Patents by Inventor Satoru OKI

Satoru OKI 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: 12686211
    Abstract: An ink container includes a chamber, a supply port, an electrical interface, and a protrusion. The chamber is configured to store ink. The supply port faces frontward in an insertion direction. The electrical interface includes a contact surface that faces upward in an up-down direction orthogonal to the insertion direction. The protrusion is positioned upward in the up-down direction and frontward in the insertion direction of the supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Oki, Masahiro Hayashi, Naoya Okazaki, Yuma Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20260200234
    Abstract: A liquid bottle includes a body, a rubber, a valve, and a resilient member urging the valve toward the rubber. The body has an internal space and an opening through which the internal space is configured to communicate with an outside of the body. The rubber is positioned at the opening. The rubber has a first lip extending into the internal space around the opening. The valve is configured to contact the first lip. The first lip has an annular shape whose first length in a first direction is longer than a second length thereof in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The valve has a flat portion and a protruding portion. The flat portion opposes the first lip in an urging direction of the resilient member. The protruding portion protrudes from the flat portion and is positioned inward of the first lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2026
    Publication date: July 16, 2026
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Fumiya NAKAMURA, Yuma TANABE, Naoya OKAZAKI, Satoru OKI, Yuji FUKUTA
  • Patent number: 12673499
    Abstract: A tank includes: a first liquid chamber for storing first liquid; a first front wall; a first upper wall crossing and extending from the first front wall; a second liquid chamber for storing second liquid; a second front wall; and a second upper wall crossing and extending from the second front wall. The first and second upper walls have first and second injection holes, respectively. The first liquid chamber includes a first space and a second space communicating each other. The first space is aligned with the second liquid chamber in a left-right direction. The second space is aligned with and arranged rearward of the first space and the second liquid chamber. The rear end of the first liquid chamber is positioned rearward of the rear end of the second liquid chamber. The first liquid chamber has a first volume larger than a second volume of the second liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Naoya Okazaki, Yuma Tanabe, Satoru Oki, Yuji Fukuta
  • Publication number: 20260184083
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge inserted into a printer includes a housing and a first valve mechanism. The housing has a first cylindrical portion that opens in a frontward. At least portion of the first valve mechanism is accommodated within the first cylindrical portion. The first valve mechanism includes a first seal member, a first valve, and a first biasing member. The first seal member is in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion. The first seal member having a first through hole. The first valve is positioned inside the first cylindrical portion. The first valve is movable between a closed position and an open position. The first biasing member biases the first valve frontward such that the first valve biases toward the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Satoru OKI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Fumiya NAKAMURA, Yuji FUKUTA, Yuki TAKAMATSU, Naoya OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20260184082
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a blow-molded housing having a parting line. The blow-molded housing includes: a first wall; a second wall; a liquid chamber; and a supply portion. The second wall opposes the first wall in a left-right direction. The liquid chamber is positioned between the first wall and the second wall. An inside of the liquid chamber is in communication with an outside of the liquid chamber through the supply portion. In the liquid container: the parting line has a portion positioned at the supply portion; and a distance between the first wall and the portion of the parting line in the left-right direction is greater than a distance between the second wall and the portion of the parting line in the left-right direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Satoru OKI, Fumiya NAKAMURA, Naoya OKAZAKI
  • Patent number: 12668063
    Abstract: An ink container includes a main body and a supply port. The main body includes a chamber configured to store ink. The supply port faces in a first direction. The main body further includes: a front surface positioned in the first direction from the supply port; a left surface that extends from the front surface in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a right surface that extends from the front surface in the second direction; and a first groove that extends from the front surface in the second direction, the first groove being positioned above the supply port in an up-down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Satoru Oki, Naoya Okazaki, Yuma Tanabe
  • Patent number: 12661899
    Abstract: A cartridge configured to be inserted in a first direction into a case having a plurality of engagement portions is provided. The cartridge has a body and a key member. The body has a chamber for storing a printing agent. The key member is located on the body at a position associated with a type of the printing agent stored in the chamber and is configured to engage with a corresponding one of the plurality of engagement portions of the case. The key member has a surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction. The surface is configured to contact the corresponding one of the plurality of engagement portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Naoya Okazaki, Yuma Tanabe, Satoru Oki, Yuji Fukuta
  • Patent number: 12661901
    Abstract: An ink container includes a main body, a lower surface, and a guide wall. The main body includes a chamber configured to store ink. The main body has first and second sidewalls spaced apart from one another to define a first width. The supply port faces frontward in an attachment direction of the ink container and is configured to supply ink from the chamber. The lower surface is positioned above the supply port in an up-down direction, and forward of the supply port in the attachment direction of the ink container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Oki, Masahiro Hayashi, Naoya Okazaki, Yuma Tanabe
  • Patent number: 12661900
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a liquid container, a joint, a branching portion, a plurality of tubes, and a recording head. The liquid container has a first storage chamber, and a supply opening through which the first storage chamber is communicable with atmosphere. The joint is connectable to the supply opening of the liquid container. The branching portion is connected to the joint and is branched into a plurality of liquid channels. Each tube is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of liquid channels. The recording head includes a plurality of nozzle arrays, and each nozzle array is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of tubes. The recording head is configured to eject the liquid through each nozzle arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Naoya Okazaki, Yuma Tanabe, Satoru Oki, Yuji Fukuta
  • Patent number: 12654459
    Abstract: An ink container includes a front wall, a rear wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The front wall faces frontward in an attachment direction of the ink container. The rear wall is spaced apart from the front wall in a rearward direction opposite the attachment direction. The first sidewall is positioned between the front wall and the rear wall. The second sidewall is positioned between the front wall and the rear wall, and spaced apart from the first sidewall. The front wall, the rear wall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall define a main body that includes a chamber configured to store ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Satoru Oki, Yuma Tanabe, Naoya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 12654457
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid storing cartridge including: a liquid container configured to store a liquid, the liquid container having a supply port configured to supply the liquid from the liquid container to an outside of the liquid container; a first positioning part provided in a first side with respect to the supply port in a crossing direction crossing an opening direction of the supply port; and a second positioning part provided in a second side with respect to the supply port in the crossing direction, the second side being opposite side from the first side with respect to the supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sosuke Kuroyanagi, Yuma Tanabe, Akinari Ishibe, Satoru Oki, Genki Hoshino
  • Patent number: 12649314
    Abstract: An ink container is insertable into an attachment unit. The ink container includes a main body that includes a chamber configured to store ink therein, a supply portion that extends forward from the chamber and is configured to supply the ink in the chamber to an outside of the main body; and an electrical interface that is positioned upward of the supply portion and apart from the supply portion and has an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Oki, Masahiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 12611870
    Abstract: An ink container includes a chamber, an ink supply portion, an electrical interface, and a first key portion. The ink supply portion is configured to supply ink from the chamber. The supply port defines a front end of the ink supply portion. The supply port is oriented in an attachment direction. The electrical interface has a contact surface facing upward in an up-down direction. The contact surface of the electrical interface is positioned above the supply port in the up-down direction. The first key portion is positioned forward of the supply port in the attachment direction, above the supply port in the up-down direction, and below the contact surface of the electrical interface in the up-down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Satoru Oki, Naoya Okazaki, Yuma Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20260103005
    Abstract: An ink container includes a chamber, an ink supply portion, an electrical interface, and a first key portion. The ink supply portion is configured to supply ink from the chamber. The supply port defines a front end of the ink supply portion. The supply port is oriented in an attachment direction. The electrical interface has a contact surface facing upward in an up-down direction. The contact surface of the electrical interface is positioned above the supply port in the up-down direction. The first key portion is positioned forward of the supply port in the attachment direction, above the supply port in the up-down direction, and below the contact surface of the electrical interface in the up-down direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2025
    Publication date: April 16, 2026
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Satoru OKI, Naoya OKAZAKI, Yuma TANABE
  • Publication number: 20260097589
    Abstract: A container includes a container body, and a cover attached to the container body. The container body includes a front wall, a rear wall, and a liquid channel. The container body has a storage chamber in fluid communication with the liquid channel and positioned between the front wall and the rear wall in a front-rear direction. The liquid channel extends in the front-rear direction to have a supply opening that is open on the front wall and that is open frontward. The cover has an opening that is open rearward and the cover covers least a part of an outer surface of the front wall. The supply opening of the container body is positioned below a lower end of the opening of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2025
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Naoya OKAZAKI, Satoru OKI, Yuma TANABE, Yuji FUKUTA
  • Patent number: 12583227
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a main body, a liquid channel, a seal, a valve, and a cap. The liquid channel extends in an extending direction and has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space communicating with a storage chamber. The seal contacts the inner peripheral surface of the liquid channel for liquid tight seal therewith. The seal has a first through-hole penetrating therethrough in the extending direction. The valve is positioned closer to the storage chamber than the seal is. The cap is positioned closer to an outlet of the liquid channel than the seal is. The cap has a second through-hole penetrating therethrough in the extending direction and defining an axis extending in the extending direction. A space is defined by the inner peripheral surface of the liquid channel, the seal, and the cap. The cap has a cap opening positioned below the axis of the second through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Oki, Masahiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 12570100
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid storing cartridge for accommodating a liquid container which has a tap. The liquid storing cartridge includes: a case having an opening and a first sidewall; and a cover which is configured to cover at least part of the opening, and which has a second sidewall, the first and second sidewalls defining a sidewall of the liquid storing cartridge in a state that the at least part of the opening is covered by the cover. The first sidewall is configured to support the tap in a state that the liquid container is accommodated in the opening. The cover further has a contact part provided on the second sidewall. The contact part is configured to make contact with the tap in the state that the liquid container is accommodated in the opening and that the at least part of the opening is covered by the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Genki Hoshino, Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Satoru Oki, Sosuke Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 12565046
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid storing cartridge including: a casing which has a bottom surface and which is configured to store a liquid, the casing having a supply port configured to supply the liquid from the casing to an outside of the casing; a circuit board having an electric contact; and a circuit board holder which is provided on the casing and which is configured to hold the circuit board. The circuit board is provided at a position being more apart from the bottom surface of the casing than the supply port is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinari Ishibe, Yuma Tanabe, Satoru Oki, Sosuke Kuroyanagi, Genki Hoshino
  • Patent number: 12547101
    Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming unit, a notification device, and a controller. The image forming unit is configured to print an image on a sheet with colorant accommodated in a cartridge mounted on the image forming device. The notification device is configured to notify of information. The controller is configured to perform, at a prescribed time, a recycling potential determination process to determine whether the cartridge can be recycled. The controller is configured to perform, when the recycling potential determination process determines that the cartridge can be recycled, a guiding process to control the notification device to notify of a guiding message showing a guidance on recycling the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Oki, Tetsunori Mori, Taichiro Kimoto, Sadaaki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: D1134559
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2025
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Hirohide Nawata, Hiromitsu Tanaka, Satoru Oki, Hiroaki Takahashi, Fumiya Nakamura, Naoya Okazaki