Patents by Inventor Shinya Komatsu

Shinya Komatsu 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: 8646867
    Abstract: A first discharge inspection part is configured to inspect and judge a first target nozzle regarding whether or not the first target nozzle discharges the liquid, and is configured to again inspect the first target nozzle if noise is detected. A second discharge inspection part is configured to inspect and judge a second target nozzle regarding whether or not the second target nozzle discharges the liquid, and is configured to again inspect the second target nozzle if noise is detected. The first discharge inspection part and the second discharge inspection part inspect the first target nozzle and the second target nozzle in parallel. The first target nozzle and the second target nozzle shift, if the first target nozzle has been judged, regardless of or not the noise is detected during the first target nozzle being again inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20130235113
    Abstract: A liquid-discharging device includes a nozzle that discharges liquid including a substance having sedimentation properties, a liquid supply channel, an inspection part, stirring part and a control part. The inspection part brings the liquid to be discharged from the nozzle to a first electric potential by a first electrode, discharges the liquid toward a second electrode of a second electric potential, and inspects a discharge state of the liquid based on a change of an electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. The control part causes the nozzle to eject the liquid in order to substitute the liquid in an area downstream side than a predetermined area with the liquid stirred by the stirring part in the predetermined area. The control part determines a timing of ejection completion of the liquid based on the change of the electrostatic capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya KOMATSU
  • Patent number: 8408670
    Abstract: A discharge inspection apparatus includes: a first electrode for detection which faces a nozzle, that discharges liquid of a first potential, at a predetermined interval and has a second potential different from the first potential; a second electrode for detection which faces a nozzle, that discharges the liquid of the first potential, at a predetermined interval and has the second potential; an inspection section which inspects whether or not liquid is discharged from the nozzle on the basis of electrical changes which occur at the first electrode for detection and the second electrode for detection due to the discharging of the liquid of the first potential from the nozzle; a first insulating receiving section which holds the first electrode for detection; and a second insulating receiving section which holds the second electrode for detection and is disposed with a space interposed between the second receiving section and the first receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8360543
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including: (A) a nozzle that ejects a liquid; (B) a sensor that outputs a signal in accordance with a temperature change of the liquid; (C) a driving signal generation section that generates a driving signal for ejecting the liquid from the nozzle; (D) an inspection section that ejects the liquid of a first electrical potential; and (E) a controller that corrects the driving signal that is generated at the driving signal generation section in accordance with the liquid temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Komatsu, Tomohiro Sayama
  • Publication number: 20120133375
    Abstract: To reduce erroneous inspection caused by particular noise occurring when plate-shaped electrodes are used, the invention is related to a liquid-discharging device in which a discharge judgment for judging whether or not a liquid has been discharged from a nozzle is performed on the basis of a change in electric potential occurring in at least one of a first electrode and a second electrode when the liquid has been discharged from the nozzle. The discharge judgment is performed continuously a plurality of times for the nozzle that is an inspection target. Even if the liquid is judged to have been discharged in any of the plurality of discharge judgments, the liquid will be determined not to have been discharged from the nozzle that is an inspection target as long as a judgment that the liquid has not been discharged has been made in any of the plurality of discharge judgments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi AKIYAMA, Shinya KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20120133700
    Abstract: A first discharge inspection part is configured to inspect and judge a first target nozzle regarding whether or not the first target nozzle discharges the liquid, and is configured to again inspect the first target nozzle if noise is detected. A second discharge inspection part is configured to inspect and judge a second target nozzle regarding whether or not the second target nozzle discharges the liquid, and is configured to again inspect the second target nozzle if noise is detected. The first discharge inspection part and the second discharge inspection part inspect the first target nozzle and the second target nozzle in parallel. The first target nozzle and the second target nozzle shift, if the first target nozzle has been judged, regardless of or not the noise is detected during the first target nozzle being again inspected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya KOMATSU
  • Patent number: 8177315
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an ejection unit that ejects fluid from nozzles onto a target and a nozzle inspection unit that performs nozzle inspection to inspect whether the fluid is ejected. An automatic print setting unit sets a check pattern automatic print mode in which a check pattern for confirming whether the fluid is ejected from the nozzles. An automatic inspection setting unit, when a predetermined automatic inspection condition is established, sets an automatic nozzle inspection mode in which the nozzle inspection is performed. A cleaning unit performs nozzle cleaning to clean abnormal nozzles that are detected. When the automatic nozzle inspection mode is set, a control unit controls the nozzle inspection unit so as not to perform the nozzle inspection during a period from when one of printing based on the print data and printing of the check pattern is started until the other is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Endo, Shinya Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8033634
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a discharging device, a liquid receiving device, a voltage applying device, and a control device. The discharging discharges liquid from a nozzle to a target on the basis of discharge data, where it is received by a liquid receiving device. The voltage applying device applies a predetermined voltage between the discharging device and the liquid receiving device. When discharging on the basis of the discharge data, the control device controls the discharging device to discharge using a generated discharge data driving signal. When performing nozzle testing, the control device controls the voltage applying device to apply the predetermined voltage between the discharging device and the liquid receiving device and controls the discharging device using a generated test driving signal to discharge liquid from the nozzle to determine on the basis of a detected electrical change whether liquid is discharged from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Komatsu, Tomohiro Sayama
  • Publication number: 20110181652
    Abstract: An actual measurement value indicating an ejection state of ink ejected from nozzles is measured, the actual measurement value is compared with a first threshold value and a second threshold value which are set for each ink color to determine which is the ejection state of the ink among three states of a normal state, a clogged state, and an unstable ejection state between the normal state and the clogged state, which are distinguished by the first threshold value and the second threshold value, and different maintenance operations are performed in accordance with a determination result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7980653
    Abstract: An ejection inspecting device which inspects an ejection state of an ejection head, including nozzles ejecting fluid, includes fluid receiving areas corresponding to the ejection head so as to receive the fluid ejected from the nozzles. A potential difference generating unit generates predetermined potential differences between the ejection head and the fluid receiving areas. Electrical variation detecting units detect electrical variations of the fluid receiving areas. A control unit drives the ejection head to eject the fluid to the fluid receiving areas from the nozzles in a state in which the predetermined potential differences are generated between the ejection head and the fluid receiving areas by the potential difference generating unit. The ejection inspecting device also inspects the nozzles to determine whether the fluid is ejected from the nozzles on the basis of the detection results of the electrical variation detecting units in the fluid receiving areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Komatsu, Hironori Endo, Yuji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7950761
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a discharging device, a liquid receiving device, a voltage applying device, an electrical change detection device, a driving signal generating device, and a control device. The discharging device discharges liquid from a nozzle to a target on the basis of discharge data. At the time of discharging, the control device controls the discharging device so as to perform discharging on the basis of the discharge data using a generated discharge data driving signal. At the time of the nozzle testing, the control device controls the voltage applying device so as to apply a predetermined voltage between the discharging device and the liquid receiving device and controls the discharging device using a test driving signal to determine on the basis of an electrical change detected by the electrical change detection device whether the liquid is discharged to thereby perform the nozzle testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Komatsu, Tomohiro Sayama
  • Publication number: 20110084998
    Abstract: A discharge inspection apparatus includes: a first electrode for detection which faces a nozzle, that discharges liquid of a first potential, at a predetermined interval and has a second potential different from the first potential; a second electrode for detection which faces a nozzle, that discharges the liquid of the first potential, at a predetermined interval and has the second potential; an inspection section which inspects whether or not liquid is discharged from the nozzle on the basis of electrical changes which occur at the first electrode for detection and the second electrode for detection due to the discharging of the liquid of the first potential from the nozzle; a first insulating receiving section which holds the first electrode for detection; and a second insulating receiving section which holds the second electrode for detection and is disposed with a space interposed between the second receiving section and the first receiving section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20110050775
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including: (A) a nozzle that ejects a liquid; (B) a sensor that outputs a signal in accordance with a temperature change of the liquid; (C) a driving signal generation section that generates a driving signal for ejecting the liquid from the nozzle; (D) an inspection section that ejects the liquid of a first electrical potential; and (E) a controller that corrects the driving signal that is generated at the driving signal generation section in accordance with the liquid temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Komatsu, Tomohiro Sayama
  • Publication number: 20100165035
    Abstract: A discharge inspection apparatus inspects a fluid discharge state of a discharging head by applying a voltage. The discharging head discharges fluid from nozzles onto a target. The discharge inspection apparatus includes a detecting unit and a shield cable. The detecting unit detects an electric change that occurs when the fluid is discharged. The shield cable includes a first conductor, an insulating layer, a conductive layer, a second conductor, and a cover layer. A first voltage is applied to the first conductor. The conductive layer is positioned on an outer surface of the insulating layer, which covers the first conductor. The second conductor is positioned on an outer surface of the conductive layer and is covered by the cover layer. A second, lower voltage is applied to the second conductor. The shield cable is connected to at least either the detecting unit or the discharging head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20100149235
    Abstract: A liquid-ejection testing method includes the following steps (A) to (D): (A) a step of making a conductive first detection member and a conductive second detection member opposed, in a non-contact state, to a liquid ejecting nozzle that is to be tested; (B) a step of ejecting a charged liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle; (C) a step of detecting an induced current generated at each of the first detection member and the second detection member by the liquid that has been ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle; and (D) a step of judging, on the liquid ejecting nozzle, whether or not ejection of the liquid is being properly performed based on a magnitude of the detected induced current generated at each of the first detection member and the second detection member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya KOMATSU, Yuichi NISHIHARA
  • Patent number: 7651189
    Abstract: A liquid-ejection testing method includes the following steps (A) to (D): (A) a step of making a conductive first detection member and a conductive second detection member opposed, in a non-contact state, to a liquid ejecting nozzle that is to be tested; (B) a step of ejecting a charged liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle; (C) a step of detecting an induced current generated at each of the first detection member and the second detection member by the liquid that has been ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle; and (D) a step of judging, on the liquid ejecting nozzle, whether or not ejection of the liquid is being properly performed based on a magnitude of the detected induced current generated at each of the first detection member and the second detection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Komatsu, Yuichi Nishihara
  • Patent number: 7645007
    Abstract: In this ink jet printer, on the basis of voltage of a nozzle plate 27 at the time that a print head 24 is driven and in a state in which a predetermined potential difference has been generated between the nozzle plate 27 and the inspection area 52, a nozzle inspection is performed so as to confirm whether or not ink is in practice being ejected from each nozzle 23, so that ink can be sequentially ejected to an inspection area 52 from each nozzle. According to the nozzle inspection voltage change is detected in the nozzle plate 27 by a voltage detection circuit 54 provided on an encoder board 64 on a carriage 22. Since both the nozzle plate 27 and the voltage detection circuit 54 are installed on the carriage 22, and the distance between the two of them is shorter, they are less likely be affected by noise. In addition, there is no need to prepare a new board on which the voltage detection circuit 54 needs to be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7641934
    Abstract: There are provided a process for the production of an entry sheet for drilling, comprising preparing a water-soluble resin composition solution by using a mixed solvent containing water and isopropyl alcohol in a specific ratio as a solvent of a water-soluble resin composition, then applying the solution to a sheet-like base material and drying the resultant base material to form a resin layer on the base material, and a method of drilling a printed wiring board material using the above entry sheet. According to the present invention, the problems of remaining bubbles in the resin layer and a decrease in surface flatness and smoothness due to the occurrence of a ridge, which are caused because the melting point of the water-soluble resin is lower than the boiling point of water, are overcome, and an entry sheet for drilling excellent in hole position accuracy is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Reiki Akita, Shinya Komatsu, Takuya Hasaki
  • Patent number: 7568780
    Abstract: A liquid ejection inspecting apparatus includes: (A) a sensing section; (B) a detection section; and (C) a determination section. The sensing section is arranged in a state of non-contact with a liquid ejection nozzle for ejecting a liquid. The sensing section has a sensing surface arranged in a direction in which the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejection nozzle. The detection section is for detecting an induced current generated in the sensing section due to the liquid which has been ejected from the liquid ejection nozzle and charged electrically. The determination section is for determining whether or not ejection of the liquid from the liquid ejection nozzle is being normally performed, based on the induced current detected by the detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Nishihara, Shinya Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20090073208
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a discharging device, a liquid receiving device, a voltage applying device, and a control device. The discharging discharges liquid from a nozzle to a target on the basis of discharge data, where it is received by a liquid receiving device. The voltage applying device applies a predetermined voltage between the discharging device and the liquid receiving device. When discharging on the basis of the discharge data, the control device controls the discharging device to discharge using a generated discharge data driving signal. When performing nozzle testing, the control device controls the voltage applying device to apply the predetermined voltage between the discharging device and the liquid receiving device and controls the discharging device using a generated test driving signal to discharge liquid from the nozzle to determine on the basis of a detected electrical change whether liquid is discharged from the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya KOMATSU, Tomohiro SAYAMA