Patents by Inventor Yoshinori Osakabe

Yoshinori Osakabe 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: 11780235
    Abstract: A replenishing-type liquid storage tank includes a tank body, and a backpressure application member. Liquid is replenishable in the tank body and the tank body is configured to store the liquid therein. The backpressure application member is accommodated in the tank body to apply backpressure to the liquid stored in the tank body. The backpressure application member has a lower end positioned at a height equal to or lower than a liquid level of a minimum amount of liquid required to be stored in the tank body for enabling the backpressure application member to apply backpressure to the liquid stored in the tank body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumio Nakazawa, Tsuyoshi Kuwayama, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11780232
    Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure provides an image recording apparatus including a liquid supplying device. The liquid supplying device includes a tank, a cartridge, an atmospheric communication portion, and a recording portion. The tank has a second storage chamber configured to store liquid, a liquid passage in communication with the second storage chamber, and a gas passage in communication with the second storage chamber. The atmospheric communication portion includes a buffer tank defining a buffer chamber configured to store gas, a single communication flow passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicate with the second storage chamber, and an air communication passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicate with an atmosphere. When the cartridge is attached to the tank, the buffer chamber is positioned below the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber is positioned below the buffer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11772382
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes a tank and a cartridge attachable to the tank. The ink cartridge includes a first storing chamber configured to store liquid therein. The tank includes a second storing chamber configured to store liquid therein, a liquid channel and an air channel, which both communicate with the second storing chamber. When the cartridge is attached to the tank with the first storing chamber of the cartridge communicating with the liquid channel and the air channel, the first storing chamber has a portion located above the liquid channel and the air channel. The second storing portion has a first area located above a lower end of the first storing chamber of the cartridge in a vertical direction and a second area continuous with the first area and located below the first storing chamber of the cartridge in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11760102
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid consuming apparatus including: a liquid consuming section; a tank having a liquid storage chamber and an inlet port; a cap; and a casing having a cover movable with respect to the tank between a closed position and an open positon. The cover has an inner surface and a projection projected from the inner surface toward the tank. The projection of the cover is provided with a pressing portion facing the outer surface of the cap at a predetermined spacing distance, under a condition that the liquid consuming apparatus is in a normal state in which the cover is in the closed position and that the cap is installed in the inlet port, and the pressing portion abuts firstly against the outer surface, under a condition that the cap is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap to be removed from the inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11745511
    Abstract: An ink tank includes: a first liquid storage chamber having a lower limit indicator; a second liquid storage chamber; a liquid inlet communicated with the first liquid storage chamber; a cap openable or closeable the liquid inlet; a rotation shaft extending from an inside of the first liquid storage chamber to an outside through a through hole provided on a side wall of the first liquid storage chamber; a valve member opening or closing the communication passage; a first lever arm rotatable around the rotation shaft and connected to the valve member; a second lever arm provided outside the ink tank and rotatable around the rotation shaft; and a slider member connected to the second lever arm and movable in conjunction with the cap, the through hole being provided at a position above the lower limit indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Oki, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11745513
    Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank and a cartridge configured to be attached to the tank. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The tank includes a second storage chamber, a liquid passage, a gas passage, and an air communication portion. The liquid passage has a first end formed with a first opening, and a second end formed with a second opening. The gas passage has a third end formed with a third opening, and a fourth end formed with a fourth opening. In an attachment state where the first storage chamber is in communication with both the second opening and the fourth opening, the first storage chamber has a portion positioned above the liquid passage and the gas passage, and the second storage chamber is positioned below the liquid passage and the gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11738583
    Abstract: A first cover moves between a first closed position and a first open position. The first cover is located at another end of a housing when the first cover is located at the first closed position. A second cover moves between a second closed position and a second open position. The second cover is located closer to one end than the first cover is at the first closed position and at the second closed position. A first portion of a first conveyance path is formed between the first cover and the second cover at the first closed position and at the second closed position. A second portion of a second conveyance path is formed at a side of the second cover facing the one end at the second closed position. When the first cover opens the first portion, the second cover is located at the second closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyase, Yoshinori Osakabe, Tsuyoshi Kuwayama, Jun Morikawa, Haruka Azechi, Yasuo Ono, Yuto Chiba
  • Publication number: 20230264479
    Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure provides an image recording apparatus including a liquid supplying device. The liquid supplying device includes a tank, a cartridge, an atmospheric communication portion, and a recording portion. The tank has a second storage chamber configured to store liquid, a liquid passage in communication with the second storage chamber, and a gas passage in communication with the second storage chamber. The atmospheric communication portion includes a buffer tank defining a buffer chamber configured to store gas, a single communication flow passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicate with the second storage chamber, and an air communication passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicate with an atmosphere. When the cartridge is attached to the tank, the buffer chamber is positioned below the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber is positioned below the buffer chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro HAYASHI, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Akinari ISHIBE, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11731440
    Abstract: An upper supply tray is mounted at an upper mount position in a housing. A lower supply tray is mounted at a lower mount position lower than the upper mount position in the housing. A first print engine records an image on a sheet conveyed from the upper supply tray. A second print engine records an image on a sheet conveyed from the lower supply tray. A lower discharge tray supports the sheet on which the image is recorded by the first print engine. An upper discharge tray supports the sheet on which the image is recorded by the second print engine. The upper discharge tray is located at a higher position than the lower discharge tray. A first display displays at least: a first correspondence between the lower discharge tray and the upper supply tray; or a second correspondence between the upper discharge tray and the lower supply tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Satoshi Miyase
  • Patent number: 11724525
    Abstract: A first conveyance path and a second conveyance path are formed in a housing. The first conveyance path extends in a conveyance direction to reach a first discharge port for discharging a sheet. The second conveyance path extends in the conveyance direction at a position higher than the first conveyance path to reach a second discharge port for discharging a sheet. The second discharge port is located at a position upstream of the first discharge port in the conveyance direction. A first print engine is provided at the first conveyance path. The first print engine is configured to print an image by using a recording agent on a sheet conveyed along the first conveyance path. A second print engine is provided at the second conveyance path. The second print engine is configured to print an image by using a recording agent on a sheet conveyed along the second conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyase, Yoshinori Osakabe, Tsuyoshi Kuwayama, Jun Morikawa, Haruka Azechi, Yasuo Ono, Yuto Chiba
  • Patent number: 11720044
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing having a front end and a rear end, a first tray, a first print engine, a second tray, a second print engine and a controller. The controller configured to perform: receiving first image data representing the first image and second image data representing the second image; executing a first process including a first conveying process and a first recording process; executing a second process including a second conveying process and a second recording process; determining whether an error has occurred in the second process; and in a case where the error has occurred in the second process, stopping the second process while continuing the first process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyase, Yoshinori Osakabe, Tsuyoshi Kuwayama, Yasuo Ono, Yuto Chiba, Jun Morikawa, Haruka Azechi
  • Patent number: 11718099
    Abstract: An ink tank includes: a first liquid storage chamber; a second liquid storage chamber; a detector having at least two electrode rods in the first liquid storage chamber; an injector having an opening supplying liquid to the first liquid storage chamber; an atmospheric communication passage communicating an outside of the ink tank with the second liquid storage chamber; a cap movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the injector and configured to seal the first liquid storage chamber; a valve mechanism opening or closing the communication passage by moving up and down with respect to the communication passage; a link mechanism moving the valve mechanism up and down; and a guide portion guiding the valve mechanism, at least a part of the guide portion being provided in the valve mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Taichi Shirono, Takashi Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20230241898
    Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank a tank and a cartridge. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The cartridge is formed with a communicating opening in communication with the first storage chamber. The tank has a second storage chamber and a joint having a hollow cylindrical shape. In an attachment state where the communicating opening of the cartridge is connected to the joint, the first storage chamber has a portion positioned above the joint and the second storage chamber is positioned below the joint. At least in the first end portion, the liquid passage has a rectangular shape in a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to an extending direction of the liquid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11707933
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a cartridge installing unit for detachably installing a plurality of ink cartridges. The cartridge installing unit includes: a base having a placing surface and aligning the plurality of ink cartridges in a first direction on the placing surface; a moving force applying unit moving an ink cartridge of the plurality of ink cartridges from an installation position to a removal position separated from the installation position in a movement direction including a component of the first direction; and a regulating unit regulating the movement of the ink cartridge from the installation position to the removal position. The moving force applying unit moves the ink cartridge from the installation position to the removal position in a case that the ink cartridge is released from the regulation by the regulating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyase, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11701898
    Abstract: In a printer unit, ink is poured into a storage chamber from an inlet of a tank. The storage chamber communicates with an air chamber. An air tube connects the air chamber and the outside of the tank and is opened and closed by a valve. A cover is movable to a first position in which the inlet is covered and a second position in which the inlet is exposable via a third position being a position between the first position and the second position. A valve opening/closing mechanism opens a valve when the cover is located on a side closer to the first position than the third position, and closes the valve when the cover is located between the third position and the second position. When the cover moves from the third position to the first position, a cap fits over the inlet to seal the storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11697288
    Abstract: A liquid supplying apparatus, having a reservoir section including a reservoir chamber, and a communication section connecting the reservoir chamber and a hole, is provided. The communication section has a first wall and a second wall, a first buffer space, and a second buffer space. The first buffer space and the second buffer space store the liquid flowing on the first wall and the second wall, respectively, in the liquid supplying apparatus being in the first rotated posture. The hole is located at an upper position with respect to a surface of a predetermined maximum amount of the liquid storable in the reservoir chamber in the liquid supplying apparatus being in a usable posture. The hole is open neither to the first buffer space nor the second buffer space. The hole is located in neither the first wall nor the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Taichi Shirono, Fumio Nakazawa, Sosuke Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 11673414
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a casing which is box-shaped, and which has an internal space; a recording head arranged in the internal space, and configured to jet ink droplets; a carriage which is movable, and is arranged in the internal space, and on which the recording head is mounted; and a dust-proof portion arranged between a movable space and an exterior of the casing, the movable space being a space, in the internal space, in which the carriage is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11654675
    Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes: a head including a nozzle configured to eject ink toward a recording medium; a storage portion storing therein ink and formed with an air communication opening allowing an interior of the storage portion to be communicated with an outside thereof; a valve movable between an opening position opening the air communication opening and a closing position closing the air communication opening; an actuator configured to move the valve; a state sensor configured to output a detection signal based on the state of the inkjet recording device; and a controller configured to perform: (a) determining, on the basis of the detection signal, whether the inkjet recording device has an abnormality; and (b) controlling, in a case where determination is made in (a) that the inkjet recording device has an abnormality, the actuator to move the valve to the closing position from the opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Fumio Nakazawa, Taichi Shirono, Sosuke Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 11633955
    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: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11623448
    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: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi, Akira Shinoda, Akinori Igarashi, Suguru Tomoguchi, Hisaki Sakurai