Patents Assigned to Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
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Patent number: 11366992Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for printing an image using an array of nozzles are described. In one example aspect, a printer system includes an array of nozzles and a control device coupled to the array of nozzles. The control device is configured to determine a step size for printing a current section of an image based on a set of masks. The set of masks includes one or more masks used for printing previous sections of the image. The control device is also configured to adjust the set of masks based on a printing mode to be used for the current section of the image. The array of nozzles is configured to print the current section of the image using a combination of the adjusted set of masks.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Peter Heath
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Patent number: 11305563Abstract: Disclosed here is an apparatus to flatten the substrate as the substrate travels along the print path of a printer, thus reducing damage to the transport belt, motor, gearbox, etc., and increasing print quality. The apparatus includes two strapping metal bands mounted on the printer and parallel to the print path. The two strapping metal bands are under tension from a torsion spring and a ratchet placed at least at one end of the print path. In a rest position, the two strapping metal bands are lifted off the transport belt. When a printhead of the printer lowers to engage in printing, the printhead pushes on the two strapping metal bands causing them to push the edges of the substrate downward, thus increasing the flatness of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Juan Escudero Gonzalez
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Patent number: 11230122Abstract: Disclosed are printer vacuum tables, and corresponding systems and methods for their use, in which the printer vacuum tables include multiple zones to apply vacuum, to hold a variety of media types and thicknesses within a given flatness range, to allow high definition printing. The vacuum zones run in the print direction, and each can be controlled for vacuum on and off. In an illustrative embodiment, the vacuum zones include one or more vacuum zones that are fixed with respect to a printer vacuum table surface, and one or more variable vacuum zones that are movable with respect to the printer vacuum table surface. One or more of the vacuum zones can be turned off if the print media does not cover the zone, such as to prevent leakage, and to provide more consistent vacuum hold down, regardless of media size or width.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2017Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Brett Schuster, Donald B. Richardson, Keith R. Vaillancourt
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Patent number: 11227200Abstract: The systems and methods presented here completely separate a non-user pattern from the user jobs being printed. In fact, depending on the number of images in the job and the number of patterns provided by the manufacturer or press operator, the patterns may appear on different images of the job each time the job is printed. This is because the image marks are generated and processed according to the configuration of ROUS, independent of the user jobs being printed.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Scott Crosby, Haresh Joshi
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Patent number: 11219928Abstract: A shape packing technique is introduced that can be applied in various applications such as automated print production. In an example embodiment, items that are to be placed into a target shape are sorted based on size to form item groups that include similarly sized items. Potential blocks including arrangements of one or more items are created from the sorted item groups. A placement solution is then generated by placing the potential blocks in the target shape using a recursive process that avoids redundant placement solutions until all of the potential blocks are placed or no other potential blocks are able to be placed. The placement solution can then be utilized, for example, to control a printer to print multiple images on a substrate and/or to control an automated cutting device to cut the substrate into multiple partitions according to the placement solution.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventor: James Michael McBride
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Patent number: 11212421Abstract: Techniques for interactively determining/visualizing the color content of a source image and how the corresponding image data is mapped to device colors are described herein. For example, the color content of a digital image can be converted between different color spaces to identify gamut limitations of an output device (e.g., a printing assembly), discover color(s) that cannot be accurately reproduced, etc. Color space conversions enable the transformation of the color content of the digital image from device-specific colorants to a device-independent representation (and vice versa). In some embodiments, these transformations are facilitated using lookup tables that are implemented in graphical processing unit-resident memory.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Leon Williams, Thor Olson
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Patent number: 11203212Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a wide format single pass printing apparatus. The printing apparatus can include multiple print housings configured to receive print beams with print heads configured to print onto a substrate. The print housings can be horizontally adjacent to one another relative to a horizontal plane. The print housings can also be oriented opposite to one another. The print beams can be inserted and/or removed from each print housing from opposing ends, allowing for greater ease of access to the print beams.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Ernesto Propersi Sterbiati, Marco Serafini
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Patent number: 11173724Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a printing apparatus capable of mitigating/preventing instances of turbulent deviation of ink jetted from print heads when printing onto a substrate, a severe form of which looks like woodgrain. The printing apparatus can include a jet plate disposed on a subjacent surface of the printing apparatus that can include a series of apertures formed in the jet plate that are configured to receive corresponding print heads of the printing apparatus. The jet plate can also include a set of wings extending from a first end of a central portion of the jet plate. The set of wings can form a cutout portion of the jet plate that can modify a direction and/or velocity of a flow of air from the cutout portion along the printing area to mitigate/prevent a woodgrain defect occurring when distributing a material onto the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Hui Zhang, John Peter Duffield
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Patent number: 11167574Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique that enables a carriage printer to reduce precision in a media conveyor by improving mobility of the carriage. The carriage includes a mobile jetplate that adjusts the position of the printheads within the carriage. The mobile jetplate includes multiple motors that enable shifts in an axis matching the axis of the media. Operating the motors of the jetplate at different locations or at different intensities causes the jetplate to skew and achieve mobility of multiple axes. A set of sensors monitor media skew and shifts of the mobile jetplate are able to compensate for that skew. An additional set of motors shift the carriage to compensate for deformation of the beam that the carriage shuttles along.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Peter Heath, Paul Duncanson
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Patent number: 11169462Abstract: Various variable gloss reduction techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a textured roller and a wiper impregnated with fuser oil to create a differential gloss pattern that reduces the gloss of an image printed on a substrate. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a combination of heat and pressure to create a differential gloss pattern that reduces the gloss in specific regions of an image printed on a substrate. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a differential gloss pattern to generate a security mark on a printed image to prevent against copying or fraudulent misrepresentation of the image.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Leon Williams, Thor Olson
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Patent number: 11164053Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for printing an image using an array of nozzles are described. In one example aspect, a printer system includes an array of nozzles and a control device coupled to the array of nozzles. The control device is configured to determine a step size for printing a current section of an image based on a set of masks. The set of masks includes one or more masks used for printing previous sections of the image. The control device is also configured to adjust the set of masks based on a printing mode to be used for the current section of the image. The array of nozzles is configured to print the current section of the image using a combination of the adjusted set of masks.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Peter Heath
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Patent number: 11141988Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a system for generating a unitary structure with a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. The unitary structure includes a cavity configured to contain a fluid and a passageway configured to route the fluid to or from the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Christopher Andrew Porter
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Patent number: 11106953Abstract: Apparatuses and embodiments related to compensated laser cutting of labels. A computer system receives an image of a label, and rasterizes the image. The computer system determines how much of each type of printer ink of a label printer to deposit at each pixel location of the image. The computer system determines which pixels intersect a cut line, and determines the characteristics of the ink of the pixels, such as the quantity or thickness of the ink at the pixel locations. The computer system determines laser data including power, cut speed, and/or frequency of a laser that is tuned to accurately cut through the ink that forms the image, the material(s) of the label, and the adhesive that removably adheres the label to base material(s), but to not excessively damage the base material(s). A laser cutting system uses the laser data to control a laser.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventor: John Edward Hennessy
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Patent number: 11097534Abstract: When a job does not exactly match the purpose of a printing profile but would benefit from some of the characteristics of a different printing profile, dynamically making the tradeoffs between the printing profiles is desirable. For example, a high-ink, large gamut profile might not be needed for a particular job, but an ink-saving profile would be excessively grainy. An intermediate profile would be recommended. Alternatively, the ink-saving profile can be adequate for everything except the skin tones in the print. Presented here are systems and methods to create a blended representation that could adopt the high-ink rules for a portion of the image, but ink-saving rules elsewhere. For example, the high-ink rules can be applied to the skin colors, but ink-saving rules can be applied in other parts of the image.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Leon Calvin Williams, Theodore A Olson
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Patent number: 11086246Abstract: Various variable gloss reduction techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a textured roller and a wiper impregnated with fuser oil to create a differential gloss pattern that reduces the gloss of an image printed on a substrate. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a combination of heat and pressure to create a differential gloss pattern that reduces the gloss in specific regions of an image printed on a substrate. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a differential gloss pattern to generate a security mark on a printed image to prevent against copying or fraudulent misrepresentation of the image.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Leon Williams, Thor Olson
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Patent number: 11052677Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique that improves material efficiency in generating garments and textiles that include graphics. A given product is sorted into cut patterns used to assemble the product. Graphics are digitally applied to each cut pattern in order to generate abstract cut patterns including aligned graphics. Blank cut patterns are nested across a virtual sheet of fabric in a 2D space without any consideration to the graphics. The nested cut patterns implement the abstract cut patterns that include graphics. The graphics are aligned to the positions of the cut patterns according to the nesting scheme. Print instructions including nested cut patterns with aligned graphics are delivered to a printer that executes the print job. The cut patterns are cut away from the fabric sheet including graphic designs that are aligned with the cut patterns.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Ghilad Dziesietnik
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Patent number: 11040528Abstract: Disclosed is an industrial single-pass inkjet printer/press incorporating an line-scan camera. The line-scan camera enables system software to inspect every sheet for quality assurance purposes. These inspection results are tied back to a digital printer to take one or more of several possible actions. Actions include ensuring a particular number of acceptable prints are generated and sorted. Actions further include performing nozzle checks without pausing or interrupting production orders.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Steven A. Billow, Ghilad Dziesietnik, John A. Weismantel, Darin Schick, Boris Liberman
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Patent number: 11022906Abstract: Various variable gloss reduction techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a textured roller and a wiper impregnated with fuser oil to create a differential gloss pattern that reduces the gloss of an image printed on a substrate. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a combination of heat and pressure to create a differential gloss pattern that reduces the gloss in specific regions of an image printed on a substrate. In one embodiment, a gloss reduction technique is disclosed using a differential gloss pattern to generate a security mark on a printed image to prevent against copying or fraudulent misrepresentation of the image.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Leon Williams, Thor Olson
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Patent number: 11020984Abstract: White-balance is improved when printing on colored media, while minimizing the time and use of costly materials required by present approaches. In an embodiment, the typical solid white fill or background layer is altered by including in the white layer one or more of the other colors already available in the printer to shade this layer. Thus, a small amount of cyan, for example, helps balance a pink-ish (red) media; yellow is used for blue media; and magenta is used for green media; as well as combinations thereof. A combination of transparent process inks and opaque white helps to maintain brightness (luminosity).Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Peter Heath, Joseph A. Lahut, Dwight Cram, Bryan Ko
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Patent number: 10974517Abstract: Disclosed are high stability ink delivery system systems and methods for their use, in which a secondary reservoir is placed upstream of a printhead. The secondary reservoir can be opened to the atmosphere through a valve, such as based on the reading of a pressure sensor placed at a point before the printhead. The purpose of this valve is to open the secondary reservoir to the atmosphere when the pressure sensor indicates that the secondary reservoir can be open while avoiding air aspiration, and closing it when this condition is not satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Juan Escudero Gonzalez, Eduardo Bueno Espinal