Patents by Inventor Sayuri Kawakami

Sayuri Kawakami 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: 8727489
    Abstract: A flushing method for a fluid ejecting apparatus that includes a pressure chamber filled with fluid, a pressure generating element on a surface of the pressure chamber that deforms the surface to change the pressure in the pressure chamber, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the pressure chamber that ejects the fluid, the method including repeatedly performing first flushing process a first period; and repeatedly performing a second flushing process with a second period. The flushing processes include causing the pressure chamber to expand into an expanded state, maintaining the expanded state, and contracting the pressure chamber from the expanded state, causing the fluid to be ejected from the nozzle. The amount of fluid ejected from the nozzle in the second flushing process is larger than the amount ejected in the first flushing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Hosono, Sayuri Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20090295853
    Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid includes: a pressure chamber that is filled with the fluid; a pressure generating element that deforms a wall face of the pressure chamber to change a volume of the pressure chamber; a nozzle that is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber and that is used for ejecting the fluid; and a control unit that generates a drive pulse for controlling the pressure generating element. The control unit is able to generate a maintenance drive pulse for ejecting a bubble together with the fluid from the pressure chamber. The maintenance drive pulse includes a first pulse portion that drives the pressure generating element to cause the pressure chamber to expand into an expanded state and a second pulse portion that causes the pressure chamber to contract from the expanded state. The width of the second pulse portion is equal to or smaller than half the Helmholtz resonance period of the fluid with which the pressure chamber is filled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Hosono, Sayuri Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20090295854
    Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid includes a control unit that generates a drive pulse and a temperature detection unit that detects at least one of an environment temperature and a temperature of a fluid ejecting head. The control unit is able to generate a maintenance drive pulse for ejecting a bubble together with the fluid from a pressure chamber. The maintenance drive pulse includes a first pulse portion that cause the pressure chamber to expand into an expanded state, a second pulse portion that causes the pressure chamber to contract from the expanded state, and an intermediate pulse portion placed between the first pulse portion and the second pulse portion for holding the expanded state of the pressure chamber. The control unit adjusts the width of the intermediate pulse portion on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sayuri Kawakami, Satoru Hosono
  • Publication number: 20090079773
    Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus including a pressure chamber filled with fluid, a pressure generating element that is provided on a surface of the pressure chamber that changes the volume of the pressure chamber, a nozzle that is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber that ejects the fluid, and a control unit that generates a maintenance drive pulse for discharging unnecessary bubbles together with fluid from the pressure chamber, wherein the maintenance drive pulse includes a first pulse portion that causes the pressure chamber to expand into an expanded state, a second pulse portion that maintains the expanded state for a predetermined period of time, and a third pulse portion that causes the pressure chamber to contract, wherein the pulse width of the first pulse portion is set to be equal to or smaller than half the Helmholtz resonance period of the fluid in the pressure chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru HOSONO, Sayuri KAWAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20090079788
    Abstract: A flushing method for a fluid ejecting apparatus that includes a pressure chamber filled with fluid, a pressure generating element on a surface of the pressure chamber that deforms the surface to change the pressure in the pressure chamber, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the pressure chamber that ejects the fluid, the method including repeatedly performing first flushing process a first period; and repeatedly performing a second flushing process with a second period. The flushing processes include causing the pressure chamber to expand into an expanded state, maintaining the expanded state, and contracting the pressure chamber from the expanded state, causing the fluid to be ejected from the nozzle. The amount of fluid ejected from the nozzle in the second flushing process is larger than the amount ejected in the first flushing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru HOSONO, Sayuri KAWAKAMI