Patents by Inventor Eiji Okamoto

Eiji Okamoto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180071959
    Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a modeling portion that models a three-dimensional object by laminating material layers formed by a material having a fluid property, and executes a first modeling process that forms concave portions, which are adjacent to two or more convex portions and are recessed in comparison with the convex portions in a lamination direction in which material layers are laminated, as a result of forming a plurality of convex portions that project in the lamination direction, a second modeling process that laminates a material layer on the convex portions, and forms a material layer, which is spatially separated from the material layer laminated on the convex portions, inside the concave portions, and a third modeling process that fills the concave portions with a material layer by disposing the material on the material layer inside the concave portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Masaya ISHIDA, Eiji OKAMOTO, Akihiko TSUNOYA
  • Publication number: 20180029125
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article shaping stage, which is used in a three-dimensional shaped article production apparatus for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers to form a stacked body, has a forming surface on which the stacked body is to be formed, and is formed into a porous structure using a high-melting point material having a higher melting point than a constituent material of the three-dimensional shaped article, is used. By using such a shaping stage, it becomes possible to suppress deformation of the stacked body of the three-dimensional shaped article formed by stacking layers on the shaping stage accompanying degreasing or sintering of the stacked body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Eiji OKAMOTO, Akihiko TSUNOYA, Masaya ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20180029124
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article shaping stage, which is used in a three-dimensional shaped article production apparatus for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers to form a stacked body, is attachable to and detachable from the production apparatus, has a forming surface on which the stacked body is to be formed, and in which an organic film having a lower melting point than a constituent material is formed on the forming surface, is used. By using such a shaping stage, it becomes possible to easily separate the stacked body of the three-dimensional shaped article formed by stacking layers on the shaping stage from the shaping stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Eiji OKAMOTO, Masaya ISHIDA, Akihiko TSUNOYA
  • Patent number: 9827715
    Abstract: A three-dimensional formation apparatus includes a head unit which can discharge liquid in a first direction and a control unit which controls the head unit. The control unit forms a cross section object by discharging the liquid containing a second quantity which is smaller than the first quantity to a changed portion where an outline of the cross section object is simultaneously changed in the second direction and the third direction, in the first cross section object formation process, and executes a filling process of discharging the liquid containing a third quantity which exceeds the first quantity when the third quantity is added to the second quantity to a portion to which the liquid containing the second quantity is discharged, after the first cross section object formation process is executed and before the second cross section object formation process is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20170314700
    Abstract: A solenoid valve unit has a breathing hole extending in a radial direction through a sleeve on a side of a solenoid portion and bringing a space, which is formed between an armature and a spool when the armature is at least in a predetermined region, into communication with the outside, a first opening facing a side of a valve portion and opening to the outside, a second opening opening to the outside, and a breathing channel in a solenoid case, the breathing channel communicating at an end thereof with the first opening and communicating at an opposite end thereof with the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Iwanaga, Eiji Okamoto, Yoshinari Kasagi
  • Patent number: 9802362
    Abstract: A three-dimensional formation apparatus includes a head-unit which can discharge liquid in a first-direction and a control-unit which controls the head-unit. The control-unit forms a hollow on a changed portion where an outline of a cross section object is simultaneously changed in a second-direction and a third-direction towards the inside from the outline of the cross section object in the second-direction or the third-direction, in a first cross section object formation process and executes a filling process of discharging the liquid containing a second quantity which is larger than a first quantity to the hollow so as to come in contact with the cross section object formed in the first cross section object formation process, to fill at least a part of the hollow with the liquid, after the first cross section object formation process is executed and before the second cross section object formation process is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20170292632
    Abstract: A valve sleeve 210 includes an input port P10, an output port P21 connected to a channel for output T2, a discharge port P30 and a lead-in port P22 which is disposed to be connected to the channel for output T2. A spool 220 is provided with a second land section 224 that blocks a portion between the spool 220 and the valve sleeve 210 at a position between the output port P21 and the lead-in port P22 when the spool 220 is located in a position for connecting the channel for input T1 and the channel for output T2 and blocking a channel leading from the channel for output T2 to the channel for discharge T3, and when the spool 220 is located in a position for connecting the channel for output T2 and the channel for discharge T3 and blocking a channel leading from the channel for input T1 to the channel for output T2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji OKAMOTO, Satoshi SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20170252970
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production method is a method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers and includes a layer formation step of forming each layer in a predetermined pattern by ejecting a liquid droplet of a composition containing particles and a solvent using a dispenser, a measurement step of determining the height of the layer, and a bonding step of subjecting a stacked body including a plurality of layers to a bonding treatment for bonding the particles, wherein when n represents an arbitrary integer of 1 or more, based on the information of the height of the layer in the n-th position (n-th layer) determined in the measurement step, the number of liquid droplets of the composition per unit area to be ejected onto the n-th layer from the dispenser is adjusted in the layer formation step of forming the layer in the (n+1)th position ((n+1)th layer).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Akihiko TSUNOYA, Eiji OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170252769
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device is a fluid ejection device adapted to eject a fluent material, including a fluent material chamber supplied with the fluent material, a moving object, which can reciprocate in the fluent material chamber, a nozzle part having a discharge port communicating with the fluent material chamber, and an inner wall on a periphery of the discharge port on which a tip part of the moving object can contact from the fluent material chamber side, and an actuator having contact with a back end part of the moving object to reciprocate the moving object to thereby discharge the fluent material from the discharge port. The actuator has a plurality of solid-state displacement elements connected in series to each other, and one end of one of the plurality of solid-state displacement elements has contact with the back end part of the moving object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Keigo SUGAI, Eiji OKAMOTO, Shinichi NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170252969
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production method according to the invention includes a step of forming a layer by ejecting a composition containing particles using a dispenser, a step of determining the height of the layer, wherein a stacked body includes a layer which has a first portion corresponding to a portion to become an actual body part of the three-dimensional shaped article to be formed using an actual body part forming composition, and a second portion corresponding to a portion to become a sacrificial part to be formed using a sacrificial part forming composition, the supply amount of the sacrificial part forming composition to be ejected onto the second portion of the n-th layer in the step of forming the (n+1)th layer is adjusted based on the information of the height of the surface of the second portion of the n-th layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Akihiko TSUNOYA, Eiji OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170252977
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production method includes a layer formation step of forming a layer by ejecting a composition containing particles and a solvent in a predetermined pattern using a dispenser, a measurement step of determining the height of the layer, and a bonding step of subjecting a stacked body including a plurality of layers to a bonding treatment for bonding the particles, wherein when n represents an arbitrary integer of 1 or more, by selecting driving waveform data for the dispenser when ejecting the composition from a data group including a plurality of pieces of driving waveform data based on the information of the height of the layer in the n-th position (n-th layer) determined in the measurement step, the ejection amount of the composition per unit area onto the n-th layer in the layer formation step of forming the layer in the (n+1)th position ((n+1)th layer) is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Akihiko TSUNOYA, Eiji OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170217097
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers to form a stacked body includes a constituent layer formation step of forming a constituent layer which corresponds to a constituent region of the three-dimensional shaped article, a support layer formation step of forming a support layer which is in contact with the constituent layer and supports the constituent layer, and a sintering step of sintering the constituent layer, wherein the support layer is configured such that as compared with the volume decrement accompanying the sintering step of a space surrounded by the constituent layer from at least two directions, the volume decrement accompanying the sintering step of the support layer which supports the constituent layer in the space is larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Eiji OKAMOTO, Masaya ISHIDA, Hiroshi WADA, Toshimitsu HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20170209929
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers to form a stacked body includes a first layer formation step of forming a first layer on a support by supplying a first composition containing first particles and a binder, a second layer formation step of forming a second layer composed of one layer or a plurality of layers on the first layer by supplying a second composition containing second particles and a binder, and a separation step of separating the second layer from the support through the first layer, wherein after the separation step, a sintering step of sintering the second layer is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Masaya ISHIDA, Eiji OKAMOTO, Hiroshi WADA, Toshimitsu HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20170209931
    Abstract: A three-dimensional production method for a functional element structure body according to the invention is a three-dimensional production method for a functional element structure body, which includes an electrical functional element section having a terminal and an insulating member provided on the periphery of the functional element section in a state where at least the terminal is exposed to the outside, and includes a layer formation step of forming one layer in a layer forming region by supplying a first flowable composition containing first particles for the functional element section from a first supply section, and supplying a second flowable composition containing second particles for the insulating member from a second supply section, a shaping step of shaping the functional element structure body by repeating the layer formation step, and a solidification step of performing solidification by applying energy to the first particles and the second particles in the layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Masaya ISHIDA, Tomoyuki KAMAKURA, Eiji OKAMOTO, Takeshi MIYASHITA
  • Patent number: 9676144
    Abstract: A three-dimensional structure manufacturing apparatus, in which the three-dimensional structure is manufactured by laminating layers, includes: a base unit on which a three-dimensional structure is to be formed; a discharge unit which discharges a curable ink onto the base unit; flattening unit which flattens an ink layer composed of the curable ink discharged onto the base unit; and curing unit which cures the ink layer. Here, the ink layer is cured by the curing unit while being flattened by the flattening unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20170136693
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three-dimensionally formed object in which the three-dimensionally formed object is manufactured by laminating layers to forma laminate, includes: forming a constituent layer corresponding to a constituent region of the three-dimensionally formed object; forming a support layer which is in contact with the constituent layer and supports the constituent layer by ejecting a flowable composition including a resin from an ejecting portion in the form of liquid drops; solidifying the support layer; and heating the laminate which is formed in the formation of the constituent layer, the formation of the support layer, and the solidification of the support layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Eiji OKAMOTO, Masaya ISHIDA, Daiki TOKUSHIMA, Toshimitsu HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20170129012
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for three-dimensional structure has a layer forming step of supplying a flowable composition containing a powder and an organic material to form a unit layer, an organic material removing step of performing a treatment of removing the organic material on the unit layer, and an energy applying step of applying energy to the unit layer after the organic material removing step to form a molten layer or sintered layer, wherein the layer forming step, the organic material removing step, and the energy applying step are repeated with respect to the molten layer or sintered layer in a stacking direction as appropriate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Masaya ISHIDA, Tomoyuki KAMAKURA, Takeshi MIYASHITA, Eiji OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170120331
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a three-dimensional structure includes forming unit layers using at least one of a first flowable composition including first powder and a second flowable composition including second powder and solidifying at least one of the first flowable composition including the first powder and the second flowable composition including the second powder in the unit layers. In the forming the unit layers, both of the first flowable composition and the second flowable composition are caused to be present in plane directions crossing a thickness direction of the unit layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Masaya ISHIDA, Toshimitsu HIRAI, Eiji OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170106447
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a three-dimensional formed object for manufacturing the three-dimensional formed object by stacking layers includes supplying a first supply object including a first material to a supporting body and sintering the first material to thereby solidify the first material to form a first layer and supplying a second supply object including a second material having a melting point or a sintering temperature lower than a sintering temperature of the first material to be superimposed on the first layer and sintering or melting the second material to thereby solidify the second material to form a second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Masaya ISHIDA, Takeshi Miyashita, Eiji Okamoto, Kentaro Yamada
  • Publication number: 20170107383
    Abstract: A flowable composition set includes a flowable composition containing constituent material particles of a three-dimensionally shaped article and a flowable composition containing support section forming particles for forming a support section which supports the three-dimensionally shaped article when forming the three-dimensionally shaped article, wherein the sintering temperature of the support section forming particles is higher than the sintering temperature of the constituent material particles. According to such a flowable composition set, a post-treatment step after forming the three-dimensionally shaped article can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Eiji OKAMOTO, Masaya ISHIDA, Toshimitsu HIRAI