Patents by Inventor Takeo Seino

Takeo Seino 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: 7547097
    Abstract: In a first preliminary filling step, ink edge is moved to a position between first and second pressure chambers in an ink supply passage and the second pressure chamber is filled preliminarily with the ink. In a second preliminary filling step, the ink edge is moved to a position between the first pressure chamber and a nozzle in the ink supply passage. Meanwhile, bubbles are discharged from the second pressure chamber and the first pressure chamber is preliminarily filled with the ink. Finally, in the complete filling step, the supply passage is filled entirely with the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Tsukada, Takeo Seino
  • Patent number: 7490929
    Abstract: An ink cartridge and an ink cartridge holder maintain the relative position between the information reading section of the ink cartridge holder and the information storing unit of the ink cartridge, which should be aligned accurately, even if the ink cartridge has instability to the ink cartridge holder due to variation in each product. The ink cartridge which supplies ink to a recording apparatus includes: a substantially rectangular parallelepiped ink cartridge main body holding ink; a connection electrode section provided on part of a first side of the ink cartridge main body and including a connection terminal; an ink supply unit provided in a front surface intersecting the first wall; and a positioning section guiding a positioning member of the recording apparatus to the vicinity of the connection electrode on the front surface so that the positioning member opposes the connection electrode section in the direction parallel with the connection electrode section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Seino, Satoshi Fujioka
  • Patent number: 7488067
    Abstract: This invention relates to a liquid container, a liquid ejection device and a liquid container case, which may effectively use a liquid stored in the liquid container, and may be reduced in size in simple constitution. An ink cartridge as a liquid container includes a plurality of ink packs and a container case for storing the ink packs. Each ink pack includes an ink outlet member having an ink supply port, which is mounted on a bag part. The container case has a substantially box-shaped case body part and a lid case covering an opening. In the ink cartridge, the ink packs are inclined at an angle of q to the container case, and the ink packs are accommodated in the state of overlapping a part of the adjacent ink pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Takeo Seino, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20090027467
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Munehide Kanaya, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Hiroshige Owaki, Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada
  • Publication number: 20090021564
    Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a fluid containing portion, a fluid discharging portion, a flow passage forming portion and a valve mechanism. The fluid containing portion contains fluid. The fluid discharging portion discharges the fluid. The flow passage forming portion forms a fluid flow passage that extends from the fluid containing portion to the fluid discharging portion. The valve mechanism is able to open or close the fluid flow passage. The fluid ejecting apparatus is placed in an initial state before an initial use of the fluid ejecting apparatus, wherein fluid is contained in the fluid containing portion and at least portion of the fluid flow passage from a position of the fluid containing portion to a position of the valve mechanism is filled with the fluid and the fluid flow passage is closed by the valve mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo SEINO, Taro TAKEKOSHI, Norihisa KOBAYASHI, Noritsuna ROKUHARA
  • Publication number: 20080273048
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container is constructed such that pressurized fluid is sent to its inside so that the liquid in the inside is delivered to the outside. The liquid container includes a container body which stores the liquid in its inside. The container body includes a pressurized fluid introduction port for introducing the pressurized fluid to the inside and a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the outside. A detection unit is provided in the container body and outputs an output signal which is changed in accordance with a change in pressure of the liquid in the inside of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Takahiro Naka, Takahiro Katakura, Atsushi Kobayashi, Satoshi Shinada, Toshio Kumagai, Taku Ishizawa, Takeo Seino, Hisashi Miyazawa, Takakazu Fukano, Hitotoshi Kimura, Yasunao Uehara, Masahide Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 7438401
    Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid container that can be removably held in a liquid container accommodation portion by pushing the container in an insertion direction. The liquid container is mounted on a carriage having a container accommodation region. A one-push type fixing member in a position facing a surface parallel to an insertion direction in which the container is inserted into the container accommodation region is engaged with a fixing protrusion forming another one-push type fixing member and cooperating with the first-mentioned one-push type fixing member, so that the container is held in a predetermined position in a state in which the container is resiliently urged by a spring in a direction opposite to the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Seino, Hitotoshi Kimura, Kazumasa Harada, Kazuhiro Hashii, Atsuhiko Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20080239039
    Abstract: A second sealing film F2 is thermally bonded onto a leading end portion R1 of an ink lead-out member 32b of an ink pack and an annular projecting portion R2 provided on an ink casing 31. Thereby, a gap D produced between the ink lead-out member 32b and the ink casing 31 can be closed from outside the ink casing 31. Accordingly, the airtightness of a space S in the ink casing 31 is kept, thus making it possible to raise the pressure in the space S and generate such a force as to crush the ink pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Takeo Seino, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 7404628
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container is constructed such that pressurized fluid is sent to its inside so that the liquid in the inside is delivered to the outside. The liquid container includes a container body which stores the liquid in its inside. The container body includes a pressurized fluid introduction port for introducing the pressurized fluid to the inside and a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the outside. A detection unit is provided in the container body and outputs an output signal which is changed in accordance with a change in pressure of the liquid in the inside of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Naka, Takahiro Katakura, Atsushi Kobayashi, Satoshi Shinada, Toshio Kumagai, Taku Ishizawa, Takeo Seino, Hisashi Miyazawa, Takakazu Fukano, Hitotoshi Kimura, Yasunao Uehara, Masahide Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 7387377
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a liquid cartridge for storing a liquid, a liquid ejection head for ejecting the liquid toward a target, a liquid supply path for guiding the liquid to the liquid ejection head from the liquid cartridge, and a capping device for drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head. The liquid supply path comprises a plurality of wall surfaces, and a part of the wall surface is formed of a flexible member that is flexed by the inside-and-outside pressure difference of the liquid supply path. A pressure pump for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the liquid supply path in the upstream side of the flexible member is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichiro Yoshino, Toshio Kumagai, Takeo Seino, Koji Morikoshi, Taisuke Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080136883
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a liquid cartridge for storing a liquid, a liquid ejection head for ejecting the liquid toward a target, a liquid supply path for guiding the liquid to the liquid ejection head from the liquid cartridge, and a capping device for drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head. The liquid supply path comprises a plurality of wall surfaces, and a part of the wall surface is formed of a flexible member that is flexed by the inside-and-outside pressure difference of the liquid supply path. A pressure pump for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the liquid supply path in the upstream side of the flexible member is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichiro Yoshio, Toshio Kumagai, Takeo Seino, Koji Morikoshi
  • Publication number: 20080136863
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a liquid cartridge for storing a liquid, a liquid ejection head for ejecting the liquid toward a target, a liquid supply path for guiding the liquid to the liquid ejection head from the liquid cartridge, and a capping device for drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head. The liquid supply path comprises a plurality of wall surfaces, and a part of the wall surface is formed of a flexible member that is flexed by the inside-and-outside pressure difference of the liquid supply path. A pressure pump for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the liquid supply path in the upstream side of the flexible member is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichiro Yoshino, Toshio Kumagai, Takeo Seino, Koji Morikoshi
  • Patent number: 7384133
    Abstract: A second sealing film F2 is thermally bonded onto a leading end portion R1 of an ink lead-out member 32b of an ink pack and an annular projecting portion R2 provided on an ink casing 31. Thereby, a gap D produced between the ink lead-out member 32b and the ink casing 31 can be closed from outside the ink casing 31. Accordingly, the airtightness of a space S in the ink casing 31 is kept, thus making it possible to raise the pressure in the space S and generate such a force as to crush the ink pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Takeo Seino, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20080036834
    Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer having a housing having at least one wall. The ink cartridge further has at least two ink chambers for containing different ink accommodated in the housing. Ink supply ports are formed in one wall of the housing within each of the ink chambers. Each of the ink supply ports has an inner opening and an outer opening. The distance from the inner opening of a first ink supply port to that of a second ink supply port adjacent to the first ink supply port is different from a second distance from the outer opening of the first ink supply opening to that of the second ink supply port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Minoru Usui, Satoshi Shinada, Takahiro Naka, Hisashi Miyazawa, Takeo Seino, Hisashi Koike, Takao Kobayashi, Masahiro Kanai, Yasuko Hirano, Yasushi Akasuka, Takayuki Iijima, Noriaki Okazawa, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Yasuhiro Ogura
  • Publication number: 20080030558
    Abstract: Since a bypass flowing passage which communicates with the inside of a bag part not through a second valve mechanism is provided for an outlet part, ink can be filled from the outlet part into the bag part in spite of the existence of the second valve mechanism. Further, after an ink pack that has been yet filled with ink has been housed in an inner case, the ink is filled into the ink pack. Therefore, when a first seal film is welded to the inner case, since the bag part is not bulky, the ends of the bag part are caught in a cartridge case. Therefore, the maximum amount of ink for the inner volume of the cartridge case can be filled. Further, since a bypass flowing passage is blocked after the ink has filled into the ink pack, contamination of air bubbles into the bag part through the bypass flowing passage is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Takeo Seino, Hitotoshi Kimura, Taku Ishizawa, Yasunao Uehara, Masahide Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 7325915
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Munehide Kanaya, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Hiroshige Owaki, Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada
  • Publication number: 20080024572
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a container body formed with a liquid supply port, and a container-side fixing structure which releasably regulates movement of the liquid container in an outward pulling direction in cooperation with apparatus-side fixing structure provided for the container mounting part in a state where the liquid container is mounted onto the container mounting part. The container-side fixing structure has a guide groove into which a fixing pin of the apparatus-side fixing structure can be inserted, and which guides the fixing pin in mounting and removal operations of the liquid container to and from the container mounting part. The guide groove includes a fixing part which engages the fixing pin to regulate the movement of the liquid container in the pulling direction in the state where the liquid container is mounted to the container mounting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Hitotoshi Kimura, Taku Ishizawa, Satoshi Shinada, Takeo Seino
  • Patent number: 7300142
    Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer having a housing having at least one wall. The ink cartridge further has at least two ink chambers for containing different ink accommodated in the housing. Ink supply ports are formed in one wall of the housing within each of the ink chambers. Each of the ink supply ports has an inner opening and an outer opening. The distance from the inner opening of a first ink supply port to that of a second ink supply port adjacent to the first ink supply port is different from a second distance from the outer opening of the first ink supply opening to that of the second ink supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Usui, Satoshi Shinada, Takahiro Naka, Hisashi Miyazawa, Takeo Seino, Hisashi Koike, Takao Kobayashi, Masahiro Kanai, Yasuko Hirano, Yasushi Akatsuka, Takayuki Iijima, Noriaki Okazawa, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Yasuhiro Ogura
  • Patent number: 7293864
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a container body (2) formed with a liquid supply port (3), and a container-side fixing structure (7) which releasably regulates movement of the liquid container in an outward pulling direction in cooperation with apparatus-side fixing structure provided for the container mounting part in a state where the liquid container is mounted onto the container mounting part. The container-side fixing structure (7) has a guide groove (16) into which a fixing pin of the apparatus-side fixing structure can be inserted, and which guides the fixing pin in mounting and removal operations of the liquid container to and from the container mounting part. The guide groove (16) includes a fixing part (18) which engages the fixing pin to regulate the movement of the liquid container (1) in the pulling direction in the state where the liquid container is mounted to the container mounting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corpoation
    Inventors: Hitotoshi Kimura, Taku Ishizawa, Satoshi Shinada, Takeo Seino
  • Patent number: 7293863
    Abstract: A bypass flowing passage communicating with the inside of a bag part not through a second valve mechanism is provided for an outlet part 12, and ink can be filled from the outlet part into the bag part 11 despite the second valve mechanism V2. After an ink pack is housed in an inner case ink is filled into the ink pack. When a first seal film is welded to the inner case, the ends of the bag part are caught in a cartridge case because the bag part is not bulky. Therefore, the maximum amount of ink for the inner volume of the cartridge case can be filled. Further, since a bypass flowing passage is blocked after ink has filled the ink pack, contaminating of air bubbles into the bag part through the bypass flowing passage is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Seino, Hitotoshi Kimura, Taku Ishizawa, Yasunao Uehara, Masahide Matsuyama