Patents by Inventor Kiyomi Kuroda

Kiyomi Kuroda 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: 9498982
    Abstract: A printer 1 has a media orientation detection means 65 that detects displacement of a medium discharged from a media exit after media conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; and a media processing device control unit 100 that controls the automatic paper cutter 60 to cut the media when the media orientation detection means 65 detects displacement of the media, and permits processing the media by the processing unit after controlling the automatic paper cutter 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Toshiaki Koike, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9446610
    Abstract: A printer 1 has a processing unit that processes media; an automatic paper cutter 60 that cuts the media; a conveyance mechanism 63 that conveys media in the direction moving to an exit; a media orientation detection means 65 that detects displacement of the media after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; a limiting unit that restricts movement of the media toward the exit after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; and a media processing device control unit 100 that controls cutting the media by the automatic paper cutter 60 when the media orientation detection means 65 detects displacement of the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Koike, Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9399343
    Abstract: An inkjet printer can desirably clean two inkjet heads mounted on a head carriage before printing starts. The inkjet printer 1 has first and second inkjet heads 13A and 13B mounted on a head carriage 14. Before printing starts, the inkjet printer moves the head carriage 14 from a home position HP to a shift position SP so that the second inkjet head 13B, which is closest to the home position HP, is opposite a maintenance head cap 22 with an ink absorption capability and cleans the inkjet head. The head carriage 14 is then returned to the home position HP so that the first inkjet head 13A is opposite the maintenance head cap 22 and cleans the inkjet head. The head carriage 14 then moves to the printing area C side and printing starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20160210544
    Abstract: A media processing system 91 includes a host computer 92 having a control device control unit 108 as an application execution unit that runs an application that generates and outputs information for processing a medium, and a transmission unit that transmits the information output by the application; and a printer 1 having a communication unit that receives information transmitted by the transmission unit, a print mechanism 64 that based on the information performs an operation in a first operating mode or a second operating mode that is different from the first operating mode, and a media processing device control unit 100 that selects the first operating mode or the second operating mode based on the application that generated the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Toshiaki Koike, Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9308760
    Abstract: A printer 1 includes a conveyance unit that conveys roll paper stored in a paper feed device; a computing unit 100a that calculates the distance between detection marks of the roll paper conveyed by the conveyance unit; a memory unit 105 that stores a first step count corresponding to the distance between detection marks; a communication interface 106 that receives print data containing start coordinates for rendering image data of images to print in an image buffer; a print control unit 100b that corrects the start coordinates contained in the print data based on the distance between detection marks calculated by the computing unit 100a and a distance between detection marks stored in the memory unit 105; and a print unit that prints based on the print data at start coordinates corrected by the print control unit 100b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Toshiaki Koike, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20150251469
    Abstract: A printer 1 includes a conveyance unit that conveys roll paper stored in a paper feed device; a computing unit 100a that calculates the distance between detection marks of the roll paper conveyed by the conveyance unit; a memory unit 105 that stores a first step count corresponding to the distance between detection marks; a communication interface 106 that receives print data containing start coordinates for rendering image data of images to print in an image buffer; a print control unit 100b that corrects the start coordinates contained in the print data based on the distance between detection marks calculated by the computing unit 100a and a distance between detection marks stored in the memory unit 105; and a print unit that prints based on the print data at start coordinates corrected by the print control unit 100b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Toshiaki Koike, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9025177
    Abstract: After processing a medium B with a processing unit based on control data received from a host computer 92 and stopping conveyance of the medium B, the media processing device control unit 100 of a printer 1 prohibits processing the medium B by the processing unit, waits until displacement of the medium B is detected by a media orientation detection means 65, and reports starting to wait to the host computer 92. When displacement of the medium B is detected by the media orientation detection means 65 while waiting, the media processing device control unit 100 cuts the medium B with the automatic paper cutter 60, and then cancels prohibition of processing medium B by the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Koike, Yuya Iwasa, Takako Kasuga, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20150109366
    Abstract: An inkjet printer can desirably clean two inkjet heads mounted on a head carriage before printing starts. The inkjet printer 1 has first and second inkjet heads 13A and 13B mounted on a head carriage 14. Before printing starts, the inkjet printer moves the head carriage 14 from a home position HP to a shift position SP so that the second inkjet head 13B, which is closest to the home position HP, is opposite a maintenance head cap 22 with an ink absorption capability and cleans the inkjet head. The head carriage 14 is then returned to the home position HP so that the first inkjet head 13A is opposite the maintenance head cap 22 and cleans the inkjet head. The head carriage 14 then moves to the printing area C side and printing starts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Kiyomi KURODA
  • Patent number: 9013530
    Abstract: A printer 1 has a media orientation detection means 65 that detects displacement of the media after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; and a media processing device control unit 100 that controls cutting the media by an automatic paper cutter 60 when the media orientation detection means 65 detects displacement of the media, and controls processing the media by a processing unit when a communication unit receives control data while in a standby mode waiting for detection of media displacement by the media orientation detection means 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Koike, Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20150036165
    Abstract: After processing a medium B with a processing unit based on control data received from a host computer 92 and stopping conveyance of the medium B, the media processing device control unit 100 of a printer 1 prohibits processing the medium B by the processing unit, waits until displacement of the medium B is detected by a media orientation detection means 65, and reports starting to wait to the host computer 92. When displacement of the medium B is detected by the media orientation detection means 65 while waiting, the media processing device control unit 100 cuts the medium B with the automatic paper cutter 60, and then cancels prohibition of processing medium B by the processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Toshiaki Koike, Yuya Iwasa, Takako Kasuga, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20150002603
    Abstract: A printer 1 has a media orientation detection means 65 that detects displacement of the media after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; and a media processing device control unit 100 that controls cutting the media by an automatic paper cutter 60 when the media orientation detection means 65 detects displacement of the media, and controls processing the media by a processing unit when a communication unit receives control data while in a standby mode waiting for detection of media displacement by the media orientation detection means 65.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Koike, Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20150000489
    Abstract: A printer 1 has a processing unit that processes media; an automatic paper cutter 60 that cuts the media; a conveyance mechanism 63 that conveys media in the direction moving to an exit; a media orientation detection means 65 that detects displacement of the media after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; a limiting unit that restricts movement of the media toward the exit after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; and a media processing device control unit 100 that controls cutting the media by the automatic paper cutter 60 when the media orientation detection means 65 detects displacement of the media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Koike, Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20150001780
    Abstract: A printer 1 has a media orientation detection means 65 that detects displacement of a medium discharged from a media exit after media conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; and a media processing device control unit 100 that controls the automatic paper cutter 60 to cut the media when the media orientation detection means 65 detects displacement of the media, and permits processing the media by the processing unit after controlling the automatic paper cutter 60.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Toshiaki Koike, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20150002866
    Abstract: A media processing system 91 includes a host computer 92 having a control device control unit 108 as an application execution unit that runs an application that generates and outputs information for processing a medium, and a transmission unit that transmits the information output by the application; and a printer 1 having a communication unit that receives information transmitted by the transmission unit, a print mechanism 64 that based on the information performs an operation in a first operating mode or a second operating mode that is different from the first operating mode, and a media processing device control unit 100 that selects the first operating mode or the second operating mode based on the application that generated the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Toshiaki Koike, Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8465119
    Abstract: A cleaning control method accurately detects the nozzle recovery condition after cleaning and efficiently eliminates ejection problems. When a regular cleaning command is received from a host device 31, the inkjet printer 1 applies an ink suction operation to the inkjet head 13 as a first cleaning step. After the ink suction operation ends, a nozzle check is performed after waiting a delay time T. If a faulty nozzle is detected, a second ink suction operation is performed, the delay time T is waited, and the nozzle check is then run again. The ink suction operation, waiting delay time T, and nozzle check repeat during regular cleaning until the number of faulty nozzles is less than or equal to a reference number, or the nozzle check has been performed a maximum number of times. Each delay time T is set according to the suction strength in the ink suction operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8403456
    Abstract: A fluid droplet discharge device executes a head cleaning process to quickly remove bubbles that have entered the fluid supply path when it is likely that bubbles have entered in a flushing process. If the ink cartridge cover 2b is opened during flushing and it is possible that bubbles have entered the ink supply path, ?N1 is added to the count Na of the cleaning intensity setting counter N. If the count Na exceeds a threshold value Nmax in a head cleaning operation performed when a defective nozzle is detected, cleaning (CL4) with the highest cleaning intensity level is applied. Because ?N1 is added to the count Na if the ink cartridge cover 2b is opened when flushing, the timing when this cleaning operation (CL4) is applied is accelerated. Bubbles that have entered the fluid supply path can therefore be removed sooner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyomi Kuroda, Hiroyuki Motoyama
  • Patent number: 8070253
    Abstract: An inkjet printer and a head cleaning method for an inkjet printer reduce the time required for head cleaning while also reducing needless ink consumption. The control unit 30 of the printer 1 confirms if a timer AID flag, impact detection flag, startup process flag, AID hold flag, or cover closed flag is set before executing the cleaning process a first time. If any one of the flags is set, the possibility that there are numerous defective nozzles in the printer 1 is high, and a stronger or more intense cleaning process (CL1 or CL2) is executed. Whether cleaning process CL1 or CL2 executes is determined according to the number of defective nozzles detected in the first nozzle check. If no flag is set, the weakest cleaning process (CL0) is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyomi Kuroda, Hiroyuki Motoyama
  • Publication number: 20110199426
    Abstract: A cleaning control method accurately detects the nozzle recovery condition after cleaning and efficiently eliminates ejection problems. When a regular cleaning command is received from a host device 31, the inkjet printer 1 applies an ink suction operation to the inkjet head 13 as a first cleaning step. After the ink suction operation ends, a nozzle check is performed after waiting a delay time T. If a faulty nozzle is detected, a second ink suction operation is performed, the delay time T is waited, and the nozzle check is then run again. The ink suction operation, waiting delay time T, and nozzle check repeat during regular cleaning until the number of faulty nozzles is less than or equal to a reference number, or the nozzle check has been performed a maximum number of times. Each delay time T is set according to the suction strength in the ink suction operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7992957
    Abstract: A method of inspecting a discharge state of a nozzle prevents wrongly determining that discharge is normal even though fluid droplets are not discharged normally. In a fluid droplet discharge device such as an inkjet printer, a momentary induced current is produced when a charged ink droplet 17c lands on a head cap 31 with a potential difference. A voltage change detection unit 39 detects the induced current as a voltage change. A decision unit 40 determines that the ink discharge state is normal if the maximum amplitude L of the voltage change detected by the voltage change detection unit 39 in a first period S is greater than or equal to a first threshold value Q. If the amplitude of voltage change detected in a third period U after the specific period has passed goes to a second threshold value R, a decision cancellation unit 41 determines that noise is contained in the voltage change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Motoyama, Kiyomi Kuroda, Satoshi Inomata
  • Publication number: 20110175966
    Abstract: An inkjet printer can desirably clean two inkjet heads mounted on a head carriage before printing starts. The inkjet printer 1 has first and second inkjet heads 13A and 13B mounted on a head carriage 14. Before printing starts, the inkjet printer moves the head carriage 14 from a home position HP to a shift position SP so that the second inkjet head 13B, which is closest to the home position HP, is opposite a maintenance head cap 22 with an ink absorption capability and cleans the inkjet head. The head carriage 14 is then returned to the home position HP so that the first inkjet head 13A is opposite the maintenance head cap 22 and cleans the inkjet head. The head carriage 14 then moves to the printing area C side and printing starts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kiyomi Kuroda