Patents by Inventor Nanami ABE

Nanami ABE 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: 11951747
    Abstract: A tank includes: a tank body defining a storage chamber; a recessed portion provided at the tank body; a slider positioned in the recessed portion; a fitting portion provided at the slider; and a sealing member. The recessed portion has an injection opening in communication with the storage chamber, and a connection opening through which a liquid container is connectable. The slider includes a nozzle extending toward the connection opening in an extending direction and having a communication opening communicable with the injection opening. The slider is movable toward and away from the connection opening in the extending direction while rotating relative to the recessed portion. The fitting portion can be fitted with the liquid container. The sealing member can provide a liquid tight sealing to a gap between the slider and the recessed portion, and allow liquid flow between the communication opening and the injection opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Naoya Okazaki, Satoru Oki, Nanami Abe
  • Publication number: 20230311532
    Abstract: A liquid consuming device includes a liquid container, an air tank, a liquid tank, and an ejection head. The liquid container is connectable to the air tank and the liquid tank. The air tank includes: an air flow path; an air chamber configured to communicate with a first storage chamber of the liquid container through the air flow path; and a first air communicating portion. The liquid tank includes: a liquid flow path; a second storage chamber configured to communicate with the first storage chamber through the liquid flow path; a liquid outlet port to allow liquid in the second storage chamber to flow out therefrom; and a second air communicating portion. The air flow path is configured to provide communication between the first storage chamber and the air chamber in a state where the liquid container is connected to the air tank and the liquid tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Naoya OKAZAKI, Yuma TANABE, Satoru OKI, Nanami ABE, Yuji FUKUTA
  • Publication number: 20230302810
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge attachable to a case includes: a cartridge body; a liquid supply portion; an electronic board including an electrode group; a plate having an attenuating surface configured to attenuate incident light; and a positioning member having a positioning surface for positioning the liquid cartridge attached to the case. When the liquid cartridge is attached to the case, the plate is configured to be detected by an optical sensor configured to emit light traveling in the left-right direction. The attenuating surface has a detection area immovable relative to the cartridge body. The light emitted from the optical sensor is configured to be incident on the detection area when the liquid cartridge is attached to the case. The detection area is positioned further rearward and upward than the electrode group and positioned further frontward and downward than the positioning surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru OKI, Naoya OKAZAKI, Masahiro HAYASHI, Nanami ABE, Yuma TANABE, Yuji FUKUTA
  • Publication number: 20230062535
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid container including: a main body having an internal space configured to store liquid to be supplied to a tank of a liquid consuming apparatus; and a cap configured to be attached to the main body. The main body has: an upper surface, a nozzle projecting upward from the upper surface and having an opening formed in a forward end surface of the nozzle, and a circular wall positioned in a surrounding of the nozzle with a spacing distance with respect to the nozzle, and projecting upward from the upper surface; and a key member corresponding to a receiver key member provided on surrounding of a respective supply port of the tank. The cap has a circular contacting part configured to liquid-tightly make contact with the circular wall in an attached state in which the cap is attached to the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya OKAZAKI, Satoru OKI, Nanami ABE, Masahiro HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20230066248
    Abstract: A liquid containment bottle includes: a bottle body defining an internal space configured to contain liquid; and a cap configured to be attached to the bottle body. The bottle body has: a base end surface, a nozzle projecting from the base end surface in a first direction, and a circular wall positioned in a surrounding of the nozzle and projecting from the base end surface in the first direction. The nozzle has: a forward end surface formed with an opening through which the liquid in the internal space flows out, a seat surface located at a position which is closer to the circular wall than the forward end surface, and which is closer to the internal space than the forward end surface in the first direction, and a groove formed in the seat surface and having an end part connected to a space between the nozzle and the circular wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: NAOYA OKAZAKI, SATORU OKI, NANAMI ABE, MASAHIRO HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20230063184
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid supplying apparatus including: a liquid container including an internal space, and a tank having a storing chamber. The liquid container has: an upper surface, a nozzle, and a circular wall projecting upward from the upper surface. The tank has: a body; a projecting wall defining a tank recessed part, and a communicating tube positioned in the tank recessed part and having first and second channels which communicate the storing chamber with outside. The circular wall is inserted into the tank recessed part, and the communicating tube is inserted into the opening of the nozzle so as to allow the liquid to flow out from the internal space to the storing chamber. In a case that the liquid container is connected to the tank, the circular wall is positioned inside the projecting wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya OKAZAKI, Satoru OKI, Nanami ABE, Masahiro HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20230061040
    Abstract: A liquid containment bottle includes a bottle body. An internal space in which liquid to be supplied to a tank of a liquid consuming apparatus is contained is formed in the bottle body. The bottle body has: an upper surface, a nozzle projecting upward from the upper surface, the nozzle having a forward end surface in which an opening is formed, a circular wall positioned in a surrounding of the nozzle with a spacing distance from the nozzle, and projecting upward from the upper surface, and a key member which is formed in the circular wall and which conforms to a receiver key member provided on a surrounding of an inlet of the tank. The circular wall has a cylindrical shape. The circular wall includes a curved plate and a connecting plate connected to each other to form a part in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya OKAZAKI, Satoru OKI, Nanami ABE, Masahiro HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20230063942
    Abstract: A liquid containment bottle includes a bottle body having an internal space configured to contain liquid. The bottle body has: an upper surface, a nozzle having a forward end surface projecting upward from the upper surface, the nozzle having an opening formed in the forward end surface, and a circular wall which is positioned in a surrounding of the nozzle with a spacing distance from the nozzle, and which projects upward from the upper surface. An upper end of the circular wall is positioned above the forward end surface of the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: NAOYA OKAZAKI, SATORU OKI, NANAMI ABE, MASAHIRO HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20230040367
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge case defining a liquid storage chamber; a liquid supply portion provided at the cartridge case; a residual-amount detecting portion configured to change a state of incident light according to an amount of liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber; and a plate member. The residual-amount detecting portion includes an optical access portion accessible by light traveling in a left-right direction in an attached posture of the liquid cartridge. The plate member is positioned above the liquid storage chamber and frontward of the optical access portion in the attached posture. The plate member is pivotable between a first position and a second position about an axis extending in an up-down direction. In the attached posture of the liquid cartridge, the plate member extends in a front-rear direction at the first position, and extends in a direction crossing the front-rear direction at the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru OKI, Masahiro HAYASHI, Nanami ABE, Naoya OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20230040063
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a case, a liquid supply portion, a circuit board, a residual-amount detecting portion, a base surface, and a plate member. The residual-amount detecting portion includes an optical access portion accessible by light traveling in a left-right direction. The optical access portion has a portion positioned above and away from electrodes of the circuit board by a first distance in an attached posture. The plate member extends frontward from the base surface, and provides a light-shielding region and a light-transmissive region. The light-shielding region is positioned rearward of the electrodes and frontward of the residual-amount detecting portion. The light-transmissive region is positioned rearward of the light-shielding region and frontward of the residual-amount detecting portion. Each of the light-transmissive region and the light-transmissive region has a portion positioned above and away from the electrodes by the first distance in the attached posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru OKI, Masahiro HAYASHI, Nanami ABE, Naoya OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20230045115
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a case, a liquid supplying portion, a circuit board, a plate member, and a residual-amount detecting portion. The plate member is positioned rearward and above electrodes of the circuit board in an attached posture. The residual-amount detecting portion includes an optical access portion configured to receive light traveling in a left-right direction. The plate member is movable between a first position and a second position. At the first position, a portion of the plate member is positioned frontward of the optical access portion and upward of the electrode group. At the second position, a front end of the plate member is positioned closer to the residual-amount detecting portion than at the first position. The plate member at the first position and the residual-amount detecting portion define therebetween in the front-rear direction a light transmissive region whose light transmittance is higher than the plate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru OKI, Masahiro HAYASHI, Nanami ABE, Naoya OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20230045050
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge case defining therein a liquid storage chamber; a liquid supply portion; a circuit board; a plate member; and a residual-amount detecting portion. The residual-amount detecting portion is configured to change a state of incident light according to an amount of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber, and includes an optical access portion on which light traveling in a left-right direction is incident. The plate member is pivotally movable between: a first posture where a portion of the plate member is positioned upward relative to the optical access portion; and a second posture where the plate member is positioned downward relative to the optical access portion. The plate member in the first posture and the residual-amount detecting portion define a light transmissive region therebetween in the front-rear direction. The light transmissive region has a light transmittance greater than that of the plate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru OKI, Masahiro HAYASHI, Nanami ABE, Naoya OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20220402274
    Abstract: A tank includes: a tank body defining a storage chamber; a recessed portion provided at the tank body; a slider positioned in the recessed portion; a fitting portion provided at the slider; and a sealing member. The recessed portion has an injection opening in communication with the storage chamber, and a connection opening through which a liquid container is connectable. The slider includes a nozzle extending toward the connection opening in an extending direction and having a communication opening communicable with the injection opening. The slider is movable toward and away from the connection opening in the extending direction while rotating relative to the recessed portion. The fitting portion can be fitted with the liquid container. The sealing member can provide a liquid tight sealing to a gap between the slider and the recessed portion, and allow liquid flow between the communication opening and the injection opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Naoya OKAZAKI, Satoru OKI, Nanami ABE