Patents by Inventor Akira Nakazawa

Akira Nakazawa 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: 20110300667
    Abstract: An electric-field-sensitive element (1) includes: an optical function layer (5) that includes a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of tin dioxide, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, and an insulating material covering the metal oxide, the optical function layer (5) having a visible light transmittance that changes through application of an electric field; and a first and second electrode layer (7, 9) that sandwich the optical function layer (5) therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: GUALA TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Akira NAKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 8070266
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly with a printhead integrated circuit formed on a wafer substrate, the printhead integrated circuit having an array of ink ejection nozzles, the array having a first section with nozzles for ejecting ink of a first color, and a second section with nozzles for ejecting ink of a second color. The assembly also having an integrated circuit support structure for mounting in the printer adjacent a media feed path, the integrated circuit support structure having conduits for supplying the printhead integrated circuit with ink of the first color and the second color and, a polymer sealing film between the integrated circuit support structure and the printhead integrated circuit for fixing the printhead integrated circuit to the integrated circuit support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 8066349
    Abstract: A printhead is provided for a printer. The printhead includes a support member defining a plurality of ink supply channels. A fluid distribution arrangement is mounted in fluid communication with the support member. A plurality of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) integrated circuits (IC's) is mounted in fluid communication with the fluid distribution arrangement. Each IC includes ink ejection nozzles and air ejection nozzles configured to respectively eject ink and pressurized air from the fluid distribution arrangement and onto print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Norman Micheal Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8066351
    Abstract: The invention provides for a printer assembly for a pagewidth printer. The assembly includes a casing that defines a print media feed path, and duplex printheads arranged on opposite sides of the a print media feed path. Also included are two purging members each inclined at a predetermined angle to a direction of travel of print media through the path, each member defining a purging chamber. The assembly further includes extractor tubes connecting the purging chambers in fluid communication with a suction pump, and an actuating mechanism configured to displace the printheads between a printing position, where the printheads are able to print onto media fed through the feed gap, and a purging position, where the printheads are located at the predetermined angle relative to the media path adjacent the chambers to allow the suction pumps to remove material purged from said printheads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Norman Micheal Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8066354
    Abstract: A cartridge for a pagewidth inkjet printer has a body configured to fit in a cradle of the inkjet printer. A printhead capper is mounted on the body, the capper and the body defining a print media feed path along which print media is fed. A printhead is housed in the body to print on the print media. An ink distribution support mounts the printhead to the body and distributes ink to the printhead. An ink supply is arranged in the body for supplying the printhead with ink via the ink distribution support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Christopher Hibbard, Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Garry Raymond Jackson, John Douglas Peter Morgan
  • Patent number: 8066352
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having at least one printhead module of at least two print nozzle integrated circuits and respective electrical connectors, at least one controller configured to process print data and to communicate the processed print data to microprocessing circuitry of at least one of the print nozzle integrated circuits via the respective electrical connector so as to control the printing operation of the print nozzle integrated circuit to print the processed print data, and a casing in which the printhead module and controller are removably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8057004
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having a plurality of print nozzle integrated circuits, an electrical connector for connecting electrical signals to the print nozzle integrated circuits, and drive electronics having electrical contacts for electrical connection to the electrical connector, input contacts for receiving print data, and a plurality of controllers for processing the print data. Each controller is connected to a predetermined number of the print nozzle integrated circuits via the electrical contacts and being interconnected to the other controllers. The drive electronics are selected from a range of drive electronics, each having a different number of the interconnected controllers configured to each process the print data applicable to a selected number of the print nozzle integrated circuits such that the ratio of controllers to print nozzle integrated circuits can be varied to change the print speed of the printhead assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8057024
    Abstract: A printhead assembly comprises an elongate casing defining a longitudinally extending printhead channel, a static pagewidth printhead received within the printhead channel, the static pagewidth printhead comprising a plurality of printhead tiles each bearing a printhead integrated circuit, the tiles being shaped to serially engage together so that adjacent printhead integrated circuits overlap, and an elongate fluid channel member defining a plurality of ducts for storing respective types of ink, the elongate fluid channel extending substantially the length of the static pagewidth printhead. The fluid channel member comprises an elongate body portion defining parallel open channels, and a lid portion which is fastened to the body portion so that the open channels form the ducts, the lid portion defining a plurality of protruding ridges which can be received in respective open channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8057023
    Abstract: Provided is an ink cartridge unit for an inkjet printer. The cartridge unit includes a main body defining a number of ink reservoirs, each reservoir having a layered stack of absorbent material forming a micro-capillary array for suspending ink inside said reservoir. The unit also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, and a printhead assembly operatively fed with ink from the ink reservoirs in the main body. The unit further includes a capper assembly for operatively capping the printhead assembly to prevent damage to micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements defined on a printing surface of the printhead assembly. The lid assembly includes a refill facility whereby the ink reservoirs are refillable with ink from a suitable ink refill unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 8047639
    Abstract: A refill unit for a fluid container is providing. The refill unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject between 6 ml and 50 ml per increment of fluid from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 8042922
    Abstract: A dispenser unit for dispensing ink to refill a supply of printing fluid in a printing unit includes a body assembly; a plurality of ink outlets provided on a bottom side of the body assembly, the plurality of ink outlets each for engaging with respective ink inlets of the printing unit; a compressible ink storage volume provided within the body assembly, the compressible ink storage volume having a sealed end and an outlet end connected to no more than one of the plurality of ink outlets; a plunger provided within the housing and abutting the sealed end of the compressible ink storage volume; and a compressing actuator for compressing the plunger against the sealed end of the compressible ink storage volume, thereby facilitating a dispensing of ink from within the compressible ink storage volume into the printing unit via the ink outlet to which the outlet end of the compressible ink storage volume is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 8033635
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink on to print media; an ink supply reservoir for storing ink; an ink supply line defining a flow path from the ink supply reservoir to the printhead IC; a valve in the ink supply line proximate the printhead IC selectively closing the flow path to the printhead IC; an ink purge actuator for forcing a volume of ink out of the printhead under pressure; a printhead maintenance system having a collection roller for rotating such that the collection roller surface collects ink purged from the printhead and draws the ink away; and a pressure regulator provided in the ink supply reservoir downstream from the ink supply reservoir. The pressure regulator is normally biased shut, and operable to open upon a threshold pressure difference between ink upstream of the pressure regulator and ink downstream of the pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Jonathan Mark Bulman, Vesa Karppinen
  • Patent number: 8029113
    Abstract: A printing system is provided having a fluid delivery member, a fluid ejection nozzle integrated circuit, and a fluid distribution member incorporating a laminated stack of layers for distributing fluid from the delivery member to the nozzles of the integrated circuit via distribution apertures. The distribution apertures of each successive layer of the stack from the delivery member to the nozzles having a successively smaller diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8025383
    Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer that has a printhead integrated circuit with nozzles for ejecting ink, and a support structure for supporting the printhead IC. The support structure has ink conduits for supplying the nozzles with ink and a fluidic damper containing gas for compression by pressure pulses in the ink within the ink conduits to dissipate the pressure pulse. Damping pressure pulses using gas compression can be achieved with small volumes of gas. This preserves a compact design while avoiding any nozzle flooding from transient spikes in the ink pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Brian Robert Brown, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Paul Timothy Sharp, John Douglas Peter Morgan, Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Michael John Hudson, Christopher Hibbard, Samuel George Mallinson, Paul Justin Reichl
  • Patent number: 8025381
    Abstract: An ink priming system for a cartridge includes a priming inlet provided on a pagewidth printhead assembly, the priming inlet including a valve incorporating an elastomeric seal; an ink flow passage providing fluid connection between the pagewidth printhead assembly and an ink storage compartment of the cartridge, the ink flow passage terminating at the ink storage compartment to form an ink outlet; an ink filter provided across the ink outlet; a vent hole defined through a surface of the ink storage compartment, the vent hole being defined through a surface opposite the ink outlet; and an ink retaining member provided within the ink storage compartment for receiving and storing ink, the ink retaining member being interposed between the ink outlet and the vent hole. Ink is supplied to the priming inlet of the pagewidth printhead assembly to flow from the pagewidth printhead assembly into the ink storage compartment via the ink flow passage and across the ink filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 8025374
    Abstract: An ink manifold defining multiple fluid flow paths has openings arranged for detachable connection with conduits in an interface. Shut off valves at each of the openings respectively, are biased open. An actuator biased to a closed position by a resilient element, where it holds all the shut off valves closed. The actuator engages the interface such that moving the interface into connection with the openings simultaneously moves the actuator to an open position where the shut off valves are able to open. The resilient element generates a bias greater than a combined bias exerted by the shut off valves on the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Norman Michael Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8020771
    Abstract: Swinging open the upstream-side cover part (31) and downstream-side cover part (32) of the check scanning apparatus (1) on a common support pivot (33) opens a U-shaped check transportation path (5). The check transportation path (5) can be opened with a simple single-action operation to remove checks (4) jammed in the check transportation path (5) and for maintenance of the magnetic head (84) and contact image sensors (82 and 83). When the task is completed, the open check transportation path (5) can also be returned to the original closed position by a simple single-action operation. If only those parts that require maintenance are exposed when the check transportation path is open, tasks that require opening the transportation path can be done without damaging other parts and without soiling the operator's fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kinoshita, Hideki Furihata, Toru Takami, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8020969
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a printhead module having at least first and second modular printhead tiles, the first printhead tile having a first set of connection strips, and the second printhead tile having a second set of connection strips; an electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting the first and second printhead tiles, the electrical connector assembly having printed on a surface thereof a plurality of conducting strips; and first and second modular supports arranged end to end for respectively receiving the first and second printhead tiles, the first and second modular supports shaped to complementarily define a first cavity portion therebetween. The first printhead tile is received in the first modular support such that the first set of connection strips extend over the cavity portion. The second printhead tile is received in the second modular support such that the second set of electrical connection strips extend over the cavity portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8020962
    Abstract: A printer is provided which has two pagewidth printheads arranged to eject ink from ink ejection nozzles disposed along the respective pagewidth onto opposite surfaces of print media being transported therepast, and a capping/purging mechanism. The capping/purging mechanism has two rotatable turrets arranged so that each turret is associated with a respective one of the printheads and an actuating mechanism for selectively rotating and moving each turret. Each turret has located on respective faces thereof, a capping member, platen and purging chamber connected in fluid passage communication with a suction device. The actuating mechanism selectively rotates each turret to align the respective capping member, platen and purging chamber with the respective printhead and selectively moves each turret to engage the respectively aligned capping member or purging chamber with the respective printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Norman Micheal Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8023105
    Abstract: The present invention relates to provide a projection exposure device having a small volume, thereby not occupying a large installation space. The projection exposure device is configured to transfer patterns formed on a mask to a surface of film-shaped tape on an upright exposure stage by projecting the patterns onto the surface using light. This projection exposure device includes a transfer mechanism for feeding the tape to the exposure stage vertically, and a projection optical mechanism for irradiating the surface of the tape with the light. The projection optical mechanism is composed of Dyson optics located opposite the transfer mechanism across the exposure stage, and has an optical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the exposure stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ORC Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Sato, Akira Nakazawa, Katsumi Momose