Fluid Content (e.g., Moisture Or Solvent Content, Ink Refilling, Liquid Level) Patents (Class 347/7)
  • Patent number: 10864745
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejection portion and a circuit. The ejection portion has a plurality of ejection ports configured to eject liquid supplied from a liquid storage portion defining a liquid storage space configured to store liquid. The circuit is electrically connected to at least one of a bottom electrode and a side electrode. The circuit is configured to detect a capacitance between the bottom electrode and the side electrode. The bottom electrode is provided at a bottom surface of the liquid storage portion. The side electrode is provided at one side surface of the liquid storage portion and electrically isolated from the bottom electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daiki Higashiguchi, Isao Kubo, Takahiko Watari, Satoshi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 10853706
    Abstract: A liquid consuming device, including an attachment case, to which a cartridge including a first compartment is attachable, a first channel connectable with the first compartment, a tank including a second compartment connected with the first channel, a second channel connected with the second compartment, a head connected with the second channel, a display, and a controller, is provided. The controller controls, in response to a first remainder amount being an amount of a liquid in the cartridge being greater than or equal to a first predetermined amount, the display to display a first screen including a first object indicating the first remainder amount, and controls, in response to the first remainder amount being smaller than the first predetermined amount, the display to display the first screen including a second object, which indicates a second remainder amount being an amount of the liquid in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yu Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10843474
    Abstract: A liquid container unit includes: a liquid container including: a plurality of liquid storage portions; and a plurality of injection ports which are provided to the respective plurality of liquid storage portions, and are configured to enable injection of liquid into the plurality of liquid storage portions; and an injection port cover which is provided to the liquid container so as to be rotatable and is configured to cover the plurality of injection ports so as to be openable and closable, the injection port cover including a plurality of stopper members configured to close the plurality of injection ports when the injection port cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Arai, Tomoki Yamamuro, Tatsuaki Orihara, Takeho Miyashita, Kazuya Yoshii, Norihiro Ikebe, Akira Shiba, Ryo Shimamura, Masatoshi Ohira, Hirofumi Okuhara, Kazumasa Matsushita, Misato Furuya
  • Patent number: 10843479
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus comprises: a liquid supply unit to perform an operation to supply liquid from a main tank to a sub tank; a liquid surface detection unit configured to detect a liquid surface of the liquid stored in the sub tank; and a control unit configured to control the liquid supply unit to execute first liquid supply operation to control the liquid supply unit to supply liquid to the sub tank until the liquid surface is detected by the liquid surface detection unit and a second liquid supply operation to supply liquid to the sub tank after the liquid surface is detected by the liquid surface detection unit. The control unit controls, based on at least one of a liquid supply amount and a liquid supply time in the first liquid supply operation, the time during which the second liquid supply operation is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Takahashi, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 10836178
    Abstract: A sensing structure in an example may include at least three electrodes along an interior surface of a reservoir from a top portion of the reservoir to a bottom portion of the reservoir wherein at least one of the electrodes is closer to at least another electrode at the top portion of the reservoir than at the bottom portion of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Develpment Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ning Ge, Chien-Hua Chen, Michael W. Cumbie
  • Patent number: 10836179
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a main replenishing section, an auxiliary replenishing section, and a controller. The image forming section forms an image on a recording medium using a consumable. The main replenishing section retains the consumable therein. The auxiliary replenishing section is replenished with the consumable from the main replenishing section and replenishes the consumable to the image forming section. The controller controls an image forming speed for forming the image on the recording medium. The controller lowers the image forming speed below a normal speed when a main residual amount corresponding to a remaining amount of the consumable retained in the main replenishing section is no greater than a specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masazo Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10836180
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a printing unit configured to eject ink supplied from a storage unit to perform a printing operation; a detection unit configured to detect ink stored in the storage unit; and an acquisition unit configured to acquire a consumption amount of ink consumed in the printing operation from the storage unit. The printing apparatus includes: a calculation unit configured to calculate a decrease amount that is a difference between the ink amount in the storage unit detected by the detection unit prior to the printing operation and the ink amount in the storage unit detected by the detection unit after the printing operation; and a determination unit configured to determine an ink leakage in a case where a difference between the decrease amount calculated by the calculation unit and the consumption amount acquired by the acquisition unit is larger than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Takahashi, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Takuya Fukasawa, Tsuyoshi Saeki, Toshiaki Tokisawa
  • Patent number: 10803417
    Abstract: An administrative server stores replacement component information relating to at least one replacement component that can be distributed by a supplier in delivery service. A replacement component desired by the user is selected. A selected replacement component information relating to the at least one selected replacement component is transmitted to the administrative server. When the usage degree of at least one of the at least one selected replacement component indicated by the usage degree information reaches a predetermined usage degree, the ordering request specifying the at least one replacement component included in the selected replacement component information is transmitted to the supplier. Therefore, the supplier can offer the automatic sales service with a replacement component that the supplier distributes normally without preparing a wide variety of replacement components, which reduces burden on the supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yohei Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 10792925
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a tank main body that contains ink, a transparent member that forms at least part of the tank main body and transmits light, and a reference plate that is disposed in the tank main body and in a position facing the transparent member and forms, along with the transparent member, an inflow space which is located between the transparent member and the reference plate and into which the ink flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryohei Kuri
  • Patent number: 10786995
    Abstract: A method for printing a substrate may comprise positioning a substrate within an enclosure enclosing a printing system, wherein the printing system comprises a printhead device assembly comprising at least one printhead, and performing a printing process on the substrate. and.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Sou-Kang Ko, Stephen Mark Smith, Shandon Alderson
  • Patent number: 10759179
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that can reduce at least one of various inconveniences in a sub-tank, such as stock management being complicated. The sub-tank includes: a consumable article containing portion; a sub-tank-side storage unit; and a case that can be detachably attached to multiple slots in a consumable article consumption apparatus and contains the consumable article containing portion. In a state before the sub-tank is first mounted in the slot, the sub-tank-side storage unit stores a sub-tank-side identifier configured to distinguish from another sub-tank, and in a state after the sub-tank is first mounted in the slot, the sub-tank-side storage unit further stores sub-tank-side consumable article information relating to an attribute of the consumable article replenished in a consumable article containing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Shigeki Fukushima, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Takahiro Imai, Katsutoshi Ozawa, Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Noriyuki Inukai
  • Patent number: 10752001
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a chamber configured to store liquid therein, with a liquid outlet configured to supply the liquid from an interior of the chamber to an exterior of the chamber. A detector is positioned in the chamber so as to be rotatable between a released position and a restricted position. The detector has a detection portion and a restriction portion with a first contact surface defining a first length. A restriction member includes a second contact surface that defines a second length greater than the first length. The restriction member is movable straightly between a first position in which the first and second contact surfaces contact one another, a second position in which the first and second contact surfaces do not contact one another, and a third position between the first and second positions in which the first and second contact surfaces contact one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihito Ono
  • Patent number: 10752009
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid tank that can reduce the remaining amount of liquid even if a use state of the liquid tank is in an inclined state. The liquid tank includes an external wall, a liquid discharge port, and a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion that are provided inside the liquid tank and respectively protrude from a third side wall. The height of the second protruding portion from a bottom wall in a use state is higher than the height of the first protruding portion from the bottom wall. The first protruding portion has, at an upper portion thereof, a first inclined portion that is inclined to the upper part in the first direction, and the second protruding portion has, at an upper portion thereof, a second inclined portion that is inclined to the upper part in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoma Kudo, Hideki Okumura
  • Patent number: 10747454
    Abstract: Apparatus, media, methods, and systems for data storage systems and methods for self-adaptive chip-enable setup time. A data storage system may comprise one or more non-volatile memory device and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a command to a first non-volatile memory device of the one or more non-volatile memory devices is dropped. The controller is configured to, when the command to the first non-volatile memory device is determined to be dropped, update a first counter value indicating a number of commands to the first non-volatile memory device that are dropped. The controller is configured to, when the command to the first non-volatile memory device is determined to be dropped, increase a value of a chip-enable setup time parameter for the first non-volatile memory device by a first time duration, based on at least one of the first counter value and one or more parameter values of the first non-volatile memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Niang-Chu Chen, Jun Tao
  • Patent number: 10744783
    Abstract: An apparatus displays an S_Empty informing screen on a display when a count value N reaches a threshold Nth, reads a liquid amount Vc from an IC chip of a cartridge which is installed, calculates an outflow amount Qc of a liquid flowing out from the cartridge to a tank at a period ?t based on the read liquid amount Vc, and erases the S_Empty informing screen from the display when the calculated outflow amount Qc is equal to or larger than a threshold Qth1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Horade, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 10737499
    Abstract: A liquid consumption device includes a cartridge, a tank and a consumption portion. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The tank includes a second storage chamber and a semipermeable membrane. The semipermeable membrane covers the communication port. The semipermeable membrane is configured to block a liquid. The semipermeable membrane is positioned above a level of the liquid stored in the first storage chamber in a state where the level of the liquid stored in the first storage chamber becomes equal to the level of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber because of a flow of the liquid from the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber due to water head difference as a result of the connection of the cartridge to the tank. The first storage chamber of the cartridge to connected to the tank stores therein a maximum amount of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Inventor: Masahiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10717290
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a case receiving a cartridge having a first liquid chamber, a tank having a second liquid chamber, a head, a liquid level sensor, an interface, an alarm and a controller configured to: when the cartridge is installed in the case, read a liquid amount Vc stored in the first liquid chamber from a cartridge memory through the interface; read a liquid amount Vs stored in the second liquid chamber from a memory; calculate a threshold based on the liquid amount Vc read from the cartridge memory and the liquid amount Vs read from the memory; update a count value with a value equivalent to an amount of liquid instructed to be discharged by a discharge instruction; and operate the alarm when the updated count value reaches the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10717279
    Abstract: A fluid printhead including at least one fluid ejection element. The fluid ejection element includes a fluid chamber, a throat portion through which fluid is provided to the fluid chamber, and a heater element disposed within the fluid chamber. The fluid ejection element also includes a printhead condition detection system. The printhead condition detection system includes a first electrode at least a portion of which is disposed within the fluid chamber, the first electrode configured to receive a step voltage, a second electrode disposed within the throat portion, and a sense circuit electrically connected to the second electrode that generates an output based on the application of the step voltage to the first electrode as an indication of printhead condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: John Glenn Edelen, Steve Bergstedt
  • Patent number: 10712376
    Abstract: A method for measuring an impedance of each of a plurality of piezoelectric actuators of a print head, each piezoelectric actuator connected to electronic selection circuitry of the print head that drives the piezoelectric actuators during a print operation. The method includes generating a waveform to drive a drive rail of the print head, the drive rail connected to the electronic selection circuitry of the print head and measuring an impedance of each of the plurality of piezoelectrical actuators of the print head through the electronic selection circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: David L. Knierim
  • Patent number: 10696056
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber with a liquid outlet configured to supply the liquid from an interior of the chamber to an exterior of the chamber. An actuator is movable between a first position in which the liquid outlet is closed, and a second position in which the liquid outlet is open. A detector is positioned in the chamber, and is movable from a restricted position to a released position in response to movement of the actuator from the first to the second position. The detector is movable from the released position to the restricted position in response to movement of the actuator from the second to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Suguru Tomoguchi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Naoya Okazaki, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10688799
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a case receiving a cartridge having a first liquid chamber, a tank having a second liquid chamber, a head, a liquid level sensor and a controller configured to: receive a first signal or a second signal when a position of a liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or higher than or lower than a predetermined position; prohibit a liquid discharge through the head in a predetermined case; cancel the prohibition of the liquid discharge based on determining that the cartridge is installed in the case; and prohibit the liquid discharge based on determining that a first elapsed time from a time when determining that the cartridge is installed in the installation case reaches a predetermined time and the second signal is received from the liquid level sensor without receiving the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10654283
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a print head configured to eject ink; an ink tank configured to contain the ink; an ink flow path plate having a supply flow path for guiding ink to be supplied from the ink tank to the print head, and a collection flow path for guiding ink to be collected from the print head to the ink tank and provided below the ink tank in a gravitational direction; an atmosphere communication plate provided above the ink tank in the gravitational direction and having an atmosphere communication flow path for communicating the ink tank with atmosphere; a first functional component provided above the ink flow path plate in the gravitational direction to act on at least one of the supply flow path and the collection flow path; and a second functional component provided below the atmosphere communication plate in the gravitational direction to act on the atmosphere communication flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Saeki, Toshiaki Tokisawa, Takashi Abe, Yumi Mukoyama
  • Patent number: 10647124
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a tank having ink chamber; a recording head; a memory storing a count value updated toward a first threshold value in accordance with ejection of ink; a display; an operation interface; a power switching section switched between a first state and a second state; and a controller executes a first inquiry process to: display a first inquiry screen inquiring whether the ink chamber has been refilled with ink; and receive one of a first operation and a second operation. After receiving the first operation, the controller determines when ink has been supplied. In response to determining that ink has been supplied just before the first inquiry process, the controller sets the count value to a first initial value. In response to determining that ink has been supplied during the second state, the controller sets the count value to a second initial value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10625500
    Abstract: In an example, a print apparatus includes a printhead carriage to receive a printhead comprising a print agent ejection nozzle, a drop detector to acquire a signal indicative of variations in a parameter detected by the drop detector over a period of drop detection, a memory to hold a print agent ejection signature, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry includes a convolution module to convolve the drop detector signal with the print agent ejection signature, and the processing circuitry is to determine, from an output of the convolution module, an indication of similarity between the drop detector signal and the print agent ejection signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Pere Tuset, Xavier Vilajosana, Sheila Cabello
  • Patent number: 10618300
    Abstract: To provide a liquid storage container equipped with a plug member that can prevent leakage of a liquid from the liquid storage container and can be opened without causing scatter of the liquid, and a liquid ejection apparatus equipped with the liquid storage container. For the purpose, at least one of a connection part of the convex part with the cover part and an apical part of the convex part most apart from the connection part is provided offset from the centroid of the cover part, seen from a direction orthogonal to an opening surface of a supply port in a state that the plug member is mounted on a supply port of the liquid storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Shimamura, Akira Shiba, Kazuya Yoshii, Norihiro Ikebe, Takeho Miyashita, Tomoki Yamamuro, Atsushi Arai, Masatoshi Ohira, Tatsuaki Orihara, Hirofumi Okuhara, Kazumasa Matsushita, Misato Furuya
  • Patent number: 10611162
    Abstract: There are provided a liquid container including a plug member which prevents leakage of a liquid from the liquid container and can be opened without scattering the liquid and a liquid ejection apparatus including the liquid container. For that purpose, a projecting portion in the plug member is provided below a center part of the plug member in a gravity direction in an attitude at the time of use of the liquid ejection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiro Ikebe, Ryo Shimamura, Akira Shiba, Kazuya Yoshii, Takeho Miyashita, Tomoki Yamamuro, Atsushi Arai, Masatoshi Ohira, Tatsuaki Orihara, Hirofumi Okuhara, Kazumasa Matsushita, Misato Furuya
  • Patent number: 10603919
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a case receiving a cartridge having a first liquid chamber, a tank having a second liquid chamber, a head, a liquid level sensor and a controller configured to: based on receiving, from the liquid level sensor, a second signal after receiving a first signal, determine a total liquid amount Vt as a fixed value A; receive a second discharge instruction; update a second count value with a value equivalent to an amount of the liquid instructed to be discharged by the second discharge instruction; subtract the second count value from the total liquid amount Vt determined as the fixed value A to calculate the total liquid amount Vt; and determine the liquid amounts Vc and Vs based on the obtained total liquid amount Vt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10583652
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Horade, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 10562313
    Abstract: A bottle for ink supply is shipped with a two-dimensional code attached to the bottle, individual information being embedded in the two-dimensional code. A user reads the two-dimensional code with a portable information terminal and thereby transmits the individual information to a management server. If there is no fraud or problem, the management server transmits a passcode to the portable information terminal. When the bottle is placed in a bottle storing unit, the two-dimensional code is read by a two-dimensional code reader, and a passcode is created based on the individual information embedded in the two-dimensional code. Only when the passcode matches the passcode registered by the user, ink in the bottle becomes ready to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoru Kiyohara
  • Patent number: 10556440
    Abstract: The image recording apparatus has a head, a tank, a case that receives a cartridge, and a controller. When the cartridge is installed in the case of the image recording apparatus, the liquid in the cartridge flows to the tank by a difference between a liquid level in the cartridge and a liquid level in the tank. The controller controls a display to display a first notification indicating an ink cartridge based on receiving a first signal output from a sensor when a liquid level in an ink chamber reached a specific position. The controller, after receiving the first signal from the sensor, counts a count value indicating an amount of discharged liquid from the head. Further, the controller, in response to the count value reaching a first threshold, controls the display to display a second notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10556441
    Abstract: The liquid discharge device performs a series of process including: controlling a head to discharge ink in response to receiving discharge instruction; calculating a waiting time Tw based on ink discharge amount Dh after completing the discharge of the ink; executes counting process based on a signal received from a liquid level sensor after elapse of the waiting time T2 from the completion of discharging the ink from the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiro Ueda, Mikio Ogawa, Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10538092
    Abstract: A liquid supplying mechanism includes: a tank including a liquid storage section configured to store a liquid, and a liquid injection port configured to inject the liquid into the liquid storage section; and a bottle configured to replenish the liquid into the tank. The bottle includes: a bottle section configured to store the liquid; and a protruding section, which protrudes from the bottle section, and is insertable into the liquid injection port so as to inject, into the liquid storage section, the liquid stored in the bottle section. The liquid injection port includes: a protruding section insertion portion into which the protruding section of the bottle is insertable; and a protruding section fixing portion, which is engageable with the protruding section of the bottle, to thereby be capable of fixing the bottle to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeho Miyashita, Ryo Shimamura, Akira Shiba, Kazuya Yoshii, Norihiro Ikebe, Tomoki Yamamuro, Atsushi Arai, Masatoshi Ohira, Tatsuaki Orihara, Hirofumi Okuhara, Kazumasa Matsushita, Misato Furuya
  • Patent number: 10532579
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to printhead-integrated ink level sensor (PILS) system. In an example implementation, the PILS system includes a sense capacitor plate in a fluid sensing chamber to sense a level of fluid in the fluid sensing chamber. The fluid sensing chamber is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir of the printhead to receive fluid from the fluid reservoir. The sense capacitor plate includes at least one slot. The PILS system further includes at least one central clearing resistor and at least one peripheral clearing resistor to clear the fluid sensing chamber of the fluid. The central clearing resistor is provided in the at least one slot of the sense capacitor plate. The at least one peripheral resistor is provided in the fluid sensing chamber surrounding the sense capacitor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Boon Bing Ng, Patrick Leonard, Raymond Connolly
  • Patent number: 10525722
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid tank in which air bubbles are less likely to remain in a valve mechanism provided in an on-carriage-type liquid tank. The liquid tank has a liquid supply portion, a first liquid chamber, a second liquid chamber that can contain the liquid to be supplied to the first liquid chamber, and a valve mechanism that is arranged between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber, and the valve mechanism has, inside an exterior wall constituting the valve mechanism, a channel member, a biasing member, a valve body, and a rod from an upstream side of flow of the liquid in the stated order, the channel member is provided inside the biasing member, and includes a first channel in which the liquid can pass, and the exterior wall and the biasing member form a second channel through which the liquid can pass therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Hirasawa, Takashi Koase, Shoma Kudo
  • Patent number: 10518543
    Abstract: The liquid discharge device determines a signal received from an installation sensor in response to receiving a discharge instruction, and when determined that a high level signal is received, control executing image recording in a first mode in which a waiting time Tw1 is set, and control executing image recording in a second mode in which a waiting time Tw2 is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda, Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10510040
    Abstract: An administrative server stores replacement component information relating to at least one replacement component that can be distributed by a supplier in delivery service. A replacement component desired by the user is selected. A selected replacement component information relating to the at least one selected replacement component is transmitted to the administrative server. When the usage degree of at least one of the at least one selected replacement component indicated by the usage degree information reaches a predetermined usage degree, the ordering request specifying the at least one replacement component included in the selected replacement component information is transmitted to the supplier. Therefore, the supplier can offer the automatic sales service with a replacement component that the supplier distributes normally without preparing a wide variety of replacement components, which reduces burden on the supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yohei Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 10493764
    Abstract: A fluidic interface may include a fluidic needle of a first polymer based compound and a body wall that is to support the fluidic needle, the body wall of a second polymer based compound, different than the first polymer based compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Judson M Leiser, James Hankins, Michael A Johnston
  • Patent number: 10486429
    Abstract: A print head ink supply includes first and second containers and a level sensor positioned between the first and second containers. The first and second containers are each configured to contain a volume of ink within an interior chamber. The level sensor includes a first capacitive sensor configured to output a first level signal indicative of a level of ink within the interior chamber of the first container, and a second capacitive sensor configured to output a second level signal indicative of a level of ink within the interior chamber of the second container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY AB
    Inventor: David Horne
  • Patent number: 10471744
    Abstract: A recording material cartridge is attached to an image recording apparatus. A main body stores the recording material to be used in an image recordation process on a recording sheet by the image recording apparatus. A storage stores residual amount information indicating a current residual amount of the recording material. An interface receives consumption amount information. A reduction counter circuit subtracts a consumption amount based on the consumption amount information from the current residual amount to acquire the updated residual amount, and updates the residual amount information in the storage so that the residual amount information indicates the updated residual amount in a case where the consumption amount is larger than zero. The reduction counter maintains the residual amount information in the storage so that the residual amount information keeps on indicating the current residual amount in a case where the consumption amount is smaller than or equal to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobumasa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10464332
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a slot to and from which a memory unit storing permitted usage amount information can be attached and removed, and a processing unit that carries out a process for updating estimated ink amount information that is information for estimating an amount of the ink in an ink holding unit. When the memory unit is attached to the slot, the processing unit carries out a charging process that updates the estimated ink amount information using the permitted usage amount information in the memory unit, on the basis of a process for determining whether or not consumed ink amount expressed by the estimated ink amount information exceeds a prescribed threshold (WTH). The processing unit executes forced charging process that executes the charging process in the case where there is an instruction from an operator of the printing apparatus before the prescribed threshold WTH is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Yasuhiko Kosugi
  • Patent number: 10464333
    Abstract: A fluid supply integration module in a fluid dispensing device includes an on-board reservoir to store fluid, and a fluid interconnect to fluidically couple an external fluid supply container to the on-board reservoir. The fluid supply integration module includes a check valve system disposed between the on-board reservoir and the fluid interconnect. The check valve system includes a first check valve to permit fluid to flow in a first direction and a second check valve to permit air to flow in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Chris Arnold
  • Patent number: 10464335
    Abstract: An ink level detecting device rotationally coupled to an ink reservoir of an ink supply system is configured to detect an ink level of the ink reservoir. When an ink level of the ink reservoir is greater than a predetermined level, a weight distribution of the ink reservoir and the ink is toward a first side of the rotating portion. When the ink level of the ink reservoir is less than the predetermined level, the weight distribution of the ink reservoir and the ink is toward a second side of the rotating portion opposite to the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: HUNG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Chung Lo
  • Patent number: 10449776
    Abstract: A print head has a fluid slot and a sensing chamber having a first port connected to the fluid slot and a second port. The sensing chamber contains an ink level sensor. A circulation passage extends from the fluid slot and is fluidly coupled to the second port. A fluid pump circulates fluid through the circulation passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Adam L. Ghozeil, Boon Bing Ng, Patrick Leonard, Raymond Connolly
  • Patent number: 10449771
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber defined by a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall; and a liquid supply portion; a top wall; and an accessed member. The liquid supply portion has a liquid supply hole extending from the liquid storage chamber to the outside in a frontward direction. The front, rear, first side, and second side walls are formed of a material permitting the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to be visually recognized from the outside. Each of the front, rear, first side, and second side walls includes a portion forming an outer wall of the cartridge casing exposed to the outside of the cartridge casing. The accessed member is disposed upward relative to the liquid storage chamber and accessed from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 10442193
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a cartridge including a first liquid chamber and a first flow path; a tank including a second liquid chamber and a third flow path, at least one of the first flow path and the third flow path communicating the first and second liquid chambers when the cartridge is installed in an installation case; and a controller configured to: when the cartridge is installed in the installation case, determine a liquid amount Vs based on an outflow amount Qc of liquid flowed out from the cartridge toward the tank and a discharge liquid amount; determine whether elapsed time reaches standby time after determining that the liquid amount Vs reaches a first threshold value; and when the elapsed time reaches the standby time, perform image recording of next unit recording area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shotaro Iida, Mikio Ogawa, Toshiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 10442187
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus sequentially performs a discharging operation of discharging pressurized liquid from a nozzle, a discharge stopping operation of stopping the discharging operation, a pressure reducing operation of reducing the pressure in a liquid ejecting unit, and a wiping operation of wiping a nozzle surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10441937
    Abstract: There are provided a light irradiation device and a light irradiation system which are capable of correcting changes in optical power output. A light irradiation device includes: a substrate having an upper surface provided with a first recess and a second recess; a light-emitting element located in the first recess, the light-emitting element emitting ultraviolet light; and a detecting element located in the second recess, the detecting element being capable of detecting ultraviolet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10437533
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printer having a first processor and a printing unit. A registration device is connected to the printer. The registration device includes a second processor and has a printer driver. The printer stores a control program that when executed by the first processor causes the printer to request the printer driver to cause the printer to request first maintenance information of the registration device from the printer driver. The printer, under control of the control program, acquires second maintenance information, which represents maintenance information of the printer, and outputs at least one of the first and second maintenance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jun Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 10434789
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a controller configured to: control a head to discharge liquid in accordance with a discharge instruction; update a first count value to a value corresponding to an amount of liquid instructed to be discharged by the discharge instruction after a cartridge is mounted to a cartridge holder in a direction of approximating to a threshold value A; receive a first signal from a sensor; receive a second signal from the sensor; and when the first count value upon the receiving of the second signal reaches a threshold value ?, operate a notification device in response to an updated first count value updated after the receiving of the second signal reaching the threshold value A. The threshold value A is more distant from an initial value of the first count value than the threshold value ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10430127
    Abstract: In one example of the disclosure, for each of a plurality of printers of a printer fleet, identification data indicative of marking agent cartridges installed is obtained via a network. The identification data is caused to be stored in association with a fleet identifier for the printer fleet. A request for fleet installation information with respect to a first marking agent cartridge is received from a computing device. It is determined, based upon the identification data, whether a first marking agent cartridge was previously installed at a printer of the printer fleet. Determination data indicative of the determination is sent to the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Shell S Simpson, Timothy P Blair