Patents by Inventor Yukihiro Hanaoka

Yukihiro Hanaoka 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: 11946551
    Abstract: A first valve mechanism is a valve mechanism provided in a flow path coupled to a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid, and including a valve that opens/closes the flow path, a first communication liquid chamber that communicates with the flow path, and a first pressure receiving body that converts a pressure difference between a pressure of the first communication liquid chamber and a reference pressure into an operating force of the valve, in which a threshold pressure of the first communication liquid chamber for determining opening/closing of the valve is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hanaoka, Toshiro Murayama, Daiki Tatsuta
  • Publication number: 20240083170
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having a first-nozzle-row, a first-tank storing a first-liquid, a first-supply-flow-path for supplying the first-liquid to the first-nozzle-row from the first-tank, a first on-off valve provided in an intermediate portion of the first-supply-flow-path and configured to open and close the first-supply-flow-path, and a first-pressurizing-mechanism configured to pressurize an inside of the first-tank. A pressure inside the first-tank is set to a predetermined positive pressure by driving the first-pressurizing-mechanism in a closed state of the first on-off valve. Thereafter, a discharge process of discharging the first-liquid from the first-nozzle-row is performed by bringing the first on-off valve into an open state. In the discharge process, the first on-off valve is switched from the open state to the closed state at a timing at which the first-liquid is being continuously discharged from the first-nozzle-row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Koki HIRATA, Tomoyuki MIYAZAWA, Yukihiro HANAOKA, Shun KATSUIE
  • Patent number: 11926166
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first liquid ejecting head configured to eject a liquid to an ejection direction, a sub-carriage that holds the first liquid ejecting head, and a carriage that holds the sub-carriage. The sub-carriage includes: a first member that is thermally conductive and holds the first liquid ejecting head; and a heating section provided in the first member. The first liquid ejecting head includes a first side wall facing the first member. The first member is located between the heating section and the first side wall when viewed in the ejection direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hanaoka, Takao Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20240066859
    Abstract: A liquid ejection system includes a first head unit and a second head unit. The first head unit includes a first determining circuit that determines whether a first power supply voltage is normal, a first drive circuit that outputs a first drive signal based on the first power supply voltage, and a first ejecting head that ejects liquid The second head unit includes a second determining circuit that determines whether a second power supply voltage is normal, a second drive circuit that outputs a second drive signal based on the second power supply voltage, and a second ejecting head that ejects liquid When the first determining circuit determines that the first power supply voltage is not normal, or when the second determining circuit determines that the second power supply voltage is not normal, the first ejecting head and the second ejecting head stop ejecting the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Kunio TABATA, Noritaka IDE, Dai NOZAWA, Rika TANIMOTO, Yukihiro HANAOKA
  • Publication number: 20230294397
    Abstract: A system includes a characteristics acquirer, a selector, and a notifier. The characteristics acquirer acquires pieces of ejection characteristics information regarding ejection characteristics of a plurality of heads different from one another. The selector selects a first liquid ejecting head from among the plurality of heads based on the pieces of ejection characteristics information. The notifier notifies a user of information regarding the first liquid ejecting head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Noritaka IDE, Kunio TABATA, Rika TANIMOTO, Yukihiro HANAOKA, Nobuaki ITO, Naoki YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20220355600
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first liquid ejecting head configured to eject a liquid to an ejection direction, a sub-carriage that holds the first liquid ejecting head, and a carriage that holds the sub-carriage. The sub-carriage includes: a first member that is thermally conductive and holds the first liquid ejecting head; and a heating section provided in the first member. The first liquid ejecting head includes a first side wall facing the first member. The first member is located between the heating section and the first side wall when viewed in the ejection direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Yukihiro HANAOKA, Takao YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11318740
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting system includes a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle ejecting liquid, a supply channel communicating with the nozzle, and a recovery channel communicated with the nozzle, and circulates the liquid in the liquid ejecting head through the supply channel and the recovery channel. The supply channel includes a pressurizing section and a first buffer mechanism disposed between the nozzle and the pressurizing section. The recovery channel includes a decompression section and a second buffer mechanism disposed between the nozzle and the decompression section. The first buffer mechanism is configured to increase a buffer capacity as the supply channel is pressurized. The second buffer mechanism is configured to reduce a buffer capacity as the recovery channel is decompressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hanaoka, Toshiro Murayama
  • Publication number: 20200376835
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting system includes a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle ejecting liquid, a supply channel communicating with the nozzle, and a recovery channel communicated with the nozzle, and circulates the liquid in the liquid ejecting head through the supply channel and the recovery channel. The supply channel includes a pressurizing section and a first buffer mechanism disposed between the nozzle and the pressurizing section. The recovery channel includes a decompression section and a second buffer mechanism disposed between the nozzle and the decompression section. The first buffer mechanism is configured to increase a buffer capacity as the supply channel is pressurized. The second buffer mechanism is configured to reduce a buffer capacity as the recovery channel is decompressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Yukihiro HANAOKA, Toshiro MURAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20200378406
    Abstract: A first valve mechanism is a valve mechanism provided in a flow path coupled to a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid, and including a valve that opens/closes the flow path, a first communication liquid chamber that communicates with the flow path, and a first pressure receiving body that converts a pressure difference between a pressure of the first communication liquid chamber and a reference pressure into an operating force of the valve, in which a threshold pressure of the first communication liquid chamber for determining opening/closing of the valve is variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Yukihiro HANAOKA, Toshiro MURAYAMA, Daiki TATSUTA
  • Patent number: 10717295
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head including a liquid chamber which communicates with a nozzle; a supply flow path having a first end connected to a liquid supply source and a second end connected to the liquid chamber; a first circulation flow path having a first end connected to the liquid chamber and a second end connected to a first connecting section in the supply flow path; a supply pump provided in the supply flow path; a first pressure regulating valve provided between the first connecting section and the liquid ejecting head in the supply flow path; a second pressure regulating valve provided in the first circulation flow path; a circulation pump provided in the first circulation flow path and configured to circulate the liquid in a downstream direction; and an opening mechanism configured to forcibly open the first pressure regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Kumagai, Yukihiro Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 10661574
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid through a nozzle, a supply flow path that supplies liquid from a liquid container containing liquid to the liquid ejecting head, a liquid chamber provided in a buffer chamber disposed in the supply flow path, the liquid chamber being configured to change in volume, a liquid feeding unit of a reversible type disposed in the supply flow path between the liquid container and the liquid chamber, a control portion that controls driving of the liquid feeding unit, and a suction unit that suctions liquid through the nozzle. The control portion controls the liquid feeding unit to perform reverse feeding of the liquid from the liquid chamber to the liquid container before the suction unit suctions the liquid through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichiro Watanabe, Masaru Kumagai, Yukihiro Hanaoka, Izumi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 10569559
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having nozzles and an opening surface through which the nozzles are opened, the liquid ejecting head being configured to eject liquid from the nozzles, a supply flow path configured to supply the liquid to the liquid ejecting head, a pressurizing mechanism that can pressurize the inside of the supply flow path, an opening/closing mechanism that can open and close the supply flow path, and a control unit that controls operations of the liquid ejecting head, the pressurizing mechanism, and the opening/closing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hanaoka, Takuya Okina, Eiichiro Watanabe, Masaru Kumagai
  • Publication number: 20190344580
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head including a liquid chamber which communicates with a nozzle; a supply flow path having a first end connected to a liquid supply source and a second end connected to the liquid chamber; a first circulation flow path having a first end connected to the liquid chamber and a second end connected to a first connecting section in the supply flow path; a supply pump provided in the supply flow path; a first pressure regulating valve provided between the first connecting section and the liquid ejecting head in the supply flow path; a second pressure regulating valve provided in the first circulation flow path; a circulation pump provided in the first circulation flow path and configured to circulate the liquid in a downstream direction; and an opening mechanism configured to forcibly open the first pressure regulating valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Masaru KUMAGAI, Yukihiro HANAOKA
  • Publication number: 20190283441
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid through a nozzle, a supply flow path that supplies liquid from a liquid container containing liquid to the liquid ejecting head, a liquid chamber provided in a buffer chamber disposed in the supply flow path, the liquid chamber being configured to change in volume, a liquid feeding unit of a reversible type disposed in the supply flow path between the liquid container and the liquid chamber, a control portion that controls driving of the liquid feeding unit, and a suction unit that suctions liquid through the nozzle. The control portion controls the liquid feeding unit to perform reverse feeding of the liquid from the liquid chamber to the liquid container before the suction unit suctions the liquid through the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Eiichiro WATANABE, Masaru KUMAGAI, Yukihiro HANAOKA, Izumi NOZAWA
  • Publication number: 20180162139
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having nozzles and an opening surface through which the nozzles are opened, the liquid ejecting head being configured to eject liquid from the nozzles, a supply flow path configured to supply the liquid to the liquid ejecting head, a pressurizing mechanism that can pressurize the inside of the supply flow path, an opening/closing mechanism that can open and close the supply flow path, and a control unit that controls operations of the liquid ejecting head, the pressurizing mechanism, and the opening/closing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hanaoka, Takuya Okina, Eiichiro Watanabe, Masaru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9254662
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a transportation mechanism that supports and transports a recording medium by a support surface; a recording head that is disposed in a region facing the support surface and is capable of ejecting an ink from a nozzle provided on an ink ejection surface to the recording medium; a suction unit that is capable of sucking the ink inside the nozzle; and a wiping unit that is provided as a separate body from the suction unit and is capable of wiping the ink ejection surface. The recording head is moved in a direction to be separated from the support surface when sucking the ink inside the nozzle. The suction unit is moved to a suction position facing the ink ejection surface of the recording head. The suction unit is moved below the recording head when wiping the ink ejection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hanaoka, Tatsuya Seshimo
  • Patent number: 9085160
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a transportation mechanism that supports and transports a recording medium by a support surface; a recording head that is disposed in a region facing the support surface and is capable of ejecting an ink from a nozzle provided on an ink ejection surface to the recording medium; a suction unit that is capable of sucking the ink inside the nozzle; and a wiping unit that is provided as a separate body from the suction unit and is capable of wiping the ink ejection surface. At least one of the suction unit and the wiping unit is provided on a farther downstream side of the recording medium in a transportation direction than the recording head and a gap between the one and the support surface is wider than a gap between the ink ejection surface and the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hanaoka, Tatsuya Seshimo
  • Publication number: 20140285571
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a transportation mechanism that supports and transports a recording medium by a support surface; a recording head that is disposed in a region facing the support surface and is capable of ejecting an ink from a nozzle provided on an ink ejection surface to the recording medium; a suction unit that is capable of sucking the ink inside the nozzle; and a wiping unit that is provided as a separate body from the suction unit and is capable of wiping the ink ejection surface. At least one of the suction unit and the wiping unit is provided on a farther downstream side of the recording medium in a transportation direction than the recording head and a gap between the one and the support surface is wider than a gap between the ink ejection surface and the support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro HANAOKA, Tatsuya SESHIMO
  • Publication number: 20140285572
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a transportation mechanism that supports and transports a recording medium by a support surface; a recording head that is disposed in a region facing the support surface and is capable of ejecting an ink from a nozzle provided on an ink ejection surface to the recording medium; a suction unit that is capable of sucking the ink inside the nozzle; and a wiping unit that is provided as a separate body from the suction unit and is capable of wiping the ink ejection surface. The recording head is moved in a direction to be separated from the support surface when sucking the ink inside the nozzle. The suction unit is moved to a suction position facing the ink ejection surface of the recording head. The suction unit is moved below the recording head when wiping the ink ejection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro HANAOKA, Tatsuya SESHIMO
  • Patent number: 8747000
    Abstract: A printer has two separate movable blades, a stationary blade, and a movable blade drive mechanism for driving the movable blades against the stationary blade. Such mechanism may link and drive the movable blades to cut the roll paper against the stationary blade such that one movable blade leads and the other follows. The printer may further include a main frame with a roll paper compartment and a printing mechanism for printing on the roll paper, a cover frame movably connected to the main frame and having an openable cover for the roll paper compartment, a movable blade frame disposed to the main frame for supporting the movable blades with the blade tips in opposition, and a stationary blade frame disposed to the cover frame for supporting the stationary blade in a position substantially transverse to the paper transportation path during cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Hanaoka, Hiroyuki Nakayama