Patents by Inventor Satoshi Nakata

Satoshi Nakata 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: 7934822
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Munehide Kanaya, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Hiroshige Owaki, Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada
  • Patent number: 7830564
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a correction value of an optical sensor detecting an edge of the medium so as to generate detection information, includes: acquiring edge information on an edge position of one of opposite edges of the medium based on the detection information; forming on the medium a correction value obtainment pattern including lines that are arranged at a fixed interval in a first direction and parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and that include a reference line spaced a first distance from the edge position in the first direction and parallel to the second direction, based on the edge information; specifying a line spaced the first distance from the edge position in the first direction; obtaining a second distance in the first direction between the specified line and the reference line; and determining the second distance as an absolute value of the correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumasa Harada, Kazuhiro Hashii, Satoshi Nakata, Hirohisa Adachi
  • Publication number: 20100220138
    Abstract: A position detecting device for detecting a position of an object, includes a light emitting portion that emits light, a light receiving portion that receives the light from the light emitting portion, and a scale that is arranged between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and includes a position detecting pattern and a smear detecting pattern. The position detecting pattern has a first light transmitting portion for transmitting the light from the light emitting portion and a first light interception portion for intercepting the light from the light emitting portion which are alternately arranged in a detection range of the object. The smear detecting pattern for detecting smear of the scale has a second light transmitting portion for transmitting the light from the light emitting portion and a second light interception portion for intercepting the light from the light emitting portion which are alternately arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakata, Hitoshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 7766446
    Abstract: A light emitter is operable to emit light. A light receiver is adapted to receive the light emitted from the light emitter, and operable to output a signal in accordance with an amount of the received light, thereby detecting a position of an object. At least one transparent member is disposed between the light emitter and the light receiver. A first line pattern is provided with the transparent member so as to oppose the light emitter, and includes first light transmitting sections and first light shielding sections which are alternately arranged in a first direction with a first pitch. A second line pattern is provided with the transparent member so as to oppose the light receiver, and includes second light transmitting sections and second light shielding sections which are alternately arranged in the first direction with a second pitch. Each of the first light transmitting sections is adapted to allow the light emitted from the light emitter to pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakata, Hitoshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 7731330
    Abstract: A position detecting device for detecting a position of an object, includes a light emitting portion that emits light, a light receiving portion that receives the light from the light emitting portion, and a scale that is arranged between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and includes a position detecting pattern and a smear detecting pattern. The position detecting pattern has a first light transmitting portion for transmitting the light from the light emitting portion and a first light interception portion for intercepting the light from the light emitting portion which are alternately arranged in a detection range of the object. The smear detecting pattern for detecting smear of the scale has a second light transmitting portion for transmitting the light from the light emitting portion and a second light interception portion for intercepting the light from the light emitting portion which are alternately arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakata, Hitoshi Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20100079541
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects a liquid onto a liquid ejection surface of an ejection target member; a scanning unit which scans the liquid ejecting head relative to the ejection target member; and a driving force transmission mechanism which transmits driving force of a rotary driving force source to the scanning unit through a belt, wherein a liquid absorbing material which absorbs and retains mists of a liquid floating in an inner space of the liquid ejecting apparatus is disposed on the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKATA, Hitoshi IGARASHI, Yosuke NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20100073423
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects a liquid onto a liquid ejection surface of an ejection target member; a scanning unit which scans the liquid ejecting head relative to the ejection target member; a driving force transmission mechanism which transmits driving force of a rotary driving force source to the scanning unit through a belt; an encoder which detects a scanning position of the liquid ejecting head relative to the ejection target member and having a scale disposed at a position adjacent to the belt; and a neutralizing unit which removes static electricity from the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKATA, Hitoshi IGARASHI, Yosuke NAKANO
  • Patent number: 7614732
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Munehide Kanaya, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Hiroshige Owaki, Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada
  • Patent number: 7614739
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording medium feeding mechanism for feeding a recording medium by one at a time, a recording head for performing recording, a discharging roller having a discharging driven roller and a discharge driving roller and a recording medium stacker capable of being changed to a first position in which recording is performed on a hard recording medium and a second position in which recording is performed on a recording medium fed by the recording medium feeding mechanism, wherein the discharging driven roller is in contact with the discharge driving roller in case the recording medium stacker is in second position, and the discharging driven roller is separated from a recording medium transfer path in case the recording medium stacker is in first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ryuka Law Firm
    Inventors: Akira Anami, Takayuki Shiota, Mamoru Ukita, Narihiro Oki, Satoshi Nakata, Kazuo Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20090273656
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Munehide Kanaya, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Hiroshige Owaki, Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada
  • Publication number: 20090189948
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention includes a liquid discharging head configured to discharge liquid from nozzles in a discharged material transported in a first direction; a carriage configured to mount the liquid discharging head and reciprocate in a second direction which intersects the first direction; and a carriage moving unit configured to reciprocate the carriage, and the carriage moving unit includes a first drive unit and a second drive unit operating independently from each other, and a first supporting portion of the first drive unit with respect to the carriage and a second supporting portion of the second driving unit with respect to the carriage are located at positions displaced in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi NAKATA
  • Publication number: 20090189939
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a movable head provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a liquid; a carry unit for carrying a medium in a predetermined carrying direction; and a sensor for detecting an edge of the medium, the liquid ejecting apparatus controlling ejection of the liquid from the plurality of nozzles in accordance with a result of the detection of the sensor. In this liquid ejecting apparatus, the position, in the carrying direction, of the sensor is at the same position of or on an upstream side of a nozzle located most upstream in the carrying direction, of among the plurality of nozzles. In this way, it is possible to arrange the sensor for detecting the edge of the paper at the most suitable position, and to suppress waste of ink that is ejected from the nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Enda, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Hitoshi Igarashi, Satoshi Nakata
  • Patent number: 7566112
    Abstract: An ink cartridge has pivotable levers connected to walls of a container, and both pawls and protruded guide portions formed on the levers. The pawls are engageable with an ink cartridge holder. The protruded guide portions contact the ink cartridge holder to move the levers in the opening direction. Further, protruded stopper portions are formed to permit pivoting movement of the levers to such a degree as to disengage the pawls from the ink cartridge holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada, Hisashi Miyazawa, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata
  • Patent number: 7552987
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting liquid to a printing material, having a platen for supporting the printing material, an ejection head for ejecting the liquid to the printing material by reciprocating on the printing material supported by the platen, an optical sensor reciprocating together with the ejection head and having a light emitting section for emitting light toward the printing material and the platen and a light receiving section for receiving light reflected from the printing material to optically detect whether or not the printing material exists, a usage measuring section for measuring usage of the liquid ejecting apparatus and a correcting section for correcting a result detected by the optical sensor based on the usage measured by the usage measuring section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakata, Hitoshi Igarashi, Yoshiyuki Kimoto, Koji Niioka
  • Patent number: 7550711
    Abstract: A light emitter is operable to emit light. A scale comprises a transparent main body and a plurality of marks. The transparent main body has a first face and the second face which is opposite to the first face. The plurality of marks is provided on at least one of the first face and the second face and formed at a predetermined interval, and adapted to reflect or intercept the light emitted from the light emitter. A light detector is operable to detect light reflected by the marks or light passing through a plurality of regions each of which is defined between adjacent ones of the marks. The main body of the scale is formed with a plurality of through holes each of which connects the first face and the second face at one of the regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Igarashi, Satoshi Nakata
  • Patent number: 7530656
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a movable head provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a liquid; a carry unit for carrying a medium in a predetermined carrying direction; and a sensor for detecting an edge of the medium, the liquid ejecting apparatus controlling ejection of the liquid from the plurality of nozzles in accordance with a result of the detection of the sensor. In this liquid ejecting apparatus, the position, in the carrying direction, of the sensor is at the same position of or on an upstream side of a nozzle located most upstream in the carrying direction, of among the plurality of nozzles. In this way, it is possible to arrange the sensor for detecting the edge of the paper at the most suitable position, and to suppress waste of ink that is ejected from the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Endo, Hirokazu Nunokawa, Hitoshi Igarashi, Satoshi Nakata
  • Publication number: 20090027467
    Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Hisashi Miyazawa, Munehide Kanaya, Yasuto Sakai, Masaki Shimomura, Satoshi Nakata, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Hiroshige Owaki, Takeo Seino, Satoshi Shinada
  • Patent number: 7483154
    Abstract: A position detecting device, includes a light emitting portion that includes a light emitting surface which emits light, a light receiving portion that includes a light receiving surface which receives the light from the light emitting portion, a scale that is arranged between the light emitting surface and the light receiving surface, and a cleaning member that is fixed to the scale to clean at least one of the light emitting surface and the light receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakata, Hitoshi Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20080198214
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording medium feeding mechanism for feeding a recording medium by one at a time, a recording head for performing recording, a discharging roller having a discharging driven roller and a discharge driving roller and a recording medium stacker capable of being changed to a first position in which recording is performed on a hard recording medium and a second position in which recording is performed on a recording medium fed by the recording medium feeding mechanism, wherein the discharging driven roller is in contact with the discharge driving roller in case the recording medium stacker is in second position, and the discharging driven roller is separated from a recording medium transfer path in case the recording medium stacker is in first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Anami, Takayuki Shiota, Mamoru Ukita, Narihiro Oki, Satoshi Nakata, Kazuo Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7401879
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head is operable to eject a liquid droplet toward a target position. A transporter transports a first target medium toward the target position in a first direction. A guide member has a guide face along which a tray member on which a second target medium is mounted is fed toward the target position in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. The guide member is pivotable between a first position for closing the guide face and a second position for opening the guide face to support the tray member. A first sensor detects that the guide member is placed in either one of the first position and the second position. A controller disables the transporter from transporting the first target medium when the first sensor detects that the guide member is placed in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Isono, Hitoshi Igarashi, Satoshi Nakata