Patents by Inventor Toshihiro Imae

Toshihiro Imae 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: 11878531
    Abstract: A wiping device includes a wiper unit, a carriage, and a fixing member. The wiper unit includes a wiper that wipes a liquid discharge surface of a liquid discharge head from which liquid is to be discharged. The carriage moves along the liquid discharge surface in a first direction and a second direction, both of which are opposite to each other. The fixing member fixes the wiper unit to the carriage. When the carriage is disposed on a side in the first direction with respect to a middle point in a moving range of the carriage, the fixing member is removable in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Shimomura, Seiya Sato, Toshihiro Imae
  • Publication number: 20230331003
    Abstract: A recording device has: a recording head configured to perform recording on a medium; a medium storage below the recording head configured to store the medium to be recoded; a supply path comprising a first curved supply path curved so as to be convex upward and transporting the medium fed out of the medium storage in a reversed direction via the first curved supply path; and a reversing path comprising a second curved path curved so as to be convex downward and transporting the recorded medium into a direction including a vertically upward component via second curved path from a direction including a vertically downward component; wherein the supply path joins the reversing path, and the first curved path and the second curved path overlap when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Yuji MISAWA, Toshihiro IMAE
  • Patent number: 11780245
    Abstract: A recording device has: a recording head configured to perform recording on a medium; a medium storage below the recording head configured to store the medium to be recoded; a supply path comprising a first curved supply path curved so as to be convex upward and transporting the medium fed out of the medium storage in a reversed direction via the first curved supply path; and a reversing path comprising a second curved path curved so as to be convex downward and transporting the recorded medium into a direction including a vertically upward component via second curved path from a direction including a vertically downward component; wherein the supply path joins the reversing path, and the first curved path and the second curved path overlap when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Misawa, Toshihiro Imae
  • Patent number: 11707936
    Abstract: A recording device has: a recording head configured to perform recording on a medium; a medium storage below the recording head configured to store the medium to be recoded; a supply path comprising a first curved supply path curved so as to be convex upward and transporting the medium fed out of the medium storage in a reversed direction via the first curved supply path; and a reversing path comprising a second curved path curved so as to be convex downward and transporting the recorded medium into a direction including a vertically upward component via second curved path from a direction including a vertically downward component; wherein the supply path joins the reversing path, and the first curved path and the second curved path overlap when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Misawa, Toshihiro Imae
  • Publication number: 20230182491
    Abstract: A recording device has: at least one medium storage section that stores a medium on which to perform recording; a recording section positioned vertically above the medium storage section, the recording section performing recording on the medium; and a reversing path by which the medium that passed through a position at which the medium faces the recording section is reversed in a direction including a vertically upward component by being transported in a transport direction including a vertically downward component and being made to pass through a curved reversing path curved so as to be convex downward. When only one medium storage section is provided, an overlap is found between at least part of the one medium storage section and at least part of the curved reversing path when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Yuji MISAWA, Toshihiro IMAE
  • Patent number: 11597218
    Abstract: A recording device has: at least one medium storage section that stores a medium on which to perform recording; a recording section positioned vertically above the medium storage section, the recording section performing recording on the medium; and a reversing path by which the medium that passed through a position at which the medium faces the recording section is reversed in a direction including a vertically upward component by being transported in a transport direction including a vertically downward component and being made to pass through a curved reversing path curved so as to be convex downward. When only one medium storage section is provided, an overlap is found between at least part of the one medium storage section and at least part of the curved reversing path when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Misawa, Toshihiro Imae
  • Publication number: 20220363075
    Abstract: A recording device has: a recording head configured to perform recording on a medium; a medium storage below the recording head configured to store the medium to be recoded; a supply path comprising a first curved supply path curved so as to be convex upward and transporting the medium fed out of the medium storage in a reversed direction via the first curved supply path; and a reversing path comprising a second curved path curved so as to be convex downward and transporting the recorded medium into a direction including a vertically upward component via second curved path from a direction including a vertically downward component; wherein the supply path joins the reversing path, and the first curved path and the second curved path overlap when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Yuji MISAWA, Toshihiro IMAE
  • Patent number: 11413887
    Abstract: A recording device has: a recording head configured to perform recording on a medium; a medium storage below the recording head configured to store the medium to be recoded; a supply path comprising a first curved supply path curved so as to be convex upward and transporting the medium fed out of the medium storage in a reversed direction via the first curved supply path; and a reversing path comprising a second curved path curved so as to be convex downward and transporting the recorded medium into a direction including a vertically upward component via second curved path from a direction including a vertically downward component; wherein the supply path joins the reversing path, and the first curved path and the second curved path overlap when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Misawa, Toshihiro Imae
  • Patent number: 11370232
    Abstract: The medium detection unit is a component constituting an optical path of the detection light, and includes a first optical element disposed on an upper side of the medium transport path and a second optical element disposed on a lower side of the medium transport path so as to face the first optical element, the second optical element has a facing surface that faces the first optical element, the facing surface being located at a position that is not in contact with a medium nipped by both the first roller pair and the second roller pair, and a medium feeding direction by the first roller pair is a direction by which a leading edge of a medium fed out abuts a position upstream in the medium transport direction relative to a position where the detection light is received on the facing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Junko Ao, Koji Oda, Toshihiro Imae, Soichiro Kii
  • Publication number: 20220169043
    Abstract: A recording device has: a recording head configured to perform recording on a medium; a medium storage below the recording head configured to store the medium to be recoded; a supply path comprising a first curved supply path curved so as to be convex upward and transporting the medium fed out of the medium storage in a reversed direction via the first curved supply path; and a reversing path comprising a second curved path curved so as to be convex downward and transporting the recorded medium into a direction including a vertically upward component via second curved path from a direction including a vertically downward component; wherein the supply path joins the reversing path, and the first curved path and the second curved path overlap when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Yuji MISAWA, Toshihiro IMAE
  • Publication number: 20220111642
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head that includes a nozzle surface on which a nozzle is open and that ejects a liquid through the nozzle; a housing that accommodates the liquid ejecting head; a moving mechanism that moves the liquid ejecting head relative to the housing in a moving direction intersecting the nozzle surface; and a duct in which a fluid flows, in which the duct includes a first coupling section coupled to the housing and a second coupling section coupled to the liquid ejecting head and is configured to expand and contract in the moving direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Tetsuji YATSUNAMI, Yuji MISAWA, Toshihiro IMAE
  • Publication number: 20220097381
    Abstract: A wiping device includes a wiper unit, a carriage, and a fixing member. The wiper unit includes a wiper that wipes a liquid discharge surface of a liquid discharge head from which liquid is to be discharged. The carriage moves along the liquid discharge surface in a first direction and a second direction, both of which are opposite to each other. The fixing member fixes the wiper unit to the carriage. When the carriage is disposed on a side in the first direction with respect to a middle point in a moving range of the carriage, the fixing member is removable in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Masaki SHIMOMURA, Seiya SATO, Toshihiro IMAE
  • Publication number: 20210237481
    Abstract: A recording device has: a recording head configured to perform recording on a medium; a medium storage below the recording head configured to store the medium to be recoded; a supply path comprising a first curved supply path curved so as to be convex upward and transporting the medium fed out of the medium storage in a reversed direction via the first curved supply path; and a reversing path comprising a second curved path curved so as to be convex downward and transporting the recorded medium into a direction including a vertically upward component via second curved path from a direction including a vertically downward component; wherein the supply path joins the reversing path, and the first curved path and the second curved path overlap when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji MISAWA, Toshihiro IMAE
  • Publication number: 20210237482
    Abstract: A recording device has: at least one medium storage section that stores a medium on which to perform recording; a recording section positioned vertically above the medium storage section, the recording section performing recording on the medium; and a reversing path by which the medium that passed through a position at which the medium faces the recording section is reversed in a direction including a vertically upward component by being transported in a transport direction including a vertically downward component and being made to pass through a curved reversing path curved so as to be convex downward. When only one medium storage section is provided, an overlap is found between at least part of the one medium storage section and at least part of the curved reversing path when viewed horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Yuji MISAWA, Toshihiro IMAE
  • Patent number: 11072189
    Abstract: The medium discharging apparatus includes a medium receiving portion that includes a first portion and a second portion that is provided on the first portion and that is configured to be displaced between a retracted position and an advanced position, a moving member configured to move between a first position and a second position, in which the moving member pushes and moves the second portion towards the advanced position as the moving member moves from the first position towards the second position and in which the moving member is moved to the first position as the second portion is displaced to the retracted position, a pushing member that pushes the moving member towards the second position, and a restricting member configured to switch between a restricting state that restricts a movement of the moving member towards the second position, and a non-restricting state that releases the restricting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Miyamoto, Masaki Shimomura, Akira Nakazawa, Toshihiro Imae
  • Patent number: 11046546
    Abstract: A medium discharge device includes: a discharge unit that discharges a medium; a first medium receiving tray that receives the medium discharged by the discharge unit; and a second medium receiving tray that is provided above the first medium receiving tray in a vertical direction and receives the medium discharged by the discharge unit. The second medium receiving tray is capable of changing a position between an advance position for receiving a medium, which is discharged, by causing at least an upstream zone of the tray including an upstream side end portion in a medium discharge direction to advance to a passing route of the medium from the discharge unit toward the first medium receiving tray and a retraction position to which the upstream zone retracts from the passing route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Imae, Soichiro Kii, Takafumi Ogimura, Yasuhiro Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20200269610
    Abstract: The medium detection unit is a component constituting an optical path of the detection light, and includes a first optical element disposed on an upper side of the medium transport path and a second optical element disposed on a lower side of the medium transport path so as to face the first optical element, the second optical element has a facing surface that faces the first optical element, the facing surface being located at a position that is not in contact with a medium nipped by both the first roller pair and the second roller pair, and a medium feeding direction by the first roller pair is a direction by which a leading edge of a medium fed out abuts a position upstream in the medium transport direction relative to a position where the detection light is received on the facing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Junko AO, Koji ODA, Toshihiro IMAE, Soichiro KIl
  • Publication number: 20200139730
    Abstract: The medium discharging apparatus includes a medium receiving portion that includes a first portion and a second portion that is provided on the first portion and that is configured to be displaced between a retracted position and an advanced position, a moving member configured to move between a first position and a second position, in which the moving member pushes and moves the second portion towards the advanced position as the moving member moves from the first position towards the second position and in which the moving member is moved to the first position as the second portion is displaced to the retracted position, a pushing member that pushes the moving member towards the second position, and a restricting member configured to switch between a restricting state that restricts a movement of the moving member towards the second position, and a non-restricting state that releases the restricting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Yuji MIYAMOTO, Masaki SHIMOMURA, Akira NAKAZAWA, Toshihiro IMAE
  • Patent number: 10589551
    Abstract: A printer includes an apparatus body having a recording head for performing recording onto a sheet of paper. The printer also includes a unit body that is accommodated inside the apparatus body and has a path-forming surface formed at least on a portion of the periphery of the unit body. The path-forming surface forms a medium transport path. The unit body includes a plurality of openings that are in communication with a sound absorber disposed inside the unit body. The plurality of the openings are provided at least on a portion of the path-forming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Nakazawa, Toshihiro Imae
  • Publication number: 20190233245
    Abstract: A medium discharge device includes: a discharge unit that discharges a medium; a first medium receiving tray that receives the medium discharged by the discharge unit; and a second medium receiving tray that is provided above the first medium receiving tray in a vertical direction and receives the medium discharged by the discharge unit. The second medium receiving tray is capable of changing a position between an advance position for receiving a medium, which is discharged, by causing at least an upstream zone of the tray including an upstream side end portion in a medium discharge direction to advance to a passing route of the medium from the discharge unit toward the first medium receiving tray and a retraction position to which the upstream zone retracts from the passing route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Toshihiro IMAE, Soichiro KII, Takafumi OGIMURA, Yasuhiro MATSUO