Patents by Inventor Yasuto Sakai

Yasuto Sakai 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
  • Patent number: 8113639
    Abstract: Liquid packs provided with liquid leading members are stored in a container case that is constituted by fitting a case main body portion and a lid case in fitting portions and, support portions, which positions the liquid leading members so as to be opposed to liquid introducing members attached to a cartridge inserting portion, are provided on a front surface of the container case, the fitting portions are arranged in a state in which the fitting portions traverses the support portions, and space portions having a gap larger than a gap formed in the fitting portions are formed near the support portions in the fitting portions. In this way, liquid flowing through the fitting portions due to the capillarity is retained by the space portions and never flows to the fitting portions further extending from the space portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitotoshi Kimura, Yasuto Sakai, Satoshi Shinada, Michinari Tsukahara, Masanori Kobayashi, Taku Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 8057026
    Abstract: Liquid packs provided with the liquid leading members are stored in a container case that is constituted by fitting a case main body portion and a lid case in fitting portions, support portions, which positions the liquid leading members so as to be opposed to liquid introducing members attached to a cartridge inserting portion, are provided on a front surface of the container case, the fitting portions traverses the support portions, and space portions having a gap larger than a gap formed in the fitting portions are formed near the support portions in the fitting portions due to the capillarity is retained by the space portions and never flows to the fitting portions further extending from the space portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitotoshi Kimura, Yasuto Sakai, Satoshi Shinada, Michinari Tsukahara, Masanori Kobayashi, Taku Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 8042909
    Abstract: A liquid container for a liquid ejection apparatus includes: a case having a liquid containing portion in its interior; a supply portion which is formed on a first side wall of the case, and through which a liquid in the liquid containing portion can flow to an exterior; a contact portion, which can contact a part of a slider of the liquid ejection apparatus to move the slider in a direction in which the liquid container is inserted; and an engagement portion, which is configured to engage a lock portion of the slider. The contact portion and the engagement portion are formed on a second side wall of the case, the second side wall intersecting the first side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuto Sakai, Satoshi Shinada, Tokujiro Okuno, Satoshi Kobayashi, Shuichi Kadota
  • Patent number: 8011772
    Abstract: Liquid packs 34 provided with liquid leading members 42 are stored in a container case 31 that is constituted by fitting a case main body portion 32 and a lid case 33 in fitting portions 27 and 28, support portions 13, which positions the liquid leading members 42 so as to be opposed to liquid introducing members 71 attached to a cartridge inserting portion 13, are provided on a front surface 32a of the container case 31, the fitting portions 27 and 28 are arranged in a state in which the fitting portions 27 and 28 traverses the support portions 43, and space portions 29 and 30 having a gap larger than a gap formed in the fitting portions 27 and 28 are formed near the support portions 43 in the fitting portions 27 and 28. In this way, liquid flowing through the fitting portions 27 and 28 due to the capillarity is retained by the space portions 29 and 30 and never flows to the fitting portions 27 and 28 further extending from the space portions 29 and 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitotoshi Kimura, Yasuto Sakai, Satoshi Shinada, Michinari Tsukahara, Masanori Kobayashi, Taku Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 7934794
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Munehide Kanaya, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Hiroshige Owaki, Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada
  • Patent number: 7934822
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Munehide Kanaya, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Hiroshige Owaki, Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada
  • Patent number: 7934816
    Abstract: When ink is filled into an ink pack 13 including a bag part 20 and an outlet part 21, firstly, air in the bag 20 and outlet part 21 is sucked by a suction pump P2 provided for an ink pouring apparatus 30. Further, by a first measuring pipe 43, ink supplied from a main tank 31 is poured through the outlet part 21 into the bag part 20. Further, by a second measuring pipe 52, the ink poured into the bag part 20 of the ink pack 13 is sucked and exhausted. Furthermore, the ink in the second measuring pipe 52 is mixed into a mixing tank 34 with ink previously supplied to the mixing tank 34 from the main tank 31. Next, the ink is supplied from the mixing tank 34 to a third measuring pipe 59, and filled from the third measuring pipe 59 through the outlet part 21 into the bag part 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Michinari Tsukahara, Masanori Kobayashi, Morio Sato, Kenji Ochiai, Yasuto Sakai
  • Patent number: 7815298
    Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet recording device, includes: a container having an ink supply port; at least two ink chambers partitioned in the container, one being located substantially in an upper section and the other being located substantially in a lower section; an ink suction passage connecting a bottom region of the lower section ink chamber to a bottom region of the upper section ink chamber; and a negative pressure generating mechanism provided to a flow passage connecting the upper section ink chamber to the ink supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Yasuto Sakai, Satoshi Shinada, Atsushi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7802877
    Abstract: The ink cartridge includes an ink supply port formed at a position, offset to one side, of a wall configuring an ink container body; a positioning projecting portion, formed on one wall out of two opposing walls adjacent the wall, whose upper surface and side portion are regulated in position when the cartridge has been mounted on a recording apparatus; a lever, formed on the other wall out of the two walls, maintaining a normal hinged-open state and having a projection that is forcibly displaced outward when the cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus; and electrodes that are connected to a memory unit storing information on the ink in an ink container and formed on the positioning projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashii, Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Kazumasa Harada, Kazuaki Aoki
  • Patent number: 7784930
    Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet recording device, includes: a container having an ink supply port; at least two ink chambers partitioned in the container, one being located substantially in an upper section and the other being located substantially in a lower section; an ink suction passage connecting a bottom region of the lower section ink chamber to a bottom region of the upper section ink chamber; and a negative pressure generating mechanism provided to a flow passage connecting the upper section ink chamber to the ink supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Yasuto Sakai, Satoshi Shinada, Atsushi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7748835
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording device for supplying ink to a recording head from at least one ink cartridge having a bottom wall, and first and second side walls connected to each other through the bottom wall and facing each other, the ink cartridge further having an ink supply port at the bottom wall, a first retaining member extending from the first side wall and a recess provided in the vicinity of the second side wall, the retaining member having a first engagement portion displaceable toward and away from the first side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai
  • Patent number: 7699452
    Abstract: An ink cartridge 1 is detachably connected to a head of a record apparatus and has a container main body 2 having an ink tank chamber 11 opened to the atmosphere in a state in which the head and the cartridge are connected and a first opening 85 through which ink can be injected into the ink tank chamber (second ink storage chamber 16, etc.,). Such an intermediate wall 301 partitioning the ink tank chamber 11 into two space parts 11a and 11b placed side by side in an ink injection direction is disposed in the ink tank chamber 11 and is formed with a through part 301a through which ink can be injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mutsuhiko Ota, Yukiharu Suda, Hisashi Koike, Satoshi Shinada, Michinari Tsukahara, Hisashi Miyazawa, Yasuto Sakai
  • Patent number: 7686441
    Abstract: The ink cartridge includes an ink supply port formed at a position, offset to one side, of a wall configuring an ink container body; a positioning projecting portion, formed on one wall out of two opposing walls adjacent the wall, whose upper surface and side portion are regulated in position when the cartridge has been mounted on a recording apparatus; a lever, formed on the other wall out of the two walls, maintaining a normal hinged-open state and having a projection that is forcibly displaced outward when the cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus; and electrodes that are connected to a memory unit storing information on the ink in an ink container and formed on the positioning projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashii, Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Kazumasa Harada, Kazuaki Aoki
  • Patent number: 7669993
    Abstract: The ink cartridge includes an ink supply port formed at a position, offset to one side, of a wall configuring an ink container body; a positioning projecting portion, formed on one wall out of two opposing walls adjacent the wall, whose upper surface and side portion are regulated in position when the cartridge has been mounted on a recording apparatus; a lever, formed on the other wall out of the two walls, maintaining a normal hinged-open state and having a projection that is forcibly displaced outward when the cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus; and electrodes that are connected to a memory unit storing information on the ink in an ink container and formed on the positioning projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashii, Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Kazumasa Harada, Kazuaki Aoki
  • Patent number: 7614732
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Munehide Kanaya, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Hiroshige Owaki, Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada
  • Patent number: 7614731
    Abstract: The ink cartridge includes an ink supply port formed at a position, offset to one side, of a wall configuring an ink container body; a positioning projecting portion, formed on one wall out of two opposing walls adjacent the wall, whose upper surface and side portion are regulated in position when the cartridge has been mounted on a recording apparatus; a lever, formed on the other wall out of the two walls, maintaining a normal hinged-open state and having a projection that is forcibly displaced outward when the cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus; and electrodes that are connected to a memory unit storing information on the ink in an ink container and formed on the positioning projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashii, Satoshi Shinada, Yasuto Sakai, Kazumasa Harada, Kazuaki Aoki
  • Publication number: 20090273656
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Munehide Kanaya, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Hiroshige Owaki, Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090237448
    Abstract: Liquid packs 34 provided with liquid leading members 42 are stored in a container case 31 that is constituted by fitting a case main body portion 32 and a lid case 33 in fitting portions 27 and 28, support portions 13, which positions the liquid leading members 42 so as to be opposed to liquid introducing members 71 attached to a cartridge inserting portion 13, are provided on a front surface 32a of the container case 31, the fitting portions 27 and 28 are arranged in a state in which the fitting portions 27 and 28 traverses the support portions 43, and space portions 29 and 30 having a gap larger than a gap formed in the fitting portions 27 and 28 are formed near the support portions 43 in the fitting portions 27 and 28. In this way, liquid flowing through the fitting portions 27 and 28 due to the capillarity is retained by the space portions 29 and 30 and never flows to the fitting portions 27 and 28 further extending from the space portions 29 and 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Hitotoshi Kimura, Yasuto Sakai, Satoshi Shinada, Michinari Tsukahara, Masanori Kobayashi, Taku Ishizawa