • Publication number: 20220016895
    Abstract: There is provided a technology which can improve the mounting posture of a liquid ejection apparatus when mounted to a liquid container. The liquid container is flexible and includes a storage portion configured to store the liquid and a connection member. The connection member is provided with a liquid outlet which is inserted with a liquid introduction portion, a container-side electrical connector which makes electrical contact with an apparatus-side electrical connection unit while receive at least +Z direction force from the apparatus-side electrical connection unit, a first receiver configured to receive a first positioning portion, a second receiver configured to receive a second positioning portion, and a recess which houses a protrusion of the case. The recess and the container-side electrical connector are formed at positions which at least partially overlap each other when viewed from a Z direction in a mounting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KAWATE, Akihiro TOYA, Yoshiaki SHIMIZU, Mikinori SAWAI
  • Publication number: 20220009239
    Abstract: An ink supply container configured to supply an ink to a printer includes a container part configured to contain the ink, a conduit part on a top side of the container part, the conduit part being configured to lead the ink out, a cap configured to protect the conduit part, the cap being detachably attached to the conduit part, and a film attached to at least one of an inner surface of the container part, an inner surface of the conduit part, and an inner surface of the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KAWATE, Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Atsushi KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 11148426
    Abstract: There is provided a technology which can improve the mounting posture of a liquid ejection apparatus when mounted to a liquid container. The liquid container is flexible and includes a storage portion configured to store the liquid and a connection member. The connection member is provided with a liquid outlet which is inserted with a liquid introduction portion, a container-side electrical connector which makes electrical contact with an apparatus-side electrical connection unit while receive at least +Z direction force from the apparatus-side electrical connection unit, a first receiver configured to receive a first positioning portion, a second receiver configured to receive a second positioning portion, and a recess which houses a protrusion of the case. The recess and the container-side electrical connector are formed at positions which at least partially overlap each other when viewed from a Z direction in a mounting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawate, Akihiro Toya, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Mikinori Sawai
  • Publication number: 20210309015
    Abstract: A liquid container includes: a bag that contains a liquid; and a pair of members configured to be reused when the liquid container is reassembled by replacing the bag used. The pair of members are fixed to each other by one or more swaging pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Hiroyuki KAWATE, Taku ISHIZAWA, Takumi NAGASHIMA
  • Patent number: 11097549
    Abstract: There is provided a technique of improving the mounting position of a liquid container relative to a liquid ejection device. The liquid container configured to be mountable to and dismountable from a case of the liquid ejection device includes a bag-like member that has flexibility and that includes a containing portion provided to contain a liquid inside thereof; and connection member that is located at an end of the bag-like member. The connection member includes a liquid outlet configured such that a liquid introducing element of the liquid ejection device is inserted in the liquid outlet; a container-side electrical connecting structure configured such that a device-side electrical connecting structure of the liquid ejection device is connected with the container-side electrical connecting structure; and two guided elements configured such that at least respective parts of two guide elements of the case are fitted in the two guided elements in a state that the liquid container is placed in the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi Nagashima, Hiroyuki Kawate, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Akihiro Toya, Tetsuya Takamoto, Tadahiro Mizutani, Hiroyoshi Ozeki, Manabu Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20210197574
    Abstract: There is provided a technology which can improve the mounting posture of a liquid ejection apparatus when mounted to a liquid container. The liquid container is flexible and includes a storage portion configured to store the liquid and a connection member. The connection member is provided with a liquid outlet which is inserted with a liquid introduction portion, a container-side electrical connector which makes electrical contact with an apparatus-side electrical connection unit while receive at least +Z direction force from the apparatus-side electrical connection unit, a first receiver configured to receive a first positioning portion, a second receiver configured to receive a second positioning portion, and a recess which houses a protrusion of the case. The recess and the container-side electrical connector are formed at positions which at least partially overlap each other when viewed from a Z direction in a mounting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KAWATE, Akihiro Toya, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Mikinori Sawai
  • Publication number: 20210078333
    Abstract: There is provided a technique of improving the mounting position of a liquid container relative to a liquid ejection device. The liquid container configured to be mountable to and dismountable from a case of the liquid ejection device includes a bag-like member that has flexibility and that includes a containing portion provided to contain a liquid inside thereof; and connection member that is located at an end of the bag-like member. The connection member includes a liquid outlet configured such that a liquid introducing element of the liquid ejection device is inserted in the liquid outlet; a container-side electrical connecting structure configured such that a device-side electrical connecting structure of the liquid ejection device is connected with the container-side electrical connecting structure; and two guided elements configured such that at least respective parts of two guide elements of the case are fitted in the two guided elements in a state that the liquid container is placed in the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi NAGASHIMA, Hiroyuki KAWATE, Yoshiaki SHIMIZU, Akihiro TOYA, Tetsuya TAKAMOTO, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Hiroyoshi OZEKI, Manabu YAMAGUCHI