Patents by Inventor Seiya Sato

Seiya Sato 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: 10421280
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid from a plurality of nozzles disposed in a nozzle surface, a wiping member that wipes the nozzle surface, and a wiping member moving mechanism that moves the wiping member between a wiping position where the nozzle surface is wiped and a retracted position. The wiping member moving mechanism has a wiping member holding mechanism that holds the wiping member and a holding state releasing mechanism that releases a holding state of the wiping member holding mechanism in a case where a load that is equal to or higher than a set value is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Hirata, Keiichiro Yoshino, Seiya Sato
  • Publication number: 20190235232
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a mirror that has an optical reflection surface; a mirror support unit configured to support the mirror; a pair of drive beams arranged on both sides of the mirror support unit and connected such that the mirror support unit is swingable; a drive source provided on the drive beams and configured to swing the mirror support unit, the drive source including a stack structure of a plurality of piezoelectric thin films; and a piezoelectric sensor formed on a connection beam connected to the drive source or the drive beams, a number of piezoelectric thin films included in the piezoelectric sensor being less than a number of the piezoelectric thin films included in the drive source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisamichi SEKINE, Maiko NAGAWATARI, Seiya SATO
  • Patent number: 10336079
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting unit that ejects, to a target, a liquid which is supplied from a liquid supply source via a liquid supply channel; a carriage on which the liquid ejecting unit is mounted and which moves with respect to the target; a gas containing chamber mounted on the carriage; and a pump that is disposed outside the carriage of the liquid ejecting apparatus and sends gas out to one system of a gas channel connected to the gas containing chamber and suctions gas from the gas channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Udagawa, Seiya Sato, Satoru Kobayashi, Ken Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10313543
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire image data by scanning a document and a particular range of a document pressing surface, detect black edge positions by detecting, from the image data, black pixels having gradation values less than a white gradation value, determine a sheet type of the document based on the gradation values of the black pixels, detect white edge positions by detecting, from the image data, white pixels having gradation values equal to or more than the white gradation value. The controller is further configured to, when the sheet type is a thin paper, detect, as the white pixels, pixels having gradation values equal to or more than a first threshold, and when the sheet type is a thick paper, detect, as the white pixels, pixels having gradation values equal to or more than a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiya Sato, Shuichi Sunako, Sayaka Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20180370582
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a personal mobility that is able to turn by movement of the gravitational center of a passenger, without individually controlling each motor that drives the left and right wheels, and without using any special parts. The personal transporter includes left and right driving wheels (21) as front wheels, left and right casters (22) as rear wheels, and two motors (31) for independently driving the left and right driving wheels (21). By giving a camber angle, in which an upper part inclines inward when viewed from the front, with respect to the left and right casters (22), the torque or the applied voltage of the two motors (31) is the same, the caster (22) rotates in the direction of movement of gravitational center to act as a steering wheel, and it is possible to turn a personal transporter in the movement direction of the gravitational center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Kuniaki SATO, Ryo MAEDA, Seiya SATO
  • Publication number: 20180236773
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid from a plurality of nozzles disposed in a nozzle surface, a wiping member that wipes the nozzle surface, and a wiping member moving mechanism that moves the wiping member between a wiping position where the nozzle surface is wiped and a retracted position. The wiping member moving mechanism has a wiping member holding mechanism that holds the wiping member and a holding state releasing mechanism that releases a holding state of the wiping member holding mechanism in a case where a load that is equal to or higher than a set value is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Shinji HIRATA, Keiichiro YOSHINO, Seiya SATO
  • Publication number: 20180213101
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire image data by scanning a document and a particular range of a document pressing surface, detect black edge positions by detecting, from the image data, black pixels having gradation values less than a white gradation value, determine a sheet type of the document based on the gradation values of the black pixels, detect white edge positions by detecting, from the image data, white pixels having gradation values equal to or more than the white gradation value. The controller is further configured to, when the sheet type is a thin paper, detect, as the white pixels, pixels having gradation values equal to or more than a first threshold, and when the sheet type is a thick paper, detect, as the white pixels, pixels having gradation values equal to or more than a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Seiya SATO, Shuichi SUNAKO, Sayaka FUJIWARA
  • Patent number: 9979857
    Abstract: In an image reader, a controller acquires a set of first black data for each pixel in a line by reading one line worth of image via a light receiver with a light source being turned off when a detector detects that a cover is in an open state. Subsequently, the controller acquires a set of white data for the each pixel in the line by reading a white reference member via the light receiver with the light source emitting light when the detector detects that the cover is in the open state. The controller calculates a set of correction data for the each pixel in the line by subtracting the set of first black data of the each pixel from the set of first white data of the each pixel. The set of correction data is used in a shading correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiya Sato
  • Publication number: 20180043691
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting unit that ejects, to a target, a liquid which is supplied from a liquid supply source via a liquid supply channel; a carriage on which the liquid ejecting unit is mounted and which moves with respect to the target; a gas containing chamber mounted on the carriage; and a pump that is disposed outside the carriage of the liquid ejecting apparatus and sends gas out to one system of a gas channel connected to the gas containing chamber and suctions gas from the gas channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Tomoki UDAGAWA, Seiya SATO, Satoru KOBAYASHI, Ken YAMAGISHI
  • Patent number: 9832332
    Abstract: In an image reader, a controller control, during a period from a timing when a detector detects an open state of a cover to a timing when the detector detects a closed state of the cover, a document detector to detect whether a document sheet is present or absent every time a prescribed time period is elapsed, and stores in a memory each set of first data indicating absence or presence of the document sheet. The controller determines a first size of the document sheet in a main scanning direction. The controller determines a second size of the document sheet in a sub scanning direction on the basis of the sets of first data. The controller determines a reading range on the basis of the first and second sizes. The reading section reads the determined reading range on the line-to-line basis to obtain an image of the document sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Sunako, Seiya Sato
  • Patent number: 9716803
    Abstract: A reading device includes a platen; a cover; a reading unit; and a controller. The platen includes first and second reference points. The controller is configured to: control the reading unit to read one line worth of data in a main scanning direction when the cover is moved from an open position to a close position with an original document being placed on the platen, the one line including the first and second reference points; determine whether the first reference point is overlaid with the original document; in response to determining that the first reference point is overlaid with the original document, determine a first length of the original document in the main scanning direction based on the one line worth of data; specify a particular size of the original document such that the first length is a short side length of a prefixed sheet in the particular size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiya Sato, Koji Yamada
  • Publication number: 20170208209
    Abstract: In an image reader, a controller acquires a set of first black data for each pixel in a line by reading one line worth of image via a light receiver with a light source being turned off when a detector detects that a cover is in an open state. Subsequently, the controller acquires a set of white data for the each pixel in the line by reading a white reference member via the light receiver with the light source emitting light when the detector detects that the cover is in the open state. The controller calculates a set of correction data for the each pixel in the line by subtracting the set of first black data of the each pixel from the set of first white data of the each pixel. The set of correction data is used in a shading correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: Seiya SATO
  • Publication number: 20170208198
    Abstract: In an image reader, a controller control, during a period from a timing when a detector detects an open state of a cover to a timing when the detector detects a closed state of the cover, a document detector to detect whether a document sheet is present or absent every time a prescribed time period is elapsed, and stores in a memory each set of first data indicating absence or presence of the document sheet. The controller determines a first size of the document sheet in a main scanning direction. The controller determines a second size of the document sheet in a sub scanning direction on the basis of the sets of first data. The controller determines a reading range on the basis of the first and second sizes. The reading section reads the determined reading range on the line-to-line basis to obtain an image of the document sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Shuichi SUNAKO, Seiya SATO
  • Patent number: 9592673
    Abstract: A maintenance device includes a wiper that wipes a liquid ejecting unit; a double rack member which includes a rack sections made up of a first rack section and a second rack section and is configured to reciprocate the wiper; and an intermittent gear which includes a teeth portion which meshes with one of the two rack sections and a toothless portion which is arranged in line with the teeth portion in a rotation direction, wherein the double rack member allows the wiper to perform a forward motion when the first rack section meshes with the intermittent gear, and allows the wiper to perform a backward motion when the second rack section meshes with the intermittent gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Seiya Sato, Ryoji Fujimori, Shion Kubomura
  • Patent number: 9511590
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes plural outlet flow paths respectively connected to the plural mounting units in which plural liquid storing bodies are respectively mounted, a supply flow path to which the plural outlet flow paths are connected, a switching unit capable of switching a communication status of each outlet flow path with the supply flow path, and a pressurizing and supplying unit that pressurizes and supplies liquid in the liquid storing bodies to the supply flow path. If the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid storing body communicating with one of the outlet flow paths is less than or equal to a second threshold greater than a first threshold, liquid in the liquid storing body communicating with another outlet flow path different from the one outlet flow path is made ready to be pressurized and supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kuramata, Ryoji Fujimori, Satoru Kobayashi, Seiya Sato
  • Publication number: 20160339710
    Abstract: A maintenance device includes a wiper that wipes a liquid ejecting unit; a double rack member which includes a rack sections made up of a first rack section and a second rack section and is configured to reciprocate the wiper; and an intermittent gear which includes a teeth portion which meshes with one of the two rack sections and a toothless portion which is arranged in line with the teeth portion in a rotation direction, wherein the double rack member allows the wiper to perform a forward motion when the first rack section meshes with the intermittent gear, and allows the wiper to perform a backward motion when the second rack section meshes with the intermittent gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Seiya SATO, Ryoji FUJIMORI, Shion KUBOMURA
  • Publication number: 20160323466
    Abstract: A reading device includes a platen; a cover; a reading unit; and a controller. The platen includes first and second reference points. The controller is configured to: control the reading unit to read one line worth of data in a main scanning direction when the cover is moved from an open position to a close position with an original document being placed on the platen, the one line including the first and second reference points; determine whether the first reference point is overlaid with the original document; in response to determining that the first reference point is overlaid with the original document, determine a first length of the original document in the main scanning direction based on the one line worth of data; specify a particular size of the original document such that the first length is a short side length of a prefixed sheet in the particular size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Seiya Sato, Koji Yamada
  • Publication number: 20160067975
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes plural outlet flow paths respectively connected to the plural mounting units in which plural liquid storing bodies are respectively mounted, a supply flow path to which the plural outlet flow paths are connected, a switching unit capable of switching a communication status of each outlet flow path with the supply flow path, and a pressurizing and supplying unit that pressurizes and supplies liquid in the liquid storing bodies to the supply flow path. If the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid storing body communicating with one of the outlet flow paths is less than or equal to a second threshold greater than a first threshold, liquid in the liquid storing body communicating with another outlet flow path different from the one outlet flow path is made ready to be pressurized and supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Shunsuke KURAMATA, Ryoji Fujimori, Satoru Kobayashi, Seiya Sato
  • Patent number: 9086063
    Abstract: A pump apparatus includes: a stationary shaft; a rotation-regulating member having a coil main body wound around the stationary shaft, the rotation-regulating member being permitted to rotate in a direction of loosening the coil main body and the rotation-regulating member being restrained from rotating in a direction of tightening the coil main body; a driven rotatable member that may rotate around the stationary shaft when a driving force of a driving source is transmitted; and a suction pump that has a rotary member driven together with rotation of the driven rotatable member and that performs a suction operation when the rotary member rotates. The suction pump is configured such that the rotation-regulating member rotates in the tightening direction of the coil main body when the driven rotatable member rotates in a direction opposite to a direction in which the driven rotatable member performs the suction operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Seiya Sato, Akihiko Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8668325
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes first liquid ejecting nozzles that eject first liquid; a second liquid ejecting nozzle that ejects second liquid which is different from the first liquid; and a control unit which performs control of ejection of the first liquid from the first liquid ejecting nozzles and ejection of the second liquid from the second liquid ejecting nozzles. The control unit has a first mode of performing control to form flushing dots by ejection from the first liquid ejecting nozzles on a recording medium, the ejection not being based on image data, form background dots by ejection from the second liquid ejecting nozzle on the flushing dots, the ejection being based on the image data, and form image dots by ejection from the first liquid ejecting nozzles on the background dots, the ejection being based on the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Usuda, Seiya Sato, Shinichi Kamoshida, Koichiro Miyazaki