Patents by Inventor Kiyotaka Sema

Kiyotaka Sema 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).

  • Ink cartridge, ink jet recording device using the same, and method for controlling the cleaning of a recording head of the ink jet recording device
    Patent number: 6705712
    Abstract: An ink flow passage 7f is formed from an ink storage chamber of an ink cartridge 7 to an ink supply port. A passage control system 7j is located in the ink flow passage. The passage control system is capable of opening and closing the ink flow passage when receiving a drive force from an actuator 32. Particularly, air bubbles A1 staying on a filter member 22 within an ink supplying needle 21 is effectively discharged to a capping system 9 in a manner that a negative pressure is accumulated in an inner space of the capping system 9 in a state that the passage control system 7j is placed to a valve closing state. The passage control system 7j is provided in the ink cartridge. Accordingly, every time the ink cartridge is exchanged with a new one, the passage control system 7j is also exchanged with a new one. Accordingly, the printing function restoring operation performed through a cleaning operation based on the negative pressure accumulation is improved in reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Usui, Kazuhiko Hara, Kiyotaka Sema, Takahiro Naka, Hitoshi Hayakawa, Satoshi Shinada, Masaru Takahashi
  • Ink cartridge, ink jet recording device using the same, and method for controlling the cleaning of a recording head of the ink jet recording device
    Publication number: 20020085060
    Abstract: An ink flow passage 7f is formed from an ink storage chamber of an ink cartridge 7 to an ink supply port. A passage control system 7j is located in the ink flow passage. The passage control system is capable of opening and closing the ink flow passage when receiving a drive force from an actuator 32. Particularly, air bubbles A1 staying on a filter member 22 within an ink supplying needle 21 is effectively discharged to a capping system 9 in a manner that a negative pressure is accumulated in an inner space of the capping system 9 in a state that the passage control system 7j is placed to a valve closing state. The passage control system 7j is provided in the ink cartridge. Accordingly, every time the ink cartridge is exchanged with a new one, the passage control system 7j is also exchanged with a new one. Accordingly, the printing function restoring operation performed through a cleaning operation based on the negative pressure accumulation is improved in reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Usui, Kazuhiko Hara, Kiyotaka Sema, Takahiro Naka, Hitoshi Hayakawa, Satoshi Shinada, Masaru Takahashi