Patents by Inventor Takatoshi Nakano

Takatoshi Nakano 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: 11945232
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus is provided with a tank that stores ink, a print head that performs print operation by ejecting ink supplied from the tank, a circulation unit that establishes a circulating state to circulate ink in a circulation path if print operation is performed and establishes a stopped state to stop circulation of ink if print operation is terminated, and a deaeration unit that performs deaeration operation to deaerate ink inside the circulation path. The apparatus includes an estimation unit that estimates a dissolved gas amount in ink inside the circulation path based on dissolved gas amounts increased in the circulating state and in the stopped state, respectively, and a control unit that causes the deaeration unit to execute deaeration operation after completion of print operation if the dissolved gas amount estimated by the estimation unit exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11919318
    Abstract: Ink is circulated through a circulation flow path between a print head and an ink tank. Detection operation for detecting an ink ejection state in an ejection opening in the print head is performed. The ink circulation and the detection operation are simultaneously performed by performing the detection operation in response to a start of the ink circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Yuhei Oikawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20230347642
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print head provided with a discharge port that discharges liquid and a pressure chamber filled with the liquid to be discharged from the discharge port, and configured to perform a printing operation by discharging the liquid from the discharge port based on print data, includes a circulation unit that performs circulation of the liquid in a circulation passage including the pressure chamber in a state where the printing operation is performed, and includes a control unit that controls the circulation unit to continue the circulation for a predetermined time after the printing operation is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11794479
    Abstract: The inkjet printing apparatus includes: a printing unit to eject ink; a wiping unit capable of wiping an ejection opening surface by moving relative to the ejection opening surface with an opening, adapted to be in contact with the ejection opening surface, put in contact with the ejection opening surface; a suction unit connected to the wiping unit and configured to apply negative pressure to the ejection opening surface via the opening; a moving unit to move the wiping unit relative to the ejection opening surface; and a control unit to perform suction wiping operation by wiping the ejection opening surface with the wiping unit while applying negative pressure to the ejection opening surface. The control unit determines the timing to perform the suction wiping operation, and, according to the timing, determines a moving speed of the moving unit and a pressure value caused by the suction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Kiuchi, Noriko Sato, Hiroshi Nakai, Takashi Sasaki, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11780224
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print head provided with a discharge port that discharges liquid and a pressure chamber filled with the liquid to be discharged from the discharge port, and configured to perform a printing operation by discharging the liquid from the discharge port based on print data, includes a circulation unit that performs circulation of the liquid in a circulation passage including the pressure chamber in a state where the printing operation is performed, and includes a control unit that controls the circulation unit to continue the circulation for a predetermined time after the printing operation is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11745525
    Abstract: To normally perform a preliminary ejection after a cleaning process. Provided is a recording apparatus including: a recording head that includes an ejection component that ejects a liquid; a circulation unit configured to perform a circulation operation of circulating the liquid in a circulation route including the recording head; a cleaning mechanism that performs a cleaning process with respect to the recording head; and a preliminary ejection unit configured to perform a preliminary ejection operation of preliminarily ejecting the liquid from the ejection component. The cleaning mechanism performs the cleaning process in a state in which circulation of the liquid is stopped, and at least one of the circulation operation by the circulation unit and the preliminary ejection operation by the preliminary ejection unit is performed after the cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20230234361
    Abstract: Provided are an inkjet printing apparatus and a recovery method capable of suppressing ink thickening in the ejection openings in the suction process for the ejection openings. A vacuum wiper is moved being in contact with the ejection opening surface of the print head to perform a vacuum wiping process for the arrayed ejection openings sequentially. Ink is circulated in flow paths including the flow paths communicating with the ejection openings for which the vacuum wiping process has been finished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nakagawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20230234370
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus is provided with a tank that stores ink, a print head that performs print operation by ejecting ink supplied from the tank, a circulation unit that establishes a circulating state to circulate ink in a circulation path if print operation is performed and establishes a stopped state to stop circulation of ink if print operation is terminated, and a deaeration unit that performs deaeration operation to deaerate ink inside the circulation path. The apparatus includes an estimation unit that estimates a dissolved gas amount in ink inside the circulation path based on dissolved gas amounts increased in the circulating state and in the stopped state, respectively, and a control unit that causes the deaeration unit to execute deaeration operation after completion of print operation if the dissolved gas amount estimated by the estimation unit exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11642889
    Abstract: Provided are an inkjet printing apparatus and a recovery method capable of suppressing ink thickening in the ejection openings in the suction process for the ejection openings. A vacuum wiper is moved being in contact with the ejection opening surface of the print head to perform a vacuum wiping process for the arrayed ejection openings sequentially. Ink is circulated in flow paths including the flow paths communicating with the ejection openings for which the vacuum wiping process has been finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nakagawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20230071122
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises: a print head comprising, for each of a plurality of types of inks, an ejection opening and pressure chamber, and configured to perform printing operation by ejecting the ink from the ejection opening; a circulation unit capable of circulating the ink of each ink type; a determination unit configured to determine an accumulated time for which a first type of ink is circulated by the circulation unit in the printing operation using the first type of ink and not using a second type of ink different from the first type of ink; and a control unit configured to perform control based on the determined accumulated time to cause the circulation unit to circulate at least the second type of ink among the plurality of types of inks in a case where the accumulated time is longer than a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11571908
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to reduce power consumption while preventing a reduction in productivity. One embodiment of the present invention is a printing apparatus including: a print head that ejects a liquid; a circulation unit configured to circulate the liquid in a circulation path including the print head; a control unit configured to controls the circulation unit to execute periodic circulation by causing the circulation unit to circulate the liquid in the circulation path periodically at predetermined interval; and an input unit configured to input information on a suspension period during which the control unit suspends execution of the periodic circulation, wherein the control unit is set to start suspending the execution of the periodic circulation in accordance with the information and is set to resume execution of the periodic circulation when the suspension period indicated by the information is elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Ezumi, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Arai
  • Patent number: 11559992
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a print head that ejects ink, a waste ink tank having an absorber that absorbs ink discharged from the print head. The inkjet printing apparatus further includes a counting unit that counts a waste ink amount discharged to the waste ink tank, a timer that measures an elapsed time from installation of the waste ink tank in the apparatus, an acquiring unit that acquires a waste ink retention amount by obtaining an evaporation amount from evaporation of waste ink retained in the waste ink tank based on the elapsed time and subtracting the evaporation amount from the waste ink amount, a notifying unit that notifies that the waste ink retention amount exceeds a threshold; and a setting unit that sets the threshold based on a waste ink evaporation rate calculated by using the evaporation amount and the waste ink amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nakagawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11559994
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus is provided with a tank that stores ink, a print head that performs print operation by ejecting ink supplied from the tank, a circulation unit that establishes a circulating state to circulate ink in a circulation path if print operation is performed and establishes a stopped state to stop circulation of ink if print operation is terminated, and a deaeration unit that performs deaeration operation to deaerate ink inside the circulation path. The apparatus includes an estimation unit that estimates a dissolved gas amount in ink inside the circulation path based on dissolved gas amounts increased in the circulating state and in the stopped state, respectively, and a control unit that causes the deaeration unit to execute deaeration operation after completion of print operation if the dissolved gas amount estimated by the estimation unit exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20230013083
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a printing unit having ejection parts, each configured to eject ink by using a piezoelectric element to be displaced in response to a change in electric potential. The inkjet printing apparatus also includes a circulation unit, a determination unit, and a control unit. The circulation unit executes ink circulation in a circulation path inclusive of the printing unit. The determination unit ejects the ink from each ejection part, detects residual vibration generated at an ejection part due to ink ejection, and determines an ejection state of ink ejection at the ejection part based on the detected residual vibration. The inkjet printing apparatus determines a printing state of ink ejection in the printing unit based on the ejection state. The control unit causes the determination unit not to make the ejection state determination in parallel with causing the circulation unit to execute the ink circulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11529814
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises: a print head comprising, for each of a plurality of types of inks, an ejection opening and pressure chamber, and configured to perform printing operation by ejecting the ink from the ejection opening; a circulation unit capable of circulating the ink of each ink type; a determination unit configured to determine an accumulated time for which a first type of ink is circulated by the circulation unit in the printing operation using the first type of ink and not using a second type of ink different from the first type of ink; and a control unit configured to perform control based on the determined accumulated time to cause the circulation unit to circulate at least the second type of ink among the plurality of types of inks in a case where the accumulated time is longer than a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11472179
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a printing unit having ejection parts, each configured to eject ink by using a piezoelectric element to be displaced in response to a change in electric potential. The inkjet printing apparatus also includes a circulation unit, a determination unit, and a control unit. The circulation unit executes ink circulation in a circulation path inclusive of the printing unit. The determination unit ejects the ink from each ejection part, detects residual vibration generated at an ejection part due to ink ejection, and determines an ejection state of ink ejection at the ejection part based on the detected residual vibration. The inkjet printing apparatus determines a printing state of ink ejection in the printing unit based on the ejection state. The control unit causes the determination unit not to make the ejection state determination in parallel with causing the circulation unit to execute the ink circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20220274400
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print head provided with a discharge port that discharges liquid and a pressure chamber filled with the liquid to be discharged from the discharge port, and configured to perform a printing operation by discharging the liquid from the discharge port based on print data, includes a circulation unit that performs circulation of the liquid in a circulation passage including the pressure chamber in a state where the printing operation is performed, and includes a control unit that controls the circulation unit to continue the circulation for a predetermined time after the printing operation is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20220250386
    Abstract: The inkjet printing apparatus includes: a printing unit to eject ink; a wiping unit capable of wiping an ejection opening surface by moving relative to the ejection opening surface with an opening, adapted to be in contact with the ejection opening surface, put in contact with the ejection opening surface; a suction unit connected to the wiping unit and configured to apply negative pressure to the ejection opening surface via the opening; a moving unit to move the wiping unit relative to the ejection opening surface; and a control unit to perform suction wiping operation by wiping the ejection opening surface with the wiping unit while applying negative pressure to the ejection opening surface. The control unit determines the timing to perform the suction wiping operation, and, according to the timing, determines a moving speed of the moving unit and a pressure value caused by the suction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Takahiro Kiuchi, Noriko Sato, Hiroshi Nakai, Takashi Sasaki, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20220194108
    Abstract: To normally perform a preliminary ejection after a cleaning process. Provided is a recording apparatus including: a recording head that includes an ejection component that ejects a liquid; a circulation unit configured to perform a circulation operation of circulating the liquid in a circulation route including the recording head; a cleaning mechanism that performs a cleaning process with respect to the recording head; and a preliminary ejection unit configured to perform a preliminary ejection operation of preliminarily ejecting the liquid from the ejection component. The cleaning mechanism performs the cleaning process in a state in which circulation of the liquid is stopped, and at least one of the circulation operation by the circulation unit and the preliminary ejection operation by the preliminary ejection unit is performed after the cleaning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11358387
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print head provided with a discharge port that discharges liquid and a pressure chamber filled with the liquid to be discharged from the discharge port, and configured to perform a printing operation by discharging the liquid from the discharge port based on print data, includes a circulation unit that performs circulation of the liquid in a circulation passage including the pressure chamber in a state where the printing operation is performed, and includes a control unit that controls the circulation unit to continue the circulation for a predetermined time after the printing operation is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi