Patents by Inventor Hiroya Fukuta
Hiroya Fukuta 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).
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Patent number: 10981387Abstract: A printer includes a head including a plurality of ink ejecting units for ejecting different types of inks from nozzles, a waste liquid flow path that is a flow path of ink sucked from the nozzles, a suction unit that performs an ink suction operation of sucking the ink from the nozzles of the ink ejecting units via the waste liquid flow path, and a cleaning operation of sucking the cleaning liquid from nozzles via the waste liquid flow path, and a control unit that controls the suction unit so as to vary a suction amount of the cleaning liquid depending on the type of the ink sucked by the ink suction operation when the cleaning operation is performed.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hiroya Fukuta, Takeshi Yoshida
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Patent number: 10875320Abstract: A printer device includes: an ink circulation flow path in which ink is circulated; a discharge head that discharges the ink supplied from the ink circulation flow path; a circulation pump and a circulation motor that circulate the ink in the ink circulation flow path; a circulation filter provided in the ink circulation flow path; and control unit that determines a blocked state of the circulation filter and performs drive control of the circulation motor in accordance with a determination result, and the control unit drives the circulation motor in a first mode until it is determined that the circulation filter is in a blocked state, and after it is determined that the circulation filter is in a blocked state, the control unit drives the circulation motor in a second mode that provides a smaller circulation rate than the first mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hiroya Fukuta, Takeshi Yoshida
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Patent number: 10780701Abstract: A printer includes a head including an ink ejecting unit for ejecting ink from a nozzle, a waste liquid flow path that is a flow path of ink sucked from the nozzle, a suction unit that performs an ink suction operation of sucking the ink from the nozzle via the waste liquid flow path, and a cleaning operation of sucking cleaning liquid from the nozzle via the waste liquid flow path, and a control unit that controls the suction unit so as to vary a suction amount of the cleaning liquid depending on an elapsed time from when the ink suction operation is performed, when the cleaning operation is performed.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hiroya Fukuta, Takeshi Yoshida
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Publication number: 20190263137Abstract: A printer device includes: an ink circulation flow path in which ink is circulated; a discharge head that discharges the ink supplied from the ink circulation flow path; a circulation pump and a circulation motor that circulate the ink in the ink circulation flow path; a circulation filter provided in the ink circulation flow path; and control unit that determines a blocked state of the circulation filter and performs drive control of the circulation motor in accordance with a determination result, and the control unit drives the circulation motor in a first mode until it is determined that the circulation filter is in a blocked state, and after it is determined that the circulation filter is in a blocked state, the control unit drives the circulation motor in a second mode that provides a smaller circulation rate than the first mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Hiroya FUKUTA, Takeshi YOSHIDA
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Publication number: 20190232663Abstract: A printer includes a head including an ink ejecting unit for ejecting ink from a nozzle, a waste liquid flow path that is a flow path of ink sucked from the nozzle, a suction unit that performs an ink suction operation of sucking the ink from the nozzle via the waste liquid flow path, and a cleaning operation of sucking cleaning liquid from the nozzle via the waste liquid flow path, and a control unit that controls the suction unit so as to vary a suction amount of the cleaning liquid depending on an elapsed time from when the ink suction operation is performed, when the cleaning operation is performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Hiroya FUKUTA, Takeshi YOSHIDA
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Publication number: 20190232664Abstract: A printer includes a head including a plurality of ink ejecting units for ejecting different types of inks from nozzles, a waste liquid flow path that is a flow path of ink sucked from the nozzles, a suction unit that performs an ink suction operation of sucking the ink from the nozzles of the ink ejecting units via the waste liquid flow path, and a cleaning operation of sucking the cleaning liquid from nozzles via the waste liquid flow path, and a control unit that controls the suction unit so as to vary a suction amount of the cleaning liquid depending on the type of the ink sucked by the ink suction operation when the cleaning operation is performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Hiroya FUKUTA, Takeshi YOSHIDA
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Patent number: 9703258Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing configured to store a developing agent, a developing agent carrying member disposed rotatably in the casing and configured to carry the developing agent, and a layer-thickness regulating member configured to regulate a thickness of a layer of the developing agent. The casing includes an attachment portion to which the layer-thickness regulating member is attached, a receiving portion configured to receive pressing force for pressing the developing agent carrying member toward an image carrying member in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the developing agent carrying member, and a wall portion disposed between the attachment portion and the receiving portion. The receiving portion is disposed to overlap with at least a portion of the attachment portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the developing agent carrying member.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Soun Kanada, Satoru Ishikawa, Hiroya Fukuta, Ryuji Noda, Takashi Shimizu
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Patent number: 9477180Abstract: A developing device includes: an agitation member including an agitation film; and a housing including a first frame and a second frame jointed to the first frame. The second frame includes: a first contact part configured to contact the agitation film, and a second contact part configured to contact the agitation film, arranged at a downstream side of the first contact part, the second contact part protruding towards the first frame. A first distance from the rotational axis line to the first contact part, as seen from a direction of the rotational axis line, is gradually increased towards a downstream side with respect to the rotating direction. A second distance from the rotational axis line to the second contact part is equal to or greater than a maximum distance from the rotational axis line to the first contact part.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroya Fukuta, Fan Xu, Keita Shimizu
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Patent number: 9471010Abstract: A developing device includes a casing configured to store a developing agent and a developing agent carrier configured to carry the developing agent in the casing. The developing agent carrier is configured to rotate about an axis extending in a first direction. The developing device further includes a layer-thickness regulating member configured to regulate a thickness of a layer of the developing agent carried on the developing agent carrier and a first seal member disposed between the layer-thickness regulating blade and the casing. The first seal member extends along the first direction. The casing includes a first regulating portion configured to regulate a movement of the first seal member in the first direction by contacting a surface of the first seal member non-parallel to the first direction. The first regulating portion may include protrusions and/or indentations to regulate the movement of the first seal member.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroya Fukuta, Fan Xu
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Patent number: 9417558Abstract: A development cartridge including a housing, a developer carrying body rotating around a first axis along a first direction, a supply member rotating around a second axis along the first direction, a first gear connected with the developer carrying body, a second gear connected with the supply member, and a gear cover covering the first gear and the second gear, the gear cover including a first cover portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second cover portion connected with the first cover portion, the second cover portion extending in the first direction, the second cover portion having an opening through which a part of the second gear protrudes from the second cover portion and is exposed.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya, Soun Kanada, Hirofumi Kuriki, Hiroya Fukuta
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Publication number: 20160154339Abstract: A development cartridge including a housing, a developer carrying body rotating around a first axis along a first direction, a supply member rotating around a second axis along the first direction, a first gear connected with the developer carrying body, a second gear connected with the supply member, and a gear cover covering the first gear and the second gear, the gear cover including a first cover portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second cover portion connected with the first cover portion, the second cover portion extending in the first direction, the second cover portion having an opening through which a part of the second gear protrudes from the second cover portion and is exposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2016Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya, Soun Kanada, Hirofumi Kuriki, Hiroya Fukuta
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Patent number: 9256195Abstract: A development cartridge including a housing, a developer carrying body rotating around a first axis along a first direction, a supply member rotating around a second axis along the first direction, a first gear connected with the developer carrying body, a second gear connected with the supply member, and a gear cover covering the first gear and the second gear, the gear cover including a first cover portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second cover portion connected with the first cover portion, the second cover portion extending in the first direction, the second cover portion having an opening through which a part of the second gear protrudes from the second cover portion and is exposed.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya, Soun Kanada, Hirofumi Kuriki, Hiroya Fukuta
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Publication number: 20150192881Abstract: A developing device includes: an agitation member including an agitation film; and a housing including a first frame and a second frame jointed to the first frame. The second frame includes: a first contact part configured to contact the agitation film, and a second contact part configured to contact the agitation film, arranged at a downstream side of the first contact part, the second contact part protruding towards the first frame. A first distance from the rotational axis line to the first contact part, as seen from a direction of the rotational axis line, is gradually increased towards a downstream side with respect to the rotating direction. A second distance from the rotational axis line to the second contact part is equal to or greater than a maximum distance from the rotational axis line to the first contact part.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2015Publication date: July 9, 2015Inventors: Hiroya Fukuta, Fan Xu, Keita Shimizu
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Publication number: 20150139692Abstract: A development cartridge including a housing, a developer carrying body rotating around a first axis along a first direction, a supply member rotating around a second axis along the first direction, a first gear connected with the developer carrying body, a second gear connected with the supply member, and a gear cover covering the first gear and the second gear, the gear cover including a first cover portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second cover portion connected with the first cover portion, the second cover portion extending in the first direction, the second cover portion having an opening through which a part of the second gear protrudes from the second cover portion and is exposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: Takashi Shimizu, Atsushi Fukaya, Soun Kanada, Hirofumi Kuriki, Hiroya Fukuta
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Publication number: 20150023694Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing configured to store a developing agent, a developing agent carrying member disposed rotatably in the casing and configured to carry the developing agent, and a layer-thickness regulating member configured to regulate a thickness of a layer of the developing agent. The casing includes an attachment portion to which the layer-thickness regulating member is attached, a receiving portion configured to receive pressing force for pressing the developing agent carrying member toward an image carrying member in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the developing agent carrying member, and a wall portion disposed between the attachment portion and the receiving portion. The receiving portion is disposed to overlap with at least a portion of the attachment portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the developing agent carrying member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Soun Kanada, Satoru Ishikawa, Hiroya Fukuta, Ryuji Noda, Takashi Shimizu
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Publication number: 20150003864Abstract: A developing device includes a casing configured to store a developing agent and a developing agent carrier configured to carry the developing agent in the casing. The developing agent carrier is configured to rotate about an axis extending in a first direction. The developing device further includes a layer-thickness regulating member configured to regulate a thickness of a layer of the developing agent carried on the developing agent carrier and a first seal member disposed between the layer-thickness regulating blade and the casing. The first seal member extends along the first direction. The casing includes a first regulating portion configured to regulate a movement of the first seal member in the first direction by contacting a surface of the first seal member non-parallel to the first direction. The first regulating portion may include protrusions and/or indentations to regulate the movement of the first seal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroya Fukuta, Fan Xu
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Patent number: 8630554Abstract: The image forming device includes a main body and a cartridge that is detachably mountable on the main body. The cartridge includes the image bearing member, the first and second cleaning roller, and the state changing unit. The first cleaning roller cleans the image bearing member and the second cleaning roller cleans the first cleaning roller. The state changing unit is configured to irreversibly change an electrically disconnected state between the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller into an electrically connected state between the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller. The resetting unit is configured to reset the cumulative value when the current detecting unit does not detect current before the image bearing member rotates and detects current after the image bearing member rotates.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroya Fukuta
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Patent number: 8275276Abstract: An image forming device includes a photosensitive member, a charger, an exposing unit, a developing unit and a control unit. The charger charges the photosensitive member, and the exposing unit exposes the photosensitive member to light and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. The developing unit develops the electrostatic latent image formed and has a developing member having a surface potential and developer charged to a polarity. The control unit applies a first voltage having a first absolute value to the charger at least during development while applying a second voltage having a second absolute value to the charger during operations other than development. The first voltage, the second voltage and the surface potential have the same polarity as the developer with the first voltage absolute value being greater than the second voltage absolute value which is greater than an absolute value of the surface potential.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroya Fukuta
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Publication number: 20120033981Abstract: The image forming device includes a main body and a cartridge that is detachably mountable on the main body. The cartridge includes the image bearing member, the first and second cleaning roller, and the state changing unit. The first cleaning roller cleans the image bearing member and the second cleaning roller cleans the first cleaning roller. The state changing unit is configured to irreversibly change an electrically disconnected state between the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller into an electrically connected state between the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller. The resetting unit is configured to reset the cumulative value when the current detecting unit does not detect current before the image bearing member rotates and detects current after the image bearing member rotates.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroya FUKUTA
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Patent number: 7899367Abstract: An agitator includes a film formed with one or more slits. The film may be partitioned into two or more areas by the slits, substantially equally in an axial direction of a rotating shaft of the film. In both ends of a film holding member, supporting plates may be disposed at positions facing outer ends of both end areas of the film with respect to the axial direction. With this structure, during rotation of the agitator, greater stress may be produced in the outer end of each end area than in an inner end of each end area and a center area in its entirety. Thus, a component applied in a direction along the rotating shaft may be applied to a direction in which developer is fed, so that an adequate amount of developer may be supplied.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroya Fukuta