Patents by Inventor Satoru Shiohara

Satoru Shiohara 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: 10850537
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting unit configured to eject a liquid onto a medium (sheet) being transported in a transport direction, and a medium supporting unit arranged to face the liquid ejecting unit and configured to support the sheet being transported, wherein the medium supporting unit includes, in a width direction intersecting the transport direction, a plurality of first ribs arranged in parallel with the transport direction at an upstream side of a region (print region), where the liquid ejecting unit performs ejection onto the sheet. In addition, the liquid ejecting apparatus further includes a suction mechanism, and the medium supporting unit includes, at the upstream side, a recessed portion sectioned by the first ribs, the recessed portion including a suction hole for causing a suction force by the suction mechanism to be applied onto the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Shiohara, Takehito Washizawa
  • Publication number: 20190375216
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting unit configured to eject a liquid onto a medium (sheet) being transported in a transport direction, and a medium supporting unit arranged to face the liquid ejecting unit and configured to support the sheet being transported, wherein the medium supporting unit includes, in a width direction intersecting the transport direction, a plurality of first ribs arranged in parallel with the transport direction at an upstream side of a region (print region), where the liquid ejecting unit performs ejection onto the sheet. In addition, the liquid ejecting apparatus further includes a suction mechanism, and the medium supporting unit includes, at the upstream side, a recessed portion sectioned by the first ribs, the recessed portion including a suction hole for causing a suction force by the suction mechanism to be applied onto the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Satoru SHIOHARA, Takehito WASHIZAWA
  • Patent number: 9403654
    Abstract: A stacker on which a sheet that has entered with a direction intersecting a vertical direction as an approach direction in a state where a recording surface faces upward in the vertical direction is loaded in a state where the recording surface faces downward in the vertical direction, includes: an elastic plate capable of applying a pushing force to the sheet from a non-recording surface that is the rear surface of the recording surface; and a medium loading section on which the cut sheet can be loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Kawamoto, Satoru Shiohara
  • Publication number: 20150151943
    Abstract: A stacker on which a sheet that has entered with a direction intersecting a vertical direction as an approach direction in a state where a recording surface faces upward in the vertical direction is loaded in a state where the recording surface faces downward in the vertical direction, includes: an elastic plate capable of applying a pushing force to the sheet from a non-recording surface that is the rear surface of the recording surface; and a medium loading section on which the cut sheet can be loaded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Makoto KAWAMOTO, Satoru SHIOHARA
  • Patent number: 8851659
    Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus including: a recording unit for performing recording on a recordable medium; a transportation unit for transporting the recordable medium; and a drier for accelerating the drying of the recordable medium by ejecting gas to the recordable medium, wherein the drier is configured such that the ejection range of the gas in a direction perpendicular to the transportation direction of the recordable medium is changeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Shiohara
  • Patent number: 8684510
    Abstract: A drying device includes a drying unit configured to carry out a drying process on a recording medium by blowing heated air from a discharge port formed at a location partway along the conveyance path of the recording medium as the medium is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. A drying zone is disposed on the downstream side of the drying unit in the conveyance direction over the front face of the recording medium so that the air blown from the discharge port is retained in the drying zone. An upper surface of the drying zone is defined by an extended surface portion of an outer surface of a housing of the drying unit, the extended surface portion extending from the discharge port toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction to cover the conveyance path from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuko Miyamoto, Satoru Shiohara, Hiroshi Mikyazawa
  • Publication number: 20130242018
    Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus including: a recording unit for performing recording on a recordable medium; a transportation unit for transporting the recordable medium; and a drier for accelerating the drying of the recordable medium by ejecting gas to the recordable medium, wherein the drier is configured such that the ejection range of the gas in a direction perpendicular to the transportation direction of the recordable medium is changeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoru Shiohara
  • Patent number: 8449099
    Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus including: a recording unit for performing recording on a recordable medium; a transportation unit for transporting the recordable medium; and a drier for accelerating the drying of the recordable medium by ejecting gas to the recordable medium, wherein the drier is configured such that the ejection range of the gas in a direction perpendicular to the transportation direction of the recordable medium is changeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Shiohara
  • Patent number: 8167424
    Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a restraint device which applies a restraining force, applied to a support surface used for supporting a recording sheet, to the recording sheet transported from an upstream side to a downstream side in a transport direction. The restraint device includes a second support member which includes the support surface and a suction hole opened to the support surface and generating a negative pressure therein and which is capable of sucking the recording sheet supported to the support surface toward the support surface on the basis of the negative pressure generated inside the suction hole and a shield belt which is disposed to face the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Yajima, Satoru Shiohara, Satoshi Kaneta
  • Patent number: 8070156
    Abstract: A sheet adsorption device includes a sheet adsorbing surface, a suction hole disposed on the sheet adsorbing surface, and a flow path shifting unit that shifts between a first state and a second state of a communication flow path that is communicated with the suction hole in accordance with existence of a sheet that covers the suction hole. The cross-section area of a flow path in the second state is smaller than that in the first state and the communication flow path is not closed in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kaneo Yoda, Takato Hayashi, Yasushi Yajima, Satoru Shiohara, Satoshi Kaneta
  • Publication number: 20110228025
    Abstract: A drying device includes a drying unit configured to carry out a drying process on a recording medium by blowing heated air from a discharge port formed at a location partway along the conveyance path of the recording medium as the medium is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. A drying zone is disposed on the downstream side of the drying unit in the conveyance direction over the front face of the recording medium so that the air blown from the discharge port is retained in the drying zone. An upper surface of the drying zone is defined by an extended surface portion of an outer surface of a housing of the drying unit, the extended surface portion extending from the discharge port toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction to cover the conveyance path from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuko MIYAMOTO, Satoru SHIOHARA, Hiroshi MIYAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20100180784
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording unit that performs a recording operation on a recording medium; a transport unit that transports the recording medium; and a drying unit that promotes drying of the recording medium by ejecting gas to the recording medium. The drying unit includes a main passage through which the gas flows on a surface of the recording medium along the transport direction of the recording medium, and a sub-passage that merges with the main passage and extends in a direction crossing the surface of the recording medium when merging with the main passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoru Shiohara
  • Publication number: 20100141725
    Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus including: a recording unit for performing recording on a recordable medium; a transportation unit for transporting the recordable medium; and a drier for accelerating the drying of the recordable medium by ejecting gas to the recordable medium, wherein the drier is configured such that the ejection range of the gas in a direction perpendicular to the transportation direction of the recordable medium is changeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoru SHIOHARA
  • Publication number: 20090278906
    Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a restraint device which applies a restraining force, applied to a support surface used for supporting a recording sheet, to the recording sheet transported from an upstream side to a downstream side in a transport direction. The restraint device includes a second support member which includes the support surface and a suction hole opened to the support surface and generating a negative pressure therein and which is capable of sucking the recording sheet supported to the support surface toward the support surface on the basis of the negative pressure generated inside the suction hole and a shield belt which is disposed to face the support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi YAJIMA, Satoru SHIOHARA, Satoshi KANETA
  • Publication number: 20090244234
    Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided which includes: a recording unit that performs a recording operation on a target by causing liquid to adhere onto the target; a drying unit that performs a drying operation on the target on which the liquid is adhered by the recording operation of the recording unit in a state where a restricting force is not substantially applied thereto; and a restricting unit that performs a restricting operation on the target which has been subjected to the drying operation by the drying unit while supporting the target on a supporting face of a support member capable of supporting a surface of the target having the liquid adhered thereon in a uniform planar state, the restricting operation applying a restricting force to the target, the restricting force being directed toward the supporting face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru SHIOHARA, Hidemasa KANADA, Yasushi YAJIMA, Satoshi KANETA
  • Publication number: 20090039595
    Abstract: A sheet adsorption device includes a sheet adsorbing surface, a suction hole disposed on the sheet adsorbing surface, and a flow path shifting unit that shifts between a first state and a second state of a communication flow path that is communicated with the suction hole in accordance with existence of a sheet that covers the suction hole. The cross-section area of a flow path in the second state is smaller than that in the first state and the communication flow path is not closed in the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kaneo Yoda, Takato Hayashi, Yasushi Yajima, Satoru Shiohara, Satoshi Kaneta