Patents by Inventor Michiko Aoyama

Michiko Aoyama 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: 20090244222
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a frame including a portion of a first chamber formed therein, and the first chamber is configured to store ink. The ink cartridge also includes a hollow portion positioned at a side wall of the frame. The hollow portion includes a second chamber formed therein, and the second chamber is continuous with the first chamber and extends from an inner surface of the side wall of the frame away from the first chamber. The ink cartridge also includes a movable member positioned in the second chamber and configured to move based on an amount of ink in the first chamber, and an inner surface of the hollow portion defining the second chamber has a groove extending toward the first chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Michiko Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20090186155
    Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording includes a luminescence marker which emits light by oxidization. It may be determined whether the ink for ink-jet recording is used for recording the ink-jet recorded object with a simple method such as an evaluation of luminescence by oxidation, without requiring a special equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Michiko Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20090165675
    Abstract: A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a self-dispersing pigment, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, and an acetylene glycol surfactant. An amount of the self-dispersing pigment (solid content) relative to a total amount of the ink is in a range of about 3.5 wt % to about 4.5 wt %. The water-soluble organic solvent includes glycerin and dipropylene glycol propyl ether, an amount of the glycerin relative to a total amount of the ink is in a range of about 15 wt % to about 25 wt %, and an amount of the dipropylene glycol propyl ether relative to a total amount of the ink is in a range of about 2.0 wt % to about 3.0 wt %. An amount of the acetylene glycol surfactant relative to a total amount of the ink is in a range of about 0.1 wt % to about 0.3 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michiko AOYAMA, Yasuhiro TAGA, Kenta HAYASHIDA, Mitsunori MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20090165672
    Abstract: A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a coloring agent, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent. The coloring agent includes the following dye (1) and dye (2). The water-based ink is good in clearness, color development, and preservation stability as well as good in toughness of a recording material recorded using the water-based ink. Dye (1): dye represented by the following general formula (1) Dye (2): at least one dye selected from the group consisting of C. I. Direct Yellow 86, C. I. Direct Yellow 132, C. I. Direct Yellow 142, and C. I.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyo OGURA, Michiko AOYAMA, Narumi KOGA
  • Patent number: 7544235
    Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording is provided which, although contains free copper ions, has anticorrosive properties and is free from the formation of a precipitate caused by the free copper ion. The ink for ink-jet recording containing the free copper ion includes cyclohexylammonium carbamate serving as an anticorrosive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiko Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20080295730
    Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording is provided which, although contains free copper ions, has anticorrosive properties and is free from the formation of a precipitate caused by the free copper ion. The ink for ink-jet recording containing the free copper ion includes cyclohexylammonium carbamate serving as an anticorrosive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Michiko Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20080149894
    Abstract: New ink-jet printing inks provide red printed images with high-intensity fluorescence emission and are capable of printing images that can be used for high density bar code applications (2D bar codes) having high readability. The inks are aqueous and capable of producing machine-readable markings exhibiting fluorescence when exposed to fluorescent-exciting radiation. They exhibit a peak of fluorescence between about 500 nm and about 700 nm and a fluorescent strength of the ink diluted by 100 times of more than about 70 by excitation of ultraviolet radiation. The inks exhibit a peak of absorbance of between about 400 nm and about 600 nm, and an absorbance of the ink diluted by 100 times and measured in 1 mm cell of more than about 0.6. The preferred inks are characterized by a color of the ink diluted by 100 times with water and measured in 1 mm cell is t L*: about 80±10, a*: about 45±20, b*: about 20±35 and a color of the printed image of L*: about 65±10, a*: about 55±10, b*: about 5±20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Judith D. Auslander, Richard A. Bernard, Shunichi Higashiyama, Michiko Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20080148837
    Abstract: Ink-jet inks and methods for security and anti counterfeiting utilities are described. The inks are fluorescent with a particular characterizing emission when illuminated with ultraviolet or other interrogating light and then fluoresce with a different characteristic upon illumination with bright light such as from a copying machine. The inks comprise a fluorescent dye, an aqueous liquid vehicle comprising water and organic solvents in sufficient amounts to achieve an ink viscosity and surface tension effective for application of the ink to a substrate in a predetermined pattern by ink-jet printing, wherein the inks are characterized in that after exposing under Xenon lamp of 3,150,000 J/m2, the fluorescent strength of the ink diluted 100 times existing between about 500 nm and about 700 nm by excitation of ultraviolet radiation, decreases by at least about 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Judith D. Auslander, Richard A. Bernard, Shunichi Higashiyama, Michiko Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7364613
    Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording includes water, a first fluorescent dye, and a second fluorescent dye. The first fluorescent dye absorbs light in a first absorption wavelength region in an ultraviolet region to emit fluorescence, and the first fluorescent dye absorbs light in a second absorption wavelength region to emit no fluorescence. The second fluorescent dye absorbs light in an absorption wavelength region in the ultraviolet region, which is different from the first absorption wavelength region of the first fluorescent dye, to emit fluorescence. A wavelength region of the fluorescence of the second fluorescent dye is not overlapped with the first absorption wavelength region of the first fluorescent dye, but at least a part of the wavelength region of the fluorescence of the second fluorescent dye is overlapped with the second absorption wavelength region. The fluorescence intensity of the ink is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiko Aoyama, Masashi Tsuda, Hiromitsu Sago, Mayuko Umemura, Hideto Yamazaki, Shunichi Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 7329314
    Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording includes a solvent dye in which a xanthene structure and a phthalide structure are spiro bound to each other. When the ink is stored in an ink cartridge containing a polyurethane foam and ink-jet recording is performed, a stable printing density may be achieved and changes in hue may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Sago, Michiko Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7285161
    Abstract: A water base pigment ink for ink-jet recording contains a pigment, water, and at least one of polyethylene glycol and diglycerol. The ink is solidified into a solid matter when the water is evaporated. Further, the solid matter is redissolved in the unsolidified water base pigment ink for ink-jet recording. When the ink is used, then neither clog-up of a nozzle nor discharge failure is caused, no load is imposed by the solidified ink on the maintenance system such as the wiping equipment, and the sticking performance on the paper is satisfactory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideto Yamazaki, Michiko Aoyama, Yoshito Toyoda, Mayuko Okada, Tatsunosuke Hoshi, Masaya Fujioka, Shunichi Higashiyama
  • Publication number: 20070215002
    Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording includes a solvent dye in which a xanthene structure and a phthalide structure are spiro bound to each other. When the ink is stored in an ink cartridge containing a polyurethane foam and ink-jet recording is performed, a stable printing density may be achieved and changes in hue may be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Sago, Michiko Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7252708
    Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording contains a first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent dye. The first fluorescent dye has a first ultraviolet absorption wavelength region in an absorption spectrum and a first fluorescence emission wavelength region in a fluorescence spectrum. The second fluorescent dye has a second ultraviolet absorption wavelength region which is different from the first ultraviolet absorption wavelength region in an absorption spectrum and a second fluorescence emission wavelength region in a fluorescence spectrum. The first fluorescent dye further has an absorption wavelength region which is different from the first ultraviolet absorption wavelength region and which overlaps at least a part of the second fluorescence emission wavelength region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiko Aoyama, Masashi Tsuda, Hiromitsu Sago, Mayuko Umemura, Hideto Yamazaki, Shunichi Higashiyama
  • Publication number: 20070076043
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus having a nozzle provided on a nozzle face of an inkjet head and a cleaning device for cleaning the nozzle face. The cleaning device contains a gas with a solubility in water lower than that of air in water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michiko Aoyama, Masashi Tsuda, Narumi Koga
  • Publication number: 20070072958
    Abstract: An aqueous liquid for ink-jet recording has a carboxyl group-containing compound that substantially prevents formation of insoluble compounds in the liquid from synthetic rubber materials used in components of the ink-jet head. The aqueous liquid may be a colorant-containing ink-jet recording ink or a colorant-free shipping preservative solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michiko Aoyama, Yasuhiro Taga
  • Patent number: 7192476
    Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording contains a fluorescent dye having a xanthene skeleton, and a glycol. In the fluorescent dye, the difference in hydrophilic index log P is not less than 2.6 between a substituent bonded to C-9 carbon atom of the xanthene skeleton and other portion of the fluorescent dye than the substituent bonded to the C-9 carbon atom. The glycol has a distance between hydroxyl groups substantially equivalent to or longer than an interatomic distance between atoms directly bonded to C-3 and C-6 carbon atoms of the xanthene skeleton of the fluorescent dye, respectively. It is assumed that the glycol is coordinated with the xanthene skeleton in a bridge form to increase the fluorescence intensity by increasing the electron density of the xanthene skeleton. The ink having high fluorescence intensity and in which the fluorescence intensity is not lowered in a time-dependent manner is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mayuko Umemura, Masashi Tsuda, Hideto Yamazaki, Hiromitsu Sago, Michiko Aoyama, Shunichi Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 7147696
    Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording to be used for an ink-jet printer contains water, a pigment, a compound having primary or secondary amide group, and a fluorescent dye represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 represents OH or N(R3)R4, R2 represents hydrogen atom or halogen atom, and each of R3 and R4 represents hydrogen atom or alkyl group. A sufficient OD value and a fluorescence value are obtained while securing the vivid color development and the excellent water resistance principally in accordance with the interaction of the fluorescent dye and the compound having the amide group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiko Aoyama, Masashi Tsuda, Hideto Yamazaki, Hiromitsu Sago, Mayuko Umemura, Shunichi Higashiyama
  • Publication number: 20050284331
    Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording includes water, a first fluorescent dye, and a second fluorescent dye. The first fluorescent dye absorbs light in a first absorption wavelength region in an ultraviolet region to emit fluorescence, and the first fluorescent dye absorbs light in a second absorption wavelength region to emit no fluorescence. The second fluorescent dye absorbs light in an absorption wavelength region in the ultraviolet region, which is different from the first absorption wavelength region of the first fluorescent dye, to emit fluorescence. A wavelength region of the fluorescence of the second fluorescent dye is not overlapped with the first absorption wavelength region of the first fluorescent dye, but at least a part of the wavelength region of the fluorescence of the second fluorescent dye is overlapped with the second absorption wavelength region. The fluorescence intensity of the ink is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michiko Aoyama, Masashi Tsuda, Hiromitsu Sago, Mayuko Umemura, Hideto Yamazaki, Shunichi Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 6938999
    Abstract: A water base ink for ink-jet recording comprises water, a coloring agent, a water-soluble organic solvent, and a benzotriazole-based metal-inactivating agent and alkanolamine. When the ink is used in an ink-jet recording apparatus which has the metal member containing nickel or nickel alloy in an ink supply passage, nickel is eluted from the metal member in an amount of not more than 50 ppm. The ink makes it possible to perform stable jetting operation for a long term without causing any deterioration of metal members of a discharge head due to the metallic corrosion and the elution of nickel into the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Narumi Koga, Kazuma Goto, Naomichi Kobayashi, Michiko Aoyama, Shunichi Higashiyama, Masaya Fujioka
  • Publication number: 20050150422
    Abstract: A fluorescent water base ink for ink-jet recording contains a fluorescent dye having a xanthene skeleton, and a glycol. In the fluorescent dye, the difference in hydrophilic index log P is not less than 2.6 between a substituent bonded to C-9 carbon atom of the xanthene skeleton and other portion of the fluorescent dye than the substituent bonded to the C-9 carbon atom. The glycol has a distance between hydroxyl groups substantially equivalent to or longer than an interatomic distance between atoms directly bonded to C-3 and C-6 carbon atoms of the xanthene skeleton of the fluorescent dye, respectively. It is assumed that the glycol is coordinated with the xanthene skeleton in a bridge form to increase the fluorescence intensity by increasing the electron density of the xanthene skeleton. The ink having high fluorescence intensity and in which the fluorescence intensity is not lowered in a time-dependent manner is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mayuko Umemura, Masashi Tsuda, Hideto Yamazaki, Hiromitsu Sago, Michiko Aoyama, Shunichi Higashiyama