Patents by Inventor Norio Nagata

Norio Nagata 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: 11602944
    Abstract: A cleaning roller to be brought into contact with a medium includes a rotary shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a sticky roller attached to the rotary shaft. A cleaning roller holder includes a first bearing portion configured to restrict a movement range of the first end portion and a second bearing portion configured to restrict a movement range of the second end portion. In a state where the first end portion is disposed at the first bearing portion and the second end portion is disposed at the second bearing portion, the cleaning roller holder positions the cleaning roller in a detachable manner. The center of gravity of the cleaning roller is shifted from the center of the cleaning roller in the longitudinal direction toward the first end portion, and is in a range where the sticky roller exists in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Kanno, Norio Nagata, Hiroyuki Endo
  • Publication number: 20220118759
    Abstract: A cleaning roller to be brought into contact with a medium includes a rotary shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a sticky roller attached to the rotary shaft. A cleaning roller holder includes a first bearing portion configured to restrict a movement range of the first end portion and a second bearing portion configured to restrict a movement range of the second end portion. In a state where the first end portion is disposed at the first bearing portion and the second end portion is disposed at the second bearing portion, the cleaning roller holder positions the cleaning roller in a detachable manner. The center of gravity of the cleaning roller is shifted from the center of the cleaning roller in the longitudinal direction toward the first end portion, and is in a range where the sticky roller exists in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Yusuke KANNO, Norio NAGATA, Hiroyuki ENDO
  • Patent number: 9919889
    Abstract: A sheet guide device has a crumpling prevention unit disposed to a movable part with a guide surface that guides a side edge of die-cut label paper conveyed over the top of a feed plate, and prevents crumpling the side portion of the die-cut label paper of which the side edge contacts the guide surface. The crumpling prevention unit includes a pressure-bearing base unit disposed protruding from the top of the feed plate and causing the side portion of the passing die-cut label paper to rise to the side; a sheet presser part that presses the die-cut label paper to the conveyance path surface at the same or adjacent position to the pressure-bearing base unit; and a side presser member that the side edge of the die-cut label paper inclined by the pressure-bearing base unit contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Nakatsu, Daisuke Yanagimachi, Norio Nagata, Kenichi Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 9566809
    Abstract: The carriage of a line printer has a head unit that supports a printhead, and a carriage frame that supports the head unit movably up and down. When moving the carriage from a standby position to an opposing position, the carriage is moved while the head unit is held at a up position where the gap to the platen unit is a first distance. The head unit is then lowered at the standby position from the up position to a down position where the platen gap is a second distance that is shorter than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Nagata, Hironori Maekawa, Takashi Aoki, Taku Hirashima
  • Patent number: 9387708
    Abstract: A printing apparatus and a roll paper transportation device which reduces the space needed to accommodate a roll paper buffer mechanism unit and paper detection unit, and to reduce poor electrical contact in the contact part of the paper detection unit. The roll paper transportation device has a paper detection unit for detecting the presence of roll paper. The paper detection unit itself comprises a detection lever that pivots rotationally when in contact with the roll paper, a cam formed integrally with the detection lever and having a curved surface that is concentric to the rotary axis of the detection lever, and a switch lever that contacts the curved surface of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Nagata
  • Publication number: 20160159601
    Abstract: A sheet guide device has a crumpling prevention unit disposed to a movable part with a guide surface that guides a side edge of die-cut label paper conveyed over the top of a feed plate, and prevents crumpling the side portion of the die-cut label paper of which the side edge contacts the guide surface. The crumpling prevention unit includes a pressure-bearing base unit disposed protruding from the top of the feed plate and causing the side portion of the passing die-cut label paper to rise to the side; a sheet presser part that presses the die-cut label paper to the conveyance path surface at the same or adjacent position to the pressure-bearing base unit; and a side presser member that the side edge of the die-cut label paper inclined by the pressure-bearing base unit contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Nakatsu, Daisuke Yanagimachi, Norio Nagata, Kenichi Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20160159121
    Abstract: The carriage of a line printer has a head unit that supports a printhead, and a carriage frame that supports the head unit movably up and down. When moving the carriage from a standby position to an opposing position, the carriage is moved while the head unit is held at a up position where the gap to the platen unit is a first distance. The head unit is then lowered at the standby position from the up position to a down position where the platen gap is a second distance that is shorter than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Nagata, Hironori Maekawa, Takashi Aoki, Taku Hirashima
  • Patent number: 9290027
    Abstract: The carriage of a line printer has a head unit that supports a printhead, and a carriage frame that supports the head unit movably up and down. When moving the carriage from a standby position to an opposing position, the carriage is moved while the head unit is held at a up position where the gap to the platen unit is a first distance. The head unit is then lowered at the standby position from the up position to a down position where the platen gap is a second distance that is shorter than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Nagata, Hironori Maekawa, Takashi Aoki, Taku Hirashima
  • Publication number: 20150116424
    Abstract: The carriage of a line printer has a head unit that supports a printhead, and a carriage frame that supports the head unit movably up and down. When moving the carriage from a standby position to an opposing position, the carriage is moved while the head unit is held at a up position where the gap to the platen unit is a first distance. The head unit is then lowered at the standby position from the up position to a down position where the platen gap is a second distance that is shorter than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Nagata, Hironori Maekawa, Takashi Aoki, Taku Hirashima
  • Patent number: 8534940
    Abstract: A printer has a platen gap adjustment mechanism that can hold the platen gaps of two print heads substantially constant. A check processing device has a front print head unit on which are disposed a front print head, a first media transportation roller, and a back platen; a platen lever unit on which a second media transportation roller and front platen are disposed, and which can move toward and away from the first media transportation roller; a lever tension spring that urges the platen lever unit toward the first media transportation roller, and presses the second media transportation roller to the first media transportation roller; a back print head unit on which a back print head is disposed, and which can move toward and away from the first media transportation roller; and an unit tension spring that presses the back print head unit to the platen lever unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Nagata
  • Patent number: 8348415
    Abstract: A recording paper transportation path structure suppresses sagging of the recording paper fed from the nipping part of a pair of rollers to the platen surface of a vacuum platen, and can prevent a drop in paper feed precision. In a roll paper printer 1, the recording paper fed through the nipping part 52 of a paper feed roller 22 and a paper pressure roller 23 is fed along the contact plane P2 of the outside surface of the rollers 22 and 23 toward the platen surface 8a of the vacuum platen 8 at a slightly lower position. An inclined surface part 12b that slopes along the contact plane P2, an up-lifting surface part 12c that slopes down, and a protruding surface part 12d are formed contiguously to the upstream side at the upstream end part 8b of the platen surface 8a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Nagata
  • Publication number: 20110236109
    Abstract: A printer has a platen gap adjustment mechanism that can hold the platen gaps of two print heads substantially constant. A check processing device has a front print head unit on which are disposed a front print head, a first media transportation roller, and a back platen; a platen lever unit on which a second media transportation roller and front platen are disposed, and which can move toward and away from the first media transportation roller; a lever tension spring that urges the platen lever unit toward the first media transportation roller, and presses the second media transportation roller to the first media transportation roller; a back print head unit on which a back print head is disposed, and which can move toward and away from the first media transportation roller; and an unit tension spring that presses the back print head unit to the platen lever unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norio Nagata
  • Patent number: 7984871
    Abstract: A printing apparatus and a roll paper transportation device which reduces the space needed to accommodate a roll paper buffer mechanism unit and paper detection unit, and to reduce poor electrical contact in the contact part of the paper detection unit. The roll paper transportation device has a paper detection unit 8 for detecting the presence of roll paper 5, and a buffer mechanism unit 7 for absorbing variation in roll paper tension in order to keep the roll paper 5 tension less than or equal to a predetermined level. The buffer mechanism unit 7 forms a housing unit 16 for housing at least part of the paper detection unit 8 in a common area disposed in the buffer mechanism unit 7 enabling the paper detection unit 8 and buffer unit 7 to operate in unison without interfering with the operation of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Nagata
  • Patent number: 7950327
    Abstract: A stamping device comprising a stamp, a drive mechanism for moving the stamp between a printing position and a standby position, and a return urging member that urges the stamp towards the standby position in order to return the stamp to the standby position if the drive mechanism becomes inoperable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Nagata
  • Publication number: 20110044746
    Abstract: A printing apparatus and a roll paper transportation device which reduces the space needed to accommodate a roll paper buffer mechanism unit and paper detection unit, and to reduce poor electrical contact in the contact part of the paper detection unit. The roll paper transportation device has a paper detection unit for detecting the presence of roll paper. The paper detection unit itself comprises a detection lever that pivots rotationally when in contact with the roll paper, a cam formed integrally with the detection lever and having a curved surface that is concentric to the rotary axis of the detection lever, and a switch lever that contacts the curved surface of the cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norio Nagata
  • Publication number: 20100220167
    Abstract: A recording paper transportation path structure suppresses sagging of the recording paper fed from the nipping part of a pair of rollers to the platen surface of a vacuum platen, and can prevent a drop in paper feed precision. In a roll paper printer 1, the recording paper fed through the nipping part 52 of a paper feed roller 22 and a paper pressure roller 23 is fed along the contact plane P2 of the outside surface of the rollers 22 and 23 toward the platen surface 8a of the vacuum platen 8 at a slightly lower position. An inclined surface part 12b that slopes along the contact plane P2, an up-lifting surface part 12c that slopes down, and a protruding surface part 12d are formed contiguously to the upstream side at the upstream end part 8b of the platen surface 8a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norio Nagata
  • Patent number: 7563045
    Abstract: A printer having a cover opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing a cover to the roll paper compartment of the printer including a four-node parallel linkage mechanism and an urging member to prevent the four-node parallel linkage mechanism from locking into a fixed position when the cover is opened or closed. The four-node parallel linkage mechanism comprises right and left side panel portions of a rocker panel to which the cover is attached, right and left rocker arms located behind the rocker panel, and a parallel motion panel disposed horizontally connecting the top ends of the rocker panel and the rocker arms. A coil spring pulls up on the rocker arms when the cover opening and closing mechanism is swung down to the horizontal full open position, and a flexible strip between the rocker arms and parallel motion panel pushes up on the parallel motion panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Nagata
  • Patent number: 7537211
    Abstract: A media transportation mechanism comprising a first transportation roller pair and second transportation roller pair disposed in the transportation path on the upstream and downstream sides, respectively, of image scanners convey a slip over a sliding guide surface. The first transportation roller pair produces a feed force towards the sliding guide surface so as to push the leading end edge of the slip to the sliding guide surface. The second transportation roller pair produces a feed force in the direction away from the sliding guide surface so as to push the trailing end edge of the slip to the sliding guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Furihata, Norio Nagata
  • Patent number: D584767
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Nagata, Seiji Kimura
  • Patent number: RE43358
    Abstract: A data reading apparatus for reading and/or scanning data from a first and second scanned medium comprising a first transportation path P1, along which the first scanned medium is conveyed and a second transportation path P2, along which the second scanned medium is conveyed and wherein the first and second transportation paths each have a common mutually shared middle transportation path through which both scanned media must pass and a common data reader reading data from each scanned medium respectively. Checks S are conveyed on the first transportation path P1, cards C are conveyed on the second transportation path P2 at a different transportation height from that of the first transportation path P1 with data read from the respective media as they are being conveyed. Because the transportation heights differ, scanned media can be transported on different transportation paths without involving special switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Fujikawa, Toshiyuki Sasaki, Kunio Omura, Norio Nagata