Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Brother Industries, Ltd.

Tetsuro Kobayashi

Hiroaki Takahashi

Kosuke Nukui

Akihito Ono

Takahiro Miyao

Naoya Okazaki

Fumio Nakazawa

Suguru Tomoguchi

Tomohiro Kanbe

Mikio Hirano

Shuichi Tamaki

Yutao Wang

Toyonori Sasaki

Hiroshi Taira

Yutaka Takagiwa

Yuki Takagi

Mitsuharu Hattori

Takajiro Miyao

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.

Liquid cartridge

A platen conveyance device includes a first conveyance path, a platen supporter, a second conveyance path, and a positioner. The first conveyance path is configured to convey a platen to a pretreatment device. The platen supporter is configured to support the platen conveyed by the first conveyance path. The second conveyance path is provided with the platen supporter. The second conveyance path is configured to convey the platen supporter to a printer. The positioner is configured to position the platen supported by the platen supporter at a prescribed printing position in a first direction in a horizontal direction.

Platen conveyance device

A platen conveyance device includes a first conveyance path, a platen supporter, a second conveyance path, and a positioner. The first conveyance path is configured to convey a platen to a pretreatment device. The platen supporter is configured to support the platen conveyed by the first conveyance path. The second conveyance path is provided with the platen supporter. The second conveyance path is configured to convey the platen supporter to a printer. The positioner is configured to position the platen supported by the platen supporter at a prescribed printing position in a horizontal direction.

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.

Liquid cartridge capable of reducing leakage of liquid from liquid storage chamber

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.

Liquid cartridge having pivotable lever provided with light-blocking portion

A printer is provided with a platen support member, a platen, and a positioning portion. The platen support member supports the platen. The platen includes a rear engaging portion. The positioning portion includes a rear roller. The rear roller is provided at the platen support member, and can move in the front-rear direction with respect to the platen support member. The rear roller engages with the rear engaging portion in a state in which the platen is supported by the platen support member. The positioning portion positions the platen at a prescribed printing position in the front-rear direction, by the rear roller moving forward in a state in which the rear engaging portion is engaged with the rear roller.

Printer having a mechanism for positioning a platen

A processor of a printer conveys a platen relative to a head in a conveyance direction, toward a printing position. The printing position is a position at which a nozzle surface of the head faces the platen in a discharge direction. The printer is provided with a first sensor. The first sensor detects a print medium positioned at a first detection position. The first detection position is a position separated from the nozzle surface in the discharge direction. When the print medium is detected by the first sensor after a start of conveyance of the platen, the processor moves the platen relative to the nozzle surface and separates the platen from the nozzle surface in the discharge direction. After that, the processor conveys the platen relative to the head in the conveyance direction, toward the printing position.

Printer, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions

Textile printing machine

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.

Printing-fluid cartridge having interfering surface, and set of the printing-fluid cartridges

A liquid cartridge is insertable into an attachment portion of a printing device in an insertion direction and attached thereto in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes: a housing defining a liquid chamber; a substrate; a contact; and a memory electrically connected to the contact. The substrate in the upright posture defines a sloped surface facing upward and sloping relative to a first imaginary plane extending in the insertion direction and a widthwise direction orthogonal to the insertion direction and a gravitational direction. The contact is formed on the sloped surface. An acute angle formed between the sloped surface and the first imaginary plane is greater than an acute angle formed between the first imaginary plane and a second imaginary plane passing through: a contact point between the contact and a contact of the device; and a lower end of a wall constituting a holder of the attachment portion.

Liquid cartridge including substrate having sloped surface

A liquid cartridge includes: a housing having a storage chamber; a liquid passage in communication with the storage chamber; a circuit board; a deformable member; and a movable surface. The liquid passage extends in a first lateral direction from the housing when the housing is in an operational posture. The circuit board is positioned higher than the storage chamber in a vertical direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction and vertically movable relative to the housing. The deformable member is positioned higher than the storage chamber and is lower than the circuit board. The deformable member is deformable vertically relative to the housing. The circuit board is movable vertically in accordance with deformation of the deformable member. The movable surface is positioned further in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction than the circuit board. The movable surface faces upward and is vertically movable relative to the housing.

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Tetsuro Kobayashi