Patents by Inventor Kazutomo Seki

Kazutomo Seki 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: 8308271
    Abstract: A 3D inkjet printer includes an inkjet head and a medium holder configured to hold a medium having a three-dimensional shape. A Y-axial driving mechanism is capable of moving the inkjet head along a Y-axial. A Z-axial supporting mechanism supports the medium holder so as to be movable along a Z-axial direction. An X-axial driving mechanism is capable of moving the Z-axial supporting mechanism along an X-axial direction. A Z-axial driving mechanism is capable of moving the medium holder along the Z-axial direction. The medium holder includes an A-axial driving mechanism capable of swinging the medium along an A-axial direction. The A-axial direction is a rotational direction about a shaft disposed along the Y-axial direction. A B-axial driving mechanism is capable of rotating the medium along a B-axial direction. The B-axial direction is a rotational direction about a shaft disposed perpendicular to the Y-axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutomo Seki, Yoshiki Onozawa, So Inukai, Nobuyuki Ono
  • Publication number: 20120188299
    Abstract: To reduce unevenness in print density. A controller of a three-dimensional inkjet printer superimposes noise on a control signal which drive controls an A drive motor 46 and B drive motor 46, and based on the control signal on which the noise is superimposed, drives the A axis drive motor 45 and B axis drive motor 46. Because of this, a medium M revolves while fluctuating minutely in an A axis direction and rotates while fluctuating minutely in a B axis direction, so that the landing positions of ink droplets ejected from an inkjet head 20 deviate non-uniformly in a main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction overall. Because of this, the deviation of dot positions becomes visually inconspicuous, and unevenness in print density decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutomo Seki, Akifumi Seki, Yoshiki Onozawa, Nobuyuki Ono
  • Patent number: 8104856
    Abstract: A printer includes a holding unit, a printer head, a supporting device, a movement controller and a printing controller. The holding unit is configured to hold a print substrate having a surface to be printed. The axes X and Y pass through the print substrate. The movement controller is configured to move the holding unit and the printer head relative to each other in the directions of the axes X, Y and Z which are substantially perpendicular to each other and configured to rotate the holding unit about the axes X and Y relative to the printer head. The printing controller is configured to control ejection of the ink from the printer head according to a relative position of the holding unit and the printer head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd., Institute of National Colleges of Technology, Japan
    Inventors: Chikao Tezuka, Kazutomo Seki, Nobuyuki Ono
  • Publication number: 20110115849
    Abstract: A 3D inkjet printer includes an inkjet head and a medium holder configured to hold a medium having a three-dimensional shape. A Y-axial driving mechanism is capable of moving the inkjet head along a Y-axial. A Z-axial supporting mechanism supports the medium holder so as to be movable along a Z-axial direction. An X-axial driving mechanism is capable of moving the Z-axial supporting mechanism along an X-axial direction. A Z-axial driving mechanism is capable of moving the medium holder along the Z-axial direction. The medium holder includes an A-axial driving mechanism capable of swinging the medium along an A-axial direction. The A-axial direction is a rotational direction about a shaft disposed along the Y-axial direction. A B-axial driving mechanism is capable of rotating the medium along a B-axial direction. The B-axial direction is a rotational direction about a shaft disposed perpendicular to the Y-axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: MIMAKI ENGINEERING Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutomo Seki, Yoshiki Onozawa, So Inukai, Nobuyuki Ono
  • Patent number: 7819055
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printer comprises a base 1, a first supporting member 10 supported on the base such that the first supporting member is movable in the direction of an axis X, a second supporting member 15 supported on the first supporting member such that the second supporting member is movable in the direction of an axis Z, a third supporting member 20 supported on the second supporting member such that the third supporting member is rotatable about a first rotation axis Y0 extending in the direction of an axis Y, a holding chuck 26, for holding a print substrate, supported on the third supporting member such that the holding chuck is rotatable about a second rotation axis X0, and a printer head 5 supported on the base 1 to extend above the print substrate 80 such that the printer head is movable in the direction of the axis Y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd., Institute of National Colleges of Technology, Japan
    Inventors: Chikao Tezuka, Kazutomo Seki, Nobuyuki Ono
  • Patent number: 7744204
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a nozzle, a pressure chamber, a liquid supply chamber, a liquid supply passage, and a fluid resistance changing mechanism. A liquid pressure in the pressure chamber is configured to be changed to discharge liquid from the nozzle. The liquid supply passage extends in a connecting direction to connect the liquid supply chamber and the pressure chamber. The fluid resistance changing mechanism is configured to change a fluid resistance of the liquid supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Yokoyama, Kazutomo Seki
  • Patent number: 7740349
    Abstract: A printer includes a holding unit, a printer head, a movement controller and a printing controller. The holding unit is configured to hold a print substrate having a surface to be printed. The printer head is configured to eject ink from a plurality of ejection nozzles to the surface. The movement controller is configured to move the holding unit and the printer head relative to each other. The printing controller is configured to control ejection of the ink from the printer head according to a surface curvature of the surface and a relative position of the holding unit and the printer head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikao Tezuka, Kazutomo Seki, Nobuyuki Ono
  • Publication number: 20090073200
    Abstract: A printer includes a holding unit, a printer head, a driving unit, a movement controller and a printing controller. The holding unit is configured to hold a print substrate having a surface to be printed. The driving unit is configured to move at least one of the holding unit and the printer head. The movement controller is configured to control the driving unit to move the holding unit and the printer head relatively so that a distance between the at least one ink nozzle and the surface to be printed is kept at a predetermined distance and so that the ink ejected from the at least one ink nozzle collides with the surface substantially perpendicularly. The printing controller is configured to control ejection of the ink from the printer head according to a distance between the at least one ink nozzle and the surface to be printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chikao TEZUKA, Kazutomo Seki, Nobuyuki Ono
  • Publication number: 20080218541
    Abstract: A printer includes a holding unit, a printer head, a supporting device, a movement controller and a printing controller. The holding unit is configured to hold a print substrate having a surface to be printed. The axes X and Y pass through the print substrate. The movement controller is configured to move the holding unit and the printer head relative to each other in the directions of the axes X, Y and Z which are substantially perpendicular to each other and configured to rotate the holding unit about the axes X and Y relative to the printer head. The printing controller is configured to control ejection of the ink from the printer head according to a relative position of the holding unit and the printer head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chikao TEZUKA, Kazutomo Seki, Nobuyuki Ono
  • Publication number: 20080218542
    Abstract: A printer includes a holding unit, a printer head, a movement controller and a printing controller. The holding unit is configured to hold a print substrate having a surface to be printed. The printer head is configured to eject ink from a plurality of ejection nozzles to the surface. The movement controller is configured to move the holding unit and the printer head relative to each other. The printing controller is configured to control ejection of the ink from the printer head according to a surface curvature of the surface and a relative position of the holding unit and the printer head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO, LTD.
    Inventors: Chikao TEZUKA, Kazutomo Seki, Nobuyuki Ono
  • Publication number: 20080105144
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printer comprises a base 1, a first supporting member 10 supported on the base such that the first supporting member is movable in the direction of an axis X, a second supporting member 15 supported on the first supporting member such that the second supporting member is movable in the direction of an axis Z, a third supporting member 20 supported on the second supporting member such that the third supporting member is rotatable about a first rotation axis Y0 extending in the direction of an axis Y, a holding chuck 26, for holding a print substrate, supported on the third supporting member such that the holding chuck is rotatable about a second rotation axis X0, and a printer head 5 supported on the base 1 to extend above the print substrate 80 such that the printer head is movable in the direction of the axis Y.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicants: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD., INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY, JAPAN
    Inventors: Chikao Tetsuka, Kazutomo Seki, Nobuyuki Ono
  • Publication number: 20070279460
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a nozzle, a pressure chamber, a liquid supply chamber, a liquid supply passage, and a fluid resistance changing mechanism. A liquid pressure in the pressure chamber is configured to be changed to discharge liquid from the nozzle. The liquid supply passage extends in a connecting direction to connect the liquid supply chamber and the pressure chamber. The fluid resistance changing mechanism is configured to change a fluid resistance of the liquid supply passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi YOKOYAMA, Kazutomo Seki