Patents by Inventor Toru Kakiuchi

Toru Kakiuchi 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: 11230104
    Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes: a channel unit having a liquid channel which includes: a nozzle arranged at an end part, of the channel unit, on one side in a first direction; and a pressure chamber arranged at an end part, of the channel unit, on the other side in the first direction and communicating with the nozzle; and a piezoelectric element including: a vibration plate arranged on a surface, of the channel unit, on the other side in the first direction and covering the pressure chamber; and a piezoelectric layer arranged on a surface, of the vibration plate, on the other side in the first direction. An area, of the pressure chamber, which is projected in the first direction is not more than 50000 ?m2, and a diameter of the nozzle is increased from the one side toward the other side in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Kakiuchi
  • Publication number: 20210370672
    Abstract: A liquid droplet discharging head includes a channel unit having nozzles and pressure chambers in respective communication with the nozzles, and a piezoelectric element having a vibration plate arranged on an upper surface of the channel unit to cover the pressure chambers and a piezoelectric layer arranged on an upper surface of the vibration plate. The pressure chambers have a length L longer than its width, and the channel unit has the nozzles and the pressure chambers aligned at a density of 300 dpi or higher in a conveyance direction. The length L of the pressure chambers and the diameter D of nozzle holes of the nozzles satisfy this relation or condition: 35?L/D?50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Toru Kakiuchi, Taisuke Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20210331472
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head, including: a plurality of inlet parts provided corresponding to a plurality of kinds of liquids; a plurality of pressure chambers in which discharge pressure is applied to the liquids; a plurality of individual outlet parts through which the liquids are supplied to the plurality of pressure chambers; and a manifold which communicates with the plurality of inlet parts, and through which the liquids from the plurality of inlet parts are supplied to the plurality of individual outlet parts. The manifold includes: a plurality of upstream-side portions in each of which a channel corresponding to one of the plurality of inlet parts is defined, and a downstream-side portion which communicates with the plurality of upstream-side portions, and in which a channel communicating with the plurality of individual outlet parts is defined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Shingo Katayama, Toru Kakiuchi
  • Publication number: 20210252863
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head, including: a pressure chamber connected to a nozzle from which a liquid is discharged; an actuator configured to apply discharge pressure to the liquid in the pressure chamber; a first supply channel which is connected to the pressure chamber, and through which a first liquid is supplied to the pressure chamber; a second supply channel, different from the first channel, which is connected to the pressure chamber, and through which a second liquid different from the first liquid is supplied to the pressure chamber; a first valve which is disposed in the first supply channel, and by which the first supply channel is opened and closed; and a second valve which is disposed in the second supply channel, and by which the second supply channel is opened and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Shingo Katayama, Toru Kakiuchi
  • Patent number: 11072172
    Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a channel member having a nozzle surface formed with first nozzles, second nozzles, third nozzles and fourth nozzles. The channel member is formed with: a first distributing channel communicating with a first storage chamber and extending in a first direction, a second distributing channel communicating with a second storage chamber, extending in the first direction, and arranged side by side to the first distributing channel in a second direction, a first common channel communicating with the first nozzles, a second common channel communicating with the second nozzles, a third common channel communicating with the third nozzles, and a fourth common channel communicating with the fourth nozzles. The first to fourth common channels each extend in a third direction crossing the first and second directions, and partially overlaps with the first and second distributing channels in a fourth direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Kakiuchi, Yasuo Kato, Yuichi Ito
  • Patent number: 11056812
    Abstract: An actuator device includes: an actuator including first contacts arranged in a first direction; and a wire member including second contacts and joined to the actuator. The second contacts are arranged in the first direction and respectively connected to the first contacts. Each of particular contacts as the first contacts or the second contacts has a protruding and recessed portion including: at least two protrusions; and a recess between the at least two protrusions. The particular contacts include: at least one central-region contact disposed on a central region in the first direction; and at least one end-region contact disposed nearer to an end region than to the central region in the first direction. The protruding and recessed portion of each of the at least one central-region contact is different in shape from the protruding and recessed portion of each of the at least one end-region contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Kakiuchi, Yasuo Kato, Rui Wang, Yuichi Ito
  • Publication number: 20210197565
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a common flow channel extending along a first direction, and individual flow channels arranged along the first direction. Each individual flow channel includes a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber arranged along the first direction, each of which communicates with the common flow channel, a nozzle located away from the first and second pressure chambers in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a connection flow channel connecting the first pressure chamber, the second pressure chamber, and the nozzle with each other. One end of the connection flow channel in the second direction communicates with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and the other end thereof in the second direction communicates with the nozzle. The connection flow channel extends along the second direction from the one end to the other end thereof in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Taiki Tanaka, Toru Kakiuchi
  • Patent number: 11031538
    Abstract: An actuator device includes: an actuator including a first contact; and a wire member including a second contact connected to the first contact with a conductive adhesive including a conductive particle. One of the first contact and the second contact is a particular contact. The other of the first contact and the second contact is a specific contact. At least two protrusions and at least one recess are formed on and in the particular contact. The at least two protrusions are arranged in a first direction. The at least one recess is interposed between the at least two protrusions. The particular contact is joined to the specific contact with the conductive adhesive provided in the at least one recess, in a state in which each of the at least two protrusions is in contact with the specific contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Kakiuchi
  • Publication number: 20210155000
    Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes: a channel unit having a liquid channel which includes: a nozzle arranged at an end part, of the channel unit, on one side in a first direction; and a pressure chamber arranged at an end part, of the channel unit, on the other side in the first direction and communicating with the nozzle; and a piezoelectric element including: a vibration plate arranged on a surface, of the channel unit, on the other side in the first direction and covering the pressure chamber; and a piezoelectric layer arranged on a surface, of the vibration plate, on the other side in the first direction. An area, of the pressure chamber, which is projected in the first direction is not more than 50000 ?m2, and a diameter of the nozzle is increased from the one side toward the other side in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru KAKIUCHI
  • Patent number: 10978633
    Abstract: An actuator device is provided. The actuator device includes: a first substrate including a contact; and a second substrate including a trace electrically connected to the contact. A portion of the second substrate is laminated to the first substrate in a first direction. The portion of the second substrate is adhered to the first substrate. A portion of the trace overlaps the contact in the first direction. A portion of the trace includes a plurality of terminals and a base section. The plurality of terminals are separated from each other. The base section is coupled to the plurality of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Kakiuchi
  • Publication number: 20210057636
    Abstract: An actuator device includes: an actuator including piezoelectric elements arranged in a first direction and first contacts arranged in the first direction; a protector including a first wall opposed to the piezoelectric elements and a second wall coupled to the first wall and joined to a region of the actuator at which the first contacts are disposed; first connection terminals disposed on the first; and first through electrodes formed in the second wall to bring the first contacts and the first connection terminals into conduction with each other. A distance between two of the first through electrodes which respectively correspond to two of the piezoelectric elements which are adjacent to each other in the first direction is greater than a distance in the first direction between the two of the piezoelectric elements which are adjacent to each other in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru KAKIUCHI, Yasuo KATO, Rui WANG, Yuichi ITO
  • Patent number: 10913275
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head, including: forming a stacked body having a structure and a protective member stacked on the structure, providing a first mask on an upper surface of the protective member to cover a through hole; forming a protective film by an atomic layer deposition on a surface defining a liquid flow channel of the stacked body provided with the first mask; and removing the first mask after forming the protective film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Kakiuchi, Yasuo Kato, Yuichi Ito
  • Patent number: 10894415
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a first channel member including a liquid channel. The liquid channel includes: pressure chambers connected respectively to nozzles and arranged in a first direction; throttle channels connected to the pressure chambers and extending from connection portions with the pressure chambers toward a first side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and coupling channels arranged in the first direction, each of the coupling channels being connected to two or more of the throttle channels that are adjacent to each other in the first direction, extending in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, having openings in a surface in the third direction of the first channel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventors: Yasuo Kato, Toru Kakiuchi, Yuichi Ito
  • Publication number: 20210001632
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes: liquid discharging modules which are arranged in a first direction along a predetermined plane; and a wiring member commonly joined to the liquid discharging modules. The wiring member includes: first parts joined to the liquid discharging modules, respectively, in a state that the first parts are arranged side by side in the first direction along the predetermined plane; second parts; and a sixth part. The second parts include: third parts extending from the first parts, respectively, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and along the predetermined plane, fourth parts extending in a third direction away from the predetermined plane, and fifth parts connected to the third parts and the fourth parts, respectively. Width in the first direction of each of the second parts is smaller than width in the first direction of the sixth part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Toru KAKIUCHI
  • Patent number: 10875304
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a substrate; a first electrode; a piezoelectric layer covering the first electrode; a second electrode positioned on the piezoelectric layer; a plurality of pressure chambers arrayed in a first direction; and a rigid layer. Each pressure chamber has one end portion and another end portion in a second direction. The rigid layer has an edge providing a plurality of convex parts and a plurality of concave parts. Each convex part and each concave part are alternately arrayed with each other in the first direction. Each convex part is positioned outside each pressure chamber and protrudes in the second direction toward the another end portion. Each concave part is positioned at each pressure chamber and is concaved in the second direction away from the another end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Kakiuchi
  • Patent number: 10875301
    Abstract: An actuator device includes: an actuator including a first element contact; and a wire member including (a) a first contact connected to the first element contact and (b) a first wire configured to conduct with the first contact. A first wide portion is formed at a distal end portion of the first wire at an edge portion of the wire member. The first wide portion is disposed beyond the first element contact in a wire direction of the first wire. The first contact is disposed at a basal end portion of the first wire. The basal end portion is located further from the edge portion of the wire member than the first wide portion. The first contact is connected to the first element contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Kakiuchi
  • Patent number: 10870275
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head including: a channel substrate including a pressure chamber; a support substrate having a through hole; a piezoelectric element disposed between the channel substrate and the support substrate in a thickness direction of the channel substrate; a drive section disposed on a surface of the support substrate on a side opposite to the piezoelectric element; a trace passing through the through hole of the support substrate, extending on the support substrate toward the drive section, and connected to the piezoelectric element and the drive section; and a reservoir member including a channel communicating with the pressure chamber, and joined to the surface of the support substrate with adhesive. A protrusion or a recess is provided on the surface of the support substrate on the side opposite to the piezoelectric element at a position between the trace and the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Ito, Toru Kakiuchi, Yasuo Kato
  • Patent number: 10862019
    Abstract: An actuator device includes: an actuator including piezoelectric elements arranged in a first direction and first contacts arranged in the first direction; a protector including a first wall opposed to the piezoelectric elements and a second wall coupled to the first wall and joined to a region of the actuator at which the first contacts are disposed; first connection terminals disposed on the first; and first through electrodes formed in the second wall to bring the first contacts and the first connection terminals into conduction with each other. A distance between two of the first through electrodes which respectively correspond to two of the piezoelectric elements which are adjacent to each other in the first direction is greater than a distance in the first direction between the two of the piezoelectric elements which are adjacent to each other in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Kakiuchi, Yasuo Kato, Rui Wang, Yuichi Ito
  • Patent number: 10850514
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head manufacturing method comprising a step of forming a laminate, a step of connecting and a step of forming a protection film. The laminate includes electrodes and flow paths of liquid. The step of connecting is connecting terminals of a wiring substrate to terminals of the electrodes. The protection film is formed using atomic layer deposition, on a surface of the laminate defining the flow paths after connecting the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Kakiuchi, Yasuo Kato
  • Publication number: 20200346456
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head including: a channel substrate including a pressure chamber; a support substrate having a through hole; a piezoelectric element disposed between the channel substrate and the support substrate in a thickness direction of the channel substrate; a drive section disposed on a surface of the support substrate on a side opposite to the piezoelectric element; a trace passing through the through hole of the support substrate, extending on the support substrate toward the drive section, and connected to the piezoelectric element and the drive section; and a reservoir member including a channel communicating with the pressure chamber, and joined to the surface of the support substrate with adhesive. A protrusion or a recess is provided on the surface of the support substrate on the side opposite to the piezoelectric element at a position between the trace and the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Yuichi Ito, Toru Kakiuchi, Yasuo Kato