Patents by Inventor Shoma Kudo
Shoma Kudo 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).
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Publication number: 20210129546Abstract: A lever provided in a liquid storage apparatus that includes a liquid filling port, the lever including a first member that is pivotable relative to an apparatus body of the liquid storage apparatus, a second member that is pivotable relative to the first member, and a flexible sealing plug that seals the liquid filling port, the first member including a lever body on which the sealing plug is mounted, a first attaching portion provided on a first end of the lever body, the first attaching portion configured to pivotably engage with the apparatus body, and a second attaching portion provided on a second end of the lever body, the second attaching portion configured to pivotably engage with the second member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Shoma KUDO, Naomi KIMURA
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Patent number: 10987957Abstract: A liquid container includes a first liquid accommodating chamber 31, a filter 50, a filter chamber 42 in which the filter is disposed, and a partition wall 47 that divides the first liquid accommodating chamber and the filter chamber. The filter chamber is disposed on the ?Z side of the first liquid accommodating chamber, which is vertically below the first liquid accommodating chamber. The partition wall has a flow-out path 51, which has an outlet 106 covered by the filter and through which the liquid having passed through the filter flows to the liquid ejecting head, a first communication path 48 having a first communication port 111, and a second communication path 49 having a second communication port 112. The communication paths are provided at positions different from the position of the flow-out path and communicate with the first liquid accommodating chamber and the filter chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura
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Patent number: 10981390Abstract: The liquid container comprises: a first chamber that is surrounded by a plurality of walls and is configured to contain a liquid; a liquid inlet port for pouring the liquid into the first chamber; an air opening port that is opened to air; a liquid lead-out port that leads the liquid out of the first chamber; an air lead-in port that is formed in, out of the plurality of walls surrounding the first chamber, a first wall different from the wall constituting a top surface; and an air communication path that allows the air opening port and the air lead-in port to communicate with each other. The air lead-in port is separated from a corner portion where the first wall crosses with another wall.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Hidenao Suzuki, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Takanori Matsuda, Koji Kawai
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Publication number: 20210107290Abstract: A liquid storage container which includes a liquid storage chamber that includes a bottom surface, an upper surface facing the bottom surface, a first side surface orthogonal to the bottom surface and the upper surface, and a second side surface orthogonal to the bottom surface and the upper surface and facing the first side surface, and, in which the first side surface is provided with a visual recognition surface configured such that the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is visually recognized, the bottom surface is provided with a prism for detecting the liquid, and the liquid storage chamber is provided with a wall surface closer to the upper surface than the prism and closer to the bottom surface than an end of the visual recognition surface, which is on a side of the upper surface, in a first direction from the upper surface toward the bottom surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto SAWADAISHI, Naomi KIMURA, Yusuke HIRASAWA, Shoma KUDO
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Publication number: 20210023850Abstract: An ink refill container includes a container main body including an ink storage chamber, an ink outlet-forming portion provided on an end portion of the container main body forming an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out from the ink storage chamber, and a valve provided in the ink outlet-forming portion configured to openably seal the ink outlet, in which the ink outlet-forming portion includes a positioning portion on an outer side of the ink outlet-forming portion. in which the positioning portion is closer to the container main body than the valve is to the container main body in a central axis direction of the ink outlet, and in which the positioning portion partially abuts against an ink tank when the valve is opened for refilling the ink to the ink tank, to thereby position the valve relative to the ink tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Ryoichi TANAKA, Manabu AKAHANE, Makoto KOBAYASHI, Naomi KIMURA, Hideki OKUMURA, Shoma KUDO, Tetsuya TAKAMOTO, Hiroaki SAKAI
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Patent number: 10889123Abstract: An ink refill container 63 includes a container main body 64 including an ink storage chamber 76, an ink outlet-forming portion 66 provided on an end portion of the container main body forming an ink outlet 65 that allows the ink to flow out from the ink storage chamber, and a valve 74 provided in the ink outlet-forming portion configured to openably seal the ink outlet, in which the ink outlet-forming portion includes a positioning portion 73 on an outer side of the ink outlet-forming portion. in which the positioning portion 73 is closer to the container main body than the valve 74 is to the container main body in a central axis direction of the ink outlet, and in which the positioning portion partially abuts against an ink tank 41-45 when the valve is opened for refilling the ink to the ink tank, to thereby position the valve relative to the ink tank.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Makoto Kobayashi, Naomi Kimura, Hideki Okumura, Shoma Kudo, Tetsuya Takamoto, Hiroaki Sakai
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Patent number: 10875316Abstract: The liquid supply unit includes: a liquid containing body configured to contain the liquid; a housing that covers the liquid containing body; and a lever-shaped plug member configured to seal the liquid injection portion. The plug member includes: a first pivoting portion that is configured to pivot the plug member; and a first protrusion provided so as to be displaceable in order to lock the plug member onto the housing. The housing includes: a second pivoting portion into which the first pivoting portion is to be fit; and a second protrusion configured to come into contact with the first protrusion and displace the first protrusion when the plug member pivots toward the liquid injection portion, the contact with the first protrusion being canceled and the displacement of the first protrusion being returned to normal when the plug member further pivots and is locked onto the housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura
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Patent number: 10843475Abstract: An ink refill container 63 includes a container main body 64 including an ink storage chamber 76, an ink outlet-forming portion 66 provided on an end portion of the container main body forming an ink outlet 65 that allows the ink to flow out from the ink storage chamber, and a valve 74 provided in the ink outlet-forming portion configured to openably seal the ink outlet, in which the ink outlet-forming portion includes a positioning portion 73 on an outer side of the ink outlet-forming portion. in which the positioning portion 73 is closer to the container main body than the valve 74 is to the container main body in a central axis direction of the ink outlet, and in which the positioning portion partially abuts against an ink tank 41-45 when the valve is opened for refilling the ink to the ink tank, to thereby position the valve relative to the ink tank.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Makoto Kobayashi, Naomi Kimura, Hideki Okumura, Shoma Kudo, Tetsuya Takamoto, Hiroaki Sakai
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Publication number: 20200298579Abstract: An ink refill container 63 includes a container main body 64 including an ink storage chamber 76, an ink outlet-forming portion 66 provided on an end portion of the container main body forming an ink outlet 65 that allows the ink to flow out from the ink storage chamber, and a valve 74 provided in the ink outlet-forming portion configured to openably seal the ink outlet, in which the ink outlet-forming portion includes a positioning portion 73 on an outer side of the ink outlet-forming portion. in which the positioning portion 73 is closer to the container main body than the valve 74 is to the container main body in a central axis direction of the ink outlet, and in which the positioning portion partially abuts against an ink tank 41-45 when the valve is opened for refilling the ink to the ink tank, to thereby position the valve relative to the ink tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Ryoichi TANAKA, Manabu AKAHANE, Makoto KOBAYASHI, Naomi KIMURA, Hideki OKUMURA, Shoma KUDO, Tetsuya TAKAMOTO, Hiroaki SAKAI
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Publication number: 20200282730Abstract: There are provided an ink refill container configured to appropriately refill an ink tank with ink and an ink refill system including such an ink refill container. An ink refill container 63 includes a container main body 64 provided to include an ink chamber 76; an ink outlet forming portion 66 provided at an edge of the container main body to include an ink outlet 65 configured to allow ink to flow out from the ink chamber; a valve 74 provided in the ink outlet forming portion and configured to seal the ink outlet in an openable and closable manner; and a positioning structure configured to abut on part of the ink tank and position the valve relative to the ink tank when the valve is opened. The positioning structure has a positioning surface 84 that is located on an opposite side to a container main body side where the container main body is located, across the valve and that is extended in a direction intersecting with a center axis 85 of the ink outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Taku ISHIZAWA, Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Naomi KIMURA, Shoma KUDO, Manabu AKAHANE
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Patent number: 10752009Abstract: Provided is a liquid tank that can reduce the remaining amount of liquid even if a use state of the liquid tank is in an inclined state. The liquid tank includes an external wall, a liquid discharge port, and a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion that are provided inside the liquid tank and respectively protrude from a third side wall. The height of the second protruding portion from a bottom wall in a use state is higher than the height of the first protruding portion from the bottom wall. The first protruding portion has, at an upper portion thereof, a first inclined portion that is inclined to the upper part in the first direction, and the second protruding portion has, at an upper portion thereof, a second inclined portion that is inclined to the upper part in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Shoma Kudo, Hideki Okumura
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Patent number: 10752003Abstract: There are provided an ink refill container configured to appropriately refill an ink tank with ink and an ink refill system including such an ink refill container. An ink refill container 63 includes a container main body 64 provided to include an ink chamber 76; an ink outlet forming portion 66 provided at an edge of the container main body to include an ink outlet 65 configured to allow ink to flow out from the ink chamber; a valve 74 provided in the ink outlet forming portion and configured to seal the ink outlet in an openable and closable manner; and a positioning structure configured to abut on part of the ink tank and position the valve relative to the ink tank when the valve is opened. The positioning structure has a positioning surface 84 that is located on an opposite side to a container main body side where the container main body is located, across the valve and that is extended in a direction intersecting with a center axis 85 of the ink outlet.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Taku Ishizawa, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Manabu Akahane
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Patent number: 10752002Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus that can reduce situations where surrounding areas are soiled by spilled liquid. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid tank 47, the liquid tank 47 being mounted in a carriage 20 configured to move back and forth in the X axis direction, and the liquid tank 47 including a liquid resupply unit 23 configured to accept resupply of a liquid from the exterior; and a housing 48 configured to cover the liquid tank 47. The housing 48 includes: an upper wall 49 that covers the liquid tank 47 from the upper side; and a first recess part 61 and a second recess part 62, which are provided in the upper wall 49 to receive a spilled liquid that has spilled to the exterior of the liquid resupply unit 23, and which are recessed downward.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura
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Publication number: 20200254794Abstract: A liquid container includes a first liquid accommodating chamber 31, a filter 50, a filter chamber 42 in which the filter is disposed, and a partition wall 47 that divides the first liquid accommodating chamber and the filter chamber. The filter chamber is disposed on the ?Z side of the first liquid accommodating chamber, which is vertically below the first liquid accommodating chamber. The partition wall has a flow-out path 51, which has an outlet 106 covered by the filter and through which the liquid having passed through the filter flows to the liquid ejecting head, a first communication path 48 having a first communication port 111, and a second communication path 49 having a second communication port 112. The communication paths are provided at positions different from the position of the flow-out path and communicate with the first liquid accommodating chamber and the filter chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Shoma KUDO, Naomi KIMURA
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Patent number: 10717286Abstract: A plug member is a plug member for covering a liquid injection port for injecting liquid to a liquid container portion of a liquid ejecting apparatus. The plug member includes an elastically deformable plug body, and a holding member that has a higher rigidity than the plug body and is for holding the plug body. The plug body includes a lid part for covering the liquid injection port and a barrel part extending from the lid part to the liquid container portion. The barrel part includes an end portion forming an opening at a side opposite to the lid part, and the holding member includes an engaging portion engageable with a shaft portion for rotating the holding member and a support portion that is provided at an engaging portion side of the end portion and is for supporting the end portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura
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Patent number: 10717287Abstract: An ink refill container 63 includes a container main body 64 including an ink storage chamber 76, an ink outlet-forming portion 66 provided on an end portion of the container main body forming an ink outlet 65 that allows the ink to flow out from the ink storage chamber, and a valve 74 provided in the ink outlet-forming portion configured to openably seal the ink outlet, in which the ink outlet-forming portion includes a positioning portion 73 on an outer side of the ink outlet-forming portion. in which the positioning portion 73 is closer to the container main body than the valve 74 is to the container main body in a central axis direction of the ink outlet, and in which the positioning portion partially abuts against an ink tank 41-45 when the valve is opened for refilling the ink to the ink tank, to thereby position the valve relative to the ink tank.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Makoto Kobayashi, Naomi Kimura, Hideki Okumura, Shoma Kudo, Tetsuya Takamoto, Hiroaki Sakai
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Patent number: 10696058Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a first shell having a liquid storage chamber configured to store liquid and a liquid inlet portion through which the liquid is poured to the liquid storage chamber, a second shell that is a different member from the first shell, a holding member for holding a mutual positional relationship between the first shell and the second shell to be constant, and an atmospheric communication channel that makes outside and the liquid storage chamber communicate with each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura, Yusuke Hirasawa, Yuta Komatsu
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Patent number: 10682862Abstract: An ink refill container 63 includes a container main body 64 including an ink storage chamber 76, an ink outlet-forming portion 66 provided on an end portion of the container main body forming an ink outlet 65 that allows the ink to flow out from the ink storage chamber, and a valve 74 provided in the ink outlet-forming portion configured to openably seal the ink outlet, in which the ink outlet-forming portion includes a positioning portion 73 on an outer side of the ink outlet-forming portion. in which the positioning portion 73 is closer to the container main body than the valve 74 is to the container main body in a central axis direction of the ink outlet, and in which the positioning portion partially abuts against an ink tank 41-45 when the valve is opened for refilling the ink to the ink tank, to thereby position the valve relative to the ink tank.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Makoto Kobayashi, Naomi Kimura, Hideki Okumura, Shoma Kudo, Tetsuya Takamoto, Hiroaki Sakai
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Patent number: 10682859Abstract: An recording device includes a recording head that performs recording using ink; a liquid containing body that is capable of accommodating ink; a casing of which at least the recording portion and the liquid containing body are provided on an inside portion; a tube that connects the liquid containing body and the recording head with each other; and a operating panel that constitutes a portion of an outer covering of the recording device and operates the recording device. The operating panel is provided to be capable of performing an opening/closing operation with respect to the casing between two positions which are an opened position which exposes and a closed position which does not expose an inside of the casing, and at least a portion of the liquid containing body is exposed, by an opening operation of the operating panel.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Soshi Okawa, Shoma Kudo, Nobuyuki Nishi, Munehide Kanaya
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Patent number: 10618292Abstract: A printer comprises a main body cover configured to change over a state between a closed state and an open state; a tank including an ink container portion configured to contain ink and an ink inlet configured to inject the ink; a tank cover configured to change over a state between a closed state and an open state; and an ink bottle including a container portion and a delivery portion. In the open state of both the main body cover and the tank cover, the ink bottle is self-supported and configured to deliver the ink from the delivery portion of the ink bottle to the ink inlet. A space is formed between the main body cover and the ink bottle when the ink bottle is self-supported. At least part of the ink bottle is located in a locus drawn by the main body cover during rotation.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Noriyuki Fukasawa, Taku Ishizawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Ryoichi Tanaka, Tadashi Watanabe