Patents by Inventor Tomio Yokoyama

Tomio Yokoyama 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: 8123343
    Abstract: To enable a coupling terminal member of an ink cartridge and a coupling terminal of a printing apparatus to be in certain and increase a degree of freedom on installation position of a coupling terminal member of the cartridge, a cartridge installed in a printing apparatus for supplying the printing apparatus with ink includes an ink cartridge body for containing ink, an ink supply section on which an ink supply opening placed on or near a first sidewall of the ink cartridge body is formed, a memory for storing information on ink in the ink cartridge body, a contact terminal member on a second sidewall of the ink cartridge body coupled to the memory and a positioning member, which protrudes from the second sidewall, for positioning the ink cartridge properly with respect to the printing apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Tomio Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Hashii, Atsuhiko Takeuchi, Kazumasa Harada
  • Publication number: 20090251518
    Abstract: To enable a coupling terminal member of an ink cartridge and a coupling terminal of a printing apparatus to be in certain and increase a degree of freedom on installation position of a coupling terminal member of the cartridge, a cartridge installed in a printing apparatus for supplying the printing apparatus with ink includes an ink cartridge body for containing ink, an ink supply section on which an ink supply opening placed on or near a first sidewall of the ink cartridge body is formed, a memory for storing information on ink in the ink cartridge body, a contact terminal member on a second sidewall of the ink cartridge body coupled to the memory and a positioning member, which protrudes from the second sidewall, for positioning the ink cartridge properly with respect to the printing apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Satoshi SHINADA, Yasuto SAKAI, Tomio YOKOYAMA, Kazuhiro HASHII, Atsuhiko TAKEUCHI, Kazumasa HARADA
  • Patent number: 7553005
    Abstract: To enable a coupling terminal member of an ink cartridge and a coupling terminal of a printing apparatus to be in certain and increase a degree of freedom on installation position of a coupling terminal member of the cartridge, a cartridge installed in a printing apparatus for supplying the printing apparatus with ink includes an ink cartridge body for containing ink, an ink supply section on which an ink supply opening placed on or near a first sidewall of the ink cartridge body is formed, a memory for storing information on ink in the ink cartridge body, a contact terminal member on a second sidewall of the ink cartridge body coupled to the memory and a positioning member, which protrudes from the second sidewall, for positioning the ink cartridge properly with respect to the printing apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Tomio Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Hashii, Atsuhiko Takeuchi, Kazumasa Harada
  • Patent number: 7492663
    Abstract: The present invention provides a storage device. The storage device includes a reset signal terminal, a clock signal terminal, a non-volatile memory, and a pull down resistance. The reset signal terminal is electrically connected to external equipment at a contact point, for receiving a reset signal. The clock signal terminal is electrically connected to the external equipment at a contact point, for receiving a clock signal. The data signal terminal is electrically connected to the external equipment at a contact point, for sending and receiving a data signal. The pull down resistance is connected to a lower side of electric potentials used by the storage device, at one terminal of the pull down resistance. The controller is initialized in response to the reset signal. The controller also writes to and reads from the non-volatile memory according to the clock signals and the data signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takakazu Fukano, Noboru Asauchi, Tomio Yokoyama, Mitsuto Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 7192107
    Abstract: An information communicating member is adapted to be disposed on a liquid container for supplying a liquid to a liquid ejecting head of a liquid ejection apparatus. The information communicating member includes: an information storing portion storing therein liquid information with regard to the liquid contained in the liquid container; an antenna portion for communicating the liquid information stored in the information storing portion between the information communicating member and the liquid ejection apparatus in a wireless manner; and a base member on which the information storing portion and the antenna portion are disposed. The base member has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet ray shielding property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takakazu Fukano, Yasuto Sakai, Tomio Yokoyama, Kenji Ito, Yoshiharu Aruga
  • Publication number: 20060290757
    Abstract: To enable a coupling terminal member of an ink cartridge and a coupling terminal of a printing apparatus to be in certain and increase a degree of freedom on installation position of a coupling terminal member of the cartridge, a cartridge installed in a printing apparatus for supplying the printing apparatus with ink includes an ink cartridge body for containing ink, an ink supply section on which an ink supply opening placed on or near a first sidewall of the ink cartridge body is formed, a memory for storing information on ink in the ink cartridge body, a contact terminal member on a second sidewall of the ink cartridge body coupled to the memory and a positioning member, which protrudes from the second sidewall, for positioning the ink cartridge properly with respect to the printing apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Tomio Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Hashii, Atsuhiko Takeuchi, Kazumasa Harada
  • Patent number: 7150520
    Abstract: In order to be enable a coupling terminal member of the ink cartridge and a coupling terminal of the printing apparatus to be in certain and increase a degree of freedom on installation position of a coupling terminal member of an ink cartridge, an ink cartridge installed in a printing apparatus for supplying the printing apparatus with ink includes an ink cartridge body for containing ink therein, an ink supply section on which an ink supply opening placed on or near the first sidewall of the ink cartridge body is formed, a memory for storing information on ink contained in the ink cartridge body, a contact terminal member placed on the second sidewall of the ink cartridge body and coupled to the memory and a positioning member, which protrudes from the second sidewall of the ink cartridge body, for positioning the ink cartridge properly with respect to the printing apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Tomio Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Hashii, Atsuhiko Takeuchi, Kazumasa Harada
  • Patent number: 7090344
    Abstract: An ink cartridge comprising a container body 3 housing an ink absorbing member 6? so as to absorb ink, a lid member 4, and a spacer 30 pressing the ink absorbing member 6? between the lid member 4 and the ink absorbing member 6?. It is possible to decrease the volume of the ink absorbing member 6? without changing structure in the vicinity of an ink supply port by using the same shape of a container body 3 and a lid member 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Minoru Usui, Takahiro Naka, Hisashi Koike, Tomio Yokoyama, Yasuhiko Kamijo, Koichi Toba, Takeo Seino, Yasuhiro Ogura, Takayuki Aizawa
  • Publication number: 20060053030
    Abstract: A container is provided with a liquid container for containing a liquid and a liquid supply for discharging the liquid of the liquid container. An electronic component is allowed to store data concerning the liquid contained and exchange data with an external device. A takeout step is to take the electronic component out of the liquid cartridge spent. A screening step is to screen out a reusable electronic component out of the electronic components removed. An attaching step is to attach the electronic component screened, in a new container for the liquid cartridge. A write step is to cause the electronic component to store new information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroto Nakamura, Akio Owatari, Tomio Yokoyama, Hikaru Mukaiyama, Morio Sato
  • Patent number: 6989405
    Abstract: Disclosed is a resinous filter for an ink-jet recording apparatus, which is obtained by a process comprising: adding common salt to a melt of a resin comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes having a number-average molecular weight of from 30,000 to 80,000 and polypropylenes having a number-average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 100,000; kneading the resultant mixture to prepare a melt to be molded; molding the melt to be molded to obtain a molding; and washing the molding with water to remove the salt therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Inoac Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Koike, Satoshi Shinada, Michinari Tsukahara, Tomio Yokoyama, Ikuyoshi Ochiai, Hiroyuki Nishimura, Shinsuke Yamada
  • Publication number: 20050237355
    Abstract: The present invention provides a storage device. The storage device includes a reset signal terminal, a clock signal terminal, a non-volatile memory, and a pull down resistance. The reset signal terminal is electrically connected to external equipment at a contact point, for receiving a reset signal. The clock signal terminal is electrically connected to the external equipment at a contact point, for receiving a clock signal. The data signal terminal is electrically connected to the external equipment at a contact point, for sending and receiving a data signal. The pull down resistance is connected to a lower side of electric potentials used by the storage device, at one terminal of the pull down resistance. The controller is initialized in response to the reset signal. The controller also writes to and reads from the non-volatile memory according to the clock signals and the data signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Takakazu Fukano, Noboru Asauchi, Tomio Yokoyama, Mitsuto Yanagisawa
  • Publication number: 20050168549
    Abstract: An ink cartridge comprising a container body 3 housing an ink absorbing member 6? so as to absorb ink, a lid member 4, and a spacer 30 pressing the ink absorbing member 6? between the lid member 4 and the ink absorbing member 6?. It is possible to decrease the volume of the ink absorbing member 6? without changing structure in the vicinity of an ink supply port by using the same shape of a container body 3 and a lid member 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Minoru Usui, Takahiro Naka, Hisashi Koike, Tomio Yokoyama, Yasuhiko Kamijo, Koichi Toba, Takeo Seino, Yasuhiro Ogura, Takayuki Aizawa
  • Patent number: 6899417
    Abstract: An ink cartridge containing a container body 3 housing an ink absorbing member 6? so as to absorb ink, a lid member 4, and a spacer 30 pressing the ink absorbing member 6? between the lid member 4 and ink absorbing member 6?. It is possible to decrease the volume of the ink absorbing member 6? without changing structure in the vicinity of an ink supply port by using the same shape of a container body 3 and a lid member 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Minoru Usui, Takahiro Naka, Hisashi Koike, Tomio Yokoyama, Yasuhiko Kamijo, Koichi Toba, Takeo Seino, Yasuhiro Ogura, Takayuki Aizawa
  • Publication number: 20050012766
    Abstract: An information communicating member is adapted to be disposed on a liquid container for supplying a liquid to a liquid ejecting head of a liquid ejection apparatus. The information communicating member includes: an information storing portion storing therein liquid information with regard to the liquid contained in the liquid container; an antenna portion for communicating the liquid information stored in the information storing portion between the information communicating member and the liquid ejection apparatus in a wireless manner; and a base member on which the information storing portion and the antenna portion are disposed. The base member has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet ray shielding property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Takakazu Fukano, Yasuto Sakai, Tomio Yokoyama, Kenji Ito, Yoshiharu Aruga
  • Publication number: 20030214559
    Abstract: In order to be enable a coupling terminal member of the ink cartridge and a coupling terminal of the printing apparatus to be in certain and increase a degree of freedom on installation position of a coupling terminal member of an ink cartridge, an ink cartridge installed in a printing apparatus for supplying the printing apparatus with ink includes an ink cartridge body for containing ink therein, an ink supply section on which an ink supply opening placed on or near the first sidewall of the ink cartridge body is formed, a memory for storing information on ink contained in the ink cartridge body, a contact terminal member placed on the second sidewall of the ink cartridge body and coupled to the memory and a positioning member, which protrudes from the second sidewall of the ink cartridge body, for positioning the ink cartridge properly with respect to the printing apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Tomio Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Hashii, Atsuhiko Takeuchi, Kazumasa Harada
  • Patent number: 6554412
    Abstract: An ink supply port is sealed with a seal material made up of two layers of at least a physical protective layer and an airtight hold layer and formed with slits in the physical protective layer. When ink cartridge is mounted, a tip of an ink introduction member breaks the seal material sealing the ink supply port along the slits made in the seal member, and air is released to the atmosphere without raising pressure of a space of packing. Then, the ink introduction member penetrates the packing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Seino, Takahiro Naka, Satoshi Shinada, Koichi Toba, Hisashi Koike, Yasuhiko Kamijo, Tomio Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20030052053
    Abstract: Disclosed is a resinous filter for an ink-jet recording apparatus, which is obtained by a process comprising: adding common salt to a melt of a resin comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes having a number-average molecular weight of from 30,000 to 80,000 and polypropylenes having a number-average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 100,000; kneading the resultant mixture to prepare a melt to be molded; molding the melt to be molded to obtain a molding; and washing the molding with water to remove the salt therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Koike, Satoshi Shinada, Michinari Tsukahara, Tomio Yokoyama, Ikuyoshi Ochiai, Hiroyuki Nishimura, Shinsuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 6390616
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an ink cartridge. The ink cartridge has a container having storage chambers and porous members for holding ink. The porous member is stored in the corresponding storage chambers. The container has ink supply ports for conducting ink from the storage chambers. Before insertion, each porous member is inclined relative to the storage chamber and inserted into the storage chamber through an opening of the container. Therefore, the porous members are easily inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Takahiro Naka, Hisashi Koike, Tomio Yokoyama, Kazunori Ito
  • Patent number: D481756
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Tomio Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Hashii
  • Patent number: D482061
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Tomio Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Hashii