Patents by Inventor Hideya Yokouchi

Hideya Yokouchi 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: 8113637
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a supply pump in a liquid supply passage, a first unidirectional valve upstream from the supply pump and a second unidirectional valve downstream from the supply pump. Constituent members each include a single passage forming member provided with a part or the whole of the liquid supply passage. The constituent members are laminated and formed such that a partial passage of the liquid supply passage permitting the first unidirectional valve to communicate with the supply pump and a partial passage thereof permitting the supply pump to communicate with the second unidirectional valve are formed in the laminated state. The supply pump and the first and second unidirectional valves are disposed on the substantially same plane by laminating the constituent members. The first unidirectional valve communicates with the supply pump and the supply pump communicates with the second unidirectional valve by the partial passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideya Yokouchi
  • Patent number: 8079680
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid supply apparatus including a liquid supply path which supplies a liquid from an upstream side, which is a liquid supply source, to a downstream side in which the liquid is consumed; a defoaming chamber which is provided in the liquid supply path and defoams air bubbles included in the liquid; and a depressurization chamber which is provided at a position adjacent to the defoaming chamber with a partition wall interposed therebetween and is depressurized such that the pressure thereof becomes lower than the pressure of the defoaming chamber, wherein the partition wall allows permeation of gas by the depressurization of the depressurization chamber and restricts permeation of the liquid, and wherein an air bubble integrating portion which collects the air bubbles included in the liquid is provided in the defoaming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ito, Hideya Yokouchi
  • Patent number: 8079681
    Abstract: A fluid container holder has an attachment position to which a fluid container can be attached and detached with movement of the fluid container. The fluid container has a cantilevered fluid supply member bringing a holder flow hole into contact with a container flow hole to enable the fluid to flow when the fluid container is attached to the attachment position. The fluid supply member has a free end that can be elastically deformed about a fixed end where the holder flow hole is disposed. A fluid flow channel connecting the holder flow hole to a fluid source is disposed from the free end to the fixed end. The free end is elastically deformed about the fixed end when the fluid container moves to apply a pressing force to the free end in a state where the container flow hole is in contact with the holder flow hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideya Yokouchi
  • Patent number: 8080093
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid supply apparatus including: a liquid supply path which supplies a liquid from an upstream side, which is a liquid supply source, to a downstream side in which the liquid is consumed; a defoaming chamber which is provided in the liquid supply path and defoams air bubbles included in the liquid; and a depressurization chamber which is provided at a position adjacent to the defoaming chamber with a partition interposed therebetween and is depressurized such that the pressure thereof becomes lower than the pressure of the defoaming chamber, wherein the partition allows permeation of gas by the depressurization of the depressurization chamber and restricts permeation of the liquid, and wherein the partition is configured by a partition wall having rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ito, Hideya Yokouchi
  • Patent number: 8070270
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid supply apparatus including: a liquid supply path which supplies a liquid from an upstream side, which is a liquid supply source, to a downstream side in which the liquid is consumed; a defoaming chamber which is provided in the liquid supply path and defoams air bubbles included in the liquid; and a depressurization chamber which is provided at a position adjacent to the defoaming chamber with a partition wall interposed therebetween and is depressurized such that the pressure thereof becomes lower than the pressure of the defoaming chamber, wherein the partition wall allows permeation of gas by the depressurization of the depressurization chamber and restricts permeation of the liquid, wherein the partition wall has rigidity, and wherein the defoaming chamber is arranged in plurality and at least two of the defoaming chambers overlap with one depressurization chamber in an upper and lower direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ito, Hideya Yokouchi
  • Publication number: 20110254895
    Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a fluid ejecting head and a fluid receiver. The fluid ejecting head has an ejection face in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting fluid is formed. The ejection face is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. The fluid receiver receives the fluid discharged from the fluid ejecting head. The fluid receiver includes a holding portion that holds an absorbing member. The absorbing member absorbs the fluid. A fluid reservoir is formed in the fluid receiver. The fluid reservoir can contain the fluid, thereby offering a fluid-retaining function that is different from the retention of the fluid due to absorption by the absorbing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideya Yokouchi
  • Patent number: 8016397
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a liquid supply path for supplying liquid from an upstream, liquid supply side toward a downstream side where the liquid is consumed. A defoaming chamber in the middle of the liquid supply path causes bubbles to escape from the liquid. A decompression chamber adjacent to the defoaming chamber has a partition wall interposed therebetween and is decompressed to have lower pressure than the defoaming chamber. The partition wall allows gas to permeate therethrough by decompression of the decompression chamber and regulates permeation of liquid. The partition wall is formed by a separate member from a decompression chamber forming member that forms the decompression chamber. The partition wall forms a part of an inner surface of the liquid supply path, and the liquid supply path passes along the inside of a wall portion of the decompression chamber in the decompression chamber forming member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ito, Hideya Yokouchi
  • Publication number: 20110199427
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head portion which ejects liquid; a plurality of liquid reception portions which receive the liquid discharged from the head portion and in which flow-out ports of the liquid are provided on the bottoms; a suction pump which is connected to each of the flow-out ports of the plurality of the liquid reception portions and sucks the flow-out ports; and closure members each of which is provided in each of the plurality of liquid reception portions, is formed so as to float in the liquid, and closes each of the flow-out ports in a state where the liquid has flown out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigenori Fukasawa, Hideya Yokouchi
  • Publication number: 20110199424
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejection head for ejecting a liquid, a liquid storage unit which stores the liquid therein, a first supply passage which supplies the liquid from the liquid storage unit to the liquid ejection head, a second supply passage which is provided separately from the first supply passage, and communicates with the liquid ejection head and the liquid storage unit, a liquid driving unit which is able to supply the liquid from the liquid ejection head toward the liquid storage unit in a forward direction in the second supply passage, and a cap unit which comes into close contact with the liquid ejection head so as to close each nozzle of the liquid ejection head. The liquid is supplied in the forward direction by the liquid driving unit in a state where the cap unit comes into close contact with the liquid ejection head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya Yokouchi, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 7992981
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a liquid supply channel that supplies a liquid from an upstream side as a liquid supply source side to a downstream side, where the liquid is consumed, and a pump that pumps a part of the liquid supply channel as a pump chamber. A first one-way valve in the liquid supply channel on an upstream side from the pump chamber permits ink to flow from the upstream side to the downstream side. A second one-way valve on a downstream side from the pump chamber permits ink to flow from the upstream side toward the downstream side. A liquid pressure accumulation unit with a volume variable pressure accumulation chamber is disposed on a downstream side from the second one-way valve to form a part of the liquid supply channel and stores the liquid in a pressure-accumulated state within the pressure accumulation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideya Yokouchi
  • Publication number: 20100245498
    Abstract: A fluid supplying apparatus includes a fluid supplying passage through which fluid is supplied from a fluid supplying source, at an upstream side, toward a downstream side. A pump includes a pump chamber and a first displacement portion. A closing device closes the fluid supplying passage and includes a pressure chamber and a second displacement portion. The second displacement portion is displaced to increase or decrease capacity of the pressure chamber. The second displacement portion is displaced in a direction for decreasing the capacity of the pressure chamber in accordance with negative pressure that is applied from the downstream side of the fluid supplying passage to close the fluid supplying passage. A pressure reduction chamber is formed next to the pressure chamber and is partitioned from the pressure chamber. An opening device opens the fluid supplying passage and reduces internal pressure of the pressure reduction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro KOIZUMI, Hideya YOKOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100238240
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus supplies liquid from a liquid container through a liquid supply path to a recording head. A liquid supply pump drives when a flexible member is displaced such that a volume of a pump chamber is increased or decreased while a part of the liquid supply path is set as the pump chamber. A negative pressure chamber is divided from the pump chamber by the flexible member. A first directional valve in the liquid supply path passes the liquid in one direction toward the supply pump from the liquid container. A second directional valve passes the liquid in one direction toward the liquid ejecting apparatus from the supply pump. A pressure adjustor between the first directional valve and the second directional valve increases a volume of the liquid container when a negative pressure larger than a predetermined pressure is applied to the negative pressure chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya YOKOUCHI, Hiroyuki ITO
  • Publication number: 20100053258
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid transporting method in a liquid ejecting apparatus having a fluid ejecting head having a nozzle, a liquid storing unit connected through a flow passage to the fluid ejecting head, and a suction unit sucking an inner portion of the nozzle from a nozzle opening side, wherein a portion of the flow passage is used as a pump chamber, and a pump driven to change an internal volume of the pump chamber and an output valve opened only at the time when the output valve is pressed from the pump are provided, the liquid transporting method including: performing choke suction of charging the pump with the liquid, and performing a suction operation of sucking the inner portion of the nozzle by using the suction unit, and then, performing a transmission operation of pressing the liquid from the pump to the output valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo SEINO, Masaki UCHIYAMA, Hideya YOKOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100020139
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a liquid supply passage which supplies a liquid from an upstream side on which the liquid is supplied from a liquid supply source to a downstream side on which the liquid is consumed. A pump is provided with a pump chamber in the liquid supply passage. A displacement member forms a part of a wall surface of the pump chamber and is displaceable to increase or decrease the volume of the pump chamber. An urging member urges the displacement member in a direction decreasing the volume of the pump chamber. A displacement mechanism displaces the displacement member in a direction increasing the volume of the pump chamber against an urging force of the urging member upon driving the displacement mechanism. Upon stopping the drive of the displacement mechanism, the pump chamber remains in a pressurized state by the urging force of the urging member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideya YOKOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100020138
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a supply pump in a liquid supply passage, a first unidirectional valve upstream from the supply pump and a second unidirectional valve downstream from the supply pump. Constituent members each include a single passage forming member provided with a part or the whole of the liquid supply passage. The constituent members are laminated and formed such that a partial passage of the liquid supply passage permitting the first unidirectional valve to communicate with the supply pump and a partial passage thereof permitting the supply pump to communicate with the second unidirectional valve are formed in the laminated state. The supply pump and the first and second unidirectional valves are disposed on the substantially same plane by laminating the constituent members. The first unidirectional valve communicates with the supply pump and the supply pump communicates with the second unidirectional valve by the partial passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideya YOKOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100020140
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a liquid supply passage which supplies a liquid from an upstream side where it is supplied from a liquid supply source to a downstream side where it is consumed. A passage forming member has a shape in which the liquid supply passage is formed. A flexible diaphragm forming member has a diaphragm forming part of a wall surface of a pump chamber in the liquid supply passage and is displaceable to change the volume of the pump chamber. A lamination structure is formed by laminating the diaphragm forming member and the passage forming member to form the pump chamber between facing surfaces thereof. A portion corresponding to the outer circumference of the diaphragm forming member has an outer circumference sealing portion preventing liquid, which has leaked from the liquid supply passage to a space between the facing surfaces, from flowing outside the lamination structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideya YOKOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100020137
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes: a supply pump which is provided in a liquid supply passage; a first unidirectional valve which is provided on an upstream side of the supply pump; a second unidirectional valve which is provided on a downstream side of the supply pump; a first member; a second member; and a flexible member. The supply pump and the first and second unidirectional valves are formed such that the flexible member is interposed between the first and second members and held by locking a locking unit in the state where the flexible member is interposed between the first and second members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideya YOKOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20090179973
    Abstract: A fluid container holder has an attachment position to which a fluid container can be attached and detached with movement of the fluid container. The fluid container has a cantilevered fluid supply member bringing a holder flow hole into contact with a container flow hole to enable the fluid to flow when the fluid container is attached to the attachment position. The fluid supply member has a free end that can be elastically deformed about a fixed end where the holder flow hole is disposed. A fluid flow channel connecting the holder flow hole to a fluid source is disposed from the free end to the fixed end. The free end is elastically deformed about the fixed end when the fluid container moves to apply a pressing force to the free end in a state where the container flow hole is in contact with the holder flow hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideya YOKOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20090167795
    Abstract: A liquid supply unit includes a liquid supply passage that supplies liquid from a liquid supply source on the upstream side to a liquid consuming section on the downstream side, a pump that operates using a part of the liquid supply passage as a pump chamber, and a control unit that determines the need for driving the pump after the consuming of liquid in the liquid consuming section and drives the pump on the basis of the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideya YOKOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20090160921
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a liquid supply path for supplying liquid from an upstream, liquid supply side toward a downstream side where the liquid is consumed. A defoaming chamber in the middle of the liquid supply path causes bubbles to escape from the liquid. A decompression chamber adjacent to the defoaming chamber has a partition wall interposed therebetween and is decompressed to have lower pressure than the defoaming chamber. The partition wall allows gas to permeate therethrough by decompression of the decompression chamber and regulates permeation of liquid. The partition wall is formed by a separate member from a decompression chamber forming member that forms the decompression chamber. The partition wall forms a part of an inner surface of the liquid supply path, and the liquid supply path passes along the inside of a wall portion of the decompression chamber in the decompression chamber forming member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ITO, Hideya YOKOUCHI