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).
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Publication number: 20080117270Abstract: Provided is a liquid-jet apparatus which can suppress liquid consumption by preventing air that can turn into bubbles from entering a liquid introducing columnar body in replacement of a liquid storage member and thus reducing a frequency of execution of a cleaning operation for discharging the bubbles inside a liquid passage. An ink introducing needle 21 in a printer includes: a needle-like protrusion 23 having a tapered portion 48 whose diameter is gradually increased toward its base from its tip; and a straight portion 51 formed linearly and continuously from the tapered portion 48. In the tapered portion 48 of the needle-like protrusion 23 in the ink introducing needle 21, groove portions 54 extending to an edge portion of the tapered portion 48 are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2007Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Yasunori KOIKE, Katsuhiro OKUBO, Noriaki OKAZAWA, Keiichi KUMAGAI, Takeshi FUJISHIRO
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Publication number: 20080030531Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus and a liquid jetting method are achieved that can prevent unexpected landing position displacement relating to satellite droplets.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2007Publication date: February 7, 2008Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Yue GAO, Katsuhiro OKUBO
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Publication number: 20070252877Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a head main body including a plurality of nozzle openings that eject a liquid; a first supply channel that supplies the liquid from a reservoir unit containing the liquid to the head main body for each nozzle group of the head main body; a first filter disposed at a halfway position of the first supply channel; a filter chamber that is provided as an enlarged width portion for accommodating the first filter; a second supply channel that communicates with the upstream side of the filter chamber of the first supply channel and that communicates with the downstream side of the filter chamber; and a second filter that is provided on an opening of the second supply channel, the opening communicating with the upstream side of the filter chamber of the first supply channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2007Publication date: November 1, 2007Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Katsuhiro OKUBO
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Patent number: 7237878Abstract: A vibration plate forms a part of a pressure chamber communicated with a nozzle orifice from which a liquid droplet is ejected. The pressure chamber is defined by first edges extending in a first direction with a first dimension and second edges extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction with a second dimension shorter than the first dimension. A piezoelectric vibrator is disposed on the vibration plate so as to oppose to the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric vibrator includes a drive electrode extending beyond one of the second edges, a first piezoelectric layer laminated on the drive electrode so as to extend beyond the second edges, and a first common electrode laminated on the first piezoelectric layer. A drive terminal is electrically connected to the drive electrode to supply a drive signal thereto.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2003Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
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Patent number: 7168786Abstract: A plurality of nozzles forms the first row of nozzles, the second row of nozzles, the third row of nozzles and the fourth row of nozzles, which extend in parallel with a sub scanning direction. A black ink is adapted to be supplied to one row of nozzles. Color inks are adapted to be supplied to the other rows of nozzles, the color inks being different for each of the other rows of nozzles. Positions of the second row of nozzles to the fourth row of nozzles are shifted by ? or ? of an arrangement pitch of the nozzles, in the sub scanning direction, for each of the rows of nozzles, with respect to positions of the first row of nozzles. In a high-speed black mode, the color inks are ejected from corresponding nozzles, in connection with ink ejection of the black ink from corresponding nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Ryoichi Tanaka, Akira Takagi, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Katsuhiro Okubo, Tatsuya Nakano
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Publication number: 20060164467Abstract: A conductive nozzle plate is formed with a nozzle orifice. An insulative layer is formed on a first face of the nozzle plate. A head body includes a pressure chamber adapted to contain liquid therein and a pressure generating element operable to cause pressure fluctuation in the liquid. The head body is attached to a second face of the nozzle plate so as to communicate the pressure chamber with the nozzle orifice. The second face of the nozzle plate and the head body are fixed to a head case. A conductive head cover covers a part of the first face of the nozzle plate while exposing the nozzle orifice. A part of the nozzle plate and the head cover directly come into contact with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2005Publication date: July 27, 2006Inventors: Hirokazu Shibuya, Yasunori Koike, Noriaki Okazawa, Katsuhiro Okubo, Gaku Ko, Tatsuo Akatsu, Takateru Yamashita
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Publication number: 20050270317Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus and a liquid jetting method are achieved that can prevent unexpected landing position displacement relating to satellite droplets.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2005Publication date: December 8, 2005Inventors: Yue Gao, Katsuhiro Okubo
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Patent number: 6945637Abstract: A vibration plate forms a part of each of pressure chambers communicated with a nozzle orifice from which a liquid droplet is ejected. A plurality of piezoelectric vibrators include a drive vibrator and a dummy vibrator which are disposed on the vibration plate such that at least the drive vibrator opposes to each of the pressure chambers. The drive vibrator is provided with a drive electrode, a first piezoelectric layer laminated on the drive electrode, and a first common electrode laminated on the first piezoelectric layer. The dummy vibrator is provided with a connection electrode electrically connected to the first common electrode, a second piezoelectric layer laminated on the connection electrode, and a second common electrode laminated on the second piezoelectric layer and electrically connected to the first common electrode. A first terminal is electrically connected to the drive electrode to supply a drive signal thereto.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
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Publication number: 20050200641Abstract: A plurality of nozzles forms the first row of nozzles, the second row of nozzles, the third row of nozzles and the fourth row of nozzles, which extend in parallel with a sub scanning direction. A black ink is adapted to be supplied to one row of nozzles. Color inks are adapted to be supplied to the other rows of nozzles, the color inks being different for each of the other rows of nozzles. Positions of the second row of nozzles to the fourth row of nozzles are shifted by ? or ? of an arrangement pitch of the nozzles, in the sub scanning direction, for each of the rows of nozzles, with respect to positions of the first row of nozzles. In a high-speed black mode, the color inks are ejected from corresponding nozzles, in connection with ink ejection of the black ink from corresponding nozzles.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2004Publication date: September 15, 2005Inventors: Ryoichi Tanaka, Akira Takagi, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Katsuhiro Okubo, Tatsuya Nakano
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Publication number: 20030214563Abstract: A vibration plate forms a part of each of pressure chambers communicated with a nozzle orifice from which a liquid droplet is ejected. A plurality of piezoelectric vibrators include a drive vibrator and a dummy vibrator which are disposed on the vibration plate such that at least the drive vibrator opposes to each of the pressure chambers. The drive vibrator is provided with a drive electrode, a first piezoelectric layer laminated on the drive electrode, and a first common electrode laminated on the first piezoelectric layer. The dummy vibrator is provided with a connection electrode electrically connected to the first common electrode, a second piezoelectric layer laminated on the connection electrode, and a second common electrode laminated on the second piezoelectric layer and electrically connected to the first common electrode. A first terminal is electrically connected to the drive electrode to supply a drive signal thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
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Publication number: 20030210308Abstract: A vibration plate forms a part of a pressure chamber communicated with a nozzle orifice from which a liquid droplet is ejected. The pressure chamber is defined by first edges extending in a first direction with a first dimension and second edges extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction with a second dimension shorter than the first dimension. A piezoelectric vibrator is disposed on the vibration plate so as to oppose to the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric vibrator includes a drive electrode extending beyond one of the second edges, a first piezoelectric layer laminated on the drive electrode so as to extend beyond the second edges, and a first common electrode laminated on the first piezoelectric layer. A drive terminal is electrically connected to the drive electrode to supply a drive signal thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2003Publication date: November 13, 2003Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
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Patent number: 6634742Abstract: Ink flow paths are formed that corresponds in number to the ink chambers of a mounted ink cartridge, to supply ink from the ink chambers to a recording head. These ink flow paths are constituted by first communication paths (59, 60), which communicate with the ink outlets of corresponding ink chambers, second communication paths (61, 67), which communicate with the corresponding ink inlets of the recording head, and convergent flow paths (65), which connect the first and the second communication paths and converge as they approach the recording head. Filters (56) are located in the second communication paths.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hiroshige Owaki, Fujio Akahane, Takayuki Iijima, Katsuhiro Okubo
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Patent number: 6375316Abstract: An ink feed container that accommodates a plurality of ink storage bags in a small space. Ink storage bags are accommodated in a case main body, and are separated by a partitioning plate. The partitioning plate has at least one partitioning plate engaging part which engages with the case main body.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Katsuhiro Okubo, Katsuhiko Iida
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Publication number: 20010030676Abstract: Ink flow paths are formed that corresponds in number to the ink chambers of a mounted ink cartridge, to supply ink from the ink chambers to a recording head. These ink flow paths are constituted by first communication paths (59, 60), which communicate with the ink outlets of corresponding ink chambers, second communication paths (61, 67), which communicate with the corresponding ink inlets of the recording head, and convergent flow paths (65), which connect the first and the second communication paths and converge as they approach the recording head. Filters (56) are located in the second communication paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2001Publication date: October 18, 2001Inventors: Hiroshige Owaki, Fujio Akahane, Takayuki Iijima, Katsuhiro Okubo
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Patent number: 6190006Abstract: Segment terminal electrodes for connecting to the segment terminals of TCP and common terminal electrodes at both ends in a direction in which these segment terminal electrodes are arranged are formed on the surface of an actuator unit and the common terminal electrodes at both ends of each row are connected via conductive members. Each grounding conductor on TCP is mutually connected via each common terminal electrode component on the actuator unit. Therefore, the common terminal electrodes on plural actuator units can conduct to grounding conductors.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1998Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Norihiko Kurashima, Shuji Yonekubo, Katsuhiro Okubo
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Patent number: 6106112Abstract: An ink feed container that accommodates a plurality of ink storage bags in a small space. Ink storage bags are accommodated in a case main body separated by a partitioning plate. Detectable pieces of detection plates, which are mounted on the ink storage bags, are positioned so that they deviate from each other. Pointed ends on the detectable pieces are arranged at uniform heights. When an ink storage bag becomes empty, the corresponding detectable piece displaces a common detection lever.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1998Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Katsuhiro Okubo, Katsuhiko Iida
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Patent number: D447169Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1998Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Katsuhiro Okubo, Takao Kobayashi, Masahiro Isono, Seiji Mochizuki