Patents by Inventor Tomohiro YODA

Tomohiro YODA 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: 20240131844
    Abstract: A printing device includes a head unit that includes a nozzle and that ejects liquid from the nozzle toward a medium; a heating section that heats the medium to which the liquid was applied; and a head unit moving section configured to move the head unit, wherein the head unit includes a gas guiding section that guides air flow generated by the movement of the head unit toward the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Tomohiro YODA, Hiroyuki NAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 11919293
    Abstract: A recording device includes: a recording unit configured to perform recording by liquid to a recording medium; a support unit configured to support the recording medium subjected to printing and transported in a transport direction; a drying mechanism including a heated air blower including a heat source and a blowing unit; a number of rotations detecting unit configured to detect a number of rotations of the blowing unit; and a control unit configured to control the drying mechanism. The support unit and the heated air blower are disposed sandwiching a transport path of the recording medium at a position downstream of the recording unit in the transport direction. The control unit controls the number of rotations of the blowing unit based on an output of the number of rotations detecting unit in a state in which a constant power is applied to the heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yoda
  • Patent number: 11919296
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head including a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge liquid to a medium, an abnormal nozzle detection unit configured to detect an abnormal nozzle having a discharging defect among the plurality of nozzles, a contact detection unit configured to detect contact between the head and the medium, a suction unit configured to perform an ejection operation of ejecting the liquid from the plurality of nozzles, and a control unit. The control unit executes a suction operation when the abnormal nozzle is detected and the contact between the head and the medium is detected, and the control unit executes a printing of complementing the abnormal nozzle when the abnormal nozzle is detected and the contact between the head and the medium is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Yamazaki, Tomohiro Yoda
  • Publication number: 20240059092
    Abstract: A drying method includes a heat step of heating the medium, a transport step of transporting the medium in the transport direction, and an air blowing step of blowing air to the medium while heating the transported medium, and the temperature is adjusted in each of the heating step and the air blowing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Yuki AOKI, Tomohiro YODA
  • Patent number: 11840063
    Abstract: A recording system includes a recording device including a recording unit configured to perform recording, and a drying device including a drying mechanism. The recording device includes a support surface configured to support the recording medium and provided downstream of the recording unit in the conveyance direction, the device is configured to be mounted on the recording device at a position where the support surface and the drying mechanism face each other, one of the recording device and the drying device includes a setting member configured to set a spacing between the support surface and the drying mechanism to a predetermined spacing when the drying device is mounted on the recording device, the drying mechanism functions when the spacing is set to the predetermined spacing by the setting member, and a function of the drying mechanism stops when the setting by the setting member is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yoda
  • Publication number: 20230271429
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a feeding unit, a conveyance roller, a printing unit, a guide unit, a winding unit, and a control unit. The guide unit includes a heater (first heater) that heats a surface that comes into contact with a printing medium (medium), and applies a tensile force while heating the medium after printing by the first heater. The control unit controls a winding force of the winding unit to adjust the tensile force applied to the printing medium by the guide unit. The control unit performs the control to change the winding force of the winding unit and the heating temperature of the first heater in accordance with the type of the medium, the printing condition during the printing, or the environmental condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventor: Tomohiro YODA
  • Publication number: 20230234382
    Abstract: A recording device includes a holding part that holds a roll body of a recording medium, a rotation mechanism that rotates the roll body, a pair of transport rollers that transport the recording medium by nipping and rotating the recording medium, a recording part that performs recording on the transported recording medium, a first detection part that detects a leading end of the recording medium, and a notification part that notifies information, wherein whether or not the leading end is detected by the first detection part is monitored in a first monitoring operation in a state in which nipping by the pair of transport rollers is released, and when the leading end has been detected by the first detection part, a first notification operation of causing the notification part to notify that the leading end has been detected by the first detection part is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Tomohiro YODA, Shinya YAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 11628668
    Abstract: A droplet discharging device includes a head including a nozzle configured to discharge a droplet onto a medium, a heater configured to heat, the medium onto which the droplet is discharged from the head, at a position opposing to the head, an air blowing fan configured to blow outside air from an outside toward an inside of a housing that accommodates the head and the heater, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the outside air blown by the air blowing fan, and a control unit, and when the temperature of the outside air detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a preset temperature, the control unit changes a set temperature of the heater to a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yoda
  • Patent number: 11602938
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a medium in a transport direction, a printing unit configured to perform printing on the medium transported by the transport unit and supported by a platen, a downstream guiding unit as a medium guiding unit having a guide surface for guiding the medium downstream in the transport direction from the platen, a heating unit disposed at a position facing the guide surface, and configured to heat the medium, and a spacer provided above the guide surface, and configured to separate the medium from the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Aoki, Tomohiro Yoda, Yasuo Naramatsu, Shuichiro Nakano
  • Publication number: 20220410593
    Abstract: A recording system includes a recording device including a recording unit configured to perform recording, and a drying device including a drying mechanism. The recording device includes a support surface configured to support the recording medium and provided downstream of the recording unit in the conveyance direction, the device is configured to be mounted on the recording device at a position where the support surface and the drying mechanism face each other, one of the recording device and the drying device includes a setting member configured to set a spacing between the support surface and the drying mechanism to a predetermined spacing when the drying device is mounted on the recording device, the drying mechanism functions when the spacing is set to the predetermined spacing by the setting member, and a function of the drying mechanism stops when the setting by the setting member is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventor: Tomohiro YODA
  • Publication number: 20220410598
    Abstract: A recording device includes: a recording unit configured to perform recording by liquid to a recording medium; a support unit configured to support the recording medium subjected to printing and transported in a transport direction; a drying mechanism including a heated air blower including a heat source and a blowing unit; a number of rotations detecting unit configured to detect a number of rotations of the blowing unit; and a control unit configured to control the drying mechanism. The support unit and the heated air blower are disposed sandwiching a transport path of the recording medium at a position downstream of the recording unit in the transport direction. The control unit controls the number of rotations of the blowing unit based on an output of the number of rotations detecting unit in a state in which a constant power is applied to the heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventor: Tomohiro YODA
  • Patent number: 11472178
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit capable of ejecting ink, which is a liquid, onto a medium and capable of reciprocating in a width direction (X-axis direction) of the medium, a medium support unit that supports the medium on a support face, a medium width detection unit that detects a width of the medium supported on the support face, a plurality of heating units that are provided along the width direction of the medium and heat the medium support unit, and a control unit capable of individually controlling the plurality of heating units. The control unit controls an output of each of the heating units in accordance with the width of the medium detected by the medium width detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yoda
  • Publication number: 20220203715
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a medium in a transport direction, a printing unit configured to perform printing on the medium transported by the transport unit and supported by a platen, a downstream guiding unit as a medium guiding unit having a guide surface for guiding the medium downstream in the transport direction from the platen, a heating unit disposed at a position facing the guide surface, and configured to heat the medium, and a spacer provided above the guide surface, and configured to separate the medium from the guide surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Yuki AOKI, Tomohiro YODA, Yasuo NARAMATSU, Shuichiro NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20220161551
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head including a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge liquid to a medium, an abnormal nozzle detection unit configured to detect an abnormal nozzle having a discharging defect among the plurality of nozzles, a contact detection unit configured to detect contact between the head and the medium, a suction unit configured to perform an ejection operation of ejecting the liquid from the plurality of nozzles, and a control unit. The control unit executes a suction operation when the abnormal nozzle is detected and the contact between the head and the medium is detected, and the control unit executes a printing of complementing the abnormal nozzle when the abnormal nozzle is detected and the contact between the head and the medium is not detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Shinya YAMAZAKI, Tomohiro YODA
  • Publication number: 20220118762
    Abstract: A droplet discharging device includes a head including a nozzle configured to discharge a droplet onto a medium, a heater configured to heat, the medium onto which the droplet is discharged from the head, at a position opposing to the head, an air blowing fan configured to blow outside air from an outside toward an inside of a housing that accommodates the head and the heater, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the outside air blown by the air blowing fan, and a control unit, and when the temperature of the outside air detected by the temperature sensor is lower than a preset temperature, the control unit changes a set temperature of the heater to a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventor: Tomohiro YODA
  • Patent number: 11260677
    Abstract: A heating device includes a support member including a support face, a first heating unit heating the support face, a second heating unit heating the support face, and a control unit independently controlling an output of the first heating unit and an output of the second heating unit. A second heated region is positioned adjacent to a first heated region. The first heating unit and the second heating unit are arranged, in order, from a center, in the width direction, of the support face toward an end thereof. A second detection unit detecting a temperature of the support face is provided in the second heated region, at a location further to an opposite side from the first heating unit than a center, in the width direction, of the second heated region. The control unit controls an output of the second heating unit based on detection of the second detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yoda
  • Patent number: 11241892
    Abstract: A medium processing apparatus includes a third support surface configured to support a medium downstream from a recording unit in a transport direction, the transport direction being a direction in which the medium to be printed by the recording unit putting a liquid on the medium is transported, a heating unit facing the third support surface and including a heating element configured to heat the medium supported by the third support surface, a first outlet opening toward the support surface, and a blower configured to blow out gas from the first outlet, wherein the first outlet is located closer to the recording unit than the heating unit is located, and is configured such that the gas blown out from the first outlet is directed along the third support surface and is directed away from the recording unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akina Tsuji, Tomohiro Yoda
  • Publication number: 20210362516
    Abstract: A heating device includes a heating unit configured to heat a medium in a non-contact manner, a reflector configured to reflect heat rays of the heating unit toward the medium, a flow path member including a gas flow path disposed between a suction port and an outlet, an air blowing unit configured to generate an air flow so that gas is sucked from the suction port and is blown out from the outlet, a first cutting unit configured to stop a current to the heating unit when a temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, and a second cutting unit configured to stop the current to the heating unit when a temperature reaches a predetermined temperature. The first cutting unit is disposed in the gas flow path, located in the vertically upward direction with respect to the heating unit. The second cutting unit is in contact with the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Tomohiro YODA, Yasuo NARAMATSU
  • Patent number: 11173728
    Abstract: A blowing device includes a housing including a blowing path, a fan, a first flow path member being fixed downstream of the fan, and including a first and a second air outlet that are arranged in a width direction, and a second flow path member being fixed downstream of the fan, and including a third and a fourth air outlet that are arranged in the width direction. The first and the second flow path member are fixed in a state of being arranged in the width direction, a fifth air outlet is formed between the first and the second flow path member that are fixed, and a part of an opening edge of the fifth air outlet is the first flow path member, and a part of the opening edge of the fifth air outlet is the second flow path member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yoda
  • Patent number: 11155104
    Abstract: A medium heating device is provided, which is configured to heat a medium that is conveyed in a state where liquid is ejected onto the medium, and which includes: a support unit configured to support the medium that is conveyed in a state where the liquid is ejected onto the medium; a first heater configured to heat a first surface, of the medium, onto which the liquid ejected; and a second heater configured to heat a second surface of the medium opposite from the first surface. A region heated by the second heater includes a region downstream from a region facing the first heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yoda