Patents by Inventor Shoma Kudo

Shoma Kudo 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: 20180244063
    Abstract: Provided is a printer wherein ink can be easily injected and filled into a tank. A printer including: a printing head; a housing; a body cover shiftable between a closed state of closing an opening of the housing and an open state of exposing the opening; a tank including an ink container and an ink inlet port receiving the ink injection into the ink container; and a tank cover shiftable between a closed state of closing the ink inlet port and an open state of exposing the ink inlet port. The body cover in the closed state covers a portion of the tank cover, and the ink inlet port is located outside a region of the body cover. The tank cover changes from the closed state to the open state, triggered by the body cover changing from the closed state to the open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki OKUMURA, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Publication number: 20180244052
    Abstract: A decrease in the capacity of an ink tank can be easily avoided while downsizing a printer. A printer includes a printing head, an ink tank, a carriage provided with the printing head movable back and forth, and a medium conveyance device that conveys a printing medium on a conveyance path intersecting the carriage moving direction. An axis line along the carriage moving direction is an X axis and an axis line orthogonal to the X axis is a Y axis, an axis line orthogonal to the X and Y axises is defined as a Z axis. When viewed along the Z axis, the ink tank is located in a region outside a movable region of the carriage along the Y axis, and is arranged so as to extend across a region outside the conveyance path along the X axis and a region that is overlapped with the conveyance path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki OKUMURA, Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura, Motoyoshi Shirotori
  • Publication number: 20180244056
    Abstract: A technique is provided that can suppress leakage of a liquid from a tank. When an ink tank is in a reference orientation in which ink is injected into the ink tank, an atmospheric air introducing inlet of an atmospheric air communication path is located on an upper end side of the ink containing portion. Also, when the ink tank is in the reference orientation, when the ink tank is in a second orientation in which the ink tank has been rotated by 90° from the reference orientation, and when the ink tank is in a third orientation in which the ink tank has been rotated by 180°, at least a portion of the atmospheric air communication path is located at a height position of an upper end portion of the ink containing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoma KUDO, Naomi KIMURA
  • Patent number: 10040295
    Abstract: A liquid supply device that supplies a liquid to a head that ejects the liquid to an object includes a liquid storage chamber, an air introduction port, an atmospheric release flow path where one end is in communication with the air introduction port and another end is open to the atmosphere, and an air storage chamber configured to store air and provided in a portion of the atmospheric release flow path. A liquid supply flow path that supplies the liquid from the liquid storage chamber to the head is formed in a wall defining the air storage chamber. Thus, the size of a liquid ejection system is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoma Kudo, Munehide Kanaya, Naomi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20180170064
    Abstract: In conventional liquid jet apparatuses, improvement in usability is desired. A liquid jet apparatus including a liquid jet head, a liquid container that can store liquid, a housing that covers the liquid jet head and the liquid container, and an operation unit can be operated by a user, a liquid injection port that enables liquid to be injected is formed in the liquid container, when the operation unit is viewed from the front, the first liquid container is arranged between the operation unit and one side wall of the housing, and the second liquid container is arranged between the other side wall opposite to the one side wall of the housing and the operation unit, the housing includes a first cover that covers at least a portion of the first liquid container, and a second cover that covers at least a portion of the second liquid container, and the first cover and the second cover are independently configured to be openable/closable relative to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki HIGUCHI, Takaaki ISHIKAWA, Hidenao SUZUKI, Naomi KIMURA, Koji KAWAI, Shoma KUDO, Takanori MATSUDA, Ekie Pumomo, Muhamad Gigih Agung Pratomo, Muhamad Auf
  • Publication number: 20180111380
    Abstract: An ink container comprises an ink chamber configured to contain ink that is supplied to an ink ejection head; and an ink inlet flow path portion arranged to connect a first end portion that is open to outside of the ink chamber with a second end portion that is open to inside of the ink chamber and configured to inject the ink into the ink chamber. At least part of the ink inlet flow path portion is formed by sealing a groove that is defined by flow path walls with a first film and a second film attached to the flow path walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo
  • Publication number: 20180111378
    Abstract: At least some issues such as making it difficult for liquid to leak to the outside, making it easy for liquid contained in a buffer chamber to return to a liquid storage portion, and suppressing an increase in the installation area of the entirety of a printing apparatus is achieved. A liquid supply apparatus includes a liquid tank that contain a liquid, a connection channel member connected to the liquid tank, and a buffer tank that is configured separately from the liquid tank, is connected to the liquid tank via the connection channel member, and is communicated with the atmospheric air. The liquid tank includes a liquid storage chamber provided inside of the liquid tank, and a liquid inlet portion for injecting liquid into the liquid storage chamber. The buffer tank has a buffer chamber, bottom face of the buffer chamber is positioned at a position higher than a maximum liquid level of the liquid tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Shoma KUDO, Naomi KIMURA
  • Patent number: 9950535
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a liquid container portion and a liquid inlet portion. The liquid inlet portion is connected with the liquid container portion and configured to pour liquid into the liquid container portion. The liquid container portion includes a bottom wall, a liquid inlet portion-forming wall that is located above the bottom wall and at which the liquid inlet portion is arranged, a visual recognition wall, an opposite wall opposite the visual recognition wall, and a partition wall. The visual recognition wall is a wall that extends in a direction intersecting the bottom wall and the liquid inlet portion-forming wall and through which the liquid in the liquid container portion is visible from outside. At least a part of the partition wall is located between the visual recognition wall. The opening is an intersecting part at which the liquid inlet portion intersects with the liquid inlet portion-forming wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Munehide Kanaya
  • Publication number: 20180072067
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a liquid container that includes a liquid containing chamber, which is capable of containing liquid, and a liquid inlet, which allows the liquid containing chamber to be filled with liquid. An external member covers at least a portion of the liquid container excluding a portion where the liquid inlet is located from an outer side. A seal member seals a gap between the external member and the liquid inlet. The liquid supply device is configured to allow the liquid to be supplied from the liquid container to a printing unit that performs printing on a medium using the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Munehide KANAYA, Shoma KUDO
  • Patent number: 9908337
    Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus that can easily set a state in which liquid accommodation units are filled with a liquid for recording while suppressing increases in an installation area. A recording apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that performs recording by ejecting ink onto sheets of paper, a discharge unit in which a discharge opening that includes a discharge region at which the sheets of paper, on which recording was performed by the liquid ejecting head, are discharged, is formed, and liquid accommodation units that are capable of accommodating the liquid that is supplied to the liquid ejecting head, in an apparatus main body, in which the liquid accommodation units are provided with injection openings through which it is possible to inject ink into the liquid accommodation units, which are provided in a positions that are below the discharge unit in a perpendicular direction (?Z direction) and overlaps with the discharge unit in the perpendicular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Munehide Kanaya, Shoma Kudo, Hidenao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9908352
    Abstract: A liquid ejection system includes a liquid ejection head configured to ejecting liquid, a liquid storage container that includes a liquid storage portion capable of storing the liquid that is to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, and a ventilation unit that constitutes at least a portion of an air introduction portion that is in communication with the liquid storage portion and is configured to introducing air into the liquid storage portion, and is detachable from the liquid storage container. The ventilation unit includes an introduction passage that constitutes at least a portion of a path of air flowing toward the liquid storage portion in the air introduction portion, and an air chamber that constitutes at least a portion of the introduction passage. The ventilation unit is arranged in the periphery of the liquid storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naomi Kimura, Munehide Kanaya, Shoma Kudo
  • Patent number: 9889671
    Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of reducing the possibility that liquid reaches a visual check face. A liquid container includes a liquid retaining portion that can retain liquid and has an injection port forming face in which a liquid injection port is arranged, a visual check face that intersects the injection port forming face and through which a liquid surface in the liquid containing portion can be visually checked from the outside, and a container guiding path that guides the liquid existing in the injection port forming face in a direction different from a direction toward the visual check face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Koji Nishimaki
  • Patent number: 9868290
    Abstract: With a conventional liquid container, it is difficult to reduce the possibility of soiling with liquid caused by liquid leakage. Provided is a liquid container including a liquid containing portion containing liquid, a liquid inlet portion receiving injection of the liquid into the liquid containing portion, an open air port that communicates with the liquid containing portion and is introducing the atmospheric air into the liquid containing portion, and a liquid absorbent material that is arranged at least in a portion of the periphery of the open air port and that is absorbing the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Matsuda, Shoma Kudo, Hidenao Suzuki, Naomi Kimura, Munehide Kanaya
  • Patent number: 9855761
    Abstract: An ink tank includes a tank main body that is able to contain ink, an ink filling unit that is provided in the tank main body and has an opening which enables the tank main body to be filled with the ink, and a plurality of ribs that are provided around the ink filling unit of the tank main body and protrude from the tank main body. A clearance in which the ink is held due to a capillary force between the ribs is provided between two adjacent ribs among the plurality of ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenao Suzuki, Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura, Keigo Iizawa, Masayuki Kanazawa, Naofumi Mimura, Keisuke Akimoto, Ryusuke Takakura, Soshi Okawa, Munehide Kanaya, Nobuyuki Nishi, Satoshi Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20170368832
    Abstract: For printers there are issues relating to consideration to be given to heat sources. A printer is provided with a printhead capable of executing printing on a printing medium by jetting an ink onto the printing medium, a tank having an ink container portion capable of containing ink to be supplied to the printhead, and a heat source. A low thermal conductance part that reduces thermal conductance is positioned between the heat source and the ink container portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Shoma KUDO, Naomi KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20170355197
    Abstract: A liquid holding unit supplies liquid to a liquid ejector of a liquid ejection device. The liquid holding unit includes a liquid holder, an inlet, a plug, a shaft, and an engagement portion. The liquid holder holds the liquid. The housing accommodates the liquid holder. The inlet is used to fill the liquid holder with the liquid. The plug opens and closes the inlet and includes an elastically deformable plug body that covers the inlet and a holding member that holds the plug body and has higher rigidity than the plug body. The shaft is arranged on one of the housing and the plug. The plug is pivotal about the shaft. The engagement portion arranged on the other one of the housing and the plug and engaged with the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Shoma KUDO, Naomi KIMURA, Hideki OKUMURA, Motoyoshi SHIROTORI, Kazuo OTSUKA, Masafumi FURUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170355193
    Abstract: A tank for containing liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejecting apparatus which has a nozzle formation section where nozzles are formed, which performs printing onto a printing medium by ejecting the liquid from the nozzles toward the printing medium, and where a front end of the nozzle formation section and a rear end of the nozzle formation section are positioned along a discharge direction of the printing medium when a discharge opening of the liquid ejecting apparatus, which discharges the printing medium, is the front side, wherein the tank is disposed so that the liquid surface of the liquid which is contained in the tank is lower than the rear end of the nozzle formation section in a first posture where the nozzles face in the horizontal direction and the front end of the nozzle formation section is positioned above the rear end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Takumi KOBAYASHI, Shoma KUDO, Naomi KIMURA
  • Patent number: 9840080
    Abstract: A tank for containing liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejecting apparatus which has a nozzle formation section where nozzles are formed, which performs printing onto a printing medium by ejecting the liquid from the nozzles toward the printing medium, and where a front end of the nozzle formation section and a rear end of the nozzle formation section are positioned along a discharge direction of the printing medium when a discharge opening of the liquid ejecting apparatus, which discharges the printing medium, is the front side, wherein the tank is disposed so that the liquid surface of the liquid which is contained in the tank is lower than the rear end of the nozzle formation section in a first posture where the nozzles face in the horizontal direction and the front end of the nozzle formation section is positioned above the rear end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Kobayashi, Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9840079
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a carriage which is capable of moving along a first direction, a first sliding section that is provided in the carriage, on one side in a second direction, which intersects the first direction, a second sliding section that is provided, in an arm section, which extends from the other side, protruding in the second direction, a tube that supplies the liquid, which is delivered from a liquid accommodation section, to the carriage, extends in a direction that intersects the second direction by extending out from the carriage, and extends in an opposite direction by turning back in a vertical direction, in which the tube extends in the direction that intersects the second direction by passing at least one of above and below the arm section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Kobayashi, Soshi Okawa, Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9815295
    Abstract: A tank includes a liquid containing portion, an air introduction portion that enables the air to be introduced into the liquid containing portion, a liquid injection portion that enables the liquid to be injected into the liquid containing portion. The air introduction portion includes a first air introduction portion that is in communication with the liquid containing portion, and a second air introduction portion. The first air introduction portion includes a first air introduction port and a first air flow path. The second air introduction portion includes a second air introduction port and a second air flow path. A first member that is configured to pass the air through the inside and is configured to block the liquid through the inside. A second member that is configured to pass the air through the inside and is configured to block the liquid through the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoma Kudo, Soshi Okawa, Munehide Kanaya