Patents by Inventor Ryutaro Kusunoki

Ryutaro Kusunoki 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: 9358785
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes a nozzle plate including a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a through hole configured to make the first surface communicate with the second surface, and a cylindrical member integrally extending from the second surface by extending the through hole. An ink pressure chamber communicating with the cylindrical member and the through hole is provided on the second surface side of the nozzle plate. This inkjet head also includes an actuator which discharges ink in the ink pressure chamber from the through hole by displacing the nozzle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kawakubo, Kazuhide Abe, Yasushi Tomizawa, Ryuichi Arai, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 9340018
    Abstract: An inkjet head includes: a pressure chamber in which ink is filled; a nozzle plate which is provided on a first surface of the pressure chamber and which includes a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber; and a planar drive section which is formed on the nozzle plate so as to extend from above a partition wall of the pressure chamber to above the pressure chamber, excluding a hole area around the nozzle and which has a piezoelectric body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kawakubo, Ryuichi Arai, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 9308723
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an ink jet head which includes a pressure chamber which is formed in a thickness direction of a substrate, and fills ink; a vibrating plate which is provided on a first face of the pressure chamber, and includes a nozzle which communicates with the pressure chamber; a driving unit which is provided on the vibrating plate, and includes a piezoelectric substance; and a warpage reducing layer which is provided on a second face which is opposite to the first face of the pressure chamber, and reduces warpage of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Ryuichi Arai
  • Publication number: 20160052272
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes a nozzle plate including a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a through hole configured to make the first surface communicate with the second surface, and a cylindrical member integrally extending from the second surface by extending the through hole. An ink pressure chamber communicating with the cylindrical member and the through hole is provided on the second surface side of the nozzle plate. This inkjet head also includes an actuator which discharges ink in the ink pressure chamber from the through hole by displacing the nozzle plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi KAWAKUBO, Kazuhide ABE, Yasushi TOMIZAWA, Ryuichi ARAI, Ryutaro KUSUNOKI, Osamu TAKAGI
  • Patent number: 9227403
    Abstract: An ink jet head includes a chamber unit including a pressure chamber formed to hold ink, and a nozzle plate unit. The nozzle plate includes a vibrating plate forming a bottom wall of the pressure chamber, a driving element that is provided on a bottom surface of the vibrating plate and configured to cause a volume of the pressure chamber to be changed by deforming the vibrating plate upon application of voltage to the driving element, and a protective layer disposed on a bottom surface of the vibrating plate and a bottom surface of the driving element. The protective layer has a first thickness between a bottom surface thereof and the bottom surface of the vibrating plate and second thickness between a bottom surface thereof and the bottom surface of the driving element, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Ryuichi Arai
  • Patent number: 9221255
    Abstract: An ink jet head includes a pressure chamber formed to hold ink, and a nozzle plate including a vibrating plate forming a bottom wall of the pressure chamber, a driving element that is provided on a surface of the vibrating plate and configured to cause a volume of the pressure chamber to be changed by deforming the vibrating plate upon application of voltage to the driving element, an opening through which the ink held in the pressure chamber is discharged in response to the change of the volume of the pressure chamber, and an insulating layer disposed between the driving element and the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Ryuichi Arai, Masayuki Satomi
  • Publication number: 20150343783
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an inkjet head includes: forming an annular groove on a first surface of a substrate made of a first material; forming a side wall by filling a second material in the annular groove and forming a nozzle plate by forming a thin film made of the second material on the first surface of the substrate; forming a ring-shaped piezoelectric element on the nozzle plate surrounded by the side wall, the piezoelectric element comprising a lower electrode, a piezoelectric film, and an upper electrode; forming a ink chamber disposed over an area of a lower surface of the nozzle plate that is surrounded by the side wall from a second surface opposite the first surface of the substrate, the ink chamber being formed by a single dry etching process; and forming a nozzle to the nozzle plate positioned inside of the annular piezoelectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi KAWAKUBO, Kazuhide ABE, Yasushi TOMIZAWA, Ryuichi ARAI, Ryutaro KUSUNOKI, Osamu TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20150298458
    Abstract: An ink jet head includes: a vibration plates having a plurality of openings of a first diameter; ink pressure chambers, each arranged on one surface of the corresponding vibration plate; first electrodes, each formed on the other surface of the vibration plate; a plurality of piezoelectric layers, each portion of which is formed on a first electrode such that it surrounds the opening and that, when a driving voltage is applied, deforms the vibration plate to expand or contract the ink pressure chamber; second electrodes formed on each piezoelectric layer; a protective layer which is at least formed on the vibration plate and the second electrode and has a nozzle for ejecting the ink having a diameter smaller than the first diameter extending therethrough and through the opening; and an ink-feeding mechanism that feeds the ink into the ink pressure chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Shuhei YOKOYAMA, Ryutaro KUSUNOKI, Chiaki TANUMA, Ryuichi ARAI
  • Patent number: 9150008
    Abstract: An ink jet head includes: a vibration plates having a plurality of openings of a first diameter; ink pressure chambers, each arranged on one surface of the corresponding vibration plate; first electrodes, each formed on the other surface of the vibration plate; a plurality of piezoelectric layers, each portion of which is formed on a first electrode such that it surrounds the opening and that, when a driving voltage is applied, deforms the vibration plate to expand or contract the ink pressure chamber; second electrodes formed on each piezoelectric layer; a protective layer which is at least formed on the vibration plate and the second electrode and has a nozzle for ejecting the ink having a diameter smaller than the first diameter extending therethrough and through the opening; and an ink-feeding mechanism that feeds the ink into the ink pressure chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Chiaki Tanuma, Ryuichi Arai
  • Patent number: 9138999
    Abstract: An ink jet head according to an embodiment comprises a substrate including amounting surface and a pressure chamber open to the mounting surface, the substrate having a first expansion coefficient. The ink jet head further comprises a vibration plate including a first surface fixed to the mounting surface of the substrate, a second surface located on the opposite side of the first surface, an opening portion open to the pressure chamber, a first portion having a second expansion coefficient different from the first expansion coefficient, and a second portion having a third expansion coefficient different from the second expansion coefficient. The ink jet head further comprises a piezoelectric element provided on the second surface of the vibration plate and configured to deform the vibration plate to thereby change a volume of the pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuichi Arai, Chiaki Tanuma, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Shuhei Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9102154
    Abstract: An ink jet head includes a pressure chamber formed to hold ink, a vibrating plate, a driving element, and a protective film covering the driving element. The vibrating plate is provided at one end of the pressure chamber, and has a first opening through which the ink held in the pressure chamber is discharged. The driving element is provided on a surface of the vibrating plate and is configured to cause a volume of the pressure chamber to be changed by deforming the vibrating plate upon application of voltage to the driving element. The protective film has a second opening aligned with the first opening and through which the ink held in the pressure chamber is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Ryuichi Arai, Chiaki Tanuma
  • Patent number: 9079400
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ink jet head includes an ink pressure chamber, a nozzle hole, a vibrating plate, an actuator, and electrodes. The ink pressure chamber stores ink which is discharged through the nozzle hole. The vibrating plate is formed to surround the nozzle hole. The actuator drives the vibrating plate. The electrodes are formed to be axially symmetrical with respect to the nozzle hole and drive the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryutaro Kusunoki, Chiaki Tanuma, Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryuichi Arai
  • Patent number: 9073319
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes a substrate, a nozzle plate, and an actuator incorporated in the nozzle plate. The nozzle plate includes a nozzle provided to communicate with an ink pressure chamber, and a vibrating plate exposed to the ink pressure chamber. The actuator displaces the vibrating plate in the thickness direction to pressurize ink in the ink pressure chamber via the vibrating plate and eject the ink from the nozzle. The ink pressure chamber has a first dimension in the thickness direction of the substrate and a second dimension in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the substrate. The first dimension is larger than the second dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryutaro Kusunoki, Chiaki Tanuma, Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryuichi Arai
  • Patent number: 9050798
    Abstract: According to embodiments, a manufacturing method for an ink-jet head is disclosed. The method comprises forming an ink pressure chamber, forming an oscillating plate, and forming, on the oscillating plate, a first electrode having a predetermined footprint. The method further comprises forming, on the oscillating plate and on the first electrode, a piezoelectric film having a footprint that is geometrically similar to the predetermined footprint, forming, on the oscillating plate and the piezoelectric film, a second electrode having a footprint that is geometrically similar to the predetermined footprint, and forming a nozzle in the oscillating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Chiaki Tanuma, Ryuichi Arai
  • Publication number: 20150085022
    Abstract: An ink jet head includes: a pressure chamber to be filled with ink formed in a pressure chamber structure, the pressure chamber in which an etching limiter made of a material different from a material of the pressure chamber structure is formed on an inner wall surface of the pressure chamber; a nozzle plate comprising a nozzle that leading to the pressure chamber and a movable range fitted to the etching limiter; and a flat driver comprising a piezoelectric body to operate the movable range and arranged on the nozzle plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi KAWAKUBO, Kazuhide ABE, Yasushi TOMIZAWA, Ryuichi ARAI, Ryutaro KUSUNOKI, Osamu TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20150062254
    Abstract: An inkjet head includes: a pressure chamber in which ink is filled; a nozzle plate which is provided on a first surface of the pressure chamber and which includes a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber; and a planar drive section which is formed on the nozzle plate so as to extend from above a partition wall of the pressure chamber to above the pressure chamber, excluding a hole area around the nozzle and which has a piezoelectric body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi KAWAKUBO, Ryuichi ARAI, Ryutaro KUSUNOKI, Osamu TAKAGI
  • Patent number: 8967775
    Abstract: An ink jet head includes a substrate including a mounting surface and a pressure chamber open to the mounting surface. The ink jet head further includes a nozzle plate including an inner surface fixed to the mounting surface and covering the pressure chamber, a nozzle open to the pressure chamber, and a piezoelectric element surrounding the nozzle and configured to deform to thereby change a volume of the pressure chamber. The ink jet head further includes a deformation control unit disposed on and extending from the inner surface of the nozzle plate and surrounding the nozzle, the deformation control unit configured to cause deformation of the piezoelectric element to be substantially symmetric with respect to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuichi Arai, Chiaki Tanuma, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Shuhei Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8944573
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an inkjet head includes a nozzle from which ink is ejected, an ink pressure chamber, an oscillating plate, a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, a second electrode, and a passivation layer. The ink pressure chamber is provided in the inkjet head to supply ink to the nozzle. The oscillating plate is formed to surround the nozzle. The first electrode is formed to surround the nozzle and to be in contact with the first oscillating plate. The piezoelectric layer is configured to surround the nozzle and to be in contact with the first electrode. The second electrode is formed to surround the nozzle and to be in contact with the piezoelectric layer. The passivation layer is formed to surround the nozzle and to be in contact with the first electrode, the second electrode, or the first oscillating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Chiaki Tanuma, Ryuichi Arai
  • Publication number: 20150002587
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an ink jet head which includes a pressure chamber which is formed in a thickness direction of a substrate, and fills ink; a vibrating plate which is provided on a first face of the pressure chamber, and includes a nozzle which communicates with the pressure chamber; a driving unit which is provided on the vibrating plate, and includes a piezoelectric substance; and a warpage reducing layer which is provided on a second face which is opposite to the first face of the pressure chamber, and reduces warpage of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Ryuichi Arai
  • Patent number: 8876262
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes actuators configured to pressurize ink. The actuators include piezoelectric elements provided on an insulating layer, first electrodes electrically connected to the piezoelectric elements, and second electrodes connected to the piezoelectric elements and configured to hold the piezoelectric elements in cooperation with the first electrodes. The first electrodes of all the actuators are electrically connected to a common first energization pattern. The second electrodes of all the actuators are individually electrically connected to second energization patterns. The first energization pattern and the second energization patterns are separated from each other without overlapping each other on the insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuichi Arai, Chiaki Tanuma, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Shuhei Yokoyama