Patents by Inventor Tomoji Suzuki

Tomoji Suzuki 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: 20230191787
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting device includes a base portion, a liquid ejecting portion movably provided at the base portion, a medium supporting portion provided at the base portion and configured to support a printing medium in a printing region where the liquid ejecting portion performs printing, and a maintenance portion disposed in a region on the +X direction side of the printing region in the X-axis direction in the base portion. The maintenance portion includes a moisturizing portion that can form a closed space to which nozzle opens, a cleaning portion that can forcibly discharge liquid from the nozzle, and a wiper that can wipe a nozzle surface where the nozzle is provided. The moisturizing portion, the cleaning portion and the wiper are disposed side by side in the Y-axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroshi NOSE, Tomoji SUZUKI, Manabu YAMADA
  • Patent number: 10434784
    Abstract: There is provided with a cartridge comprising a liquid supply portion; a contact portion that is located on a +Z-axis direction side of the liquid supply portion and that is arranged to contact with an electrical connecting element; and a positioning structure that is located between the liquid supply portion and the contact portion in a Z-axis direction. The liquid supply portion is configured to receive a first external force in a ?Y-axis direction from the liquid introducing structure when the liquid supply portion is connected with the liquid introducing structure. The contact portion is configured to receive a second external force in a direction including a ?Y-axis direction component from the electrical connecting element when the contact portion comes into contact with the electrical connecting element. This configuration suppresses position misalignment of the cartridge or a connector to a mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hirata, Masahiro Karasawa, Hiroshi Nose, Takeshi Komaki, Naoki Natio, Yuji Aoki, Tomoji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10421286
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid, and a plurality of pumps each supplying the liquid toward the liquid ejecting unit by repeating a sucking state and a discharging state. When one of the pumps is in the discharging state and a storage amount of the liquid stored in the pump chamber of the one pump becomes equal to a threshold, another of the pumps is switched to the discharging state. A value obtained by adding an inflow of the liquid flowed into the pump chamber of the other pump to an ejection amount of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting unit is defined as a discharge amount of the liquid discharged from the pump chamber of the one pump during a period of the discharging state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10300705
    Abstract: Ink consumption accompanying purging bubbles from the buffer tank is suppressed. An inkjet printer has a buffer tank disposed to an ink path that supplies ink to a printhead. A first channel connects to the buffer tank at the bottom of the ink chamber, and a second channel connects to the top of the ink chamber. To print, the first valve and second valve are open, and ink is supplied from the first channel, into which bubbles do not easily flow. To purge bubbles, the first valve closes and the maintenance unit is driven in a cleaning operation, discharging bubbles with ink from the second channel. The second valve then closes, the maintenance unit is driven to create negative pressure downstream from the second valve, and the second valve then opens in a choke cleaning operation that discharges ink with entrained bubbles at once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20180244067
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid, and a plurality of pumps each supplying the liquid toward the liquid ejecting unit by repeating a sucking state and a discharging state. When one of the pumps is in the discharging state and a storage amount of the liquid stored in the pump chamber of the one pump becomes equal to a threshold, another of the pumps is switched to the discharging state. A value obtained by adding an inflow of the liquid flowed into the pump chamber of the other pump to an ejection amount of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting unit is defined as a discharge amount of the liquid discharged from the pump chamber of the one pump during a period of the discharging state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: Tomoji SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20180162138
    Abstract: Ink consumption accompanying purging bubbles from the buffer tank is suppressed. An inkjet printer has a buffer tank disposed to an ink path that supplies ink to a printhead. A first channel connects to the buffer tank at the bottom of the ink chamber, and a second channel connects to the top of the ink chamber. To print, the first valve and second valve are open, and ink is supplied from the first channel, into which bubbles do not easily flow. To purge bubbles, the first valve closes and the maintenance unit is driven in a cleaning operation, discharging bubbles with ink from the second channel. The second valve then closes, the maintenance unit is driven to create negative pressure downstream from the second valve, and the second valve then opens in a choke cleaning operation that discharges ink with entrained bubbles at once.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoji SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20180093481
    Abstract: There is provided with a cartridge comprising a liquid supply portion; a contact portion that is located on a +Z-axis direction side of the liquid supply portion and that is arranged to contact with an electrical connecting element; and a positioning structure that is located between the liquid supply portion and the contact portion in a Z-axis direction. The liquid supply portion is configured to receive a first external force in a ?Y-axis direction from the liquid introducing structure when the liquid supply portion is connected with the liquid introducing structure. The contact portion is configured to receive a second external force in a direction including a ?Y-axis direction component from the electrical connecting element when the contact portion comes into contact with the electrical connecting element. This configuration suppresses position misalignment of the cartridge or a connector to a mounting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Seiko Espon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki HIRATA, Masahiro KARASAWA, Hiroshi NOSE, Takeshi KOMAKI, Naoki NAITO, Yuji AOKI, Tomoji SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 9352575
    Abstract: A drop in the throughput of continuous printing operations caused by refilling a subtank with ink is suppressed. The control unit of an inkjet printer 1 fills subtanks 11a-11d with ink whenever ink consumption exceeds a reference volume q during continuous printing. Ink is suctioned by producing negative pressure in subtanks 11a-11d during the ink refill operation while ink continues being supplied to the inkjet head 7 from pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d disposed between subtanks 11a-11d and inkjet head 7. Ink ejection from the inkjet head 7 can therefore continue even during the ink ref ill operation. By setting the volume of the pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d greater than at least the amount of ink that is ejected during the ink refill operation, there is no need to interrupt printing in order to replenish the ink supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9221263
    Abstract: An inkjet printer has a cap that covers the ink nozzle surface in which ink nozzles are formed when the inkjet head is at a inkjet head standby position; an ink absorber that is held inside the cap and absorbs ink ejected from the ink nozzles into the cap; a water discharge head that seals the cap with a water nozzle surface in which water nozzles are formed when the inkjet head is at the printing position; and a suction pump for discharging water from the water discharge head when the water discharge head seals the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150266302
    Abstract: A drop in the throughput of continuous printing operations caused by refilling a subtank with ink is suppressed. The control unit of an inkjet printer 1 fills subtanks 11a-11d with ink whenever ink consumption exceeds a reference volume q during continuous printing. Ink is suctioned by producing negative pressure in subtanks 11a-11d during the ink refill operation while ink continues being supplied to the inkjet head 7 from pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d disposed between subtanks 11a-11d and inkjet head 7. Ink ejection from the inkjet head 7 can therefore continue even during the ink ref ill operation. By setting the volume of the pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d greater than at least the amount of ink that is ejected during the ink refill operation, there is no need to interrupt printing in order to replenish the ink supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150246545
    Abstract: An inkjet printer has a cap that covers the ink nozzle surface in which ink nozzles are formed when the inkjet head is at a inkjet head standby position; an ink absorber that is held inside the cap and absorbs ink ejected from the ink nozzles into the cap; a water discharge head that seals the cap with a water nozzle surface in which water nozzles are formed when the inkjet head is at the printing position; and a suction pump for discharging water from the water discharge head when the water discharge head seals the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventor: Tomoji SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 9056480
    Abstract: A drop in the throughput of continuous printing operations caused by refilling a subtank with ink is suppressed. The control unit of an inkjet printer 1 fills subtanks 11a-11d with ink whenever ink consumption exceeds a reference volume q during continuous printing. Ink is suctioned by producing negative pressure in subtanks 11a-11d during the ink refill operation while ink continues being supplied to the inkjet head 7 from pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d disposed between subtanks 11a-11d and inkjet head 7. Ink ejection from the inkjet head 7 can therefore continue even during the ink refill operation. By setting the volume of the pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d greater than at least the amount of ink that is ejected during the ink refill operation, there is no need to interrupt printing in order to replenish the ink supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140176648
    Abstract: A drop in the throughput of continuous printing operations caused by refilling a subtank with ink is suppressed. The control unit of an inkjet printer 1 fills subtanks 11a-11d with ink whenever ink consumption exceeds a reference volume q during continuous printing. Ink is suctioned by producing negative pressure in subtanks 11a-11d during the ink refill operation while ink continues being supplied to the inkjet head 7 from pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d disposed between subtanks 11a-11d and inkjet head 7. Ink ejection from the inkjet head 7 can therefore continue even during the ink refill operation. By setting the volume of the pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d greater than at least the amount of ink that is ejected during the ink refill operation, there is no need to interrupt printing in order to replenish the ink supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8702212
    Abstract: A drop in the throughput of continuous printing operations caused by refilling a subtank with ink is suppressed. The control unit of an inkjet printer 1 fills subtanks 11a-11d with ink whenever ink consumption exceeds a reference volume q during continuous printing. Ink is suctioned by producing negative pressure in subtanks 11a-11d during the ink refill operation while ink continues being supplied to the inkjet head 7 from pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d disposed between subtanks 11a-11d and inkjet head 7. Ink ejection from the inkjet head 7 can therefore continue even during the ink refill operation. By setting the volume of the pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d greater than at least the amount of ink that is ejected during the ink refill operation, there is no need to interrupt printing in order to replenish the ink supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130229468
    Abstract: A drop in the throughput of continuous printing operations caused by refilling a subtank with ink is suppressed. The control unit of an inkjet printer 1 fills subtanks 11a-11d with ink whenever ink consumption exceeds a reference volume q during continuous printing. Ink is suctioned by producing negative pressure in subtanks 11a-11d during the ink refill operation while ink continues being supplied to the inkjet head 7 from pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d disposed between subtanks 11a-11d and inkjet head 7. Ink ejection from the inkjet head 7 can therefore continue even during the ink refill operation. By setting the volume of the pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d greater than at least the amount of ink that is ejected during the ink refill operation, there is no need to interrupt printing in order to replenish the ink supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8465137
    Abstract: An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in the cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Fujikawa, Tomoji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8444258
    Abstract: A drop in the throughput of continuous printing operations caused by refilling a subtank with ink is suppressed. The control unit of an inkjet printer 1 fills subtanks 11a-11d with ink whenever ink consumption exceeds a reference volume q during continuous printing. Ink is suctioned by producing negative pressure in subtanks 11a-11d during the ink refill operation while ink continues being supplied to the inkjet head 7 from pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d disposed between subtanks 11a-11d and inkjet head 7. Ink ejection from the inkjet head 7 can therefore continue even during the ink refill operation. By setting the volume of the pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d greater than at least the amount of ink that is ejected during the ink refill operation, there is no need to interrupt printing in order to replenish the ink supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130038661
    Abstract: An inkjet printer 1 has a cap 31 that covers the ink nozzle surface 18 in which ink nozzles 17 are formed when the inkjet head 6 is at a inkjet head standby position 6B; an ink absorber 37 that is held inside the cap 31 and absorbs ink ejected from the ink nozzles 17 into the cap 31; a water discharge head 12 that seals the cap 31 with a water nozzle surface 22 in which water nozzles 20 are formed when the inkjet head 6 is at the printing position 6A; and a suction pump 38 for discharging water from the water discharge head 12 when the water discharge head 12 seals the cap 31.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120127244
    Abstract: A drop in the throughput of continuous printing operations caused by refilling a subtank with ink is suppressed. The control unit of an inkjet printer 1 fills subtanks 11a-11d with ink whenever ink consumption exceeds a reference volume q during continuous printing. Ink is suctioned by producing negative pressure in subtanks 11a-11d during the ink refill operation while ink continues being supplied to the inkjet head 7 from pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d disposed between subtanks 11a-11d and inkjet head 7. Ink ejection from the inkjet head 7 can therefore continue even during the ink refill operation. By setting the volume of the pressure adjustment chambers 13a-13d greater than at least the amount of ink that is ejected during the ink refill operation, there is no need to interrupt printing in order to replenish the ink supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120069107
    Abstract: An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in the cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi FUJIKAWA, Tomoji SUZUKI