Patents by Inventor Katsuhiro Okubo

Katsuhiro Okubo 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: 20140285575
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a plurality of head units, in each of which a plurality of recording heads are disposed so as to be aligned in a main scanning direction in a holding member as a frame body, and a plurality of nozzle openings for discharging ink being disposed in a sub scanning direction in each recording head. The head units are aligned such that center lines thereof in the main scanning direction differ from each other in the main scanning direction. M (M is a natural number) liquid ejecting heads are attachable to each holding member in the main scanning direction. N (M>N (N is a natural number)) liquid ejecting heads, which discharge liquid, among the M liquid ejecting heads are arranged so as to be close to a center side of an entire width of the head units in the main scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshige OWAKI, Mikio KITAGISHI, Tomohiro YUDA, Katsuhiro OKUBO
  • Patent number: 8820905
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a head body which ejects a liquid supplied from a liquid storing member via a liquid supply path; a first supply member which is provided with a first liquid supply path forming a part of the liquid supply path; a second supply member which is provided with a second liquid supply path communicating with the first liquid supply path and forming a part of the liquid supply path, and which supplies the liquid to the head body; and a filter which is sandwiched between the first and second liquid supply paths, wherein a sandwiching portion including the first and second supply members and sandwiching the filter includes an inclination portion that is inclined to the downstream side so as to face the outside of the liquid supply path. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes the liquid ejecting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Munehide Kanaya, Katsuhiro Okubo, Nobuyoshi Uji, Kazuhide Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140240401
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a first-member that has a first liquid-flow-path and discharges liquid in the first liquid-flow-path from a nozzle; a second-member that has a second liquid-flow-path communicating with the first liquid-flow-path; a seal-member that seals a coupling portion between the first liquid-flow-path of the first-member and the second liquid-flow-path of the second-member; and a support-member that is fixed to the first-member at a fixing area side which is located in a position different from a position where the nozzle is located when a plane in which the nozzle is formed is seen from above. The support-member is supported at the fixing area and projects toward the coupling portion, and supports, at a coupling portion side, the seal member at a first-member-side of the seal-member. The seal-member seals the coupling portion by applying pressure in a diameter direction of the first liquid-flow-path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8596743
    Abstract: The circuit board holding section between the first and second holding members is sealed by an adhesive in an area other than an area where a connection wiring is connected to the circuit board, the first and second holding members are fixed to each other by engaging engaging claws, which are provided in two or more side surfaces at the outer circumference of one of the first and second holding members, with the other holding member, and the first and second holding members are fixed to each other by screw members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Suzuki, Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Publication number: 20130293635
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes a plurality of liquid ejecting heads each having a liquid ejecting surface provided with a nozzle row in which nozzle openings through which liquid is discharged are aligned in a first direction, and a holding member having a holder to which the liquid ejecting head is attached. Further, in the above liquid ejecting head unit, a positioning reference that specifies relative positions between the liquid ejecting heads is provided to the holder, and the liquid ejecting head is fixed to the holder being positioned in compliance with the positioning reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshige OWAKI, Katsuhiro OKUBO
  • Publication number: 20130293627
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid through a nozzle formed in a nozzle surface, and a holding member to which the liquid ejecting head is attached. Further, in the liquid ejecting head unit, the holding member includes a holder that supports the liquid ejecting head in a predetermine direction which is different from a direction of the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head, and a base portion that sticks out from the holder to a side which is parallel to the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ISHII, Hiroshige OWAKI, Katsuhiro OKUBO, Hiroyuki HAGIWARA
  • Publication number: 20130265363
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes: a liquid ejecting head that has a fixing face to be used for attachment and that ejects a liquid from a nozzle; a head fixing member that has stiffness higher than that of the fixing face and that is secured to the fixing face on the liquid ejecting head; and a support member that has an attachment face to which the liquid ejecting head is attached through the head fixing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ISHII, Hiroshige OWAKI, Katsuhiro OKUBO
  • Patent number: 8449094
    Abstract: Ink solvent having reached a buffer chamber through a manifold and a flexible portion is discharged in a direction different from the direction in which a holder opening is provided. Accordingly, the ink solvent is less likely to reach a connecting portion of a lead electrode and a COF substrate through the holder opening, a through-hole, and a support hole, through which the COF substrate extends. Thus, it is possible to make the solvent take a long time to reach the connecting portion, achieving an ink jet recording head in which the time taken to cause poor contact between the lead electrode and the COF substrate occurs is longer than that in the case where the solvent is discharged in the same direction as the direction in which the holder opening is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8425009
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes a head body which discharges liquid droplets; a wiring substrate which stands in a predetermined direction different from the discharging direction of the liquid from the head body in order to supply a driving signal, which drives the head body, to the head body; and a liquid flow channel unit which is disposed at a position overlapping with the wiring substrate in the predetermined direction, is integrally combined with the head body so that the flow channel is in direct communication with the head body, and includes a pressure chamber having a damper function of which at least a portion of wall surface is formed of a film member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8398214
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting head including a channel forming member in which a pressure generating chamber is provided, a piezoelectric element that is provided at one surface side of the channel forming member, a terminal portion electrically connected to the piezoelectric element; the terminal portion being provided at the one surface side of the channel forming member, a wiring substrate which has a wiring layer, and an adhesive layer for electrically connecting the wiring layer and the terminal portion and for combing the wiring substrate and the channel forming member, the adhesive layer being formed by an anisotropic conductive material. A gap layer that is electrically discontinuous with the terminal portion and the wiring layer is provided on at least one surface of the channel forming member and the wiring substrate in an area in which the adhesive layer is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8376517
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid flow passage unit that is disposed between a liquid supply source storing liquid and a head main body and that forms a part of a flow passage leading from the liquid supply source to the head main body, includes bringing a film member into contact with a protrusion formed on the edge of an opening of a flow passage for liquid formed in a main body member made of resin, so as to cover the opening with the film member, pressing the film member covering the opening toward the flow passage, so as to apply a predetermined tension to the film member, and integrally molding a sealing member by pouring resin on the edge of the tensioned film member, so as to fix the film member between the sealing member and the main body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8337005
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a head main body, an ink supply needle, a cartridge case, a filter which is nipped between the first ink supply path and the second ink supply path, an integral molding portion which integrally molds and bonds the ink supply needle and the cartridge case, and a rib which is arranged so as to extend into the second ink supply path continuously from a wall of the cartridge case along a line passing through a center of the filter in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which warpage of the integral molding portion is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8329086
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head which includes a head main body having nozzles ejecting a liquid supplied via a liquid supply passage, a first supply member having a first liquid supply passage forming a part of the liquid supply passage, a second supply member disposed on a downstream side of the first supply member and having a second liquid supply passage communicating with the first liquid supply passage and forming a part of the liquid supply passage, a filter disposed between the first and second supply members so as to cross the liquid supply passage, and an integrally molded member fixing the first and second supply members by a resin in a state where the filter is nipped between the first and second supply members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Katsuhiro Okubo, Kazuhide Nakamura, Nobuyoshi Uji
  • Publication number: 20120249684
    Abstract: Ink solvent having reached a buffer chamber through a manifold and a flexible portion is discharged in a direction different from the direction in which a holder opening is provided. Accordingly, the ink solvent is less likely to reach a connecting portion of a lead electrode and a COF substrate through the holder opening, a through-hole, and a support hole, through which the COF substrate extends. Thus, it is possible to make the solvent take a long time to reach the connecting portion, achieving an ink jet recording head in which the time taken to cause poor contact between the lead electrode and the COF substrate occurs is longer than that in the case where the solvent is discharged in the same direction as the direction in which the holder opening is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8210656
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a plurality of head main bodies in which nozzle openings are arranged and manifolds communicate with the nozzle openings; and a passage member which includes a plurality of passages supplying a liquid supplied from an upstream side to the plurality of manifolds of the head main bodies. The plurality of head main bodies is disposed so that the manifolds are arranged in a first direction. The plurality of passages of the passage member includes a passage group in which an outflow port communicating with the manifold is disposed in the first direction and an inflow port to which the liquid is supplied from the upstream side is disposed in a second direction intersecting the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Suzuki, Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8171635
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head is disclosed. The head includes first and second supply members forming parts of a liquid supply passage. The liquid ejecting head includes a filter disposed between the first and second supply members so as to cross the liquid supply passage, and an integrally molded member fixing the first and second supply members by a resin in a state where the filter is nipped between the first and second supply members. The method includes: disposing the filter in one of the first and second supply members; nipping the filter by the first and second supply members in a state where the filter is sucked, adsorbed, and positioned via a suction hole of the first or second supply member; and forming the integrally molded member in the state where the filter is nipped between the first and second supply members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Katsuhiro Okubo, Kazuhide Nakamura, Nobuyoshi Uji
  • Patent number: 8157366
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a reservoir provided along a direction, the reservoir including a first area and a second area of a width smaller than that of the first area in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the pressure generating chambers are parallelly-arranged; and compliance member provided in an area corresponding to the reservoir. The compliance member includes a first compliance section formed at one of the upper and lower surface sides of the reservoir and a second compliance section formed at the other of the upper and lower surface sides of the reservoir. The first compliance section is formed at an area corresponding to both the first area and the second area of the reservoir, and the second compliance section is not formed in at least an area corresponding to a part of the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8104883
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting head including a plurality of pressure generating chambers, a first substrate having a reservoir unit, and a second substrate having a compliance unit, the second substrate being combined with one surface of the first substrate via an adhesive layer. The reservoir unit has a first area and a second area whose width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the pressure generating chambers is smaller than a width of the first area, the compliance unit is provided to seal the reservoir unit and the surrounding of the compliance unit is fixed by the adhesive layer, and a width of the compliance unit corresponding to the second area of the reservoir unit is formed so as to be larger than the width of the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8047635
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a reservoir forming substrate provided with a reservoir serving as a common liquid chamber; in which at least a portion of a wall surface of the reservoir is an inclined surface, a lower side of the reservoir in a vertical direction is provided with a lower portion of which a width is wider than an upper portion of the reservoir in the vertical direction thanks to the inclined surface, a compliance portion which absorbs pressure of the reservoir is disposed at an area which faces the lower portion and has a shape corresponding to the lower portion, and the reservoir communicates with an upper portion of each of the pressure generating chambers in the vertical direction rather than a lower portion of each of pressure generating chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Publication number: 20110254892
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a head main body, an ink supply needle, a cartridge case, a filter which is nipped between the first ink supply path and the second ink supply path, an integral molding portion which integrally molds and bonds the ink supply needle and the cartridge case, and a rib which is arranged so as to extend into the second ink supply path continuously from a wall of the cartridge case along a line passing through a center of the filter in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which warpage of the integral molding portion is larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo