Patents by Inventor Hitotoshi Kimura
Hitotoshi Kimura 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: 11858266Abstract: A printer includes an ink ejecting section that ejects ink from a nozzle, an ink circulation path including an ink flow path through which the ink can be supplied to an ink ejecting section and an ink return path through which the ink supplied to the ink ejecting section is returned, a warming device including a temperature control module provided in the ink circulation path, where the warming device can heat the ink in the temperature control module, and a feed pump that can flow the ink in the ink circulation path, wherein the flow rate of the ink, in the ink circulation path, heated by the warming device is adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kazuhito Hori, Shinya Komatsu, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Patent number: 11845283Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a liquid, a liquid collection device including a band-shaped member configured to come into contact with the liquid ejecting portion to wipe a liquid attached to the liquid ejecting portion, and a winding portion configured to wind up the band-shaped member, a temperature/humidity sensor configured to acquire temperature/humidity information related to a temperature and a humidity around the liquid collection device, and a control portion configured to cause the band-shaped member to come into contact with the liquid ejecting portion to wipe the liquid, and then cause the winding portion to wind up the band-shaped member. The control portion determines, based on the temperature/humidity information acquired by the temperature/humidity sensor, a winding length of the band-shaped member wound by the winding portion after the band-shaped member wipes the liquid.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masanobu Yamaguchi, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Patent number: 11807010Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that has a supply port, a second discharge port, a plurality of nozzles, and a nozzle surface on which a plurality of the nozzles are open, and that discharges the liquid from the nozzles, a liquid supply flow path coupled to the supply port so that the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting portion, and a liquid return flow path coupled to the second discharge port so that the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting portion is returned to the liquid supply flow path, in which a pressure lowering operation of lowering a pressure in the liquid ejecting portion is performed in a state where a flow of the liquid in the liquid return flow path is blocked after performing a pressurization discharge operation of pressurizing the liquid in the liquid ejecting portion and discharging the liquid from the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2023Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tomoki Shinoda, Takeshi Iwamuro, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Publication number: 20230202179Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that has a supply port, a second discharge port, a plurality of nozzles, and a nozzle surface on which a plurality of the nozzles are open, and that discharges the liquid from the nozzles, a liquid supply flow path coupled to the supply port so that the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting portion, and a liquid return flow path coupled to the second discharge port so that the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting portion is returned to the liquid supply flow path, in which a pressure lowering operation of lowering a pressure in the liquid ejecting portion is performed in a state where a flow of the liquid in the liquid return flow path is blocked after performing a pressurization discharge operation of pressurizing the liquid in the liquid ejecting portion and discharging the liquid from the nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Tomoki SHINODA, Takeshi IWAMURO, Hitotoshi KIMURA
-
Patent number: 11623441Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion that ejects a liquid in a pressure chamber from a nozzle that communicates with the pressure chamber, a liquid supply flow path that supplies the liquid stored in a liquid storing portion to the liquid ejecting portion, a degas module provided in the liquid supply flow path, a vacuum degree adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vacuum degree of the degas module, a state detecting mechanism configured to detect a state inside the pressure chamber, and a control portion that drives and controls the vacuum degree adjustment mechanism based on a detecting result of the state detecting mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shinya Komatsu, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Patent number: 11618260Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that has a supply port, a second discharge port, a plurality of nozzles, and a nozzle surface on which a plurality of the nozzles are open, and that discharges the liquid from the nozzles, a liquid supply flow path coupled to the supply port so that the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting portion, and a liquid return flow path coupled to the second discharge port so that the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting portion is returned to the liquid supply flow path, in which a pressure lowering operation of lowering a pressure in the liquid ejecting portion is performed in a state where a flow of the liquid in the liquid return flow path is blocked after performing a pressurization discharge operation of pressurizing the liquid in the liquid ejecting portion and discharging the liquid from the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tomoki Shinoda, Takeshi Iwamuro, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Publication number: 20220379603Abstract: A printer includes an ink ejecting section that ejects ink from a nozzle, an ink circulation path including an ink flow path through which the ink can be supplied to an ink ejecting section and an ink return path through which the ink supplied to the ink ejecting section is returned, a warming device including a temperature control module provided in the ink circulation path, where the warming device can heat the ink in the temperature control module, and a feed pump that can flow the ink in the ink circulation path, wherein the flow rate of the ink, in the ink circulation path, heated by the warming device is adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Kazuhito HORI, Shinya KOMATSU, Hitotoshi KIMURA
-
Patent number: 11504969Abstract: A wiping device includes a feeding portion having a feeding shaft, and configured to hold a band-like member, a pressing unit configured to allow a contact portion located in a contact region of the band-like member, to be brought into contact with a liquid ejecting portion, a winding portion having a winding shaft, and configured to be capable of performing a winding operation for winding the band-like member to move the contact portion in a movement direction, a brake mechanism configured to brake rotation of the feeding shaft, and a contact unit configured to contact the band-like member fed from the feeding portion and to apply tension to the band-like member, the contact unit being movable between an operating time position during the winding operation and a stop time position when the winding operation is not performed.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kazushi Arafuka, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Patent number: 11472185Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a liquid from a nozzle disposed in a nozzle surface; a wiping mechanism configured to execute a wiping operation of wiping the nozzle surface with a strip-shaped member, which is configured to absorb the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting portion, in contact with the nozzle surface; a wiping solution supply mechanism configured to supply a wiping solution to the strip-shaped member before the wiping operation is performed; and a control portion, and the control portion reduces the amount of the wiping solution held in the strip-shaped member in the wiping operation when the nozzle surface with a large amount of the liquid adhering thereto is wiped as compared with the amount of the wiping solution when the nozzle surface with a small amount of the liquid adhering thereto is wiped.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masanobu Yamaguchi, Naoki Yokoyama, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Patent number: 11400719Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a first liquid from a nozzle; a liquid receiving portion configured to receive the first liquid discharged from the nozzle for a purpose of maintenance of the liquid ejecting portion in a state that a second liquid is stored therein; and a discharge portion configured to discharge a liquid stored in the liquid receiving portion. The liquid receiving portion includes: a liquid storing portion that stores the second liquid; a maintenance portion that maintains a liquid surface of the liquid stored in the liquid storing portion at an upper limit position above a discharge port at which the discharge portion discharges the liquid from the liquid storing portion; and a lip portion configured to contact the liquid ejecting portion. The liquid receiving portion is configured to cap a space in which the nozzle opens with the lip portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Satoru Kobayashi, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Patent number: 11400720Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that has a nozzle opening surface on which a plurality of nozzles open, and that ejects a liquid from the nozzles to a medium in an inclined state in which the nozzle opening surface is inclined, a first cleaning portion that has a wiping member configured to wipe the nozzle opening surface by moving relative to the liquid ejecting portion in a state of being in contact with the nozzle opening surface, and a second cleaning portion that is formed of an absorbing member configured to absorb the liquid and that has an end portion cleaning member configured to wipe a lower end of the nozzle opening surface in the inclined state by moving relative to the liquid ejecting portion in a state of being in contact with the lower end.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tomohiro Numajiri, Satoru Kobayashi, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Patent number: 11325383Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that ejects a liquid, a belt-shaped member absorbs the liquid, a feeding portion that retains the belt-shaped member in a rolled state, a pressing portion presses a contact portion of a portion of the belt-shaped member wound off from the feeding portion and bring the contact portion into contact with the liquid ejecting portion, the contact portion being located in a contact area, a winding portion moves the contact portion in a moving direction by winding up the belt-shaped member, and a control portion that, when it is assumed that a contact length is a length of the contact portion along the direction of movement, causes the winding portion to wind up the belt-shaped member corresponding to a length longer than the contact length after bringing the contact portion into contact with the liquid ejecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Yuji Kanazawa, Naoki Yokoyama, Masanobu Yamaguchi, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Patent number: 11285724Abstract: A waste liquid collecting device is a device which is located to face a nozzle surface in which nozzles of a liquid ejecting portion are disposed, which includes a waste liquid receiving member to receive a liquid to be discharged from the nozzles, and which collects the liquid, and the waste liquid receiving member has dripping waste liquid receiving areas which are provided with through-holes and which receive the liquid to drip down after being discharged from the nozzles and staying on the nozzle surface and flushing receiving areas which are not provided with the through-holes and which receive the liquid to be ejected from the nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Chikashi Nakamura, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Publication number: 20220072861Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a liquid, a liquid collection device including a band-shaped member configured to come into contact with the liquid ejecting portion to wipe a liquid attached to the liquid ejecting portion, and a winding portion configured to wind up the band-shaped member, a temperature/humidity sensor configured to acquire temperature/humidity information related to a temperature and a humidity around the liquid collection device, and a control portion configured to cause the band-shaped member to come into contact with the liquid ejecting portion to wipe the liquid, and then cause the winding portion to wind up the band-shaped member. The control portion determines, based on the temperature/humidity information acquired by the temperature/humidity sensor, a winding length of the band-shaped member wound by the winding portion after the band-shaped member wipes the liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Masanobu YAMAGUCHI, Hitotoshi KIMURA
-
Publication number: 20220040974Abstract: A printer includes an ink ejecting section that ejects ink from a nozzle, an ink circulation path including an ink flow path through which the ink can be supplied to an ink ejecting section and an ink return path through which the ink supplied to the ink ejecting section is returned, a warming device including a temperature control module provided in the ink circulation path, where the warming device can heat the ink in the temperature control module, and a feed pump that can flow the ink in the ink circulation path, wherein the flow rate of the ink, in the ink circulation path, heated by the warming device is adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Kazuhito HORI, Shinya KOMATSU, Hitotoshi KIMURA
-
Patent number: 11230115Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion having a filter configured to filter a supplied liquid and eject the liquid filtered by the filter from nozzles, a liquid ejecting portion holding portion replaceably holding the liquid ejecting portion, a liquid supply flow channel coupled to the liquid ejecting portion so as to supply the liquid to the liquid ejecting portion, a flow mechanism configured to flow the liquid, and a control portion configured to drive the flow mechanism to cause the liquid to flow in the liquid supply flow channel toward the liquid ejecting portion in replacement of the liquid ejecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tomoki Shinoda, Takeshi Iwamuro, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Publication number: 20220016888Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that has a supply port, a second discharge port, a plurality of nozzles, and a nozzle surface on which a plurality of the nozzles are open, and that discharges the liquid from the nozzles, a liquid supply flow path coupled to the supply port so that the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting portion, and a liquid return flow path coupled to the second discharge port so that the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting portion is returned to the liquid supply flow path, in which a pressure lowering operation of lowering a pressure in the liquid ejecting portion is performed in a state where a flow of the liquid in the liquid return flow path is blocked after performing a pressurization discharge operation of pressurizing the liquid in the liquid ejecting portion and discharging the liquid from the nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Tomoki SHINODA, Takeshi IWAMURO, Hitotoshi KIMURA
-
Patent number: 11167560Abstract: A damper unit includes a damper chamber which has a wall partially composed of a flexible membrane with a rubber elasticity and which is configured to store a liquid; a gas chamber partitioned from the damper chamber by the flexible membrane; a communication portion provided for the gas chamber so that the gas chamber is in communication with an outside of the damper unit; and a one-way valve provided in the communication portion to allow a gas to flow into the gas chamber from the outside of the damper unit and to restrict a gas to flow from the gas chamber to an outside thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Toshio Kumagai, Yuki Shiohara, Hitotoshi Kimura
-
Publication number: 20210323309Abstract: A wiping device includes a feeding portion having a feeding shaft, and configured to hold a band-like member, a pressing unit configured to allow a contact portion located in a contact region of the band-like member, to be brought into contact with a liquid ejecting portion, a winding portion having a winding shaft, and configured to be capable of performing a winding operation for winding the band-like member to move the contact portion in a movement direction, a brake mechanism configured to brake rotation of the feeding shaft, and a contact unit configured to contact the band-like member fed from the feeding portion and to apply tension to the band-like member, the contact unit being movable between an operating time position during the winding operation and a stop time position when the winding operation is not performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Kazushi ARAFUKA, Hitotoshi KIMURA
-
Patent number: 11148433Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid supply path through which liquid is supplied to a liquid ejecting head, a liquid discharge path through which the liquid is discharged from the liquid ejecting head, a supply-side pressure adjustment mechanism that adjusts a pressure in a supply-side liquid chamber provided in the liquid supply path to a first pressure at which a gas-liquid interface formed at a nozzle of the liquid ejecting head is maintained, a discharge-side pressure adjustment valve that introduces fluid into a discharge-side liquid chamber when a pressure in the discharge-side liquid chamber provided in the liquid discharge path becomes a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure and at which the gas-liquid interface formed at the nozzle is maintained, and a flow mechanism that discharges the liquid in the liquid ejecting head toward the liquid discharge path via the discharge-side liquid chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Nobutoshi Otsuka, Hitotoshi Kimura