Patents by Inventor Akifumi Sakata

Akifumi Sakata 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: 8662643
    Abstract: A head chip includes an actuator substrate having channels for liquid ejection formed therein, and a cover plate having a liquid supply chamber for supplying liquid to the channels, the cover plate being stacked on the actuator substrate. A flow path member mounted to the cover plate supplies the liquid to the liquid supply chamber. The flow path member includes an inflow port through which the liquid flows in, an outflow port through which the liquid flows out, and a circulation path along which the liquid is circulated from the inflow port to the outflow port. No filter is interposed in either the flow path between the inflow port and the channels or the flow path between the outflow port and the channels. The sectional area of the circulation path in a direction orthogonal to the circulating direction of liquid flow is larger than that of the liquid supply chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SII Printek Inc.
    Inventors: Akifumi Sakata, Yoshinori Domae
  • Patent number: 8544982
    Abstract: A liquid jet head has a nozzle plate with nozzle holes for ejecting a liquid. A wall portion surrounding the nozzle plate has an opening opposed to the nozzle holes. An opening and closing mechanism is configured in an open state to open the opening of the wall portion to expose the nozzle holes to an exterior of the head, and in a closed state to close the opening of the wall portion to form a closed space between the wall portion and the nozzle plate. A suction flow path has on one end side a suction port opening below the nozzle holes, and another end side is connected to a suction portion that evacuates the closed space to convert the closed space to a negative pressure chamber, thereby supplying the liquid to the nozzle holes. An atmosphere release portion switches between the open and closed states of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: SII Printek Inc.
    Inventors: Akifumi Sakata, Kazuyoshi Tominaga, Ayako Kayama, Toshiaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8430477
    Abstract: A liquid injection head has a nozzle body having a row of nozzle holes and a nozzle guard that covers the row of nozzle holes. The nozzle guard has a top portion having formed therein a slit opposed to the row of nozzle holes, a sealing portion that seals an area between a peripheral edge of the top portion and the nozzle body, and a suction flow path having a suction port opening below the row of nozzle holes and communicating with a space on an inner side of the nozzle guard. A suction section connected to the suction flow path of the nozzle guard causes the space on the inner side of the nozzle guard to form a negative pressure chamber such that a liquid overflowing into the negative pressure chamber is sucked from the suction port of the suction flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: SII Printek Inc.
    Inventors: Akifumi Sakata, Kazuyoshi Tominaga, Toshiaki Watanabe, Masatoshi Toda, Akihiro Sadaki
  • Publication number: 20130083143
    Abstract: A head chip (2) includes an actuator substrate (3) having channels (5) for liquid ejection formed therein, and a cover plate (4) having a liquid supply chamber (6) for supplying liquid to the channels formed therein, the cover plate being stacked on the actuator substrate. The flow path member (7) is provided to the cover plate and supplies the liquid to the liquid supply chamber. The flow path member includes an inflow port (8) through which the liquid flows in, an outflow port (9) through which the liquid flows out, and a circulation path (10) along which the liquid is circulated from the inflow port to the outflow port. No filter is interposed in any of a flow path between the inflow port and the channels and a flow path between the outflow port and the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Akifumi SAKATA, Yoshinori DOMAE
  • Publication number: 20120133705
    Abstract: Provided are a liquid jet head and a liquid jet recording apparatus which are capable of improving ability to collect excess liquid to prevent contamination with excess liquid and which are capable of stabilizing jetting of liquid after the liquid is filled. A liquid jet head includes a nozzle guard (24) for covering a periphery of a nozzle column (31c), the nozzle guard having a slit (24c) formed therein which is opposed to the nozzle column (31c), and a suction flow path (15) connected to a suction pump for sucking excess ink which leaks from the nozzle column (31c), in which inside space of the nozzle guard (24) is partitioned into first space (S1) and second space (S2), and the first space (S1) and the second space (S2) communicate with each other via a communication hole group (31f) in a nozzle plate (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Akifumi Sakata, Kazuyoshi Tominaga, Toshiaki Watanbe, Ayako Kayama
  • Publication number: 20110285783
    Abstract: A liquid jet head including: a wall portion (24) which surrounds a jetting hole column and protrudes in the same direction as a direction of openings of jetting holes; a lid member (62) which may open and close an opening formed in the wall portion; an opening and closing mechanism (60) for forming closed space between the wall portion and a jetting body (23) and for, in an open state, exposing the jetting holes to the outside; an absorber (40) provided on a back surface of the lid member, for absorbing liquid which overflows from the jetting holes; a suction flow path (15) which has a suction port (15a) that is open to the closed space and which is connected to an outside suction device (8); and an atmosphere release portion (33) which is switchable between release of the closed space to the outside and interruption thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Akifumi Sakata, Kazuyoshi Tominaga, Toshiaki Watanabe, Ayako Kayama
  • Publication number: 20110234698
    Abstract: A liquid jet head including: an opening and closing mechanism for, in an open state, opening a wall portion release opening (24n) to expose nozzle holes to outside and for, in a closed state, closing the wall portion release opening to form closed space between a wall portion (24) and a nozzle plate (31); a suction flow path (15) having, on one end side thereof, a suction port (15a) which is open below a nozzle column while another end side thereof being connected to a suction pump (16) for, by sucking an inside of the closed space with the suction pump, causing the closed space to become a negative pressure chamber to supply ink I from an ink tank of the ink to the nozzle holes; and an atmosphere release flow path (33) which is switchable between communication of the closed space with the outside and interruption thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Akifumi Sakata, Kazuyoshi Tominaga, Ayako Kayama, Toshiaki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110221824
    Abstract: To improve a space factor of a liquid jet head to improve flexibility in designing a liquid jet recording apparatus, and to improve the ability to collect excess liquid to prevent contamination with excess liquid and stabilize jetting of liquid after the liquid is filled, provided is a liquid jet head including a nozzle guard (24) formed so as to cover a nozzle plate (31), the nozzle guard (24) including a top plate portion (24a), the top plate portion being disposed away from a surface of the nozzle plate (31) and having a slit (24c) formed therein so as to be opposed to a nozzle column (31c), and an airtight portion (24) for hermetically sealing space between a peripheral portion of the top plate portion (24a) and the nozzle plate (31), and in which an absorber (60) for absorbing excess ink (Y) which overflows from nozzle holes (31a) is disposed between the top plate portion (24a) of the nozzle guard (24) and the nozzle plate (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Akifumi Sakata, Tominaga Kazuyoshi, Watanabe Toshiaki, Kayama Ayako
  • Publication number: 20110199432
    Abstract: To enhance a space factor and ability of collecting excess liquid, there is provided a liquid injection head provided with a plurality of nozzles includes a nozzle guard that is formed so as to cover the nozzles, the nozzle guard including: a top portion having a slit opposed to the nozzles while being placed apart from a surface of the nozzles; a sealing portion that seals an area between a peripheral edge of the top portion and the nozzles; and a suction flow path in which a suction port is opened to a lower portion of the nozzles, and is communicated to an inside space of the nozzle guard, in which the inside space of the nozzle guard is rendered a negative pressure chamber by a suction portion connected to the suction flow path, and a first liquid overflowing the nozzles to the negative pressure chamber is sucked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Akifumi Sakata, Kazuyoshi Tominaga, Toshiaki Watanabe, Masatoshi Toda, Akihiro Sadaki
  • Patent number: 6083644
    Abstract: A 1.5 V non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having high energy density, excellent charge and discharge characteristics and long cycle life is provided. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery uses, as the negative electrode active material, lithium-containing silicon oxide represented by the compositional formula Li.sub.x SiO.sub.y and defined such that the lithium content x and oxygen amount y are satisfied with 1.5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.4.5 and 0<y<2, respectively, and also uses, as the positive electrode, lithium-containing titanium oxide represented by the general formula Li.sub.x Ti.sub.y O.sub.4 wherein 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.3 and 1.6.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.2.2 or lithium-containing iron sulfide represented by the general formula Li.sub.x FeS.sub.y wherein x.ltoreq.1.1 and 0.5.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.2.5, so that a secondary battery of about 1.5 V having high energy density, less inner resistance and excellent charge and discharge characteristics can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Shunji Watanabe, Shinichi Takasugi, Tsugio Sakai, Kensuke Tahara, Akifumi Sakata, Hideharu Onodera
  • Patent number: 5620812
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a negative electrode having an active material comprised of lithium or a material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium, a lithium ion conductive non-aqueous electrolyte, and a positive electrode. The positive electrode active material is comprised of a composite represented by composition formula Li.sub.a R.sub.b L.sub.c M.sub.d O.sub.2 where R is one or more metalloid elements selected from boron B and silicon Si, L is at least one element selected from metals and metalloids of Groups IIIA and IVA of the periodic table, alkaline earth metals, and metals selected from the group consisting of Ti, Mn, Cu and Zn, M represents transition metal elements comprising at least Ni and Co, R, L and M are different, and a, b, c and d satisfy 0<a.ltoreq.1.15, 0.85.ltoreq.b+c+d.ltoreq.1.3, 0<b+c.ltoreq.0.5, 0<b and 0.ltoreq.c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kensuke Tahara, Fumiharu Iwasaki, Seiji Yahagi, Akifumi Sakata, Tsugio Sakai, Hideki Ishikawa, Shinichi Takasugi
  • Patent number: 5506075
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a negative electrode, a positive electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte with lithium ion conductivity. A composite oxide containing lithium represented by composition formula Li.sub.x Si.sub.1-y M.sub.y O.sub.z (where M is one or more kinds of elements selected from metals other than alkaline metals, and metalloids other than silicon, and x, y and z satisfy O.ltoreq.x, 0<y<1, and 0<z<2) is used as an active material for the negative electrode. The battery exhibits a negative active material with a lower and baser potential and a large charging/discharging capacity to produce a long cycle service life secondary battery which facilitates a large current charging and discharging and reduces deterioration due to excess charging and excess discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignees: Seiko Instruments Inc., Seiko Electronic Components Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiharu Iwasaki, Kensuke Tahara, Hideki Ishikawa, Seiji Yahagi, Akifumi Sakata, Tsugio Sakai
  • Patent number: 5401599
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a negative electrode, a positive electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte with lithium ion conductivity. A composite oxide produced from a metal or a metalloid and lithium represented by composition formula Li.sub.x MO (where M represents metals or metalloids other than alkali metals, and x satisifies 0.ltoreq.x) is used as an active material of one or both of the negative electrode and the positive electrode. The battery exhibits a large charging/discharging capacity and a high energy density together with smaller polarization (internal resistance) on charging and discharging which facilitates a large current charging and discharging with a long cycle life and reduces deterioration due to excess charging and excess discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignees: Seiko Instruments Inc., Seiko Electronic Components Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Tahara, Hideki Ishikawa, Tsugio Sakai, Akifumi Sakata, Fumiharu Iwasaki, Seiji Yahagi
  • Patent number: 5395711
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a negative electrode, a positive electrode and a lithium ion-conductive non-aqueous electrolyte. A silicon oxide or a silicate containing lithium is used as the negative electrode active material. The potential of the negative electrode active material is low, the charge and discharge capacity in a base potential region of 0-1 V with respect to metallic lithium is large, and the polarization (internal resistance) during charge and discharge is small. A secondary battery having a high voltage and a high energy density is obtained in which large current charge and discharge characteristics are facilitated, the deterioration due to excessive charge and excessive discharge is reduced, the cycle life is long and the reliability is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignees: Seiko Instruments Inc., Seiko Electronic Components Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Tahara, Hideki Ishikawa, Fumiharu Iwasaki, Seiji Yahagi, Akifumi Sakata, Tsugio Sakai
  • Patent number: RE35818
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a negative electrode, a positive electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte with lithium ion conductivity. A composite oxide produced from a metal or a metalloid and lithium represented by composition formula Li.sub.x MO (where M represents metals or metalloids other than alkali metals, and x satisifies 0.ltoreq.x) is used as an active material of one or both of the negative electrode and the positive electrode. The battery exhibits a large charging/discharging capacity and a high energy density together with smaller polarization (internal resistance) on charging and discharging which facilitates a large current charging and discharging with a long cycle life and reduces deterioration due to excess charging and excess discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kensuke Tahara, Hideki Ishikawa, Tsugio Sakai, Akifumi Sakata, Fumiharu Iwasaki, Seiji Yahagi