Patents by Inventor Hitotoshi Kimura

Hitotoshi Kimura 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: 20200230961
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a carriage that mounts a liquid ejecting head provided with a nozzle surface in which nozzles to eject a liquid are formed, and is configured to move the liquid ejecting head between an ejection area used to cause the liquid ejecting head to eject the liquid onto a medium and a maintenance area used to perform maintenance of the liquid ejecting head, and a liquid receiving portion that has a size equal to or larger than the nozzle surface, is opposed to the nozzle surface located at a detachment position defined in the maintenance area, and receives the liquid discharged from the nozzles when detaching a liquid supply coupling portion detachably coupled to the liquid ejecting head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Atsushi YOSHIDA, Kiyoteru KATSUKI, Junya SUZUKI, Hitotoshi KIMURA
  • Patent number: 10639897
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit, a carriage, an optical machine, a liquid receiving unit, and a suction mechanism. The liquid ejecting unit is designed to form an image by ejecting a droplet from a nozzle formed in a nozzle forming surface to a medium. The carriage holds the liquid ejecting unit. The optical machine is held by the carriage. The liquid receiving unit is designed to receive a liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting unit in a discharge operation for maintenance of the liquid ejecting unit. The suction mechanism has a surface provided with a suction opening that allows ambient air on a liquid ejecting unit side to be sucked therefrom during the discharge operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsuoka, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10639899
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a medium support portion that has a medium support surface for supporting a medium, a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid onto the medium supported on the medium support surface through a plurality of nozzles arranged in a nozzle surface, a first cleaning member that wipes the nozzle surface by moving relative to the liquid ejecting unit in a direction along the nozzle surface in a first maintenance operation of discharging the liquid through the nozzles for maintenance of the liquid ejecting unit, and a second cleaning member that removes foreign matters which have adhered to the nozzle surface by moving relative to the liquid ejecting unit in the direction along the nozzle surface in a second maintenance operation of removing the foreign matters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shimazaki, Shigenori Nakagawa, Yoichi Kurogochi, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20200079093
    Abstract: A liquid reservoir unit includes a reservoir portion, an outflow portion disposed at a position near a first end of the reservoir portion, and an inflow portion disposed at a position near the first end of the reservoir portion. The outflow portion includes an outflow opening opened to an interior of the reservoir portion, and the inflow portion includes an inflow opening opened to the interior of the reservoir portion. The outflow opening and the inflow opening are located at different positions in a width direction which is a lengthwise direction of the reservoir portion when the reservoir portion is viewed from the first end, and also located at different positions in a depth direction from the first end toward a second end on the opposite side to the first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Hisashi SATO, Kazuyuki FUJIOKA, Yuichi URABE, Hitotoshi KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20200016893
    Abstract: A droplet discharging apparatus includes: a droplet discharger including a pressure chamber, an actuator and a nozzle provided corresponding to the pressure chamber, and a discharge flow path coupled to the pressure chamber, the droplet discharger performing a recording process by discharging liquid in the pressure chamber from the nozzle in the form of droplets; and a return flow path coupled to the discharge flow path and forming a circulation path. The droplet discharging apparatus performs as a maintenance operation for the droplet discharger, a first discharge operation of causing the liquid in the pressure chamber to be discharged toward the return flow path via the discharge flow path when no droplets are discharged from the nozzle during the recording process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Atsushi ONO, Hitotoshi KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20200009871
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejector that ejects a liquid from a nozzle, a wiping mechanism that wipes a nozzle surface on which a plurality of nozzles is disposed with a wiping member, and a wiping-liquid supply mechanism that supplies a wiping liquid to the wiping member. The liquid ejecting apparatus is configured to perform wet-wiping of wiping the nozzle surface in a state where the wiping member has absorbed the wiping liquid and is configured to change a supply amount of the wiping liquid when the wiping member wipes the nozzle surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsuoka, Chikashi Nakamura, Shunsuke Kuramata, Shuhei Harada, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10457061
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid inflow unit provided in the liquid supply path which supplies a liquid to a liquid ejecting unit and into which the liquid flows, a liquid accommodation unit having a diaphragm section, a communication path through which the liquid inflow part and the liquid accommodation part communicate, and a pressure-regulating mechanism having an on-off valve which opens and closes the communication path in response to displacement of the diaphragm portion, and a pressing mechanism which puts the on-off valve in an open state regardless of the pressure in the liquid inflow unit by pressing the diaphragm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Sato, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20190275799
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a medium support portion that has a medium support surface for supporting a medium, a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid onto the medium supported on the medium support surface through a plurality of nozzles arranged in a nozzle surface, a first cleaning member that wipes the nozzle surface by moving relative to the liquid ejecting unit in a direction along the nozzle surface in a first maintenance operation of discharging the liquid through the nozzles for maintenance of the liquid ejecting unit, and a second cleaning member that removes foreign matters which have adhered to the nozzle surface by moving relative to the liquid ejecting unit in the direction along the nozzle surface in a second maintenance operation of removing the foreign matters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Jun SHIMAZAKI, Shigenori NAKAGAWA, Yoichi KUROGOCHI, Hitotoshi KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20190270311
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle forming portion in which a nozzle that ejects a liquid to a medium is formed, a shutter that has an opening portion exposing the nozzle and that is movable between a cover position in which a recessed portion including the nozzle is covered and an exposure position in which the nozzle is exposed, and a first communication portion that communicates with an inside of the recessed portion and that is capable of supplying a fluid into the recessed portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Chikashi NAKAMURA, Hitotoshi KIMURA
  • Patent number: 10399342
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle forming portion in which a nozzle that ejects a liquid to a medium is formed, a shutter that has an opening portion exposing the nozzle and that is movable between a cover position in which a recessed portion including the nozzle is covered and an exposure position in which the nozzle is exposed, and a first communication portion that communicates with an inside of the recessed portion and that is capable of supplying a fluid into the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Chikashi Nakamura, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20190248144
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head configured to eject a liquid onto a medium; a maintenance unit that performs a maintenance operation for the liquid ejecting head; a mounting mechanism in which is mounted a waste liquid container that houses a portion of the liquid discharged as a waste liquid from the liquid ejecting head; and an access area that is provided vertically below a transport path along which the medium is transported and that is accessible from an apparatus front side, which is a downstream side in a transport direction in which the medium is transported, the mounting mechanism including a housing portion that houses the waste liquid container and being disposed so that a mounting port for mounting the waste liquid container in the housing portion opens to the access area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Hiromichi NAKASHIMA, Hitotoshi KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20190248142
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a transport belt that transports a medium in a transport direction in a state in which the medium is supported on a medium supporting surface, a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid from a plurality of nozzles formed on a nozzle surface with respect to the medium supported on the medium supporting surface of the transport belt, and a controller that performs a flushing operation of ejecting the liquid from the nozzles as a maintenance operation for the liquid ejecting head, on a flushing area on the medium supporting surface adjacent to the medium with an interval therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Shigenori NAKAGAWA, Hitotoshi KIMURA, Junpei YAMASHITA, Kazuyoshi MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20190224975
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion provided with a liquid ejecting head and configured to move the liquid ejecting head in a head moving area in a scanning direction, and the head moving area includes a landing area in which the liquid is ejected from the nozzle and landed onto a medium that is placed in a placement portion, an receiving area in which a liquid receiving portion is provided, and a maintenance area in which a maintenance cap is provided, and the receiving area is disposed at a position farther from the landing area than from the maintenance area in the scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ITO, Hitotoshi KIMURA, Atsushi ONO
  • Patent number: 10336076
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that can eject a first liquid and a second liquid to a medium, a first rotating body having a circumferential surface that can receive the first liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting unit, a first sliding contact member that can be slidably in contact with the circumferential surface of the first rotating body, a first collection unit that collects the first liquid that is collected from the circumferential surface by the first sliding contact member, a second rotating body having a circumferential surface that can receive the second liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting unit, a second sliding contact member that can be slidably in contact with the circumferential surface of the second rotating body, and a second collection unit that collects the second liquid that is collected from the circumferential surface by the second sliding contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Seki, Hitotoshi Kimura, Takayuki Kawakami, Tatsuya Nakano
  • Publication number: 20190105905
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit, a carriage, an optical machine, a liquid receiving unit, and a suction mechanism. The liquid ejecting unit is designed to form an image by ejecting a droplet from a nozzle formed in a nozzle forming surface to a medium. The carriage holds the liquid ejecting unit. The optical machine is held by the carriage. The liquid receiving unit is designed to receive a liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting unit in a discharge operation for maintenance of the liquid ejecting unit. The suction mechanism has a surface provided with a suction opening that allows ambient air on a liquid ejecting unit side to be sucked therefrom during the discharge operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Hiroki MATSUOKA, Hitotoshi KIMURA
  • Patent number: 10232633
    Abstract: A liquid accommodation body that is removably installed in a liquid ejecting apparatus provided with a supply flow channel that supplies a liquid to a liquid ejecting portion, and a feedback flow channel that is connected to the supply flow channel so as to form a circulation flow channel, and is provided with a liquid accommodation portion that accommodates the liquid, a lead-out flow channel that connects a lead-out port, which is connected to the supply flow channel, and the feedback flow channel, an introduction flow channel that connects an introduction port, which is connected to the feedback flow channel, and the lead-out flow channel, and a filter portion that is provided in a partial circulation flow channel, which, among portions of the lead-out flow channel and the introduction flow channel, configures the circulation flow channel, and filters the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Iwamuro, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10207514
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting section that includes a nozzle that ejects a liquid; a supplying path that is capable of supplying the liquid accommodated in a liquid accommodating section to the liquid ejecting section; a pressure adjusting valve that is disposed in the supplying path, and includes a pressure chamber which is capable of storing the liquid, the pressure chamber being is provided with an outlet that draws out the stored liquid to the liquid ejecting section, and when a pressure in the internal portion of the pressure chamber decrease, the pressure adjusting valve being opened to adjust a pressure of the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting section; a discharging path that connects to a communicating port which communicates with the pressure chamber in a separate position different from a position of the outlet; and a switching valve that is provided in the discharging path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamei, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10166780
    Abstract: A liquid accommodating body includes a liquid accommodating chamber that accommodates liquid, a pouring port through which the liquid is poured into the liquid accommodating chamber, a visual recognition portion through which a surface of liquid accommodated in the liquid accommodating chamber is visually recognized and which is provided on a side wall forming the liquid accommodating chamber, a partition wall that partitions the liquid accommodating chamber into a pouring port side liquid accommodating chamber into which the liquid is poured through the pouring port and a visual recognition portion side liquid accommodating chamber including the visual recognition portion in a direction intersecting a gravity direction, and a liquid communication portion which is provided between the partition wall and a bottom wall forming the liquid accommodating chamber and through which the pouring port side liquid accommodating chamber and the visual recognition portion side liquid accommodating chamber communicate with
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Shinoda, Takeshi Iwamuro, Takanori Seki, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10144223
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid inflow unit provided in the liquid supply path which supplies a liquid to a liquid ejecting unit and into which the liquid flows, a liquid accommodation unit having a diaphragm section, a communication path through which the liquid inflow part and the liquid accommodation part communicate, and a pressure-regulating mechanism having an on-off valve which opens and closes the communication path in response to displacement of the diaphragm portion, and a pressing mechanism which puts the on-off valve in an open state regardless of the pressure in the liquid inflow unit by pressing the diaphragm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Sato, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10093100
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion which has a nozzle that ejects liquid, and a flushing receptive body which receives the liquid that is ejected in a flushing operation in which the liquid is ejected from the nozzle, the flushing receptive body including a receiving member that is able to receive the liquid, a receiving member holding portion which holds the receiving member, and a fixing member with conductivity that fixes the receiving member to the receiving member holding portion by contacting the receiving member and has a mesh form portion that forms an adhesion surface to which the ejected liquid is adhered with the receiving member in the flushing operation, in which the fixing member is electrically grounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Harada, Shigeki Suzuki, Kinya Ozawa, Hitotoshi Kimura