Patents by Inventor Tomoya Murotani

Tomoya Murotani 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: 10322592
    Abstract: A printer includes a transport unit that transports continuous paper, a medium support unit in which a support surface that is capable of supporting continuous paper that is transported by a transport unit, and first concave sections, which are indented from the support surface, are formed, and an image capture unit, which is disposed on a lower side of the support surface, and which captures an image of a lower surface of the continuous paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Murotani, Mitsutaka Ide, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hideyuki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 10286692
    Abstract: A printer includes a transport unit that transports continuous paper, a medium support unit in which a support surface that is capable of supporting continuous paper that is transported by a transport unit, and first concave sections, which are indented from the support surface, are formed, and an image capture unit, which is disposed on a lower side of the support surface, and which captures an image of a lower surface of the continuous paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Murotani, Mitsutaka Ide, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hideyuki Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20180207963
    Abstract: A printer includes a transport unit that transports continuous paper, a medium support unit in which a support surface that is capable of supporting continuous paper that is transported by a transport unit, and first concave sections, which are indented from the support surface, are formed, and an image capture unit, which is disposed on a lower side of the support surface, and which captures an image of a lower surface of the continuous paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Tomoya MUROTANI, Mitsutaka IDE, Hiroyuki KOBAYASHI, Hideyuki KATAOKA
  • Patent number: 10029488
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transport drive roller that transports a medium, a roller support unit that supports the transport drive roller on one side in a first direction, a base member that supports the roller support unit on the one side in the first direction, and a first fulcrum portion via which the roller support unit and the base member are made to contact each other. The roller support unit is configured so as to pivot upon the first fulcrum portion about an axis oriented in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Murotani, Kenichi Miyazaki, Naotoshi Yanagidaira
  • Patent number: 9981489
    Abstract: A printer includes a transport unit that transports continuous paper (P), a medium support unit (20) in which a support surface (20a) that is capable of supporting continuous paper (P) that is transported by a transport unit, and first concave sections (24A and 24B), which are indented from the support surface (20a), are formed, and an image capture unit, which is disposed on a lower side of the support surface (20a), and which captures an image of a lower surface of the continuous paper (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Murotani, Mitsutaka Ide, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hideyuki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 9770897
    Abstract: A transportation apparatus includes a transportation section that transports continuous paper in a transportation direction intersecting with a shaft direction of a transportation roller. An imaging section includes plural photoreceptor elements and captures an image of the continuous paper transported by the transportation section. The photoreceptor elements are arranged in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction intersecting with the shaft direction, and the second direction intersecting with the first direction. A transportation amount acquisition section acquires a transportation amount of the continuous paper in the transportation direction on the basis of the image captured by the imaging section. The transportation amount acquisition section acquires the transportation amount of the continuous paper by correcting a movement amount of the continuous paper in the first direction with a correction value that changes in accordance with orientation of the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Abe, Tomoya Murotani, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20170151814
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transport drive roller that transports a medium, a roller support unit that supports the transport drive roller on one side in a first direction, a base member that supports the roller support unit on the one side in the first direction, and a first fulcrum portion via which the roller support unit and the base member are made to contact each other. The roller support unit is configured so as to pivot upon the first fulcrum portion about an axis oriented in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Tomoya Murotani, Kenichi Miyazaki, Naotoshi Yanagidaira
  • Publication number: 20170106675
    Abstract: A printer includes a transport unit that transports continuous paper (P), a medium support unit (20) in which a support surface (20a) that is capable of supporting continuous paper (P) that is transported by a transport unit, and first concave sections (24A and 24B), which are indented from the support surface (20a), are formed, and an image capture unit, which is disposed on a lower side of the support surface (20a), and which captures an image of a lower surface of the continuous paper (P).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoya MUROTANI, Mitsutaka IDE, Hiroyuki KOBAYASHI, Hideyuki KATAOKA
  • Patent number: 9616688
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a control unit that calculates a transport amount (an actual transport amount) during a transport period based on a captured image of a medium by an imaging unit and controls a transport unit. In addition, the control unit calculates the transport amount (the actual transport amount) during the transport period by calculating the transport amount at each calculation interval (a divided transport amount) and integrating the transport amount at each calculation interval (the divided transport amount). Then, the control unit causes the calculation interval to be longer in a case where the transporting speed of the medium is low than in a case where the transporting speed of the medium is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Murotani, Takahiro Abe, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20160355036
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a control unit that calculates a transport amount (an actual transport amount) during a transport period based on a captured image of a medium by an imaging unit and controls a transport unit. In addition, the control unit calculates the transport amount (the actual transport amount) during the transport period by calculating the transport amount at each calculation interval (a divided transport amount) and integrating the transport amount at each calculation interval (the divided transport amount). Then, the control unit causes the calculation interval to be longer in a case where the transporting speed of the medium is low than in a case where the transporting speed of the medium is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Tomoya MUROTANI, Takahiro ABE, Hiroyuki KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20160347087
    Abstract: A transportation apparatus comprises: a transportation section that transports continuous paper in a transportation direction intersecting with a shaft direction of a transportation roller by operating the transportation roller; an imaging section that includes plural photoreceptor elements and captures an image of the continuous paper transported by the transportation section, the photoreceptor elements being arranged in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction intersecting with the shaft direction, the second direction intersecting with the first direction; and a transportation amount acquisition section that acquires a transportation amount of the continuous paper in the transportation direction on the basis of the image captured by the imaging section, wherein the transportation amount acquisition section acquires the transportation amount of the continuous paper by correcting a movement amount of the continuous paper in the first direction with a correction value that changes in acco
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Takahiro ABE, Tomoya MUROTANI, Hiroyuki KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9302510
    Abstract: A medium loading device includes a support unit having shaft members mounted on both end portions of a roll paper and flange member and a loading portion where the roll paper with the support unit is loaded. The loading portion includes a rotary driving portion as a driving source to rotate the roll paper, a rotation shaft to transmit torque of the rotary driving portion to the roll paper via the shaft member, and an operation portion that moves the rotation shaft between a transmission position to transmit the torque to the roll paper and a non-transmission position not to transmit the torque to the roll paper. In an axial direction of the roll paper when the roll paper is loaded into the loading portion, the operation portion is disposed between the position where the shaft member is located when the roll paper is loaded and the rotary driving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Akatsu, Akira Mashima, Tomoya Murotani, Yoshitaka Shimada
  • Patent number: 9211733
    Abstract: A printer includes a transportation unit that transports a continuous form paper, an ejecting unit that ejects ink onto the continuous form paper, a continuous form paper supporting unit that includes a supporting surface capable of supporting the continuous form paper so as to be opposite to the ejecting unit, a light-transmitting glass that is mounted at a position in the medium supporting unit which faces the continuous form paper transported by the transportation unit, an imaging unit that captures an image of the continuous form paper which passes over a front surface of the light-transmitting glass, a control unit that controls a transportation amount of the continuous form paper based on the image captured by the imaging unit, and a suction fan that generates an airflow onto the front surface of the light-transmitting glass. An antistatic film is formed on the front surface of the light-transmitting glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsutaka Ide, Tomoya Murotani, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20150273886
    Abstract: A printer includes a transportation unit that transports a continuous form paper, an ejecting unit that ejects ink onto the continuous form paper, a continuous form paper supporting unit that includes a supporting surface capable of supporting the continuous form paper so as to be opposite to the ejecting unit, a light-transmitting glass that is mounted at a position in the medium supporting unit which faces the continuous form paper transported by the transportation unit, an imaging unit that captures an image of the continuous form paper which passes over a front surface of the light-transmitting glass, a control unit that controls a transportation amount of the continuous form paper based on the image captured by the imaging unit, and a suction fan that generates an airflow onto the front surface of the light-transmitting glass. An antistatic film is formed on the front surface of the light-transmitting glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Mitsutaka IDE, Tomoya MUROTANI, Hiroyuki KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9022551
    Abstract: A transportation device includes a transportation unit that transports a transportation target material, a supporting surface that supports the transported transportation target material, a first suction hole that opens in the supporting surface in order to suck the transportation target material which is supported by the supporting surface, a light transmission portion that is exposed in the supporting surface and through which light is permitted to pass, a detector that has a light irradiator capable of irradiating the transportation target material which is supported by the supporting surface with light through the light transmission portion and detects a transportation amount of the transportation target material based on reflected light of the light with which the light irradiator has irradiated the transportation target material, and a second suction hole that opens in the supporting surface at least one of the positions adjacent to the light transmission portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Abe, Mitsutaka Ide, Tomoya Murotani
  • Publication number: 20150103126
    Abstract: A medium loading device includes a support unit having shaft members mounted on both end portions of a roll paper and flange member and a loading portion where the roll paper with the support unit is loaded. The loading portion includes a rotary driving portion as a driving source to rotate the roll paper, a rotation shaft to transmit torque of the rotary driving portion to the roll paper via the shaft member, and an operation portion that moves the rotation shaft between a transmission position to transmit the torque to the roll paper and a non-transmission position not to transmit the torque to the roll paper. In an axial direction of the roll paper when the roll paper is loaded into the loading portion, the operation portion is disposed between the position where the shaft member is located when the roll paper is loaded and the rotary driving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Shoji Akatsu, Akira Mashima, Tomoya Murotani, Yoshitaka Shimada
  • Patent number: 8870366
    Abstract: A medium loading apparatus includes supporting units that are attached to both end portions of roll paper, a loading unit that is loaded with the roll paper to which the supporting units are attached, and a rotational force transfer unit that is arranged on the loading unit so as to be opposed to a shaft rotating member constituting the supporting unit in the axial line direction of the roll paper and transfers a rotational force of a motor to the shaft rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Akatsu, Akira Mashima, Tomoya Murotani, Yoshitaka Shimada
  • Patent number: 8845089
    Abstract: A medium loading device includes: a support unit having a shaft member that is attached to each of both end sections of roll paper and a flange member; a loading portion in which the roll paper with the support units attached thereto is loaded; a temporary placement portion on which the roll paper with the support units attached thereto is placed temporarily before being loaded into the loading portion; and a transfer path for transferring the roll paper with the support units attached thereto from the temporary placement portion to the loading portion. The flange member has in a region facing the transfer path a flat surface that is in contact with the transfer path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Akatsu, Akira Mashima, Tomoya Murotani, Yoshitaka Shimada
  • Publication number: 20140168294
    Abstract: A transport apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a transport target; an optical detection unit, including a light irradiation unit capable of irradiating the transport target with light and a light-receiving unit that receives light, that detects the transport target; and an output unit that compares a light receiving result from the light-receiving unit with a set value that has been set in advance and outputs a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro ABE, Mitsutaka IDE, Tomoya MUROTANI
  • Publication number: 20140132687
    Abstract: A transportation device includes a transportation unit that transports a transportation target material, a supporting surface that supports the transportation target material which is transported by the transportation unit, a first suction hole that opens in the supporting surface in order to suck the transportation target material which is supported by the supporting surface, a light transmission portion that is exposed in the supporting surface and through which light is permitted to pass, a detector that has a light irradiator capable of irradiating the transportation target material which is supported by the supporting surface with light through the light transmission portion and detects a transportation amount of the transportation target material based on reflected light of the light with which the light irradiator has irradiated the transportation target material, and a second suction hole that opens in the supporting surface at at least one of positions adjacent to the light transmission portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro ABE, Mitsutaka IDE, Tomoya MUROTANI