Patents by Inventor Motoyoshi Shirotori

Motoyoshi Shirotori 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: 10308029
    Abstract: A liquid holding unit supplies liquid to a liquid ejector of a liquid ejection device. The liquid holding unit includes a liquid holder, an inlet, a plug, a shaft, and an engagement portion. The liquid holder holds the liquid. The housing accommodates the liquid holder. The inlet is used to fill the liquid holder with the liquid. The plug opens and closes the inlet and includes an elastically deformable plug body that covers the inlet and a holding member that holds the plug body and has higher rigidity than the plug body. The shaft is arranged on one of the housing and the plug. The plug is pivotal about the shaft. The engagement portion arranged on the other one of the housing and the plug and engaged with the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura, Hideki Okumura, Motoyoshi Shirotori, Kazuo Otsuka, Masafumi Furuyama
  • Patent number: 10300703
    Abstract: Provided is a printer wherein ink can be easily injected and filled into a tank. A printer including: a printing head; a housing; a body cover shiftable between a closed state of closing an opening of the housing and an open state of exposing the opening; a tank including an ink container and an ink inlet port receiving the ink injection into the ink container; and a tank cover shiftable between a closed state of closing the ink inlet port and an open state of exposing the ink inlet port. The body cover in the closed state covers a portion of the tank cover, and the ink inlet port is located outside a region of the body cover. The tank cover changes from the closed state to the open state, triggered by the body cover changing from the closed state to the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Okumura, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Patent number: 10173432
    Abstract: A decrease in the capacity of an ink tank can be easily avoided while downsizing a printer. A printer includes a printing head, an ink tank, a carriage provided with the printing head movable back and forth, and a medium conveyance device that conveys a printing medium on a conveyance path intersecting the carriage moving direction. An axis line along the carriage moving direction is an X axis and an axis line orthogonal to the X axis is a Y axis, an axis line orthogonal to the X and Y axises is defined as a Z axis. When viewed along the Z axis, the ink tank is located in a region outside a movable region of the carriage along the Y axis, and is arranged so as to extend across a region outside the conveyance path along the X axis and a region that is overlapped with the conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Okumura, Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura, Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Publication number: 20180244063
    Abstract: Provided is a printer wherein ink can be easily injected and filled into a tank. A printer including: a printing head; a housing; a body cover shiftable between a closed state of closing an opening of the housing and an open state of exposing the opening; a tank including an ink container and an ink inlet port receiving the ink injection into the ink container; and a tank cover shiftable between a closed state of closing the ink inlet port and an open state of exposing the ink inlet port. The body cover in the closed state covers a portion of the tank cover, and the ink inlet port is located outside a region of the body cover. The tank cover changes from the closed state to the open state, triggered by the body cover changing from the closed state to the open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki OKUMURA, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Publication number: 20180244052
    Abstract: A decrease in the capacity of an ink tank can be easily avoided while downsizing a printer. A printer includes a printing head, an ink tank, a carriage provided with the printing head movable back and forth, and a medium conveyance device that conveys a printing medium on a conveyance path intersecting the carriage moving direction. An axis line along the carriage moving direction is an X axis and an axis line orthogonal to the X axis is a Y axis, an axis line orthogonal to the X and Y axises is defined as a Z axis. When viewed along the Z axis, the ink tank is located in a region outside a movable region of the carriage along the Y axis, and is arranged so as to extend across a region outside the conveyance path along the X axis and a region that is overlapped with the conveyance path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki OKUMURA, Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura, Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Publication number: 20170355197
    Abstract: A liquid holding unit supplies liquid to a liquid ejector of a liquid ejection device. The liquid holding unit includes a liquid holder, an inlet, a plug, a shaft, and an engagement portion. The liquid holder holds the liquid. The housing accommodates the liquid holder. The inlet is used to fill the liquid holder with the liquid. The plug opens and closes the inlet and includes an elastically deformable plug body that covers the inlet and a holding member that holds the plug body and has higher rigidity than the plug body. The shaft is arranged on one of the housing and the plug. The plug is pivotal about the shaft. The engagement portion arranged on the other one of the housing and the plug and engaged with the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Shoma KUDO, Naomi KIMURA, Hideki OKUMURA, Motoyoshi SHIROTORI, Kazuo OTSUKA, Masafumi FURUYAMA
  • Patent number: 8915580
    Abstract: A liquid supplying apparatus of a printer includes a liquid supplying path for supplying liquid from an upstream side which becomes a liquid accommodator side toward a downstream side which becomes a liquid ejecting head side; a pump; a buffer which is provided at a downstream side of the pump in the liquid supplying path, temporarily stores the liquid discharged from the pump, and has a movable section for supplying the temporarily stored liquid toward the liquid ejecting head side under pressure; and a chalk valve which is provided between the buffer and the liquid ejecting head in the liquid supplying path, and is closed to block the liquid supplying path when a negative pressure of the downstream side which becomes the liquid ejecting head side is greater than a pressing force of an upstream side which becomes the buffer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Patent number: 8840330
    Abstract: A cutter and a printer having a cutter prevent the paper pieces cut off by the cutter from collecting at the paper exit from which the cut-off pieces are discharged. A stage surface 40defines the bottom edge 5a of the paper exit 5. A sloped guide surface 41 is formed sloping down from the downstream side of the stage surface 40. A first side wall 42 determines where one side of the width of the paper passes over the stage surface 40 and the sloped guide surface 41. A second side wall 43 determines where the other side of the width of the paper passes. A protrusion 47 is formed on the first side wall 42 protruding toward the second side wall 43.When label paper 11 is cut, the cut-off portion 11c is deposited on the stage surface 40 covering the top of the protrusion 47. As a result, the cut-off portion 11c is made unstable by the protrusion 47 immediately after being deposited on the stage surface 40, and slides down easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Kenichi Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 8777502
    Abstract: A printer has an automatic cutter and a recording paper guide member. The automatic cutter includes a fixed knife attached to the printer case and a movable knife attached to an access cover. The movable knife is attached to the open side of the access cover relative to the fixed knife. The recording paper guide member is disposed to the printer case at a position closer to the open side of the access cover than the movable knife. The movable knife protruding to the fixed knife side and the recording paper guide member interfere if the access cover is opened when the movable knife has moved to the cutting start position. As a result, because movement of the access cover is limited and the access cover will not open, the movable knife protruding to the fixed knife side is not exposed outside the printer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Patent number: 8613562
    Abstract: A printer with a cutter is provided that can discharge cut-offs in a stable condition. A printer includes a transportation path, a transportation mechanism that conveys a recording medium along the transportation path, a fixed knife having a cutting edge, a movable knife having a cutting edge and moving between a standby position and a cutting-completed position, and an exit disposed along the transportation path. The exit includes a narrow opening defined by a first elongated side offset from the transportation path beyond the movable-knife cutting edge in the cutting-completed position, and a second elongated side opposite the first elongated side and offset from the transportation path opposite to the first elongated side. The second elongated side can be located immediately adjacent to the transportation path, for example, by less than or equal to 2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Shinsuke Tomomatsu
  • Patent number: 8602670
    Abstract: In a scissor type automatic cutter 20, as the movable knife 22 pivots, adhesive between the web liner 11a and the continuous label 11b medium is squeezed out from the label paper 11 at the distal end side of the movable knife 22 and sticks to the fixed knife 21 or the movable knife 22. Because a notched opening 44 is formed in the upstream edge 50a in the paper discharge direction at the other edge part in the paper width direction of the substantially horizontal stage surface 40, if adhesive sticking to the fixed knife 21 or movable knife 22 moves to the stage surface 40 side, the adhesive can be removed from the notched opening 44 and does not accumulate on the stage surface 40. As a result, cutting problems caused by penetration of accumulated adhesive between the fixed knife 21 and movable knife 22 can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Shinsuke Tomomatsu
  • Patent number: 8459888
    Abstract: A paper cutting device comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade, a movable blade drive mechanism for moving the movable blade, wherein the movable blade and the fixed blade are disposed in substantially perpendicular positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Hironori Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20120206547
    Abstract: A liquid supplying apparatus of a printer includes a liquid supplying path for supplying liquid from an upstream side which becomes a liquid accommodator side toward a downstream side which becomes a liquid ejecting head side; a pump; a buffer which is provided at a downstream side of the pump in the liquid supplying path, temporarily stores the liquid discharged from the pump, and has a movable section for supplying the temporarily stored liquid toward the liquid ejecting head side under pressure; and a chalk valve which is provided between the buffer and the liquid ejecting head in the liquid supplying path, and is closed to block the liquid supplying path when a negative pressure of the downstream side which becomes the liquid ejecting head side is greater than a pressing force of an upstream side which becomes the buffer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Publication number: 20110103869
    Abstract: A printer has an automatic cutter and a recording paper guide member. The automatic cutter includes a fixed knife attached to the printer case and a movable knife attached to an access cover. The movable knife is attached to the open side of the access cover relative to the fixed knife. The recording paper guide member is disposed to the printer case at a position closer to the open side of the access cover than the movable knife. The movable knife protruding to the fixed knife side and the recording paper guide member interfere if the access cover is opened when the movable knife has moved to the cutting start position. As a result, because movement of the access cover is limited and the access cover will not open, the movable knife protruding to the fixed knife side is not exposed outside the printer case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Publication number: 20100221056
    Abstract: A printer with a cutter does not have cutting problems caused by adhesive squeezed from label paper. In a scissor type automatic cutter 20 the contact force between the cutting edge 22a of the movable knife 22 and the cutting edge 21a of the fixed knife 21 weakens at the other side of the paper width, and as the movable knife 22 pivots, adhesive between the web liner 11a and the continuous label 11b medium is squeezed out from the label paper 11 at the distal end side of the movable knife 22 and sticks to the fixed knife 21 or the movable knife 22. Because a notched opening 44 is formed in the upstream edge 50a in the paper discharge direction at the other edge part in the paper width direction of the substantially horizontal stage surface 40 that defines the bottom edge 5a of the paper exit 5, if adhesive sticking to the fixed knife 21 or movable knife 22 moves to the stage surface 40 side, the adhesive can be removed from the notched opening 44 and does not accumulate on the stage surface 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Shinsuke Tomomatsu
  • Publication number: 20100221055
    Abstract: A printer with a cutter is provided that can discharge cut-offs in a stable condition. A printer includes a transportation path, a transportation mechanism that conveys a recording medium along the transportation path, a fixed knife having a cutting edge, a movable knife having a cutting edge and moving between a standby position and a cutting-completed position, and an exit disposed along the transportation path. The exit includes a narrow opening defined by a first elongated side offset from the transportation path beyond the movable-knife cutting edge in the cutting-completed position, and a second elongated side opposite the first elongated side and offset from the transportation path opposite to the first elongated side. The second elongated side can be located immediately adjacent to the transportation path, for example, by less than or equal to 2 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Shinsuke Tomomatsu
  • Publication number: 20100221057
    Abstract: A cutter and a printer having a cutter prevent the paper pieces cut off by the cutter from collecting at the paper exit from which the cut-off pieces are discharged. A stage surface 40 defines the bottom edge 5a of the paper exit 5. A sloped guide surface 41 is formed sloping down from the downstream side of the stage surface 40. A first side wall 42 determines where one side of the width of the paper passes over the stage surface 40 and the sloped guide surface 41. A second side wall 43 determines where the other side of the width of the paper passes. A protrusion 47 is formed on the first side wall 42 protruding toward the second side wall 43. When label paper 11 is cut, the cut-off portion 11c is deposited on the stage surface 40 covering the top of the protrusion 47. As a result, the cut-off portion 11c is made unstable by the protrusion 47 immediately after being deposited on the stage surface 40, and slides down easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Kenichi Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20100202819
    Abstract: A paper cutting device comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade, a movable blade drive mechanism for moving the movable blade, wherein the movable blade and the fixed blade are disposed in substantially perpendicular positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Hironori Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7731437
    Abstract: A paper cutting device comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade, a movable blade drive mechanism for moving the movable blade, wherein the movable blade and the fixed blade are disposed in substantially perpendicular positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Hironori Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7553098
    Abstract: A roll paper printer comprising a roll paper storage unit having a bottom surface on which a roll paper is held and rolls, an operable cover unit for opening and closing a roll paper loading opening to the roll paper storage unit, a roll paper size detection mechanism comprising a detection lever that can move in a direction protruding into the roll paper storage unit and a direction retracting from the roll paper storage unit, and an urging member for urging the detection lever in the protruding direction, wherein the detection lever separates from the roll paper and is pushed in the protruding direction when an outside diameter of the roll paper stored in the roll paper storage unit decreases to a predetermined size or less, and a detection lever retraction mechanism for moving the detection lever protruding into the roll paper storage unit in the retracting direction against the urging force of the urging member in conjunction with the operable cover unit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Maekawa, Jiro Momose, Motoyoshi Shirotori