Patents by Inventor Yoichiro NISHIMURA

Yoichiro NISHIMURA 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: 20260225839
    Abstract: A medium transport device includes a first roller pair, a second roller pair disposed downstream of the first roller pair, and an ultrasonic detection section disposed between the first roller pair and the second roller pair. The ultrasonic detection section includes a transmission sensor chip, a receiving sensor chip, a transmission board on which the transmission sensor chip is provided, and a receiving board on which the receiving sensor chip is provided. A first axis is inclined with respect to a surface of the medium passing between the transmission sensor chip and the receiving sensor chip and at least a part of the transmission sensor chip and at least a part of the receiving sensor chip are within a range of the second roller pair in a normal direction with respect to a surface of the medium at a nip position of the second roller pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2026
    Publication date: August 6, 2026
    Inventors: Noriyuki KOYANAGI, Shuichi KADOTA, Yoichiro NISHIMURA, Ryoichi SHUTO
  • Publication number: 20260214173
    Abstract: In a medium conveyance apparatus, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a third sensor are disposed at intervals in a width direction, the first sensor is disposed at a position downstream, in a conveyance direction, of a nip position of a first feeding roller and a first separation roller and a nip position of a second feeding roller and a second separation roller, between the first feeding roller and the second feeding roller in the width direction, and overlapping the first feeding roller and the second feeding roller in the width direction, the second sensor is disposed at one side of the first sensor in the width direction, and the third sensor is disposed at another side of the first sensor in the width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2026
    Publication date: July 23, 2026
    Inventor: Yoichiro NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20260214171
    Abstract: In a medium conveyance apparatus, a separation section includes a second torque limiter that couples first and second separation rollers in a width direction, a limit torque value of the second torque limiter is a second torque value smaller than a first torque value derived from a limit torque value of a first torque limiter, the second separation roller can co-rotate with a second feeding roller when torque larger in value than the second torque value is applied. The second torque value is larger than a torque difference between torques applied to the first and second separation roller when there is no difference in rotation speed, and is smaller than a torque difference between the torques applied to the first and second separation roller when there is a difference in rotation speed between the first feeding roller and the second feeding roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2026
    Publication date: July 23, 2026
    Inventor: Yoichiro NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 12654969
    Abstract: A medium transport device includes a first roller pair, a second roller pair disposed downstream of the first roller pair, and an ultrasonic detection section disposed between the first roller pair and the second roller pair. The ultrasonic detection section includes a transmission sensor chip, a receiving sensor chip, a transmission board on which the transmission sensor chip is provided, and a receiving board on which the receiving sensor chip is provided. A first axis is inclined with respect to a surface of the medium passing between the transmission sensor chip and the receiving sensor chip and at least a part of the transmission sensor chip and at least a part of the receiving sensor chip are within a range of the second roller pair in a normal direction with respect to a surface of the medium at a nip position of the second roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Koyanagi, Shuichi Kadota, Yoichiro Nishimura, Ryoichi Shuto
  • Patent number: 12570493
    Abstract: A medium discharge device includes a discharge drive roller configured to contact a first surface of a medium, a discharge driven roller that is configured to contact a second surface of the medium and nip the medium between itself and the discharge drive roller, a driven roller shaft, and a discharge assisting member configured to contact the second surface of the medium to be discharged, that has a larger diameter than the discharge driven roller, and that rotates integrally with the discharge driven roller. The discharge driven roller has a shaft hole through which the driven roller shaft passes, an inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole and an outer peripheral surface of the driven roller shaft slide with rotation of the discharge driven roller, and a quick-drying lubricant is used between the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole and the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichiro Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20250382148
    Abstract: A medium discharge device 3 includes a medium discharge section 30 that discharges a medium M in a discharge direction, a placement section 14 having a placement surface 40 on which the medium M discharged from the medium discharge section 30 is placed; and a medium stopper 45 that is provided at an end section of the placement section 14 in the discharge direction and that restricts movement of the discharged medium M in the discharge direction, wherein the medium stopper 45 rises upright with respect to the placement surface 40, has a first contact surface S1 configured to come into contact with a downstream end of the discharged medium M in the discharge direction, and has a second contact surface S2 that is located above the first contact surface S1 and that is configured to come into contact with a downstream end of the discharged medium M in the discharge direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2025
    Publication date: December 18, 2025
    Inventor: Yoichiro NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20250350694
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading apparatus in which at least part of a feeding roller that feeds out a document placed on a document support unit to a first transport roller is present within a region of the first transport roller in an apparatus depth direction and a position at which the feeding roller and a document are brought into contact with each other is present within the region of the first transport roller in the apparatus depth direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2025
    Publication date: November 13, 2025
    Inventors: Ryoichi SHUTO, Yoichiro NISHIMURA, Hiroki NAKASHIMA, Shinsuke KOGI, Tokujiro OKUNO, Noriyuki KOYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20250256934
    Abstract: A medium discharge unit includes a discharge roller pair configured to nip a medium between a first roller and a second roller and discharge the medium to a sheet ejection unit, a first pressing member including a medium pressing portion configured to move below a nipping position at which the discharge roller pair nips the medium and being configured to press the medium by the medium pressing portion, and a lifting member configured to lift up the medium pressing portion from a first position below the nipping position to a second position above the first position. The medium pressing portion is lifted by the lifting member while a downstream leading edge of the medium in a discharge direction passes through the nipping position, and moves from the first position to the second position. While an upstream trailing edge of the medium in the discharge direction passes through the nipping position, the medium pressing portion moves from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventor: Yoichiro NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20250051118
    Abstract: a medium transport device includes a first roller pair, a second roller pair disposed downstream of the first roller pair, and an ultrasonic detection section disposed between the first roller pair and the second roller pair. The ultrasonic detection section includes a transmission sensor chip, a receiving sensor chip, a transmission board on which the transmission sensor chip is provided, and a receiving board on which the receiving sensor chip is provided. A first axis is inclined with respect to a surface of the medium passing between the transmission sensor chip and the receiving sensor chip and at least a part of the transmission sensor chip and at least a part of the receiving sensor chip are within a range of the second roller pair in a normal direction with respect to a surface of the medium at a nip position of the second roller pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Noriyuki KOYANAGI, Shuichi KADOTA, Yoichiro NISHIMURA, Ryoichi SHUTO
  • Publication number: 20250047795
    Abstract: A medium-discharging device includes: a device main body including a medium-discharging section that discharges a medium; a medium-receiving tray that receives the medium discharged by the medium-discharging section; and a pressing member that is configured to be attached to and detached from to the device main body and presses the medium discharged by the medium-discharging section against the medium-receiving tray in a state in which the pressing member is attached to the device main body, in which the pressing member is configured to switch, in the state in which the pressing member is attached to the device main body, between a first state in which the pressing member comes into contact with the medium-receiving tray and a second state in which the pressing member retreats upward so as to be apart from the medium-receiving tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventor: Yoichiro NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20250033915
    Abstract: A medium discharge device includes a discharge drive roller configured to contact a first surface of a medium, a discharge driven roller that is configured to contact a second surface of the medium and nip the medium between itself and the discharge drive roller, a driven roller shaft, and a discharge assisting member configured to contact the second surface of the medium to be discharged, that has a larger diameter than the discharge driven roller, and that rotates integrally with the discharge driven roller. The discharge driven roller has a shaft hole through which the driven roller shaft passes, an inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole and an outer peripheral surface of the driven roller shaft slide with rotation of the discharge driven roller, and a quick-drying lubricant is used between the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole and the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventor: Yoichiro NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 12166933
    Abstract: A medium-discharging device includes: a device main body including a medium-discharging section that discharges a medium; a medium-receiving tray that receives the medium discharged by the medium-discharging section; and a pressing member that is configured to be attached to and detached from to the device main body and presses the medium discharged by the medium-discharging section against the medium-receiving tray in a state in which the pressing member is attached to the device main body, in which the pressing member is configured to switch, in the state in which the pressing member is attached to the device main body, between a first state in which the pressing member comes into contact with the medium-receiving tray and a second state in which the pressing member retreats upward so as to be apart from the medium-receiving tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 12103809
    Abstract: A scanner includes: a first transport roller pair that transports a material; a reader that reads the material; a second transport roller pair that transports the material; a transport motor; and a pressing section. The transport motor 50 rotates both the rollers of the first transport roller pair and both the rollers of the second transport roller pair. The pressing section can vary a first pressing force generated in the first transport roller pair and a second pressing force generated in the second transport roller pair. The pressing section varies the second pressing force in such a way that the second pressing force when the first transport roller pair transports the material but the second transport roller pair does not transport the material becomes lower than the second pressing force when neither the first transport roller pair nor the second transport roller pair transports the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichiro Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20240323287
    Abstract: An image reading device includes an opening/closing cover configured to open and close, a first roller that can convey a medium, a reading unit reads an image of the medium, and an elastic member that applies a force to the opening/closing cover in a direction of the closed state or the open state, where the opening/closing cover includes a guide portion that is longer than a length of the first roller in a width direction intersecting a conveying direction, in the closed state, the guide portion is displaceable to a first position of advancing to a conveyance path and a second position of retreating, and is applied with an elastic force so as to take the first position when the first medium is conveyed and take the second position when a second medium having higher rigidity than the first medium is conveyed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventor: Yoichiro NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 11902483
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first unit, a second unit, a motor, and a power transmission mechanism. The second unit is configured to be rotated in relation to the first unit and configured to be closed onto, and opened away from, the first unit by being rotated. The motor is provided in the first unit. The power transmission mechanism transmits motive power of the motor from the first unit to the second unit. The power transmission mechanism includes a first gear and a second gear. The first gear has the same axial center of rotation as that of the second unit. The second gear is provided in the second unit and is in mesh with the first gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11785155
    Abstract: An apparatus body of an image reading apparatus is turnably provided to a body supporting portion. The apparatus body is turned so as to be switchable between a first posture and a second posture that forms an angle between a reading transportation path and a mounting surface being smaller than the corresponding angle formed in the first posture. A transportation path switching unit couples the reading transportation path to a reverse transportation path when the apparatus body takes the first posture, and couples the reading transportation path to a non-reverse transportation path when the apparatus body takes the second posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Koyanagi, Keiichiro Fukumasu, Ryoichi Shuto, Yoichiro Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20230262179
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading apparatus in which at least part of a feeding roller that feeds out a document placed on a document support unit to a first transport roller is present within a region of the first transport roller in an apparatus depth direction and a position at which the feeding roller and a document are brought into contact with each other is present within the region of the first transport roller in the apparatus depth direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Ryoichi SHUTO, Yoichiro NISHIMURA, Hiroki NAKASHIMA, Shinsuke KOGI, Tokujiro OKUNO, Noriyuki KOYANAGI
  • Patent number: 11683426
    Abstract: A medium feeding device includes: a medium mounting section onto which a medium to be fed is mounted; a feeding unit that feeds the medium mounted on the medium mounting section; and a supporting member that supports an end in a width direction of the medium mounted on the medium mounting section and that supports the medium at a higher position than the medium mounting section in a direction of loading of the medium, the width direction being a direction crossing a feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoichi Shuto, Yoichiro Nishimura, Yuhei Hamada
  • Publication number: 20230096448
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first unit, a second unit, a motor, and a power transmission mechanism. The second unit is configured to be rotated in relation to the first unit and configured to be closed onto, and opened away from, the first unit by being rotated. The motor is provided in the first unit. The power transmission mechanism transmits motive power of the motor from the first unit to the second unit. The power transmission mechanism includes a first gear and a second gear. The first gear has the same axial center of rotation as that of the second unit. The second gear is provided in the second unit and is in mesh with the first gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventor: Yoichiro NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20230102828
    Abstract: An apparatus body of an image reading apparatus is turnably provided to a body supporting portion. The apparatus body is turned so as to be switchable between a first posture and a second posture that forms an angle between a reading transportation path and a mounting surface being smaller than the corresponding angle formed in the first posture. A transportation path switching unit couples the reading transportation path to a reverse transportation path when the apparatus body takes the first posture, and couples the reading transportation path to a non-reverse transportation path when the apparatus body takes the second posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Noriyuki KOYANAGI, Keiichiro FUKUMASU, Ryoichi SHUTO, Yoichiro NISHIMURA