Patents by Inventor Akihiko Tsunoya

Akihiko Tsunoya 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: 11964423
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object according to the present disclosure includes: a plasticizing step of plasticizing at least a part of a shaping material including a first fiber material and a thermoplastic resin to generate a plasticized material to be discharged from a nozzle opening for shaping a three-dimensional shaped object; a fiber introducing step including either a step of introducing a second fiber material longer than the first fiber material into the shaping material or the plasticized material before being discharged from the nozzle opening, or a step of introducing the second fiber material into the plasticized material after being discharged from the nozzle opening; and a shaping step of shaping the three-dimensional shaped object including the first fiber material and the second fiber material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Okamoto, Akihiko Tsunoya
  • Patent number: 11951686
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object includes: a plasticizing step of plasticizing at least a part of a shaping material containing a thermoplastic resin to generate a plasticized material; a fiber introducing step including at least one of a step of introducing a covered fiber material, which is a fiber material covered with a covering material, into the plasticized material after being discharged from the nozzle opening, and a step of introducing the covered fiber material into the shaping material or the plasticized material before being discharged from the nozzle opening; and a shaping step of shaping a three-dimensional shaped object including the covered fiber material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Okamoto, Akihiko Tsunoya
  • Patent number: 11931959
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device includes: a stage whose shaping surface has a first groove and a second groove extending in a first direction; a discharge unit configured to supply a shaping material to the shaping surface; a movement mechanism configured to relatively move the stage and the discharge unit; and a control unit configured to control the discharge unit and the movement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Tsunoya, Koji Fujimori
  • Patent number: 11826962
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus shapes a first shaped article by ejecting a material from an ejection section, forms a first portion of a second shaped article by adjusting an output of a temperature adjusting section while measuring a temperature of the first shaped article by a temperature sensor so that a viscosity of the first shaped article calculated based on the temperature of the first shaped article measured by the temperature sensor and first relational data representing a relationship between a temperature and a viscosity of the material becomes a predetermined viscosity or less, and ejecting the material from the ejection section, and forms a second portion that is a portion adjacent to the first portion of the second shaped article by ejecting the material from the ejection section while adjusting a temperature of the first portion by the temperature adjusting section with the adjusted output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Tsunoya
  • 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: 20230321907
    Abstract: A plasticized material supply device includes: a nozzle configured to discharge a plasticized material toward a stage; a first flow path through which a first plasticized material flows; a second flow path through which a second plasticized material flows; a third flow path through which the plasticized material flows; a flow rate adjusting mechanism provided at a junction of the first flow path, the second flow path, and the third flow path, and configured to adjust a discharge amount of the plasticized material from the nozzle; and a control unit configured to control the flow rate adjusting mechanism. The flow rate adjusting mechanism includes a butterfly valve formed by processing a part of a drive shaft disposed along a direction intersecting a direction in which the third flow path extends, and a drive motor configured to rotate the butterfly valve by rotating the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventor: Akihiko TSUNOYA
  • Patent number: 11766827
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped object manufacturing device includes a shaping table, layer forming portions configured to form a powder layer on the shaping table, a head 3 configured to discharge, from a nozzle, a liquid containing a binder to a shaping region of a three-dimensional shaped object in the powder layer, and a control unit configured to control a movement of the head with respect to the shaping table and a drive of the head by applying a voltage, in which the control unit performs control to, after the liquid is discharged to the shaping region, execute a flushing operation of discharging the liquid from the nozzle to a flushing position different from the shaping region, and set an applied voltage during the flushing operation higher than an applied voltage when the liquid is discharged to the shaping region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Okamoto, Akihiko Tsunoya
  • Patent number: 11760009
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production method is a three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers and includes a first metal powder supply step of supplying a first metal powder having a first average particle diameter to a shaping table, a layer formation step of forming the layer by compressing the first metal powder supplied to the shaping table, a first liquid supply step of supplying a first liquid containing a binder and a second metal powder having a second average particle diameter that is an average particle diameter 1/10 or more and ½ or less the first average particle diameter to at least a portion of a constituent region of the three-dimensional shaped article, a second liquid supply step of supplying a second liquid that contains a binder, but does not contain a metal powder to at least a portion of a surface layer region in the constituent region, and a sintering step of sintering a metal in the constituent region by
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Tsunoya
  • Patent number: 11759856
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object includes a structure shaping step (step S140) of shaping a structure with a shaping material including a metal powder or a ceramic powder, a support shaping step (step S130) of shaping a support T that supports a structure S with a support material including a resin, and a deresining step (step S210) of deresining the support T supporting the structure S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Akihiko Tsunoya
  • Patent number: 11745428
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a plasticizing section that forms a plasticized material, a flow channel for the plasticized material, a nozzle having an ejection port, from which the plasticized material is ejected to a shaping region, a position changing mechanism that changes a relative position of the nozzle to the table, a pressure measurement section that measures a pressure in the flow channel, and a cleaning mechanism that is provided in a cleaning region different from the shaping region and cleans the ejection port, wherein a cleaning process for causing the cleaning mechanism to perform cleaning by suspending a shaping process in the middle of the shaping process, and moving the nozzle to the cleaning region is executed, and the shaping process is resumed when the pressure is measured to be a reference value or less by the pressure measurement section after executing the cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Tsunoya
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11707885
    Abstract: In a three-dimensional shaped object manufacturing device, when a unit is moved in a forward direction, powder is supplied from a first supply portion, a powder layer is formed by a first layer forming portion, a liquid is discharged to a shaping region from a head, and a shaping table is moved in a direction separating from the unit after discharging the liquid is ended and before a second layer forming portion faces the shaping region, and when the unit is moved in a backward direction, the powder is supplied from a second supply portion, the powder layer is formed by the second layer forming portion, the liquid is discharged to the shaping region from the head, and the shaping table is moved in the direction separating from the unit after discharging the liquid to the shaping region is ended and before the first layer forming portion faces the shaping region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Okamoto, Akihiko Tsunoya
  • Patent number: 11697158
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping method includes a molded body forming step of forming a molded body having a plurality of projection portions using a material containing a powder and a binder, a supporting step of supporting the molded body by a support having groove portions at positions configured to insert each of the projection portions in a state where the plurality of projection portions are inserted into the groove portions, and a sintering step of sintering the powder by heating the molded body in a state of being supported by the support, wherein the groove portion is extended from an insertion position of the projection portion in a specified direction that specifies a direction of shrinkage of the molded body by performing the sintering step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Tsunoya
  • Patent number: 11660669
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production method is a three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers and includes a first metal powder supply step of supplying a first metal powder having a first average particle diameter to a shaping table, a layer formation step of forming the layer by compressing the first metal powder supplied to the shaping table, a first liquid supply step of supplying a first liquid containing a second metal powder having a second average particle diameter and a binder to a portion of a constituent region of the three-dimensional shaped article, a second liquid supply step of supplying a second liquid containing at least either the second meal powder at a lower concentration than the first liquid or a third metal powder having a larger average particle diameter than the second average particle diameter and containing a binder to at least a portion of a surface layer region, and a sintering step of sintering a m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Tsunoya
  • Patent number: 11648728
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article producing composition is provided and contains a plurality of particles, a solvent for dispersing the particles, and a binder having a function to temporarily bind the particles to one another in a state where the solvent is removed, wherein a volume-based average particle diameter of the particles is 0.1 ?m or more and less than 50 ?m, and a content ratio of the binder is 1.5 vol % or more and 10 vol % or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventors: Takeshi Miyashita, Eiji Okamoto, Akihiko Tsunoya, Naoko Shima, Makoto Kato
  • Publication number: 20230061480
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device includes: a stage whose shaping surface has a first groove and a second groove extending in a first direction; a discharge unit configured to supply a shaping material to the shaping surface; a movement mechanism configured to relatively move the stage and the discharge unit; and a control unit configured to control the discharge unit and the movement mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Akihiko TSUNOYA, Koji FUJIMORI
  • Patent number: 11577470
    Abstract: Provided is a three-dimensional shaping apparatus in which surface of a three-dimensional shaped object can be prevented from being roughened. The three-dimensional shaping apparatus that shapes a three-dimensional shaped object by stacking layers of a material includes: a stage; a discharge unit that has a nozzle surface in which a nozzle hole is formed; a moving unit that is configured to change a relative position between the stage and the nozzle surface; and a control unit that is configured to control the moving unit. The control unit drives the moving unit such that a relation between a gap G between the nozzle surface and the stage or the layer of the material when the material is discharged from the discharge unit and an outer diameter Dp of the nozzle surface satisfies a following relation (1). Dp?20×G+0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Manabu Watanabe, Eiji Okamoto, Akihiko Tsunoya, Koji Fujimori, Kazuhide Nakamura
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230001636
    Abstract: In a three-dimensional shaped object manufacturing device, when a unit is moved in a forward direction, powder is supplied from a first supply portion, a powder layer is formed by a first layer forming portion, a liquid is discharged to a shaping region from a head, and a shaping table is moved in a direction separating from the unit after discharging the liquid is ended and before a second layer forming portion faces the shaping region, and when the unit is moved in a backward direction, the powder is supplied from a second supply portion, the powder layer is formed by the second layer forming portion, the liquid is discharged to the shaping region from the head, and the shaping table is moved in the direction separating from the unit after discharging the liquid to the shaping region is ended and before the first layer forming portion faces the shaping region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Eiji OKAMOTO, Akihiko TSUNOYA
  • Patent number: 11534964
    Abstract: Provided is a method which includes a first layer formation step of forming a first layer by using a first composition that contains a constituent material powder, a first powder, and a binder of a three-dimensional shaped article; a second layer formation step of forming a second layer by using a second composition that contains a second powder and a binder; a degreasing step of a stack containing the first layer and the second layer; and a sintering step of the stack, a decomposition point of the first powder is higher than decomposition points of the binder of the first layer and the binder of the second layer, a decomposition point of the second powder is higher than the decomposition point of the first powder, and a sintering temperature of the constituent material powder is higher than the decomposition point of the second powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventors: Eiji Okamoto, Akihiko Tsunoya