Cartridge Patents (Class 347/86)
  • Patent number: 11919312
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a carriage, ink tanks, ink tubes, and a first tube holder. The carriage reciprocates in a predetermined direction with respect to a recording medium and has recording heads ejecting ink to the recording medium. The ink tanks are arranged outside the carriage and are configured to contain ink. The ink tubes connect the ink tanks and the recording heads to each other to supply the ink contained in the ink tanks to the recording heads, and the ink tubes undergo follow-up deformation along with reciprocating movement of the carriage. The first tube holder is rotatably supported with respect to the carriage and holds the ink tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junpei Oka, Kohsuke Hori
  • Patent number: 11919316
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge includes a front face oriented toward a first direction, a printing fluid supply portion positioned at the front face, a rear face positioned opposite the front face and oriented toward a second direction opposite the first direction, at least one electrical interface positioned between the front face and the rear face, and an engagement surface facing in the second direction. The at least one electrical interface is offset from the printing supply portion with respect to a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The at least one electrical interface is positioned closer to the front face than the engagement surface is, and the at least one electrical interface and the engagement surface intersect a plane which is parallel with the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11897267
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Fumio Nakazawa, Naoya Okazaki, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroshi Taira, Toyonori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11897268
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid consuming apparatus including a casing, a liquid consuming section, and a tank. The tank includes a box-shaped body having a light-transmitting property and having five walls and a partition wall; a film adhered to rear end portions of the walls; and a positioning section disposed at least on an outer surface of each of the upper and lower walls, or of each of the right and left walls. In a state that the liquid consuming apparatus is placed on a horizontal plane, the box-shaped body is positioned at a posture at which the positioning section is brought into contact with the casing to thereby allow the front wall to be exposed from a side surface of the casing which extends in a direction crossing the horizontal plane, and at which the rear end portions are located inside the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinori Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11890875
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction includes a casing, and a lever supported by the casing. The lever is pivotable about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position. The lever includes a light-blocking portion configured to block or attenuate light traveling in a widthwise direction crossing the insertion direction and a gravitational direction, and a force-receiving portion positioned closer to a front wall of the casing than the light-blocking portion is to the front wall in the insertion direction. The light-blocking portion is positioned lower at the second position than at the first position. The pivot axis is positioned frontward of the light-blocking portion and rearward of the force-receiving portion in the insertion direction. The lever pivots from the second position to the first position upon application of an external force to the force-receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 11884077
    Abstract: A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a printing-fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and attached thereto in a first posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes: a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply port, an upper surface and a locking surface positioned upward of the storage chamber, an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface, and a contact surface positioned rearward relative to the supply port of the supply portion in the insertion direction in the first posture. The printing-fluid cartridge inserted in the printing-fluid consuming apparatus is movable between the first posture and a second posture. In the first posture, the locking surface engages a lock portion and the contact surface abuts against a positioning portion. In the second posture, the locking surface is positioned downward relative to the lock portion and the contact surface is separated from the positioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Suguru Tomoguchi
  • Patent number: 11878533
    Abstract: A liquid supplying apparatus having a tank with a hole, a reservoir chamber to store a portion of liquid in the tank, and a flow path to store another portion of the liquid in the tank, is provided. The flow path connects the reservoir chamber and the hole. The flow path has a first funnel section to reduce a cross-sectional area of a part of the flow path. The first funnel section is located at a position equal to or higher than a surface of a predetermined maximum amount of the liquid storable in the tank in a usable posture. The first funnel section creates a meniscus with the liquid stored in the tank in an X1-rotated posture, in which the tank is rotated about a first axis by a first angle from the usable posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Taichi Shirono, Fumio Nakazawa, Sosuke Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 11872820
    Abstract: A liquid leakage detection device includes a first absorption layer, a second absorption layer, and a pair of terminals. The first absorption layer absorbs liquid. The second absorption layer is stacked on the first absorption layer, and absorbs the liquid. The pair of terminals are in contact only with the second absorption layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masanobu Maeshima, Yasuyuki Fukunaga, Kuniaki Araishi, Noriaki Furukawa, Haruki Sayama
  • Patent number: 11872821
    Abstract: A printable liquid supply cartridge includes a printable liquid reservoir extending between a first side and a second side, and between a front end and a rear end. The front end includes a printable liquid outlet to receive a first fluid pen and a gas inlet, above the printable liquid outlet, to receive a second fluid pen. The front end also includes an interface support at the first side, the support having an I2C data interface that includes electrical connection pads exposed on an interior side of the support to face from the first side towards the second side, the electrical connection pads being arranged vertically and to make contact with the printer data interface at least partially inserted into the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Studer, David Olsen
  • Patent number: 11865844
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a housing, a circuit board including an electrode, and a liquid supply portion extending from the housing in a depth direction. The housing includes a top wall, and first and second protrusions protruding upward from the top wall. The first protrusion is positioned rearward but the second protrusion is positioned frontward relative to the circuit board. The first protrusion is higher than an upper edge of a front end of the second protrusion. No part of the liquid cartridge is positioned higher than an imaginary plane in a height direction in a region between a first point on the first protrusion and a second point on the second protrusion (the upper edge of the front end of the second protrusion) in the depth direction. The imaginary plane passes through the first and second points, and extends perpendicularly to the depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinari Ishibe
  • Patent number: 11845287
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge capable of being attached to or detached from a predetermined apparatus includes: a container which stores a liquid; a supply port which supplies the predetermined apparatus with the liquid stored in the container; an air communication hole which allows the container to communicate with the atmosphere; and a valve mechanism capable of switching between opening and blocking of the air communication hole. The valve mechanism includes a valve element which can be brought into intimate contact with the air communication hole to block the air communication hole, and a lever which moves, while rotating, between a first position in which the valve element is brought into intimate contact with the air communication hole and a second position in which the valve element is separated from the air communication hole in response to attaching/detaching of the liquid cartridge to/from the predetermined apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsunori Oya
  • Patent number: 11845282
    Abstract: A liquid accommodating body is detachably mounted on a mounting portion having a waste liquid flow-out portion for discharging a waste liquid, and a liquid flow-in portion. The liquid accommodating body includes a waste liquid flow-in portion that is coupled to the waste liquid flow-out portion when the liquid accommodating body is mounted on the mounting portion, and a waste liquid accommodating portion configured to accommodate the waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid flow-out portion. Further, the liquid accommodating body includes a liquid flow-out portion that is coupled to the liquid flow-in portion when the liquid accommodating body is mounted on the mounting portion, and an adjusting water accommodating portion configured to accommodate adjusting water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuta Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11840091
    Abstract: In one embodiment a sub-assembly of components is provided to assemble a print liquid supply container, the set including a reservoir and a support structure to form a print liquid supply container, the container having a first, second and third dimensions, the support structure to at least partially surround and support the reservoir and to provide stiffness to the container, at least in a folded and mounted condition, the reservoir including a bag to hold the print liquid, being at least partially flexible to collapse for print liquid to be withdrawn from the reservoir, the bag being configured to inhibit fluid exchange, and a neck that is relatively narrow with respect to the bag in a filled state, with an opening to output print liquid from the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Judson M. Leiser, Miquel Boleda Busquets, Bernd Karlsboeck, David Olsen, Michael E. Peterschmidt
  • Patent number: 11833835
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium in a first direction toward a recording head for ejecting a liquid, a tank including a containing chamber containing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head, and an injection port through which the liquid is injected into the containing chamber, the tank being disposed downstream of the conveyance unit in the first direction, a rotatable lever that holds a tank cap for closing the injection port, and a cover that rotates about a rotation shaft between an open position for exposing the lever and a closed position for covering the lever, the rotation shaft being disposed upstream of the conveyance unit in the first direction. The cover includes a sliding portion that is provided on a surface facing the lever and comes into contact with the lever while the cover is rotating toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taiji Maruyama, Koya Iwakura, Hideaki Matsumura, Tetsu Hamano, Nobuhiro Toki, Daiju Takeda, Fumie Kameyama, Koki Shimada, Shota Asada, Ken Takenaga, Yusuke Tanaka, Yuta Araki, Atsushi Matsuyama, Yusuke Naratani, Kousuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11827027
    Abstract: A remanufactured ink cartridge and a method thereof are provided in the present disclosure. The remanufactured ink cartridge is suitable for an inkjet printer with an ink-suctioning needle and a limiting protrusion which are configured to be adjacent with each other; an original ink cartridge includes a case and an ink discharge part; a cavity for storing the ink is formed in the case; the cavity is separated by a separation plate into a first cavity and a second cavity which are connected to each other through a channel. The remanufacturing method includes forming a limiting groove facing the cavity on the case and adjacent to the ink discharge part, wherein the limiting groove is connected to the second cavity, configured to allow the limiting protrusion to enter the second cavity; and blocking the channel to cut off a fluid connection between the first cavity and the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: E-JET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shengkui Zhao, Dongming Lin
  • Patent number: 11806734
    Abstract: An example of a device (100) may include a valve body (108); a printing substance dispensing nozzle (110) rotatable within the valve body (108) between a sealed orientation and a dispensing orientation; and a locking rod extending through a locking rod window (146) in the valve body (108) and into a locking rod channel (144) in the printing substance dispensing nozzle (110), wherein the locking rod is movable within the locking rod window (146) between a first position, fixing the printing substance dispensing nozzle (110) in the sealed orientation, and a second position allowing rotation of the printing substance dispensing nozzle (110) to the dispensing orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mathew Lavigne, Jeffrey H. Luke
  • Patent number: 11807016
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a print liquid supply is described. The print liquid supply includes a reservoir for holding a supply of print liquid. The reservoir includes a pliable body having a front face and a back face. The print liquid supply also includes a spout affixed to the reservoir. The spout is located at a corner of the front face offset from a centerline of the front face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Judson M. Leiser, Michael E. Peterschmidt, Peter R. Stokes
  • Patent number: 11807014
    Abstract: A valve assembly and an ink cartridge with the valve assembly are provided. The valve assembly includes a valve cover, a valve base, a diaphragm and a transfer column. The valve cover is disposed on the valve base to define a valve cavity, and the diaphragm is disposed between the valve cover and the valve base and configured for separating the valve cavity into a first deformable cavity and a second deformable cavity independent with each other. The transfer column is fixed in the valve cavity and penetrates through the diaphragm, and at least one of the transfer column and the diaphragm is provided with a passage. The diaphragm moves relative to the transfer column due to a pressure difference between the first deformable cavity and the second deformable cavity, resulting in opening or cutting off communication between the first deformable cavity and the second deformable cavity by the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: HANGZHOU CHIPJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhiping Wang
  • Patent number: 11811988
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes, in a body having a predetermined house, an image-reading unit and an image-forming unit that is configured to form an image read by the image-reading unit. A discharge portion is configured to discharge a sheet on which the image was formed onto a discharge tray. An intra-apparatus-discharge space is formed in the body between the image-reading unit and the image-forming unit. The housing includes therein a consumption article mounting portion in which a consumption article used by the image-forming unit is mounted. At least a portion of a surface of the housing at a region of the consumption article mounting portion has a light-transmissive property. When the consumption article is consumed and needs to be replenished, the operator can visually check the region of the consumption article mounting portion in the housing from the outside of the body through the transparent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tanaka, Tomoyuki Higuchi, Kenji Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 11793365
    Abstract: Dispensers of the present technology are configured to receive a replaceable refill cartridge, and may include a back housing, a front cover, a control unit, a refill housing configured to receive a refill cartridge, and a switch board positioned between the refill housing and the back housing. Dispensers may also include at least one refill guide removably connected to the refill housing. The switch board may include at least one switch operatively connected to the control unit. The at least one switch may be a refill recognition switch configured to send at least a refill recognition signal to the control unit indicating that a refill cartridge is present in the refill housing, or a refill size switch configured to send a refill size signal to the control unit indicating a size of the refill cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Xela Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Todd J. Muderlak
  • Patent number: 11794481
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head configured to discharge ink and an ink tank including a plurality of ink storage portions in which the ink is stored to supply the ink to the inkjet head via a connected tube, and replenishing ports via which the plurality of ink storage portions is replenished with ink, wherein the ink tank has an outer wall facing an outer side of the ink tank and having a thickness greater than a thickness of a partition wall arranged between the plurality of ink storage portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatomo Ojima, Hirofumi Okuhara, Tatsuo Nanjo, Chiaki Muraoka
  • Patent number: 11794482
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a carriage, a liquid container provided on the carriage and in which a liquid is to be injected, the liquid container having a liquid level check portion through which a level of the liquid in the liquid container is visually checked, a recording head disposed in the carriage, and an operation panel disposed on a front surface of the apparatus along the width direction, the operation panel and an exposure section through which the liquid level check portion is exposed are disposed such that the operation panel and the exposure section are visually checked, and the carriage is moved from a home position toward the exposure section and the operation panel and the liquid level check portion are arranged in the width direction when the apparatus side surface is viewed from the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Miyazawa, Hisayuki Akahane, Shintaro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11787191
    Abstract: A liquid container to be mounted in a liquid ejection apparatus contains liquid to be ejected from the liquid ejection apparatus. The liquid container comprises a liquid container bag containing liquid, at least one tube arranged in the inner space of the liquid container bag and having the first end open to the inner space, a connection member fitted to the aperture of the liquid container bag and connected to the second end of the tube and a holding member supported by the connection member and arranged in the inner space to hold the tube, the holding member having at least a groove for receiving the tube to be fitted thereinto at a position thereof other than the second end thereof. The holding member can integrally be molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ninagawa
  • Patent number: 11786904
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are solvent reservoir systems for steady flow delivery and simultaneous monitoring of solvent level and solvent density within the solvent reservoir systems and methods for monitoring the solvent reservoir systems and providing feedback to a user or adjusting the systems in response to the monitored characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Sean Eric Anderson
  • Patent number: 11760101
    Abstract: A liquid storage container includes: a discharge port member including a discharge port through which liquid stored in a storage portion is discharged and a coupling portion in which a male thread portion is arranged on the outside; and a cover portion including a female thread portion on the inside and configured to be attachable to the discharge port member, the female thread portion configured to be screwed to the male thread portion, in which the male thread portion is discontinuous in the coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kyosuke Nagaoka, Ryoji Inoue, Noriyasu Nagai, Kenta Udagawa, Hideaki Matsumura, Taiji Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11760085
    Abstract: An integrated circuit to drive a plurality of fluid actuation devices includes a configuration register, a plurality of interfaces, and control logic. The plurality of interfaces include a mode interface and a data interface. The control logic enables writing to the configuration register in response to a signal on the mode interface transitioning to logic high with a logic high signal on the data interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott A. Linn, James Michael Gardner, Michael W. Cumbie
  • Patent number: 11754775
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes first and second light emitting elements; and a light guiding member including first and second light receiving portion corresponding to the first and second light emitting elements and configured to emit the light received by the first and second light receiving portions from a light emitting portion via a light guiding portion. The light guiding portion includes a reflecting surface forming portion between the first light receiving portion and the second light receiving portion in the first direction. The reflecting surface forming portion includes first and second reflecting surfaces. The first reflecting surface is formed by surfaces having different angles including a surface that reflects the light from the first light receiving portion to a side of the first light receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuto Ishihara, Yasuhito Tsubakimoto, Gakushi Tanaka, Akira Nakashima
  • Patent number: 11731798
    Abstract: A fluid cartridge and a method for eliminating mechanical stresses on an ejection head chip. The fluid cartridge includes a plastic fluid body having a front wall, a rear wall opposite the front wall, left and right side walls attached to the front wall and to the rear wall, a bottom wall attached to the front wall and the rear wall, and to the left and right side walls. A die bond member is attached to the plastic fluid body adjacent to the bottom wall and an ejection head chip is disposed on the die bond member so that the die bond member is between the bottom wall and the ejection head chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: George Allan Ping
  • Patent number: 11707933
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a cartridge installing unit for detachably installing a plurality of ink cartridges. The cartridge installing unit includes: a base having a placing surface and aligning the plurality of ink cartridges in a first direction on the placing surface; a moving force applying unit moving an ink cartridge of the plurality of ink cartridges from an installation position to a removal position separated from the installation position in a movement direction including a component of the first direction; and a regulating unit regulating the movement of the ink cartridge from the installation position to the removal position. The moving force applying unit moves the ink cartridge from the installation position to the removal position in a case that the ink cartridge is released from the regulation by the regulating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyase, Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11701890
    Abstract: A liquid storage container includes: a discharge port member including a discharge port through which liquid stored in a storage portion is discharged; a cover portion configured to be attachable to the discharge port member and to be capable of opening and closing the discharge port; and a sealing portion formed of a contact portion between the cover portion and the discharge port member. The cover portion includes a groove structure between an outer periphery of the cover portion and the sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyasu Nagai, Ryoji Inoue, Kyosuke Nagaoka, Takayuki Tanno, Kenta Udagawa
  • Patent number: 11701888
    Abstract: A container for liquid replenishment for replenishing liquid in a liquid ejection apparatus comprises a container body capable of containing the liquid, a spout fitted to the container body and having a front end section including a front end surface and a liquid outlet for allowing the liquid to flow out therefrom, a lid member removably attached to the spout to cover the spout and a liquid absorber arranged on the spout. The liquid outlet is open in the front end surface of the spout and the liquid absorber is arranged at least on an area of the front end surface not occupied by the liquid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masataka Nagai
  • Patent number: 11691426
    Abstract: Management system for the ink in a printing machine, comprising: one or more tanks (2), each of which is equipped with hydraulic connections (21) for quick coupling and an inner layer of insulation; a docking station (3), arranged to be placed in a printing machine, which comprises hydraulic connections (31) for quick coupling, intended to be connected to the hydraulic connections (21) of one or more tanks (2); motor means (4), associated with the docking station (3) and arranged to transfer a tank (2) between a standby position and an operating position within the docking station, and to produce the coupling of the hydraulic connections (21,31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: SYSTEM CERAMICS S.P.A.
    Inventor: Franco Stefani
  • Patent number: 11685162
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Akihito Ono, Mikio Hirano, Suguru Tomoguchi, Yutao Wang, Tomohiro Kanbe
  • Patent number: 11685166
    Abstract: A liquid residual-amount detecting device includes an optical sensor having a pair of a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion; and a plurality of liquid cartridges, each having a containing portion, a float disposed in the containing portion, and a light shielding portion displaced on a path that crosses an optical path of detection light in synchronization with displacement of the float, wherein the light shielding portions each having a size such that a light amount of the detection light, which the light receiving portion receives, cannot be made smaller than a predetermined light amount by alone; and wherein when the float is at a highest position, they are disposed to be aligned in a direction crossing the optical path so as to shield the optical path, and the light amount, which the light receiving portion receives, is made smaller than the predetermined light amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junji Terada
  • Patent number: 11679595
    Abstract: There is provided a technology which can improve the mounting posture of a liquid ejection apparatus when mounted to a liquid container. The liquid container is flexible and includes a storage portion configured to store the liquid and a connection member. The connection member is provided with a liquid outlet which is inserted with a liquid introduction portion, a container-side electrical connector which makes electrical contact with an apparatus-side electrical connection unit while receive at least +Z direction force from the apparatus-side electrical connection unit, a first receiver configured to receive a first positioning portion, a second receiver configured to receive a second positioning portion, and a recess which houses a protrusion of the case. The recess and the container-side electrical connector are formed at positions which at least partially overlap each other when viewed from a Z direction in a mounting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawate, Akihiro Toya, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Mikinori Sawai
  • Patent number: 11679593
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a first connecting unit which is connectable to a first supply portion to supply a first-color ink into a recording head to eject the first-color ink, and a first prevention unit which prevents the first-color ink through a first supply path from being discharged from a second connecting portion, the second connecting portion being not connected to the recording head. The recording head includes the first supply portion without a portion to supply a second-color ink into the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Takenaga
  • Patent number: 11679596
    Abstract: A recording apparatus including a recording unit that performs recording by discharging a liquid on a medium transported in a transport direction, a liquid storage portion that is disposed on an apparatus front side in an apparatus depth direction and that includes a liquid container that contains the liquid discharged from the recording unit, and a maintenance unit that performs maintenance on the recording unit. In the recording apparatus, the maintenance unit is provided in an end portion area on a first direction side in a width direction, the width direction being a direction intersecting the depth direction, and the liquid storage portion is provided in an end portion area on a second direction side, the second direction side being a side opposite the first direction side in the width direction, the liquid storage portion extending in the depth direction to an occupying area of the maintenance unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Komuro, Nobuhiko Shinozaki, Yuta Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11673405
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an ink tank and a flow channel member. The tank includes an ink chamber that stores ink, an injection port through which the ink is injected into the chamber, and a first shape portion formed near the injection port. The flow channel member is configured to be disposed inside the injection port and form a channel through which the ink is injected into the chamber. The ink is injected to the chamber from an ink supply container which includes a second shape portion formed near an outlet port of the container and configured to engage the first shape portion. The flow channel member is displaceable in a direction intersecting an inserting direction of inserting the outlet port into the injection port. The container is fixed to the tank by engagement between the first and second shape portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taiji Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11667124
    Abstract: A print liquid supply apparatus or interface structure to be connected to a print system comprises a liquid channel, liquid interface and integrated circuit contact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Judson M. Leiser, Miquel Boleda Busquets, Bernd Karlsboeck, David Olsen, Michael E. Peterschmidt, Lynn A. Collie, Paul Allan Osborne, Wesley R. Schalk, Ronald J. Ender, Paul Mark Haines, Roger J. Kolodziej, Steve A. O'Hara
  • Patent number: 11667125
    Abstract: A print liquid supply interface structure is provided, to fluidically connect a fluid supply container to a receiving station, comprising a liquid channel having at least one liquid channel wall, the liquid channel including a liquid interface, and at least one key pen next and parallel to the needle receiving portion of the liquid channel. In another example a key pen structure is provided. In yet another example an interface structure for receiving a separate key pen is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Judson M. Leiser, Miquel Boleda Busquets, Bernd Karlsboeck, David Olsen, Michael E. Peterschmidt
  • Patent number: 11660873
    Abstract: A technique with which deterioration in a function of detecting the remaining amount of liquid can be prevented even in a case where the liquid is thickened or solidified is to be provided. A liquid ejection apparatus is provided with a liquid ejection head configured to eject supplied liquid, a storage unit configured to store the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, a pivot member configured to be immersed in the liquid stored in the storage unit and be revolvable according to the amount of the liquid, and a detection unit configured to detect the amount of the liquid by use of the pivot member, and the liquid ejection apparatus includes a pivot unit configured to force the pivot member to pivotally move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Koshikawa, Hiroki Hayashi, Hiroshi Yamada, Yasunori Takei
  • Patent number: 11654686
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a pack main body and a covering body. The covering body covers a part of the pack main body and is more hardly deformable than the pack main body. The pack main body includes a trunk part, a pair of sealing parts and a spout. The trunk part is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape in a state where the ink is stored. The pair of sealing parts seal both ends of the trunk part. At least one of the sealing parts is formed into a gabled roof shape having a pair of flat portions facing each other in the thickness direction and a pair of gable portions facing each other in a width direction. The covering body includes a pair of covering flat plates covering at least a part of the pair of flat portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yuzo Onishi, Masanobu Maeshima, Masahiro Kashimoto
  • Patent number: 11658916
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method of integrating an on-demand compute environment into a local compute environment. The method includes receiving a request from an administrator to integrate an on-demand compute environment into a local compute environment and, in response to the request, automatically integrating local compute environment information with on-demand compute environment information to make available resources from the on-demand compute environment to requesters of resources in the local compute environment such that policies of the local environment are maintained for workload that consumes on-demand compute resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: III Holdings 12, LLC
    Inventor: David B. Jackson
  • Patent number: 11639059
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Fumio Nakazawa, Naoya Okazaki, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroshi Taira, Toyonori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11628673
    Abstract: Provided is a storage device including a container that includes an accommodation chamber accommodating fluid or powder, a flexible film that is bonded to the container and covers an opening portion of the accommodation chamber, and a tank holder to which the container having the film bonded thereto is fixed by a screw, in which the screw penetrates the film and fixes the container to the tank holder, and a part of a bonded portion between the film and the container surrounds a portion of the film through which the screw penetrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Yabe
  • Patent number: 11623451
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid storage container that allows for a simplified structure and a reduction in the size and the cost of a printing apparatus. To this end, the liquid storage container includes: two liquid chambers partitioned from each other; a flow path through which liquid can move between the liquid chambers; a valve configured to open and close the flow path; a refilling port that is configured to be opened and closed and through which a liquid chamber can be refilled with the liquid; and a pressure adjustment mechanism that is provided in a liquid chamber configured not to be refilled with the liquid through the refilling port and that adjusts a pressure in the printing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taketsugu Murakami, Junichiro Iri, Hiroyuki Murayama, Satoru Takahashi, Yusuke Hashimoto, Hiroaki Kusano
  • Patent number: 11613138
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a tank configured to contain ink; a print head configured to eject ink supplied from the tank; a supply flow path through which liquid is supplied from the tank to the print head; a collection flow path through which liquid is collected from the print head to the tank; a circulation unit configured to circulate ink inside a circulation flow path including the tank, the supply flow path, the print head, and the collection flow path; and a cooling unit configured to cool the tank by blowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Kida, Hideaki Nagahara, Hiroyuki Saito, Takao Kawai, Nanae Uchinuno, Toshimitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11607887
    Abstract: A ROM unit mounted to a bottle has a plurality of terminal plates on the front end surface of the ROM unit. The ROM unit is movable in a direction orthogonal to a bottle axis Ax, and can be positioned at a retreat position where an interference with a contamination preventing eaves is avoided, and a contact position projected more front than the retreat position. The terminal plates can be electrically contacted with reservoir terminals when positioning at the contact position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyauchi, Mamoru Idaka
  • Patent number: 11597210
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a valve unit configured to be movable to a position to close the atmosphere communication hole and a position to open the atmosphere communication hole; and a lever configured to fix the valve unit to the position to close the atmosphere communication hole by pressing the valve unit and configured to be capable of moving the valve unit to the position to open the atmosphere communication hole by removing the pressing against the valve unit, wherein the lever is configured to remove the pressing against the valve unit by moving in a direction intersecting a direction in which the valve unit moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Kishikawa, Keisuke Kouno, Hiroki Hayashi, Tatsuo Nanjo
  • Patent number: 11590758
    Abstract: A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a prescribed insertion space of a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction to be attached thereto in an attached posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes: a housing including a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply hole, an electrical interface disposed at an upper surface of the housing, and an interfering surface. The interfering surface is positioned upward of the storage chamber and extends in a widthwise direction of the housing. The interfering surface is positioned downward and frontward relative to the electrical interface and is configured to abut against a projection provided at another insertion space different from the prescribed insertion space of the cartridge-attachment section during an insertion of the printing-fluid cartridge into the another insertion space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Fumio Nakazawa, Suguru Tomoguchi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Akihito Ono, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Takahiro Miyao