Patents by Inventor Rikuo Yamada

Rikuo Yamada 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).

  • Publication number: 20230067797
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a roll sheet container that contains a roll sheet around which a recording sheet is wound; a first sheet guide that makes contact with a first surface of the recording sheet; a second sheet guide that makes contact with a second surface of the recording sheet; and a transport roller that transports the recording sheet. The first and second sheet guides are disposed so as to face each other to form a sheet route along which the recording sheet is to pass. The transport roller transports the recording sheet that passed along the sheet route. The second sheet guide includes: a projection that protrudes toward the roll sheet container; and a pushing section that extends from the projection along an outer circumference of the roll sheet and in a direction away from the first sheet guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Takeshi TOKUDA, Rikuo YAMADA, Takehiro KOBAYASHI, Hideaki NISHIJIMA
  • Patent number: 11491809
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a roll sheet container that contains a roll sheet around which a recording sheet is wound; a first sheet guide that makes contact with a first surface of the recording sheet; a second sheet guide that makes contact with a second surface of the recording sheet; and a transport roller that transports the recording sheet. The first and second sheet guides are disposed so as to face each other to form a sheet route along which the recording sheet is to pass. The transport roller transports the recording sheet that passed along the sheet route. The second sheet guide includes: a projection that protrudes toward the roll sheet container; and a pushing section that extends from the projection along an outer circumference of the roll sheet and in a direction away from the first sheet guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Tokuda, Rikuo Yamada, Takehiro Kobayashi, Hideaki Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20220134781
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a printing unit printing on a recording paper; a feeder unit that has a roller rotating in a first direction about a shaft and feeding the recording paper, and a motor rotating the shaft; a detection unit detecting a rotation of the shaft in the first direction and a rotation thereof in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a control unit controlling the feeder unit, based on the rotation of the shaft detected by the detection unit. The control unit causes the motor of the feeder unit to rotate the shaft in the first direction and then stop the shaft, and subsequently causes the motor to rotate the shaft in the first direction before the printing unit prints, based on the rotation of the shaft in the second direction detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Takehiro KOBAYASHI, Hitoshi ISHINO, Rikuo YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20210060987
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a roll sheet container that contains a roll sheet around which a recording sheet is wound; a first sheet guide that makes contact with a first surface of the recording sheet; a second sheet guide that makes contact with a second surface of the recording sheet; and a transport roller that transports the recording sheet. The first and second sheet guides are disposed so as to face each other to form a sheet route along which the recording sheet is to pass. The transport roller transports the recording sheet that passed along the sheet route. The second sheet guide includes: a projection that protrudes toward the roll sheet container; and a pushing section that extends from the projection along an outer circumference of the roll sheet and in a direction away from the first sheet guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Takeshi TOKUDA, Rikuo YAMADA, Takehiro KOBAYASHI, Hideaki NISHIJIMA
  • Patent number: 9969190
    Abstract: A cutter can move a movable knife by two cutter drive gears without the movable knife becoming skewed. The cutter 10 of a mobile printer 1 has a fixed knife 11, and a cutter drive mechanism 32 that moves the movable knife 31 straight to and away from the fixed knife 11. The cutter drive mechanism 32 has two cutter drive gears 51 that are driven synchronously, and a cutter drive plate 54 disposed between the two cutter drive gears 51 and the movable knife 31. The two cutter drive gears 51 cause the cutter drive plate 54 to move to and away from the movable knife 31 on a longitudinal axis Y (direction of travel), thereby moving the movable knife 31 to and away from the cutter drive plate 54. If the cutter drive plate 54 becomes skewed when the two cutter drive gears 51 move the cutter drive plate 54, the guide mechanism 81 prevents skewing of the movable knife 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Nomura, Rikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 9731524
    Abstract: A cutter blade moving mechanism moves a cutter blade to a forward position by a low output drive motor without an urging member urging the cutter blade to the forward position where media is cut. The first cutter blade moving mechanism has a drive gear that moves the first cutter blade forward and back; a drive motor; and a compound gear to which rotation of the drive motor is transferred. The intermittent teeth part of the compound gear meshes with a transfer gear after turning the compound gear is started by drive power from the drive motor, completing a rotation transfer path. Because there is a delay between when driving the drive motor starts and when the path transferring rotation from the drive motor to the drive gear is completed, rotational kinetic energy is stored in the compound gear during this delay. The transfer gear can therefore be turned with greater drive power (rotational kinetic energy) when the compound gear and transfer gear mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Nishijima, Tetsugo Ishida, Hiroshi Narita, Rikuo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20160221370
    Abstract: A cutter blade moving mechanism moves a cutter blade to a forward position by a low output drive motor without an urging member urging the cutter blade to the forward position where media is cut. The first cutter blade moving mechanism has a drive gear that moves the first cutter blade forward and back; a drive motor; and a compound gear to which rotation of the drive motor is transferred. The intermittent teeth part of the compound gear meshes with a transfer gear after turning the compound gear is started by drive power from the drive motor, completing a rotation transfer path. Because there is a delay between when driving the drive motor starts and when the path transferring rotation from the drive motor to the drive gear is completed, rotational kinetic energy is stored in the compound gear during this delay. The transfer gear can therefore be turned with greater drive power (rotational kinetic energy) when the compound gear and transfer gear mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Nishijima, Tetsugo Ishida, Hiroshi Narita, Rikuo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20160052307
    Abstract: A cutter can move a movable knife by two cutter drive gears without the movable knife becoming skewed. The cutter 10 of a mobile printer 1 has a fixed knife 11, and a cutter drive mechanism 32 that moves the movable knife 31 straight to and away from the fixed knife 11. The cutter drive mechanism 32 has two cutter drive gears 51 that are driven synchronously, and a cutter drive plate 54 disposed between the two cutter drive gears 51 and the movable knife 31. The two cutter drive gears 51 cause the cutter drive plate 54 to move to and away from the movable knife 31 on a longitudinal axis Y (direction of travel), thereby moving the movable knife 31 to and away from the cutter drive plate 54. If the cutter drive plate 54 becomes skewed when the two cutter drive gears 51 move the cutter drive plate 54, the guide mechanism 81 prevents skewing of the movable knife 31.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Akio Nomura, Rikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 8803930
    Abstract: In connection with a printer, a platen roller is configured to rotate in a first direction and to transport a recording medium. A print head facing the platen roller includes a head body portion having a printing portion to perform printing on the recording medium when the platen roller transports such medium. A supporting mechanism supports the head body portion, presses the head body portion against the platen roller, and moves the head body portion by rotation of the platen roller. An urging unit urges the head body portion toward the platen roller. When the platen roller rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the supporting mechanism moves the head body portion by the rotation of the platen roller, and a contact position of the head body portion with respect to the platen roller is shifted while maintaining the head body portion pressed against the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140098173
    Abstract: In connection with a printer, a platen roller is configured to rotate in a first direction and to transport a recording medium. A print head facing the platen roller includes a head body portion having a printing portion to perform printing on the recording medium when the platen roller transports such medium. A supporting mechanism supports the head body portion, presses the head body portion against the platen roller, and moves the head body portion by rotation of the platen roller. An urging unit urges the head body portion toward the platen roller. When the platen roller rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the supporting mechanism moves the head body portion by the rotation of the platen roller, and a contact position of the head body portion with respect to the platen roller is shifted while maintaining the head body portion pressed against the platen roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 8654163
    Abstract: In connection with a printer, a platen roller is configured to transport a recording medium. A print head has a head body portion having a printing portion which performs printing on a recording medium and facing the platen roller. A supporting mechanism supports the head body portion, presses the head body portion against the platen roller and moves the head body portion by rotation of the platen roller. When the platen roller rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction, a contact position of the head body portion with respect to the platen roller is shifted while maintaining the head body portion pressed against the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 8579528
    Abstract: The platen bearings attached to the shaft end parts of the removable platen roller are pressed by lock levers to bearing insertion slots that are formed in the main frame of the thermal printer so that the positions of the platen bearings are determined by two points on the main frame and one point on the lock lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20130229480
    Abstract: In connection with a printer, a platen roller is configured to transport a recording medium. A print head has a head body portion having a printing portion which performs printing on a recording medium and facing the platen roller. A supporting mechanism supports the head body portion, presses the head body portion against the platen roller and moves the head body portion by rotation of the platen roller. When the platen roller rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction, a contact position of the head body portion with respect to the platen roller is shifted while maintaining the head body portion pressed against the platen roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 8446441
    Abstract: A printer is provided. A platen roller is configured to transport a recording medium. A print head has a head body portion having a printing portion which performs printing on a recording medium and facing the platen roller. An urging unit urges the print head toward the platen roller. A supporting mechanism supports the print head, presses the print head against the platen roller and allows the platen roller to move the head body portion in such a direction that a contact position of the head body portion with respect to the platen roller is shifted while maintaining the head body portion pressed against the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 8373733
    Abstract: A thermal printer avoids or reduces difficult to correct problems caused by recording paper that has passed the printing position leaving the paper transportation path. A printing mechanism has a head mounting plate that carries a line thermal head, a front guide plate disposed downstream from the head mounting plate, a platen roller that defines the printing position A, and a back guide member disposed downstream from the platen roller. The head mounting plate and front guide plate have interlocking parts that interlock with each other widthwise to the paper transportation path. A paper detector that detects entry of the recording paper 45 is disposed to a gap E between the back guide member and platen roller. When the paper detector detects the recording paper 45, a rotation control unit stops the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120105568
    Abstract: The platen bearings attached to the shaft end parts of the removable platen roller are pressed by lock levers to bearing insertion slots that are formed in the main frame of the thermal printer so that the positions of the platen bearings are determined by two points on the main frame and one point on the lock lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 8157461
    Abstract: A printer having one roller of a transportation roller pair attached to cover renders the mechanism pressing the transportation roller pair together and the damping mechanism used when opening the cover using few parts, compactly, and at low cost. A damper spring 27 prevents the cover unit 3 of the printer 1 from opening suddenly and forcefully. A roller support lever 38 having the first follower roller 33b disposed to the distal end thereof is attached rotatably and movably to the cover unit 3. The roller support lever 38 is urged by the damper spring 27, and the first follower roller 33b on the distal end thereof is pressed to the first transportation roller 33a on the printer frame 11 side. The damper spring 27 functions as the damping mechanism when the cover unit 3 opens, and as the pressure mechanism of the first transportation roller pair 33 when the cover unit 3 is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsugo Ishida, Masahiko Yamada, Rikuo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120044313
    Abstract: A printer is provided. A platen roller is configured to transport a recording medium. A print head has a head body portion having a printing portion which performs printing on a recording medium and facing the platen roller. An urging unit urges the print head toward the platen roller. A supporting mechanism supports the print head, presses the print head against the platen roller and allows the platen roller to move the head body portion in such a direction that a contact position of the head body portion with respect to the platen roller is shifted while maintaining the head body portion pressed against the platen roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110050831
    Abstract: A thermal printer avoids or reduces difficult to correct problems caused by recording paper that has passed the printing position leaving the paper transportation path. A printing mechanism has a head mounting plate that carries a line thermal head, a front guide plate disposed downstream from the head mounting plate, a platen roller that defines the printing position A, and a back guide member disposed downstream from the platen roller. The head mounting plate and front guide plate have interlocking parts that interlock with each other widthwise to the paper transportation path. A paper detector that detects entry of the recording paper 45 is disposed to a gap E between the back guide member and platen roller. When the paper detector detects the recording paper 45, a rotation control unit stops the platen roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rikuo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20090129846
    Abstract: A printer having one roller of a transportation roller pair attached to cover renders the mechanism pressing the transportation roller pair together and the damping mechanism used when opening the cover using few parts, compactly, and at low cost. A damper spring 27 prevents the cover unit 3 of the printer 1 from opening suddenly and forcefully. A roller support lever 38 having the first follower roller 33b disposed to the distal end thereof is attached rotatably and movably to the cover unit 3. The roller support lever 38 is urged by the damper spring 27, and the first follower roller 33b on the distal end thereof is pressed to the first transportation roller 33a on the printer frame 11 side. The damper spring 27 functions as the damping mechanism when the cover unit 3 opens, and as the pressure mechanism of the first transportation roller pair 33 when the cover unit 3 is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsugo Ishida, Masahiko Yamada, Rikuo Yamada