Fluid Supply System Patents (Class 347/85)
  • Patent number: 12042991
    Abstract: A nozzle for a printing system is disclosed. The nozzle includes a tank in communication with a source of printing material. The nozzle also includes a constricted dissipative section in communication with the tank, which may include an elongated internal channel. The nozzle may also include a shaping tip in communication with the constricted dissipative section may include an exit orifice. The constricted dissipative section may be axisymmetric and may include at least three internal channels not in communication with one another. Also disclosed is an array of nozzles for a printing system including a plurality of nozzles, with each nozzle including a tank in communication with a source of printing material, a constricted dissipative section in communication with the tank and configured to obstruct fluid flow and having an elongated internal channel, and a shaping tip in communication with the constricted dissipative section may include an exit orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christoforos Somarakis, Svyatoslav Korneev, Saigopal Nelaturi, Adrian Lew
  • Patent number: 12033862
    Abstract: A method of forming an electrically conductive feature traversing a microscopic step on or in a substrate is disclosed. A metallic nanoparticle composition is continuously extruded from a capillary tube (nozzle) while displacing the capillary tube along a first portion of a trajectory from a first position (above a step-top portion) past an edge of the microscopic step to a second position to form a first extrudate. The composition is continuously extruded while displacing the nozzle along a sloped second portion of the trajectory from the second position to a third position (above a step-bottom portion) to form a second extrudate. The third position is at a lower height than the second position. The composition is continuously extruded while displacing the nozzle along a third portion of the trajectory from the third position to a fourth position (above the step-bottom portion). The feature includes the first, second, and third extrudates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: XTPL S.A.
    Inventors: Łukasz Witczak, Jolanta Gadzalińska, Aneta Wiatrowska, Karolina Fia̧czyk, Piotr Kowalczewski, Filip Granek
  • Patent number: 12030318
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes multiple heads configured to respectively discharge different types of liquids, and multiple liquid containers configured to respectively contain the different types of liquids to be respectively supplied to the multiple heads. Each of the multiple liquid containers includes a first fitting part fittable to each of: a second fitting part of corresponding one of multiple refill bottles respectively containing the different types of liquids to be respectively supplied to the multiple liquid containers; and a third fitting part of a cleaning bottle containing a cleaning liquid to be commonly supplied to each of the multiple liquid containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Takahashi, Takeyuki Kobayashi, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 12030252
    Abstract: A print head is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing an object. The print head may have a housing, and a wetting module configured to wet a reinforcement with a liquid matrix. The print head may also include a matrix supply configured to hold a quantity of the liquid matrix and supply the liquid matrix to the wetting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Continuous Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Andrew Stranberg, Andrew John Overby, Andrew Michael Stulc, Stephen Tyler Wilson, Ryan C. Stocket, Brock Adam Jahner
  • Patent number: 12017460
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a main body, a head part, a first hole, a label, and a second hole. The main body stores ink. The head part is provided on the main body and has a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink. The first hole has a tapered shape which narrows from an outer side toward an inner side of the main body, and a needle for supplying ink to the main body is inserted into the first hole. The label in a film shape is attached to the main body. The second hole is provided at the label and overlaps the first hole in a plan view of the label. The second hole guides the needle to the first hole when the needle is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junpei Oka, Kohsuke Hori
  • Patent number: 12013044
    Abstract: A valve includes a first case member having an inflow port and a first valve seat, a second case member having an air outlet and a discharge port, a valve chamber formed by bonding the first case member and the second case member, at least one of which has a recessed shape, with a first bonding member while the recessed shape is located on an inner side, and a diaphragm formed so as to partition the valve chamber into a lower valve chamber connected to the inflow port and an upper valve chamber connecting the discharge port and the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 12005713
    Abstract: A base board includes a board and a controller mounted on the board. A controller is configured to receive signals outputted from a first sensor and a second sensor. A recording head, a case, the first sensor, a maintenance unit, a waste liquid container, the second sensor, and the base board are arranged in an internal space of a housing. The base board has a flat surface extending in a first horizontal direction and in a second horizontal direction. A range occupied by the base board in a vertical direction overlaps each of a range occupied by the first sensor in the vertical direction and a range occupied by the second sensor in the vertical direction. The second horizontal direction is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction. The vertical direction is perpendicular to both the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Yoshimune, Hikaru Tamura, Akinari Ishibe
  • Patent number: 11987059
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a tank in which ink is contained; a print head for ejecting ink supplied from the tank to perform print operation; a supply flow path for supplying ink from the tank to the print head; a collection flow path for collecting ink from the print head to the tank; and a pump provided in the supply flow path or the collection flow path. The pump is driven, during print operation, at a first speed to circulate ink within a circulation path including the tank, the supply flow path, the print head, and the collection flow path, and the pump is driven, from a start of the ink circulation until a lapse of predetermined time period, at a second speed which is faster than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junya Kosuge, Yumi Mukoyama, Toshiaki Tokisawa, Tsuyoshi Saeki, Takashi Abe
  • Patent number: 11981145
    Abstract: A printing liquid container fits to one of first and second tanks each including a fitted portion. The printing liquid container includes a first member having a supply port, and a second member having a valve configured to open or close the supply port. The first member and the second member are rotatable with respect to each other between a first state and a second state. The valve closes the supply port in the first state and opens the supply port in the second state. The first member has a fitting portion configured to fit to the fitted portion. The second member is rotatable with respect to the fitted portion when at least a portion of the second member is inserted into the fitted portion. The first member does not rotate by the rotation of the second member due to the fitting between the fitted portion and the fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Satoru Oki, Nanami Ashida, Naoya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 11975468
    Abstract: In various examples, a printbar is formed from multiple modular fluid ejection subassemblies joined together through a molding process that provides for a continuous planar substrate surface. A mold may secure the modular fluid ejection subassemblies during a molding process in which a runner conveys a molding material to seams between the joined modular fluid ejection subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Chen, Si-lam J. Choy, Michael W. Cumbie
  • Patent number: 11970622
    Abstract: Provided is an active-energy-ray-curable composition including: a polymerizable monomer having static surface tension of 40 mN/m or greater at 25 degrees C., a content of the polymerizable monomer being 15% by mass or less relative to total amount of the active-energy-ray-curable composition; an organic pigment serving as a colorant, the organic pigment being contained in 2% by mass or greater relative to total amount of the active-energy-ray-curable composition; and a dispersant having amine value of 5 mgKOH/g or greater but 35 mgKOH/g or less, amine value being greater than acid value of the dispersant, the dispersant being contained in 15% by mass or greater but 70% by mass or less relative to mass of the organic pigment, wherein the active-energy-ray-curable composition is substantially free of a surfactant, and wherein a water content in the active-energy-ray-curable composition is 500 ppm by mass or greater but 3,000 ppm by mass or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11970009
    Abstract: Disclosed are high stability ink delivery system systems and methods for their use, in which a secondary reservoir is placed upstream of a printhead. The secondary reservoir can be opened to the atmosphere through a valve, such as based on the reading of a pressure sensor placed at a point before the printhead. The purpose of this valve is to open the secondary reservoir to the atmosphere when the pressure sensor indicates that the secondary reservoir can be open while avoiding air aspiration, and closing it when this condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Juan Escudero Gonzalez, Eduardo Bueno Espinal
  • Patent number: 11938733
    Abstract: A micro-valve includes an orifice plate having a first surface, a second surface and an orifice extending from the first surface to the second surface. An actuating beam is disposed in spaced relation to the orifice plate. The actuating beam includes a base portion and a cantilevered portion. The base portion is separated from the orifice plate by a predetermined distance. The cantilevered portion extends from the base portion such that an overlapping portion thereof overlaps the orifice. The actuating beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The micro-valve also includes a sealing structure including a sealing member disposed at the overlapping portion of the cantilevered portion. When the actuating beam is in the closed position, the cantilevered portion is positioned such that the sealing structure seals the orifice so as to close the micro-valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Matthews International Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Buskirk, Steven E. Flego, Charles C. Haluzak, John Whitlock, Eric R. Miller, Glenn J. T. Leighton
  • Patent number: 11938736
    Abstract: A printing liquid container includes first and second members having a supply port and a valve, respectively. The members rotate with respect to each other between first and second states. The valve closes and opens the supply port in the first and second states, respectively. The first and second members have first and second fitting portions, respectively. The fitting portions fit to a fitted portion of a tank in the first state. The second fitting portion allows rotation of the second member with respect to the fitted portion when the first fitting portion are fitted to the fitting portion. The first member does not rotate together with the second member due to fitting between the fitted portion and the first fitting portion. The second member cannot be removed from the fitted portion due to fitting of the second fitting portion to the fitted portion in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Satoru Oki, Nanami Ashida, Naoya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 11939971
    Abstract: A four-cylinder diaphragm pump includes a pump body having four pump chambers, and a drive mechanism that expands and contracts the four pump chambers with a predetermined phase difference, in which the pump body includes a first diaphragm having two diaphragm portions on a same plane, and a second diaphragm having two diaphragm portions on a same plane disposed to be located to be parallel to or coplanar with the plane of the first diaphragm, each of the diaphragm portions of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm constitute a portion of a different pump chamber, and the drive mechanism is configured to move the diaphragm portions of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm forward or backward with respect to the corresponding pump chambers with a predetermined phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SIBATA SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Ikedo
  • Patent number: 11932021
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a tank including a chamber configured to store liquid to be supplied to a recording head that ejects the liquid and a filling port from which the liquid is injected into the chamber, and an injection auxiliary member configured to assist injecting of the liquid into the chamber from the filling port, the injection auxiliary member including a first and a second flow channels each defined by a first or a second upper end portion that opens toward outside of the tank and a first or a second lower end portion that opens toward inside of the tank, wherein the second flow channel has an expansion portion arranged in a middle portion between the second upper end portion and the second lower end portion and configured to form a step to expand a cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Naratani, Koya Iwakura, Hideaki Matsumura, Tetsu Hamano, Nobuhiro Toki, Daiju Takeda, Fumie Kameyama, Koki Shimada, Shota Asada, Ken Takenaga, Yusuke Tanaka, Yuta Araki, Taiji Maruyama, Atsushi Matsuyama, Kousuke Tanaka, Toshimitsu Takahashi, Nanae Uchinuno
  • Patent number: 11926158
    Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a first conveyor belt, and an ink receiving part. The ink receiving part includes a discharge port, a liquid-absorptive rotator, and a counter member. The discharge port is placed at an end portion in a crossing direction crossing a recording-medium conveyance direction, and discharges ink received in flashing. The liquid-absorptive rotator is formed from a liquid-absorptive material and rotated around a rotating shaft extending in the crossing direction. The counter member, being in contact with the liquid-absorptive rotator, has a conveyance structure for conveying ink in the ink receiving part in a carry-out direction directed toward the discharge port along an axial direction of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ueda
  • Patent number: 11912038
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a housing including first and second protrusions; and a circuit board including an electrode. The first protrusion is positioned rearward but the second protrusion is positioned forward relative to the circuit board. When viewed in a width direction crossing a gravitational direction, an outline of the liquid cartridge between a first point and a second point is lower than an imaginary line. The imaginary line passes through the first point on the first protrusion and the second point on the second protrusion. A distance between a front edge of the electrode and the first point is smaller than a distance between the front edge and the second point. A dimension between a front end and a rear end of the second protrusion is greater than a distance between a frontmost end of the housing and the front end of the second protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinari Ishibe
  • Patent number: 11912040
    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 portion positioned equal to or higher than a liquid level of a maximum tolerable amount of the liquid storable in the tank body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumio Nakazawa, Tsuyoshi Kuwayama, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11915596
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for resolving a selected graphical element corresponding to a tactile user input associated with a graphical user interface display on a display device associated with a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The tactile user input is classified based on its temporal duration, and the classification of the tactile user input influences the identification of the selected graphical element or other response to the tactile user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Brock Graham, Rakshit R, Thea Feyereisen
  • Patent number: 11905090
    Abstract: A fluid package, having a pouch with a compartment apartment delimited by a film and a spout, is provided. The film includes an outer layer, an inner layer, a light-shielding layer, and a bonding layer. An outer periphery of the light-shielding layer is located at a position on an inner side of outer peripheries of the outer layer and the inner layer, at one of a position same as an outer periphery of the container compartment and a position on an outer side with respect to the outer periphery of the container compartment. The light-shielding layer covers an entirety of the container compartment and blocks ultraviolet rays. The bonding layer bonds the outer layer and the inner layer with the light-shielding layer interposed there-between. The bonding layer includes a directly-bonded area, in which the outer layer and the inner layer are directly bonded, in a range surrounding the light-shielding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Kenta Hasebe, Ai Sakaguchi, Eiichi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11897269
    Abstract: A print material storage container has: a substrate on which an electric circuit having terminals is provided; a fixing portion on which the substrate can be mounted by re-fixing; and a fixing member that fixes the fixing portion and a non-terminal portion, which is formed by excluding the terminals from the substrate, to each other. The non-terminal portion includes a re-fixed portion, which can be re-fixed to the fixing portion by the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Kudo, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Hiroyuki Kawate
  • Patent number: 11897270
    Abstract: Some examples include a valve for a printing fluid supply system, the valve including a static portion and a dynamic portion. The static portion includes a stem extending along a longitudinal axis. The stem includes a head, a tail, and a shaft extending between the head and the tail. The dynamic portion is disposed around the stem. The dynamic portion is longitudinally movable along the stem between a closed position and an opened position. The dynamic portion includes a neck and a body extending longitudinally from the neck, the neck to seal around the head in the closed position and fluidly open in the opened position, the body to slidably fluidly seal against a housing between opened and closed positions. A liquid ink pathway and an air pathway are formed between the static portion and the dynamic portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: William Scott Osborne
  • Patent number: 11878317
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a coating device and a corresponding coating process for coating components, in particular motor vehicle body components, with a coating agent (e.g. paint), with a coating robot with a first printhead which is mounted on the coating robot. The disclosure provides that the first printhead is exchangeably mounted on the coating robot and can be exchanged for a second printhead during a color change. Another variant of the disclosure, on the other hand, provides for a second printhead to be mounted on the coating robot in addition to the first printhead, the two printheads each applying a specific coating agent in order to enable a color change without changing the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny
  • Patent number: 11866245
    Abstract: A dispensable substance container may include an elongate body encompassing a lumen, wherein the lumen is to contain the dispensable substance; a dispensable; substance dispensing nozzle attached to a first end on the elongate body; a sealing material within the lumen, wherein the sealing material is moveable, by a pushrod, within the lumen to push the dispensable substance out the dispensing tip; and a structurally compromised portion of the elongate body extending along a length of the elongate body, wherein the elongate body is to be severed along the structurally compromised portion by the pushrod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeff Luke, Sean Daniel Fitzgerald, Mathew Lavigne
  • Patent number: 11865837
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Patent number: 11865849
    Abstract: A first ink storage unit, a second ink storage unit, a discharging head configured to discharge the ink, a carriage configured to move the discharging head and the second ink storage unit in a first direction and a second direction, a tube that couples the first ink storage unit and the second ink storage unit, and a case provided with a first opening portion located vertically above a home position and a second opening portion located vertically above a first printing position, and including a beam located between the first opening portion and the second opening portion, are provided. The beam is an edge of the second opening portion, and when the carriage is located at the home position, the first ink storage unit and the second ink storage unit are located in the same direction with respect to the beam and the tube is supported by the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koki Fukasawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Tomosuke Gomi
  • Patent number: 11865847
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a head having a nozzle; a tank; a gas channel; a valve unit; a memory; and a controller. The controller is configured to execute: making of the valve unit to be in an open state, under a condition that a count value indicating an amount of a liquid discharged from the nozzle has reached an opening threshold value ?V. The opening threshold value ?V is represented by: ?V?(Vtmax?Vi)×Pm/(P?Pm). Note that Vtmax represents a volume of the tank, Vi represents the maximum amount of the liquid storable in the tank, P represents an atmospheric pressure, and Pm represents a meniscus-withstanding pressure of the liquid formed in the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Fumio Nakazawa, Yoshinori Osakabe, Taichi Shirono, Sosuke Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 11865836
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a nozzle; a flow path member in which a flow path communicating with the nozzle is formed and which has an inner wall surface defining the flow path and an outer wall surface that faces away from the flow path with respect to the inner wall surface; and a temperature sensor disposed on a part of the outer wall surface and configured to detect a temperature of the liquid in the flow path. The flow path includes a narrowed region having a narrow width in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in a direction in which the flow path extends, and the temperature sensor is disposed on a portion of the outer wall surface that forms the narrowed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Kentaro Murakami, Hiroaki Okui
  • Patent number: 11858696
    Abstract: A device may include a dispensable substance container to hold a dispensable substance; a dispensing nozzle attached to the dispensable substance container to dispense the dispensable substance out of an opening in the dispensing nozzle; and a frangible obstruction encompassing the dispensing nozzle and obstructing the opening of the dispensing nozzle wherein the frangible obstruction is to slide along the dispensing nozzle to uncover the opening when broken free from the dispensing nozzle by a wall of a receiving container during an engagement between the dispensable substance container and the receiving container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeff Luke, Dean Richtsmeier, Mathew Lavigne, Sean Daniel Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 11858272
    Abstract: An ink circulation system, including an ink cartridge, an ink tank, an ink pump, first, second, and third valves, a print head, a heating assembly, and a positive-negative pressure assembly, is provided. The ink cartridge has an output pipeline and an ink cartridge valve. The ink tank is disposed on one side of the ink cartridge and connected to the output pipeline. The ink pump is connected to the output pipeline and the ink tank through an ink pipeline. The first valve is connected to the ink tank through a first pipeline. The second valve is disposed on the output pipeline. The third valve is connected to the output pipeline and the ink pipeline through a return pipeline. The print head is connected to the ink tank and the return pipeline. The heating assembly is disposed in the ink tank. The positive-negative pressure assembly is connected to the first pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Chih Chang, Pei-Chi Ho, Ya-Ching Tung, Chi-Kuang Shen, Shou-Chih Sun, Yao-Te Huang
  • Patent number: 11858274
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid consuming apparatus including: a tank having a liquid storing chamber, an erected wall through which the liquid inside the liquid storage chamber is visible from outside of the tank, and an inlet which is formed to penetrate through the erected wall and via which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber; a liquid consuming section which consumes the liquid stored in the liquid storing chamber; and a cover. A transmitting section and a checking section are formed in an upper surface, of the cover, under a condition that the cover is in the exposure position, the transmitting section configured to transmit information optically to a user of the liquid consuming apparatus and the checking section configured to prevent the liquid moving on a particular surface of the cover from arriving at the transmitting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11858278
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid supplying apparatus. The liquid supplying apparatus includes a supply flow passage that is in communication with a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid, a first supply flow passage for communication between a first liquid container and the supply flow passage, the first liquid container containing liquid, and a second supply flow passage for communication between a second liquid container and the supply flow passage, the second liquid container containing the same kind of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container, a switching unit configured to switch a flow passage that is in communication with the supply flow passage, between the first supply flow passage and the second supply flow passage, and a movement restriction unit configured to, linked with switching by the switching unit, restrict movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eri Tanaka, Kazuyuki Fujioka, Masaki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 11840093
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for suppressing adhesion of a liquid to the plug member. A disclosed liquid storage container has a storage chamber for storing a liquid, a supply port having a hollow cylindrical portion protruding from the storage chamber and being capable of supplying the liquid to the storage chamber, and a plug member detachably attached to the supply port. The plug member has a plug portion inserted into the hollow cylindrical portion to plug the supply port. On the plug portion, a first water repellent film having water repellency is formed on an exposed surface exposed at least to the inside of the hollow cylindrical portion in a portion inserted into the storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryo Shimamura
  • Patent number: 11833836
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a tube configured to form a flow channel to supply a liquid to a liquid ejecting unit configured to eject the liquid; a holding unit configured to hold the tube; and a valve unit configured to move to a closed position to press and close the tube held by the holding unit with a pressing portion from an open position to open the tube held by the holding unit, and to move to the open position from the closed position. Here, the valve unit includes a pivot shaft and moves pivotally around the shaft to move to the closed position and the open position, and a direction of extension of the pivot shaft is a direction intersecting with a direction of extension of the tube held by the holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Soya, Shingo Horita, Atsushi Miyahara
  • Patent number: 11833833
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a container body including a storage chamber configured to store a liquid and a supply port configured to supply the liquid to the storage chamber, and a plug member to seal the supply port, the plug member including a body portion located outside the storage chamber and the supply port and a plug portion located inside the storage chamber and the supply port. The plug portion has a press-fitted portion to be press-fitted into the supply port and a leading end portion exposed to the storage chamber, an axial line of the plug portion is perpendicular to an opening surface of the supply port, and a leading end surface of the leading end portion is an inclined surface inclined with respect to a surface of the plug portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuro Inaba, Masatoshi Ohira
  • Patent number: 11827024
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a liquid storing container including a storage chamber configured to store a liquid supplied to a printing unit that prints an image by discharging the liquid, an outlet portion of the liquid, and a channel configured to connect the storage chamber and the outlet portion. The liquid storing container includes a first side portion on a side of a print region where printing is executed by the printing unit, and a second side portion on an opposite side of the first side portion, and the channel is formed in the second side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koki Shimada, Nobuhiro Toki, Daiju Takeda, Fumie Kameyama, Shota Asada, Ken Takenaga, Yusuke Tanaka, Yuta Araki, Taiji Maruyama, Atsushi Matsuyama, Yusuke Naratani, Kousuke Tanaka, Koya Iwakura, Hideaki Matsumura, Tetsu Hamano
  • Patent number: 11827025
    Abstract: A liquid storage container is configured to supply a liquid containing a precipitating component to a liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a partitioning member configured to divide a liquid storage chamber in a direction intersecting a direction of gravitational force; a plurality of liquid storage chambers divided by the partitioning member; and communication flow channel units provided to the plurality of liquid storage chambers, respectively, and configured to introduce the liquid in the liquid storage chambers and to supply the liquid to the liquid ejecting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatomo Ojima, Taketsugu Murakami, Junichiro Iri
  • Patent number: 11827031
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head configured to eject a liquid from a nozzle provided on a nozzle surface; a first storage portion that has an introduction portion into which the liquid accommodated in a liquid accommodating portion is introduced, the introduction portion being provided at an upper portion of the first storage portion; a second storage portion that communicates with the first storage portion via a communication passage and to which the liquid is supplied from the first storage portion due to a water head difference; a supply flow path for supplying the liquid from the second storage portion to the liquid ejecting head; a pressurizing portion that pressurizes an inside of the second storage portion; and a first valve configured to close the communication passage at the time of pressurization by the pressurizing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Nanami Sakai, Ayumi Yokoo, Rei Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11820560
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid storage bottle that can ensure sufficient sealing performance when a liquid tank is replenished with a liquid. A liquid storage bottle stores a liquid with which a liquid tank is replenished, has a bottle body and a discharge port that discharges a liquid stored in the bottle body, and has a discharge nozzle in which a liquid injection tube of the liquid tank can be inserted via the discharge port and an annular fixed seal member that is provided to the discharge port and seals a part between the discharge port and the liquid injection tube inserted in the discharge port. The fixed seal member has a plurality of annular seal portions that are arranged apart from each other in the axis direction of a discharge nozzle and are individually in contact with the liquid injection tube inserted in the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Teshima
  • Patent number: 11820148
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid storage body, including: a liquid storage bag configured to store a liquid containing precipitation components; a liquid introduction pipe arranged in the liquid storage bag; and a liquid discharge unit fixed at one end portion of the liquid storage bag and configured to discharge the liquid introduced from the liquid introduction pipe to a liquid ejection apparatus, in which the liquid introduction pipe includes a spacer portion including at least two liquid introduction ports at different positions in a height direction at a predetermined orientation, a convergence portion at which the liquids introduced from the at least two liquid introduction ports are converged with each other; and a flow channel configured to introduce the converged liquids to the liquid discharge unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Asuka Horie
  • Patent number: 11813865
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharging head including: a pressure chamber configured to apply a pressure to a liquid so as to discharge the liquid from a nozzle; a descender arranged to overlap, in a plan view, with the nozzle and communicating the pressure chamber and the nozzle with each other; at least one return throttle channel connected to the descender; and a return manifold which communicates with the at least one return throttle channel and which is configured to receive the liquid not having been discharged from the nozzle. A cross section of the descender orthogonal to a depth direction of the descender is a non-circular shape having a major axis and a minor axis. The at least one return throttle channel is connected to at least one of a first end side of the minor axis and a second end side of the minor axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Sugiura, Jiro Yamamoto, Shotaro Kanzaki, Taisuke Mizuno, Hiroshi Katayama
  • Patent number: 11807018
    Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printing apparatus comprising: a print head that ejects ink; a tank that contains ink to be supplied to the print head; a floating body that floats on the liquid surface of the ink inside the tank; and an electrode pin that detects the level of the liquid surface inside the tank. The floating body includes an opening portion in which to insert the electrode pin, and a perimeter of the opening portion protrudes from a top surface side of the floating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Tsuyoshi Saeki
  • Patent number: 11801682
    Abstract: An image former includes: an inkjet head; a plurality of ink storages that is connected to the inkjet head and stores ink; a pressure generator that generates a difference in internal pressure between the plurality of ink storages so that ink flows between the plurality of ink storages and the inkjet head; and a storage communicator that causes the plurality of ink storages to communicate with each other so that the difference in internal pressure decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Satoru Osawa
  • Patent number: 11794476
    Abstract: A micro-valve includes an orifice plate including a first surface and a second surface, and an orifice extending from the first surface to the second surface. The micro-valve also includes a spacing member disposed on the first surface and offset from the orifice, a valve seat disposed on the first surface. The valve seat defines an opening in fluid communication with the orifice in a flow direction. The micro-valve also includes an actuating beam disposed on the spacing member extending from the spacing member toward the orifice, the actuating beam being moveable between an open position and a closed position. The micro-valve also includes a sealing member affixed to an end portion of the actuating beam. In a closed position, a sealing surface of the sealing member contacts the valve seat to close the micro-valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Matthews International Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Buskirk, Steven E. Flego, Charles C. Haluzak, John Whitlock, Eric R. Miller, Glenn J. T. Leighton
  • Patent number: 11787209
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus which includes a tank including a liquid storage chamber, an inlet, a liquid lead-out channel, and an atmosphere communication channel, a conveyance mechanism, a carriage, and a head. A lower end of the inlet is positioned at a lower side of the nozzles, and the liquid storage chamber is arranged at a position shifted from the nozzles, in a first-direction side of the front-rear direction, and shifted from the conveyance route, to a second-direction side of the left-right direction. The liquid storage chamber is connected to the liquid outflow channel at a position on a lower side of a center in a up-down direction of the liquid storage chamber, and in the first direction from a center in the front-rear direction of the liquid storage chamber, and on the second-direction side of a center in the left-right direction of the liquid storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinori Igarashi, Masataka Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11787192
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Tatsuya Shindo, Masahiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11780233
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a discharge head that discharges ink, and a housing that contains the discharge head, wherein the housing contains a first ink storage member and a second ink storage member that each store ink, and the ink is supplied from each of the first ink storage member and the second ink storage member to the discharge head, wherein the first ink storage member is an ink cartridge not having an ink refilling port for enabling ink refilling by opening a stopper member, and detachable from the inkjet printing apparatus, and wherein the second ink storage member has the ink refilling port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiaki Muraoka, Yuji Tamaru, Kazumasa Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11780236
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from a nozzle, a liquid storage portion having a storage chamber configured to store the liquid supplied from a liquid supply source to the liquid ejecting head, and a carriage on which the liquid ejecting head and the liquid storage portion are mounted and configured to reciprocate in a scanning direction. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a discharge flow path configured to discharge air in an upper part of the storage chamber, a coupling portion configured to be coupled to and separated from a coupled portion of the discharge flow path, and a negative pressure generating portion that applies a negative pressure to the coupling portion. When the carriage moves to a predetermined position, the coupling portion is coupled to the coupled portion of the discharge flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Koase
  • Patent number: 11782463
    Abstract: A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead. The valve includes: a valve inlet connect to a valve outlet; via a flow path; a first orifice positioned in the flow path having a sealable first seat; a movable first valve member configured for sealing engagement with the first seat; a second orifice positioned in the flow path; a movable second valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the second orifice; a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and comprising a diaphragm operatively connected to the second valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the second valve member relative to the second orifice; and a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the second orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: Zhenya Yourlo, Mohammadreza Behi, Peter Crichton, Norman Micheal Berry