Patents by Inventor Hideki Furihata

Hideki Furihata 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: 10473257
    Abstract: An electronic device support stand is a support stand for electronic devices that enables rotating the supported electronic device in a confined space with substantially no force while holding the electronic device securely. The electronic device support stand has a holding unit configured to hold an electronic device; and a base unit that supports the holding unit. The holding unit includes a pivot mechanism enabling rotating the supported electronic device with substantially no load around an axis parallel to the surface on which the base unit is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Tomomatsu, Yoshiki Kinoshita, Takaaki Inui, Hideki Furihata
  • Publication number: 20170150812
    Abstract: An electronic device support stand is a support stand for electronic devices that enables rotating the supported electronic device in a confined space with substantially no force while holding the electronic device securely. The electronic device support stand has a holding unit configured to hold an electronic device; and a base unit that supports the holding unit. The holding unit includes a pivot mechanism enabling rotating the supported electronic device with substantially no load around an axis parallel to the surface on which the base unit is placed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke TOMOMATSU, Yoshiki KINOSHITA, Takaaki INUI, Hideki FURIHATA
  • Patent number: 9399357
    Abstract: The temperature of heat elements of a thermal head can be controlled with high precision by a process with a low processor load. A printer 100 that prints on thermal roll paper 102 based on print data has a thermal head 134 with multiple heat elements 136 arrayed in a sub-scanning direction CR perpendicular to the conveyance direction F of the thermal roll paper 102. The printer 100 has a current control unit 112 that segments the heat elements of the thermal head 134 into plural blocks, and controls the energize timing of the heat elements in each block based on the number of heat elements 136 that are energized in the thermal head 134.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishino, Hideki Furihata
  • Patent number: 9342761
    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: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kinoshita, Hideki Furihata, Toru Takami, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9256811
    Abstract: A head performs recording or reading information with respect to a sheet-shaped recording medium. A pair of rollers sandwich therebetween and transport the recording medium in a transport path of the recording medium passing through the head. A cantilevered frame extends while being cantilevered in a direction traversing the transport path. One end of an opening and closing unit is rotatably supported by the cantilevered frame. The opening and closing unit is revolvable around the one end to move between a closed position where the opening and closing unit covers at least a transport portion by the pair of rollers in the transport path and an open position where the transport position is exposed to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Shinsuke Tomomatsu
  • Publication number: 20160001574
    Abstract: The temperature of heat elements of a thermal head can be controlled with high precision by a process with a low processor load. A printer 100 that prints on thermal roll paper 102 based on print data has a thermal head 134 with multiple heat elements 136 arrayed in a sub-scanning direction CR perpendicular to the conveyance direction F of the thermal roll paper 102. The printer 100 has a current control unit 112 that segments the heat elements of the thermal head 134 into plural blocks, and controls the energize timing of the heat elements in each block based on the number of heat elements 136 that are energized in the thermal head 134.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishino, Hideki Furihata
  • Publication number: 20150122888
    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: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kinoshita, Hideki Furihata, Toru Takami, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8960553
    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: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kinoshita, Hideki Furihata, Toru Takami, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8408542
    Abstract: A media processing device enables opening an openable unit so that the media transportation path is open with a minimal operation and little operating force. The media processing device has an openable unit that can rotate on a first pivot axis CL1 from a closed position to an open position; a lock member that can move to a locked position where it locks the openable unit in the closed position and an unlocked position where the lock is released; and an operating lever that can rotate on a second pivot axis CL2 through a range from a first pivot position passed a second pivot position to a third pivot position. A first cam mechanism converts rotation of the operating lever from the second pivot position to the third pivot position to rotation of the openable unit from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Hironori Maekawa
  • Patent number: 8381986
    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: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kinoshita, Hideki Furihata, Toru Takami, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8289590
    Abstract: A scanner unit includes a scanner for imaging a print medium, a base unit that supports the scanner, a pressure feed roller disposed opposite the scanning surface of the scanner, a guide member for guiding the print medium to the scanner, a frame member that supports the pressure feed roller and the guide member, and a motor that drives the pressure feed roller. The frame member is supported pivotably to the base. In other embodiments the scanner unit can include a roller shaft such that the pressure feed roller is coaxially affixed to the roller shaft and the frame member supports the roller shaft, a first gear on the roller shaft, and a second gear that transfers drive power from the motor to the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Katsuyuki Endo, Sadao Murata
  • Patent number: 8167109
    Abstract: The medium conveying mechanism includes a motor, a driving pulley adapted to be rotated by the motor, an endless belt wound around the driving pulley and adapted to be moved by the driving pulley in a belt moving direction, a first driven pulley around which the endless belt is wound and adapted to be rotated by the endless belt, a first conveying roller disposed on the medium conveying path and adapted to be rotated by the first driven pulley to convey the medium, and a first pressure roller disposed to correspond to the first conveying roller so as to press the medium against the first conveying roller. A distance in the medium conveying path between the information reading position and a nip portion between the first conveying roller and the first pressure roller is shorter than a distance between a leading end of the conveyed medium and back end of the recording area. The first driven pulley is disposed upstream from the driving pulley in the belt moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Furihata
  • Publication number: 20110315768
    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: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kinoshita, Hideki Furihata, Toru Takami, Akira Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20110225891
    Abstract: A media processing device enables opening an openable unit so that the media transportation path is open with a minimal operation and little operating force. The media processing device has an openable unit that can rotate on a first pivot axis CL1 from a closed position to an open position; a lock member that can move to a locked position where it locks the openable unit in the closed position and an unlocked position where the lock is released; and an operating lever that can rotate on a second pivot axis CL2 through a range from a first pivot position passed a second pivot position to a third pivot position. A first cam mechanism converts rotation of the operating lever from the second pivot position to the third pivot position to rotation of the openable unit from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Hironori Maekawa
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110129280
    Abstract: A head performs recording or reading information with respect to a sheet-shaped recording medium. A pair of rollers sandwich therebetween and transport the recording medium in a transport path of the recording medium passing through the head. A cantilevered frame extends while being cantilevered in a direction traversing the transport path. One end of an opening and closing unit is rotatably supported by the cantilevered frame. The opening and closing unit is revolvable around the one end to move between a closed position where the opening and closing unit covers at least a transport portion by the pair of rollers in the transport path and an open position where the transport position is exposed to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Shinsuke Tomomatsu
  • Patent number: 7900907
    Abstract: A media processing device can convey checks at a constant speed passed an information reading position without slipping and without increasing the relay capacity of the transportation roller. The check processing device 1 has two transportation rollers 31 and 32 between the scanning position 52A of the contact image scanner 52 and the separation roller 17 and retard roller 18 that produce a transportation load or transportation load variation. The upstream-side transportation roller 31 turns faster than the downstream transportation roller 32 so that the checks 4 are fed with slack between these transportation rollers 31 and 32. Because of this slack in the part 402 of the check 4 between the transportation rollers 31 and 32, the transportation load from the separation mechanism does not act on the downstream transportation roller 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Toshiyuki Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20100208311
    Abstract: A scanner unit includes a scanner for imaging a print medium, a base unit that supports the scanner, a pressure feed roller disposed opposite the scanning surface of the scanner, a guide member for guiding the print medium to the scanner, a frame member that supports the pressure feed roller and the guide member, and a motor that drives the pressure feed roller. The frame member is supported pivotably to the base. In other embodiments the scanner unit can include a roller shaft such that the pressure feed roller is coaxially affixed to the roller shaft and the frame member supports the roller shaft, a first gear on the roller shaft, and a second gear that transfers drive power from the motor to the second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Katsuyuki Endo, Sadao Murata
  • Patent number: 7701622
    Abstract: A scanner unit that includes a scanner for imaging a print medium, a base that supports the scanner, a pressure feed roller disposed opposite the scanning surface of the scanner, a guide member for guiding the print medium to the scanner, a frame member that is supported pivotably to the base, and a motor that is supported on the base. The frame member supports the pressure feed roller and guide member and the motor drives the pressure feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Katsuyuki Endo, Sadao Murata
  • Patent number: 7537211
    Abstract: A media transportation mechanism comprising a first transportation roller pair and second transportation roller pair disposed in the transportation path on the upstream and downstream sides, respectively, of image scanners convey a slip over a sliding guide surface. The first transportation roller pair produces a feed force towards the sliding guide surface so as to push the leading end edge of the slip to the sliding guide surface. The second transportation roller pair produces a feed force in the direction away from the sliding guide surface so as to push the trailing end edge of the slip to the sliding guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Norio Nagata