Patents by Inventor Masaaki Ando
Masaaki Ando 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: 12521989Abstract: A control method of a liquid ejection device having an ejection unit, and a maintenance unit for maintaining the ejection unit, the ejection unit having a first head having a first nozzle configured to eject the liquid, and a second head having a second nozzle configured to eject the liquid and a third nozzle configured to eject the treatment liquid, the maintenance unit having a first receiving portion configured to receive the liquid, and a second receiving portion configured to receive the treatment liquid, and the control method includes executing a first flushing in which the liquid is ejected from the first nozzle to the first receiving portion, executing a second flushing in which the liquid is ejected from the second nozzle to the first receiving portion, and executing a third flushing in which the processing liquid is ejected from the third nozzle to the second receiving portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2023Date of Patent: January 13, 2026Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masanobu Yamaguchi, Koji Kawatani, Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Masaaki Ando
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Publication number: 20250270119Abstract: A liquid treatment device includes a liquid storage unit that stores water to be treated in which a water-soluble substance is dissolved, a heating unit that heats the water to be treated in the liquid storage unit, and a distillation unit that separates, using a membrane distillation method, the water-soluble substance and a moisture content from the water to be treated. The distillation unit includes a liquid-phase portion into which the water to be treated flows from the liquid storage unit, a separation portion that is a non-woven fabric using a recycled material as a raw material and on which a carbonization treatment has been performed, and a gas-phase portion in which water vapor, which is generated as a result of the water to be treated passing through the separation portion, diffuses.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2025Publication date: August 28, 2025Inventor: Masaaki ANDO
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Patent number: 12296594Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a liquid ejecting device. The liquid ejecting device includes a liquid ejecting unit configured to eject a liquid containing an inorganic pigment from a nozzle provided at a nozzle surface, a wiper unit including a band-like member configured to absorb the liquid and a pressing unit configured to move the band-like member in a first direction, and a wiper moving unit configured to move the wiper unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction to wipe the nozzle surface using the band-like member. The method includes performing first wiping in which, to wipe the nozzle surface, the wiper moving unit moves the wiper unit at a first velocity while the pressing unit moves the band-like member at a first velocity.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2023Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Ken Inoue, Tomoki Shinoda, Shunsuke Kuramata, Masaaki Ando
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Publication number: 20240351350Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a liquid ejection unit having a first nozzle group configured to eject a first liquid to a cloth conveyed, and a second nozzle group configured to eject a second liquid to the cloth, and a wiping unit configured to wipe a nozzle surface on which the first nozzle group is disposed, wherein the first liquid is aqueous ink and the second liquid is a liquid including a softening agent, and the second nozzle group executes a softening treatment of ejecting the second liquid to the cloth, and a water repellent treatment of making the second liquid adhere to the nozzle surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2024Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Satoru KOBAYASHI, Masaaki ANDO
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Publication number: 20240272115Abstract: A gas sensor is configured to inhibit wear of a metal member contacting with a member containing ceramic. The gas sensor comprising: a separator containing ceramic; and a metal holder contacting with the separator, wherein the metal holder is a disc spring, and an inner circumferential end on a projecting surface side of the metal holder forms the contact part.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2024Publication date: August 15, 2024Applicant: Niterra Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masana OKAI, Takehiro OBA, Masaaki ANDO
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Patent number: 12046974Abstract: In an actuator, damper members which connect a movable member and a fixed member are arranged at two places between the end portion of the shaft of the movable member on an L1 side and the opening portion of the first holder of the fixed member and between the end portion of the shaft of the movable member on an L2 side and the opening portion of a second holder. Each of the damper members includes a gel damper member serving as a connection member which is continuously arranged in a gap in a radial direction between the movable member and the fixed member over the entire circumference. In the gel damper member, an inner circumferential portion is fixed to the shaft through a cylindrical first member, and an outer circumferential portion is fixed to the fixed member through a cylindrical second member.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventors: Shogo Kasahara, Masaaki Ando, Shinji Hatano, Masao Tsuchihashi
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Publication number: 20240208226Abstract: A control method of a liquid ejection device having an ejection unit, and a maintenance unit for maintaining the ejection unit, the ejection unit having a first head having a first nozzle configured to eject the liquid, and a second head having a second nozzle configured to eject the liquid and a third nozzle configured to eject the treatment liquid, the maintenance unit having a first receiving portion configured to receive the liquid, and a second receiving portion configured to receive the treatment liquid, and the control method includes executing a first flushing in which the liquid is ejected from the first nozzle to the first receiving portion, executing a second flushing in which the liquid is ejected from the second nozzle to the first receiving portion, and executing a third flushing in which the processing liquid is ejected from the third nozzle to the second receiving portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2023Publication date: June 27, 2024Inventors: Masanobu YAMAGUCHI, Koji KAWATANI, Tsuyoshi HAYASHI, Masaaki ANDO
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Patent number: 11843298Abstract: An actuator includes a support body, a movable body, a connection body connected with the support body and the movable body and provided with at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity, and a magnetic drive mechanism structured to relatively move the movable body with respect to the support body. The connection body is disposed in a space in a radial direction between an inner side ring-shaped part provided in one of the movable body and the support body and an outer side ring-shaped part provided in the other of the movable body and the support body. The inner side ring-shaped part, the outer side ring-shaped part and the connection body structure a partition part which partitions an inside space of the case, and the partition part includes an air passage which is penetrated through the partition part in an axial line direction so that air resistance can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventors: Masaaki Ando, Akira Mori
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Patent number: 11791703Abstract: The actuator includes a magnetic drive mechanism to relatively move the movable body with respect to the support body. The magnetic drive mechanism has a magnet and a coil. The connecting element connected to the support body and the movable body is a viscoelastic member. The viscoelastic member has a temperature characteristic that a loss tangent (Tan ?) thereof measured by a dynamic viscoelasticity measurement decreases as a temperature rises. When using a silicone gel as the connecting element, the decrease in the peak value of the acceleration of the movable body caused by the decrease in the current flowing through the coil is cancelled by the increase in the peak value of the acceleration of the movable body caused by the decrease in Tan ? of the silicone gel. Therefore, the oscillation of the movable body is unchanged even if a temperature changes.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventor: Masaaki Ando
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Publication number: 20230264476Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a liquid ejecting device. The liquid ejecting device includes a liquid ejecting unit configured to eject a liquid containing an inorganic pigment from a nozzle provided at a nozzle surface, a wiper unit including a band-like member configured to absorb the liquid and a pressing unit configured to move the band-like member in a first direction, and a wiper moving unit configured to move the wiper unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction to wipe the nozzle surface using the band-like member. The method includes performing first wiping in which, to wipe the nozzle surface, the wiper moving unit moves the wiper unit at a first velocity while the pressing unit moves the band-like member at a first velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Inventors: Ken INOUE, Tomoki SHINODA, Shunsuke KURAMATA, Masaaki ANDO
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Publication number: 20220224213Abstract: In an actuator, damper members which connect a movable member and a fixed member are arranged at two places between the end portion of the shaft of the movable member on an L1 side and the opening portion of the first holder of the fixed member and between the end portion of the shaft of the movable member on an L2 side and the opening portion of a second holder. Each of the damper members includes a gel damper member serving as a connection member which is continuously arranged in a gap in a radial direction between the movable member and the fixed member over the entire circumference. In the gel damper member, an inner circumferential portion is fixed to the shaft through a cylindrical first member, and an outer circumferential portion is fixed to the fixed member through a cylindrical second member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventors: Shogo KASAHARA, Masaaki ANDO, Shinji HATANO, Masao TSUCHIHASHI
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Publication number: 20220123643Abstract: The actuator includes a magnetic drive mechanism to relatively move the movable body with respect to the support body. The magnetic drive mechanism has a magnet and a coil. The connecting element connected to the support body and the movable body is a viscoelastic member. The viscoelastic member has a temperature characteristic that a loss tangent (Tan ?) thereof measured by a dynamic viscoelasticity measurement decreases as a temperature rises. When using a silicone gel as the connecting element, the decrease in the peak value of the acceleration of the movable body caused by the decrease in the current flowing through the coil is cancelled by the increase in the peak value of the acceleration of the movable body caused by the decrease in Tan ? of the silicone gel. Therefore, the oscillation of the movable body is unchanged even if a temperature changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2021Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventor: Masaaki ANDO
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Publication number: 20210349051Abstract: A gas sensor is configured to inhibit wear of a metal member contacting with a member containing ceramic. The gas sensor comprising: a first member containing ceramic; and a metal member contacting with the first member, wherein a hardness h1 of a contact part of the metal member contacting with the first member is greater than a hardness h2 of a reference part exhibiting a maximum thickness of the metal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventors: Masana OKAI, Takehiro OBA, Masaaki ANDO
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Publication number: 20210336521Abstract: An actuator includes a support body, a movable body, a connection body connected with the support body and the movable body and provided with at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity, and a magnetic drive mechanism structured to relatively move the movable body with respect to the support body. The connection body is disposed in a space in a radial direction between an inner side ring-shaped part provided in one of the movable body and the support body and an outer side ring-shaped part provided in the other of the movable body and the support body. The inner side ring-shaped part, the outer side ring-shaped part and the connection body structure a partition part which partitions an inside space of the case, and the partition part includes an air passage which is penetrated through the partition part in an axial line direction so that air resistance can be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATIONInventors: Masaaki ANDO, Akira MORI
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Patent number: 11142008Abstract: A liquid ejecting unit includes: a liquid ejecting head; and a coupling member coupled to the liquid ejecting head, in which the liquid ejecting head has a first-coupling portion and a second-coupling portion, the liquid ejecting unit further includes: a first-attachment portion provided in a first-position of the coupling member; a second-attachment portion provided in a second-position of the coupling member, the second position being different from the first position; a first-elastic body; and a second-elastic body, and the first-elastic body biases the first-attachment portion or the first-coupling portion in a state in which the first-attachment portion is in contact with the first-coupling portion and the second-elastic body biases the second-attachment portion or the second-coupling portion in a state in which the second-attachment portion is in contact with the second-coupling portion, so that the coupling member is coupled to the liquid ejecting head.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Daiki Tatsuta, Masaaki Ando, Junya Suzuki, Takao Yamamoto, Ken Yamagishi
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Patent number: 11077677Abstract: An ink jet recording method includes ejecting an ultraviolet-ray curable ink of which a viscosity at 28° C. is 8 mPa·s or more from a head to a recording medium, and curing the ultraviolet-ray curable ink attached to the recording medium, wherein, in the ejecting of the ultraviolet-ray curable ink, the ultraviolet-ray curable ink is heated such that a temperature of the ejected ultraviolet-ray curable ink becomes 28° C. to 40° C., and a viscosity of the ultraviolet-ray curable ink at the temperature is 15 mPa·s or less.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Yoshihiro Kobayashi, Yusuke Mizutaki, Toshio Kumagai, Masaaki Ando, Hiroaki Kida, Kaoru Koike, Mitsuaki Yoshizawa
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Patent number: 10894413Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejector having a nozzle surface having nozzles, a cap configured to perform capping when coming into contact with the nozzle surface, a capping mechanism configured to move the cap between a capping position for the capping and a separated position separated from the nozzle surface, a cleaning-liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a cleaning liquid into the cap, and a facing portion configured to face a lip portion of the cap coming into contact with the nozzle surface in the capping, in which the lip portion and the facing portion are made to face each other and a predetermined space is provided between the lip portion and the facing portion for the cleaning liquid supplied in the cap to come into contact with the facing portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Yuji Kanazawa, Masaaki Ando
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Patent number: 10875309Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a first liquid from a nozzle, a liquid receiving portion configured to receive, in a state where a second liquid is accommodated in the liquid receiving portion, for a purpose of maintenance of the liquid ejecting portion, the first liquid discharged from the nozzle, a maintenance portion that maintains a liquid surface of a liquid accommodated in the liquid receiving portion at an upper limit position, and a discharge portion configured to discharge, from a discharge port open to the liquid receiving portion, the liquid accommodated in the liquid receiving portion. The discharge port is positioned below the upper limit position.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Toshio Arimura, Yuji Kanazawa, Masaaki Ando, Noritaka Mitsuo
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Publication number: 20200398583Abstract: A duckbill valve is disclosed that stably operates for a long time even when high pressure is applied to fluid. The duckbill valve includes a first flow path formation part including a first flow path and a second flow path formation part including a second flow path having a width increasing gradually toward the first flow path formation part. The second flow path formation part has a slit formed at a tip end part, and the second flow path communicates with a downstream flow path FP2 when the slit is opened. The communication between the second flow path and the downstream flow path is blocked when the slit is closed. The first wall part and the second wall part do not make contact with each other when the pressure difference of the second flow path with respect to the pressure of the downstream flow path FP2 is ?75 kPa.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2018Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Hiroshi ASAWA, Toshio KUMAGAI, Masaaki ANDO
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Patent number: 10807370Abstract: A cap includes a lip portion, and an inner bottom wall and an atmosphere communication wall that, when an opening with the lip portion as an edge is covered by a member, form a recessed portion that forms a space with the member, the atmosphere communication wall being provided at a position between the opening and the inner bottom wall in a depth direction of the recessed portion, the atmosphere communication wall having a communication port of an atmosphere communication portion that opens the space to the atmosphere, the communication port being formed in the atmosphere communication wall toward the opening.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Yuji Kanazawa, Masaaki Ando