Patents by Inventor Toshimitsu Hirai

Toshimitsu Hirai 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).

  • Patent number: 11948727
    Abstract: An inductor component and a method for manufacturing an inductor component that enables miniaturization of the inductor component. An inductor component includes an annular core; and a coil including a plurality of pin members and wound on the core with neighboring pin members connected to each other. A first pin member and a second pin member both adjacent to each other have a welded part in which an end face of an end part of the first pin member and a peripheral surface of an end part of the second pin member are welded to each other. The welded part is not provided on an outer side edge of the second pin member as viewed from a direction orthogonal to a first plane containing a center line of the end part of the first pin member and a center line of the end part of the second pin member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Hasegawa, Tatsuya Sasaki, Shinya Hirai, Ikuno Sugiyama, Toshimitsu Tamura
  • Patent number: 11878460
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Ishida, Eiji Okamoto, Hiroshi Wada, Toshimitsu Hirai
  • Patent number: 11826826
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a shaping table, a layer forming section that forms a powder layer at the shaping table, a first head that ejects a liquid containing a binder to a shaping region from a first nozzle, a second head that ejects a liquid containing ceramic particles to a boundary region with respect to the shaping region from a second nozzle, and a control unit that controls movement of the first head and the second head with respect to the shaping table and driving of the first head and the second head by applying a voltage, wherein the control unit performs control so as to cause the first head to execute a first flushing operation and to cause the second head to execute a second flushing operation under a flushing condition different from that for the first flushing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Tsunoya, Toshimitsu Hirai, Kaoru Momose
  • Publication number: 20230297032
    Abstract: A dial decoration method of the present disclosure is a dial decoration method including a base formation step of forming a pattern shape on a base material and using the pattern shape as a base, and a printed layer formation step of forming a printed layer on a surface side of the base, and the printed layer formation step includes printing a pattern shape, to form the printed layer, by changing a density of dots of ink ejected by an inkjet method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Toshinori NAKAZAWA, Hironori HASEI, Toshimitsu HIRAI, Hirofumi KUROSAWA
  • Publication number: 20230297031
    Abstract: A timepiece component decoration method includes a base formation step of forming a pattern shape on a base material of a timepiece component and using the pattern shape as a base, a first light-transmissive layer formation step of forming, on a surface of the base, a first light-transmissive layer using a light-transmissive resin, a first liquid repellent treatment step of performing a liquid repellent treatment on a surface of the first light-transmissive layer, and a first printed layer formation step of, to form a first printed layer, ejecting ink and printing a pattern shape by an inkjet method on the surface of the first light-transmissive layer on which the liquid repellent treatment was performed, after the first liquid repellent treatment step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Toshinori NAKAZAWA, Hironori HASEI, Toshimitsu HIRAI, Hirofumi KUROSAWA
  • Patent number: 11745418
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three-dimensionally formed object includes: forming a layer using a flowable composition including constituent material particles of a three-dimensionally formed object and a flowable composition including support portion-forming particles for forming a support portion which supports the three-dimensionally formed object during the formation of the three-dimensionally formed object; and imparting energy to the constituent material particles and the support portion-forming particles, in which in the imparting of the energy, the energy is imparted such that a temperature of the constituent material particles and a temperature of the support portion-forming particles are equal to or higher than a melting point of the constituent material particles and are lower than a melting point of the support portion-forming particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Okamoto, Masaya Ishida, Toshimitsu Hirai
  • Patent number: 11738512
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production apparatus includes a shaping table, a layer forming section that forms a powder layer, a head that ejects a liquid containing a binder to a shaping region of a three-dimensional shaped article, a liquid supply system that supplies the liquid to the head, and a moving system that relatively moves the head with respect to the shaping table, wherein the head includes a nozzle that ejects the liquid, a pressure chamber that communicates with the nozzle, a supply flow channel that communicates with the pressure chamber upstream in a supply direction of the liquid, and a circulation flow channel that communicates with the pressure chamber downstream in the supply direction, the circulation flow channel includes a first filter, and a pore diameter of the first filter is larger than a particle diameter of a powder for forming the powder layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Watanabe, Toshimitsu Hirai, Akihiko Tsunoya, Kaoru Momose
  • Publication number: 20230240016
    Abstract: A method of forming a conductive pattern includes forming a conductive pattern by ejecting a liquid-state material containing conductive fine particles onto a porous base material, wherein the conductive fine particles have an average particle size of from 1 nm to 200 nm, and the porous base material is formed with a plurality of cavities and includes communication holes through which the plurality of cavities are in communication, an average diameter of the communication holes being less than or equal to the average particle size of the conductive fine particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Toshimitsu HIRAI, Hironori HASEI, Tatsuya FUJII
  • Publication number: 20230111896
    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: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Masaya ISHIDA, Eiji OKAMOTO, Hiroshi WADA, Toshimitsu HIRAI
  • Patent number: 11565314
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Ishida, Eiji Okamoto, Hiroshi Wada, Toshimitsu Hirai
  • Publication number: 20230011696
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production apparatus includes a shaping table, a layer forming section that forms a powder layer, a head that ejects a liquid containing a binder to a shaping region of a three-dimensional shaped article, a liquid supply system that supplies the liquid to the head, and a moving system that relatively moves the head with respect to the shaping table, wherein the head includes a nozzle that ejects the liquid, a pressure chamber that communicates with the nozzle, a supply flow channel that communicates with the pressure chamber upstream in a supply direction of the liquid, and a circulation flow channel that communicates with the pressure chamber downstream in the supply direction, the circulation flow channel includes a first filter, and a pore diameter of the first filter is larger than a particle diameter of a powder for forming the powder layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Manabu WATANABE, Toshimitsu HIRAI, Akihiko TSUNOYA, Kaoru MOMOSE
  • Patent number: 11485084
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production apparatus includes a shaping table, a layer forming section that forms a powder layer, a head that ejects a liquid containing a binder to a shaping region of a three-dimensional shaped article, a liquid supply system that supplies the liquid to the head, and a moving system that relatively moves the head with respect to the shaping table, wherein the head includes a nozzle that ejects the liquid, a pressure chamber that communicates with the nozzle, a supply flow channel that communicates with the pressure chamber upstream in a supply direction of the liquid, and a circulation flow channel that communicates with the pressure chamber downstream in the supply direction, the circulation flow channel includes a first filter, and a pore diameter of the first filter is larger than a particle diameter of a powder for forming the powder layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Watanabe, Toshimitsu Hirai, Akihiko Tsunoya, Kaoru Momose
  • Publication number: 20220274333
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device includes: an ejection head including a nozzle configured to eject a binder containing water, a water-soluble resin, and a wetting agent, an individual liquid chamber communicating with the nozzle, an inflow path configured to flow the binder into the individual liquid chamber, and an outflow path configured to flow the binder out of the individual liquid chamber; and a circulation flow path configured to circulate the binder flowing out of the outflow path to the inflow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Eiji Okamoto, Toshimitsu Hirai, Kaoru Momose, Takayuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11426796
    Abstract: A metal shaped article production method includes a shaping data input step, a step of forming a constituent material layer using a constituent material, a step of forming a support material layer using a support material, a step of cutting a cut face in the constituent material layer of a stacked body formed by performing the constituent material layer forming step and the support material layer forming step, a step of degreasing a thermoplastic resin contained in the stacked body for which the cut face cutting step was performed, and a step of sintering metal particles by heating the stacked body, wherein in the support material layer forming step, the support material layer is formed so that a support face comes into contact with a face to be supported at an opposite side to the cut face at a position of the constituent material layer based on the shaping data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Akihiko Tsunoya, Toshimitsu Hirai
  • Publication number: 20220032378
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a shaping table, a layer forming section that forms a powder layer at the shaping table, a first head that ejects a liquid containing a binder to a shaping region from a first nozzle, a second head that ejects a liquid containing ceramic particles to a boundary region with respect to the shaping region from a second nozzle, and a control unit that controls movement of the first head and the second head with respect to the shaping table and driving of the first head and the second head by applying a voltage, wherein the control unit performs control so as to cause the first head to execute a first flushing operation and to cause the second head to execute a second flushing operation under a flushing condition different from that for the first flushing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Akihiko TSUNOYA, Toshimitsu HIRAI, Kaoru MOMOSE
  • Publication number: 20220024137
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device includes: a shaping table; a layer forming unit configured to form a powder layer on the shaping table; a head configured to eject a liquid containing a binder from a nozzle to a shaping region; and a control unit configured to control movement of the head with respect to the shaping table and driving of the head by applying a voltage. The control unit executes a first flushing operation when an area of the shaping region is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and executes a second flushing operation when the area of the shaping region is less than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Akihiko TSUNOYA, Toshimitsu HIRAI, Kaoru MOMOSE
  • Publication number: 20220024133
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device includes: a shaping table; a layer forming unit configured to form a powder layer on the shaping table; a head configured to eject a liquid containing a binder from a nozzle to a shaping region; and a control unit configured to control movement of the head with respect to the shaping table and driving of the head by applying a voltage. The control unit executes a first flushing operation when a distance between the shaping region and the flushing position is less than a threshold value, and executes a second flushing operation when the distance between the shaping region and the flushing position is equal to or greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Akihiko TSUNOYA, Kaoru MOMOSE, Toshimitsu HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20220024138
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device includes: a shaping table; a layer forming unit configured to form a powder layer on the shaping table; a head configured to eject a liquid containing a binder from a nozzle to a shaping region; and a control unit configured to control movement of the head with respect to the shaping table and driving of the head by applying a voltage. The control unit changes an execution condition of a flushing operation depending on whether an idle running time during which the head is moved without ejecting the liquid is less than a threshold value or equal to or greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Akihiko TSUNOYA, Toshimitsu HIRAI, Kaoru MOMOSE
  • Patent number: 11185922
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Ishida, Toshimitsu Hirai, Eiji Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20210362418
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production apparatus includes a shaping table, a layer forming section that forms a powder layer, a head that ejects a liquid containing a binder to a shaping region of a three-dimensional shaped article, a liquid supply system that supplies the liquid to the head, and a moving system that relatively moves the head with respect to the shaping table, wherein the head includes a nozzle that ejects the liquid, a pressure chamber that communicates with the nozzle, a supply flow channel that communicates with the pressure chamber upstream in a supply direction of the liquid, and a circulation flow channel that communicates with the pressure chamber downstream in the supply direction, the circulation flow channel includes a first filter, and a pore diameter of the first filter is larger than a particle diameter of a powder for forming the powder layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Manabu WATANABE, Toshimitsu HIRAI, Akihiko TSUNOYA, Kaoru MOMOSE