Fluid Supply System Patents (Class 347/85)
  • Patent number: 9144986
    Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including: a printer main body which has a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink to a paper sheet and performs recording; a supply cassette which is insertable into and extractable from the printer main body and can accommodate the paper sheet; and a liquid accommodation portion which can accommodate the ink that is supplied to the liquid ejecting head. The liquid accommodation portion is installed in the supply cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Munehide Kanaya, Shoma Kudo, Hidenao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9139010
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a head configured and arranged to discharge a liquid including a sedimentary substance, and a liquid supply path configured and arranged to supply the liquid from a liquid tank where the liquid is retained to the head. The liquid supply path has a region with differences in elevation of a predetermined length or more in a vertical direction. The liquid supply path has at least one convex section formed by folding at each of one side and another side in a direction which intersects the vertical direction in the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromichi Nakashima, Noritaka Mitsuo, Jun Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 9132646
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing apparatus includes a head that dispenses a liquid containing a sedimentary substance, a liquid tank for storing the liquid, a liquid supply path through which the liquid is supplied from the ink tank to the head via a section having a level difference larger than a predetermined distance in a vertical direction, the section including one or more bent portions including a bent portion of a first type where a downward flow of the liquid is turned to an upward flow, and a bent shape conversion unit configured to change a shape of the section with the level difference, so as to convert the bent portion of the first type in the section with the level difference before the shape conversion into a bent portion of a second type where an upward flow of the liquid is turned to a downward flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Noritaka Mitsuo
  • Patent number: 9132657
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print head that ejects ink for printing, an ink tank from which ink is fed to the print head, a first channel provided between the print head and the ink tank to feed ink in the ink tank to the print head, a second channel through which the ink in the first channel is transferred, and a pump connected to the second channel to transfer the ink in the first channel. The pump allows air or the ink in the first channel to be discharged via the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Finetech, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Takahashi, Kayo Mukai, Hiroki Niikura
  • Patent number: 9114623
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge detachably attached to an image forming apparatus to supply liquid to image forming apparatus. The liquid cartridge includes a cartridge case composed of first and second sub cases. At least one of the first and second sub cases includes an open space to accommodate an information storage device in the open space. The first and second sub cases are combined to close the open space and hold the information storage device so as to prevent removal of the information storage device accommodated in the open space therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kawajiri, Atsushi Miwa, Shotaro Takeuchi, Masashi Ohnishi, Ikoh Soh, Tadashi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 9114619
    Abstract: In a stand-by state, when an instruction unit issues the printing instruction, a control unit is switched in a maintenance state, in the maintenance state, the control unit closes an air valve and operates a first pump, and when a sensor detects that the ink of a second tank is reduced by discharging the ink from a nozzle by the pressure of a second tank, the control unit opens the air valve to be switched in a printing state, and when a predetermined time elapses after an operation of the first pump before the sensor detects the reduction of the ink of the second tank, the control unit excludes the solidified ink from the nozzle, and in the printing state, the control unit is switched in the stand-by state when the ink is discharged from the nozzle of the head based on a printing instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kikuchi, Jun Takamura
  • Patent number: 9108417
    Abstract: A cartridge is adapted to be used in a printing apparatus having a mounting section provided with a lever and a terminal group. The cartridge includes a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a circuit board, and a first convex section. The upper surface includes a concave section configured and arranged to allow a regulating section of the lever to be inserted in the concave section. The circuit board is electrically connected with the terminal group. The first convex section is configured and arranged to be guided in a groove provided in the mounting section. The circuit board, the first convex section, and the concave section are disposed in the upper surface in a plan view of the upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Hiroshi Satoh
  • Patent number: 9108427
    Abstract: A functional amine release agent displaying improved wetting ability as compared to standard silicone oils comprises a polydimethylsiloxane oil and a functional amine selected from the group consisting of pendant propylamines and pendant N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl; wherein the concentration of functional amine to polydimethylsiloxane oil is approximately less than 0.0006 meq/g and a viscosity of 20 cSt. The release agent may be particularly useful in a single engine duplex printing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jason M. LeFevre, Paul J. McConville, James M. Chappell, Joanne L. Lee, Rachael L. McGrath, Santokh S. Badesha
  • Patent number: 9090076
    Abstract: An ink cartridge used for an inkjet printer, with an ink storage chamber, an ink outlet and an air inlet, and a detection component designed inside the ink storage chamber for detecting residual ink volume. The ink storage chamber includes an ink detection chamber and a relatively enclosed ink refilling chamber with an opening at a lower part. The opening of the ink refilling chamber is inside the ink detection chamber. The detection component is designed inside the ink detection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ZHUHAI NINESTAR MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haoming Ma
  • Patent number: 9090082
    Abstract: A fluid container usable with an image forming apparatus having a fluid container receiver is disclosed. The fluid container includes a housing unit including a free-fluid chamber to store a first fluid and a regulated chamber to store a second fluid. The regulated chamber includes a regulator unit configured to regulate the second fluid and an outlet configured to transport the second fluid outside of the housing unit. The fluid container also includes a fluid channel configured to establish fluid communication between ambient atmosphere and the free-fluid chamber, and a check valve configured to establish fluid communication between the free-fluid chamber and the regulated chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Patrick V Boyd, David Olsen, Ralph L. Stathem
  • Patent number: 9090074
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a recording portion movable to eject ink to perform image recording; flexible ink supply tube connected to the recording portion; and an ink-supply portion for supplying the ink to the ink supply tube. The ink supply tube includes first and second end portions respectively connected to the recording portion and the ink-supply portion. The ink supply tube extends at the first end portion in a first direction and is curved to extend to the ink-supply portion in a second direction, and a shape of the ink supply tube is changed following the movement of the recording portion. The ink-jet recording apparatus comprises a first board at least a portion of which overlaps, in plain view, an occupied area the ink supply tube can occupy while changing in shape, the first board including a controller for controlling the ink-jet recording apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motohito Muraki, Takashi Ohama
  • Patent number: 9090057
    Abstract: In an inactive region, a farthest dummy electrode formed in a base end portion and an isolated dummy electrode island are located at positions along an extension from an individual internal electrode toward the base end portion. Such a configuration allows the area of the dummy electrode to be reduced, compared with a dummy electrode continuously formed in the inactive region. Therefore, the cost incurred by the dummy electrode is reduced, which leads to reduction in manufacturing cost of a piezoelectric unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Koda, Isamu Togashi
  • Patent number: 9085156
    Abstract: A printer includes a cap member, a head, a suction pump, a first electromagnetic valve, and a waste liquid flow path including a first flow path portion and a second flow path portion. The cap member seals a discharge surface in the head. The suction pump is connected to the waste liquid flow path and puts it into a negative pressure state. The first electromagnetic valve connects the cap member and the suction pump, cuts off the connection between the cap member and the waste liquid flow path, and includes a first wall portion. The first wall portion includes a side face portion on which an inflow opening and an outflow opening are formed. The inflow opening connects to the first flow path portion. The outflow opening connects to the second flow path portion and is disposed farther in the direction of the force of gravity than the inflow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Haruo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9085164
    Abstract: A liquid jet head includes a flow path member having a supply port through which liquid is supplied and a discharge port through which the liquid is discharged, and a cover plate having a liquid supply chamber that communicates with the supply port and a liquid discharge chamber that communicates with the discharge port. An actuator substrate has a plurality of parallel channels that extend between the liquid supply chamber and the liquid discharge chamber and the channels communicate with respective nozzles formed in a nozzle plate. The flow path member, cover plate, actuator substrate and nozzle plate constitute a laminated structure. A communication path is provided in one or both of the cover plate and flow path member for bypassing the liquid from the liquid supply chamber to the liquid discharge chamber so that air bubbles trapped in the liquid can be effectively discharged to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: SII PRINTEK INC.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Domae, Osamu Koseki, Yuki Yamamura, Yuzuru Kubota, Satoshi Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 9073330
    Abstract: A printer includes an ink storage unit that stores an ink; a head unit that ejects the ink onto a medium; a plurality of supply flow channels for supplying the ink from the ink storage unit to the head unit; a plurality of bypass flow channels hung between the supply flow channels which are respectively different; a maintenance solution storage unit that stores a maintenance solution; and a controller that causes the ink to circulate inside a circulation flow channel which is configured only by the supply flow channel and the bypass flow channel among the ink storage unit, the head unit, the supply flow channel and the bypass flow channel, and that causes the maintenance solution to flow from the maintenance solution storage unit into a section located further to the downstream side of the supply flow channel than the circulation flow channel, and into the head unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Iwata
  • Patent number: 9070074
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for printing an image using a plurality of color materials and a colorless material includes a memory which stores information indicating a plurality of dot placements which include different dot placements of the colorless material and correspond to an amount of the colorless material, and an inputting unit configured to input color material amount data indicating amounts of the plurality of color materials and the amount of the colorless material for each pixel. In addition, a first determiner is configured to determine a dot placement of the colorless material from the plurality of dot placements based on the amount of the colorless material indicated by the input color material amount data, so that coloring of specular reflection light on the pixel becomes closer to an achromatic color. A printing unit is configured to print the colorless material on the color materials subsequent to the color materials having been printed, based on the determined dot placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Oya, Hiromitsu Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9061497
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a first-member that has a first liquid-flow-path and discharges liquid in the first liquid-flow-path from a nozzle; a second-member that has a second liquid-flow-path communicating with the first liquid-flow-path; a seal-member that seals a coupling portion between the first liquid-flow-path of the first-member and the second liquid-flow-path of the second-member; and a support-member that is fixed to the first-member at a fixing area side which is located in a position different from a position where the nozzle is located when a plane in which the nozzle is formed is seen from above. The support-member is supported at the fixing area and projects toward the coupling portion, and supports, at a coupling portion side, the seal member at a first-member-side of the seal-member. The seal-member seals the coupling portion by applying pressure in a diameter direction of the first liquid-flow-path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 9061516
    Abstract: A first ink air chamber is in communication with an air layer in a first ink tank for an ink of a first viscosity in communication with a first inkjet head. A second ink air chamber is in communication with an air layer in a second ink tank for an ink of a second viscosity in communication with a second inkjet head. A first on-off valve opens or closes communication between the first and second ink air chambers. A second on-off valve opens or closes communication between the second ink air chamber and the atmosphere. A pressure adjuster is configured to adjust a pressure in the second ink air chamber without intervention of the first ink air chamber. A controller is configured to drive the pressure adjuster to increase the pressure in the second ink air chamber with the first and second on-off valves being closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Akiyama, Hiroshi Sugitani, Akira Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9056499
    Abstract: A plurality of through holes are provided between upstream ejection ports and downstream ejection ports. Thereby, when a rear end portion and therearound of a paper sheet is opposed to the downstream ejection ports, gas sucked to suction holes exposed at an upstream side of the paper sheet can be absorbed from the through holes. This can suppress an airflow occurring between a housing and the paper sheet. As a result, deviation of ink droplets ejected from the downstream ejection ports can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itsuki Kajino, Masayuki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 9050814
    Abstract: This invention provides a liquid container capable of reducing a residual liquid inside a refill container coupled thereto in liquid-refilling events and an inkjet recording apparatus having the liquid container. This liquid container is coupled with the refill liquid container for refilling it with a liquid. The liquid container has a coupling part for engagement with the refill container. The coupling part has a pipe unit, which is inserted into the refill container for allowing the liquid to flow into the pipe unit. A slit is provided at a leading end of the pipe unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naomichi Yoshida, Akira Miyao, Takehiko Matsushita
  • Patent number: 9050818
    Abstract: An inkjet printer (100) has an ink tank (113), an ink head (110), an ink supply tube (112) configured to supply ink from the ink tank (113) to the ink head (110), an ink return tube (115) one end of which is connected to an upstream side portion of the ink supply tube (112) and the other end of which is connected to a downstream side portion of the ink supply tube (112), and a pump (116) configured to circulate the ink in the ink supply tube (112) and the ink return tube (115).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Roland DG Corporation
    Inventor: Taeko Hirano
  • Patent number: 9044979
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus allows a recording head to be mounted or removed in or from a carriage at a replacement position in a region above a platen. The platen includes a short rib disposed at a position that faces an ejection port portion when the carriage moves to the replacement position and a long rib disposed at a position that faces a portion of the recording head other than the ejection port portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiaki Somano
  • Patent number: 9044939
    Abstract: In one example, a liquid dispensing device includes a printhead assembly having a liquid port through which liquid may move between a removable liquid container and the printhead assembly and an air port through which air may flow to and from the container. A pressure source is operatively connected to the air port to pressurize the container to push liquid from the container through the liquid port into the printhead assembly. A vent is operatively connected to the air port to vent the pressurized container to draw froth from the printhead assembly through the liquid port into the container. In another example, a method for priming a printhead assembly includes pushing liquid from a container into the printhead assembly through a liquid port and then pulling froth from the printhead assembly into the container through the liquid port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Curt Gonzales, Jeana M. Kanyer
  • Publication number: 20150145930
    Abstract: An attachment is mountable on a carriage in place of a liquid container that contains liquid and that is mounted on the carriage having a liquid jet head for jetting liquid, so that the attachment can supply liquid introduced from outside to the liquid jet head. The attachment has a pressure control means provided in a flow passage which is formed in an attachment body and through which the liquid introduced from the outside is supplied to the liquid jet head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Takeo Seino, Takahiro Naka, Satoshi Shinada, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20150145928
    Abstract: A continuous ink jet printer including an ink tank for holding ink, an ink nozzle in fluid communication with the ink tank for ejecting ink droplets, and a gutter for receiving, through an ink-receiving inlet thereof, ink droplets which are not used for printing. A gutter flow path starts at the ink-receiving inlet for ink that has entered the gutter through the ink-receiving inlet, and provides fluid communication to the ink tank. A return line is in fluid communication with the gutter for conveying air to enter the gutter flow path. A makeup tank is in vapor communication with the ink tank to allow air to be conveyed from the ink tank to the makeup tank. A condenser is in fluid communication with the makeup reservoir and the return line for condensing solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Stamp, Philip Blowfield, Robert Smith
  • Publication number: 20150145931
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus is adapted to eject liquid onto a medium. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a housing section, a medium discharge port, an operation panel, and a liquid holding body. The medium discharge port is disposed on a front side of the housing section, and configured and arranged to discharge the medium. The operation panel is disposed on the housing section. The liquid holding body is disposed on the front side of the housing section, and includes an inlet port section configured and arranged to introduce the liquid into the liquid holding body. The inlet port section is disposed at a position lower than a position of the operation panel in a first state in which the liquid ejecting apparatus is placed on a level surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi IWAMURO, Hidetoshi KODAMA
  • Publication number: 20150145929
    Abstract: An inkjet head includes a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers arranged along a first direction, each of which extends in a second direction crossing the first direction, communicates with one of the nozzles, and has a first end through which ink is supplied and a second end through which ink is recycled, a plurality of ink inlets configured on a side of the first ends of the pressure chambers through which ink is supplied to the pressure chambers, and a plurality of ink outlets configured on a side of the second ends of the pressure chambers through which ink is recycled from the pressure chambers. A flow rate of the ink flowing from a ink inlet to an ink outlet through pressure chambers that are at the ends along the arrangement positions of the pressure chambers is higher than a flow rate of the ink flowing from an ink inlet to an ink outlet through pressure chambers that are at the center along the arrangement positions of the pressure chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Takahisa IKEDA
  • Patent number: 9039149
    Abstract: Ink in an ink tank is fed through a dissolved gas control filter to a printer head. A gas pressure changing mechanism reduces pressure in a gas pressure control tank. In response, the dissolved gas control filter removes gas dissolved in the ink. The gas pressure control tank is placed under pressure corresponding to a sum of the pressure reduced by the gas pressure changing mechanism and the pressure of the gas having been removed from the liquid. A gas pressure measuring part measures the sum of these pressures as pressure in the gas pressure control tank. Then, a controller determines when time of exchange of the dissolved gas control filter has come based on the magnitude of a gradient of gas pressure variation in the gas pressure control tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motoyuki Anno
  • Patent number: 9039155
    Abstract: An ink system of an ink jet printer includes a fluid tank. The fluid tank includes a generally conically shaped side wall, the side wall sloping inwardly from a top portion to a bottom portion. A bottom surface is disposed adjacent the bottom portion of the side wall. A first fluid conduit is disposed in the fluid tank and includes an opening adjacent to and above the bottom surface of the fluid tank. A second fluid conduit is disposed in the fluid tank and includes an opening at a location above the opening of the first fluid conduit. A pump is in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit. An ink supply line is in fluid communication with the pump. A print head is in fluid communication with the ink supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Smith, Michael Stamp, John Bostock, Carl Mann, Trevor Lye
  • Patent number: 9039152
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is detachably attachable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus. The liquid cartridge includes a cartridge case, an information memory element, and a holding unit. The cartridge case includes at least two dividable case parts. The at least two dividable case parts form a front face of the cartridge case to face the apparatus body when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus body. An information memory element is held at the front face of the cartridge case. The holding unit is provided in one of the at least two dividable case parts to hold the information memory element with only the one of the at least two dividable case parts. The holding unit includes a groove to receive the information memory element and a displaceable claw to hold the information memory element between the groove and the claw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kawabata, Masashi Ohnishi, Yuta Moriwaki, Yuta Kashiwagi, Shotaro Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9039147
    Abstract: A liquid feed valve unit is configured to switch between a releasing mode for forcibly opening a valve and a blocking mode for closing the valve, and the valve can therefore be opened and closed in a short time as needed. Since the releasing mode is implemented by pushing the peripheral part and the pressure-receiving part of the flexible member, the flexible member can be prevented from flexing toward the outside of the liquid accommodating chamber even in the case that the pressure-receiving part is pushed. In this case, since a residual pressure can be prevented from forming in the liquid accommodating chamber, there is no need to suspend operation, and it is possible to immediately proceed to the next operation. A fast-operating liquid feed valve unit can thereby be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kaoru Koike, Toshio Kumagai, Kazutoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9039150
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a liquid which generates gases over time due to a chemical change in components; a liquid storage chamber in which the liquid is stored; a liquid flow port which communicates with the liquid storage chamber, via which the liquid inside the storage chamber flows out; and an information holding portion which holds time information on manufacturing of the liquid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Kagata
  • Patent number: 9039151
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head including: a reservoir tank; an inlet opening; and ejection openings; an air-discharge passage for discharging air from the reservoir tank to an outside; a first sucking device for sucking air from the reservoir tank via the air-discharge passage; a semipermeable membrane dividing a space in the reservoir tank and the air-discharge passage, into a reservoir-tank-side space and a first-sucking-device-side space and allowing communication of the air and inhibiting communication of liquid between the reservoir-tank-side space and the first-sucking-device-side space; and a first valve mechanism dividing the reservoir-tank-side space into a first space on a semipermeable-membrane side and a second space on an inlet-opening side, inhibiting fluid from flowing from the first space to the second space, and allowing fluid to flow from the second space to the first space. The first space is located above the ejection openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9039148
    Abstract: An ink supply reservoir, and method of supplying ink, is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bryan Murphy, Odhran Hendley, Eduardo Macias, Michael Mulloy, Jon Rittgers
  • Publication number: 20150138283
    Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including: a printer main body which has a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink to a paper sheet and performs recording; a supply cassette which is insertable into and extractable from the printer main body and can accommodate the paper sheet; and a liquid accommodation portion which can accommodate the ink that is supplied to the liquid ejecting head. The liquid accommodation portion is installed in the supply cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Munehide KANAYA, Shoma KUDO, Hidenao SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 9033476
    Abstract: There is provided a protective cap configured to be installed into a liquid cartridge installation section having a liquid supply tube in fluid connection with a recording head for jetting a liquid via a flexible tube. The protective cap includes: an chamber defined by a case in a liquid-tight manner; a liquid absorbing member filled in the chamber; a connecting portion having a connecting channel in communication with the chamber and configured to be connected with the liquid supply tube; and an atmosphere communication portion via which the chamber communicates an outside of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Masayuki Takata
  • Patent number: 9033475
    Abstract: An inkjet printer 1 has an elastic ink pack 10 that holds ink, and an ink supply mechanism 5 that pressurizes the ink pack 10 and supplies ink to the ink path 4 side. The ink supply mechanism 5 has a pressure pump 15; a remaining ink monitor 52 that watches if the ink in the ink pack 10 has dropped to a specific remaining ink level; a first pressure control unit 56 that drives the pressure pump 15 until the pump pressure reaches a preset first set pressure P1 when the remaining ink has not reached the specific remaining ink level; and a second pressure control unit 57 that drives the pressure pump 15 until the pump pressure reaches a second set pressure P2 that is higher than the first set pressure P1 when the remaining ink has reached the specific remaining ink level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Urabe
  • Patent number: 9033474
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes an ink tank configured and arranged to retain a plurality of types of ink including sedimentary ink, a head configured and arranged to discharges the ink, and an ink supply path section configured and arranged to supply the ink from the ink tank to the head. The ink supply path section includes a Cableveyor (registered trademark) accommodating a plurality of ink tubes. A plurality of ink tubes for the sedimentary ink among the plurality of ink tubes are mounted at the same height in a height direction inside the Cableveyor (registered trademark).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromichi Nakashima, Noritaka Mitsuo, Jun Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 9033481
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection head includes plural nozzles; plural individual liquid chambers; a common liquid chamber supplying liquid to the plural individual liquid chambers; a filter sheet member including plural pores formed therein to filter the liquid; and a frame body including an opening part and being in connection with the filter sheet member with adhesive. Further, a size of a region where the plural pores are formed is greater than the opening part of the frame body; an adhesive accumulation area is formed on an inner peripheral end of the opening part; and a size of the adhesive accumulation area in a protruding direction of the adhesive is greater than a size of an area between adjacent pores in the filter sheet member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kinokuni, Keisuke Hayashi, Tatsuya Shimoda
  • Patent number: 9033477
    Abstract: A printer includes an ejection portion, a liquid supply portion, a support member, a discharge portion, a first flow path portion, and an engagement portion. The ejection portion includes an ejection surface including a plurality of ejection ports. The liquid supply portion is configured to supply the ejection portion with liquid supplied from a storage portion. The liquid supply portion extends in parallel with the ejection surface. The support member is substantially box-shaped and includes a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion. The discharge portion is provided on the support member and is connected to an outside of the support member without going through the ejection portion. The first flow path portion includes a hollow portion and connects the liquid supply portion and the discharge portion. The engagement portion includes a recessed portion and is configured to fix the first flow path portion to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsunori Nishida
  • Publication number: 20150130878
    Abstract: Provided is an active energy ray-curable inkjet ink containing at least photopolymerizable compounds. The photopolymerizable compounds include: at least one monofunctional monomer selected from the group consisting of a monofunctional monomer of which homopolymer has a glass transition temperature of 90° C. or higher, a monofunctional monomer having a ring structure, and a monofunctional monomer of which homopolymer has a glass transition temperature of 90° C. or higher and that has a ring structure; and urethane (meth)acrylate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Shizuka KOHZUKI, Mie Yoshino, Takao Hiraoka
  • Publication number: 20150130879
    Abstract: An ink jet type printer including: a printing function section, a liquid ejecting head that is supported on a carriage movably disposed in the printing function section and performs recording by ejecting ink with respect to a paper sheet, and an ink supply tube that guides the ink of a main tank in which the ink is stored to the liquid ejecting head and has a deformation movable section capable of being deformed following movement of the carriage. The printing function section is provided with a filling port for filling the ink and the filling port and the main tank are connected through a connection pipe, a sub-tank, and an ink communication pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Naomi KIMURA, Munehide KANAYA, Yoshisada AOKI, Nobuhisa NOMOTO
  • Patent number: 9028054
    Abstract: An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a bottom face and a front face; an ink interface on the front face of the ink cartridge for connection to a cartridge receiving structure; a guide interface in the bottom face for guiding the cartridge along a straight line during insertion into the cartridge receiving structure for connecting the ink interface; a latch track disposed in the bottom face of the ink cartridge to guide a latch of the cartridge receiving structure; a latch stop disposed in the latch track for engaging the latch, where the latch track comprises a locking track and an unlocking track to accommodate movement of the latch with respect to the latch stop, the locking track being at least partly separate from the unlocking track; and a latch guide for redirecting the latch towards the locking track, rather than the unlocking track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David C. Harvey, Curt Gonzales, Ralph L. Stathem, David Olsen, David Welter
  • Patent number: 9028053
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including: a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with a plurality of nozzles respectively; and a plurality of liquid ejecting heads having a common liquid chamber configured to supply liquid common to the plurality of pressure chambers, wherein each of the liquid ejecting heads includes a liquid supply channel communicating with the common liquid chamber and supplying liquid from the liquid storage tank toward the common liquid chamber by the liquid feeding unit and a liquid discharge channel communicating with the common liquid chamber and discharging the liquid from the communicating chamber toward the liquid storage tank by the liquid feeding unit, and the directions of flows of the liquid in the common liquid chamber flowing from the liquid supply channels through the common liquid chamber toward the liquid discharge channels are opposite from each other between the adjacent liquid ejecting heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Masaaki Ando
  • Patent number: 9028021
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a carriage with the recording head mounted thereon, a main tank, a sub-tank configured to be supplied with ink from the main tank via a tube, a supply tube configured to connect the recording head and the sub-tank, a supply unit connected to the supply tube and configured to supply ink from the main tank to the sub-tank, and a control unit configured to control acceleration of the carriage and to control the supply unit, wherein, when an empty volume in the sub-tank is greater than or equal to an ink volume in the main tank, the supply unit is controlled to supply ink to the sub-tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Uetsuki, Taku Yokozawa, Toshimitsu Danzuka, Masataka Kato, Tsuyoshi Ibe, Asako Tomida, Hiroaki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9028048
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes an ink distribution assembly including an ink distribution molding, the ink distribution molding including a plurality of first ducts; at least one printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink distribution assembly; and a rotary platen having at least three surface, each surface for providing one of a platen surface, capping portion, and a blotting portion. The ink distribution assembly further includes a plurality of second ducts acutely angled with respect to the plurality of first ducts, a plurality of transfer ports facilitating fluid communication between the plurality of first ducts and the plurality of second ducts, and a plurality of ink inlet ports facilitating fluid communication between an ink cassette and the plurality of first ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20150124026
    Abstract: To optimize an arrangement route for a tube arranged between an ink tank and a carriage, when arranging the ink tank outside an ink jet printer main body. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting apparatus main body 2 ejecting a liquid onto a recording medium from a liquid ejecting head mounted on a carriage; a liquid containing body 110 arranged inside the liquid ejecting apparatus main body 2; and a liquid supply tube 120 arranged between the liquid containing body 110 and the carriage, in which an inner space S is provided which is formed from the liquid ejecting head and a discharge port including a region where the recording medium is discharged, and the liquid containing body 110 is arranged in the inner space S.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroshi TAKEUCHI, Hiroyuki YODA, Kenji OSHIMA, Yoshisada AOKI, Satoshi SHIMIZU, Kazutoshi SAKAMOTO, Nobuhisa NOMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150124027
    Abstract: A case includes a main receptacle body that accommodates an ink accommodating body which accommodates ink. A first tube support portion and second to fourth tube support portions that guide connection tubes that are connected to the ink accommodating bodies, respectively, are provided on an internal surface of the main receptacle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Yasunori Koike, Hiroyuki Yoda
  • Patent number: 9025215
    Abstract: A cable wiring structure includes: a base member; a movable member configured to reciprocate in a first direction and in a second direction relative to the base member; a cable; a tension applying member, which is attached to the movable member and is movable in the first direction and in the second direction relative to the movable member, wherein when the movable member moves in the second direction, the tension applying member is coming in contact with an inner circumference of the curved portion to apply tension to the cable in response to movement of the movable member; and a load adjustment portion, which is configured to increase a load that is applied between the tension applying member and the movable member in a case where the movable member moves in the second direction as compared with a case where the movable member moves in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Kozaki, Yasuhiro Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 9022537
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid which is supplied from two or more liquid housing portions that house liquid; two or more housing portion side flow paths which are provided to correspond with each of the liquid housing portions and which supply liquid from an upstream side that is a side of the liquid housing portions to a downstream side; and a flow mechanism which is capable of causing liquid to flow in the housing portion flow paths, and the flow mechanism causes liquid to flow in a housing portion side flow path corresponding with a liquid housing portion that does not supply liquid for a predetermined time set in advance among the housing portion side flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Uchiyama