Patents by Inventor Masaru Kobashi

Masaru Kobashi 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: 11529811
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid and an attachment portion to which a liquid container that stores the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting head is detachably attached. The attachment portion includes a liquid inlet portion that is coupled to a liquid outlet provided in the liquid container, and an urging mechanism that urges the liquid container in a direction opposite to an attaching direction in which the liquid container is attached to the attachment portion. The urging mechanism includes an elastic member that is in close contact with the liquid container attached to the attachment portion and that is provided below the liquid inlet portion in a direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakamura, Masaru Kobashi
  • Patent number: 11279134
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head configured to eject liquid from a plurality of nozzles to a medium and a plurality of caps configured to cover a plurality of nozzle groups. The plurality of caps includes a first cap group covering a first nozzle group positioned near the center of the liquid ejection head among the plurality of nozzle groups and a second cap group and a third cap group provided at positions sandwiching the first cap group in the width direction. The liquid ejection head is configured to execute a first idle ejection for ejecting liquid from the plurality of nozzles constituting the plurality of nozzle groups to the plurality of caps and a second idle ejection for ejecting the liquid from the plurality of nozzles constituting the second nozzle group and the third nozzle group to the second cap group and the third cap group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Kobashi, Tomoyoshi Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20210170756
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid and an attachment portion to which a liquid container that stores the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting head is detachably attached. The attachment portion includes a liquid inlet portion that is coupled to a liquid outlet provided in the liquid container, and an urging mechanism that urges the liquid container in a direction opposite to an attaching direction in which the liquid container is attached to the attachment portion. The urging mechanism includes an elastic member that is in close contact with the liquid container attached to the attachment portion and that is provided below the liquid inlet portion in a direction of gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroyuki NAKAMURA, Masaru KOBASHI
  • Publication number: 20200406621
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head configured to eject liquid from a plurality of nozzles to a medium and a plurality of caps configured to cover a plurality of nozzle groups. The plurality of caps includes a first cap group covering a first nozzle group positioned near the center of the liquid ejection head among the plurality of nozzle groups and a second cap group and a third cap group provided at positions sandwiching the first cap group in the width direction. The liquid ejection head is configured to execute a first idle ejection for ejecting liquid from the plurality of nozzles constituting the plurality of nozzle groups to the plurality of caps and a second idle ejection for ejecting the liquid from the plurality of nozzles constituting the second nozzle group and the third nozzle group to the second cap group and the third cap group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Masaru KOBASHI, Tomoyoshi HIRABAYASHI
  • Patent number: 10518535
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that has a nozzle and an opening surface in which the nozzle opens and that ejects a liquid from the nozzle toward a medium that is transported along a transport path, a wiper member that wipes the liquid ejecting portion while moving, a guide that guides movement of the wiper member, and a cap that has an opening portion and that is movable between a capping position at which the cap contacts the liquid ejecting portion so that the opening portion surrounds the nozzle and an open position at which the cap is apart from the liquid ejecting portion. When the cap is at the open position vertically below the guide, the opening portion is at least partially covered by the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Kobashi, Izumi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 10391773
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that has a nozzle to eject a liquid and a plurality of surfaces including a nozzle surface in which the nozzle opens, a wiping unit including a first wiping unit for wiping the nozzle surface and a second wiping unit for wiping a surface different from the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head, a moving mechanism to relatively move the wiping unit and the liquid ejecting head, and a cleaning member including a cleaning section for cleaning the first wiping unit and the second wiping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Hirabayashi, Kazuhiko Sato, Masaru Kobashi
  • Patent number: 10328719
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a medium supporting unit which supports a medium that is transported along a transport path; a liquid ejecting head which includes a nozzle for ejecting liquid onto a medium that is supported by the medium supporting unit; a heating part which heats the medium; and a space forming member which forms a closed space at which the nozzle is opened. The space forming member is configured to move between a space forming position in which the space forming member is disposed when forming the closed space, and a retracted position which is further separated from the heating part than the space forming position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Kobashi, Izumi Nozawa
  • Publication number: 20180194139
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle which ejects a liquid onto a medium, a wiping member that wipes the liquid which has adhered to a nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head, a support member that supports the wiping member, moves the wiping member relative to the liquid ejecting head, and has a receiving portion receiving the liquid wiped by the wiping member, and a connection flow path that is capable of being connected to the support member, wherein the receiving portion and the connection flow path communicate with each other with movement of the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Masaru KOBASHI, Masahisa NAWANO, Kazuhiko SATO
  • Publication number: 20180194138
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle which ejects a liquid onto a medium, a wiping member that wipes the liquid which has adhered to a nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head, a support member that supports the wiping member, moves the wiping member relative to the liquid ejecting head, and has a receiving portion receiving the liquid wiped by the wiping member, and a connection flow path that is capable of being connected to the support member, wherein the receiving portion and the connection flow path communicate with each other with movement of the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Masaru KOBASHI, Masahisa NAWANO, Kazuhiko SATO
  • Publication number: 20180111376
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that has a nozzle and an opening surface in which the nozzle opens and that ejects a liquid from the nozzle toward a medium that is transported along a transport path, a wiper member that wipes the liquid ejecting portion while moving, a guide that guides movement of the wiper member, and a cap that has an opening portion and that is movable between a capping position at which the cap contacts the liquid ejecting portion so that the opening portion surrounds the nozzle and an open position at which the cap is apart from the liquid ejecting portion. When the cap is at the open position vertically below the guide, the opening portion is at least partially covered by the guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Masaru KOBASHI, Izumi NOZAWA
  • Publication number: 20170253045
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that has a nozzle to eject a liquid and a plurality of surfaces including a nozzle surface in which the nozzle opens, a wiping unit including a first wiping unit for wiping the nozzle surface and a second wiping unit for wiping a surface different from the nozzle surface of the liquid ejecting head, a moving mechanism to relatively move the wiping unit and the liquid ejecting head, and a cleaning member including a cleaning section for cleaning the first wiping unit and the second wiping unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Yuki HIRABAYASHI, Kazuhiko SATO, Masaru KOBASHI
  • Patent number: 9555637
    Abstract: A cartridge 1 is provided with an ink pack 9, an air bag 10 capable of abutting the ink pack 9, and a pressurizing chamber 11 that stores the ink pack 9 and the air bag 10. In the case where the amount of ink in the ink pack 9 decreases, pressurized air is introduced into the air bag 10, the ink pack 9 is pressed against the air bag 10, and thereby the internal pressure of the ink pack 9 is increased. After that, pressurized air is introduced into the pressurizing chamber 11 so as to increase the internal pressure of the pressurizing chamber 11 and pressurize the ink pack 9 from outside. Accordingly, the ink in the ink pack 9 is supplied from an ink supply port 12 to the inkjet printer 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Kumagai, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Masaru Kobashi
  • Publication number: 20160375702
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a medium supporting unit which supports a medium that is transported along a transport path; a liquid ejecting head which includes a nozzle for ejecting liquid onto a medium that is supported by the medium supporting unit; a heating part which heats the medium; and a space forming member which forms a closed space at which the nozzle is opened. The space forming member is configured to move between a space forming position in which the space forming member is disposed when forming the closed space, and a retracted position which is further separated from the heating part than the space forming position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Masaru KOBASHI, Izumi NOZAWA
  • Patent number: 9498954
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a printer head that ejects ink and a platen. The ink includes an organic solvent, a surfactant, and 60% by mass or less of water. The platen is composed of a material containing a conductive resin. A solubility parameter A [(J/cm3)1/2] calculated from the organic solvent and the surfactant and a solubility parameter B [(J/cm3)1/2] of the conductive resin satisfy |A?B|?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Ishihara, Yoichi Yamada, Masaru Kobashi
  • Publication number: 20160288510
    Abstract: A cartridge 1 is provided with an ink pack 9, an air bag 10 capable of abutting the ink pack 9, and a pressurizing chamber 11 that stores the ink pack 9 and the air bag 10. In the case where the amount of ink in the ink pack 9 decreases, pressurized air is introduced into the air bag 10, the ink pack 9 is pressed against the air bag 10, and thereby the internal pressure of the ink pack 9 is increased. After that, pressurized air is introduced into the pressurizing chamber 11 so as to increase the internal pressure of the pressurizing chamber 11 and pressurize the ink pack 9 from outside. Accordingly, the ink in the ink pack 9 is supplied from an ink supply port 12 to the inkjet printer 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Masaru KUMAGAI, Yoshihiro KOIZUMI, Masaru KOBASHI
  • Publication number: 20160263897
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle which ejects a liquid onto a medium, a wiping member that wipes the liquid which has adhered to a nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head, a support member that supports the wiping member, moves the wiping member relative to the liquid ejecting head, and has a receiving portion receiving the liquid wiped by the wiping member, and a connection flow path that is capable of being connected to the support member, wherein the receiving portion and the connection flow path communicate with each other with movement of the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Masaru KOBASHI, Masahisa NAWANO, Kazuhiko SATO
  • Patent number: 9375932
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus performs a wiping process for wiping a nozzle forming face while a leaking process for leaking liquid from a plurality of nozzle groups is performed by setting a pressure difference to a second pressure difference which is smaller than a first pressure difference, after performing a discharging process for discharging liquid from a part of nozzle groups among the plurality of nozzle groups by setting the pressure difference to the first pressure difference, when a difference which is obtained by subtracting an external pressure which is a pressure in a space to which a nozzle is open from an internal pressure which is a pressure of liquid in the nozzle included in the plurality of nozzle groups which eject liquid is set to the pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahisa Nawano, Masaru Kobashi, Masaru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9375931
    Abstract: A liquid receiving apparatus includes a liquid holder including a discharging hole for discharging liquid, a bottom portion in which the discharging hole is disposed, and a wall rising from the bottom portion and surrounding the discharging hole. The bottom portion and the wall define a liquid retaining section configured to retain the liquid. The liquid holder is configured to move in a first movement direction intersecting a gravity direction. The wall includes a first inclined wall oblique to the first movement direction. The discharging hole is positioned next to the first inclined wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Kobashi
  • Patent number: 9375933
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus is provided with a liquid ejecting unit capable of ejecting liquid, a plurality of liquid holding portions capable of holding the liquid that is discharged from the liquid ejecting unit, and a suction mechanism which is connected to the plurality of liquid holding portions. The liquid holding portion includes a liquid reception portion which receives the liquid that is discharged from the liquid ejecting unit, a liquid reservoir portion capable of storing the liquid further down in a vertical direction than the liquid reception portion, and an atmosphere communicating portion which communicates the liquid reservoir portion with the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Kobashi, Sho Kimura
  • Publication number: 20160152030
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus performs a wiping process for wiping a nozzle forming face while a leaking process for leaking liquid from a plurality of nozzle groups is performed by setting a pressure difference to a second pressure difference which is smaller than a first pressure difference, after performing a discharging process for discharging liquid from a part of nozzle groups among the plurality of nozzle groups by setting the pressure difference to the first pressure difference, when a difference which is obtained by subtracting an external pressure which is a pressure in a space to which a nozzle is open from an internal pressure which is a pressure of liquid in the nozzle included in the plurality of nozzle groups which eject liquid is set to the pressure difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Masahisa NAWANO, Masaru KOBASHI, Masaru KUMAGAI