Patents by Inventor Kazuyuki Fujioka

Kazuyuki Fujioka 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: 11858278
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid supplying apparatus. The liquid supplying apparatus includes a supply flow passage that is in communication with a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid, a first supply flow passage for communication between a first liquid container and the supply flow passage, the first liquid container containing liquid, and a second supply flow passage for communication between a second liquid container and the supply flow passage, the second liquid container containing the same kind of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container, a switching unit configured to switch a flow passage that is in communication with the supply flow passage, between the first supply flow passage and the second supply flow passage, and a movement restriction unit configured to, linked with switching by the switching unit, restrict movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eri Tanaka, Kazuyuki Fujioka, Masaki Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20220371329
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid supplying apparatus. The liquid supplying apparatus includes a supply flow passage that is in communication with a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid, a first supply flow passage for communication between a first liquid container and the supply flow passage, the first liquid container containing liquid, and a second supply flow passage for communication between a second liquid container and the supply flow passage, the second liquid container containing the same kind of liquid as the liquid contained in the first liquid container, a switching unit configured to switch a flow passage that is in communication with the supply flow passage, between the first supply flow passage and the second supply flow passage, and a movement restriction unit configured to, linked with switching by the switching unit, restrict movement of the first liquid container and the second liquid container selectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Eri TANAKA, Kazuyuki FUJIOKA, Masaki UCHIYAMA
  • Patent number: 11298951
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion that ejects a liquid, a liquid supply flow path that supplies the liquid accommodated in a liquid supply source to the liquid ejecting portion, a storage portion that is provided in the liquid supply flow path and that stores the liquid, a pressure mechanism that changes a volume of the storage portion by making pressure act thereon, a liquid filling mechanism that fills the liquid inside the liquid supply source into the liquid supply flow path, and a control portion that fills the liquid into the liquid supply flow path while the volume of the storage portion is, by making pressure act on the flexible portion, made smaller than when the pressure does not act on the flexible portion, and after the filling, ends a state in which the pressure is made to act on the flexible portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kishii, Hisashi Sato, Eri Tanaka, Kazuyuki Fujioka, Yuichi Urabe
  • Patent number: 11034155
    Abstract: A liquid reservoir unit includes a reservoir portion, an outflow portion disposed at a position near a first end of the reservoir portion, and an inflow portion disposed at a position near the first end of the reservoir portion. The outflow portion includes an outflow opening opened to an interior of the reservoir portion, and the inflow portion includes an inflow opening opened to the interior of the reservoir portion. The outflow opening and the inflow opening are located at different positions in a width direction which is a lengthwise direction of the reservoir portion when the reservoir portion is viewed from the first end, and also located at different positions in a depth direction from the first end toward a second end on the opposite side to the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Sato, Kazuyuki Fujioka, Yuichi Urabe, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20210053359
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion that ejects a liquid, a liquid supply flow path that supplies the liquid accommodated in a liquid supply source to the liquid ejecting portion, a storage portion that is provided in the liquid supply flow path and that stores the liquid, a pressure mechanism that changes a volume of the storage portion by making pressure act thereon, a liquid filling mechanism that fills the liquid inside the liquid supply source into the liquid supply flow path, and a control portion that fills the liquid into the liquid supply flow path while the volume of the storage portion is, by making pressure act on the flexible portion, made smaller than when the pressure does not act on the flexible portion, and after the filling, ends a state in which the pressure is made to act on the flexible portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KISHII, Hisashi SATO, Eri TANAKA, Kazuyuki FUJIOKA, Yuichi URABE
  • Publication number: 20200207097
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit having nozzles able to eject a liquid to a medium, a wiping unit able to wipe the liquid ejecting unit, a waste liquid receiving unit which receives a waste liquid which is discharged by a maintenance operation for maintaining the liquid ejecting unit, at a position facing the liquid ejecting unit, and a collection unit which comes in contact with the waste liquid receiving unit to collect the waste liquid which is received by the waste receiving unit, in which the wiping unit comes in contact with the collection unit to wipe the waste liquid which is collected by the collection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuyuki FUJIOKA
  • Publication number: 20200139714
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting section that is capable of ejecting a first liquid from an opening of a nozzle with respect to media; and a two-fluid ejecting apparatus that is capable of ejecting at least one of a gas and a second liquid with respect to the liquid ejecting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Takayuki KAWAKAMI, Toshihiro SHINBARA, Kazuhiko HARA, Kazuyuki FUJIOKA, Takeshi YOSHIDA, Hironori SATO
  • Patent number: 10639901
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting section that is capable of ejecting a first liquid from an opening of a nozzle with respect to media; and a two-fluid ejecting apparatus that is capable of ejecting at least one of a gas and a second liquid with respect to the liquid ejecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kawakami, Toshihiro Shinbara, Kazuhiko Hara, Kazuyuki Fujioka, Takeshi Yoshida, Hironori Sato
  • Publication number: 20200079093
    Abstract: A liquid reservoir unit includes a reservoir portion, an outflow portion disposed at a position near a first end of the reservoir portion, and an inflow portion disposed at a position near the first end of the reservoir portion. The outflow portion includes an outflow opening opened to an interior of the reservoir portion, and the inflow portion includes an inflow opening opened to the interior of the reservoir portion. The outflow opening and the inflow opening are located at different positions in a width direction which is a lengthwise direction of the reservoir portion when the reservoir portion is viewed from the first end, and also located at different positions in a depth direction from the first end toward a second end on the opposite side to the first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Hisashi SATO, Kazuyuki FUJIOKA, Yuichi URABE, Hitotoshi KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20200070517
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid supply flow path configured to supply a liquid stored in a liquid supply source to a liquid ejecting portion, a reservoir portion provided in the liquid supply flow path, an on-off valve provided between the liquid supply source and the reservoir portion, a discharge mechanism configured to discharge the liquid in the liquid supply flow path by depressurizing the liquid supply flow path, and a pressure mechanism configured to apply a negative pressure to the interior of the reservoir portion from the exterior. A negative pressure equal to or larger than a negative pressure applied to the interior of the reservoir portion by the discharge mechanism, is applied to the interior of the reservoir portion in a maintenance operation in which the liquid supply flow path is depressurized by the discharge mechanism while the on-off valve is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Hisashi SATO, Kazuyuki FUJIOKA, Yuichi URABE, Hiroyuki ITO
  • Patent number: 10562309
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting section that is capable of ejecting a first liquid from an opening of a nozzle with respect to media; and a two-fluid ejecting apparatus that is capable of ejecting at least one of a gas and a second liquid with respect to the liquid ejecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kawakami, Toshihiro Shinbara, Kazuhiko Hara, Kazuyuki Fujioka, Takeshi Yoshida, Hironori Sato
  • Patent number: 10449767
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle that is disposed on a nozzle surface, a wiping member with a lengthwise shape that is able to contact the nozzle surface, a contact portion which is able to contact the opposite side from a side at which the wiping member contacts the nozzle surface, and a transport mechanism which transports the wiping member, in which the contact portion has a first contact portion which is separated from the wiping member when the wiping member is transported by the transport mechanism and which contacts the wiping member when the wiping member is caused to contact the nozzle surface, and a second contact portion which contacts the wiping member when the wiping member is transported by the transport mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujioka, Ryoji Fujimori
  • Publication number: 20180264823
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit having nozzles able to eject a liquid to a medium, a wiping unit able to wipe the liquid ejecting unit, a waste liquid receiving unit which receives a waste liquid which is discharged by a maintenance operation for maintaining the liquid ejecting unit, at a position facing the liquid ejecting unit, and a collection unit which comes in contact with the waste liquid receiving unit to collect the waste liquid which is received by the waste receiving unit, in which the wiping unit comes in contact with the collection unit to wipe the waste liquid which is collected by the collection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Kazuyuki FUJIOKA
  • Publication number: 20180170059
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit having nozzles able to eject a first liquid to a medium; and a fluid ejecting device having ejection ports able to eject a fluid including a second liquid to the liquid ejecting unit, in which the fluid ejecting device performs, as a maintenance operation of the liquid ejecting unit, a first fluid ejection of ejecting a fluid including small droplets of the second liquid that are smaller than a nozzle opening to an opening region in which the nozzles of the liquid ejecting unit open, and a second fluid ejection of ejecting a fluid including droplets of the second liquid in which the smallest droplets are larger than the small droplets to the liquid ejecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Toshihiro Shinbara, Kazuhiko Hara, Takayuki Kawakami, Kazuyuki Fujioka, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10000062
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit having nozzles able to eject a liquid to a medium, a wiping unit able to wipe the liquid ejecting unit, a waste liquid receiving unit which receives a waste liquid which is discharged by a maintenance operation for maintaining the liquid ejecting unit, at a position facing the liquid ejecting unit, and a collection unit which comes in contact with the waste liquid receiving unit to collect the waste liquid which is received by the waste receiving unit, in which the wiping unit comes in contact with the collection unit to wipe the waste liquid which is collected by the collection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Fujioka
  • Patent number: 9925779
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit having nozzles able to eject a first liquid to a medium; and a fluid ejecting device having ejection ports able to eject a fluid including a second liquid to the liquid ejecting unit, in which the fluid ejecting device performs, as a maintenance operation of the liquid ejecting unit, a first fluid ejection of ejecting a fluid including small droplets of the second liquid that are smaller than a nozzle opening to an opening region in which the nozzles of the liquid ejecting unit open, and a second fluid ejection of ejecting a fluid including droplets of the second liquid in which the smallest droplets are larger than the small droplets to the liquid ejecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Shinbara, Kazuhiko Hara, Takayuki Kawakami, Kazuyuki Fujioka, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20180001645
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle that is disposed on a nozzle surface, a wiping member with a lengthwise shape that is able to contact the nozzle surface, a contact portion which is able to contact the opposite side from a side at which the wiping member contacts the nozzle surface, and a transport mechanism which transports the wiping member, in which the contact portion has a first contact portion which is separated from the wiping member when the wiping member is transported by the transport mechanism and which contacts the wiping member when the wiping member is caused to contact the nozzle surface, and a second contact portion which contacts the wiping member when the wiping member is transported by the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujioka, Ryoji Fujimori
  • Patent number: 9789692
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle that is disposed on a nozzle surface, a wiping member with a lengthwise shape that is able to contact the nozzle surface, a contact portion which is able to contact the opposite side from a side at which the wiping member contacts the nozzle surface, and a transport mechanism which transports the wiping member, in which the contact portion has a first contact portion which is separated from the wiping member when the wiping member is transported by the transport mechanism and which contacts the wiping member when the wiping member is caused to contact the nozzle surface, and a second contact portion which contacts the wiping member when the wiping member is transported by the transport mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujioka, Ryoji Fujimori
  • Publication number: 20170259574
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit having nozzles able to eject a liquid to a medium, a wiping unit able to wipe the liquid ejecting unit, a waste liquid receiving unit which receives a waste liquid which is discharged by a maintenance operation for maintaining the liquid ejecting unit, at a position facing the liquid ejecting unit, and a collection unit which comes in contact with the waste liquid receiving unit to collect the waste liquid which is received by the waste receiving unit, in which the wiping unit comes in contact with the collection unit to wipe the waste liquid which is collected by the collection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventor: Kazuyuki FUJIOKA
  • Publication number: 20170066244
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle that is disposed on a nozzle surface, a wiping member with a lengthwise shape that is able to contact the nozzle surface, a contact portion which is able to contact the opposite side from a side at which the wiping member contacts the nozzle surface, and a transport mechanism which transports the wiping member, in which the contact portion has a first contact portion which is separated from the wiping member when the wiping member is transported by the transport mechanism and which contacts the wiping member when the wiping member is caused to contact the nozzle surface, and a second contact portion which contacts the wiping member when the wiping member is transported by the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujioka, Ryoji Fujimori