Patents by Inventor Naoyuki Okumura

Naoyuki Okumura 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: 11390095
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a supporting part for a printing medium, a head, an ultraviolet irradiation part that emits from an irradiation surface thereof ultraviolet light, a protrusion fixed to the ultraviolet irradiation part, a frame, an attaching part that is attachable to the frame with an attaching position thereof adjusted, and a guide part that is attachable to the frame and guides the adjustment of the attaching position of the attaching part with respect to the frame. The guide part includes first and second butted parts, and the attaching part includes a butting part having a width smaller than a spacing between the first and second butted parts, and a distance between the irradiation surface and the supporting part is a sum of a difference between the width of the butting part and the spacing and a protruding length of the protrusion from the irradiation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ko Takanashi, Naoyuki Okumura
  • Publication number: 20200369052
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a supporting part for a printing medium, a head, an ultraviolet irradiation part that emits from an irradiation surface thereof ultraviolet light, a protrusion fixed to the ultraviolet irradiation part, a frame, an attaching part that is attachable to the frame with an attaching position thereof adjusted, and a guide part that is attachable to the frame and guides the adjustment of the attaching position of the attaching part with respect to the frame. The guide part includes first and second butted parts, and the attaching part includes a butting part having a width smaller than a spacing between the first and second butted parts, and a distance between the irradiation surface and the supporting part is a sum of a difference between the width of the butting part and the spacing and a protruding length of the protrusion from the irradiation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Ko TAKANASHI, Naoyuki OKUMURA
  • Patent number: 10059125
    Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus that includes a transport belt for transporting a medium, a pressing roller configured to press the medium against the transport belt, and a support portion capable of supporting the transport belt. In the stated recording apparatus, the transport belt and the support portion make contact with each other when the pressing roller is pressed against the medium. By making the recording apparatus have the constitution as described above, it is possible to make the transport belt support the medium with certainty and suppress an increase in friction force between the transport belt and the support portion capable of supporting the transport belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoyuki Okumura
  • Publication number: 20170239960
    Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus that includes a transport belt for transporting a medium, a pressing roller configured to press the medium against the transport belt, and a support portion capable of supporting the transport belt. In the stated recording apparatus, the transport belt and the support portion make contact with each other when the pressing roller is pressed against the medium. By making the recording apparatus have the constitution as described above, it is possible to make the transport belt support the medium with certainty and suppress an increase in friction force between the transport belt and the support portion capable of supporting the transport belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventor: Naoyuki OKUMURA
  • Patent number: 9539826
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus having a plurality of sensors for performing a detection with respect to a recording medium is provided, with which it is made possible for each of the plurality of sensors to detect the state of the recording medium at a desired position of the recording medium even in a case where the width of the recording medium being used has been modified. The image recording apparatus includes a conveyance part configured to convey the recording medium, a first sensor configured to perform a detection with respect to the recording medium, a second sensor configured to perform a detection with respect to the recording medium, and a positional relationship regulation part configured to regulate a positional relationship between the first sensor and the second sensor. The first sensor and the second sensor are movable in conjunction with one another by moving the positional relationship regulation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoyuki Okumura
  • Patent number: 9067418
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a support member, a print head, a guide mechanism and a maintenance unit. The print head is configured to eject a liquid from a nozzle at a first position facing the support member. The guide mechanism is configured to guide movement of the print head among the first position, a second position, and a third position. The maintenance unit is configured to carry out maintenance on the print head which is located at the second position, the maintenance unit being arranged at a position facing the print head which is located at the second position. The third position is a position farther than the second position with respect to the first position in a direction going from the support member toward the maintenance unit in the orthogonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Wanibe, Naoyuki Okumura
  • Publication number: 20150085011
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a support member, a print head, a guide mechanism and a maintenance unit. The print head is configured to eject a liquid from a nozzle at a first position facing the support member. The guide mechanism is configured to guide movement of the print head among the first position, a second position, and a third position. The maintenance unit is configured to carry out maintenance on the print head which is located at the second position, the maintenance unit being arranged at a position facing the print head which is located at the second position. The third position is a position farther than the second position with respect to the first position in a direction going from the support member toward the maintenance unit in the orthogonal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Akihisa WANIBE, Naoyuki OKUMURA
  • Publication number: 20150085303
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus having a plurality of sensors for performing a detection with respect to a recording medium is provided, with which it is made possible for each of the plurality of sensors to detect the state of the recording medium at a desired position of the recording medium even in a case where the width of the recording medium being used has been modified. The image recording apparatus includes a conveyance part configured to convey the recording medium, a first sensor configured to perform a detection with respect to the recording medium, a second sensor configured to perform a detection with respect to the recording medium, and a positional relationship regulation part configured to regulate a positional relationship between the first sensor and the second sensor. The first sensor and the second sensor are movable in conjunction with one another by moving the positional relationship regulation part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Naoyuki OKUMURA
  • Patent number: 8926064
    Abstract: An image recording device, wherein the image recording device is provided with a support member for supporting a recording medium, a print head for recording an image at a first position facing the support member, and a maintenance unit arranged at a position different from that of the support member in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the direction in which the print head and the support member face each other in the first position. The image recording device is further provided with a guide mechanism for guiding movement of the print head between a first position, a second position in which the print head faces the maintenance unit, and a third position which is a different position from those of the support member and the maintenance unit in an orthogonal direction, and a space allowing for a manual task on the print head is present at the facing position of the print head at the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Wanibe, Naoyuki Okumura
  • Publication number: 20140160188
    Abstract: An image recording device, wherein the image recording device is provided with a support member for supporting a recording medium, a print head for recording an image at a first position facing the support member, and a maintenance unit arranged at a position different from that of the support member in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the direction in which the print head and the support member face each other in the first position. The image recording device is further provided with a guide mechanism for guiding movement of the print head between a first position, a second position in which the print head faces the maintenance unit, and a third position which is a different position from those of the support member and the maintenance unit in an orthogonal direction, and a space allowing for a manual task on the print head is present at the facing position of the print head at the third position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihisa WANIBE, Naoyuki OKUMURA
  • Publication number: 20120294653
    Abstract: Developer is recovered by a development unit, a first squeeze unit, a second squeeze unit, and a photoreceptor cleaning unit, but the developer recovered by the development unit or the first squeeze unit has a relatively high concentration, and is therefore returned to a stirring tank for reuse. The developer recovered by the second squeeze unit or the photoreceptor cleaning unit has a relatively low concentration, and is therefore accumulated in a buffer tank separate from the stirring tank to prevent the toner concentration in the stirring tank from decreasing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro GOMI, Kazuhiro NISHIYAMA, Tsutomu SASAKI, Naoyuki OKUMURA
  • Publication number: 20120237276
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention includes a carrier solution application roller that rotates centering on a rotary shaft and applies a carrier solution to a transfer roller after an image of a liquid developer including toner and the carrier solution is transferred to a transfer medium, a transfer roller cleaning roller, supported by a cleaning member support portion through a rotary shaft, which removes toner remaining in the transfer roller, and a carrier solution application roller of which the amount of movement is larger than the amount of movement of the transfer roller cleaning roller when the cleaning member support portion is rotated. Even when the transfer roller moves, satisfactory cleaning properties are secured without breaking a mutual positional relationship by facilitating mutual positioning between the transfer roller and the transfer roller cleaning roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu SASAKI, Kazuhiro NISHIYAMA, Naoyuki OKUMURA, Hidehiro TAKANO, Ken IKUMA
  • Publication number: 20120237266
    Abstract: A driving force produced by a first driving motor is transmitted to a developing roller and an intermediate application roller by a first drive transmission unit, and the developing roller and the intermediate application roller are rotated as a result. The developing roller and the intermediate application roller thus take the first driving motor as a drive source, and receive the driving force from the first driving motor via the same first drive transmission unit. As a result, the phases of the fluctuation in a rotational component of the first driving motor and the cyclic fluctuation of gear interlocking match, which reduces a rotational velocity difference between the developing roller and the intermediate application roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuma MIYAZAWA, Tsutomu SASAKI, Kazuhiro NISHIYAMA, Naoyuki OKUMURA
  • Publication number: 20120219325
    Abstract: In a developing device which supplies a liquid developer to a developer holder roller using a supply member and performs development using the liquid developer, and an image forming apparatus including the developing device, a developer holder cleaning unit which cleans the developer holder roller and recovers the liquid developer in order to prevent the liquid developer after development from being adhered to the supply member, a supply member cleaning unit which cleans the supply member and recovers the liquid developer, a recovery path member which is disposed above the supply member in a vertical direction and receives the liquid developer recovered by the developer holder cleaning unit, and a recovery unit which is disposed above the recovery path member in the vertical direction and stores the liquid developer moved to the recovery path member and the liquid developer recovered by the supply member cleaning unit are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu SASAKI, Kazuma MIYAZAWA, Kazuhiro NISHIYAMA, Naoyuki OKUMURA, Akihiro GOMI
  • Publication number: 20120213542
    Abstract: A developing roller which comes into contact with a latent image carrier drum on a first side with respect to an imaginary vertical plane passing through the rotation center of the latent image carrier drum, thereby developing a latent image which is carried on the latent image carrier drum by a liquid developer that includes toner and carrier liquid is provided, and a squeeze roller which comes into contact with the latent image carrier drum developed by the developing roller on a second side on the opposite side to the first side with respect to the imaginary vertical plane further on the upper side in the vertical direction than an imaginary horizontal plane passing through the rotation center of the latent image carrier drum and perpendicular to the imaginary vertical plane, thereby squeezing an image developed to the latent image carrier drum is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichiro TSUKADA, Tsutomu SASAKI, Kazuhiro NISHIYAMA, Kazuma MIYAZAWA, Naoyuki OKUMURA
  • Publication number: 20120207508
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier drum on which a latent image is formed; a development unit which includes a development roller coming into contact with the image carrier drum on an upward side of a virtual horizontal plane, which is perpendicular to a virtual vertical plane passing through a rotation center of the image carrier drum, in a vertical direction and developing the latent image formed on the image carrier drum with a liquid developer containing toner and a carrier liquid; a squeeze unit which comes into contact with the image developed by the development roller on the upward side of the virtual horizontal plane in the vertical direction and includes a squeeze roller squeezing the image; and a transfer unit which transfers the image squeezed by the squeeze roller to a transfer member on a downward side of the virtual horizontal plane in the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro NISHIYAMA, Kazuma MIYAZAWA, Yoshitomo HIRATA, Tsutomu SASAKI, Naoyuki OKUMURA, Yuichiro TSUKADA
  • Publication number: 20120201563
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrying drum on which a latent image is formed; a charging section that includes a corona charger charging the latent image carrying drum and an air flow duct formed in the corona charger so as to be long in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrying drum so that air flows in the corona charger; a developing section that is disposed above the air flow duct in the vertical direction, is formed so as to be shorter than the air flow duct in the rotation axis direction of the latent image carrying drum, and develops the latent image formed on the latent image carrying drum by a liquid developing agent including toner and a carrier liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuma MIYAZAWA, Tsutomu SASAKI, Hidehiro TAKANO, Michio SATO, Naoyuki OKUMURA, Satoru MIYAMOTO, Ken IKUMA
  • Publication number: 20090196657
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer carrier which carries liquid developer containing toner and carrier liquid; a developer carrier contact member which contacts the developer carrier; and a developer carrier contact control unit which controls the condition where the developer carrier and the developer carrier contact member contact each other with first contact pressure and the condition where the developer carrier and the developer carrier contact member contact each other with second contact pressure lower than the first contact pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki OKUMURA, Ken IKUMA
  • Patent number: 7187896
    Abstract: In a fixing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus and operable to fix a toner image on a recording medium, a first rotative member and a second rotative member form a nip portion therebetween, at which the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. A separator separates the recording medium, which has been passed through the nip portion, from one of the first rotative member and the second rotative member. The separator is provided with a first guide face extending in a first direction to guide the separated recording medium to an inlet of a subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus. The first guide face is provided with a rib extending in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Fujisawa, Makoto Sato, Katsuhito Gomi, Naoyuki Okumura, Hideki Okada, Shuhei Mori, Shinichi Kamoshida
  • Publication number: 20060291917
    Abstract: In a fixing device incorporated in an image forming apparatus and operable to fix a toner image on a recording medium, a first rotative member and a second rotative member form a nip portion therebetween, at which the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. A separator separates the recording medium, which has been passed through the nip portion, from one of the first rotative member and the second rotative member. The separator is provided with a first guide face extending in a first direction to guide the separated recording medium to an inlet of a subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus. The first guide face is provided with a rib extending in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutoshi FUJISAWA, Makoto SATO, Katsuhito GOMI, Naoyuki OKUMURA, Hideki OKADA, Shuhei MORI, Shinichi KAMOSHIDA