Patents by Inventor Noriaki Maida

Noriaki Maida 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: 11938717
    Abstract: An image recording method includes a step of preparing a first ink containing water and at least one selected from the group consisting of a chromatic colorant and a black colorant, a step of preparing a second ink containing a white colorant and water, an applying step of applying each of the first ink and the second ink onto a resin base material by an ink jet method, and a drying step of including irradiating the first ink and the second ink applied onto the resin base material with microwaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Ayato Sato, Noriaki Maida, Hidetoshi Kawasaki, Takeshi Miyato
  • Patent number: 11878514
    Abstract: Provided are a blowing unit, a drying device, a liquid applying system, and a printing system with which it is possible to realize uniformly blowing air via a plurality of jetting ports. In a blowing unit that has a hollow structure and blows air via a plurality of jetting ports disposed at a first surface, a gas inflow port through which a gas supplied from a gas supply source flows in is formed in a second surface which intersects the first surface and at which the jetting ports are not disposed and a ratio of a sum of opening areas of the plurality of jetting ports to an opening area of the gas inflow port is equal to or larger than 0.1 and equal to or smaller than 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Maida, Takanori Hamamoto
  • Publication number: 20230191790
    Abstract: There is provided a mounting mechanism for a liquid container capable of suppressing a damage of a mouthpiece and enabling efficient stirring, and there is provided an ink stirring method for an ink cartridge using the mechanism. The mounting mechanism for a liquid container includes: a holder portion that fixes a mouthpiece serving as an outlet of a liquid of a liquid container in which the liquid is contained and that holds the liquid container; a set portion that has a fitting part fitted to the mouthpiece and causing the liquid to flow out of the mouthpiece; a tube that communicates with the fitting part; and a main body that is connected to the set portion by using the tube, in which the set portion is movable with respect to the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki MAIDA, Naoyuki Morita, Yuzo Ishikawa, Kensuke Takada
  • Publication number: 20220402278
    Abstract: Provided are a drying device, a liquid applying system, and a printing system that suppress an increase in size in a direction facing a substrate transport surface. A drying device that blows a heated gas to a substrate transport surface in a substrate transport path includes a blowing unit provided with a jetting port formed in a first surface facing the substrate transport surface, a heat source, and a fan motor that blows a gas to the heat source to generate the heated gas. A heated gas inflow port through which the heated gas is supplied is formed in a second surface of the blowing unit, the second surface intersecting the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki MAIDA
  • Publication number: 20220402281
    Abstract: Provided are a blowing unit, a drying device, a liquid applying system, and a printing system with which it is possible to realize uniformly blowing air via a plurality of jetting ports. In a blowing unit that has a hollow structure and blows air via a plurality of jetting ports disposed at a first surface, a gas inflow port through which a gas supplied from a gas supply source flows in is formed in a second surface which intersects the first surface and at which the jetting ports are not disposed and a ratio of a sum of opening areas of the plurality of jetting ports to an opening area of the gas inflow port is equal to or larger than 0.1 and equal to or smaller than 1.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki MAIDA, Takanori HAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220258495
    Abstract: An image recording method includes a step of preparing a first ink containing water and at least one selected from the group consisting of a chromatic colorant and a black colorant, a step of preparing a second ink containing a white colorant and water, an applying step of applying each of the first ink and the second ink onto a resin base material by an ink jet method, and a drying step of including irradiating the first ink and the second ink applied onto the resin base material with microwaves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Ayato SATO, Noriaki MAIDA, Hidetoshi KAWASAKI, Takeshi MIYATO
  • Publication number: 20170087874
    Abstract: There is provided a drying device including (i) a drying portion having a plurality of drying units, the drying unit configured to dry liquid droplets that have been jetted onto a recording medium with a drying intensity that varies along an intersecting direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the recording medium, with the plurality of drying units being provided along the conveyance direction, and (ii) a control portion that controls the drying intensity of the respective drying units according to an application amount of the liquid droplets in each of a plurality of divided regions, the divided regions defined by dividing the recording medium into regions along the respective directions of the conveyance direction and the intersecting direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventor: Noriaki MAIDA
  • Patent number: 9308730
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nozzle face wiping device and an image recording device that can switch whether to wipe out a nozzle face by a simple mechanism. According to one mode of the present invention, it is possible to brake the running of the wiping web by the braking device on the upstream side (supply shaft side) of the pressure member. In a case where the running direction of the wiping web wound around the pressure member and the relative movement direction of the nozzle face are the same, it is possible to prevent the wiping web from being forcefully drawn out from the supply shaft by braking the running of the wiping web by the braking device. By this means, it is possible to wipe out the nozzle face from two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Maida, Yuichi Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20150146120
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nozzle face wiping device and an image recording device that can switch whether to wipe out a nozzle face by a simple mechanism. According to one mode of the present invention, it is possible to brake the running of the wiping web by the braking device on the upstream side (supply shaft side) of the pressure member. In a case where the running direction of the wiping web wound around the pressure member and the relative movement direction of the nozzle face are the same, it is possible to prevent the wiping web from being forcefully drawn out from the supply shaft by braking the running of the wiping web by the braking device. By this means, it is possible to wipe out the nozzle face from two directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki MAIDA, Yuichi OZAKI
  • Patent number: 8764159
    Abstract: A head cleaning device includes: a cleaning liquid holding unit provided with a cleaning liquid holding surface inclined corresponding to the nozzle surface of an ink jet head obliquely disposed; movement unit moving a head with respect to the cleaning liquid holding unit; and a cleaning liquid supply unit that supplies cleaning liquid from the upper portion of inclination so as to slide down the inclination of a cleaning liquid holding surface while cleaning liquid forms a meniscus between the cleaning liquid holding surface and the nozzle surface, in a state where the cleaning liquid holding surface and the nozzle surface face each other, and includes cleaning liquid nozzles disposed so that a position of the outer edge on the downstream side of the head in a movement direction is located further to the upstream side than the center in a head movement direction of the cleaning liquid holding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Maida
  • Patent number: 8733890
    Abstract: A nozzle surface cleaning apparatus is configured to clean a nozzle surface of a droplet ejection head while moving relatively with respect to the droplet ejection head. The apparatus includes: a cleaning liquid deposition device which deposits cleaning liquid to the nozzle surface; a blade which is pressed against the nozzle surface to wipe the nozzle surface; a drip guiding member which guides waste liquid wiped by the blade to drip to a predetermined drip position set inside of the blade than an end of the blade; and a receptor which receives the waste liquid dripping from the drip guiding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Maida
  • Patent number: 8511793
    Abstract: An ejection surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a liquid ejection surface of a liquid ejection head ejecting an ejection liquid, includes: a cleaning liquid deposition device which deposits a cleaning liquid that dissolves or redisperses the ejection liquid, onto the liquid ejection surface; a wiping device which wipes the liquid ejection surface onto which the cleaning liquid has been deposited; and a control device which controls a leave time from deposition of the cleaning liquid onto the liquid ejection surface until wiping performed by the wiping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyo Yokota, Noriaki Maida
  • Publication number: 20130021407
    Abstract: A nozzle surface cleaning device includes an ink jet head having a nozzle surface with a nozzle disposed therein, a cleaning solution supplying unit that faces the nozzle surface and supplies a cleaning solution, a movement unit that moves one of the cleaning solution supplying unit and the head in longitudinal and traverse directions of the head, and a movement amount control unit that controls a movement amount of at least one of the cleaning solution supplying unit and the head. The movement amount control unit adjusts an amount of the cleaning solution adhering to the nozzle surface by moving them in the traverse direction by using the movement unit in accordance with an uncleanness state of the nozzle surface or an operation history of the head to relatively change a position at which the nozzle surface and the cleaning solution supplying unit face and overlap with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: Noriaki MAIDA
  • Patent number: 8282188
    Abstract: The inkjet head cleaning apparatus includes: a cleaning liquid holding device having a cleaning liquid holding surface with which cleaning liquid is held and applied to a liquid ejection surface of an inkjet head in which the liquid ejection surface is oblique to a horizontal plane, the cleaning liquid holding surface being arranged with an inclination such that the cleaning liquid holding surface is substantially parallel with the liquid ejection surface of the inkjet head and faces the liquid ejection surface at a prescribed distance from the liquid ejection surface; and a cleaning liquid supply device which has a cleaning liquid supply port through which the cleaning liquid is supplied from an upper portion of the inclined cleaning liquid holding surface in such a manner that the cleaning liquid slides down the inclined cleaning liquid holding surface while forming a meniscus between the cleaning liquid holding surface and the liquid ejection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Maida
  • Patent number: 8262195
    Abstract: The recording head cleaning apparatus cleans a nozzle surface of a recording head that is disposed at an inclination with respect to horizontal. The recording head cleaning apparatus includes: an application roller having a substantially conical shape of which a circumferential surface holds cleaning liquid and has an inclination corresponding to the inclination of the nozzle surface, an axis of the substantially conical shape being a rotational axis of the application roller; and a rotating device which rotates the application roller on the rotational axis to apply the cleaning liquid to the nozzle surface while not making the application roller in contact with the nozzle surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Maida, Yasuyo Yokota
  • Publication number: 20120105538
    Abstract: A head cleaning device includes: a cleaning liquid holding unit provided with a cleaning liquid holding surface inclined corresponding to the nozzle surface of an ink jet head obliquely disposed; movement unit moving a head with respect to the cleaning liquid holding unit; and a cleaning liquid supply unit that supplies cleaning liquid from the upper portion of inclination so as to slide down the inclination of a cleaning liquid holding surface while cleaning liquid forms a meniscus between the cleaning liquid holding surface and the nozzle surface, in a state where the cleaning liquid holding surface and the nozzle surface face each other, and includes cleaning liquid nozzles disposed so that a position of the outer edge on the downstream side of the head in a movement direction is located further to the upstream side than the center in a head movement direction of the cleaning liquid holding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Noriaki MAIDA
  • Publication number: 20120038707
    Abstract: A nozzle surface cleaning apparatus is configured to clean a nozzle surface of a droplet ejection head while moving relatively with respect to the droplet ejection head. The apparatus includes: a cleaning liquid deposition device which deposits cleaning liquid to the nozzle surface; a blade which is pressed against the nozzle surface to wipe the nozzle surface; a drip guiding member which guides waste liquid wiped by the blade to drip to a predetermined drip position set inside of the blade than an end of the blade; and a receptor which receives the waste liquid dripping from the drip guiding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Noriaki Maida
  • Publication number: 20110074870
    Abstract: The liquid ejection head cleaning apparatus includes: a cleaning liquid deposition device which spouts cleaning liquid from a plurality of cleaning liquid nozzles and deposits the cleaning liquid onto an ejection surface of a liquid ejection head; a cleaning liquid supply device which supplies the cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid nozzles by using a liquid head differential with respect to the cleaning liquid deposition device; a temperature measurement device which measures an ambient temperature around the cleaning liquid supply device; and a pressure control device which controls a pressure of the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning liquid deposition device from the cleaning liquid supply device in accordance with the ambient temperature measured by the temperature measurement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Noriaki MAIDA
  • Publication number: 20100245464
    Abstract: The inkjet head cleaning apparatus includes: a cleaning liquid holding device having a cleaning liquid holding surface with which cleaning liquid is held and applied to a liquid ejection surface of an inkjet head in which the liquid ejection surface is oblique to a horizontal plane, the cleaning liquid holding surface being arranged with an inclination such that the cleaning liquid holding surface is substantially parallel with the liquid ejection surface of the inkjet head and faces the liquid ejection surface at a prescribed distance from the liquid ejection surface; and a cleaning liquid supply device which has a cleaning liquid supply port through which the cleaning liquid is supplied from an upper portion of the inclined cleaning liquid holding surface in such a manner that the cleaning liquid slides down the inclined cleaning liquid holding surface while forming a meniscus between the cleaning liquid holding surface and the liquid ejection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Noriaki MAIDA
  • Publication number: 20100245463
    Abstract: The inkjet head cleaning apparatus includes: cleaning liquid nozzles through which cleaning liquid is applied to a liquid ejection surface of an inkjet head in which the liquid ejection surface is oblique to horizontal, the cleaning liquid nozzles being arranged in a cleaning liquid emission surface arranged with an inclination so as to face the liquid ejection surface, the cleaning liquid nozzles being arranged in a line substantially parallel with a direction of the inclination of the cleaning liquid emission surface; and a pressure application device which applies pressure to the cleaning liquid to be emitted through the cleaning liquid nozzles, wherein the pressure applied by the pressure application device to the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning liquid nozzles on an upper side is greater than the pressure applied by the pressure application device to the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning liquid nozzles on a lower side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Noriaki MAIDA