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).

  • Publication number: 20180065375
    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: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi Nagashima, Hitoshi Igarashi, Ryoichi Tanaka, Tadahiro Mizutani, Tomoyuki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20180043695
    Abstract: The liquid container is detachable from a case of a liquid ejection apparatus. The liquid container has a bag-shaped member that is flexible and has a storage portion for storing a liquid therein, and a connection member attached to the bag-shaped member. The connection member has a liquid introducing outlet into which a liquid introducing portion of the liquid ejection apparatus is inserted, a container-side electrical connection unit to which an apparatus-side electrical connection unit of the liquid ejection apparatus is connected, and a handle that pivots with respect to the connection member. In a state where the liquid container is arranged in the case, the handle is provided at a position exposed to the outside of the case, and when the liquid container is mounted to/removed from the case, the handle is brought into a second orientation in which the handle is pivoted from a first orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KAWATE, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Yoshiaki SHIMIZU, Takumi NAGASHIMA, Akihiro TOYA, Hiroyoshi OZEKI, Manabu YAMAGUCHI, Tetsuya TAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180015727
    Abstract: A technique of enhancing attachment of a liquid supply unit to a liquid ejection device is provided. A first ink cartridge 100a and a second ink cartridge 100b are attached to a carriage 27 of a printing device 10 via a holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b includes a circuit substrate 130 having a plurality of terminals 151 to 159 which are electrically connected with a device-side terminal assembly 250 provided on the holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b also includes a main engagement part 120 configured to engage with a lever member 230 of the holder structure 200 as an engaged part, such as to limit motion of the circuit substrate 130 away from the holder structure 200. The circuit substrate 130 includes a first terminal 151 and a second terminal 152 located on respective ends in an array direction of the terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki SHIOTA, Atsushi KOBAYASHI, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Shun OYA
  • Patent number: 9844945
    Abstract: A technique of enhancing attachment of a liquid supply unit to a liquid ejection device is provided. A first ink cartridge 100a and a second ink cartridge 100b are attached to a carriage 27 of a printing device 10 via a holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b includes a circuit substrate 130 having a plurality of terminals 151 to 159 which are electrically connected with a device-side terminal assembly 250 provided on the holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b also includes a main engagement part 120 configured to engage with a lever member 230 of the holder structure 200 as an engaged part, such as to limit motion of the circuit substrate 130 away from the holder structure 200. The circuit substrate 130 includes a first terminal 151 and a second terminal 152 located on respective ends in an array direction of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiota, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Shun Oya
  • Publication number: 20170355191
    Abstract: An ink bottle comprises a container main body configured to contain ink that is to be supplied to an ink tank, an ink outlet forming portion provided on an end of the container main body and configured to include an ink outlet that causes the ink to be flowed out from the container main body, and a valve provided in the ink outlet forming portion and configured to seal the ink outlet in an openable and closable manner. The ink outlet is formed in an end face of the ink outlet forming portion. The end face is arranged to face an opposite side of the ink outlet forming portion that is opposite to a container main body side thereof. A first recess is formed in an outer side portion of the ink outlet on the end face to be recessed toward the container main body side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Koichi TOBA, Ryoichi TANAKA, Taku ISHIZAWA, Manabu AKAHANE, Tadashi WATANABE, Noriyuki FUKASAWA
  • Publication number: 20170355196
    Abstract: An ink replenish adjunctive device is used to replenish an ink to an ink tank that includes an ink inlet member having a flow path in an axial direction. The ink replenish adjunctive device includes a connection portion having an end that is connectable to the ink inlet member in a liquid-tight state, and an ink inflow portion that is configured to allow the ink flow toward the connection portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi SHINADA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Taku ISHIZAWA, Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Tadashi WATANABE, Ryoichi TANAKA, Eiko YANAGIDA
  • Publication number: 20170355195
    Abstract: An ink replenish container comprises a container main body that is able to store the ink; and an ink outlet formation member, attached to a front end side of the container main body, to form an ink outlet. The container main body includes a screw formation portion having a screw for engaging with the ink outlet formation member, and a shoulder portion provided on a front end side of the screw formation portion. The ink outlet formation member includes an abutting portion that abuts the shoulder portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Taku ISHIZAWA, Tadashi WATANABE, Ryoichi TANAKA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20170355194
    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: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Taku ISHIZAWA, Tadashi WATANABE, Ryoichi TANAKA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20170341402
    Abstract: It is difficult to reduce the number of parts of a known bottle set. A bottle set includes: a bottle having an ink container capable of containing ink, and a nozzle through which the ink in the ink container can flow out; and a lid member that is attachable to and detachable from the bottle, and can cover the nozzle in a state where the lid member is attached to the bottle. An outflow port from which the ink in the ink container can flow out is formed in the nozzle, the lid member has a sealing portion that seals the outflow port in a state where the lid member is attached to the bottle, and the sealing portion is integrally formed in the lid member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Takumi NAGASHIMA, Tetsuya TAKAMOTO, Hiroyuki NAKAMURA, Tadahiro MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 9827773
    Abstract: A cartridge 4 has liquid supply ports 407b, 407c, 407y and 407m formed on a bottom wall 422 of a casing 420 and configured to be in contact with corresponding liquid introducing parts 710b, 710c, 710y and 710m of a carriage 8. An engagement part 405 is provided on a mounting structure 411 and extends out from a second end wall surface portion 423b of a first end wall 423 intersecting with bottom wall 422. The engagement part is configured to engage the carriage 8. In a plan view of bottom wall 422 of cartridge 4 in a first direction toward bottom wall 422, the distance between a second end wall 424 and a first end wall surface portion 423a of first end wall 423 is set to be greater than the distance between the second end wall 424 and the second end wall surface portion 423b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Atsushi Kobayashi, Yoshinao Miyata, Shun Oya
  • Patent number: 9827776
    Abstract: A cartridge manufacturing method is a method for manufacturing a cartridge having a case, a chamber adapted to be filled with printing material, a supply port that leads the printing material inside the chamber to outside the case, a flexible sheet member that constitutes at least a portion of the chamber, and a biasing member that biases the sheet member in the direction that expands the capacity of the chamber. a filling port that communicates with the inside of the chamber is formed in the case, and the filling port is closed after the printing material is filled from the filling port to inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakamura, Tadahiro Mizutani, Izumi Nozawa, Atsushi Kobayashi, Hidetoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 9776418
    Abstract: A cartridge manufacturing method is a method for manufacturing a cartridge having a case, a chamber adapted to filled with printing material, a supply port for leading the printing material inside the chamber to outside the case, a flexible sheet member constituting at least a portion of the chamber, and a biasing member that biases the sheet member in the direction that expands the capacity of the chamber. Pressure is made to act on the printing material, and the printing material is filled from the supply port to inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakamura, Tadahiro Mizutani, Izumi Nozawa, Atsushi Kobayashi, Hidetoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 9694588
    Abstract: A technique of enhancing attachment of a liquid supply unit to a liquid ejection device is provided. A first cartridge 100a and a second cartridge 100b are attached to a carriage 27 of a printing device 27 via a holder structure 200. The holder structure 200 has a lever member 230 rotated and moved to engage with a main engagement part 120 of each of the first and the second cartridges 100a and 100b. Each of the first and the second cartridges 100a and 100b has a first side wall portion 125 and a second side wall portion 126 configured to press the lever member 230 and rotate and move the lever member 230 forward in the course of attachment of the first or the second cartridge 100a or 100b to the holder structure 200. A rotation axis RX of the lever member 230 is located at a position closer to an ink supply port 110 or 110a than the first side wall portion 125 and the second side wall portion 126 in the course of attachment of the first or the second cartridge 100a or 100b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiota, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Shun Oya
  • Publication number: 20170173966
    Abstract: A liquid containing member that can supply a liquid having a uniform concentration of a precipitating component to a liquid ejecting portion is provided. A liquid containing member includes: a liquid containing portion that can contain ink; a liquid supply port for supplying the ink contained in the liquid containing portion to a liquid ejection head; and a communication channel that is in communication with the liquid containing portion and the liquid supply port. The communication channel has a first end that is positioned at a lower end on the gravity direction side in the liquid containing portion and can suck the ink, and a second end that is positioned closer to the anti-gravity direction side than the first end is, and can suck the ink, in an in-use state in which the ink is supplied from the liquid supply port to the liquid ejection head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KAWATE, Manabu YAMAGUCHI, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Takuma OZAWA, Satoshi OYA, Hiroyoshi OZEKI
  • Patent number: 9682566
    Abstract: Cartridges 4 and 5 are configured, such that first convex ribs 428a and 528a abut against second wall surfaces 762 of cartridge engagement wall surfaces 760 inclined with respect to a bottom wall 712 of a cartridge attachment structure 7 and move in friction with the second wall surfaces 762. Such abutting and moving causes contact portions of terminals 412 and 512 of circuit substrates 410 and 510 of the respective cartridges 4 and 5 to come into contact with electrode assemblies 810 of a carriage 8. This configuration enhances the reliability of electric connection between a contact portion, such as a circuit substrate, of a liquid supply unit and an electrode assembly, such as contact pins, of a carriage in the course of attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Atsushi Kobayashi, Shun Oya
  • Patent number: 9682565
    Abstract: Cartridges 4 and 5 are configured, such that first convex ribs 428a and 528a abut against second wall surfaces 762 of cartridge engagement wall surfaces 760 inclined with respect to a bottom wall 712 of a cartridge attachment structure 7 and move in friction with the second wall surfaces 762. Such abutting and moving causes contact portions of terminals 412 and 512 of circuit substrates 410 and 510 of the respective cartridges 4 and 5 to come into contact with electrode assemblies 810 of a carriage 8. This configuration enhances the reliability of electric connection between a contact portion, such as a circuit substrate, of a liquid supply unit and an electrode assembly, such as contact pins, of a carriage in the course of attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Atsushi Kobayashi, Shun Oya
  • Publication number: 20170151795
    Abstract: A technique of enhancing attachment of a liquid supply unit to a liquid ejection device is provided. A first ink cartridge 100a and a second ink cartridge 100b are attached to a carriage 27 of a printing device 10 via a holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b includes a circuit substrate 130 having a plurality of terminals 151 to 159 which are electrically connected with a device-side terminal assembly 250 provided on the holder structure 200. Each of the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b also includes a main engagement part 120 configured to engage with a lever member 230 of the holder structure 200 as an engaged part, such as to limit motion of the circuit substrate 130 away from the holder structure 200. The circuit substrate 130 includes a first terminal 151 and a second terminal 152 located on respective ends in an array direction of the terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiota, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Shun Oya
  • Publication number: 20170151799
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejection device including a liquid container tray that can suppress change in orientation and position of a liquid container on a support surface due to the difference in size of the liquid container. The liquid ejection device includes: a casing including a guide wall: a liquid container tray configured to support a liquid container: and a recording head that ejects liquid supplied from the liquid container that is supported by the liquid container tray to a medium. The liquid container tray is configured to be inserted to or removed from a casing along the guide wall, and includes a support surface that supports the liquid container and a movable wall configured to move in at least one direction on the support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu YAMAGUCHI, Tadahiro MIZUTANI, Hiroyuki KAWATE, Hiroyoshi OZEKI, Kotoya ARUGA
  • Patent number: 9649847
    Abstract: A cartridge that is configured and arranged to be mounted on a printer that has a first ink supply pipe and a second ink supply pipe includes a bottom wall, a plurality of printing material supply ports, a single main chamber, and a plurality of flow paths. The plurality of the printing material supply ports are provided on the bottom wall. The plurality of the printing material supply ports protrude from the bottom wall in a ?Z axial direction and are aligned in a Y axial direction perpendicular to the ?Z axial direction. The single main chamber is configured and arranged to contain a printing material. The plurality of the flow paths communicate with the single main chamber and the plurality of the printing material supply ports, respectively, and the plurality of the flow paths are aligned in the Y axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Izumi Nozawa, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9636917
    Abstract: A liquid supply unit is provided with a first liquid housing chamber having a liquid supply part, a second liquid housing chamber, and a liquid communication part bringing the first liquid housing chamber and the second liquid housing chamber into communication, and a gap which receives a partition wall is formed between a first outer wall that defines the first liquid housing chamber and a second outer wall that defines the second liquid housing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tadahiro Mizutani