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: 10889123
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Makoto Kobayashi, Naomi Kimura, Hideki Okumura, Shoma Kudo, Tetsuya Takamoto, Hiroaki Sakai
  • Publication number: 20200406625
    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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Taku ISHIZAWA
  • Patent number: 10857802
    Abstract: A liquid container comprises a liquid supply port provided in a bottom wall, a first chamber configured to contain a liquid, a second chamber configured to contain the liquid and to include at least one sub-chamber having a smaller dimension in the X direction than that of the first chamber, a partition wall configured to part the first chamber from the second chamber, and a connecting hole configured to connect the first chamber with the second chamber. The second chamber is connected with the liquid supply port, and the first chamber is connected with the liquid supply port via the connecting hole and the second chamber. The liquid contained in the first chamber is flowed from the connecting hole into the second chamber and is subsequently introduced through the sub-chamber to the liquid supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Taku Ishizawa, Atsushi Kobayashi, Koichi Toba, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Shun Oya
  • Patent number: 10843471
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a carriage that includes a liquid ejection head and that moves inside a predetermined moving range, a plurality of liquid containers mounted on the carriage, the plurality of liquid containers including liquid refill ports respectively, an exterior member that covers the moving range, the exterior member including an opening configured to have a liquid outlet portion of the liquid refilling container be inserted therein, a selection information receiving portion that receives an input of a selected target liquid container, among the plurality of liquid containers, in which refilling of the liquid is to be performed, and a control unit that, using selection information that the selected information receiving portion has received, moves the carriage so that the liquid refill port of the target liquid container faces the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Tadahiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10843475
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Makoto Kobayashi, Naomi Kimura, Hideki Okumura, Shoma Kudo, Tetsuya Takamoto, Hiroaki Sakai
  • Publication number: 20200298579
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Ryoichi TANAKA, Manabu AKAHANE, Makoto KOBAYASHI, Naomi KIMURA, Hideki OKUMURA, Shoma KUDO, Tetsuya TAKAMOTO, Hiroaki SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20200282730
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Taku ISHIZAWA, Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Naomi KIMURA, Shoma KUDO, Manabu AKAHANE
  • Publication number: 20200276825
    Abstract: A liquid container including a liquid storing chamber that stores a liquid, a first member including a cylindrical first side wall surrounding at least a portion of the liquid storing chamber, a first opening surrounded by a first end portion of the first side wall, and a second opening surrounded by a second end portion of the first side wall, a liquid outlet member including an outlet through which the liquid flows out, the liquid outlet member being attached to the first opening, and a second member joined to the first member, the second member sealing the liquid storing chamber from a second opening side. When viewed in a central axis direction of the first member, a joint between the first member and the second member is formed outside an area surrounded by a boundary between the first member and the second member in the liquid storing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki SHIMIZU, Ryoichi TANAKA, Taku ISHIZAWA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20200269589
    Abstract: The liquid container includes a housing member including an external circumferential wall surrounding a liquid storing chamber, an opening surrounded by an end portion of the external circumferential wall, and a closing wall opposing the liquid storing chamber at a position deep inside with respect to the opening, an external edge portion of the closing wall coupled to an end portion of the external circumferential wall, in which the liquid outlet portion is provided in the external circumferential wall; a valve provided in the liquid outlet portion, the valve being opened by having both a first pipe through which atmospheric air flows and a second pipe through which the liquid flows inserted therein when the liquid is made to flow out from the liquid storing chamber; a flexible wall sealing the opening portion; and an inner wall that extends from the closing wall towards an opening portion side in an area surrounded by the external circumferential wall and that is in contact with the flexible wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seigo MIYAZAWA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Taku ISHIZAWA
  • Patent number: 10752003
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Taku Ishizawa, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Manabu Akahane
  • Patent number: 10744779
    Abstract: A bottle set includes a bottle and a lid member. The bottle has an ink container, a nozzle and a joint portion integrally formed with the nozzle and having a thread configured to engage the nozzle with the ink container. The lid member is attachable to and detachable from the bottle. An outflow port is formed in the nozzle. The outflow port is configured such that the ink in the ink container flows out from the outflow port. The lid member has a tubular barrel, a top plate that closes a barrel end of the tubular barrel, and a plug projecting from the top plate toward the nozzle. A distance from the barrel end of the tubular barrel to a distal end of the plug being shorter than a distance from a nozzle end of the nozzle to the joint portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Nagashima, Tetsuya Takamoto, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Tadahiro Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20200238722
    Abstract: An ink replenishing container includes a first bottom surface that defines a portion of an ink storage portion in which an ink is stored, a first side wall that intersects the first bottom surface and defines a portion of the ink storage portion, an ink outlet that communicates with the ink storage portion, and a second side wall that is disposed outside the first side wall, and that is not in contact with the ink stored in the ink storage portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku ISHIZAWA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20200238715
    Abstract: An ink refill container 31 includes a container body 61 including an inner tube portion 62 constituting an ink containing chamber 41, an inner bottom 64 joined to the inner tube portion 62, an ink-outlet forming portion 38 that is provided in the inner tube portion 62 and that includes an ink outlet 46, and a cover 75 including an outer bottom 76 covering the inner bottom 64 from below. The cover 75 includes a receiving recess 95 that is configured of the outer bottom 76 and a tubular receiving wall 93 integrally coupled to the outer bottom 76 and that receives an ink IK leaked from the ink containing chamber 41 through a junction of the container body 61 and the inner bottom 64.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Ryoichi TANAKA, Taku ISHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20200238713
    Abstract: An ink replenishing container includes an ink storage member in which an ink is stored, the ink storage member having a first side wall that defines the ink storage member and an opening portion surrounded by the first side wall, an ink outlet that communicates with the ink storage portion, and a film member that closes the opening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku ISHIZAWA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 10717287
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    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: 10682862
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    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: 10647123
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a refilled cartridge for performing refilling of printing material after use of a cartridge is provided. The cartridge includes a first case including a recess having a bottom surface and an opening, a flexible portion attached to the opening, a second case covering the open surface of the first case, a pressure receiving portion contacting the flexible portion, a chamber of variable capacity and a biasing member that generates negative pressure inside the chamber The printing material is refilled into the chamber so that two or more points across the biasing member on the pressure receiving portion do not contact the second case after refilling of the printing material is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Atsushi Kobayashi, Izumi Nozawa, Hidetoshi Kodama
  • Publication number: 20200139716
    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: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    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: 20200130357
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a carriage that includes a liquid ejection head and that moves inside a predetermined moving range, a plurality of liquid containers mounted on the carriage, the plurality of liquid containers including liquid refill ports respectively, an exterior member that covers the moving range, the exterior member including an opening configured to have a liquid outlet portion of the liquid refilling container be inserted therein, a selection information receiving portion that receives an input of a selected target liquid container, among the plurality of liquid containers, in which refilling of the liquid is to be performed, and a control unit that, using selection information that the selected information receiving portion has received, moves the carriage so that the liquid refill port of the target liquid container faces the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku ISHIZAWA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20200114652
    Abstract: When a known lid member was merely applied to a bottle that contains ink, there was room for improvement in terms of the operation of the lid member and the way how to bring attention to the handling thereof. A bottle set is provided that includes: a bottle that includes an ink container that contains ink, and an outflow port through which the ink in the ink container flows out to the outside; and a lid member that is configured to attach to and detach from the bottle, and is configured to cover the outflow port in a state of being attached to the bottle. The lid member includes a colored portion that has optical transparency and is colored with a color corresponding to a type of the ink contained in the ink container in at least a portion of the lid member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi NAGASHIMA, Hitoshi IGARASHI, Ryoichi TANAKA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Tomoyuki NAKANO