Patents by Inventor Yujiro Nomura

Yujiro Nomura 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: 9283775
    Abstract: An image recording device is provided with a plurality of color ink heads, first irradiation units which are disposed between the color ink heads which are adjacent, a second irradiation unit which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the plurality of color ink heads and which irradiates light which is stronger than the light which is irradiated by the first irradiation units, and a transparent ink head which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the second irradiation unit and which discharges transparent ink onto the image, wherein an interval, where a furthermost downstream color ink head and the transparent ink head are lined up, is wider than an interval where the plurality of color ink heads are lined up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yujiro Nomura
  • Publication number: 20150165788
    Abstract: An image recording device is provided with a plurality of color ink heads, first irradiation units which are disposed between the color ink heads which are adjacent, a second irradiation unit which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the plurality of color ink heads and which irradiates light which is stronger than the light which is irradiated by the first irradiation units, and a transparent ink head which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the second irradiation unit and which discharges transparent ink onto the image, wherein an interval, where a furthermost downstream color ink head and the transparent ink head are lined up, is wider than an interval where the plurality of color ink heads are lined up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventor: Yujiro NOMURA
  • Patent number: 9004628
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a support member, a print head, a tension adjustment unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured: to move the print head to the retracted position; to control the tension adjustment unit to adjust the tension of the print medium to a print tension while the print head is positioned at the retracted position; to move the print head to the print position; to control the print head to execute printing; to move the print head to the retracted position, and to control the tension adjustment unit to release the tension of the print medium while the print head is positioned at the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Oba, Yujiro Nomura, Kaneo Yoda
  • Patent number: 8998401
    Abstract: An image recording device is provided with a plurality of color ink heads, first irradiation units which are disposed between the color ink heads which are adjacent, a second irradiation unit which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the plurality of color ink heads and which irradiates light which is stronger than the light which is irradiated by the first irradiation units, and a transparent ink head which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the second irradiation unit and which discharges transparent ink onto the image, wherein an interval, where a furthermost downstream color ink head and the transparent ink head are lined up, is wider than an interval where the plurality of color ink heads are lined up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yujiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 8915567
    Abstract: An image recording device including a transport unit that transports a recording medium from a first drive roller to a second drive roller by rotating a first drive roller and a second drive roller across which a recording medium is stretched, a support member that supports the recording medium between the first drive roller and the second drive roller, a recording unit that ejects liquid on the recording medium supported on the support member and records an image, a detection unit that detects tension of the recording medium moving toward the second drive roller away from the support member, and a control unit that gives tension to the recording medium by controlling the torque of the second drive roller based on the recording medium tension detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Tanjo, Naoki Hori, Yujiro Nomura
  • Publication number: 20140347414
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a support member, a print head, a tension adjustment unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured: to move the print head to the retracted position; to control the tension adjustment unit to adjust the tension of the print medium to a print tension while the print head is positioned at the retracted position; to move the print head to the print position; to control the print head to execute printing; to move the print head to the retracted position, and to control the tension adjustment unit to release the tension of the print medium while the print head is positioned at the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Masashi OBA, Yujiro NOMURA, Kaneo YODA
  • Patent number: 8827398
    Abstract: An image recording device includes: a support member for supporting a sheet-shaped print medium; a print head that moves between a print position, at which printing of an image onto the print medium is executed, and a retracted position, farther away from the support member than the print position, while also facing the support member, with the print medium interposed therebetween; a tension adjustment unit for adjusting the tension of the print medium being supported by the support member; and a control unit whereby printing is executed by the print head having been positioned at the print position while the tension of the print medium is adjusted to a print tension by the tension adjustment unit, whereas the print head is positioned at the retracted position when the tension of the print medium is being altered by the tension adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Oba, Yujiro Nomura, Kaneo Yoda
  • Patent number: 8821048
    Abstract: An image recording device includes: a conveyor unit for conveying a recording medium; a drum for rotating under force of friction against the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyor unit, the recording medium being wound around the drum; and a recording unit for recording an image onto a portion, wound around the drum, of the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyor unit; the conveyor unit starting the conveyance of the recording medium in a state where a first tension has been applied to the recording medium, but executing a switching operation for switching the tension applied to the recording medium after the conveyance of the recording medium has been started, to a second tension that is lower than the first tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Imamura, Yujiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 8807689
    Abstract: An image recording device includes: a conveyor unit for conveying a recording medium along a conveyance pathway of the recording medium by rotating a first drive roller and a second drive roller provided to the conveyance pathway; a recording unit for recording an image onto the recording medium in a first region between the first drive roller and the second drive roller on the conveyance pathway; and a control unit for applying a first tension to the recording medium in the first region by controlling the torque of the second drive roller, while also adjusting the rotational speed of the first drive roller; wherein the control unit controls the conveyor unit to thereby apply a second tension that is lower than the first tension to the recording medium in a second region on the opposite side of the first region from the second drive roller in the conveyance pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Hori, Yujiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 8740484
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes a conveying part, an image-forming part, first through third sensors, and a control part. The conveying part is configured and arranged to convey a continuous recording material. The image-forming part is configured and arranged to form an image on the recording material conveyed by the conveying part. The first through third sensors are configured and arranged to detect positions of an edge surface of the recording material conveyed by the conveying part. The control part is configured to calculate first through third shifting amounts based on the positions of the edge surface of the recording material simultaneously detected by the first through third sensors, respectively. The first shifting amount is generated by movement of the recording material, the second shifting amount is generated by rotation of the recording material, and the third shifting amount is generated by fluctuations in the edge surface of the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Sato, Yujiro Nomura
  • Publication number: 20130278691
    Abstract: An image recording device is provided with a plurality of color ink heads, first irradiation units which are disposed between the color ink heads which are adjacent, a second irradiation unit which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the plurality of color ink heads and which irradiates light which is stronger than the light which is irradiated by the first irradiation units, and a transparent ink head which is disposed more to the downstream side in the transport direction than the second irradiation unit and which discharges transparent ink onto the image, wherein an interval, where a furthermost downstream color ink head and the transparent ink head are lined up, is wider than an interval where the plurality of color ink heads are lined up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yujiro NOMURA
  • Patent number: 8433226
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a belt-shaped image carrier configured to carry an image; a first imaging unit configured to transfer a first image to the image carrier; a second imaging unit configured to transfer a second image to the image carrier on which the first image is transferred by the first imaging unit; a drive roller configured to circulate the image carrier by winding the image carrier thereon; a roller on which the image carrier is wound; a transfer roller having a concaved portion on part of a circumferential surface thereof which comes into abutment with the image carrier wound around the roller via a recording material; a drive unit configured to drive the transfer roller; and a gripping portion disposed in the concaved portion and configured to grip the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yujiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 8422924
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member that bears an image; and a transfer roller, having a concave portion in its circumferential surface and rotating central to a rotational axis, whose circumferential surface aside from the concave portion makes contact with the image bearing member and transfers the image onto a recording material. The circumferential surface of the transfer roller aside from the concave portion makes contact the image bearing member due to rotation of the transfer roller while the rotational axis of the transfer roller moves away from the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Imamura, Yujiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 8391757
    Abstract: An image forming method includes forming an image on a latent image bearing member by developing a latent image formed on the latent image bearing member using a liquid developing agent having toner and a carrier liquid, transferring the image onto an image bearing belt that cyclically moves while forming a winding portion by being wound upon the latent image bearing member, detecting positions of the image bearing belt using a first sensor and a second sensor disposed in a different position from that of the first sensor, and adjusting a formation position of the latent image based on the results of the detection, wherein at the winding portion, the transfer member makes contact with the latent image bearing member through the image bearing belt, and a transfer bias of a constant voltage is applied to the transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Mizushima, Yujiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 8385759
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image bearing belt that bears an image; an image creation unit that transfers the image on the image bearing belt; a first driving source; a driving roller that is rotationally driven by the first driving source and causes the image bearing belt to move; a transfer roller that has a concaved portion in a circumferential surface, forms a transfer nip by the transfer roller making contact with the image bearing belt, and transfers the image on the image bearing belt to a recording material; a second driving source that rotationally drives the transfer roller; a material type determination unit that determines a type of the recording material; and a control unit that controls a rotational frequency of the transfer roller when the recording material is nipped by the transfer nip based on information of the type determined by the material type determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Saka, Yujiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 8380112
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier which carries an image and a transfer roller including a roller base material which faces the image carrier and rotates. A concave portion is positioned on a peripheral surface of the roller base material. A grip unit on the concave portion grips a recording medium. An elastic layer is disposed on a peripheral surface of the roller base material. The transfer roller passes the recording medium through a nip between the image carrier and the elastic layer which comes into contact with the image carrier via the image carrier and the recording medium to transfer the image carried on the image carrier onto the recording medium. A roller driving unit rotates the roller base material. A control unit controls the roller driving unit and causes the concave portion to face the image carrier to stop the transfer roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Imamura, Yujiro Nomura, Yoshihisa Saka
  • Patent number: 8373735
    Abstract: Provided is a line head including: a light emitting device array in which N (N is an integer of 2 or more) light emitting device groups including a plurality of light emitting devices is arranged; an output unit which sequentially outputs driving signals for driving the light emitting devices of the light emitting device groups to the light emitting device groups; and a delay unit which delays input timings when the driving signals output from the output unit are input to the light emitting devices, wherein the delay unit delays the input timings of the 1 to (N?1)th driving signals output from the output unit to the input timings of the Nth driving signals output from the output unit, and allows the light emitting devices of the different light emitting device groups simultaneously to emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Arai, Yujiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 8311465
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image carrier that has a belt-like shape and carries an image; an image forming section that forms the image on the image carrier; a driving roller around which the image carrier is looped, the driving roller being rotationally driven by a first driving source to drive the image carrier; a roller around which the image carrier is looped; a transfer roller having a partially hollow peripheral surface and being rotationally driven by a second driving source, the transfer roller abutting on the image carrier to form a transfer nip at a position at which the image carrier is looped around the roller; a first tension roller that abuts on the image carrier between a position of the driving roller and a position of the roller to adjust a tensile force of the image carrier; and a second tension roller that abuts on the image carrier to adjust a tensile force of the image carrier, the second tension roller abutting on the image carrier on an abutting position opposite to that o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Nomura, Yoshihisa Saka
  • Patent number: 8300076
    Abstract: A line head, includes: a substrate which is provided with a plurality of luminous element groups which respectively include a plurality of luminous elements in a first direction which emit light beams; a lens array which includes a plurality of imaging lenses which are provided corresponding to the plurality of luminous element groups; and a light shielding member which is disposed between the substrate and the lens array and includes a plurality of light guiding holes which correspond to the plurality of luminous element groups, wherein the lens array is away from the light shielding member, an inner diameter of each of the plurality of light guiding holes in the first direction is a first light guiding hole diameter, and a bore diameter of each of the plurality of imaging lenses in the first direction is a first lens diameter, and the first light guiding hole diameter is smaller than the first lens diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Nomura, Nozomu Inoue, Ryuta Koizumi, Ken Ikuma
  • Publication number: 20120240803
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes a conveying part, an image-forming part, first through third sensors, and a control part. The conveying part is configured and arranged to convey a continuous recording material. The image-forming part is configured and arranged to form an image on the recording material conveyed by the conveying part. The first through third sensors are configured and arranged to detect positions of an edge surface of the recording material conveyed by the conveying part. The control part is configured to calculate first through third shifting amounts based on the positions of the edge surface of the recording material simultaneously detected by the first through third sensors, respectively. The first shifting amount is generated by movement of the recording material, the second shifting amount is generated by rotation of the recording material, and the third shifting amount is generated by fluctuations in the edge surface of the recording material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuichi SATO, Yujiro NOMURA