Patents by Inventor Kenji Kitabatake

Kenji Kitabatake 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: 20040104949
    Abstract: A liquid container which can precisely detects existence/absence of residual liquid at a low cost, a cartridge including the liquid container, and a printing apparatus using the cartridge. The lengthwise direction of a triangular prism provided on the bottom of the ink tank is along a direction of print medium conveyance in the printing apparatus, such that when an ink-jet head cartridge holding the ink tank is attached to the printing apparatus for performing printing, light emitted from an optical unit of the printing apparatus is precisely captured by the prism. Further, if two ink-jet head cartridges are mounted on the printing apparatus, the first and second ink-jet head cartridges are set in positions shifted from each other by a length shorter than the length in the lengthwise direction of the prism, such that the light emitted from the optical unit reaches the prisms provided in the ink tanks of the first and second ink-jet head cartridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Morita, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Publication number: 20040075721
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording head in which a buffer chamber connected to a liquid supply path can be cleaned effectively. The ink jet recording head includes a recording head unit having a discharge portion for discharging ink, a tank holder unit to which an ink tank for containing the ink to be discharged at the recording head unit, and a liquid supply path formed between the tank holder unit and a flow path forming member joined to the tank holder unit in order to supply the ink contained in the ink tank to the recording head unit. A buffer chamber containing gas is connected to the liquid supply path and the buffer chamber is provided with an opening portion. The opening portion is closed by joining the recording head unit to the tank holder unit by joining the recording head unit to the flow path forming member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ohashi, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Publication number: 20040076447
    Abstract: A tank includes a container for accommodating an ink, a removal preventing pawl which is provided at a rear surface of the container and engaged with a tank holder and a latch lever which is provided at a front surface of the container opposite to the rear surface so as to be elastically displaced and which has a latch pawl engaging with the tank holder. The height of a rear wall of the holder to which such tank is mounted is set to be lower than the height of the tank. The height of the side surface of the holder corresponding to a side surface of the container is set to the lower than the height of the liquid tank. Thus, the container abuts the upper end of peripheral wall of the tank holder to be rotated about this upper end so that a part of the side surface of the container is protruded externally of the holder. The container can be removed from the tank holder by using such rotational operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Matsuo, Tetsuya Ohashi, Hiroki Hayashi, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6719394
    Abstract: A solid type semiconductor device comprises energy converting means for converting energy from outside, and operating means operated by energy converted by the energy converting means. The energy converting means converts the electromotive force supplied from the outside to the device in non-contact into electric power. The operating means comprises information acquiring means actuated by electric power obtained by energy converting means; discriminating means; information accumulating means; and information communicating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Kubota, Sadayuki Sugama, Ichiro Saito, Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Muga Mochizuki, Ryoji Inoue, Kenji Kitabatake, Maki Nishida, Takaaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6719415
    Abstract: An ink container detachably mountable to a portion to be mounted includes a substantially prism-shaped casing having an opening, a multi-layer inner bladder deformable with discharge of liquid, the inner bladder having an outer surface which is equivalent or similar to an inner surface of the casing, the casing and the inner bladder constituting a liquid reservoir, and a discrimination member for discriminating the liquid in the liquid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shozo Hattori, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Hiroki Hayashi, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6709092
    Abstract: To provide a recording liquid feed path, recording liquid container, and recording liquid feed device having the same, as well surface modifying method for the recording liquid feed device to feed efficiently a recording liquid for ejection through a feed tube. If the interior of the feed tube is not rendered hydrophilic as shown in FIG. 3A, air which has passed through a wall of the feed tube forms a bubble, which bubble adheres to an inner surface of the feed tube and obstructs a flow of the recording liquid. But if the inner surface of the feed tube is rendered hydrophilic to form a hydrophilic surface as shown in FIG. 3B, the recording liquid is conducted along the hydrophilic surface at the inner surface portion of the feed tube with the bubble adhered thereto, so that the adhesion area of the bubble to the feed tube inner surface is reduced and the bubble floats from the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Hayashi, Sadayuki Sugama, Shozo Hattori, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Mikio Sanada, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6705715
    Abstract: A liquid container which can precisely detects existence/absence of residual liquid at a low cost, a cartridge including the liquid container, and a printing apparatus using the cartridge. The lengthwise direction of a triangular prism provided on the bottom of the ink tank is along a direction of print medium conveyance in the printing apparatus, such that when an ink-jet head cartridge holding the ink tank is attached to the printing apparatus for performing printing, light emitted from an optical unit of the printing apparatus is precisely captured by the prism. Further, if two ink-jet head cartridges are mounted on the printing apparatus, the first and second ink-jet head cartridges are set in positions shifted from each other by a length shorter than the length in the lengthwise direction of the prism, such that the light emitted from the optical unit reaches the prisms provided in the ink tanks of the first and second ink-jet head cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Morita, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Publication number: 20040017445
    Abstract: A liquid container for containing liquid includes a reflection member having a plurality of roof mirror assemblies arranged in a predetermined direction, each of the roof mirror assemblies having at least two reflecting surfaces positioned with a predetermined angle therebetween; wherein the reflection member is effective to divide incident light into a plurality of light beams by the plurality of roof mirror assemblies and to condensing at a predetermined position the beams sequentially reflected by the at least two reflecting surfaces of the roof mirror assemblies wherein the reflection member is effective to divide incident light into a plurality of light beams by the plurality of roof mirror assemblies and to condensing at a predetermined position the beams sequentially reflected by the at least two reflecting surfaces of the roof mirror assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kojima, Masanori Takenouchi, Hajime Yamamoto, Masahiko Igaki, Eiichiro Shimizu, Yasuo Kotaki, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6652949
    Abstract: A fiber laminate production method includes a step of controlling an influence of gravity on a fiber absorber during thermoforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuzo Iwanaga, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Kenta Udagawa, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6641763
    Abstract: A forming method for a fiber aggregate in which fibers are heated to be welded with each other includes a heating step of applying upward heated air to a bottom of a block of the fibers to pass the heated air therethrough and to cause the block of fibers to float, wherein at least parts of fibers are melted while the block of fibers float, and a compression step of compressing substantially in a vertical direction the heated block of fibers into a desired height. The compressed block of fibers is cooled to solidify melted portions of the fibers at portions where the fibers intersect with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignees: Inoac Corporation, Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Nakamura, Tetsuya Hase, Haruo Morita, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Kenta Udagawa, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6598963
    Abstract: A liquid supply system includes a liquid supply container provided with a liquid supply portion for supplying liquid to outside; and a detector which detects presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid supply container, using an electrostatic capacity between the liquid in the liquid supply container and the electrode. The electrode is disposed to be parallel with and spaced from a bottom surface of the liquid supply container, and the bottom surface is inclined relative to a horizontal plane from one end to another end of the liquid supply container, and has a connecting portion at a lower side end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Yamamoto, Shozo Hattori, Eiichiro Shimizu, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Hiroki Hayashi, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Publication number: 20030122910
    Abstract: A liquid container which is in detachably connectable to a supply tube which is in fluid communication with a liquid ejection recording head, the liquid container including a liquid accommodating portion for accommodating liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection recording head and a supply port for permitting supply of the liquid to the recording head from the liquid accommodating portion by connection of the liquid container to the liquid ejection recording head, the liquid container includes a capillary force generating member for generating a capillary force to absorb the recording liquid deposited on the surface of the supply tube and in the supply port into a space, other than the liquid accommodating portion, in the liquid container; wherein a capillary force A generated in an absorption region for absorbing the recording liquid remaining in the supply port adjacent the supply port of the capillary force generating member and a capillary force B in a storing region for storing the recording liquid a
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Koshikawa, Shozo Hattori, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Hiroki Hayashi, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Publication number: 20030087076
    Abstract: A fiber laminate production method includes a step of controlling an influence of gravity on a fiber absorber during thermoforming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Shuzo Iwanaga, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Kenta Udagawa, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6550898
    Abstract: A liquid supplying system comprises a capillary force generating member accommodating container which stores therein a capillary force generating member for retaining liquid, and is provided with a liquid supply portion for supplying outward the liquid retained in the capillary force generating member, and an air vent through which the capillary force generating member is in fluid communication with ambience; and a liquid reservoir container which is provided with a liquid reservoir portion for storing therein the liquid to be supplied to the capillary force generating member accommodating container, and a communication path portion for supplying the liquid to the capillary force generating member accommodating container, and forms therein a virtually sealed space except for the presence of the communication path portion; wherein the capillary force generating member is provided with a layer in which the primary direction in which fiber strands therein are arranged is substantially horizontal, and this layer
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Hayashi, Shozo Hattori, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Yasuo Kotaki, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Publication number: 20030067519
    Abstract: A liquid supplying system comprises a capillary force generating member accommodating container which stores therein a capillary force generating member for retaining liquid, and is provided with a liquid supply portion for supplying outward the liquid retained in the capillary force generating member, and an air vent through which the capillary force generating member is in fluid communication with ambience; and a liquid reservoir container which is provided with a liquid reservoir portion for storing therein the liquid to be supplied to the capillary force generating member accommodating container, and a communication path portion for supplying the liquid to the capillary force generating member accommodating container, and forms therein a virtually sealed space except for the presence of the communication path portion; wherein the capillary force generating member is provided with a layer in which the primary direction in which fiber strands therein are arranged is substantially horizontal, and this layer
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Hayashi, Shozo Hattori, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Yasuo Kotaki, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6543886
    Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid supply method in which a bubble is prevented from being retained or accumulated in a communication part. An upper wall surface of a joint pipe for connecting a negative pressure control chamber container to an ink container is inclined upward to the ink container from the negative pressure control chamber container. Since the upper wall surface of the joint pipe is inclined, the bubble flows into the ink container without being retained or accumulated on the upper wall surface of the joint pipe during gas-liquid exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shozo Hattori, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Hiroki Hayashi, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6540314
    Abstract: Ink tank which enables accurate detection of existence/absence of liquid even if a storage containing liquid such as ink is stored under a severe environment, and a cartridge including the ink tank, as well as a printing apparatus utilizing the cartridge. A low surface energy processing agent including alkyl polysiloxane and alcohol is coated on prism 180 provided on the bottom portion of ink tank 7, thereby performing low surface energy processing on the prism 180.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio Sanada, Yoshifumi Hattori, Masanori Takenouchi, Osamu Morita, Shinya Mishina, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6540342
    Abstract: A liquid container which is in detachably connectable to a supply tube which is in fluid communication with a liquid ejection recording head, the liquid container including a liquid accommodating portion for accommodating liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection recording head and a supply port for permitting supply of the liquid to the recording head from the liquid accommodating portion by connection of the liquid container to the liquid ejection recording head, the liquid container includes a capillary force generating member for generating a capillary force to absorb the recording liquid deposited on the surface of the supply tube and in the supply port into a space, other than the liquid accommodating portion, in the liquid container; wherein a capillary force A generated in an absorption region for absorbing the recording liquid remaining in the supply port adjacent the supply port of the capillary force generating member and a capillary force B in a storing region for storing the recording liquid a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Koshikawa, Shozo Hattori, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Hiroki Hayashi, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 6530654
    Abstract: A liquid container for containing recording liquid to the supplied to a ink jet recording mechanism to which the liquid container is detachably mountable, the liquid container includes a main body; a liquid supply opening formed in the main body and connectable with the ink jet recording mechanism to supply the recording liquid out; wherein the liquid supply opening has an elongated circle configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kitabatake, Shozo Hattori, Hajime Yamamoto, Eiichiro Shimizu, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Hiroki Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20030038867
    Abstract: A liquid storage container is here disclosed which comprises an inner wall for forming a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid therein, an outer wall for forming a liquid storage portion housing chamber for housing the liquid storage portion, and a liquid supply portion for supplying a liquid from the liquid storage portion to the outside, wherein the inner wall has a structure in which at least one layer is laminated over the entire inner wall region, and is a member which can deform with discharge of the liquid to generate a negative pressure in the liquid storage portion; the most internal layer of the layers constituting the inner wall of a pinch-off portion is mainly made of a polymer blend of one or more resins selected from polyolefin resins; and these resins are maintained at such a compatible degree as to form a sea-island structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Hajime Yamamoto, Shozo Hattori, Eiichiro Shimizu, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Hiroki Hayashi, Kenji Kitabatake