Patents by Inventor Toshiro UEDA
Toshiro UEDA 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).
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Patent number: 12076995Abstract: When inspection driving is performed by a liquid ejection head, a signal output circuit outputs a determination signal indicating whether a nozzle is an abnormal nozzle. The inspection driving is driving the liquid ejection head to eject liquid from the nozzle for checking whether the nozzle is the abnormal nozzle. A recovery device performs a recovery operation of discharging liquid from the nozzle. A controller is configured to: in response to receiving a first signal, perform the inspection driving and, in response to determining that the determination signal transmitted from the signal output circuit indicates that the abnormal nozzle exists, store flag information in a memory, the flag information indicating that the recovery operation needs to be performed; and in response to receiving a second signal different from the first signal and determining that the memory stores the flag information, control the recovery device to perform the recovery operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2022Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Zenichiro Sasaki, Kenta Horade, Hironori Takasaki, Toshiro Ueda, Tatsuya Shindo, Ryuji Horata
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Patent number: 11845285Abstract: Aspects of a disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device enables previously disabled liquid discharge through a head after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid chamber of a tank reaches a predetermined level or higher. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device that deactivates an alarm after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid reaches a predetermined level or higher.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2023Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenta Horade, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
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Patent number: 11794478Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head having a plurality of nozzles, a determination circuit, a clock, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether the clock is in an on or off state. In response to determining that the clock is in an on state, the controller is configured to perform an inspection process at a first time. In the inspection process, the controller drives the liquid ejection head to eject liquid from a nozzle of the plurality nozzles and receive a determination signal that is output from the determination circuit in response to ejection of liquid from the nozzle of the plurality of nozzles. In response to determining that the clock is in an off state, the controller is configured to perform the inspection process at a predetermined time that is a time after the clock is returned to an on state.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuya Shindo, Toshiro Ueda, Ryuji Horata, Zenichiro Sasaki, Kenta Horade, Hironori Takasaki
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Publication number: 20230173816Abstract: Aspects of a disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device enables previously disabled liquid discharge through a head after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid chamber of a tank reaches a predetermined level or higher. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device that deactivates an alarm after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid reaches a predetermined level or higher.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenta Horade, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
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Patent number: 11607879Abstract: A cap device includes a cap, an accommodation member, and a cover. The cap covers a nozzle surface of a liquid ejection head. The accommodation member is accommodated in the cap and is fixed to the cap. The accommodation member has a conductivity and receives a voltage that generates a potential difference between the liquid ejection head and the accommodation member. The accommodation member includes a first portion and a second portion connected with each other. The cover covers the second portion of the accommodation member, and has a surface that is co-planar with a surface of the first portion. The cover has a conductivity and receives a voltage that generates a potential difference between the liquid ejection head and the cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshiro Ueda
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Patent number: 11571906Abstract: Aspects of a disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device enables previously disabled liquid discharge through a head after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid chamber of a tank reaches a predetermined level or higher. Another aspects of the disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device that deactivates an alarm after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid reaches a predetermined level or higher.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenta Horade, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
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Publication number: 20220234352Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head having a plurality of nozzles, a determination circuit, a clock, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether the clock is in an on or off state. In response to determining that the clock is in an on state, the controller is configured to perform an inspection process at a first time. In the inspection process, the controller drives the liquid ejection head to eject liquid from a nozzle of the plurality nozzles and receive a determination signal that is output from the determination circuit in response to ejection of liquid from the nozzle of the plurality of nozzles. In response to determining that the clock is in an off state, the controller is configured to perform the inspection process at a predetermined time that is a time after the clock is returned to an on state.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2022Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Tatsuya SHINDO, Toshiro UEDA, Ryuji HORATA, Zenichiro SASAKI, Kenta HORADE, Hironori TAKASAKI
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Publication number: 20220234344Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a first circuit to output a determination signal indicating that ejecting ink is in failure, a second circuit to output a temperature signal indicating a temperature, a recovery device to perform a recovery operation, and a controller. The controller causes a recovery device to perform a first recovery operation based on a first failure-nozzle data in response to determining that a first temperature and a second temperature satisfy a predetermined condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2022Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Toshiro Ueda, Tatsuya Shindo, Ryuji Horata, Zenichiro Sasaki, Kenta Horade
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Publication number: 20220234357Abstract: When inspection driving is performed by a liquid ejection head, a signal output circuit outputs a determination signal indicating whether a nozzle is an abnormal nozzle. The inspection driving is driving the liquid ejection head to eject liquid from the nozzle for checking whether the nozzle is the abnormal nozzle. A recovery device performs a recovery operation of discharging liquid from the nozzle. A controller is configured to: in response to receiving a first signal, perform the inspection driving and, in response to determining that the determination signal transmitted from the signal output circuit indicates that the abnormal nozzle exists, store flag information in a memory, the flag information indicating that the recovery operation needs to be performed; and in response to receiving a second signal different from the first signal and determining that the memory stores the flag information, control the recovery device to perform the recovery operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2022Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Zenichiro SASAKI, Kenta HORADE, Hironori TAKASAKI, Toshiro UEDA, Tatsuya SHINDO, Ryuji HORATA
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Patent number: 11247458Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a case receiving a cartridge, a tank, a head, and a controller to: when the cartridge is installed in the case, calculate an outflow amount Qc based on heights Hc, Hs and flow path resistances; read the amounts Vc, Vs from a memory; subtract the outflow amount Qc from the read liquid amount Vc to calculate new liquid amount Vc; add the outflow amount Qc to the read liquid amount Vs to calculate new liquid amount Vs; store the calculated liquid amounts Vc, Vs in the memory; after a time period from at the time the calculated liquid amounts Vc, Vs stored elapses, again calculate the outflow amount Qc and the liquid amounts Vc, Vs and store the calculated liquid amounts Vc, Vs in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Takagi, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
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Patent number: 11247457Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus is configured to activate a first notification in a case where a liquid level of a tank is less than a threshold. In a case where a cartridge is installed after activating the first notification, a controller determines outflow amount Vcs of the liquid flowing into the tank based on the liquid amount of the installed cartridge, and controls a notification device based on the determined outflow amount Vcs.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenta Horade, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
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Patent number: 11243729Abstract: An image recording system includes a plurality of image recording apparatuses. In a case where a certain image recording apparatus of the image recording apparatuses has a failure nozzle proportion of failure nozzles of all the nozzles of the recording head smaller than or equal to a threshold, image recording is performed on the certain image recording apparatus based on a recording instruction. In a case where the certain image recording apparatus has a failure nozzle proportion exceeding the threshold, a recording instruction is transmitted to a different image recording apparatus having a failure nozzle proportion smaller than that of the certain image recording apparatus, and image recording is performed on the different image recording apparatus based on the recording instruction.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2021Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuta Toda, Masayoshi Hayashi, Yasuhiro Nakano, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Toshiro Ueda, Haruka Azechi
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Publication number: 20210347179Abstract: Aspects of a disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device enables previously disabled liquid discharge through a head after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid chamber of a tank reaches a predetermined level or higher. Another aspects of the disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device that deactivates an alarm after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid reaches a predetermined level or higher.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenta HORADE, Mikio OGAWA, Toshiro UEDA
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Publication number: 20210300018Abstract: A cap device includes a cap, an accommodation member, and a cover. The cap covers a nozzle surface of a liquid ejection head. The accommodation member is accommodated in the cap and is fixed to the cap. The accommodation member has a conductivity and receives a voltage that generates a potential difference between the liquid ejection head and the accommodation member. The accommodation member includes a first portion and a second portion connected with each other. The cover covers the second portion of the accommodation member, and has a surface that is co-planar with a surface of the first portion. The cover has a conductivity and receives a voltage that generates a potential difference between the liquid ejection head and the cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventor: Toshiro Ueda
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Publication number: 20210303245Abstract: An image recording system includes a plurality of image recording apparatuses. In a case where a certain image recording apparatus of the image recording apparatuses has a failure nozzle proportion of failure nozzles of all the nozzles of the recording head smaller than or equal to a threshold, image recording is performed on the certain image recording apparatus based on a recording instruction. In a case where the certain image recording apparatus has a failure nozzle proportion exceeding the threshold, a recording instruction is transmitted to a different image recording apparatus having a failure nozzle proportion smaller than that of the certain image recording apparatus, and image recording is performed on the different image recording apparatus based on the recording instruction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Yuta Toda, Masayoshi Hayashi, Yasuhiro Nakano, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Toshiro Ueda, Haruka Azechi
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Patent number: 11072181Abstract: Aspects of a disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device enables previously disabled liquid discharge through a head after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid chamber of a tank reaches a predetermined level or higher. Another aspects of the disclosure relates to a liquid discharge device that deactivates an alarm after a cartridge including a first liquid chamber is replaced and before the liquid level in a second liquid reaches a predetermined level or higher.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenta Horade, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
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Patent number: 10933649Abstract: The liquid discharge device starts executing an initial process of discharging the liquid, based on determining that a low level signal is received after receiving a high level signal from an installation sensor and that a low level signal is received after receiving a high level signal from a liquid level sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshiro Ueda, Mikio Ogawa, Kenta Horade
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Publication number: 20200406628Abstract: The liquid discharge device starts executing an initial process of discharging the liquid, based on determining that a low level signal is received after receiving a high level signal from an installation sensor and that a low level signal is received after receiving a high level signal from a liquid level sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshiro UEDA, Mikio OGAWA, Kenta HORADE
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Patent number: 10864743Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a case receiving a cartridge having a first chamber, a tank having a second chamber, a head, and a controller to: calculate outflow amount Qa flowed from the second chamber for a time period ?t based on discharge amount Dh; calculate outflow amount Qc flowed from the first chamber toward the second chamber for the time period ?t based on the outflow amount Qa and flow path resistances; read liquid amounts Vc and Vs of the first and second chambers from a memory; subtract the outflow amount Qc from the read liquid amount Vc to calculate new liquid amount Vc; subtract the outflow amount Qa from the read liquid amount Vs and add the outflow amount Qc to calculate new liquid amount Vs; and store the calculated liquid amounts Vc and Vs in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
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Publication number: 20200331260Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a case receiving a cartridge, a tank, a head, and a controller to: when the cartridge is installed in the case, calculate an outflow amount Qc based on heights Hc, Hs and flow path resistances; read the amounts Vc, Vs from a memory; subtract the outflow amount Qc from the read liquid amount Vc to calculate new liquid amount Vc; add the outflow amount Qc to the read liquid amount Vs to calculate new liquid amount Vs; store the calculated liquid amounts Vc, Vs in the memory; after a time period from at the time the calculated liquid amounts Vc, Vs stored elapses, again calculate the outflow amount Qc and the liquid amounts Vc, Vs and store the calculated liquid amounts Vc, Vs in the memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Yuki TAKAGI, Mikio OGAWA, Toshiro UEDA