Patents by Inventor Tetsuro Kobayashi

Tetsuro Kobayashi 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: 20200001611
    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 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Takahiro MIYAO
  • Patent number: 10513124
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Publication number: 20190366726
    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: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro MIYAO, Akihito ONO, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Kosuke NUKUI
  • Patent number: 10493767
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into an attachment portion of a printing device in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and attached to the attachment portion in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber, a liquid passage, a substrate, a contact, and a memory electrically connected to the contact. The liquid passage extends forward in the insertion direction from the liquid chamber. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The first surface includes: a first region facing upward in the upright posture; and a second region aligned with the first region in the insertion direction in the upright posture. The second region has flexibility. The contact is formed on the first region of the substrate. The memory is mounted on the second surface or on the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Takahiro Miyao, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10493765
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Fumio Nakazawa, Naoya Okazaki, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroshi Taira, Toyonori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10479095
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Hiroaki Takahashi, Akihito Ono, Takahiro Miyao, Suguru Tomoguchi, Kosuke Nukui, Naoya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 10449771
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20190299637
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into an attachment portion of a printing device in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and attached to the attachment portion in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber storing liquid therein, a liquid passage extending forward in the insertion direction from the liquid chamber, a substrate, a contact and a memory electrically connected to the contact. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The first surface includes: a first region facing upward; and a second region lower than the first region in the upright posture. The contact is formed on the first region and is electrically connectable to a contact of the printing device. The memory is mounted on the substrate at a position lower than the contact of the cartridge in the upright posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20190299627
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into an attachment portion of a printing device in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and attached to the attachment portion in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber, a liquid passage, a substrate, a contact, and a memory electrically connected to the contact. The liquid passage extends forward in the insertion direction from the liquid chamber. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The first surface includes: a first region facing upward in the upright posture; and a second region aligned with the first region in the insertion direction in the upright posture. The second region has flexibility. The contact is formed on the first region of the substrate. The memory is mounted on the second surface or on the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20190299628
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is insertable into an attachment portion of a printing device in an insertion direction and attached thereto in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes: a housing defining a liquid chamber; a substrate; a contact; and a memory electrically connected to the contact. The substrate in the upright posture defines a sloped surface facing upward and sloping relative to a first imaginary plane extending in the insertion direction and a widthwise direction orthogonal to the insertion direction and a gravitational direction. The contact is formed on the sloped surface. An acute angle formed between the sloped surface and the first imaginary plane is greater than an acute angle formed between the first imaginary plane and a second imaginary plane passing through: a contact point between the contact and a contact of the device; and a lower end of a wall constituting a holder of the attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro MIYAO, Akihito ONO, Kosuke NUKUI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 10421284
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 10391777
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Fumio Nakazawa, Suguru Tomoguchi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Akihito Ono, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Takahiro Miyao
  • Patent number: 10391778
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a casing including a liquid chamber; a liquid supply portion; a deformable member; a movable member; and an urging member. An internal pressure of the chamber is reduced as liquid flows out of the chamber. The deformable member protrudes from the casing in a cross direction crossing forward and rearward directions and has an internal space in communication with the chamber. The deformable member has such an elasticity that a dimension thereof in the cross direction becomes smaller as the internal pressure of the chamber is reduced. The movable member includes a detection portion, and a contact portion contacting the deformable member. The contact portion is in contact with the deformable member and disposed at one of positions further forward and further rearward relative to the deformable member. The urging member urges the movable member to move the contact portion toward the deformable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Naoya Okazaki, Akihito Ono, Yuki Takagi, Kosuke Nukui, Mikio Hirano
  • Patent number: 10384460
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a casing including a liquid chamber; a liquid supply portion; a deformable member; a movable member; and a support member. The liquid chamber is configured such that an internal pressure of the liquid chamber is reduced as liquid flows out of the liquid chamber. The liquid supply portion allows liquid in the liquid chamber to flow out of the liquid chamber. The deformable member protrudes further upward relative to an upper surface of the casing. The deformable member has an internal space in communication with the liquid chamber. The deformable member is elastically deformable such that a volume of the internal space is reduced as the internal pressure of the liquid chamber is reduced. The movable member includes a detection portion movable in upward and downward directions in accordance with the elastic deformation of the deformable member. The support member supports the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20190217626
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya OKAZAKI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Akihito ONO, Mikio HIRANO, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Yutao WANG, Tomohiro KANBE
  • 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: 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: 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