Patents by Inventor Kosuke Nukui

Kosuke Nukui 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: 20200230966
    Abstract: A system includes: a housing; a cover that is supported by the housing to be movable between a covering position and an opened position; a tank; a reservoir; and a liquid discharging head that is disposed inside the housing and discharges liquid supplied from the tank, wherein the reservoir includes a liquid passage hole; the tank includes a passage tube that extends upward from the tank and is connectable to the liquid passage hole of the reservoir, the cover includes: a first wall that is positioned above the housing at the covering position, and a second wall that extends downward from an edge of the first wall, and when the cover is positioned at the covering position and the reservoir is connected to the tank, an upper end of the reservoir is positioned above a lower end of the second wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO, Akinari ISHIBE
  • Patent number: 10717291
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge body defining a liquid chamber; a liquid-supply part; a deformable member protruding upward relative to the cartridge body; and a detection member having a detected part. The liquid chamber is configured such that an internal pressure thereof is reduced in accordance with outflow of liquid from the liquid chamber. The deformable member defines an inner space communicating with the liquid chamber, the deformable member being deformable such that a volume of the inner space is reduced in accordance with the reduction in the internal pressure of the liquid chamber. The detected part is movable from a first position to a second position, the detected part at the second position being in contact with the deformable member, the detected part being further movable from the second position to a third position below the second position in accordance with deformation of the deformable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 10696056
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber with a liquid outlet configured to supply the liquid from an interior of the chamber to an exterior of the chamber. An actuator is movable between a first position in which the liquid outlet is closed, and a second position in which the liquid outlet is open. A detector is positioned in the chamber, and is movable from a restricted position to a released position in response to movement of the actuator from the first to the second position. The detector is movable from the released position to the restricted position in response to movement of the actuator from the second to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Suguru Tomoguchi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Naoya Okazaki, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10688794
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section including a casing and a light blocking portion. The casing includes a liquid chamber; a liquid passage extending in a first direction; and a top surface facing upward. The light blocking portion is deformable between a non-deformed state and a deformed state. The light blocking portion, at least in the non-deformed state, is configured to block or attenuate light emitted from the cartridge-attachment section and traveling in a widthwise direction crossing the first direction and a gravitational direction in an upright posture. The light blocking portion in the non-deformed state is configured to be deformed to the deformed state by an external force. The light blocking portion returns to the non-deformed state when the external force is removed from the light blocking portion in the deformed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 10688796
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section including a casing, a movable member, and an urging member. The casing includes a liquid chamber storing liquid therein; a liquid passage extending in a first direction in an upright posture, and a top surface. The top surface faces upward in the upright posture and formed with a recess. The movable member has a light blocking portion. The light blocking portion in the upright posture is configured to move between a first position and a second position. At least a part of the light blocking portion in the first position is positioned above the top surface in the upright posture. The urging member is configured to urge the movable member toward the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 10688795
    Abstract: A printing-fluid containing device configured to be inserted into a cartridge attachment section in an insertion direction to be detachably attached to the cartridge attachment section includes a printing-fluid cartridge and an adaptor. The cartridge includes: a casing; a supply portion; and a detection portion. The adaptor, to which the printing-fluid cartridge is configured to be detachably assembled, includes: an adaptor body into which the printing-fluid cartridge is insertable; an electrical interface; and an engagement portion. The adaptor body has a leading end and a trailing end in the insertion direction. The adaptor body has a front wall at the leading end, has an opening through which the supply portion extends, and further has an outer surface. The electrical interface is disposed on the outer surface. The engagement portion is configured to engage with the cartridge attachment section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Toyonori Sasaki, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20200180318
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Naoya OKAZAKI, Akihito ONO, Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroshi TAIRA, Toyonori SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20200156382
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into an attachment portion of a printing device in an insertion direction and attached thereto in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes: a housing; a sealing member; a circuit board; and a support member. The housing includes: a liquid chamber; and a liquid passage. The sealing member is disposed in the liquid passage. The circuit board is positioned rearward in the insertion direction relative to the sealing member in the upright posture. The circuit board includes: a contact; and a memory. The contact of the cartridge is electrically connectable to a contact of the device. The memory is electrically connected to the contact of the cartridge. The support member supports the circuit board. The circuit board supported by the support member is resiliently movable upward and downward relative to the housing in the upright posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Takahiro MIYAO
  • Patent number: 10654281
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge body accommodating a reservoir; a liquid-supply part; a movable member movably supported by the cartridge body; an urging member provided on the movable member; and a contact member provided at a surface of the reservoir. The movable member includes a detected part movable from a first position, to a second position rearward of the first position, and to a third position rearward of the second position, the detected part at the first position and at the second position being positioned higher relative to the cartridge body. The urging member is resiliently deformable, the urging member in a deformed state being deformed to urge the detected part toward the third position. The contact member can contact the movable member, the contact member in contact with the movable member restricting the detected part at the second position from moving to the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi, Naoya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 10618294
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid supply port configured to provide communication between an interior and an exterior of the liquid cartridge, a first wall having the liquid supply port, and a second wall spaced from the first wall. A first storage chamber is between the first and second walls, and a second storage chamber is between the first and second walls communicating with both the liquid supply port and the first storage chamber. A prism is in the second storage chamber, and the prism has an inclined surface configured to change the state of received light in response to a level of liquid contained in the second storage chamber. The prism is positioned between the first and second walls and above the first storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi, Naoya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 10611164
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid cartridge attachable to an attachment portion. The attachment portion includes: a holder providing an accommodation space; a tube formed with an opening; a valve movable between an open position opening the opening and a closed position closing the opening; a protrusion protruding from the valve toward the accommodation space; and a spring urging the valve toward the closed position. The liquid cartridge includes: a liquid chamber; a communication passage extending from the liquid chamber in a first direction to have an open end; a sealing member fitted to the communication passage; and a surface positioned closer to the liquid chamber than the sealing member to the liquid chamber in the first direction. In an attached state, the tube extends through the open end and sealing member, the opening is positioned in the communication passage, and the surface is in contact with the protrusion and tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 10596819
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Akihito Ono, Mikio Hirano, Suguru Tomoguchi, Yutao Wang, Tomohiro Kanbe
  • Publication number: 20200070530
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a housing having a storage chamber; a liquid passage in communication with the storage chamber; a circuit board; a deformable member; and a movable surface. The liquid passage extends in a first lateral direction from the housing when the housing is in an operational posture. The circuit board is positioned higher than the storage chamber in a vertical direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction and vertically movable relative to the housing. The deformable member is positioned higher than the storage chamber and is lower than the circuit board. The deformable member is deformable vertically relative to the housing. The circuit board is movable vertically in accordance with deformation of the deformable member. The movable surface is positioned further in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction than the circuit board. The movable surface faces upward and is vertically movable relative to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Akihito ONO, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20200062001
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction includes a casing, and a lever supported by the casing. The lever is pivotable about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position. The lever includes a light-blocking portion configured to block or attenuate light traveling in a widthwise direction crossing the insertion direction and a gravitational direction, and a force-receiving portion positioned closer to a front wall of the casing than the light-blocking portion is to the front wall in the insertion direction. The light-blocking portion is positioned lower at the second position than at the first position. The pivot axis is positioned frontward of the light-blocking portion and rearward of the force-receiving portion in the insertion direction. The lever pivots from the second position to the first position upon application of an external force to the force-receiving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Akihito ONO, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Kosuke NUKUI
  • Publication number: 20200001611
    Abstract: A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a prescribed insertion space of a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction to be attached thereto in an attached posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes: a housing including a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply hole, an electrical interface disposed at an upper surface of the housing, and an interfering surface. The interfering surface is positioned upward of the storage chamber and extends in a widthwise direction of the housing. The interfering surface is positioned downward and frontward relative to the electrical interface and is configured to abut against a projection provided at another insertion space different from the prescribed insertion space of the cartridge-attachment section during an insertion of the printing-fluid cartridge into the another insertion space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Takahiro MIYAO
  • Publication number: 20200001614
    Abstract: A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a printing-fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and attached thereto in a first posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes a front surface, a rear surface, a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply port, an upper surface, an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface, and a locking surface. The printing-fluid cartridge inserted in the printing-fluid consuming apparatus is pivotable between the first posture and a second posture. The electrical interface is positioned closer to the supply port than the locking surface is to the supply port in the insertion direction. The electrical interface is positioned rearward relative to the pivot center in the insertion direction. The locking surface is positioned upward relative to the storage chamber and closer to a rearmost point of the printing-fluid cartridge than to the electrical interface in the insertion direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumio NAKAZAWA, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO
  • Patent number: 10518545
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into an attachment portion of a printing device in an insertion direction and attached thereto in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes: a housing having a contact; a circuit board; and a pivoting member. The circuit board is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing. The contact of the cartridge faces upward in the upright posture when the circuit board is in the first position. The contact of the cartridge slopes relative to the insertion direction in the upright posture and is electrically connectable to a contact of the device in an attached state of the liquid cartridge when the circuit board is in the second position. The pivoting member is pivotably supported by the housing about a pivot axis and moves the circuit board between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 10513124
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and accommodated in the cartridge-attachment section in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes a casing, a movable member movably supported by the casing, and a circuit board provided at the movable member and facing upward in the upright posture. The movable member includes a receiving portion providing a receiving space that is open in the insertion direction and in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the insertion direction and the gravitational direction for receiving a protruding portion of the cartridge-attachment section in the insertion direction and in the widthwise direction. The receiving portion has a contact surface defining the receiving space and facing downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Publication number: 20190381801
    Abstract: A printing-fluid containing device configured to be inserted into a cartridge attachment section in an insertion direction includes: a printing-fluid cartridge and an adaptor to which the cartridge is detachably assembled. The cartridge includes: a casing; a supply portion; a detection portion; and an engagement portion. The adaptor includes: an adaptor body; and an electrical interface. The detection portion includes a light accessible portion accessed by light from an outside of the cartridge. The engagement portion is engageable with the cartridge attachment section. The adaptor body has a front wall at its leading end in the insertion direction. The front wall has an opening through which the supply portion extends. The electrical interface is disposed on an outer surface of the adaptor body and electrically connectable to an electric contact of the cartridge attachment section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Toyonori SASAKI
  • Patent number: 10507665
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into an attachment portion of a printing device in an insertion direction and attached thereto in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes: a housing; a sealing member; a circuit board; and a support member. The housing includes: a liquid chamber; and a liquid passage. The sealing member is disposed in the liquid passage. The circuit board is positioned rearward in the insertion direction relative to the sealing member in the upright posture. The circuit board includes: a contact; and a memory. The contact of the cartridge is electrically connectable to a contact of the device. The memory is electrically connected to the contact of the cartridge. The support member supports the circuit board. The circuit board supported by the support member is resiliently movable upward and downward relative to the housing in the upright posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Takahiro Miyao