Patents by Inventor Takahiro MIYAO

Takahiro MIYAO 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: 10384459
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumio Nakazawa, Suguru Tomoguchi, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi, Akihito Ono, Takahiro Miyao
  • Patent number: 10363750
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge a printing fluid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a printing fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction. The printing fluid cartridge includes: a storage chamber, a supply portion, a rear surface, an upper surface, an electrical interface, a locking surface, one protrusion, and another protrusion. The storage chamber is configured to store printing fluid. The one protrusion and the another protrusion define a plurality of imaginary planes each of which passes through the one protrusion and the another protrusion. The plurality of imaginary planes includes a specific imaginary plane. The specific imaginary plane is positioned higher than any other imaginary plane between the one protrusion and the another protrusion. The electrical interface is positioned downward relative to the specific imaginary plane in the gravitational direction in the attached posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Miyao
  • Patent number: 10343410
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing; and a liquid supply portion. The cartridge casing has a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid therein. The cartridge casing has an inner surface defining the liquid storage chamber. The liquid supply portion has a liquid supply hole extending in a frontward direction from the liquid storage chamber to an outside in an operational posture of the liquid cartridge. The frontward direction is perpendicular to a gravitational direction. The inner surface includes a side surface and a bottom surface in the operational posture of the liquid cartridge. The bottom surface has a curved region connected to the side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyao, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 10343413
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section including a casing, a movable member, and an urging member. The casing includes a liquid chamber storing liquid therein; a liquid passage extending in a first direction in an upright posture, and a top surface. The top surface faces upward in the upright posture and formed with a recess. The movable member has a light blocking portion. The light blocking portion in the upright posture is configured to move between a first position and a second position. At least a part of the light blocking portion in the first position is positioned above the top surface in the upright posture. The urging member is configured to urge the movable member toward the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Publication number: 20190152228
    Abstract: The liquid cartridge includes: a front surface facing in an insertion direction intersecting a gravitational direction; a rear surface spaced apart from the front surface in the insertion direction; an upper surface facing upward; a liquid supply portion disposed at the front surface; an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface; and a movable member including a detection portion. The movable member is movable between a first position and a second position. The movable member at the second position is positioned upstream in the insertion direction relative to the electrical interface. The movable member at the first position has a portion whose widthwise position is coincident with the electrical interface in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the insertion direction and the gravitational direction. The portion of the movable member at the first position is located downstream in the insertion direction or upward relative to the electrical interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO
  • Publication number: 20190100020
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction includes a casing, and a lever supported by the casing. The lever is pivotable about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position. The lever includes a light-blocking portion configured to block or attenuate light traveling in a widthwise direction crossing the insertion direction and a gravitational direction, and a force-receiving portion positioned closer to a front wall of the casing than the light-blocking portion is to the front wall in the insertion direction. The light-blocking portion is positioned lower at the second position than at the first position. The pivot axis is positioned frontward of the light-blocking portion and rearward of the force-receiving portion in the insertion direction. The lever pivots from the second position to the first position upon application of an external force to the force-receiving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Akihito ONO, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Kosuke NUKUI
  • Publication number: 20190100015
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section including a casing and a light blocking portion. The casing includes a liquid chamber; a liquid passage extending in a first direction; and a top surface facing upward. The light blocking portion is deformable between a non-deformed state and a deformed state. The light blocking portion, at least in the non-deformed state, is configured to block or attenuate light emitted from the cartridge-attachment section and traveling in a widthwise direction crossing the first direction and a gravitational direction in an upright posture. The light blocking portion in the non-deformed state is configured to be deformed to the deformed state by an external force. The light blocking portion returns to the non-deformed state when the external force is removed from the light blocking portion in the deformed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Publication number: 20190100014
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a head which jets liquid supplied from a liquid tank; a memory which stores pieces of reference data; and a controller which estimates viscosity of the liquid in the liquid tank every time a predefined time passes. The controller acquires a total supply amount or cumulative supply amount of the liquid supplied from the liquid tank and a supply amount of the liquid per unit time within the predefined time, estimates a viscosity change amount of the liquid in the liquid tank based on the cumulative supply amount acquired, the supply amount per unit time acquired, and the pieces of reference data, and estimates the viscosity of the liquid in the liquid tank based on the viscosity change amount estimated and the viscosity of the liquid in the liquid tank at an initial timing point or a most-recent estimation timing point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Mikio Ogawa, Takahiro Miyao
  • Publication number: 20190100019
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section including a casing, a movable member, and an urging member. The casing includes a liquid chamber storing liquid therein; a liquid passage extending in a first direction in an upright posture, and a top surface. The top surface faces upward in the upright posture and formed with a recess. The movable member has a light blocking portion. The light blocking portion in the upright posture is configured to move between a first position and a second position. At least a part of the light blocking portion in the first position is positioned above the top surface in the upright posture. The urging member is configured to urge the movable member toward the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro MIYAO, Akihito ONO, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Kosuke NUKUI
  • Publication number: 20190100018
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and accommodated in the cartridge-attachment section in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes a casing, a movable member movably supported by the casing, and a circuit board provided at the movable member and facing upward in the upright posture. The movable member includes a receiving portion providing a receiving space that is open in the insertion direction and in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the insertion direction and the gravitational direction for receiving a protruding portion of the cartridge-attachment section in the insertion direction and in the widthwise direction. The receiving portion has a contact surface defining the receiving space and facing downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Akihito ONO, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Kosuke NUKUI
  • Publication number: 20190100017
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a chamber, a liquid outflow path, a circuit board, a first surface and a second surface. The chamber stores liquid. The liquid outflow path extends from the chamber to an outlet formed at the liquid outflow path. The outlet is to communicate with an exterior of the liquid cardtirdge and faces frontward. The circuit board is disposed rearward relative to the outlet. The first surface faces at least upwardly. The second surface faces at least rearwardly. The circuit board includes at least one of the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO
  • Patent number: 10220629
    Abstract: The liquid cartridge includes: a front surface facing in an insertion direction intersecting a gravitational direction; a rear surface spaced apart from the front surface in the insertion direction; an upper surface facing upward; a liquid supply portion disposed at the front surface; an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface; and a movable member including a detection portion. The movable member is movable between a first position and a second position. The movable member at the second position is positioned upstream in the insertion direction relative to the electrical interface. The movable member at the first position has a portion whose widthwise position is coincident with the electrical interface in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the insertion direction and the gravitational direction. The portion of the movable member at the first position is located downstream in the insertion direction or upward relative to the electrical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Akihito Ono, Takahiro Miyao
  • Publication number: 20180272741
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Naoya OKAZAKI, Akihito ONO, Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroshi TAIRA, Toyonori SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20180272725
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing; and a liquid supply portion. The cartridge casing has a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid therein. The cartridge casing has an inner surface defining the liquid storage chamber. The liquid supply portion has a liquid supply hole extending in a frontward direction from the liquid storage chamber to an outside in an operational posture of the liquid cartridge. The frontward direction is perpendicular to a gravitational direction. The inner surface includes a side surface and a bottom surface in the operational posture of the liquid cartridge. The bottom surface has a curved region connected to the side surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro MIYAO, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Akihito ONO, Kosuke NUKUI
  • Publication number: 20180272724
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber defined by a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall; and a liquid supply portion; a top wall; and an accessed member. The liquid supply portion has a liquid supply hole extending from the liquid storage chamber to the outside in a frontward direction. The front, rear, first side, and second side walls are formed of a material permitting the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to be visually recognized from the outside. Each of the front, rear, first side, and second side walls includes a portion forming an outer wall of the cartridge casing exposed to the outside of the cartridge casing. The accessed member is disposed upward relative to the liquid storage chamber and accessed from the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Akihito ONO, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Fumio NAKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20180178530
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Naoya OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20180178528
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumio NAKAZAWA, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO
  • Publication number: 20180178534
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Takahiro MIYAO
  • Publication number: 20180178527
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge a printing fluid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a printing fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction. The printing fluid cartridge includes: a storage chamber, a supply portion, a rear surface, an upper surface, an electrical interface, a locking surface, one protrusion, and another protrusion. The storage chamber is configured to store printing fluid. The one protrusion and the another protrusion define a plurality of imaginary planes each of which passes through the one protrusion and the another protrusion. The plurality of imaginary planes includes a specific imaginary plane. The specific imaginary plane is positioned higher than any other imaginary plane between the one protrusion and the another protrusion. The electrical interface is positioned downward relative to the specific imaginary plane in the gravitational direction in the attached posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro MIYAO
  • Publication number: 20180093482
    Abstract: The liquid cartridge includes: a front surface facing in an insertion direction intersecting a gravitational direction; a rear surface spaced apart from the front surface in the insertion direction; an upper surface facing upward; a liquid supply portion disposed at the front surface; an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface; and a movable member including a detection portion. The movable member is movable between a first position and a second position. The movable member at the second position is positioned upstream in the insertion direction relative to the electrical interface. The movable member at the first position has a portion whose widthwise position is coincident with the electrical interface in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the insertion direction and the gravitational direction. The portion of the movable member at the first position is located downstream in the insertion direction or upward relative to the electrical interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO