Patents by Inventor Manabu Tomita

Manabu Tomita 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: 7472480
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid ejecting recording head with improved operational reliability. A first coating resin layer of a liquid ejecting recording head, having a liquid flow duct and a liquid ejecting orifice, is formed of an oxetane resin composition that contains, as necessary components, an oxetane compound having at least one oxetanyl group in a molecule, and a cationic photopolymerization initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Taiyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Igarashi, Shogo Ono, Manabu Tomita, Minoru Kohno, Shigeru Ushiki, Shohei Makita
  • Patent number: 7470004
    Abstract: A flow path structure includes a heating element, a barrier layer, a liquid chamber formed by a part of the barrier layer and a pair of walls confronting each other to hold the heating element therebetween and a first individual flow path and a second individual flow path disposed on both the sides of the liquid chamber to communicate with the liquid chamber, a liquid is supplied to the liquid chamber from at least one of first and second individual flow paths, and the distance U between the walls in the liquid chamber and the flow path width W of the first individual flow path are set to satisfy U>W. With this arrangement, a flow path structure can be provided in which a failure in flow paths due to dusts is unlike to occur and which minimizes the influence of bubbles and has almost no uneven ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Takaaki Miyamoto, Manabu Tomita, Shogo Ono, Kazuyasu Takenaka, Iwao Ushinohama, Minoru Kohno
  • Patent number: 7465031
    Abstract: Flying characteristics of ink droplets are controlled efficiently to the utmost. In one liquid chamber, two heating elements with the same surface-shape and the same heating characteristics are juxtaposed. While energy is simultaneously applied to the two heating elements, by applying energy with different energy surface-densities to the two heating elements so that the bubble-generating time with film boiling differs for the two heating elements, the liquid droplets are controlled so that a flying force with a component parallel to an ejection face of a nozzle is applied to the liquid droplets in a growing process of the liquid droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Manabu Tomita, Iwao Ushinohama, Shogo Ono
  • Patent number: 7461451
    Abstract: The present invention fixes a nozzle sheet on a substrate with a predetermined material (5,6), which has an excellent chemical resistance and sufficient adhesiveness, or more specifically, fixes the nozzle sheet on the substrate with cyclized rubber or with patternable, adhesive elastic material. Moreover, the present invention forms walls for liquid chambers and liquid channels with polyimide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Igarashi, Minoru Kohno, Manabu Tomita, Shogo Ono, Takaaki Murakami
  • Publication number: 20080266344
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper, and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20080250642
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a liquid chamber configured to contain liquid to be ejected from a nozzle, a liquid ejection member including the nozzle, and an energy generating element configured to provide energy to the liquid contained in the liquid chamber. The energy generating element ejects the liquid contained in the liquid chamber from the nozzle as a liquid droplet. A depression is formed on a surface of the liquid ejection member around the nozzle such that an opening of the depression has a width greater than a width of an opening of the nozzle and the nozzle is positioned at the bottom of the depression. The interior angle of the bottom corner of the depression is determined to be greater than 90 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Tomita, Iwao Ushinohama, Shinji Kabaya, Takeo Eguchi
  • Patent number: 7431430
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head having a plurality of heat evolving elements formed on an integral substrate without being divided into more than one part, so that it is capable of controlling the direction of liquid ejection. The liquid ejecting head has heat-energy evolving elements (22) that evolve heat energy to eject liquid. The heat-energy evolving elements (22) are constructed of an integral substrate, assume a zigzag pattern (in plan view), and have conductors or electrodes (36) connected thereto at the turnaround part of the zigzag pattern, so that they are divided into main parts (22a, 22b) to evolve heat energy to eject liquid. Each of the heat-evolving elements has thereon a nozzle through which liquid is ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Manabu Tomita, Minoru Kohno, Takaaki Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20080239010
    Abstract: A head module includes lines of head chips, each head chip having energy-generating elements for discharging liquid and electrodes for electrically connecting the energy-generating elements to a control substrate, and a wiring board having wires for electrically connecting the electrodes to the control substrate. The head module drives the energy-generating elements through the wiring board to discharge liquid. The wiring board includes connecting sections connecting the wires to the respective electrodes, common wire sections joining some of the wires that are common to the head chips, and a terminal section connecting the wires to the control substrate at one side of the wiring board. The wires in the connecting and terminal sections are arranged in a single-layer structure along a horizontal direction. The wires in the common wire sections are arranged in a multi-layer structure in which portions of the wires are stacked in the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Tomita, Shogo Ono, Iwao Ushinohama, Takaaki Murakami
  • Publication number: 20080204511
    Abstract: There is provided a head including a chip 10 that has a semiconductor substrate 11, heating elements 12 disposed on the semiconductor substrate 11, coating layers 14 disposed on the semiconductor substrate 11 and having nozzles 14a arranged in regions above the respective heating elements 12, and individual channels 14b each communicating with the outside and the region above the corresponding heating element 12, wherein the semiconductor substrate 11 does not have a through hole communicating with each individual channel 14b; a ink feed member 21 having a common channel 21b, the ink feed member 21 being bonded to the chip 10 in such a manner that the common channel 21b communicates with the individual channels 14b; and a top 22 disposed on the chip 10 and the ink feed member 21 so as to seal the opening of the common channel 21b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Shogo Ono, Manabu Tomita, Koichi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 7410247
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head including at least one head chip including a plurality of heating elements on a surface of a substrate, a nozzle sheet having nozzles disposed on the respective heating elements, a barrier layer disposed between the head chip and the nozzle sheet, reservoirs disposed between the heating elements and the nozzle sheet, the reservoirs being defined by part of the barrier layer, a common flow path communicating with the reservoirs, and a liquid storage chamber disposed on at least one region of the surface of the substrate excluding a region on which the reservoirs are disposed, the liquid storage chamber being defined by part of the barrier layer and communicating with the common flow path and the reservoirs, the liquid storage chamber storing liquid such that part of the nozzle sheet is in contact with the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Manabu Tomita, Kazuyasu Takenaka, Takaaki Miyamoto, Shogo Ono
  • Publication number: 20080106563
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20080106562
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper, and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20080106561
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper, and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20080100656
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20070195133
    Abstract: A liquid discharge recording head which discharges a liquid includes a substrate on which liquid-discharge-energy-generating elements are provided and which constitutes a part of a flow path for supplying the liquid; and a covering resin layer which is provided on the substrate, which constitutes a part of the flow path, and which includes orifices for discharging the liquid, wherein the covering resin layer is composed of an oxetane resin composition containing an oxetane compound having at least one oxetanyl group in its molecule and a photocationic polymerization initiator as essential components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Koichi Igarashi, Shogo Ono, Manabu Tomita, Minoru Kohno
  • Publication number: 20070165077
    Abstract: A head module includes a head chip provided with an array of heat generating elements, a nozzle sheet provided with nozzles, a barrier layer for forming ink liquid chambers, a module frame adhered to the nozzle sheet to thereby support the nozzle sheet and provided with a head chip arranging hole for arranging the head chip therein, and a buffer tank which is so disposed as to cover the head chip arranging hole from a surface, on the opposite side of the surface of adhesion to the nozzle sheet, of the module frame and which is for forming a common liquid conduit communicated with all the ink chambers of the head chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Toru Tanikawa, Shinji Kayaba, Naoshi Ando, Masayuki Takakura, Makoto Ando, Shinichi Horii, Takaaki Murakami, Manabu Tomita
  • Patent number: 7240989
    Abstract: The present invention is applied to a printer that discharges ink drops by driving, for example, heater elements. In the case where a plurality of variable pressure generator elements are driven to control the direction in which the drop is discharged, the present invention makes it possible to lay out drive circuits and so on efficiently so as to arrange nozzles in a high density. According to the present invention, in the case where a plurality of variable pressure generator elements 15A and 15B are provided for a liquid chamber, and are controlled to control the direction in which the drop is discharged, a sub-control circuit 31 varies the balance between the variable pressure generator elements 15A and 15B driven by a main control circuit 27. Since the current concerning the sub-control circuit 31 is small, the wiring pattern concerning the sub-control circuit 31 is formed in a narrow width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Tomita, Iwao Ushinohama, Takeo Eguchi, Fusa Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20070153063
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for ejecting liquid, the processing accuracy of an ejection unit for ejecting ink can be easily increased and the variations in the volume of ink drops, the ejection angle thereof, etc., can be reduced even when dust is mixed in ink. In addition, a reduction in an ink-supply speed at which ink is supplied to an ink ejection unit can be prevented. An ink ejection apparatus includes a plurality of heating units (13) provided on a base member (11), ink cells for pressurizing ink with energy generated by the heating units (13), and nozzles (17) having ejection holes for ejecting the ink which is pressurized in the ink cells. Each of the nozzles (17) is disposed above each of the heating units (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Masato Nakamura, Toru Tanikawa, Minoru Kohno, Koichi Igarashi, Manabu Tomita, Shogo Ono, Takaaki Miyamoto, Iwao Ushinohama
  • Publication number: 20070145161
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head that controls ink discharge direction using a plurality of heating elements. The liquid discharge head comprises, on a single semiconductor substrate (101), a plurality of heating elements (102a) (102b) that are adjacently disposed to each other in an ink liquid chamber (105) and generates bubbles in the ink supplied to the ink liquid chamber to discharge the ink from a nozzle (104a), a switching element (121a) that supplies power to the heating elements, and switching elements (121b) (121c) that control the ink discharge direction while supplying different levels of power to the heating elements or changing the timing of giving power thereto. On the semiconductor substrate, an energy supply wiring pattern (224) for supplying power to the heating elements and a control wiring pattern (236) for controlling the switching element (121a) and switching elements (121b) (121c) are provided in different conductive layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Manabu Tomita, Iwao Ushinohama, Shinichi Horii, Takeo Eguchi
  • Patent number: 7216420
    Abstract: A print head manufacturing method in which satisfactory precision can be obtained by simple processes are provided. Projecting objects having a predetermined shape are formed on a substrate, and a setting resin is applied on the substrate and is set. Then, the projecting objects are removed so that ink cells and nozzles are formed. The thickness of the setting resin is determined such that tip portions of the projecting objects project above the setting resin and ink cells can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Tomita, Koichi Igarashi