Patents by Inventor Yasuhiko Kosugi
Yasuhiko Kosugi 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).
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Patent number: 10525499Abstract: The control unit, when a first condition in which a minimum value of a suppliable time that is a time it takes for an amount of liquid contained in each supply-side sub tank to reach an amount corresponding to a switching preparation time necessary for switching between the refill-side sub tank and the supply-side sub tank is less than or equal to a maximum value of a full refill refilling time that is a period from when refill processing for performing refilling of the liquid from the main tank is started in each of the plurality of refill-side sub tanks until a state is achieved in which the refill-side sub tank is fully re-filled with liquid and can supply the liquid is satisfied, the refill processing is performed on the plurality of refill-side sub tanks.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Yasuhiko Kosugi
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Patent number: 10464332Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a slot to and from which a memory unit storing permitted usage amount information can be attached and removed, and a processing unit that carries out a process for updating estimated ink amount information that is information for estimating an amount of the ink in an ink holding unit. When the memory unit is attached to the slot, the processing unit carries out a charging process that updates the estimated ink amount information using the permitted usage amount information in the memory unit, on the basis of a process for determining whether or not consumed ink amount expressed by the estimated ink amount information exceeds a prescribed threshold (WTH). The processing unit executes forced charging process that executes the charging process in the case where there is an instruction from an operator of the printing apparatus before the prescribed threshold WTH is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Yasuhiko Kosugi
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Publication number: 20190111697Abstract: Provided is a technique that can reduce at least one of various inconveniences in a sub-tank, such as stock management being complicated. The sub-tank includes: a consumable article containing portion; a sub-tank-side storage unit; and a case that can be detachably attached to multiple slots in a consumable article consumption apparatus and contains the consumable article containing portion. In a state before the sub-tank is first mounted in the slot, the sub-tank-side storage unit stores a sub-tank-side identifier configured to distinguish from another sub-tank, and in a state after the sub-tank is first mounted in the slot, the sub-tank-side storage unit further stores sub-tank-side consumable article information relating to an attribute of the consumable article replenished in a consumable article containing portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Shuichi KOGANEHIRA, Shigeki FUKUSHIMA, Yasuhiko KOSUGI, Takahiro IMAI, Katsutoshi OZAWA, Tsuyoshi HAYASHI, Noriyuki INUKAI
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Patent number: 10179461Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus capable of continuous printing. A printing apparatus (200) includes a slot (230) to and from which a memory unit (100) storing permitted usage amount information can be attached and removed, and a processing unit (210) that carries out a process for updating estimated ink amount information that is information for estimating an amount of the ink in an ink holding unit (220). In a state where the memory unit (100) is attached to the slot (230), the processing unit (210) carries out a charging process that updates the estimated ink amount information using the permitted usage amount information, on the basis of a process for determining whether or not consumed ink amount expressed by the estimated ink amount information exceeds a prescribed threshold (WTH). The processing unit (210) carries out a setting process for making the prescribed threshold (WTH) variable.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Yasuhiko Kosugi
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Patent number: 10105956Abstract: A printing apparatus 10 calculates an consumed ink amount which is a consumed amount of ink ejected from an ejection unit that ejects ink supplied from an ink cartridge 60, and, in the case where an unused ink cartridge 60 is installed, executes initial maintenance of the ejection unit, determines an initial consumed ink amount which is a consumed amount of liquid consumed by the initial maintenance, writes the consumed ink amount and the initial consumed ink amount to a storage device 70 of the ink cartridge 60 as a consumed ink amount 73 and an initial consumed ink amount 75, and generates and notifies a ratio of the difference between the contained ink amount 71 and the consumed ink amount that is updated relative to the difference between the contained ink amount 71 and the initial consumed ink amount 75 as notification-use information.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tomoo Kubota, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Shinya Yamagata
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Publication number: 20180214904Abstract: The control unit, when a first condition in which a minimum value of a suppliable time that is a time it takes for an amount of liquid contained in each supply-side sub tank to reach an amount corresponding to a switching preparation time necessary for switching between the refill-side sub tank and the supply-side sub tank is less than or equal to a maximum value of a full refill refilling time that is a period from when refill processing for performing refilling of the liquid from the main tank is started in each of the plurality of refill-side sub tanks until a state is achieved in which the refill-side sub tank is fully re-filled with liquid and can supply the liquid is satisfied, the refill processing is performed on the plurality of refill-side sub tanks.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2018Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Shuichi KOGANEHIRA, Tsuyoshi HAYASHI, Yasuhiko KOSUGI
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Publication number: 20180086092Abstract: A printer 100 has a recording head 22, a relay container 30 from which ink is supplied to the recording head 22, and to which the ink is supplied from a terminal container 60, a pressurizing pump 34 and a depressurizing pump 35 for supplying the ink from the terminal container 60 to the relay container 30, and a control unit 10. The control unit 10 calculates an estimated consumption amount of the relay container 30 based on the amount of the ink supplied from the relay container 30 to the recording head 22, and consumed and the amount of the ink supplied from the terminal container 60 to the relay container 30, and calculates the amount of the ink supplied from the terminal container 60 to the relay container 30 using the minimum value of tolerance of a supply amount of the depressurizing pump 35.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Shuichi KOGANEHIRA, Yasuhiko KOSUGI, Tsuyoshi HAYASHI, Toshihiro SHINBARA, Kaoru KOIKE, Ryoji FUJIMORI
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Patent number: 9900452Abstract: There is provided a control unit for use in a liquid ejecting apparatus using a tank containing a liquid and a storage material attachable to and detachable from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and storing an amount of the liquid in the tank. After the storage material is not mounted on a predetermined place, the control unit receives an answer for a question to ask whether or not the liquid is injected to the tank.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2017Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Tomohiko Sano, Kenji Matsumoto, Kenta Masuzawa
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Patent number: 9876921Abstract: An object is to improve a user's convenience. There is provided a control unit for use in a liquid ejecting apparatus using a tank containing a liquid and a storage material attachable to and detachable from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and storing an amount of the liquid in the tank. After the storage material is not mounted on a predetermined place, the control unit receives an answer for a question to ask whether or not the liquid is injected to the tank.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Tomohiko Sano, Kenji Matsumoto, Kenta Masuzawa
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Publication number: 20170190186Abstract: A printing apparatus 10 calculates an consumed ink amount which is a consumed amount of ink ejected from an ejection unit that ejects ink supplied from an ink cartridge 60, and, in the case where an unused ink cartridge 60 is installed, executes initial maintenance of the ejection unit, determines an initial consumed ink amount which is a consumed amount of liquid consumed by the initial maintenance, writes the consumed ink amount and the initial consumed ink amount to a storage device 70 of the ink cartridge 60 as a consumed ink amount 73 and an initial consumed ink amount 75, and generates and notifies a ratio of the difference between the contained ink amount 71 and the consumed ink amount that is updated relative to the difference between the contained ink amount 71 and the initial consumed ink amount 75 as notification-use information.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Tomoo KUBOTA, Yasuhiko KOSUGI, Shinya YAMAGATA
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Publication number: 20170187900Abstract: An object is to improve a user's convenience. There is provided a control unit for use in a liquid ejecting apparatus using a tank containing a liquid and a storage material attachable to and detachable from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and storing an amount of the liquid in the tank. After the storage material is not mounted on a predetermined place, the control unit receives an answer for a question to ask whether or not the liquid is injected to the tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: Shuichi KOGANEHIRA, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Tomohiko Sano, Kenji Matsumoto, Kenta Masuzawa
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Publication number: 20170157943Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a slot to and from which a memory unit storing permitted usage amount information can be attached and removed, and a processing unit that carries out a process for updating estimated ink amount information that is information for estimating an amount of the ink in an ink holding unit. When the memory unit is attached to the slot, the processing unit carrys out a charging process that updates the estimated ink amount information using the permitted usage amount information in the memory unit, on the basis of a process for determining whether or not consumed ink amount expressed by the estimated ink amount information exceeds a prescribed threshold (WTH). The processing unit executes forced charging process that executes the charging process in the case where there is an instruction from an operator of the printing apparatus before the prescribed threshold WTH is exceeded.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2016Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Shuichi KOGANEHIRA, Yasuhiko KOSUGI
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Publication number: 20170157944Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus capable of continuous printing. A printing apparatus (200) includes a slot (230) to and from which a memory unit (100) storing permitted usage amount information can be attached and removed, and a processing unit (210) that carries out a process for updating estimated ink amount information that is information for estimating an amount of the ink in an ink holding unit (220). In a state where the memory unit (100) is attached to the slot (230), the processing unit (210) carries out a charging process that updates the estimated ink amount information using the permitted usage amount information, on the basis of a process for determining whether or not consumed ink amount expressed by the estimated ink amount information exceeds a prescribed threshold (WTH). The processing unit (210) carries out a setting process for making the prescribed threshold (WTH) variable.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2016Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Shuichi KOGANEHIRA, Yasuhiko KOSUGI
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Publication number: 20170157942Abstract: A printing apparatus (200) includes a slot (230) to and from which a memory unit (100) storing permitted usage amount information can be attached and removed, and a processing unit (210) that carries out a process for updating estimated ink amount information. The processing unit (210) carries out a charging process using a first memory unit (100-1), and in the case where a second memory unit (100-2) has been attached to the slot (230) after the charging process, the processing unit (210) does not carry out a charging process using the second memory unit (100-2) until a consumed ink amount expressed by the estimated ink amount information exceeds a prescribed threshold (WTH). The processing unit (210) carries out the charging process using the second memory unit (100-2) in the case where the consumed ink amount has exceeded the prescribed threshold (WTH).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2016Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Shuichi KOGANEHIRA, Yasuhiko KOSUGI
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Patent number: 9579901Abstract: An object is to improve a user's convenience. There is provided a control unit for use in a liquid ejecting apparatus using a tank containing a liquid and a storage material attachable to and detachable from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and storing an amount of the liquid in the tank. After the storage material is not mounted on a predetermined place, the control unit receives an answer for a question to ask whether or not the liquid is injected to the tank.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Tomohiko Sano, Kenji Matsumoto, Kenta Masuzawa
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Patent number: 9409408Abstract: An object is to improve a user's convenience. There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including a head ejecting a liquid onto a medium; a containing unit containing the liquid; and a mounting unit on which a storage material storing a liquid amount of the containing unit is mounted. If the storage material is removed from the mounting unit when the liquid ejecting apparatus performs an operation, the liquid ejecting apparatus selects any one state between a first state of stopping the operation and a second state without stopping the operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Takeshi Iwamuro, Tomohiko Sano, Kenji Matsumoto, Ryohei Ito
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Publication number: 20150298461Abstract: An object is to improve a user's convenience. There is provided a control unit for use in a liquid ejecting apparatus using a tank containing a liquid and a storage material attachable to and detachable from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and storing an amount of the liquid in the tank. After the storage material is not mounted on a predetermined place, the control unit receives an answer for a question to ask whether or not the liquid is injected to the tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2013Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: Shuichi KOGANEHIRA, Yasuhiko KOSUGI, Tomohiko SANO, Kenji MATSUMOTO, Kenta MASUZAWA
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Publication number: 20150224783Abstract: An object is to improve a user's convenience. There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including a head ejecting a liquid onto a medium; a containing unit containing the liquid; and a mounting unit on which a storage material storing a liquid amount of the containing unit is mounted. If the storage material is removed from the mounting unit when the liquid ejecting apparatus performs an operation, the liquid ejecting apparatus selects any one state between a first state of stopping the operation and a second state without stopping the operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2013Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Takeshi Iwamura, Tomohiko Sano, Kenji Matsumoto, Ryohei Ito
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Patent number: 9090079Abstract: A printing apparatus includes first to n-th (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) ink tanks in which ink accommodated in an ink pack is filled, first to n-th slots that correspond to the ink tanks, first to n-th memory units that are packaged together with the ink pack and are respectively installed in the slots, and a processing unit. The processing unit outputs a read-out command in which communication ID information is set, to the storage device included in the memory unit that is installed in the selected slot, determines whether ink color information that is read out and an ink color corresponding to the slot are consistent with each other, and determines that the memory unit is erroneously installed when the read-out ink color information and the ink color corresponding to the slot are inconsistent with each other.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yasuhiko Kosugi
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Patent number: 9061508Abstract: A circuit board of an ink cartridge is provided with a plurality of terminals, with the contact portions of the plurality of terminals forming a plurality of lines. The contact portions of two terminals used for detecting installation are positioned in a first line, and the contact portion of a power terminal is positioned between the two terminals. The first line may be positioned to a leading side when the ink cartridge is moved in a prescribed direction to effect installation in a printer. Alternatively, the first line may be the line closest to an opening of an ink delivery port. Alternatively, the first line may be the line closest to an ink delivery needle.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Taku Ishizawa, Satoshi Shinada, Izumi Nozawa, Yuji Aoki, Hiroyuki Kawate, Takakazu Fukano, Noboru Asauchi, Yasuhiko Kosugi