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).

  • Publication number: 20220097395
    Abstract: A liquid supplying apparatus having a tank with a hole, a reservoir chamber to store a portion of liquid in the tank, and a flow path to store another portion of the liquid in the tank, is provided. The flow path connects the reservoir chamber and the hole. The flow path has a first funnel section to reduce a cross-sectional area of a part of the flow path. The first funnel section is located at a position equal to or higher than a surface of a predetermined maximum amount of the liquid storable in the tank in a usable posture. The first funnel section creates a meniscus with the liquid stored in the tank in an X1-rotated posture, in which the tank is rotated about a first axis by a first angle from the usable posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Taichi SHIRONO, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Sosuke KUROYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20220097400
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus, having a head, a reservoir section including a liquid reservoir chamber and an atmosphere communication path, a liquid flow path connecting the head with the liquid reservoir chamber, a switching assembly to switch states of the atmosphere communication path between a connecting state and a disconnecting state, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to control the switching assembly to switch the states of the atmosphere communication path from the connecting state to the disconnecting state; after switching the states of the atmosphere communication path, control the head to discharge the liquid; and after switching the states of the atmosphere communication path, and in response to a predetermined connection condition being satisfied, control the switching assembly to switch the states of the atmosphere communication path from the disconnecting state to the connecting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Fumio NAKAZAWA, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Taichi SHIRONO, Sosuke KUROYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20220097393
    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: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru OKI, Yoshinori OSAKABE
  • Publication number: 20220097387
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus, having a head with a nozzle surface, a reservoir section having a liquid reservoir chamber and a first atmosphere communication path, a liquid flow path connecting the head with the liquid reservoir chamber, a first switching assembly to switch states of the first atmosphere communication path between a connecting state and a disconnecting state, a cap having a body and a second atmosphere communication path, a movable assembly to move the cap between a covering position and a separated position, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to control the head to discharge the liquid, and after discharging the liquid from the head, control the movable assembly to move the cap from the separated position to the covering position. With the cap being located at the covering position, the first atmosphere communication path is placed in the connecting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Fumio NAKAZAWA, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Taichi SHIRONO, Sosuke KUROYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20220097392
    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: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Taichi SHIRONO, Takashi KITAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20220097380
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus, having a head with a nozzle surface, a reservoir section having a liquid reservoir chamber and a first atmosphere communication path, a liquid flow path connecting the head with the liquid reservoir chamber, a first switching assembly to switch states of the first atmosphere communication path between a connecting state and a disconnecting state, a cap having a body and a second atmosphere communication path, a movable assembly to move the cap between a covering position and a separated position, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to control the head to discharge the liquid, and after discharging the liquid from the head, control the movable assembly to move the cap from the separated position to the covering position. With the cap being located at the covering position, the first atmosphere communication path is placed in the disconnecting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Fumio NAKAZAWA, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Taichi SHIRONO, Sosuke KUROYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20220097391
    Abstract: An ink tank includes: a first liquid storage chamber; a second liquid storage chamber communicating with the first liquid storage chamber through a communication passage; an injector having an opening supplying liquid to the first liquid storage chamber; a cap movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the injector; a slide member which is inserted so as to be vertically movable with respect to the opening of the injector, the slide member being moved downward by the cap in the closed position; a valve body which is vertically movably inserted in the communication passage and includes a first sealing member opening the communication passage by moving downward together with the slide member moved downward by the cap in the closed position; and an urging member always urging the valve body upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumio NAKAZAWA, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Naoya OKAZAKI, Satoru OKI, Masahiro HAYASHI, Nanami ASHIDA
  • Publication number: 20220097386
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus, having a head, a reservoir section including a liquid reservoir chamber and an atmosphere communication path, a liquid flow path, a switching assembly, and a controller to control the switching assembly in a disconnecting process and the head in a discharging process after the disconnecting process, is provided. A volume of an air portion in the reservoir section is controlled to satisfy formulas: Vb=(Po+?P)*?V/?P and ?P?Pm. Po represents one atmosphere. AV represents a change in the volume of the air portion due to a change in a volume of the liquid caused by discharging a predetermined amount of liquid in the discharging process. AP represents a change in pressure of the air portion according to the change in the volume of the liquid in the discharging process. Pm represents a pressure resistance of menisci formed with the liquid in the nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Fumio NAKAZAWA, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Taichi SHIRONO, Sosuke KUROYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20220097407
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus, having a head, a reservoir section, a valve, a switching assembly, and a controller, is provided. The reservoir section has a liquid reservoir chamber, an air chamber, an injection port, and an atmosphere communication path. The switching assembly switches states of the valve between an opening state, in which the valve opens the atmosphere communication path, and a closing state, in which the valve closes the atmosphere communication path. The controller is configured to control the valve through the switching assembly to close the atmosphere communication path, control the head to discharge the liquid after closing the atmosphere communication path, and control the valve through the switching assembly to close the atmosphere communication path before the liquid is injected through the injection port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Taichi SHIRONO, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Sosuke KUROYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20220097406
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus, having a head, reservoir section, a liquid flow path, a lid, a valve, a switching assembly, and a controller, is provided. The reservoir section has a liquid reservoir chamber, an injection port, and an atmosphere communication path. The liquid flow path connects the head and the liquid reservoir chamber. The lid opens and closes the injection port. The switching assembly switches states of the valve between an opening state, in which the valve opens the atmosphere communication path, and a closing state, in which the valve closes the atmosphere communication path. The controller is configured to control the valve through the switching assembly to close the atmosphere communication path, control the head to discharge the liquid after closing the atmosphere communication path, and control the valve through the switching assembly to open the atmosphere communication path before the liquid is injected through the injection port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Taichi Shirono, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Sosuke KUROYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20220097401
    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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Taichi SHIRONO, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Sosuke KUROYANAGI
  • Patent number: 11279140
    Abstract: A tank set includes: tanks arranged in a predetermined direction, each of the tanks being composed of a casing including: a liquid storage chamber defined by mutually opposing two surfaces and configured to store liquid; an inlet provided to inject the liquid into the liquid storage chamber; and a liquid outflow port through which the liquid flows out from the liquid storage chamber to a liquid-consuming unit. Each of the two surfaces extends in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction, and is at least partially composed of a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Taichi Shirono, Masako Kawagoe, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11254124
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting device includes a plurality of liquid ejecting heads reciprocally movable in a main scanning direction and arrayed in the main scanning direction. Each of the plurality of liquid ejecting heads include a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject liquid. The plurality of liquid ejecting heads includes: a first endmost liquid ejecting head; and a second endmost liquid ejecting head. The first endmost liquid ejecting head constitutes one end in the main scanning direction of the plurality of liquid ejecting heads. The second endmost liquid ejecting head constitutes another end in the main scanning direction of the plurality of liquid ejecting heads. The liquid ejecting portion of at least one of the first endmost liquid ejecting head and the second endmost liquid ejecting head is disposed at a position deviated toward the remaining one of the first endmost liquid ejecting head and the second endmost liquid ejecting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kuwayama, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Publication number: 20220048293
    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: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI, Akira SHINODA, Akinori IGARASHI, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Hisaki SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20220048294
    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: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI, Akira SHINODA, Akinori IGARASHI, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Hisaki SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20220040987
    Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a tank and a cartridge. The cartridge is configured to be detachably attached to the tank in an attachment-detachment direction crossing a vertical direction. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The tank includes a second storage chamber, a liquid passage, and a gas passage. The liquid passage has a first end, a second end, and a first extending portion. The second end is formed with a second opening open to an atmosphere. The first extending portion extends from the second opening in the attachment-detachment direction. The gas passage has a third end, a fourth end, and a second extending portion. The fourth end is formed with a fourth opening open to the atmosphere. The second extending portion extends from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction. The second opening is at a position different from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Yoshinori OSAKABE, Akinari ISHIBE, Tatsuya SHINDO, Masahiro HAYASHI
  • Patent number: 11235580
    Abstract: There is provided a tank including a liquid inlet port, an atmosphere open port, a liquid outflow port, a first liquid chamber having a first atmosphere communication channel, a second liquid chamber being in communication with the first liquid chamber and having a second atmosphere communication channel, and a liquid channel. The liquid inside the liquid channel is movable along with a liquid consumption of a liquid consuming device connected to the tank. With the tank in a usage posture, when the liquid is stored in the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber, the liquid level of the liquid stored in the first liquid chamber is formed independently from the liquid level of the liquid stored in the second liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Masako Kawagoe, Taichi Shirono, Yoshinori Osakabe, Seiji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11235578
    Abstract: A liquid supplying system includes a tank, a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion, a sleeve portion, and a liquid bottle. The first and second tubular portions have inner ends positioned inside a storage chamber of the tank, and outer ends positioned outside of the storage chamber. The first and second tubular portions are positioned inside the sleeve portion. The sleeve portion includes a first screw portion and a first engagement portion. The liquid bottle includes an outer sleeve connectable to the sleeve portion. The sleeve portion includes a second screw portion threadingly engageable with the first screw portion, and a second engagement portion engageable with the first engagement portion. The first engagement portion can guide the second engagement portion to move in a direction parallel to a center axis of the sleeve portion during connection of the outer sleeve to the sleeve portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Tsuji, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Publication number: 20220024214
    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: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori OSAKABE, Tomohisa HIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20220019167
    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: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyase, Yoshinori Osakabe, Tsuyoshi Kuwayama, Yasuo Ono, Yuto Chiba, Jun Morikawa, Haruka Azechi