Patents by Inventor Taro Nagano

Taro Nagano 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: 20250242584
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes: a channel member; piezoelectric elements; and a controller. The channel member has a common channel, individual channels each communicating with one of nozzles. The individual channels include first to fourth individual channels, the common channel has first to fourth connection ports to which the first to fourth individual channels are connected, respectively. A distance between the first and second connection ports is different from a distance between the third and fourth connection ports. The controller drives first and third piezoelectric elements included in the piezoelectric elements and corresponding, respectively, to first and third nozzles included in the nozzles at a first timing, and drives second and fourth piezoelectric elements included in the piezoelectric elements and corresponding, respectively, to second and fourth nozzles included in the nozzles at a second timing delayed from the first timing by a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru NARUSE, Jeongbin LEE, Hiroto SUGAHARA, Taro NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20250170824
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming method executed by an image forming system. The method including applying a first driving waveform to a first actuator at a first timing and applying a second driving waveform to the first actuator at a second timing, and/or applying the first driving waveform to the first actuator and applying the second driving waveform to the second actuator at the first timing. The first/second driving waveform is configured so that, in a case where the first/second driving waveform is continuously applied to the actuator at a driving frequency, an ejecting volume of a droplet ejected thirdly from a nozzle is R1/R2 times of an ejecting volume of a droplet ejected firstly from the nozzle. R1 and R2 are different values from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2024
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto SUGAHARA, Taro NAGANO, Jeongbin LEE, Haru INOUE, Toshiya SAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20240294789
    Abstract: An aqueous ink includes water, a solvent group A having a vapor pressure of 0.07 Pa or more at 25° C., a thickener, and a binder polymer. The solvent group A is present in the aqueous ink in a weight percent of 31.0 wt % to 55.0 wt % with respect to a total amount of the aqueous ink. The thickener is present in the aqueous ink in a weight percent of 13.0 wt % or less with respect to the total amount of the aqueous ink. The aqueous ink has a viscosity of 10 mPa·s to 14 mPa·s at 25° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirofumi KURIKI, Taro NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20240294785
    Abstract: An aqueous ink includes water, a solvent group A having a vapor pressure of 1.0 Pa or more at 25° C., a thickener, and a binder polymer. The solvent group A is present in the aqueous ink in a weight percent of 25.0 wt % to 30.0 wt % with respect to a total amount of the aqueous ink. The thickener is present in the aqueous ink in a weight percent of 13.1 wt % to 27.3 wt % with respect to the total amount of the aqueous ink. The aqueous ink has a viscosity of the aqueous ink is 10 mPa·s to 14 mPa·s at 25° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirofumi KURIKI, Taro NAGANO
  • Patent number: 12030316
    Abstract: A cleaning liquid, usable for cleaning of an ink-jet recording apparatus, includes: a nonionic surfactant, solubility of the nonionic surfactant in water at 20° C. being less than 0.2% by mass; a first water-soluble organic solvent of which solubility parameter is not less than 13; a second water-soluble organic solvent of which solubility parameter is less than 12; and water. The cleaning liquid satisfies the following conditions (1) to (4): X?0.1;??Condition (1): A?B?0;??Condition (2): B/X?15;??Condition (3): 10?A+B?60.??Condition (4): X: a content amount (% by mass) of the nonionic surfactant, A: a content amount (% by mass) of the first water-soluble organic solvent, and B: a content amount (% by mass) of the second water-soluble organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Nagano, Hirofumi Kuriki, Shunichi Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 11987062
    Abstract: A method for correcting an image includes: moving first and second ink jet heads and a medium relative to each other, each of the first and second ink jet heads including nozzles and drive elements corresponding to the nozzles respectively; discharging ink droplets from the nozzles of the first and second ink jet heads, by connecting each of the drive elements to one of power supply circuits and by applying voltage to each of the drive elements, the power supply circuits having different output voltage values each other; determining a density difference between a first image region and a second image region; and switching the voltage to be applied to first drive elements to a first voltage by switching the power supply circuits to be connected to the first drive elements based on the density difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daiki Kato, Hiroto Sugahara, Taro Nagano
  • Patent number: 11897265
    Abstract: There is provided a cleaning liquid usable for cleaning of an ink-jet recording apparatus, the cleaning liquid including: a first water-soluble organic solvent, a vapor pressure at 20° C. of the first water-soluble organic solvent being not less than 7 Pa; a second water-soluble organic solvent, a vapor pressure at 20° C. of the second water-soluble organic solvent being not more than 1 Pa; a nonionic surfactant; and water. The cleaning liquid satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): Condition (1): 10?A+B?60; Condition (2): A/B?1; Condition (3): (A+B)/C?10. In the conditions (1) to (3), A: a content amount (% by mass) of the first water-soluble organic solvent, B: a content amount (% by mass) of the second water-soluble organic solvent, and C: a content amount (% by mass) of the nonionic surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Nagano, Hirofumi Kuriki, Shunichi Higashiyama
  • Publication number: 20230091544
    Abstract: A method for correcting an image includes: moving first and second ink jet heads and a medium relative to each other, each of the first and second ink jet heads including nozzles and drive elements corresponding to the nozzles respectively; discharging ink droplets from the nozzles of the first and second ink jet heads, by connecting each of the drive elements to one of power supply circuits and by applying voltage to each of the drive elements, the power supply circuits having different output voltage values each other; determining a density difference between a first image region and a second image region; and switching the voltage to be applied to first drive elements to a first voltage by switching the power supply circuits to be connected to the first drive elements based on the density difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: DAIKI KATO, HIROTO SUGAHARA, TARO NAGANO
  • Patent number: 11420441
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: power supply circuits including at least first and second power supply circuits; a head including nozzles, the nozzles forming groups arranged in a first direction, each of the groups including nozzle arrays arranged in the first direction, each of the nozzle arrays extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and each of the nozzles being associated with any of the power supply circuits; and a memory storing information. The information indicates correspondence relationships between the nozzles and the power supply circuits, between the nozzles and the groups, and between the nozzles and the nozzle arrays. Printing is performed by driving the head based on the information. The groups include a first group and a second group adjacent to each other in the first direction. The first group includes a first nozzle array adjacent to the second group in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haru Inoue, Hiroto Sugahara, Taro Nagano, Daiki Kato
  • Patent number: 11338580
    Abstract: A printing apparatus has a conveyance roller configured to convey a sheet in a first direction, an encoder provided at the conveyance roller, a head having a plurality of nozzles aligned in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and being configured to jet liquid to the sheet which is conveyed in the first direction by the conveyance roller and a controller having a power circuit configured to apply voltage to the head for jetting the liquid. The controller is configured to: determine a jetting frequency for the head based on a signal outputted from the encoder; and change an output voltage of the power circuit depending on the determined jetting frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Makino, Taro Nagano, Daiki Kato, Haru Inoue, Jeongbin Lee
  • Publication number: 20220111653
    Abstract: There is provided a cleaning liquid usable for cleaning of an ink-jet recording apparatus, the cleaning liquid including: a first water-soluble organic solvent, a vapor pressure at 20° C. of the first water-soluble organic solvent being not less than 7 Pa; a second water-soluble organic solvent, a vapor pressure at 20° C. of the second water-soluble organic solvent being not more than 1 Pa; a nonionic surfactant; and water. The cleaning liquid satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): Condition (1): 10?A+B?60; Condition (2): A/B?1; Condition (3): (A+B)/C?10. In the conditions (1) to (3), A: a content amount (% by mass) of the first water-soluble organic solvent, B: a content amount (% by mass) of the second water-soluble organic solvent, and C: a content amount (% by mass) of the nonionic surfactant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Taro Nagano, Hirofumi Kuriki, Shunichi Higashiyama
  • Publication number: 20220112390
    Abstract: A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes: a water-soluble organic solvent; water; and a surfactant having solubility in the water at 20° C. in a range of 0.05% by mass to 0.2% by mass, a content amount of the surfactant in an entire amount of the water-based ink being not less than 1% by mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kuriki, Shunichi Higashiyama, Taro Nagano
  • Publication number: 20220111654
    Abstract: A cleaning liquid, usable for cleaning of an ink-jet recording apparatus, includes: a nonionic surfactant, solubility of the nonionic surfactant in water at 20° C. being less than 0.2% by mass; a first water-soluble organic solvent of which solubility parameter is not less than 13; a second water-soluble organic solvent of which solubility parameter is less than 12; and water. The cleaning liquid satisfies the following conditions (1) to (4): X?0.1;??Condition (1): A?B?0;??Condition (2): B/X?15;??Condition (3): 10?A+B?60.??Condition (4): X: a content amount (% by mass) of the nonionic surfactant, A: a content amount (% by mass) of the first water-soluble organic solvent, and B: a content amount (% by mass) of the second water-soluble organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Taro Nagano, Hirofumi Kuriki, Shunichi Higashiyama
  • Publication number: 20220112389
    Abstract: A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes: a liquid component which is liquid at 20° C.; and a solid component which is solid at 20° C. The liquid component includes: a first water-soluble organic solvent of which vapor pressure at 20° C. is not less than 7 Pa; a second water-soluble organic solvent of which vapor pressure at 20° C. is not more than 1 Pa; and water. The solid component includes at least one resin selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid-based resin, maleate ester-based resin, vinyl acetate-based resin, carbonate-based resin, styrene-based resin, ethylene-based resin, propylene-based resin, urethane-based resin, vinyl chloride-based resin and copolymer resin thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kuriki, Shunichi Higashiyama, Taro Nagano
  • Publication number: 20210060951
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: power supply circuits including at least first and second power supply circuits; a head including nozzles, the nozzles forming groups arranged in a first direction, each of the groups including nozzle arrays arranged in the first direction, each of the nozzle arrays extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, each of the nozzles being associated with any of the power supply circuits; and a memory storing information. The information indicates correspondence relationships between the nozzles and the power supply circuits, between the nozzles and the groups, and between the nozzles and the nozzle arrays. Printing is performed by driving the head based on the information. The groups include a first group and a second group adjacent to each other in the first direction. The first group includes a first nozzle array adjacent to the second group in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haru Inoue, Hiroto Sugahara, Taro Nagano, Daiki Kato
  • Publication number: 20200307191
    Abstract: A printing apparatus has a conveyance roller configured to convey a sheet in a first direction, an encoder provided at the conveyance roller, a head having a plurality of nozzles aligned in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and being configured to jet liquid to the sheet which is conveyed in the first direction by the conveyance roller and a controller having a power circuit configured to apply voltage to the head for jetting the liquid. The controller is configured to: determine a jetting frequency for the head based on a signal outputted from the encoder; and change an output voltage of the power circuit depending on the determined jetting frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Masahiro Makino, Taro Nagano, Daiki Kato, Haru Inoue, Jeongbin Lee
  • Patent number: 9809031
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber, a partitioning wall partitioning the liquid chamber into a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber, a communication opening through which liquid can flow from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber, and a movable member which is movable between a block position and a communication position. When the movable member is in the block position, the movable member is configured to prevent the liquid from flowing from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber through the communication opening, and when the movable member is in the communication position, the liquid is allowed to flow from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber through the communication opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Suguru Tomoguchi, Kenta Hayashida, Taro Nagano, Ayako Ohishi, Hirofumi Kondo, Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 9732245
    Abstract: A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a colorant, water, a surfactant, and a compound represented by the following formula (1). In the formula (1), R is an alkyl ether group or an alkyl ester group in which a number of carbon atoms of a main chain is not less than 6, and each of an alkyl group of the alkyl ether group and an alkyl group of the alkyl ester group is in a straight chain form or a branched chain form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuka Tsuzaka, Taro Nagano
  • Patent number: 9550367
    Abstract: A liquid consuming apparatus includes a liquid container, a detector, and a controller. The liquid container includes a movable member, and the movable member includes a detection portion. The detector is configured to output a detection signal based on the presence or absence of the detection portion in a detection position. The controller is configured to measure, based on the detection signal output from the detector, a physical quantity, based on which a velocity of the detection portion can be specified, and is configured to determine whether the physical quantity is within a threshold range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Kenta Hayashida, Taro Nagano, Ayako Ohishi, Hirofumi Kondo, Suguru Tomoguchi
  • Patent number: 9393801
    Abstract: A liquid consuming apparatus includes a liquid cartridge including a capillary portion having a first end configured to be in communication with the liquid chamber and a second end configured to be in communication with the atmosphere outside the liquid cartridge. The apparatus also includes a detector configured to output a detection signal based on the presence or absence of the liquid in a detection position in the capillary portion and a controller configured to measure, based on the detection signal output from the detector, a physical quantity, based on which a velocity of liquid moving in the capillary portion can be specified and determine whether the physical quantity is within a threshold range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kondo, Kenta Hayashida, Taro Nagano, Ayako Ohishi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Hiroto Sugahara