Patents by Inventor Kenji Otokita
Kenji Otokita 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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Patent number: 11951734Abstract: A recording device, when recording is performed on a predetermined type target recording medium stored in a storage unit, drives a surface potential adjustment unit so that a surface potential is a positive potential within a predetermined range. By configuring such a recording device, it is possible to suppress adhesion of ink to an ejecting unit, and occurrence of an ink ejection failure can be suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kenji Otokita, Nobuyuki Hayasaka
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Patent number: 11884066Abstract: At step S115, a printer control unit refers to a table using an average print duty as an input, and determines a saturation temperature and a drum preliminary heating temperature. In this example, since the saturation temperature and the preliminary heating temperature with respect to the print duty are stored as a table, the printer control unit refers to the table using the average print duty as the input, and determines the saturation temperature and the drum preliminary heating temperature. At step S120, the printer control unit investigates a current drum temperature based on a measurement result of a temperature sensor. Subsequently, at step S125, the drum is heated or cooled until it reaches, of the saturation temperature and the drum preliminary heating temperature, the temperature for which the difference with the current drum temperature is smaller.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kazuyoshi Tanase, Kenji Otokita, Norihiro Masuda
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Patent number: 11642898Abstract: A printer control unit controls a fan, based on an acquired reference temperature and an output of a sensor, to cause a temperature of a platen drum or a temperature of a sheet supported by the platen drum to be the reference temperature. Specifically, at step S100, the printer control unit acquires a type of the printing medium to be used for printing, acquires the reference temperature at step S110, and at step S150, controls an operating state of the fan, based on the temperature of the platen drum output by the sensor, such that the temperature of the platen drum becomes the reference temperature acquired at step S110. As a result, a temperature increase of the platen drum becomes substantially saturated at the targeted reference temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kenji Otokita, Takahiro Imai
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Publication number: 20230066383Abstract: A recording device, when recording is performed on a predetermined type target recording medium stored in a storage unit, drives a surface potential adjustment unit so that a surface potential is a positive potential within a predetermined range. By configuring such a recording device, it is possible to suppress adhesion of ink to an ejecting unit, and occurrence of an ink ejection failure can be suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Kenji OTOKITA, Nobuyuki HAYASAKA
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Patent number: 11485144Abstract: A printer includes a transport unit, a first head, a second head disposed downstream of the first head, a first suction unit configured to suction ink mist discharged from the first head, a second suction unit configured to suction ink mist discharged from the second head, and a suction device coupled to the first suction unit and the second suction unit, and configured to generate an airflow for suctioning the ink mist, and a first suction device disposed either one of on a first path from the first suction unit to the suction device, and at the suction device, and configured to adjust a flow rate at the first suction unit, and a second suction device disposed either one of on a second path from the second suction unit to the suction device, and at the suction device, and configured to adjust the flow rate at the second suction unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kenji Otokita, Norihiro Masuda
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Publication number: 20220194102Abstract: A printer control unit controls a fan, based on an acquired reference temperature and an output of a sensor, to cause a temperature of a platen drum or a temperature of a sheet supported by the platen drum to be the reference temperature. Specifically, at step S100, the printer control unit acquires a type of the printing medium to be used for printing, acquires the reference temperature at step S110, and at step S150, controls an operating state of the fan, based on the temperature of the platen drum output by the sensor, such that the temperature of the platen drum becomes the reference temperature acquired at step S110. As a result, a temperature increase of the platen drum becomes substantially saturated at the targeted reference temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Kenji OTOKITA, Takahiro IMAI
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Publication number: 20220169015Abstract: At step S115, a printer control unit refers to a table using an average print duty as an input, and determines a saturation temperature and a drum preliminary heating temperature. In this example, since the saturation temperature and the preliminary heating temperature with respect to the print duty are stored as a table, the printer control unit refers to the table using the average print duty as the input, and determines the saturation temperature and the drum preliminary heating temperature. At step S120, the printer control unit investigates a current drum temperature based on a measurement result of a temperature sensor. Subsequently, at step S125, the drum is heated or cooled until it reaches, of the saturation temperature and the drum preliminary heating temperature, the temperature for which the difference with the current drum temperature is smaller.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2021Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Kazuyoshi TANASE, Kenji OTOKITA, Norihiro MASUDA
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Patent number: 11130344Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided that includes a line type printing head ejecting an UV ink onto a base material, an ultraviolet irradiator disposed downstream of the printing head, a mist retrieving section having a suction port and disposed between the printing head and the ultraviolet irradiator, and a control unit, wherein when printing is performed, the control unit adjusts, in accordance with a transport speed of the base material, at least one of a gap A, a gap B, and a suction air volume of the mist retrieving section such that a direction of an airflow passing through a gap between the base material and the ultraviolet irradiator is opposite the transport direction of the base material. The gap A is a gap between the printing head and the mist retrieving section, and the gap B is a gap between the base material and the suction port.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Norihiro Masuda, Kenji Otokita
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Patent number: 11104157Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided in which at least one type of a printing medium is usable, the printing apparatus including a surface treatment unit configured to modify, by varying an output therefrom, a surface state of the printing medium to a plurality of modified states, a head configured to discharge at least one type of an ink of ultraviolet-curable type onto the printing medium having the surface state modified by the surface treatment unit thereby forming an image, an ultraviolet irradiation unit configured to irradiate with an ultraviolet ray the printing medium on which the image is formed by the head, thereby curing the ink, a storage unit configured to store a relationship between the output from the surface treatment unit and the modified state, and a control unit configured to control the output from the surface treatment unit, based on the relationship stored in the storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2020Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shun Kudo, Kenji Otokita
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Publication number: 20210129542Abstract: A printer includes a transport unit, a first head, a second head disposed downstream of the first head, a first suction unit configured to suction ink mist discharged from the first head, a second suction unit configured to suction ink mist discharged from the second head, and a suction device coupled to the first suction unit and the second suction unit, and configured to generate an airflow for suctioning the ink mist, and a first suction device disposed either one of on a first path from the first suction unit to the suction device, and at the suction device, and configured to adjust a flow rate at the first suction unit, and a second suction device disposed either one of on a second path from the second suction unit to the suction device, and at the suction device, and configured to adjust the flow rate at the second suction unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Kenji OTOKITA, Norihiro MASUDA
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Publication number: 20200369043Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided in which at least one type of a printing medium is usable, the printing apparatus including a surface treatment unit configured to modify, by varying an output therefrom, a surface state of the printing medium to a plurality of modified states, a head configured to discharge at least one type of an ink of ultraviolet-curable type onto the printing medium having the surface state modified by the surface treatment unit thereby forming an image, an ultraviolet irradiation unit configured to irradiate with an ultraviolet ray the printing medium on which the image is formed by the head, thereby curing the ink, a storage unit configured to store a relationship between the output from the surface treatment unit and the modified state, and a control unit configured to control the output from the surface treatment unit, based on the relationship stored in the storage unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: Shun KUDO, Kenji OTOKITA
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Publication number: 20200307221Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided that includes a line type printing head ejecting an UV ink onto a base material, an ultraviolet irradiator disposed downstream of the printing head, a mist retrieving section having a suction port and disposed between the printing head and the ultraviolet irradiator, and a control unit, wherein when printing is performed, the control unit adjusts, in accordance with a transport speed of the base material, at least one of a gap A, a gap B, and a suction air volume of the mist retrieving section such that a direction of an airflow passing through a gap between the base material and the ultraviolet irradiator is opposite the transport direction of the base material. The gap A is a gap between the printing head and the mist retrieving section, and the gap B is a gap between the base material and the suction port.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Norihiro MASUDA, Kenji OTOKITA
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Patent number: 10399365Abstract: A detection plate portion detects an object that can come into contact with a liquid ejecting unit, which ejects a liquid onto a medium, in accordance with relative movement between the liquid ejecting unit and the medium, is formed in a plate shape, and undergoes strain upon contact with the medium. An electric signal corresponding to the strain of the detection plate portion is obtained from a piezoelectric film sensor provided on a medium-side plate surface of the detection plate portion facing the medium. A sensor cover is provided apart from the detection plate portion, and the sensor cover covers the piezoelectric film sensor not to come into contact with the medium-side plate surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2018Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Seiji Ihara, Kenji Otokita
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Publication number: 20190168521Abstract: A detection plate portion detects an object that can come into contact with a liquid ejecting unit, which ejects a liquid onto a medium, in accordance with relative movement between the liquid ejecting unit and the medium, is formed in a plate shape, and undergoes strain upon contact with the medium. An electric signal corresponding to the strain of the detection plate portion is obtained from a piezoelectric film sensor provided on a medium-side plate surface of the detection plate portion facing the medium. A sensor cover is provided apart from the detection plate portion, and the sensor cover covers the piezoelectric film sensor not to come into contact with the medium-side plate surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Seiji IHARA, Kenji OTOKITA
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Patent number: 10252532Abstract: The printing apparatus includes a printing head that includes a plurality of nozzles including a first nozzle, a discharging controller that is capable of controlling discharging of liquid from the plurality of nozzles, a transportation section that relatively moves a recording medium and the printing head by transporting at least either or both of the recording medium and the printing head, and a suction section that includes a suction port which is positioned at an upstream side or a downstream side of the printing head in a relative moving direction of the printing head and the recording medium. The discharging controller controls the first nozzle to discharge mist type ink droplets at a timing of not discharging ink droplets for forming image from the first nozzle, and the suction section suctions the mist type ink droplets discharged from the first nozzle through the suction port.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Noritaka Mitsuo, Kenji Otokita
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Patent number: 10226930Abstract: A detection unit that detects the presence of an object that can come into contact with a liquid ejecting unit with relative movement between a medium and the liquid ejecting unit is provided with a piezoelectric film sensor that outputs an electrical signal when the object comes into contact with the detection unit, where the detection unit has first, second, and third plate portions formed so as to be continuous, the first plate portion is fixed so that the second and third plate portions are cantilevered, and the second plate portion, in a state where the piezoelectric film sensor is mounted thereon, is continuous with the first plate portion and is disposed diagonally with respect to the vertical direction of the medium, and the third plate portion is bent from the second plate portion and faces the medium leaving a gap between the third plate portion and the medium.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2018Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kenji Otokita, Seiji Ihara
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Patent number: 10220622Abstract: A plate-like detection plate portion that undergoes strain due to contact with an object is used for detecting the presence of an object that can come into contact with a liquid ejecting unit with relative movement between a medium and the liquid ejecting unit, and is provided with a piezoelectric film sensor that outputs an electric signal corresponding to strain of the detection plate portion. The piezoelectric film sensor includes a detection film portion in which a piezoelectric element that causes a voltage change corresponding to the strain is arranged, and an output circuit portion that converts the voltage change of the detection film portion into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. The output circuit portion is provided on a second plate surface, which is a rear surface of a first plate surface facing the medium, of the detection plate portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2018Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kenji Otokita, Seiji Ihara
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Publication number: 20180272713Abstract: A plate-like detection plate portion that undergoes strain due to contact with an object is used for detecting the presence of an object that can come into contact with a liquid ejecting unit with relative movement between a medium and the liquid ejecting unit, and is provided with a piezoelectric film sensor that outputs an electric signal corresponding to strain of the detection plate portion. The piezoelectric film sensor includes a detection film portion in which a piezoelectric element that causes a voltage change corresponding to the strain is arranged, and an output circuit portion that converts the voltage change of the detection film portion into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. The output circuit portion is provided on a second plate surface, which is a rear surface of a first plate surface facing the medium, of the detection plate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Kenji OTOKITA, Seiji IHARA
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Publication number: 20180222205Abstract: A detection unit that detects the presence of an object that can come into contact with a liquid ejecting unit with relative movement between a medium and the liquid ejecting unit is provided with a piezoelectric film sensor that outputs an electrical signal when the object comes into contact with the detection unit, where the detection unit has first, second, and third plate portions formed so as to be continuous, the first plate portion is fixed so that the second and third plate portions are cantilevered, and the second plate portion, in a state where the piezoelectric film sensor is mounted thereon, is continuous with the first plate portion and is disposed diagonally with respect to the vertical direction of the medium, and the third plate portion is bent from the second plate portion and faces the medium leaving a gap between the third plate portion and the medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Kenji OTOKITA, Seiji IHARA
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Publication number: 20180117916Abstract: The printing apparatus includes a printing head that includes a plurality of nozzles including a first nozzle, a discharging controller that is capable of controlling discharging of liquid from the plurality of nozzles, a transportation section that relatively moves a recording medium and the printing head by transporting at least either or both of the recording medium and the printing head, and a suction section that includes a suction port which is positioned at an upstream side or a downstream side of the printing head in a relative moving direction of the printing head and the recording medium. The discharging controller controls the first nozzle to discharge mist type ink droplets at a timing of not discharging ink droplets for forming image from the first nozzle, and the suction section suctions the mist type ink droplets discharged from the first nozzle through the suction port.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Noritaka MITSUO, Kenji OTOKITA