Patents by Inventor Shinya Yamagata

Shinya Yamagata 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).

  • Publication number: 20240017552
    Abstract: A supply system, in which each of a plurality of printers holds ink specification information for specifying a kind of ink to be supplied to the printer, includes an ink supply apparatus. The ink supply apparatus includes a plurality of ink storage units storing different kinds of ink, a plurality of ink discharging units each of which is coupled to a corresponding one of the ink storage units and discharges, to the printer, the ink stored in the coupled ink storage unit, an information reading unit that reads the ink specification information held by the printer, and a control unit that controls an ink discharging unit of the ink discharging units and causes the ink discharging unit to discharge ink, the ink discharging unit being coupled to the ink storage unit storing the kind of ink specified by the ink specification information read by the information reading unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya YAMAGATA, Noriyuki FUKASAWA
  • Patent number: 11853625
    Abstract: A consumables management system includes a plurality of printers in each of which a consumables container is installed and each of which is configured to consume consumables contained in the consumables container, and a management unit connected via a network to the plurality of printers. The management unit manages container identification information assigned to the consumables container, device identification information assigned to each of the plurality of printers, and user identification information assigned to the user of each of the plurality of printers in association with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Yamagata, Noriyuki Fukasawa, Yoshiharu Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20230280951
    Abstract: A consumables management system includes a plurality of printers in each of which a consumables container is installed and each of which is configured to consume consumables contained in the consumables container, and a management unit connected via a network to the plurality of printers. The management unit manages container identification information assigned to the consumables container, device identification information assigned to each of the plurality of printers, and user identification information assigned to the user of each of the plurality of printers in association with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya YAMAGATA, Noriyuki FUKASAWA, Yoshiharu MIZUNO
  • Patent number: 11731431
    Abstract: A printing device includes a printing unit configured to use ink stored in an ink cartridge to perform printing on a medium, a remaining amount detector configured to detect a remaining amount of the ink stored in the ink cartridge, a maintenance unit configured to perform maintenance on the printing unit, and a display unit configured to perform predetermined notification regarding either replacement of the ink cartridge or refilling of the ink cartridge with the ink. Either the printing device or a server device includes a selector configured to select either the maintenance to be performed or the predetermined notification based on the remaining amount of the ink when an amount of the ink used for a predetermined time period is equal to or smaller than a defined amount based on information on the amount of the ink used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Yamagata, Yoshiharu Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20220363067
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printer and a cartridge to be attached to the printer in a replaceable manner. The cartridge includes a storage section storing identification information corresponding to an assumed user group assumed to use the cartridge. The printer is configured to perform print setting, and the print setting is performed in accordance with the identification information in the storage section in a state in which the cartridge is attached to the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya YAMAGATA
  • Publication number: 20220242132
    Abstract: A printing device includes a printing unit configured to use ink stored in an ink cartridge to perform printing on a medium, a remaining amount detector configured to detect a remaining amount of the ink stored in the ink cartridge, a maintenance unit configured to perform maintenance on the printing unit, and a display unit configured to perform predetermined notification regarding either replacement of the ink cartridge or refilling of the ink cartridge with the ink. Either the printing device or a server device includes a selector configured to select either the maintenance to be performed or the predetermined notification based on the remaining amount of the ink when an amount of the ink used for a predetermined time period is equal to or smaller than a defined amount based on information on the amount of the ink used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya YAMAGATA, Yoshiharu MIZUNO
  • Patent number: 10105956
    Abstract: A printing apparatus 10 calculates an consumed ink amount which is a consumed amount of ink ejected from an ejection unit that ejects ink supplied from an ink cartridge 60, and, in the case where an unused ink cartridge 60 is installed, executes initial maintenance of the ejection unit, determines an initial consumed ink amount which is a consumed amount of liquid consumed by the initial maintenance, writes the consumed ink amount and the initial consumed ink amount to a storage device 70 of the ink cartridge 60 as a consumed ink amount 73 and an initial consumed ink amount 75, and generates and notifies a ratio of the difference between the contained ink amount 71 and the consumed ink amount that is updated relative to the difference between the contained ink amount 71 and the initial consumed ink amount 75 as notification-use information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoo Kubota, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Shinya Yamagata
  • Publication number: 20170190186
    Abstract: A printing apparatus 10 calculates an consumed ink amount which is a consumed amount of ink ejected from an ejection unit that ejects ink supplied from an ink cartridge 60, and, in the case where an unused ink cartridge 60 is installed, executes initial maintenance of the ejection unit, determines an initial consumed ink amount which is a consumed amount of liquid consumed by the initial maintenance, writes the consumed ink amount and the initial consumed ink amount to a storage device 70 of the ink cartridge 60 as a consumed ink amount 73 and an initial consumed ink amount 75, and generates and notifies a ratio of the difference between the contained ink amount 71 and the consumed ink amount that is updated relative to the difference between the contained ink amount 71 and the initial consumed ink amount 75 as notification-use information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Tomoo KUBOTA, Yasuhiko KOSUGI, Shinya YAMAGATA
  • Patent number: 9533507
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Publication number: 20150183222
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Patent number: 8998392
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Patent number: 8919900
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a detection unit that detects the amount of residual ink in a ink cartridge, and a control unit that controls of initial filling of a printing head, in which the control unit performs initial filling when a state of the amount of residual ink detected by the detection unit is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, and the amount of residual ink based on information on the amount of ink stored in a storage unit is equal to or more than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Yamagata, Yasuhiko Kosugi
  • Publication number: 20140354719
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a detection unit that detects the amount of residual ink in a ink cartridge, and a control unit that controls of initial filling of a printing head, in which the control unit performs initial filling when a state of the amount of residual ink detected by the detection unit is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, and the amount of residual ink based on information on the amount of ink stored in a storage unit is equal to or more than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Shinya Yamagata, Yasuhiko Kosugi
  • Publication number: 20130300808
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Patent number: 8485652
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Publication number: 20120236086
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Patent number: 8201932
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Publication number: 20110148998
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Patent number: 7922307
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Patent number: 7540587
    Abstract: A guiding device guides, in a main body of a liquid ejection apparatus, a flexible passage forming member having a passage therein in a predetermined routing direction while curving the passage forming member. The guiding device includes a holding member. The holding member is engaged with a curved section of the passage forming member, and holds the curved section in an undeformable manner in the apparatus main body. The holding member guides the passage forming member in the routing direction. Thus, the guiding device is capable of efficiently routing passage forming members while bending the members in a body of a liquid ejection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen