Patents by Inventor Tomohisa Higuchi

Tomohisa Higuchi 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: 9517631
    Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid, an inlet through which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid flow channel configured to let the liquid flow therethrough from the liquid storage chamber; a cap configured to be attachable to the tank to cover the inlet; a cover configured to be movable relative to the tank between a closed position where a surface, of the tank, in which the inlet is formed is covered and an open position where the surface of the tank is exposed; and a holder configured to hold the cap removed from the tank. The cover is prevented from moving to the closed position by the cap held by the holder to be positioned in a movement area of the cover moving from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi, Suguru Tomoguchi
  • Patent number: 9469117
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid consuming apparatus including: a tank having a liquid storing chamber, an erected wall through which the liquid inside the liquid storage chamber is visible from outside of the tank, and an inlet which is formed to penetrate through the erected wall and via which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber; a liquid consuming section which consumes the liquid stored in the liquid storing chamber; and a cover. A transmitting section and a checking section are formed in an upper surface, of the cover, under a condition that the cover is in the exposure position, the transmitting section configured to transmit information optically to a user of the liquid consuming apparatus and the checking section configured to prevent the liquid moving on a particular surface of the cover from arriving at the transmitting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9463633
    Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber which stores a liquid, an inlet formed in a surface of the tank, and an outlet through which the liquid from the liquid storage chamber flows; a cap which is movable between a first position and a second position; a cover which is movable relative to the tank between a closed position and an open position; and a holding member which is connected to the cap and which holds the cap at the second position. The cap at the second position or the holding member is configured to obstruct a movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20160207337
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus and an inkjet recording system includes a first ink chamber and a second ink chambers and a monitor. One of the inkjet recording apparatus can display first inquiry information and second inquiry information. The first inquiry information regards ink to be retained in first ink chamber. The second inquiry information regards ink to be retained in second ink chamber. The second inquiry information is displayed after displaying the first inquiry information. Another one of the inkjet recording apparatus can display inquiry information. The inquiry information regards to only ink to be retained in the first ink chamber but also ink to be retained in the second ink chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: MANA HONOKI, KENTA HORADE, YOSHINORI OSAKABE, TOMOHISA HIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160193845
    Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid, an inlet through which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid flow channel configured to let the liquid flow therethrough from the liquid storage chamber; a cap configured to be attachable to the tank to cover the inlet; a cover configured to be movable relative to the tank between a closed position where a surface, of the tank, in which the inlet is formed is covered and an open position where the surface of the tank is exposed; and a holder configured to hold the cap removed from the tank. The cover is prevented from moving to the closed position by the cap held by the holder to be positioned in a movement area of the cover moving from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI, Suguru TOMOGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160176194
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes a casing, a tank formed with a liquid storage chamber which stores liquid, an inlet which allows the liquid to be poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid outflow channel which allows the liquid to flow out from the liquid storage chamber, a conveying mechanism which conveys a recording medium along a conveying path extending in a front-rear direction, a carriage which moves in a left-right direction, and a head mounted on the carriage and having a nozzle which jets the liquid onto the recording medium conveyed by the conveying mechanism. The tank, the conveying path, and the carriage are arranged inside the casing, the tank is arranged outside the conveying path in the left-right direction, and at least a part of the tank is arranged inside both ends of a movement area of the carriage in the left-right direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI, Akira SHINODA, Akinori IGARASHI, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Hisaki SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20160121618
    Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid chamber, an upstanding wall facing a particular direction, and an inlet formed in a surface of the tank; a liquid-consuming unit consuming liquid stored in the liquid chamber; a cover rotatable between a covering position where the upstanding wall is covered with the cover and an exposure position where the upstanding wall is exposed, around a rotation axis extending in a further direction; and a casing including an engaging target part which holds the cover in the covering position, and supporting the tank, liquid-consuming unit, and cover. The cover includes: an engaging part to engage with the engaging target part in the state that the cover is in the covering position; and a tab which is subjected to an operation for releasing an engagement between the engaging part and the engaging target part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 9302516
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes a casing, a tank formed with a liquid storage chamber which stores liquid, an inlet which allows the liquid to be poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid outflow channel which allows the liquid to flow out from the liquid storage chamber, a conveying mechanism which conveys a recording medium along a conveying path extending in a front-rear direction, a carriage which moves in a left-right direction, and a head mounted on the carriage and having a nozzle which jets the liquid onto the recording medium conveyed by the conveying mechanism. The tank, the conveying path, and the carriage are arranged inside the casing, the tank is arranged outside the conveying path in the left-right direction, and at least a part of the tank is arranged inside both ends of a movement area of the carriage in the left-right direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi, Akira Shinoda, Akinori Igarashi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Hisaki Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20160091820
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid consuming apparatus including: a tank having a liquid storing chamber, an erected wall through which the liquid inside the liquid storage chamber is visible from outside of the tank, and an inlet which is formed to penetrate through the erected wall and via which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber; a liquid consuming section which consumes the liquid stored in the liquid storing chamber; and a cover. A transmitting section and a checking section are formed in an upper surface, of the cover, under a condition that the cover is in the exposure position, the transmitting section configured to transmit information optically to a user of the liquid consuming apparatus and the checking section configured to prevent the liquid moving on a particular surface of the cover from arriving at the transmitting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160089893
    Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber which stores a liquid, an inlet formed in a surface of the tank, and an outlet through which the liquid from the liquid storage chamber flows; a cap which is movable between a first position and a second position; a cover which is movable relative to the tank between a closed position and an open position; and a holding member which is connected to the cap and which holds the cap at the second position. The cap at the second position or the holding member is configured to obstruct a movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 9296215
    Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid, an inlet through which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid flow channel configured to let the liquid flow therethrough from the liquid storage chamber; a cap configured to be attachable to the tank to cover the inlet; a cover configured to be movable relative to the tank between a closed position where a surface, of the tank, in which the inlet is formed is covered and an open position where the surface of the tank is exposed; and a holder configured to hold the cap removed from the tank. The cover is prevented from moving to the closed position by the cap held by the holder to be positioned in a movement area of the cover moving from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi, Suguru Tomoguchi
  • Publication number: 20150360476
    Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid, an inlet through which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid flow channel configured to let the liquid flow therethrough from the liquid storage chamber; a cap configured to be attachable to the tank to cover the inlet; a cover configured to be movable relative to the tank between a closed position where a surface, of the tank, in which the inlet is formed is covered and an open position where the surface of the tank is exposed; and a holder configured to hold the cap removed from the tank. The cover is prevented from moving to the closed position by the cap held by the holder to be positioned in a movement area of the cover moving from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI, Suguru TOMOGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20150283832
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes a casing, a tank formed with a liquid storage chamber which stores liquid, an inlet which allows the liquid to be poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid outflow channel which allows the liquid to flow out from the liquid storage chamber, a conveying mechanism which conveys a recording medium along a conveying path extending in a front-rear direction, a carriage which moves in a left-right direction, and a head mounted on the carriage and having a nozzle which jets the liquid onto the recording medium conveyed by the conveying mechanism. The tank, the conveying path, and the carriage are arranged inside the casing, the tank is arranged outside the conveying path in the left-right direction, and at least a part of the tank is arranged inside both ends of a movement area of the carriage in the left-right direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI, Akira SHINODA, Akinori IGARASHI, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Hisaki SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 8934805
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a first housing comprising a recording portion and a first control device; a second housing comprising a second control device and supported by the first housing to be rotationally movable between a close position and a distant position by rotationally moving about a first axis extending in a first direction; a first cable and a second cable electrically connecting the first control device to the second control device; and a holder having a supported portion and holding the first cable and the second cable. In the first housing, at least a part of the holder extends in a second direction and the holder holds the first cable and the second cable such that the first cable and the second cable extend in the second direction and are respectively disposed at positions different from each other in the first direction and in a third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhito Ishida, Masahisa Kato, Tomofumi Murano, Ryohei Suzuki, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8857959
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus, including a first casing having an upward opening at a top thereof; a recording unit disposed in the first casing and configured to discharge ink from a nozzle onto a sheet; a first cover to cover a part of the opening of the first casing; a second cover detachably attached to the first cover and configured to cover another part of the opening which is not covered by the first cover; a waste ink tank removably supported by the first casing at a position facing the second cover in the first casing and configured to contain waste ink discharged from the nozzle; and a second casing disposed in an upper position with respect to the first casing and configured to be movable between a proximate position and a separate position, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhito Ishida, Masahisa Kato, Tomofumi Murano, Ryohei Suzuki, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20140168323
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus, including a first casing having an upward opening at a top thereof; a recording unit disposed in the first casing and configured to discharge ink from a nozzle onto a sheet; a first cover to cover a part of the opening of the first casing; a second cover detachably attached to the first cover and configured to cover another part of the opening which is not covered by the first cover; a waste ink tank removably supported by the first casing at a position facing the second cover in the first casing and configured to contain waste ink discharged from the nozzle; and a second casing disposed in an upper position with respect to the first casing and configured to be movable between a proximate position and a separate position, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhito ISHIDA, Masahisa KATO, Tomofumi MURANO, Ryohei SUZUKI, Tomohisa HIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140169823
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a first housing comprising a recording portion and a first control device; a second housing comprising a second control device and supported by the first housing to be rotationally movable between a close position and a distant position by rotationally moving about a first axis extending in a first direction; a first cable and a second cable electrically connecting the first control device to the second control device; and a holder having a supported portion and holding the first cable and the second cable. In the first housing, at least a part of the holder extends in a second direction and the holder holds the first cable and the second cable such that the first cable and the second cable extend in the second direction and are respectively disposed at positions different from each other in the first direction and in a third direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhito Ishida, Masahisa Kato, Tomofumi Murano, Ryohei Suzuki, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8655226
    Abstract: The opening and closing apparatus includes a lower unit case, an upper unit case, a hinge, a lower guide member, an upper guide member and an opening/closing linking unit. The upper unit case is configured to open and close with respect to the lower unit case. The lower guide member is disposed in the lower unit case, and the upper guide member is disposed in the upper unit case. The opening/closing linking unit includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member and a linking portion. As the upper unit case is closed, the opening/closing linking unit moves from the base end side toward the distal end side along the upper guide member and the lower guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichiro Nishimura, Kumiko Kuriki, Yukio Shiohara, Kazuhito Ishida, Masahisa Kato, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8655227
    Abstract: The opening and closing apparatus includes a lower unit case, an upper unit case, a hinge, a lower guide member, an upper guide member and an opening/closing linking unit. The upper unit case is configured to open and close with respect to the lower unit case. The lower guide member is disposed in the lower unit case, and the upper guide member is disposed in the upper unit case. The opening/closing linking unit includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member and a linking portion. As the upper unit case is closed, the opening/closing linking unit moves from the base end side toward the distal end side along the upper guide member and the lower guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichiro Nishimura, Kumiko Kuriki, Yukio Shiohara, Kazuhito Ishida, Masahisa Kato, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8611792
    Abstract: There is provided an opening/closing device for an upper unit case, including a pair of guide members formed of lower and upper guide members provided on lower and upper unit cases respectively, at least one of the lower and upper guide member being configured to be swingable in an up and down direction; a movable body which is connected movably to the lower and upper guide members and which has a rotary body installed in the movable body while being fitted rollably with respect to the lower and lower guide members; and a regulating mechanism which regulates swinging amount in the up and down direction of the at least one guide member configured to be swingable in the up and down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichiro Nishimura, Kumiko Kuriki, Yukio Shiohara, Kazuhito Ishida, Masahisa Kato, Tomohisa Higuchi