Patents by Inventor Takuya Fukasawa

Takuya Fukasawa 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: 20220203673
    Abstract: A method for inspecting an ink discharge status based on a temperature change of an energy generating element includes calculating a difference value between a value obtained by statistics of information indicating ink discharge statuses obtained for a plurality of nozzles close to a target nozzle and the information obtained for the target nozzle; comparing the calculated difference value with a predetermined threshold; and judging the ink discharge status for the target nozzle based on a result of the comparison. This enables to appropriately detect a nozzle which is in a discharge failure status due to an ink droplet adhered to a discharge surface of a printhead or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Yuhei Oikawa, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Yutaka Kano, Kohei Sato, Takuya Fukasawa
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11345154
    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: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Kiuchi, Noriko Sato, Hiroshi Nakai, Takashi Sasaki, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20220153017
    Abstract: Although a conventional method of inspecting an ink discharge state in which the temperature change of the heater is detected enables accurate and high-speed inspection, due to the situation in which the inspection was performed, appropriate post-processing depending on the situation cannot be executed based on a result of the inspection. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the ink discharge state in detail. A plurality of modes are provided in accordance with the purpose of performing an inspection of the ink discharge state, and a discharge inspection threshold is provided for each of these modes. By selectively executing or continuously executing these modes, it is possible to determine the ink discharge state in more detail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Yuhei Oikawa, Yutaka Kano, Kohei Sato, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11305566
    Abstract: 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: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11298937
    Abstract: A method for inspecting an ink discharge status based on a temperature change of an energy generating element includes calculating a difference value between a value obtained by statistics of information indicating ink discharge statuses obtained for a plurality of nozzles close to a target nozzle and the information obtained for the target nozzle; comparing the calculated difference value with a predetermined threshold; and judging the ink discharge status for the target nozzle based on a result of the comparison. This enables to appropriately detect a nozzle which is in a discharge failure status due to an ink droplet adhered to a discharge surface of a printhead or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuhei Oikawa, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Yutaka Kano, Kohei Sato, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20220024203
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to bring a print head into a liquid ejectable state while reducing waste ink. The present invention is a printing apparatus including: a tank in which liquid is stored; a print head that comprises an ejection port surface on which an ejection port is formed, the ejection port ejecting the liquid which is supplied from the tank; a cap mechanism that caps the ejection port surface of the print head; a timer that counts a time during which the ejection port surface is capped; and a circulation unit configured to circulate the liquid in a circulation path including the tank and the print head, and in a case where the timer counts a predetermined time, the circulation unit circulates the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20210402792
    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: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Yuhei Oikawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11198290
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to bring a print head into a liquid ejectable state while reducing waste ink. The present invention is a printing apparatus including: a tank in which liquid is stored; a print head that comprises an ejection port surface on which an ejection port is formed, the ejection port ejecting the liquid which is supplied from the tank; a cap mechanism that caps the ejection port surface of the print head; a timer that counts a time during which the ejection port surface is capped; and a circulation unit configured to circulate the liquid in a circulation path including the tank and the print head, and in a case where the timer counts a predetermined time, the circulation unit circulates the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11192357
    Abstract: Although a conventional method of inspecting an ink discharge state in which the temperature change of the heater is detected enables accurate and high-speed inspection, due to the situation in which the inspection was performed, appropriate post-processing depending on the situation cannot be executed based on a result of the inspection. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the ink discharge state in detail. A plurality of modes are provided in accordance with the purpose of performing an inspection of the ink discharge state, and a discharge inspection threshold is provided for each of these modes. By selectively executing or continuously executing these modes, it is possible to determine the ink discharge state in more detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuhei Oikawa, Yutaka Kano, Kohei Sato, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20210362502
    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: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nakagawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11141990
    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 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Yuhei Oikawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11117377
    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: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nakagawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20210276340
    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: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11059301
    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: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20210197555
    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: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20210129528
    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: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20210060927
    Abstract: A method for inspecting an ink discharge status based on a temperature change of an energy generating element comprises: calculating a difference value between a value obtained by statistics of pieces of information indicating ink discharge statuses obtained for a plurality of nozzles close to a target nozzle and the information obtained for the target nozzle; comparing the calculated difference value with a predetermined threshold; and judging the ink discharge status for the target nozzle based on a result of the comparison. This enables to appropriately detect a nozzle which is in a discharge failure status due to an ink droplet adhered to a discharge surface of a printhead or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Yuhei Oikawa, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Yutaka Kano, Kohei Sato, Takuya Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20210039400
    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: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakano, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Atsushi Takahashi, Takuya Fukasawa