Patents by Inventor Tomohiro Kanbe

Tomohiro Kanbe 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: 8616686
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a main body having a chamber formed therein for receiving an imaging material, a circuit board having a first opening and a second opening formed through the circuit board, and an electrode disposed on the circuit board. The main body includes a support surface that supports the circuit board; a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding from the support surface, such that a portion of the first protrusion is disposed in the first opening of the circuit board and a portion of the second protrusion is disposed in the second opening of the circuit board, and a third protrusion protruding from the support surface. A portion of the third protrusion contacts a first surface of the circuit board facing away from the support surface. A method for manufacturing the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Takagi, Toyonori Sasaki, Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8596772
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge includes a front face oriented toward a first direction, a rear face positioned opposite the front face and oriented toward a second direction opposite the first direction, an electrical interface disposed at a particular face, such that the electrical interface is exposed to an exterior of the printing fluid cartridge, a chamber configured to store printing fluid therein, and a printing fluid supply portion positioned at the front face, and comprising a printing fluid supply opening. The printing fluid supply portion is configured to supply the printing fluid from an interior of the chamber to an exterior of the chamber via the printing fluid supply opening. The printing fluid supply opening is positioned below the electrical interface when the printing fluid cartridge is in use. The electrical interface is positioned closer to the rear face than the printing fluid supply opening is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Yuki Takagi, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8596771
    Abstract: A print liquid cartridge comprising a print liquid chamber, print liquid supply portion, a stopper, and a release member. The print liquid supply portion establishes a communication between an interior of the print liquid chamber and an exterior of the print liquid chamber. The stopper prevents the printing-liquid cartridge from moving in a direction opposite to the liquid communication direction. The release member releases the stopper, such that the printing-liquid cartridge is permitted to move in a direction opposite to the fluid outflow direction. The stopper is aligned with the release member in a height direction orthogonal to the liquid communication direction and a width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Takagi, Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8585193
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge includes a front face oriented toward a first direction, a printing fluid supply portion positioned at the front face, a rear face positioned opposite the front face and oriented toward a second direction opposite the first direction, at least one electrical interface positioned between the front face and the rear face, and an engagement surface facing in the second direction. The at least one electrical interface is offset from the printing supply portion with respect to a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The at least one electrical interface is positioned closer to the front face than the engagement surface is, and the at least one electrical interface and the engagement surface intersect a plane which is parallel with the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130278683
    Abstract: In a print fluid cartridge, a main body has a first surface facing in a first direction. A print fluid outlet part is provided on the main body, and has an opening at the first surface. An electric interface is provided at an external surface of the main body and faces in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The electric interface moves relative to the main body in the first direction and in a direction opposite to the first direction between a first position and a second position that are apart from each other in the first direction and the direction opposite to the first direction. The main body supports the electric interface at the second position against pressure that is applied to the electric interface in a direction opposite to the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Tomohiro KANBE, Yuki Takagi, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130278684
    Abstract: An ink containing device includes an ink cartridge and an adaptor. The ink cartridge includes a first main body having a first surface facing a first direction and a chamber that stores ink, an ink outlet portion disposed on the first surface of the first main body and that directs the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the first main body; and an ink detecting portion that detects an amount of the ink stored in the chamber. The adapter is attachable to the ink cartridge. The adapter includes a second main body and a movable member that moves with respect to the second main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Tomohiro KANBE, Yuki TAKAGI, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8562116
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge includes a front face oriented toward a first direction, a printing fluid supply portion positioned at the front face, a rear face positioned opposite the front face and oriented toward a second direction opposite the first direction, an electrical interface positioned between the front face and the rear face and facing, and an engagement surface facing in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Yuki Takagi, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8550608
    Abstract: An ink cartridge for an inkjet recording apparatus includes a membrane for sealing an opening from which air flows out to atmosphere and introduced into an ink chamber. The membrane has a gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable characteristic. A characteristic recapture enhancement section is provided for enhancing recapturement of the gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable characteristic of the membrane. This section is operable when ink from the ink chamber clings to the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130258008
    Abstract: An ink containing device includes an ink cartridge and an adaptor. The ink cartridge comprises a first main body comprising a chamber configured to store ink, and an ink outlet portion disposed on a first surface of the first main body configured to direct the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the first main body, and an ink detecting portion configured to detect an amount of the ink stored in the ink chamber. The adaptor is configured to attach to the ink cartridge. The adaptor comprises a second main body comprising a second surface, and an electrical interface disposed on the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro KANBE, Yuki TAKAGI, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8534816
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a main body having a chamber formed therein and configured to receive an imaging material, a circuit board having a first opening and a second opening formed through the circuit board, and an electrode disposed on the circuit board. The main body includes a support surface that supports the circuit board, a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding from the support surface, such that a portion of the first protrusion is disposed in the first opening of the circuit board and a portion of the second protrusion is disposed in the second opening of the circuit board, a third protrusion protruding from the support surface adjacent to the circuit board; and a fixing element that contacts a portion of the circuit board and a portion of the third protrusion to affix the circuit board to the support surface of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Takagi, Toyonori Sasaki, Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8534813
    Abstract: A set of ink cartridges is configured to mount in a cartridge mounting portion of a recording apparatus in an insertion direction. The set of cartridges includes a first and a second ink cartridge, and each cartridge includes a main body and a particular protrusion positioned adjacent to a bottom wall of the main body and extending from a portion of the main body in the insertion direction away from an ink chamber. The main body includes a first wall, the ink chamber, a communication portion disposed at the first wall; a second wall disposed opposite the first wall, and the bottom wall. The ink chamber is disposed between the first and second walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8496321
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a cartridge main body comprising a liquid chamber and an end surface. The liquid cartridge also includes a communicating portion protruding from the end surface of the cartridge main body in a protruding direction which is perpendicular to a width direction. The liquid chamber includes a wide portion and a narrow portion which is narrower than the wide portion in the width direction, and the narrow portion is offset toward a first side of the cartridge main body in the width direction. When the liquid cartridge is oriented such that the communicating portion faces downward and liquid is stored in the narrow portion, a position of center of gravity of the liquid cartridge is offset toward the first side of the cartridge main body from an area occupied by the communicating portion when the liquid cartridge is viewed in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kanbe
  • Patent number: 8480218
    Abstract: A set of ink cartridges is configured to mount in a cartridge mounting portion of a recording apparatus in an insertion direction. The set of cartridges includes a first and a second ink cartridge, and each cartridge includes a main body and a particular protrusion positioned adjacent to a bottom wall of the main body and extending from a portion of the main body in the insertion direction away from an ink chamber. The main body includes a first wall, the ink chamber, a communication portion disposed at the first wall; a second wall disposed opposite the first wall, and the bottom wall. The ink chamber is disposed between the first and second walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130162730
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a main body with a chamber formed therein that receives an imaging material, a circuit board having at least one opening formed through the circuit board; and an electrode disposed on the circuit board. The main body includes a support surface that supports the circuit board, a first protrusion protruding from the support surface and that contacting a first surface of the circuit board. The first surface of the circuit board extends in a direction perpendicular to the support surface. The main body also includes a second protrusion protruding from the support surface and disposed in the at least one opening. The second protrusion includes an end portion that covers a portion of the circuit board. In addition, a method for manufacturing the cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki TAKAGI, Toyonori SASAKI, Tomohiro KANBE, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20130162729
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a main body having a chamber formed therein for receiving an imaging material, a circuit board having a first opening and a second opening formed through the circuit board, and an electrode disposed on the circuit board. The main body includes a support surface that supports the circuit board; a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding from the support surface, such that a portion of the first protrusion is disposed in the first opening of the circuit board and a portion of the second protrusion is disposed in the second opening of the circuit board, and a third protrusion protruding from the support surface. A portion of the third protrusion contacts a first surface of the circuit board facing away from the support surface. A method for manufacturing the cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki TAKAGI, Toyonori SASAKI, Tomohiro KANBE, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20130162731
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a main body having a chamber formed therein and configured to receive an imaging material, a circuit board having a first opening and a second opening formed through the circuit board, and an electrode disposed on the circuit board. The main body includes a support surface that supports the circuit board, a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding from the support surface, such that a portion of the first protrusion is disposed in the first opening of the circuit board and a portion of the second protrusion is disposed in the second opening of the circuit board, a third protrusion protruding from the support surface adjacent to the circuit board; and a fixing element that contacts a portion of the circuit board and a portion of the third protrusion to affix the circuit board to the support surface of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki TAKAGI, Toyonori SASAKI, Tomohiro KANBE, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20130162733
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge includes a front side, a rear side, an upper side, a lower side, a tubular fluid supply portion positioned at the lower side of the front side, a pivotable member configured to pivot about a pivot point and comprising an end portion. The pivot point is positioned at the upper side and the end portion is positioned at the rear side. The printing fluid cartridge also includes a light attenuating portion protruding from the upper side of the front side and configured to attenuate light, and an electrical interface positioned between the pivotable member and the light attenuating portion. An upper end of the light attenuating portion is positioned below the electrical interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotake NAKAMURA, Tomohiro KANBE, Yuki TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20130162732
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber, a shaft, and a pivotable member including a float The pivotable member is configured to move about the shaft between a first position and a second position when the float moves. The float is positioned higher when the pivotable member is in the first position than when the pivotable member is in the second position. The float has a triangular shape when viewed in an axial direction of the shaft, and the triangular shape comprises a first side having a first dimension, a second side having a second dimension, and a third side having a third dimension. The first dimension is greater than each of the second dimension and the third dimension, and the first side is positioned above a vertex between the second side and the third side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki TAKAGI, Tomohiro KANBE, Hirotake NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8449091
    Abstract: An ink cartridge is removably mounted to a recording apparatus. The ink cartridge includes a main body and first and second protrusions. A particular end of the second protrusion extends further than a particular end of the first protrusion in the insertion direction. The main body includes an ink chamber, a particular wall having a first end and a second end opposite the first end in a further direction, a communication portion that selectively places an interior of the ink chamber and an exterior of the ink chamber into fluid communication, a holding portion positioned opposite the particular wall, and a bottom wall. A distance from a rear end of the bottom wall to the particular end of the second protrusion in the insertion direction is less than a distance from a rear end of the holding portion to an end of the second protrusion in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: D681728
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Takagi, Tomohiro Kanbe