Patents by Inventor Tadahiro Mizutani

Tadahiro Mizutani 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: 11541662
    Abstract: An ink refill container configured to refill an ink tank with ink and an ink refill system. An ink refill container includes a container main body having an ink chamber; an ink outlet forming portion provided at an edge of the container main body including an ink outlet configured to allow ink to flow out from the ink chamber; a valve provided in 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 ink tank when valve is opened. The positioning structure has a positioning surface located on an opposite side to a container main body side where the container main body is located, across the valve and extends in a direction intersecting with a center axis of the ink outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Taku Ishizawa, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Manabu Akahane
  • Publication number: 20220314631
    Abstract: The cartridge includes: a liquid containing portion, a liquid supply portion, an arrangement portion having the liquid supply portion arranged inside thereof and having a bottom wall facing a distal end of the liquid supply portion, in which the bottom wall has an opening portion through which the liquid introduction portion is inserted at a position facing the distal end, a first liquid absorbing member arranged inside the arrangement portion, of which a part of the first liquid absorbing member is exposed from the opening portion, and a second liquid absorbing member arranged inside the arrangement portion and coming into contact with the first liquid absorbing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shun OYA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Yoshihiro KOIZUMI, Takumi NAGASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20220305798
    Abstract: The cartridge includes a liquid containing portion containing a liquid, a liquid supply portion, an arrangement portion having a bottom wall in which an opening through which the liquid introduction portion is inserted is formed, and a film peelably attached to the arrangement portion while covering the opening portion, in which the arrangement portion further has a mounting element cooperating with the printing apparatus, and the film is arranged at a position where the film is interposed between the printing apparatus and the mounting element when a mounting process is performed in a state in which the film is attached to the arrangement portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Yoshihiro KOIZUMI, Shun OYA, Takumi NAGASHIMA
  • Patent number: 11370224
    Abstract: A liquid storage container includes: a housing including a case having a case opening, and a lid that closes the case opening; and a sheet that holds the lid and the case together, the sheet extending over lid exterior faces and case exterior faces and being disposed so as to surround the outer circumference of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyuki Fukasawa, Taku Ishizawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Mao Otashiro
  • Publication number: 20220194083
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a discharge unit configured to discharge liquid, a maintenance unit configured to cause the discharge unit to eject liquid to perform maintenance of the discharge unit, and a control unit configured to cause the maintenance unit to perform the maintenance periodically, wherein when performing the maintenance, the control unit performs first maintenance in a case in which a consumption amount of the liquid consumed after the maintenance previously performed is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, and performs second maintenance stronger than the first maintenance in a case in which the consumption amount is less than the first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Masato HAGA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Yasuaki HIRAI
  • Patent number: 11318749
    Abstract: In a state in which a cartridge body is not inserted in a cartridge receiving section provided on a printer side, an electronic component mounting section is held at an initial position to the cartridge body. The cartridge body is linearly inserted into the cartridge receiving section of the printer along a first direction, which is an insertion direction of the cartridge body, to a second position before a first position in which the cartridge body is in a mounted state in the cartridge receiving section. By the cartridge body being linearly inserted from the second position to the first position along the first direction, the electronic component mounting section is moved from the initial position in a second direction different from the first direction to couple the electronic component to electrical coupling portions provided on the printer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Koizumi, Tadahiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11318748
    Abstract: A liquid supply system includes a carriage, a plurality of tanks mounted on the carriage, and a plurality of liquid containers for filling a corresponding tank of the plurality of tanks with liquid. The plurality of tanks include a first tank and a second tank in which liquid receiving sections are arranged adjacent to each other in an arrangement direction in the carriage, the plurality of liquid containers include a first liquid container for filling the first tank with the liquid and a second liquid container for filling the second tank with the liquid, and the first liquid container has a portion that, when the first liquid container is set to a first tank filling posture, interferes with a disposition region of the second liquid container when the second liquid container is set to a second tank filling posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Taku Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 11305549
    Abstract: A container stores a fluid for use in an ink jet printer. The container includes: a casing that defines a storage space for storing the fluid, and has an opening communicating with the storage space; a film that covers the opening and seals the storage space; and a film attachment section that fixes the film to the casing. The casing includes a first surface that surrounds a periphery of the opening, and faces the film, and a second surface that surrounds the opening at a position farther from the opening than the first surface, has an angle intersecting the first surface, and faces the film, and the film attachment section is provided on the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Takuma Ozawa
  • Patent number: 11298947
    Abstract: An ink container includes: a container body that contains ink; and an ink outlet forming portion that has an ink outlet. The container body includes a first connection portion provided around an opening. The ink outlet forming portion includes a second connection portion connectable to the first connection portion. The first connection portion includes a first screw forming portion provided on an outer surface. The second connection portion includes a second screw forming portion provided on an inner surface and configured to be brought into thread engagement with the first screw forming portion. The container body and the ink outlet forming portion include a stopper located inside an outer circumference of the second connection portion in a radial direction, the center of which is a center axis of the first connection portion and the second connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Shimizu, Tadahiro Mizutani, Taku Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 11298952
    Abstract: The printing system includes a liquid supply container that stores a liquid; a printing device that receives a liquid supplied from the liquid supply container and performs printing; an imaging device that acquires image information including at least a part of the liquid supply container; an acquisition section that acquires reference information; a determination section that collates the image information with the reference information and determines whether or not the liquid is allowed to be supplied according to a collation result; and a control section that controls the printing device according to the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Taku Ishizawa, Ryoichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11269574
    Abstract: To provide a technique in which an image forming process is not restricted even when consumption information cannot be transmitted to the outside such as a server in an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an operation control portion for executing a plurality of functions for forming an image; a memory that stores availability information of the plurality of functions according to a specified contract that defines usage conditions of the image forming apparatus; and a determination portion that determines, when a usage request for at least one of the plurality of functions is received, with reference to the availability information, whether or not the at least one of the plurality of functions corresponding to the usage request received is configured to be used, in which the operation control portion controls operation of the image forming apparatus in accordance with a determination result of the determination portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Tadahiro Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20220055369
    Abstract: Convenience of an ink bottle and a bottle set is improved. An ink bottle includes: a container portion that contains ink; a guiding portion that is formed in one end portion of the container portion, and includes an outflow port from which the ink in the container portion flow out; and a cover that covers at least an end portion of the container portion on the opposite side of the guiding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku ISHIZAWA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Ryoichi TANAKA, Manabu AKAHANE, Koichi TOBA, Takumi NAGASHIMA, Yoshiaki SHIMIZU, Tadashi WATANABE, Noriyuki FUKASAWA
  • Publication number: 20220032638
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Ryoichi TANAKA, Manabu AKAHANE, Makoto KOBAYASHI, Naomi KIMURA, Hideki OKUMURA, Shoma KUDO, Tetsuya TAKAMOTO, Hiroaki SAKAI
  • Patent number: 11192380
    Abstract: Convenience of an ink bottle and a bottle set is improved. An ink bottle includes: a container portion that contains ink; a guiding portion that is formed in one end portion of the container portion, and includes an outflow port from which the ink in the container portion flow out; and a cover that covers at least an end portion of the container portion on the opposite side of the guiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Koichi Toba, Takumi Nagashima, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Tadashi Watanabe, Noriyuki Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11179944
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Makoto Kobayashi, Naomi Kimura, Hideki Okumura, Shoma Kudo, Tetsuya Takamoto, Hiroaki Sakai
  • Patent number: 11117379
    Abstract: An ink replenish container comprises a container main body that is able to store the ink; an ink outlet formation member, attached to a front end side of the container main body, to form an ink outlet; and a cap attachable to a front end side of the ink outlet formation member. The ink outlet includes an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface located inward of the outer circumferential surface, the inner circumferential surface surrounding an opening through which the ink passes. The cap includes a first protrusion that is configured to contact with the outer circumferential surface of the ink outlet to form a first exit seal portion, and a second protrusion that is configured to contact with the inner circumferential surface of the ink outlet to form a second exit seal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyuki Fukasawa, Taku Ishizawa, Tadashi Watanabe, Ryoichi Tanaka, Tadahiro Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20210263692
    Abstract: To provide a technique in which an image forming process is not restricted even when consumption information cannot be transmitted to the outside such as a server in an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an operation control portion for executing a plurality of functions for forming an image; a memory that stores availability information of the plurality of functions according to a specified contract that defines usage conditions of the image forming apparatus; and a determination portion that determines, when a usage request for at least one of the plurality of functions is received, with reference to the availability information, whether or not the at least one of the plurality of functions corresponding to the usage request received is configured to be used, in which the operation control portion controls operation of the image forming apparatus in accordance with a determination result of the determination portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku ISHIZAWA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 11097549
    Abstract: There is provided a technique of improving the mounting position of a liquid container relative to a liquid ejection device. The liquid container configured to be mountable to and dismountable from a case of the liquid ejection device includes a bag-like member that has flexibility and that includes a containing portion provided to contain a liquid inside thereof; and connection member that is located at an end of the bag-like member. The connection member includes a liquid outlet configured such that a liquid introducing element of the liquid ejection device is inserted in the liquid outlet; a container-side electrical connecting structure configured such that a device-side electrical connecting structure of the liquid ejection device is connected with the container-side electrical connecting structure; and two guided elements configured such that at least respective parts of two guide elements of the case are fitted in the two guided elements in a state that the liquid container is placed in the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi Nagashima, Hiroyuki Kawate, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Akihiro Toya, Tetsuya Takamoto, Tadahiro Mizutani, Hiroyoshi Ozeki, Manabu Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20210237456
    Abstract: An ink refill container configured to refill an ink tank with ink and an ink refill system. An ink refill container includes a container main body having an ink chamber; an ink outlet forming portion provided at an edge of the container main body including an ink outlet configured to allow ink to flow out from the ink chamber; a valve provided in 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 ink tank when valve is opened. The positioning structure has a positioning surface located on an opposite side to a container main body side where the container main body is located, across the valve and extends in a direction intersecting with a center axis of the ink outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Taku ISHIZAWA, Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Naomi KIMURA, Shoma KUDO, Manabu AKAHANE
  • Publication number: 20210229453
    Abstract: A liquid storage container includes: a housing including a case having a case opening, and a lid that closes the case opening; and a sheet that holds the lid and the case together, the sheet extending over lid exterior faces and case exterior faces and being disposed so as to surround the outer circumference of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriyuki Fukasawa, Taku Ishizawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Mao Otashiro