Patents by Inventor Suguru Tomoguchi
Suguru Tomoguchi 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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Patent number: 10232631Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface and a second surface facing a particular direction, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the second surface, and a liquid detection mechanism including a light access portion extends above the second surface further than the circuit board in the particular direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayshi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Akihito Ono, Mikio Hirano, Suguru Tomoguchi, Yutao Wang, Tomohiro Kanbe
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Publication number: 20190030907Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a casing including a liquid chamber; a liquid supply portion; a deformable member; a movable member; and an urging member. An internal pressure of the chamber is reduced as liquid flows out of the chamber. The deformable member protrudes from the casing in a cross direction crossing forward and rearward directions and has an internal space in communication with the chamber. The deformable member has such an elasticity that a dimension thereof in the cross direction becomes smaller as the internal pressure of the chamber is reduced. The movable member includes a detection portion, and a contact portion contacting the deformable member. The contact portion is in contact with the deformable member and disposed at one of positions further forward and further rearward relative to the deformable member. The urging member urges the movable member to move the contact portion toward the deformable member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Naoya OKAZAKI, Akihito ONO, Yuki TAKAGI, Kosuke NUKUI, Mikio HIRANO
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Publication number: 20190001694Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a casing including a liquid chamber; a liquid supply portion; a deformable member; a movable member; and a support member. The liquid chamber is configured such that an internal pressure of the liquid chamber is reduced as liquid flows out of the liquid chamber. The liquid supply portion allows liquid in the liquid chamber to flow out of the liquid chamber. The deformable member protrudes further upward relative to an upper surface of the casing. The deformable member has an internal space in communication with the liquid chamber. The deformable member is elastically deformable such that a volume of the internal space is reduced as the internal pressure of the liquid chamber is reduced. The movable member includes a detection portion movable in upward and downward directions in accordance with the elastic deformation of the deformable member. The support member supports the movable member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoya OKAZAKI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Akihito ONO, Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
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Patent number: 10160221Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a front surface facing frontward, a rear surface spaced apart from the front surface, an upper surface facing upward and is disposed between the front surface and the rear surface, a liquid supply portion provided at the front surface, a detection portion, an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface, and an engaging surface. The detection portion includes a light-receiving portion configured to receive incident light thereon. The light-receiving portion is positioned upward relative to the upper surface and configured to change a state of the light depending on a state of the liquid cartridge. The engaging surface faces rearward and configured to be engaged with an external member such that the engagement between the engaging surface and the external member restricts the liquid cartridge from moving rearward. The electrical interface and the engaging surface are positioned frontward relative to the light-receiving portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2017Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Suguru Tomoguchi
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Patent number: 10105960Abstract: There is provided a set of tank and bottle. A tank includes a liquid chamber, an inclined wall and an inlet. A bottle includes a bottle body having a first opening, and a nozzle. The nozzle has: a trunk section fitted onto the end portion of the bottle body; a shoulder section brought into contact with the end portion of the bottle body; and a nozzle section having a second opening formed in a protruded end portion thereof. In a pouring posture of the bottle in which the nozzle section inserted into the inlet is positioned at a periphery of the inlet, an angle defined between a normal line of the inclined wall and an inner surface of the nozzle section is smaller than an angle defined between the normal line and a horizontal line.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Suguru Tomoguchi
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Patent number: 10086621Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge body accommodating a reservoir; a liquid-supply part; a movable member movably supported by the cartridge body; an urging member provided on the movable member; and a contact member provided at a surface of the reservoir. The movable member includes a detected part movable from a first position, to a second position rearward of the first position, and to a third position rearward of the second position, the detected part at the first position and at the second position being positioned higher relative to the cartridge body. The urging member is resiliently deformable, the urging member in a deformed state being deformed to urge the detected part toward the third position. The contact member can contact the movable member, the contact member in contact with the movable member restricting the detected part at the second position from moving to the third position.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi, Naoya Okazaki
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Patent number: 10081192Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid supply port configured to provide communication between an interior and an exterior of the liquid cartridge, a first wall having the liquid supply port, and a second wall spaced from the first wall. A first storage chamber is between the first and second walls, and a second storage chamber is between the first and second walls communicating with both the liquid supply port and the first storage chamber. A prism is in the second storage chamber, and the prism has an inclined surface configured to change the state of received light in response to a level of liquid contained in the second storage chamber. The prism is positioned between the first and second walls and above the first storage chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi, Naoya Okazaki
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Patent number: 10029472Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a casing including a liquid chamber; a liquid supply portion; a deformable member; a movable member; and a support member. The liquid chamber is configured such that an internal pressure of the liquid chamber is reduced as liquid flows out of the liquid chamber. The liquid supply portion allows liquid in the liquid chamber to flow out of the liquid chamber. The deformable member protrudes further upward relative to an upper surface of the casing. The deformable member has an internal space in communication with the liquid chamber. The deformable member is elastically deformable such that a volume of the internal space is reduced as the internal pressure of the liquid chamber is reduced. The movable member includes a detection portion movable in upward and downward directions in accordance with the elastic deformation of the deformable member. The support member supports the movable member.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi
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Publication number: 20180178535Abstract: A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a printing-fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and attached thereto in a first posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes: a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply port, an upper surface and a locking surface positioned upward of the storage chamber, an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface, and a contact surface positioned rearward relative to the supply port of the supply portion in the insertion direction in the first posture. The printing-fluid cartridge inserted in the printing-fluid consuming apparatus is movable between the first posture and a second posture. In the first posture, the locking surface engages a lock portion and the contact surface abuts against a positioning portion. In the second posture, the locking surface is positioned downward relative to the lock portion and the contact surface is separated from the positioning portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Suguru TOMOGUCHI
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Publication number: 20180178530Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a liquid chamber; a liquid supply portion having a front end part of a liquid supply hole; a front wall and a rear wall away from the front wall in a rearward direction; a bottom wall extending between the front and the rear walls; a sub front wall; and a sub bottom wall extending between the front wall and the sub front wall. The sub front wall faces frontward and is positioned closer to the front wall than to the rear wall. The sub bottom wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid supply portion. The front wall is positioned frontward relative to the front end part of the liquid supply hole. The front wall has a length in an upward direction longer than a length of the sub front wall in the upward direction in an upright posture.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Naoya OKAZAKI
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Publication number: 20180178528Abstract: A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a printing-fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and attached thereto in a first posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes a front surface, a rear surface, a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply port, an upper surface, an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface, and a locking surface. The printing-fluid cartridge inserted in the printing-fluid consuming apparatus is pivotable between the first posture and a second posture. The electrical interface is positioned closer to the supply port than the locking surface is to the supply port in the insertion direction. The electrical interface is positioned rearward relative to the pivot center in the insertion direction. The locking surface is positioned upward relative to the storage chamber and closer to a rearmost point of the printing-fluid cartridge than to the electrical interface in the insertion direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Fumio NAKAZAWA, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO
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Publication number: 20180178534Abstract: A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a prescribed insertion space of a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction to be attached thereto in an attached posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes: a housing including a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply hole, an electrical interface disposed at an upper surface of the housing, and an interfering surface. The interfering surface is positioned upward of the storage chamber and extends in a widthwise direction of the housing. The interfering surface is positioned downward and frontward relative to the electrical interface and is configured to abut against a projection provided at another insertion space different from the prescribed insertion space of the cartridge-attachment section during an insertion of the printing-fluid cartridge into the another insertion space.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Takahiro MIYAO
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Publication number: 20180154644Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoya OKAZAKI, Tetsuro KOBAYSHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Akihito ONO, Mikio HIRANO, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Yutao WANG, Tomohiro KANBE
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Publication number: 20180141344Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid, an inlet through which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid flow channel configured to let the liquid flow therethrough from the liquid storage chamber; a cap configured to be attachable to the tank to cover the inlet; a cover configured to be movable relative to the tank between a closed position where a surface, of the tank, in which the inlet is formed is covered and an open position where the surface of the tank is exposed; and a holder configured to hold the cap removed from the tank. The cover is prevented from moving to the closed position by the cap held by the holder to be positioned in a movement area of the cover moving from the open position to the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI, Suguru TOMOGUCHI
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Publication number: 20180117919Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface and a second surface facing a particular direction, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the second surface, and a liquid detection mechanism including a light access portion extends above the second surface further than the circuit board in the particular direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoya OKAZAKI, Tetsuro KOBAYSHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Akihito ONO, Mikio HIRANO, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Yutao WANG, Tomohiro KANBE
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Publication number: 20180093483Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a front surface facing frontward, a rear surface spaced apart from the front surface, an upper surface facing upward and is disposed between the front surface and the rear surface, a liquid supply portion provided at the front surface, a detection portion, an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface, and an engaging surface. The detection portion includes a light-receiving portion configured to receive incident light thereon. The light-receiving portion is positioned upward relative to the upper surface and configured to change a state of the light depending on a state of the liquid cartridge. The engaging surface faces rearward and configured to be engaged with an external member such that the engagement between the engaging surface and the external member restricts the liquid cartridge from moving rearward. The electrical interface and the engaging surface are positioned frontward relative to the light-receiving portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventor: Suguru TOMOGUCHI
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Patent number: 9925784Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a casing including a liquid chamber; a liquid supply portion; a deformable member; a movable member; and an urging member. An internal pressure of the chamber is reduced as liquid flows out of the chamber. The deformable member protrudes from the casing in a cross direction crossing forward and rearward directions and has an internal space in communication with the chamber. The deformable member has such an elasticity that a dimension thereof in the cross direction becomes smaller as the internal pressure of the chamber is reduced. The movable member includes a detection portion, and a contact portion contacting the deformable member. The contact portion is in contact with the deformable member and disposed at one of positions further forward and further rearward relative to the deformable member. The urging member urges the movable member to move the contact portion toward the deformable member.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Naoya Okazaki, Akihito Ono, Yuki Takagi, Kosuke Nukui, Mikio Hirano
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Patent number: 9873258Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid, an inlet through which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid flow channel configured to let the liquid flow therethrough from the liquid storage chamber; a cap configured to be attachable to the tank to cover the inlet; a cover configured to be movable relative to the tank between a closed position where a surface, of the tank, in which the inlet is formed is covered and an open position where the surface of the tank is exposed; and a holder configured to hold the cap removed from the tank. The cover is prevented from moving to the closed position by the cap held by the holder to be positioned in a movement area of the cover moving from the open position to the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi, Suguru Tomoguchi
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Patent number: 9862200Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayshi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Akihito Ono, Mikio Hirano, Suguru Tomoguchi, Yutao Wang, Tomohiro Kanbe
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Publication number: 20170368833Abstract: There is provided a set of tank and bottle. A tank includes a liquid chamber, an inclined wall and an inlet. A bottle includes a bottle body having a first opening, and a nozzle. The nozzle has: a trunk section fitted onto the end portion of the bottle body; a shoulder section brought into contact with the end portion of the bottle body; and a nozzle section having a second opening formed in a protruded end portion thereof. In a pouring posture of the bottle in which the nozzle section inserted into the inlet is positioned at a periphery of the inlet, an angle defined between a normal line of the inclined wall and an inner surface of the nozzle section is smaller than an angle defined between the normal line and a horizontal line.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2017Publication date: December 28, 2017Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Suguru TOMOGUCHI