Patents by Inventor Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA

Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA 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: 11964494
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a cartridge detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and including a first compartment configured to store a colorant, a container configured to be connected with the cartridge and including a second compartment configured to store the colorant flowing from the cartridge, and a display configured to display a first object indicating a first remainder amount and a second object indicating a second remainder amount in a single screen, is provided. The first remainder amount is a remainder amount of the colorant stored in the first compartment, and the second remainder amount is a remainder amount of the colorant stored in the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Minamikawa, Kenta Horade
  • Publication number: 20240126488
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a consumer receptacle and a controller to determine whether the processing apparatus is in a contracted status where a delivery contract for consumables is concluded or in an uncontracted status before the delivery contract is concluded. The consumable receptacle is configured to hold any of an exclusive consumable that is unusable when the processing apparatus is in the uncontracted status and a non-exclusive consumable different from the exclusive consumable. When the processing apparatus is in the contracted status, and the non-exclusive consumable is held in the consumable receptacle, the controller determines whether a specific condition for execution of a first particular process in which the non-exclusive consumable is consumed is satisfied. The controller allows the execution of the first particular process when the specific condition is satisfied, whereas restricting the execution of the first particular process when the specific condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichiro KIMOTO, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Koichi TSUGIMURA, Yushi DEURA, Yuki KITAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11962735
    Abstract: A printing system controls a printing member to perform printing based on a print job for which a charged fee is already settled. The printing system receives a first instruction to suspend the printing started by the printing member and suspends the printing started by the printing member in response to reception of the first instruction. The printing system receives a second instruction as to a post suspending process to be executed after the printing is suspended. The printing system performs one of a post fee-settlement process and a restart process, as the post suspending process. The post fee-settlement process is related to provision of a benefit corresponding to refunding at least part of the charged fee. The restart process is to restart the suspended printing to complete the print job after a reason that the first instruction is made is resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ayaka Hotta, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Haruka Azechi, Yushi Deura
  • Patent number: 11934732
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a printing unit; and a controller. The printing unit is configured to print an image on a print medium. The controller is configured to perform: (a) receiving; (b) transmitting; (c) receiving; and (d) transmitting. The (a) receiving receives a print job from an external device. The (b) receiving receives a print job from an external device. The (b) transmitting transmits the print job to a data processing server. The (c) receiving receives, from the external device, destination information representing a destination of payment information of a fee required for executing the print job with the printing unit. The (d) transmitting transmits the destination information to the data processing server to cause the data processing server to provide the payment information to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Haruka Azechi, Ayaka Hotta, Yushi Deura
  • Patent number: 11922086
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printing device and a data processing server. The printing device includes a first controller. The data processing server includes a second controller. The first controller acquires a print job from an external device and transmits the print job to the server. The second controller receives the print job and stores the print job in a server memory. The first controller receives designation of the print job subject to printing and transmits a print request for printing the print job subject to printing to the server. After a fee payment approval to approve a payment for execution of the designated print job is transmitted, the second controller transmits to the printing device the print job. The first controller receives the print job and performs printing the print job on a print medium by controlling a printing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Haruka Azechi, Ayaka Hotta, Yushi Deura
  • Publication number: 20240064258
    Abstract: In a consuming device, a controller is configured to perform, when an operating mode is set to a non-billing mode: executing. The executing executes, in response to receiving an execution instruction, a prescribed operation consuming a consumable. The prescribed operation is executed while consuming the consumable irrespective of a permitted consumption quantity without decreasing the permitted consumption quantity. The controller is configured to perform: when the operating mode is set to a billing mode: acquiring; and executing. The acquiring acquires the permitted consumption quantity including a newly purchased consumption quantity paid for by a user. The executing executes, in response to receiving the execution instruction, the prescribed operation. The prescribed operation is executed while consuming the consumable and decreasing the permitted consumption quantity acquired in the acquiring until the decreased permitted consumption quantity reaches a predetermined quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Koichi TSUGIMURA, Taichiro KIMOTO, Yushi DEURA, Yuki KITAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11882256
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a controller. The controller receives a first e-mail from an external device. The first e-mail has a print file attached thereto and is addressed to a device e-mail address assigned to a printing device. The controller determines a fee to be charged for image formation based on the attached print file. The controller generates a second e-mail including: a first amount that is the amount of the determined fee; and a first URL for a payment page for paying the first amount. The controller transmits the generated second e-mail to the external device in reply to the received first e-mail. After payment of the first amount is completed through access to the first URL included in the transmitted second e-mail, the controller transmits to the external device either print data based on the print file or storage destination information for the print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yushi Deura, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Haruka Azechi, Ayaka Hotta
  • Publication number: 20230391100
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a cartridge detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and including a first compartment configured to store a colorant, a container configured to be connected with the cartridge and including a second compartment configured to store the colorant flowing from the cartridge, and a display configured to display a first object indicating a first remainder amount and a second object indicating a second remainder amount in a single screen, is provided. The first remainder amount is a remainder amount of the colorant stored in the first compartment, and the second remainder amount is a remainder amount of the colorant stored in the second compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Kenta HORADE
  • Patent number: 11831838
    Abstract: A printing system includes: a printing device; and a data processing server. A first controller of the printing device is configured to perform: a reading process to read a reading target to generate image data; a determination process to determine whether to transmit the image data to the data processing server according to at least one of available capacity information and capacity-related information; and a data transmission process to transmit the image data to the data processing server. A second controller of the data processing server is configured to perform: a payment-related process related to a fee payment for printing based on the image data. The first controller is configured to further perform, after the fee payment is completed: an acquisition process to acquire print data corresponding to the image data; and a printing process to form an image corresponding to the print data on a printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayaka Hotta, Haruka Azechi, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Yushi Deura
  • Patent number: 11816517
    Abstract: In a case where a first sheet paper having a first size is contained and a second sheet paper having a second size is not contained, a printer sends capability information including first size information indicating that the first size is contained and second size information indicating that the second size is contained to a terminal device. The printer receives image data and selection information indicating that a target size has been selected, and in a case where the selection information indicates that the second size has been selected as the target size, the printer executes the predetermined process on the first sheet paper, and in a case where the selection information indicates that the first size has been selected as the target size, the printer does not execute the predetermined process on the first sheet paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yushi Deura, Haruka Azechi, Wataru Hasegawa, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Takatsugu Yamada
  • Patent number: 11787195
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a cartridge detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and including a first compartment configured to store a colorant, a container configured to be connected with the cartridge and including a second compartment configured to store the colorant flowing from the cartridge, and a display configured to display a first object indicating a first remainder amount and a second object indicating a second remainder amount in a single screen, is provided. The first remainder amount is a remainder amount of the colorant stored in the first compartment, and the second remainder amount is a remainder amount of the colorant stored in the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Minamikawa, Kenta Horade
  • Publication number: 20230308587
    Abstract: A printing system includes a print engine, and one or more controllers configured to perform a data obtaining process of obtaining print data, a print controlling process of controlling the print engine to print an image corresponding to the print data on a printing medium based on a print setting value, and a fee determining process of determining a fee corresponding to a plurality of the print setting values to be applied when the print engine prints the image on the printing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Haruka AZECHI, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Ayaka HOTTA, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230308588
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a print engine and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers perform a data obtaining process of obtaining print data, a print controlling process of controlling the print engine to print an image based on a print setting value, a fee determining process of determining a fee to be charged when printing the image, and a setting value changing process of changing the print setting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Haruka AZECHI, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Ayaka HOTTA, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230289117
    Abstract: In a server system, the computer stores in the printer a usable print quantity in association with a printer in response to an increase request from an external device. The increase request is a request to store an increased quantity as the usable print quantity. The usable print quantity indicates one of the number of sheets and an amount of colorant which are usable for printing in the printer. The computer determines, after a communication interface is disconnected from the printer, whether a reconnection is established between the communication interface and the printer. The computer determines, when the reconnection is determined to be established, whether the usable print quantity has been reflected in data in the printer. The computer sends to the printer, when the usable print quantity is determined not to have been reflected in any data in the printer, a reflecting instruction to reflect the usable print quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki KITAHASHI, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Taichiro KIMOTO, Yushi DEURA, Ayaka HOTTA
  • Publication number: 20230278344
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a first container with a first compartment, a second container with a second compartment, a recorder, a display, and a controller, is provided. The controller controls the display to display a first screen and a second screen. The first screen contains a first object having a form that reflects an amount of a colorant in the first compartment and a second object having a form that reflects an amount of the colorant in the second compartment. The second screen contains a third object having a form that reflects one of the amount of the colorant in the first compartment, the amount of the colorant in the second compartment, and a total amount of the colorant in the first compartment and the second compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Kenta HORADE
  • Patent number: 11740578
    Abstract: A monitoring device is configured to monitor image recordation by a recorder using a recording material supplied from a first cartridge and a second cartridge. the monitoring device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain number-of-sheet information indicating a number of sheets on which the image recordation has been performed, first consumption amount information indicating a consumption amount of a recording material consumed from the first cartridge, and second consumption amount information indicating a consumption amount of a recording material consumed from the second cartridge, determine ratio information indicating a ratio of the recording material consumed from the second cartridge to a total consumption amount of the recording material consumed from the first and second cartridges based on the obtained first and second consumption amount information, and store the obtained number-of-sheet information and the determined ratio information in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yushi Deura, Shinya Esaki, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Haruka Azechi
  • Patent number: 11733933
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a cartridge mount configured to hold a cartridge detachably, a cartridge interface, a print engine configured to execute printing, a communication interface configured to connect to a communication network connected to the Internet, memory and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruka Azechi, Tetsuya Okuno, Shinya Esaki, Yushi Deura, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Sadaaki Miyazaki, Tony Lee
  • Patent number: 11698764
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a cartridge mount to which a cartridge is mounted, a print engine that performs printing, a cartridge interface, an information interface, a memory, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Okuno, Shinya Esaki, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Haruka Azechi, Yushi Deura, Tony Lee
  • Publication number: 20230205471
    Abstract: A printer includes: a print executing unit configured to execute printing on a sheet paper; a process executing unit configured to execute a predetermined process related to cutting of the sheet paper; and a controller. The controller is configured to, in a case where a first sheet paper having a first size is contained, send capability information to a terminal device, wherein the capability information includes specific size information indicating a sheet paper having a specific size. The specific size information includes a specific character string. The controller is configured to receive selection information indicating that the specific size was selected from the terminal device in response to a user selecting the specific character string. The controller is configured to, in a case where the selection information is received from the terminal device, cause the process executing unit to execute the predetermined process on the first sheet paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruka AZECHI, Yushi DEURA, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Takatsugu YAMADA, Wataru HASEGAWA
  • Patent number: 11685168
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a first container with a first compartment, a second container with a second compartment, a recorder, a display, and a controller, is provided. The controller controls the display to display a first screen and a second screen. The first screen contains a first object having a form that reflects an amount of a colorant in the first compartment and a second object having a form that reflects an amount of the colorant in the second compartment. The second screen contains a third object having a form that reflects one of the amount of the colorant in the first compartment, the amount of the colorant in the second compartment, and a total amount of the colorant in the first compartment and the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Minamikawa, Kenta Horade