Patents by Inventor Bunji Ishimoto

Bunji Ishimoto 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: 20080152413
    Abstract: A test pattern is formed by forming a plurality of dot rows using a first printing in a first printing region and a second printing region, transporting a medium by a predetermined transport amount, and forming a plurality of dot rows using a second printing in the second printing region. Second printing region correction values are obtained based on a reading result of a scanner. Densities of a print image constituted by a plurality of dot rows of the second printing region are corrected by correcting data corresponding to the second printing region correction values based on the second printing region correction values. In such a printing method, when forming the print image, if a transport amount of transport to be carried out between the first printing and the second printing is set shorter than the predetermined transport amount, data corresponding to a portion of correction values of the plurality of second printing region correction values is not corrected based on the portion of the correction values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko YOSHIDA, Bunji ISHIMOTO, Tatsuya NAKANO, Toru MIYAMOTO, Hirokazu NUNOKAWA
  • Publication number: 20080130032
    Abstract: A line position calculating method according to the present invention includes obtaining pixel data of pixel rows each constituted by a plurality of pixels lined up in a first direction, from image data of an image constituted by a plurality of pixels lined up in a matrix form in the first direction and a second direction, the image data being of an image containing a line along the first direction, calculating each representative value indicating a tone value of each pixel row based on the pixel data of each pixel row, and calculating a position in the second direction of the line in the image based on the representative value of each pixel row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Miyamoto, Tatsuya Nakano, Masahiko Yoshida, Bunji Ishimoto, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Yoichi Kakehashi
  • Publication number: 20080106031
    Abstract: A correction value determining method of the present invention includes: causing a head to record a first pattern for confirming a transport amount of a medium, while transporting the medium in a transport direction relative to the head in accordance with a target transport amount, obtaining a first correction value that is associated with a relative position of the head and the medium based on the first pattern, the first correction value being a correction value for correcting the target transport amount during transport of the medium, causing the head to record a second pattern for confirming the transport amount of the medium, by transporting the medium while correcting the target transport amount using the first correction value associated with the relative position, obtaining a second correction value that is associated with the relative position of the head and the medium based on the second pattern, the second correction value being a correction value for correcting the target transport amount during
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya NAKANO, Masahiko YOSHIDA, Bunji ISHIMOTO, Toru MIYAMOTO, Hirokazu NUNOKAWA
  • Publication number: 20080100855
    Abstract: A printing method includes determining a first correction value corresponding to a first print mode, determining a second correction value corresponding to a second print mode, and correcting an ink ejection amount of each row region individually, using a combined correction value obtained by combining the first correction value and the second correction value. The first print mode is a print mode that is applied to a front end area, with respect to a transport direction, of a medium. Dot rows are formed extending in a nozzle movement direction that is perpendicular to the transport direction, on a plurality of row regions lined up in the transport direction. The dot rows are formed by repeating a movement ejection operation of ejecting ink onto the medium while moving nozzles in the movement direction, and a transport operation of transporting the medium in the transport direction. The first correction value is for correcting an ejection amount of the ink in each row region individually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Yoshida, Tatsuya Nakano, Bunji Ishimoto, Toru Miyamoto, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Yoichi Kakehashi
  • Publication number: 20080094439
    Abstract: A printing method includes by printing a first area in a test pattern using a first print mode, determining a first correction value corresponding to the first print mode for each of the row regions, based on a density measurement value for each of row regions in the first area, by printing a second area in the test pattern using a second print mode for a plurality of cycles of periods that is determined by a combination of the row region and the nozzle, determining a second correction value corresponding to the second print mode for each of the row regions, based on a density measurement value for each of the row regions in the second area, and in a coexistent segment in which certain row regions and other row regions are mixed, correcting an ink ejection amount in each of the row regions using a combined correction value that is obtained as a composition of the first correction value and the second correction value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko YOSHIDA, Tatsuya NAKANO, Bunji ISHIMOTO, Hirokazu NUNOKAWA, Toru MIYAMOTO, Yoichi KAKEHASHI
  • Publication number: 20080079766
    Abstract: A correction value determining method of the present invention includes: causing a head to record a first pattern for confirming a transport amount of a medium, while transporting the medium in a transport direction relative to the head in accordance with a target transport amount; obtaining a first correction value that is associated with a relative position of the head and the medium based on the first pattern, the first correction value being a correction value for correcting the target transport amount during transport of the medium; causing the head to record a second pattern for confirming the transport amount of the medium, by transporting the medium while correcting the target transport amount using the first correction value associated with the relative position; obtaining a second correction value that is associated with the relative position of the head and the medium based on the second pattern, the second correction value being a correction value for correcting the target transport amount during
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya NAKANO, Masahiko YOSHIDA, Bunji ISHIMOTO, Toru MIYAMOTO, Hirokazu NUNOKAWA
  • Publication number: 20080079762
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording method that includes (1) preparing a recording apparatus provided with a transport mechanism that transports a medium in a transport direction in response to a target transport amount that is targeted, which has a first roller provided on an upstream side in the transport direction and a second roller provided on a downstream side in the transport direction, and a head that is movable in a movement direction, which has a plurality of nozzles lined up in the transport direction, (2) forming a plurality of lines on the medium by alternately repeating a transport operation of transporting the medium in the transport direction and a forming operation of forming lines on the medium by ejecting ink from the nozzles while causing the head to move in the movement direction, (3) calculating correction values based on an interval between the lines in the transport direction, and (4) controlling the transport mechanism based on a corrected target transport amount after correc
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Yoshida, Tatsuya Nakano, Bunji Ishimoto, Toru Miyamoto, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Yoichi Kakehashi
  • Publication number: 20080074455
    Abstract: A method for printing includes performing correction of an ink ejection amount for a certain area based on a correction value for a first type row region, and performing correction of an ink ejection amount for another area based on another correction value. The certain area includes a plurality of the first type row regions adjacent to each other in a transport direction of a medium. The first type row region is a region in which a dot row is formed in a movement direction that intersects the transport direction by performing a predetermined number of times a movement-and-ejection operation in which ink is ejected from a nozzle while the nozzle is moved in the movement direction. The other area is located on the upstream side in the transport direction from the certain area, and includes a plurality of second type row regions and a plurality of the first type row regions in the transport direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko YOSHIDA, Bunji ISHIMOTO, Toru MIYAMOTO, Tatsuya NAKANO, Hirokazu NUNOKAWA, Yoichi KAKEHASHI
  • Publication number: 20080068418
    Abstract: The invention is a transport method that transports a medium by causing a transport roller to rotate based on a corrected target transport amount, after correcting the target transport amount that is targeted based on a correction value and includes: printing a first pattern on a medium, printing a second pattern after the medium has been transported by causing the transport roller to rotate by a rotation amount of less than one rotation from a rotation position of the transport roller at a time of printing the first pattern, printing a third pattern after the medium has been transported by causing the transport roller to rotate by a rotation amount of one rotation from a rotation position of the transport roller at a time of printing the first pattern, printing a fourth pattern after the medium has been transported by causing the transport roller to rotate by a rotation amount of one rotation from a rotation position of the transport roller at a time of printing the second pattern, calculating a first correc
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Yoshida, Tatsuya Nakano, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Bunji Ishimoto, Toru Miyamoto, Yoichi Kakehashi
  • Publication number: 20080055349
    Abstract: A printing method includes determining a first correction value corresponding to a first print mode, determining a second correction value corresponding to a second print mode, and correcting an ink ejection amount of each row region individually, using a combined correction value obtained by combining the first correction value and the second correction value. The first print mode is a print mode that is applied to a rear end area, with respect to a transport direction, of a medium. Dot rows are formed extending in a nozzle movement direction that is perpendicular to the transport direction, on a plurality of row regions lined up in the transport direction. The dot rows are formed by repeating a movement ejection operation of ejecting ink onto the medium while moving nozzles in the movement direction, and a transport operation of transporting the medium in the transport direction. The first correction value is for correcting an ejection amount of the ink in each row region individually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko YOSHIDA, Tatsuya Nakano, Bunji Ishimoto, Toru Miyamoto, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Yoichi Kakehashi
  • Publication number: 20080049261
    Abstract: A transport amount correcting method, including: (A) storing in a memory, in regard to a medium of a predetermined size, correction values associated with relative positions of the medium and a head; and (B) when carrying out recording on the medium of the predetermined size, transporting the medium while correcting a target transport amount using a correction value associated with a relative position of the medium and the head, and when carrying out recording on a medium smaller than the predetermined size, transporting the medium while correcting the target transport amount by not using a portion of the correction values, the portion of the correction values being a portion of the correction values among the correction values used when the medium of the predetermined size is being transported by both an upstream side roller and a downstream side roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Nakano, Masahiko Yoshida, Bunji Ishimoto, Toru Miyamoto, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Yoichi Kakehashi
  • Publication number: 20080049059
    Abstract: A printing method includes performing correction of an ink ejection amount for a certain area based on a correction value for a first type row region, and performing correction of an ink ejection amount for another area based on another correction value. The certain area includes a plurality of the first type row regions adjacent to each other in a transport direction of a medium. The first type row region is a region in which a dot row is formed in a movement direction that intersects the transport direction by performing a predetermined number of times a movement-and-ejection operation in which ink is ejected from a nozzle while the nozzle is moved in the movement direction. The other area is located on the downstream side in the transport direction from the certain area, and includes a plurality of second type row regions and a plurality of the first type row regions in the transport direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko YOSHIDA, Tatsuya Nakano, Bunji Ishimoto, Toru Miyamoto, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Yoichi Kakehashi
  • Publication number: 20080049353
    Abstract: A transport amount correcting method, including; (A) storing in a memory, in regard to a medium of a predetermined size, correction values associated with relative positions of the medium and a head; and (B) when carrying out recording on the medium of the predetermined size, transporting the medium while correcting a target transport amount using a correction value associated with a relative position of the medium and the head, and when carrying out recording on a medium larger than the predetermined size, transporting the medium while correcting the target transport amount by using a portion of the correction values a plurality of times, the portion of the correction values being a portion of the correction values among the correction values used when the medium of the predetermined size is being transported by both an upstream side roller and a downstream side roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Nakano, Masahiko Yoshida, Bunji Ishimoto, Toru Miyamoto, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Yoichi Kakehashi
  • Patent number: 7318637
    Abstract: Ejection of ejecting sections such as nozzles for ejecting clear ink is inspected with ease. A color ink is made to adhere to a medium, a clear ink is ejected toward the medium from each of the clear-ink nozzles, and test patterns that each corresponds to one of the clear-ink nozzles are formed on the medium using the clear ink ejected from each of the clear-ink nozzles and the color ink, while leaving a space between the test patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Bunji Ishimoto, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Publication number: 20080007586
    Abstract: A recording apparatus of this invention includes a head; a transport mechanism that transports a medium in a transport direction with respect to the head, according to a target transport amount to be targeted; a memory that stores a plurality of correction values associated with a relative position of the head and the medium; and a controller that controls the transport mechanism based on the target transport amount that has been corrected, after correcting the target transport amount based on correction values, which are in number according to a size of the target transport amount, and which include the correction value according to the relative position when transporting by the target transport amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Yoshida, Tatsuya Nakano, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Bunji Ishimoto, Toru Miyamoto, Yoichi Kakehashi
  • Publication number: 20070282033
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ink compositions which, when used with an ink jet recording apparatus, can realize excellent ink ejection stability while maintaining safety and satisfactory penetration of ink. The ink composition according to the present invention comprises at least a colorant, a humectant, a glycol monoether as a penetrating agent, a 1,2-alkanediol, and water, the weight ratio of the glycol monoether to the 1,2-alkanediol being in the range of 1:5 to 5:1. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink composition comprising at least a pigment, a dispersant for dispersing the pigment, a 1,2-alkanediol, and water as a main solvent, the content of the 1,2-alkanediol being 0.5 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the ink composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ito, Kazuaki Watanabe, Tsuyochi Sano, Bunji Ishimoto, Kiyohiko Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7201794
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ink compositions which, when used with an ink jet recording apparatus, can realize excellent ink ejection stability while maintaining safety and satisfactory penetration of ink. The ink composition according to the present invention comprises at least a colorant, a humectant, a glycol monoether as a penetrating agent, a 1,2-alkanediol, and water, the weight ratio of the glycol monoether to the 1,2-alkanediol being in the range of 1:5 to 5:1. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink composition comprising at least a pigment, a dispersant for dispersing the pigment, a 1,2-alkanediol, and water as a main solvent, the content of the 1,2-alkanediol being 0.5 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the ink composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ito, Kazuaki Watanabe, Tsuyoshi Sano, Bunji Ishimoto, Kiyohiko Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20070008364
    Abstract: A printing method includes: printing an image to be printed on a medium by repeating alternately a dot forming process for forming dots on the medium by ejecting ink from each nozzle of a plurality of nozzles, and a carrying process for carrying the medium in a carrying direction, and forming a plurality of rows of dots, lined up in the carrying direction, that are configured by a plurality of dots lined up in a movement direction; selecting a printing mode according to the number of the dots to be formed in a predetermined region of the medium, from among a plurality of the printing modes each with a different ratio of the number of dot rows formed using a different number of nozzles to the number of dot rows formed using a certain number of nozzles; and printing on the region to be printed based on the selected printing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Bunji Ishimoto, Akito Sato
  • Publication number: 20060279597
    Abstract: A correction of density is effectively performed. The printing method includes the following steps. A step of performing correction of density for only a predetermined color, among a plurality of colors, for each dot row region so as to suppress the unevenness in density between rows of dots on a medium formed with the rows of dots arranged along a movement direction by each of the nozzles, when a plurality of the nozzles, that ejects a plurality of colors of different ink and that are arranged along a predetermined direction for each color of ink, ejects ink while being moved in a movement direction that intersects a predetermined direction. A step of printing by ejecting ink while a plurality the nozzles are moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Bunji Ishimoto, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Publication number: 20050228069
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a pigment dispersion, an ink composition, and an ink set, enabling excellent glossiness, bronzing prevention, and ink composition storage stability to be realized. The present invention provides a pigment dispersion characterized by comprising at least a pigment, an aqueous medium, a copolymer resin between a hydrophobic monomer and a hydrophilic monomer, and a urethane resin, and also an ink composition characterized by containing at least the pigment dispersion and an aqueous medium, and an ink set characterized by comprising at least the ink composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Shuichi Kataoka, Bunji Ishimoto, Akira Mizutani, Naoki Okamoto, Yoshiaki Miyazaki, Izumi Yasuda, Tomoyuki Shiraga