Patents by Inventor Kenta Horade

Kenta Horade 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: 10688800
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a case receiving a cartridge having a first liquid chamber, a tank having a second liquid chamber, a head, a liquid level sensor, an alarm and a controller configured to: receive a first signal or a second signal when a position of a liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or higher than or lower than a predetermined position; operate the alarm when receiving the second signal after the first signal; cancel the operation of the alarm based on determining of installation of the cartridge; and operate the alarm based on determining that a first elapsed time from a time when determining the installation of the cartridge reaches a predetermined time and the second signal is received from the liquid level sensor without receiving the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10688799
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a case receiving a cartridge having a first liquid chamber, a tank having a second liquid chamber, a head, a liquid level sensor and a controller configured to: receive a first signal or a second signal when a position of a liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or higher than or lower than a predetermined position; prohibit a liquid discharge through the head in a predetermined case; cancel the prohibition of the liquid discharge based on determining that the cartridge is installed in the case; and prohibit the liquid discharge based on determining that a first elapsed time from a time when determining that the cartridge is installed in the installation case reaches a predetermined time and the second signal is received from the liquid level sensor without receiving the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Publication number: 20200189287
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a case receiving a cartridge having a first liquid chamber, a tank having a second liquid chamber, a head, a liquid level sensor and a controller configured to: based on receiving, from the liquid level sensor, a second signal after receiving a first signal, determine a total liquid amount Vt as a fixed value A; receive a second discharge instruction; update a second count value with a value equivalent to an amount of the liquid instructed to be discharged by the second discharge instruction; subtract the second count value from the total liquid amount Vt determined as the fixed value A to calculate the total liquid amount Vt; and determine the liquid amounts Vc and Vs based on the obtained total liquid amount Vt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventor: Kenta HORADE
  • Patent number: 10675883
    Abstract: A controller of a liquid discharge apparatus is configured to, in response to receipt of a second signal after receiving a first signal, assign a fixed value to at least one of a liquid amount Vc in a cartridge chamber, a liquid amount Vs in a chamber of the tank, and a total liquid amount Vt being a sum of the liquid amount Vc and the liquid amount Vs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10668758
    Abstract: An electronic device is configured to acquire image data containing a test pattern including first and second patterns intersecting with each other. Pixels corresponding to the test pattern are determined by comparing brightness of each pixel with a threshold value, and widths of an overlapped image of the first and second patterns in an orthogonal direction at a plurality of different positions in the reference direction are calculated. Intersecting positions of the first pattern and the second pattern in the test pattern is detected based on a distribution of widths at the plurality of different positions. The test pattern has a model pattern having a set width in the orthogonal direction separate from the first and second patterns. The pixels corresponding to the test pattern are determined based on a threshold value, and widths at the plurality of positions of the overlapped image in the reference direction are calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Arai, Kenta Horade, Tsuyoshi Ito, Kohei Terada, Tetsuya Saso
  • Publication number: 20200164642
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus is configured to activate a first notification in a case where a liquid level of a tank is less than a threshold. In a case where a cartridge is installed after activating the first notification, a controller determines outflow amount Vcs of the liquid flowing into the tank based on the liquid amount of the installed cartridge, and controls a notification device based on the determined outflow amount Vcs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Kenta HORADE, Mikio OGAWA, Toshiro UEDA
  • Publication number: 20200147975
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a case receiving a cartridge having a first liquid chamber, a tank having a second liquid chamber, a head, a liquid level sensor and a controller configured to: receive a first signal or a second signal when a position of a liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or higher than or lower than a predetermined position; prohibit a liquid discharge through the head in a predetermined case; cancel the prohibition of the liquid discharge based on determining that the cartridge is installed in the case; and prohibit the liquid discharge based on determining that a first elapsed time from a time when determining that the cartridge is installed in the installation case reaches a predetermined time and the second signal is received from the liquid level sensor without receiving the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Kenta HORADE
  • Patent number: 10647124
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a tank having ink chamber; a recording head; a memory storing a count value updated toward a first threshold value in accordance with ejection of ink; a display; an operation interface; a power switching section switched between a first state and a second state; and a controller executes a first inquiry process to: display a first inquiry screen inquiring whether the ink chamber has been refilled with ink; and receive one of a first operation and a second operation. After receiving the first operation, the controller determines when ink has been supplied. In response to determining that ink has been supplied just before the first inquiry process, the controller sets the count value to a first initial value. In response to determining that ink has been supplied during the second state, the controller sets the count value to a second initial value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Publication number: 20200142649
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a recorder, a display, an input interface, a memory, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to control the recorder to consume colorant to print images on sheets, count a consumption value and a quantity of the sheets consumed, determine an average usage value based on the consumption value and the quantity of the sheets, obtain a filled amount value and determine a first printable quantity, determine a second printable quantity, control the display to display a first screen including a first object indicating the first printable quantity in the display, control the display to display a second screen including a second object indicating the second printable quantity in the display, and control the display to display a screen including a third object, through which one of the first object and the second object to be displayed in the display is selectable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Kenta HORADE
  • Publication number: 20200139736
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink tank, a recording head, a monitor, an operation panel, and a controller. The ink tank forms an ink chamber and including an injection inlet. The recording head ejects ink from the ink chamber to record an image on a sheet. The operation panel receives user input. The controller controls operation of the recording head, the monitor, and the operation panel. The controller performs receiving a completion signal indicating completion of ink injection, decision processing deciding whether an initial processing has been completed, and inquiry processing based on receipt of the completion signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mana HONOKI, Kenta HORADE
  • Publication number: 20200130360
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a case receiving a cartridge having a first liquid chamber, a tank having a second liquid chamber, a head, a liquid level sensor, an alarm and a controller configured to: receive a first signal or a second signal when a position of a liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or higher than or lower than a predetermined position; operate the alarm when receiving the second signal after the first signal; cancel the operation of the alarm based on determining of installation of the cartridge; and operate the alarm based on determining that a first elapsed time from a time when determining the installation of the cartridge reaches a predetermined time and the second signal is received from the liquid level sensor without receiving the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta HORADE
  • Publication number: 20200130358
    Abstract: The liquid discharge device determines a signal received from an installation sensor in response to receiving a discharge instruction, and when determined that a high level signal is received, control executing image recording in a first mode in which a waiting time Tw1 is set, and control executing image recording in a second mode in which a waiting time Tw2 is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mikio OGAWA, Toshiro UEDA, Kenta HORADE
  • Patent number: 10632755
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus and an inkjet recording system includes a first ink chamber and a second ink chambers and a monitor. One of the inkjet recording apparatus can display first inquiry information and second inquiry information. The first inquiry information regards ink to be retained in first ink chamber. The second inquiry information regards ink to be retained in second ink chamber. The second inquiry information is displayed after displaying the first inquiry information. Another one of the inkjet recording apparatus can display inquiry information. The inquiry information regards to only ink to be retained in the first ink chamber but also ink to be retained in the second ink chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mana Honoki, Kenta Horade, Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20200122475
    Abstract: The image recording apparatus has a head, a tank, a case that receives a cartridge, and a controller. When the cartridge is installed in the case of the image recording apparatus, the liquid in the cartridge flows to the tank by a difference between a liquid level in the cartridge and a liquid level in the tank. The controller controls a display to display a first notification indicating an ink cartridge based on receiving a first signal output from a sensor when a liquid level in an ink chamber reached a specific position. The controller, after receiving the first signal from the sensor, counts a count value indicating an amount of discharged liquid from the head. Further, the controller, in response to the count value reaching a first threshold, controls the display to display a second notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventor: Kenta HORADE
  • Patent number: 10611165
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink tank, a recording head, an ink sensor, a monitor, an operation panel, and a controller configured to control operation thereof. The controller receives a completion signal indicating completion of ink injection, and receives a first signal or a second signal from the ink sensor based on whether a predetermined amount of ink is sensed in the ink chamber. Based on the completion signal and receipt of the first signal, inquiry information is displayed on the monitor regarding whether ink injection into the ink chamber is completed. Based on the completion signal and receipt of the second signal, a notification is displayed on the monitor that is based on the ink sensor not sensing the predetermined amount of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mana Honoki, Kenta Horade
  • Publication number: 20200101752
    Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a liquid discharge device that determines the amount of liquid stored in each of a first liquid chamber of cartridge and a second liquid chamber of the tank. Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a liquid discharge device that deactivates an alarm or enables previously disabled printing after the cartridge is replaced and then the liquid is reliably determined to have flown into the second liquid chamber of the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta HORADE
  • Publication number: 20200101749
    Abstract: Aspects of a disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device enables previously disabled liquid discharge through a head after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid chamber of a tank reaches a predetermined level or higher. Another aspects of the disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device that deactivates an alarm after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid reaches a predetermined level or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta HORADE, Mikio OGAWA, Toshiro UEDA
  • Patent number: 10603919
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a case receiving a cartridge having a first liquid chamber, a tank having a second liquid chamber, a head, a liquid level sensor and a controller configured to: based on receiving, from the liquid level sensor, a second signal after receiving a first signal, determine a total liquid amount Vt as a fixed value A; receive a second discharge instruction; update a second count value with a value equivalent to an amount of the liquid instructed to be discharged by the second discharge instruction; subtract the second count value from the total liquid amount Vt determined as the fixed value A to calculate the total liquid amount Vt; and determine the liquid amounts Vc and Vs based on the obtained total liquid amount Vt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10583652
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus is configured to activate a first notification in a case where a liquid level of a tank is less than a threshold. In a case where a cartridge is installed after activating the first notification, a controller determines outflow amount Vcs of the liquid flowing into the tank based on the liquid amount of the installed cartridge, and controls a notification device based on the determined outflow amount Vcs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Horade, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 10569537
    Abstract: An apparatus, for discharging a liquid through a head based on a first discharge instruction, is configured to: update a liquid amount V stored in the memory with a value equivalent to the amount of liquid instructed to be discharged by the first discharge instruction; determine whether the updated liquid amount V is equal to or larger a threshold amount; update the liquid amount V stored in a memory to a predetermined value in response to determining that the updated liquid amount V is equal to or larger than the threshold amount and receiving a second signal from the liquid level sensor; and prohibit the liquid from being discharged through the head in response to determining that the updated liquid amount V is less than the threshold amount and receiving the first signal from the liquid level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Horade, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda