Fluid Supply System Patents (Class 347/85)
  • Patent number: 9878535
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an ink circulation device comprises a pressure chamber including at least two flow holes through which ink flows; a piezoelectric vibration plate constituting a part of a wall of the pressure chamber and to be driven to increase or decrease an inner volume of the pressure chamber; a valve for opening and closing at least one of the two flow holes; a heater affixed on the piezoelectric vibration plate; and a connection section connecting the pressure chamber to an inkjet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kaneko, Shinichiro Hida, Tetsuya Sato, Kazuhiro Hara, Kazuhiko Ohtsu, Hiroyuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9878551
    Abstract: A liquid container for supplying a liquid to a liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a liquid chamber provided to store the liquid; an air chamber connected with the liquid chamber to introduce the outside air into the liquid chamber with consumption of the liquid in the liquid chamber; an open-air hole provided to introduce the outside air into the air chamber; and a liquid inlet provided to fill the liquid into the liquid chamber, wherein the liquid inlet is located at a lower position than the open-air hole, in a filling attitude of the liquid container in which the liquid is filled into the liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Shimizu, Taku Ishizawa, Yuki Takeda, Shuichi Koganehira
  • Patent number: 9873260
    Abstract: A self-weight pressure control valve includes a hollow case main body with an opening, a partitioning wall dividing the case main body into first and second pressure chambers in communication with the opening, a communication opening in the partitioning wall and communicating the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber to each other, a valve rod including a rod portion inserted through the communication opening to pass the partitioning wall, and a valve portion located in the first pressure chamber, and a pressure sensitive film covering the opening of the case main body, coupled with a tip of the rod portion of the valve rod, and flexibly deformable toward the rod portion. When the pressure sensitive film is not flexibly deformed toward the rod portion, the communication opening is maintained in a closed state by the valve portion by use of a self-weight of the valve rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Ueda
  • Patent number: 9862202
    Abstract: A liquid introduction member includes an inlet into which a liquid is introduced, a filter to filter the liquid introduced from the inlet, a filter chamber in which cross-sectional areas of the flow path increase from the inlet side to the filter side, and a supply flow path to supply the liquid that has passed through the filter to the nozzle side. The filter chamber has at least one guide extending from an inner wall surface of the filter chamber toward the inlet with a space between the guide and the filter, a bottom surface of the guide has a guide surface to guide bubbles which have entered from the inlet, and the guide guides the bubbles into the space by use of the guide surface to spread the bubbles onto the filter toward an outer periphery of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Haruhisa Uezawa
  • Patent number: 9862199
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus and a liquid container that allow a liquid outlet portion and a liquid inlet portion to be readily connected to each other are provided. An ink supply apparatus for supplying ink to an inkjet printer includes: an ink container that has an ink bag, and an ink outlet portion in communication with the ink bag; a right recess portion and a left recess portion that support the ink container; an ink inlet needle that can be connected to the ink outlet portion; and a connection tube that connects the ink inlet needle and the inkjet printer. The ink container is detachably supported by the right recess portion and the left recess portion such that the ink outlet portion is positioned on the upper side in the gravity direction of the ink bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutomo Tsukahara, Takashi Mano
  • Patent number: 9855759
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a first chamber and a second chamber to contain liquid to be supplied to a head and a liquid path to connect the first chamber and the second chamber so that liquid communicates between the first chamber and the second chamber. Each of the first chamber and the second chamber has a flexible wall. The first chamber includes a first spring inside the first chamber to press the flexible wall of the first chamber outward. The second chamber includes a second spring inside the second chamber to press the flexible wall of the second chamber outward. A pressing force of the first spring is greater than a pressing force of the second spring. A first feeler disposed outside the first chamber and in contact with the flexible wall of the first chamber, and the first feeler is displaced according to a movement of the flexible wall of the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyuki Kobayashi, Tomomi Katoh, Ryoh Idehara, Yoichi Ito, Yoshinori Uchino
  • Patent number: 9855754
    Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a liquid discharging portion that discharges liquid supplied from a liquid container; a container mounting portion in which the liquid container is detachably mounted; a connection portion in which a flow path for supplying liquid within the liquid container mounted in the container mounting portion to the liquid discharging portion is formed; a sealing body that surrounds the connection portion in a plan view, and includes a contact surface in contact with the liquid container mounted in the container mounting portion; and a holding portion that suppresses movement of the sealing body by being installed to overlap the contact surface in a plan view, in which the holding portion is not in contact with the liquid container mounted in the container mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Okazawa, Koji Morikoshi
  • Patent number: 9855761
    Abstract: An ink tank includes a tank main body that is able to contain ink, an ink filling unit that is provided in the tank main body and has an opening which enables the tank main body to be filled with the ink, and a plurality of ribs that are provided around the ink filling unit of the tank main body and protrude from the tank main body. A clearance in which the ink is held due to a capillary force between the ribs is provided between two adjacent ribs among the plurality of ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenao Suzuki, Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura, Keigo Iizawa, Masayuki Kanazawa, Naofumi Mimura, Keisuke Akimoto, Ryusuke Takakura, Soshi Okawa, Munehide Kanaya, Nobuyuki Nishi, Satoshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9849683
    Abstract: Ink port adapters for inkjet heads. In one embodiment, the ink port adapter includes two hose fittings for connecting to hoses, and four openings that align with four ink ports of an inkjet head. The adapter includes one ink path that connects one of the hose fittings to two of the openings, and another ink path that connects the other hose fitting to the other two openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9849682
    Abstract: Ink port adapters for multi-color inkjet heads. In one embodiment, the ink port adapter includes two hose fittings for connecting to hoses, and four openings that align with four ink ports of a four-color inkjet head. The adapter includes one ink path that connects one of the hose fittings to two of the openings, and another ink path that connects the other hose fitting to the other two openings. The adapter therefore converts the four-color inkjet head into a two-color inkjet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9840081
    Abstract: A liquid supply device is adapted to supply liquid to a liquid ejection section configured and arranged eject the liquid. The liquid storing device includes a plurality of liquid storage sections and a plurality of tubes. The liquid storage sections are configured and arranged to store the liquid. The tubes are connected to the liquid storage sections so that the liquid stored in the liquid storage sections flows out through the tubes. At least one of the tubes is respectively connected to a corresponding one of the liquid storage sections. At least one of the liquid storage sections includes a support section supporting at least two of the tubes in a state in which the at least two of the tubes are aligned in a direction perpendicular to one surface of the at least one of the liquid storage sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Syarif Mokhamad, Dian Herdiansyah
  • Patent number: 9840083
    Abstract: A method for damping pressure peaks in an ink line of an inkjet printer includes connecting the line to a chamber divided by a diaphragm into an air-filled first space and an ink-filled second space, connecting the first space to an air-filled buffer, connecting the buffer to an air pump, a) pumping air into the first space until freeing the chamber of ink and the diaphragm rests on a chamber wall or tension in the diaphragm begins rising substantially linearly, then b) pumping air out of the first space until filling the chamber with ink and the diaphragm rests on a chamber wall or tension of the diaphragm begins rising substantially linearly, while determining the number of pump cycles, then c) pumping air into the first space while passing through substantially half of the determined pump cycles. Steps a and b may be reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Ratjen, Joerg-Achim Fischer
  • Patent number: 9840085
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: an attachment unit to which a liquid container that contains liquid is attachable; a liquid ejecting head that ejects the liquid; and a connection portion that is provided on the attachment unit and is detachably inserted into a connection port of the liquid container. The connection portion has at least one opening of a first flow passage and at least one opening of a second flow passage separately. The first flow passage is a passage through which the liquid contained in the liquid container is sent to the liquid ejecting head. The second flow passage is a passage through which the liquid contained in the liquid container is sent, but not to the liquid ejecting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichiro Miyako
  • Patent number: 9840225
    Abstract: A child restraint harness system includes first and second shoulder straps that have button holes located on the y-axis of the straps and a chest clip device which consists of two separate connectors that join together to form the chest clip device. On each connector, there is an extension guard located on the inferior portion of the chest clip device. Also, on each extension guard, there is a button located inferior to the bottom shoulder strap slot. Once the first and second shoulder straps are threaded through the top shoulder strap slot and then threaded through the bottom shoulder strap slot, the extension guard located on the inferior portion of the chest clip device can be buttoned into the shoulder straps, which secures the chest clip device in the proper position so the child cannot move the chest clip in the downward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Kristy L Cobb
  • Patent number: 9821559
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an opening section 30 which is formed on an outside surface of a housing 25 and through which a sheet cassette 29 is inserted, ink containers 17a and 17b that store ink, cases 18 that are disposed on outside surfaces on both sides adjacent to an outside surface on which the opening section 30 of the housing 25 is formed and holds the ink containers 17a and 17b, and a tube that supplies the ink from ink containers 17a and 17b to the inside of the housing 25, in which sizes of the cases 18 on both sides are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9815295
    Abstract: A tank includes a liquid containing portion, an air introduction portion that enables the air to be introduced into the liquid containing portion, a liquid injection portion that enables the liquid to be injected into the liquid containing portion. The air introduction portion includes a first air introduction portion that is in communication with the liquid containing portion, and a second air introduction portion. The first air introduction portion includes a first air introduction port and a first air flow path. The second air introduction portion includes a second air introduction port and a second air flow path. A first member that is configured to pass the air through the inside and is configured to block the liquid through the inside. A second member that is configured to pass the air through the inside and is configured to block the liquid through the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoma Kudo, Soshi Okawa, Munehide Kanaya
  • Patent number: 9815287
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a recording element board having a first face on which multiple recording elements are provided, and discharge orifices for the recording elements, where pressure chambers are formed for each recording element and liquid is discharged from discharge orifices. A liquid supply channel and a liquid recovery channel are provided in common to the plurality of recording elements, in a second face opposite to the recording element board from the first face. The pressure chambers are each made to communicate with the liquid supply channel and the liquid recovery channel by the supply ports and recovery ports respectively, and a flow from the liquid supply channel through the pressure chambers to the liquid recovery channel is generated. A composited flow resistance of the liquid recovery channel and recovery ports is greater than a composited flow resistance of the liquid supply channel and supply ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuto Moriguchi, Seiichiro Karita, Yumi Komamiya, Shingo Okushima, Kazuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 9776410
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head in which a device substrate having an energy generating element and a supply port and a supporting member having a supply passage are bonded with each other an adhesive agent includes: a first step of applying the adhesive agent to an end surface of a wall; a second step of flattening out the adhesive agent on the end surface of the wall of the supply port in the height direction intersecting the end surface by moving the end surface of the wall of the supply port and the end surface of the wall of the supply passage toward each other; and a third step of moving the ridge line of the wall of the supply port in a direction along the end surface of the wall of the supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Ono, Masao Furukawa, Masashi Ishikawa, Jun Hinami, Takeshi Shibata, Ryo Shimamura, Takanori Enomoto, Shimpei Otaka, Tomohiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9764556
    Abstract: The invention provides a technique for suppressing liquid leakage from a tank. An ink tank 25A includes an ink containing portion 100. In a state in which the ink containing portion 100 contains an ink in an amount equal to ½ of its ink capacity, when the ink tank 25A is brought into an ink injection orientation, the first atmospheric air introducing inlet 114 is located in a region where the air is present, and the second atmospheric air introducing inlet 124 is located in a region where the ink is present. When the ink tank 25A is rotated upside down by 180° from that orientation and brought into a reversed orientation, the first atmospheric air introducing inlet 114 is located in a region where the ink is present, and the second atmospheric air introducing inlet 124 is located in a region where the air is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9757952
    Abstract: Printing can continue while replacing ink cartridges. The printer 1 detects and reports an ink supply disabled state in which ink cannot be supplied from ink cartridges 9a to 9d. If a cover-open state, in which the cover 8a that opens and closes the cartridge holder 8 is open, is detected and the ink supply disabled state is also detected while printing is in progress, printing is permitted to continue using ink in buffer tanks (pressure control chambers 13a to 13d) while displaying a warning instead of going to an error state. Interruptions to printing due to a cover-open error while replacing ink cartridges 9a to 9d can therefore be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanaka, Takeshi Komaki
  • Patent number: 9751305
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head including first flow channel members, each having discharge holes, pressurizing chambers, first common supply flow channels, and first common recovery flow channels where the first common supply flow channels and first common recovery flow channels are long in a first direction, and the first flow channel members are disposed in a second direction; a second flow channel member having a second common supply flow channel and a second common recovery flow channel; and pressurizing parts to respectively pressurize the liquid in the pressurizing chambers. The second flow channel member is disposed on the first flow channel member. The first flow channel member, second flow channel member, second common supply flow channel, and second common recovery flow channel are long in the second direction. Pressure loss may therefore be minimized in the pressurizing chambers without increasing the size of the liquid discharge head in a planar direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenko Gejima, Hiroyuki Kawamura, Naoki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9738078
    Abstract: A septum device usable with a fluid interconnect unit of a fluid supply device is disclosed. The septum device includes a resilient main body to be inserted into the fluid interconnect unit of the fluid supply device. The resilient main body includes an interior septum surface forming a longitudinal opening to removably receive a fluid extraction member and an exterior septum surface. The interior septum surface includes interior engagement members extending toward the opening and spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction. The exterior septum surface includes exterior engagement members extending away from the opening and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction to engage an interior interconnect surface of the fluid interconnect unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: David C Harvey
  • Patent number: 9718275
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a head, a head holder, a carriage, a supply tube, a reference member, a first guide, and a second guide. The supply tube is led out from the carriage and extended to a first side of the head holder opposite a second side of the head holder at which the head holder is hooked on the reference member. The supply tube is disposed in a state in which, in plan view, the supply tube projects from an entry portion of the second guide beyond an end of the head holder in a main scanning direction. At least a portion of the first guide to guide the supply tube is disposed closer to the head holder, in plan view, than a position at which the supply tube projects farthest beyond the end of the head holder in the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9707769
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head configured to discharge an ink onto paper for recording, a case accommodating at least the recording head, a reading device openable and closable between an open position and a closed position, a liquid container having a liquid storage chamber for storing the ink to be supplied to the recording head and an injection port enabling the ink to be injected from the outside to the inside of the liquid storage chamber, a blocking member configured to block the injection port by coming into contact with the injection port, and a cover provided such that the cover can be opened or closed between an open position where the injection port is exposed and a closed position where the injection port is not exposed. The blocking member is mounted on the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenao Suzuki, Shoichi Ishizawa, Yoshiyuki Tanaka, Makoto Omuro, Koji Kawai
  • Patent number: 9707773
    Abstract: An imaging device and associated circuit assembly for depositing ink onto moving media. The imaging device is flexible in that it allows the configuration of pens in a variety of ways to enable a user to increase the speed with which printing can be accomplished, vary the colors used in printing, change the orientation of the printing on the media, and/or print at multiple locations at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: inc.jet, Inc.
    Inventors: Zbigniew Roginski, Daniel Cavaliere
  • Patent number: 9709913
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method for processing a liquid electrostatic ink composition, the method comprising: providing an initial liquid electrostatic ink composition comprising chargeable toner particles dispersed in a first liquid carrier, removing at least some of the liquid carrier from the initial liquid electrostatic ink composition using supercritical fluid extraction to provide a concentrated composition comprising the chargeable toner particles, adding a second liquid carrier to the concentrated composition to form a final liquid electrostatic ink composition. Also disclosed herein is a liquid electrostatic ink composition producible according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Sandler, Daniel Skvirsky, Inna Tzomik, Hannoch Ron
  • Patent number: 9707764
    Abstract: The method of operating an inkjet printing system includes ejecting usable fluid on a substrate in a print mode and in a purge container in a maintenance mode by a print head. The method also includes receiving recovered fluid from the purge container and source fluid from the source supply to form the usable fluid in a primary fluid tank. The method also includes receiving and providing an amount of the usable fluid from the primary fluid tank to the print head by at least one of a first supplemental fluid tank and a second supplemental fluid tank. The method also includes determining a consumed amount of the usable fluid corresponding to an amount of the usable fluid used by the print head reduced by an amount of the recovered fluid received by the primary fluid tank from the purge container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing LTD.
    Inventors: Semion Gengrinovich, Liad Weissman, Lev Superfin
  • Patent number: 9701129
    Abstract: A method of cleaning an ink circuit of an inkjet printer, including at least one reservoir, called the main reservoir, at least one ink cartridge, a first pump to pump ink from the cartridge, a first fluid connection to transfer ink from the ink cartridge to the reservoir, a second pump to pump ink from the reservoir (10), a second fluid connection to transfer ink to the ink cartridge, and a controller. The method includes a) a step in which ink is transferred from the main reservoir as far as the cartridge, through the second pump and the second fluid connection, and b) a step to pump at least part of the ink transferred during step a) to the main reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DOVER EUROPE SÀRL
    Inventors: Francis Pourtier, Jean-Pierre Arpin
  • Patent number: 9701126
    Abstract: A fluid ejection system is disclosed, and comprises a fluid ejection device and an adapter. The fluid ejection device comprises a body defining an interior bore, a fluid reservoir, and a fluid ejection chip. The fluid reservoir defines an interior passage that receives a fluid and is in fluid communication with the interior bore of the body. The fluid ejection chip is coupled with the body and comprises one or more fluid ejection actuators. The fluid ejection chip has one or more interior fluid paths in fluid communication with the interior bore of the body so that the fluid ejection chip ejects the fluid upon activation of the one or more fluid ejection actuators. The adapter is coupled with the fluid reservoir and defines an interior passage in fluid communication with the interior passage of the fluid reservoir. The adapter is configured to interengage a fluid storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sam Norasak
  • Patent number: 9694581
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle row, individual liquid chambers, a common liquid chamber, a circulation liquid chamber, a supply port, and a delivery port. The nozzle row includes nozzles to discharge liquid. The nozzles are arrayed in a nozzle array direction. The individual liquid chambers are communicated with the nozzles and arrayed in the nozzle array direction. The common liquid chamber extends longer in the nozzle array direction, to supply liquid to the individual liquid chambers. The circulation liquid chamber is communicated with the individual liquid chambers. The supply port is disposed at a center of the common liquid chamber in the nozzle array direction, to supply liquid to the common liquid chamber. The delivery port is disposed outside the common liquid chamber in the nozzle array direction, to deliver liquid from the circulation liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9694592
    Abstract: A removable single-block assembly for an ink circuit of a continuous inkjet printer, including a plate having a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet and a third fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, a second fluid outlet, and a third fluid outlet, this assembly further including a first pump called a pressure pump, a second pump called a recovery pump, and a filter, fluid connection means to allow fluids to flow: between said first fluid inlet, the first pump, and said first fluid outlet, between said second fluid inlet, the filter, and said second fluid outlet, and between said third fluid inlet, said second pump, and said third fluid outlet, and means for mounting and dismounting the assembly on the ink circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: MARKEM-IMAGE HOLDING
    Inventors: Joao-Paulo Ribiero, Francis Pourtier, Vincent Audouard
  • Patent number: 9694590
    Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
  • Patent number: 9682566
    Abstract: Cartridges 4 and 5 are configured, such that first convex ribs 428a and 528a abut against second wall surfaces 762 of cartridge engagement wall surfaces 760 inclined with respect to a bottom wall 712 of a cartridge attachment structure 7 and move in friction with the second wall surfaces 762. Such abutting and moving causes contact portions of terminals 412 and 512 of circuit substrates 410 and 510 of the respective cartridges 4 and 5 to come into contact with electrode assemblies 810 of a carriage 8. This configuration enhances the reliability of electric connection between a contact portion, such as a circuit substrate, of a liquid supply unit and an electrode assembly, such as contact pins, of a carriage in the course of attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Atsushi Kobayashi, Shun Oya
  • Patent number: 9682565
    Abstract: Cartridges 4 and 5 are configured, such that first convex ribs 428a and 528a abut against second wall surfaces 762 of cartridge engagement wall surfaces 760 inclined with respect to a bottom wall 712 of a cartridge attachment structure 7 and move in friction with the second wall surfaces 762. Such abutting and moving causes contact portions of terminals 412 and 512 of circuit substrates 410 and 510 of the respective cartridges 4 and 5 to come into contact with electrode assemblies 810 of a carriage 8. This configuration enhances the reliability of electric connection between a contact portion, such as a circuit substrate, of a liquid supply unit and an electrode assembly, such as contact pins, of a carriage in the course of attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Atsushi Kobayashi, Shun Oya
  • Patent number: 9668644
    Abstract: A floatation-volume adequacy determining system including a receiving unit; an image processing unit; an adequacy determining unit; and a display unit. The receiving unit receives an actual image that is taken by a capsule medical apparatus that is floating in a liquid in the direction toward the liquid level. The image processing unit generates a determination reference image that represents an adequate range of a floatation volume of the capsule medical apparatus adjusted to the actual image that is taken by the capsule medical apparatus. An adequacy determining unit compares the determination reference image and the actual image with each other and determines whether the floatation volume of the capsule medical apparatus is adequate. The display unit displays a result of determining whether the floatation volume of the capsule medical apparatus is adequate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidetake Segawa
  • Patent number: 9662898
    Abstract: A liquid storage container supplies ink to a printer which consumes the ink, and includes a liquid storage body which includes a liquid lead-out port communicating with the printer and a filler port formed to pour the liquid to the liquid storage container, an auxiliary holding member which is mounted to be slidable to a side in which the filler port is formed, and a memory unit holding member which is detachably configured to the auxiliary holding member and includes a memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Iwamuro, Hidetoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 9662893
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an ink tank that has a fill port for a user to pour in ink through, a printing mechanism that performs printing by using ink stored in the ink tank, and a float that floats in the ink in the ink tank. The fill port or a pour port of an ink container is closed as the float floats up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Mori, Seiichi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9643423
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid container including a casing that has a side wall surrounding a container portion configured to contain a liquid; a projecting portion that is provided inside of the container portion to be protruded from a fourth wall corresponding to a bottom of the container portion; and a supply port that is provided in the casing to communicate with outside of the casing through an outer area outside of an overlapping area which overlaps the projecting portion in the container portion in a planar view of the fourth wall and discharge the liquid from the container portion. At least part of a second wall provided to face the projecting portion across a first liquid reservoir has optical transparency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Munehide Kanaya, Hidenao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9643419
    Abstract: An adaptor includes an adaptor main body capable of being mounted with respect to a liquid accommodation body mounting portion of a printer to which an ink cartridge configured to accommodate ink is mounted in an attachable or detachable manner; a memory cell MC that is updated by a control portion of the printer, and maintains information about whether or not the printing operation is possible in the printer; an electrical terminal that is used in communication between the memory cell and the printer; and an operation button that outputs an update signal that updates information about whether or not the printing operation is possible to information permitting the printing operation of the printer with respect to the memory cell, when the information about whether or not the printing operation is possible maintained in the memory cell does not permit the printing operation of the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Koizumi
  • Patent number: 9643420
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a discharge portion capable of discharging a liquid, a carriage movable along scanning directions between a first position and a second position, a tube that is connected to the discharge portion and that supplies the liquid to the discharge portion, a frame provided at such a position as to be able to contact the tube, and a tube support portion that is provided between the frame and the carriage and that has a supporting surface capable of supporting the tube. The carriage includes an inclined portion that is inclined so as to move the tube toward the supporting surface when the carriage moves along the scanning directions while the tube is not supported by the supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Yoshida, Daisuke Hiruma
  • Patent number: 9636921
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a liquid circulation apparatus comprises a liquid chamber configured to hold liquid which is to be supplied to a liquid ejection section ejecting liquid, a circulation section configured to circulate the liquid between the liquid chamber and the liquid ejection section, a liquid replenishment section configured to replenish liquid to the liquid chamber, a gas replenishment section configured to replenish gas to the liquid chamber, a pressure detection section configured to detect pressure of the liquid chamber, and a control section configured to adjust pressure of the liquid ejection section by replenishing the liquid to the liquid chamber with the liquid replenishment section and replenishing the gas to the liquid chamber with the gas replenishment section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9630420
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a housing including a first chamber and a second chamber, the housing defining a first port to fluidly couple the first chamber to a printer, the housing including a second port to fluidly couple the first chamber and the second chamber; a bladder disposed in the first chamber, the bladder being inflatable to increase a pressure within the first chamber; and a regulator to regulate fluid flow from the second chamber to the first chamber and to deter fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Patrick V. Boyd, David N. Olsen, Patricia A. Kellar
  • Patent number: 9623691
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus and an inkjet recording system includes a first ink chamber and a second ink chambers and a monitor. One of the inkjet recording apparatus can display first inquiry information and second inquiry information. The first inquiry information regards ink to be retained in first ink chamber. The second inquiry information regards ink to be retained in second ink chamber. The second inquiry information is displayed after displaying the first inquiry information. Another one of the inkjet recording apparatus can display inquiry information. The inquiry information regards to only ink to be retained in the first ink chamber but also ink to be retained in the second ink chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mana Honoki, Kenta Horade, Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9623667
    Abstract: A fluid interconnect system including a mating component having an inlet port and a liquid outlet, the inlet port configured to support an interconnector and the liquid outlet configured to engage with a print cartridge so that liquid flows from a liquid source, through the interconnector and the inlet port, and out of the liquid outlet into the print cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven R. Komplin
  • Patent number: 9604465
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a sub tank, an ink tank containing ink supplied to the sub tank, a detector that detects an amount of ink contained in the sub tank, a variable volume member provided between the recording head and the sub tank and having variable inner volume, and a controller that repeatedly performs first and second operations, thereby supplying ink from the ink tank to the sub tank. In the first operation, the member is caused to switch from a first state to a second state, while in the second operation, the member is caused to switch from the second state to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Suzuki, Masaya Uetsuki, Toshimitsu Danzuka, Masataka Kato, Tsuyoshi Ibe, Asako Tomida, Shin Genta
  • Patent number: 9597883
    Abstract: An advantage of the present invention lies in reducing the likelihood that a cover will open needlessly. A liquid container unit for supplying a liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus includes: a liquid container, a case body, a cover that includes a rotation mechanism, and a locking mechanism configured to hold a closed state. The rotation mechanism includes: a first rotation portion configured to engage with the case body; and a second rotation portion configured to engage with the case body at a position located farther from the locking mechanism than the first rotation portion is in a rotation axis direction of the rotation mechanism, and a second length of an engaging portion at which the case body and the second rotation portion are engaged is longer than a first length of an engaging portion at which the case body and the first rotation portion are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoma Kudo, Koji Nishimaki
  • Patent number: 9598185
    Abstract: A material filling apparatus for 3D printing fills materials into a material tank by a feeding part and includes a fixed sleeve with a first open end and a fixed end connected to the feeding part, a moving sleeve movably inserted and tightly fitted and interfered with the fixed sleeve, and a material output pipe inserted into the moving sleeve. The material tank is movably sheathed on the material output pipe. The moving sleeve has a second open end and a blocking end. The material output pipe has a connecting end and a material output end. The blocking end blocks the rear end of the material tank. The material tank squeezed by the filled material moves the connecting end towards the material output end and the rear end away from the material output end to push the blocking end and move the moving sleeve together with the material tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: XYZPRINTING, INC., KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC., CAL-COMP ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Tzu-Hua Su
  • Patent number: 9597887
    Abstract: An example pen housing includes a first regulator to actuate in response to a first pressure change to enable gas within a first chamber to flow from the first chamber to a second chamber, the first chamber to flow ink to a printhead, the second chamber not to receive ink directly from an ink supply; and a second regulator to actuate in response to a second pressure change to enable the gas received from the first chamber to be discharged from the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Curt Gonzales, Ralph L. Stathem, David N. Olsen
  • Patent number: 9586400
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head including a substrate, and an energy-generating element. The substrate is provided with a flow path that penetrates through the substrate from the first surface to a second surface, the flow path supplying the liquid from the second surface side to the first surface side. The flow path includes a plurality of first flow paths and a second flow path that is positioned on the second surface side with respect to the first flow paths. The plurality of first flow paths are open on a bottom portion of the second flow path, and the plurality of first flow paths include a long flow path relatively long in a direction perpendicular to the first surface, and a relatively short flow path. The long flow path has a flow path resistance per unit length that is smaller than that of the short flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Kato, Yoshinao Ogata, Toshiyasu Sakai, Takayuki Kamimura, Hiroshi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9586399
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a body defining an interior bore, a fluid reservoir, and a fluid ejection chip. The fluid reservoir defines an interior passage that receives a fluid, the interior passage in fluid communication with the interior bore of the body. The fluid ejection chip is coupled with the body and includes one or more fluid ejection actuators. The fluid ejection chip has one or more interior fluid paths in fluid communication with the interior bore of the body so that the fluid ejection chip ejects the fluid upon activation of the one or more fluid ejection actuators. The interior passage of the fluid reservoir and the one or more interior fluid paths are substantially devoid of obstructions such that the fluid is gravity fed to the fluid ejection chip upon entry into the interior passage of the fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sam Norasak