Patents by Inventor Yuki Oguchi

Yuki Oguchi 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: 11891722
    Abstract: A screw feeder includes: a case that includes a material putting-in portion through which a fluff material is put in and a material putting-out portion through which the fluff material is put out below the material putting-in portion; and a screw that includes a rotational shaft and a blade portion, the rotational shaft being provided rotatably inside the case, the blade portion being spirally mounted on the rotational shaft; wherein the screw is rotated with repeated alternation of a slope-down direction in which the blade portion slopes downward spirally in a vertical direction and a slope-up direction in which the blade portion slopes upward spirally in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhito Gomi, Yuki Oguchi
  • Patent number: 11746469
    Abstract: A fiber structure manufacturing apparatus that includes: a defibration unit that pulverizes and defibrates a raw sheet material that contains fibers; a transportation unit that transports a defibrated material after defibration by the defibration unit; a forming unit that forms a fiber structure from the defibrated material transported by the transportation unit; a temperature acquisition unit that acquires a temperature inside the defibration unit; and a control unit that controls a mass flow of gas that contains the defibrated material transported from the defibration unit in accordance with the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Oguchi
  • Patent number: 11566375
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing method includes: a defibrating step of defibrating a raw material containing a fiber in air; a mixing step of mixing a defibrated material defibrated in the defibrating step and a resin in air; a web forming step of forming a web by accumulating the mixture mixed in the mixing step on a moving body; a transporting step of transporting the web; a sheet forming step of forming a sheet from the web; a setting step of setting a thickness of the sheet; and a control step of controlling a moving speed of the moving body and a transporting speed of the web in the transporting step, in accordance with the thickness of the sheet set in the setting step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Oguchi
  • Patent number: 11390992
    Abstract: Variation in the thickness of accumulated material is suppressed when material containing fiber is dispersed by the sieve and accumulated. A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a drum that sieves defibrated material containing fiber, a first web former that accumulates first screened material discharged from the drum, and a processor that processes a first web accumulated in the first web former. During processing by the processor, the mesh belt operates at a first speed. When operation starts with the drum not operating, a startup operation including the mesh belt operating at a higher speed than the first speed in a first period after the drum starts is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Oguchi, Soichiro Seo
  • Patent number: 11384482
    Abstract: A web manufacturing apparatus includes a transport section configured to transport a web containing fiber, a web humidifier configured to humidify the web, and a control section configured to control operation of the transport section and the web humidifier. When transportation of the web by the transport section is stopped, the control section causes the transport section to recommence transportation of the web after the web is humidified by the web humidifier. The control section may also cause the web humidifier to stop humidification of the web after the web humidifier starts humidification of the web and a predetermined duration elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Inaba, Masahide Nakamura, Kazuma Miyazawa, Yuki Oguchi, Isamu Arai
  • Patent number: 11313078
    Abstract: An accumulating unit that discharges fibers by rotating a drum unit in which a plurality of openings are formed, a second web forming unit that forms a second web by operating a mesh belt, a sheet forming unit that forms a sheet from the second web, and a control unit that performs a start control for operating the accumulating unit and the second web forming unit from the stop state are included. In a case where the start control is performed from a state where the fibers are present in the drum unit, the control unit adjusts a thickness of the second web by controlling at least one of a timing at which rotation of the drum unit is initiated, a rotational speed of the drum unit, a timing at which movement of the mesh belt is initiated, and a movement speed of the mesh belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Oguchi, Takao Mikoshiba
  • Patent number: 11293139
    Abstract: A web manufacturing apparatus includes a defibration section that includes a rotating blade and is configured to defibrate a material containing fiber, a detection section configured to detect an electric charge amount of a defibrated material obtained by the defibration section, and a control section configured to control operation of the defibration section. The control section includes a first mode in which a revolution speed of the rotating blade is set based on a detection result of the detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Nakata, Kazuma Miyazawa, Sadaharu Komori, Masahide Nakamura, Yuki Oguchi, Soichiro Seo, Yoshiyuki Nagai
  • Patent number: 11193238
    Abstract: A defibrating unit that defibrates a raw material including fibers in an atmosphere, an accumulating unit that discharges defibrated matter by rotating a drum unit in which a plurality of openings are formed, a second web forming unit that forms a second web by operating a mesh belt on which the defibrated matter is accumulated, a sheet forming unit that forms a sheet from the second web, a cutting unit that cuts the sheet into a preset size, and a control unit that executes a stop control with a cut operation of the cutting unit as a trigger in a case where an instruction to stop an apparatus is provided are included. In the stop control, the control unit stops operation of the defibrating unit after stopping rotation of the drum unit and movement of the mesh belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Oguchi, Takao Mikoshiba
  • Publication number: 20210372047
    Abstract: A fiber structure manufacturing apparatus that includes: a defibration unit that pulverizes and defibrates a raw sheet material that contains fibers; a transportation unit that transports a defibrated material after defibration by the defibration unit; a forming unit that forms a fiber structure from the defibrated material transported by the transportation unit; a temperature acquisition unit that acquires a temperature inside the defibration unit; and a control unit that controls a mass flow of gas that contains the defibrated material transported from the defibration unit in accordance with the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventor: Yuki OGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210355604
    Abstract: A screw feeder includes: a case that includes a material putting-in portion through which a fluff material is put in and a material putting-out portion through which the fluff material is put out below the material putting-in portion; and a screw that includes a rotational shaft and a blade portion, the rotational shaft being provided rotatably inside the case, the blade portion being spirally mounted on the rotational shaft; wherein the screw is rotated with repeated alternation of a slope-down direction in which the blade portion slopes downward spirally in a vertical direction and a slope-up direction in which the blade portion slopes upward spirally in the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Katsuhito GOMI, Yuki OGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210324555
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a defibrating portion that defibrates a raw material, a mixing portion that mixes a defibrated material defibrated by the defibrating portion, a heating portion that heats a mixture mixed by the mixing portion, and a control portion that controls a temperature of the heating portion, in which the control portion sets a heating temperature of the heating portion to a temperature depending on a type of the raw material defibrated by the defibrating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Kaneo YODA, Yoshiyuki NAGAI, Yuki OGUCHI, Shigeo FUJITA, Akira ARAI, Kazuhiro ICHIKAWA, Teruaki OGUCHI, Seiichi TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210292970
    Abstract: A defibrating unit that defibrates a raw material including fibers in an atmosphere, an accumulating unit that discharges defibrated matter by rotating a drum unit in which a plurality of openings are formed, a second web forming unit that forms a second web by operating a mesh belt on which the defibrated matter is accumulated, a sheet forming unit that forms a sheet from the second web, a cutting unit that cuts the sheet into a preset size, and a control unit that executes a stop control with a cut operation of the cutting unit as a trigger in a case where an instruction to stop an apparatus is provided are included. In the stop control, the control unit stops operation of the defibrating unit after stopping rotation of the drum unit and movement of the mesh belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Yuki OGUCHI, Takao MIKOSHIBA
  • Publication number: 20210277602
    Abstract: An accumulating unit that discharges fibers by rotating a drum unit in which a plurality of openings are formed, a second web forming unit that forms a second web by operating a mesh belt, a sheet forming unit that forms a sheet from the second web, and a control unit that performs a start control for operating the accumulating unit and the second web forming unit from the stop state are included. In a case where the start control is performed from a state where the fibers are present in the drum unit, the control unit adjusts a thickness of the second web by controlling at least one of a timing at which rotation of the drum unit is initiated, a rotational speed of the drum unit, a timing at which movement of the mesh belt is initiated, and a movement speed of the mesh belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Yuki OGUCHI, Takao MIKOSHIBA
  • Patent number: 11077581
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing apparatus is an apparatus that heats a material containing fibers to form a sheet, and includes a heating portion that heats the material, and a control portion that controls a temperature at which the heating portion heats the material. The control portion sets a temperature of the heating portion to a first temperature in a first state where the sheet manufacturing apparatus manufactures the sheet, and sets the temperature of the heating portion to a second temperature lower than the first temperature at a predetermined timing in a second state where the sheet is not manufactured, or at a predetermined timing when a state of the sheet manufacturing apparatus is shifted to the state where the sheet is not manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kaneo Yoda, Yoshiyuki Nagai, Yuki Oguchi, Shigeo Fujita, Akira Arai, Kazuhiro Ichikawa, Teruaki Oguchi, Seiichi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11008707
    Abstract: Provided is technology improving the efficiency (productivity) of a sheet manufacturing apparatus. A sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 manufactures sheets S by heating with heaters 81 and 82 a mixture (second web W2) of resin and fiber produced by defibrating feedstock MA. The heaters 81 and 82 each have a first roller 171, a second roller 172 that holds the second web W2 with the first roller 171, and a moving mechanism 190. The moving mechanism 190 can switch the first roller 171 and second roller 172 to a position holding the second web W2, and a first roller 171 and second roller 172 are separated and do not hold the second web W2. The heaters 81 and 82 are configured as units that can removably installed to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaneo Yoda, Yoshiyuki Nagai, Yuki Oguchi, Shigeo Fujita, Akira Arai, Kazuhiro Ichikawa, Teruaki Oguchi, Seiichi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11005133
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a second web forming unit that processes fibers into a web shape, a sheet forming unit that pinches and transports a second web processed into the web shape by the second web forming unit, and a control unit that controls at least any of a pressing state and a transport state in the sheet forming unit. The control unit causes the second web to pass through a nip unit by controlling at least any of a transport speed of the sheet forming unit, a nip pressure of the sheet forming unit, and a nip width of the sheet forming unit depending on a position of a leading edge of the second web with respect to the nip unit in which the sheet forming unit pinches the second web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Oguchi, Masahide Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20210047779
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing method includes: a defibrating step of defibrating a raw material containing a fiber in air; a mixing step of mixing a defibrated material defibrated in the defibrating step and a resin in air; a web forming step of forming a web by accumulating the mixture mixed in the mixing step on a moving body; a transporting step of transporting the web; a sheet forming step of forming a sheet from the web; a setting step of setting a thickness of the sheet; and a control step of controlling a moving speed of the moving body and a transporting speed of the web in the transporting step, in accordance with the thickness of the sheet set in the setting step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventor: Yuki OGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10858783
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a defibrating unit that defibrates a raw material containing a fiber in air; a mixing unit that mixes a defibrated material defibrated by the defibrating unit and a resin in air; a web forming unit that forms a web by accumulating the mixture mixed by the mixing unit on a moving body; a transporting unit that transports the web; a sheet forming unit that forms a sheet from the web; a setting unit that sets a thickness of the sheet; and a controller that controls a moving speed of the moving body and a transporting speed of the web transported by the transporting unit, in accordance with the thickness of the sheet set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Oguchi
  • Publication number: 20200149219
    Abstract: A web manufacturing apparatus includes a defibration section that includes a rotating blade and is configured to defibrate a material containing fiber, a detection section configured to detect an electric charge amount of a defibrated material obtained by the defibration section, and a control section configured to control operation of the defibration section. The control section includes a first mode in which a revolution speed of the rotating blade is set based on a detection result of the detection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi NAKATA, Kazuma MIYAZAWA, Sadaharu KOMORI, Masahide NAKAMURA, Yuki OGUCHI, Soichiro SEO, Yoshiyuki NAGAI
  • Patent number: 10647020
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing apparatus that shortens the time until the apparatus stops is provided. The sheet manufacturing apparatus has a sieve unit having at least part of material defibrated in a defibration process introduced thereto, moving at a first speed, and passing defibrated material through multiple openings disposed in the main section thereof; and a forming unit forming a sheet using precipitate that past through the openings of the sieve unit; the sheet manufacturing apparatus stopping the sieve unit with defibrated material that was introduced stored inside the sieve unit when production by the sheet manufacturing apparatus stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Oguchi, Yoshinobu Monbetsu, Masahide Nakamura