Patents Examined by Alexander C Witkowski
  • Patent number: 9120341
    Abstract: An inkjet printer, including an inkjet head, a conveyer unit to convey a recording medium in a conveying direction, a position detecting unit to detect a position of the recording medium along the conveying direction, a wave shape generating mechanism to deform the recording medium into a predetermined wave shape along a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, a gap information storing device to store gap information related to a gap between an ink discharging surface of the inkjet head and the recording medium, and a correcting device to correct the gap information according to a position of the recording medium along the conveying direction, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Arakane
  • Patent number: 9114665
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transfer member including a permeable layer, a pigment layer formed on the permeable layer by an ink jet method, and an adhesive layer having adhesivity formed on the pigment layer, wherein a dispersion medium of an ink containing a pigment to form the pigment layer permeates into the permeable layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9114645
    Abstract: A conveyance printing system and methods for printing articles of manufacture of different types and with different content is presented. Systems include a conveyance system configured to convey a plurality of trays, each having an associated identifier and each holding one or more articles of manufacture within the tray, and a printing system configured to receive a print tray from the conveyance system, receive a print job associated with the tray identifier, and print the associated print job simultaneously onto the respective print surfaces of the one or more articles of manufacture held by the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Cimpress Schweiz GmbH
    Inventor: Marcel Gerber
  • Patent number: 9102178
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to determine a media advance error for each one of multiple page regions on a media page. The instructions further cause the processor to control a media advance mechanism to compensate for the media advance error in each page region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Erick B. Kinas, Justin M. Roman
  • Patent number: 9102142
    Abstract: A method of controlling inkjet printing including firing at least one fluid drop from an inkjet printhead at one or more firing frequencies; measuring a parameter of said fired at least one fluid drop to determine a present firing performance of the inkjet printhead at each of the one or more firing frequencies; determining if the present firing performance at any of the one or more firing frequencies is different from a predetermined firing performance; and changing, in accordance with a difference between the present firing performance and the predetermined firing performance, and for at least one of the one or more firing frequencies, a fluid quantity parameter for subsequent fluid drops to be fired by the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Antonio Gracia Verdugo, Gonzalo Gaston Liado, Marina Cantero Lazaro
  • Patent number: 9090089
    Abstract: A thermal printer and control method for a thermal printer is provided. The thermal printer includes a print head and a paper feed mechanism for conveying a print medium past the print head at a controlled print speed based on predetermined print speed control factors. Operations include determining the print speed of the print medium based on the print speed control factors; determining a change, if any, in the print speed; determining if the change in print speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and controlling the paper feed mechanism to limit the change in the print speed if the change in the print speed is determined to have exceeded the threshold value. The change of the print speed is decreased for at least one predetermined time when the change in the print speed is determined to have exceeded the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Koyabu, Satoshi Nakajima, Yuji Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 9061529
    Abstract: Each unit of an inkjet printing station includes chains arranged along a transportation path of a web paper. A holding mechanism is fixedly arranged on the chain. The holding mechanism holds both ends of a paper passing bar to which the web paper is attached. Driving the chain with a handle causes the holding mechanism to move. The paper passing bar is delivered between the units adjoining each other. Therefore, the paper passing bar is movable from one end to the other end of the inkjet printing station formed by the units. Moreover, when specifications are changed for changing combination of the units, the combination can be made optionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignees: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fuchioka, Shinsuke Yamashita, Tsuyoshi Okuda
  • Patent number: 9056463
    Abstract: According to the present invention, recording density information indicating a recording density of a plurality of recording elements is acquired on the basis of a test chart for density measurement output to a recording medium after carrying out recording defect correction in respect of existing recording elements having a recording defect, recording elements which record in the periphery of a new recording element having a recording defect are extracted as correction hold recording elements on the basis of a test chart for recording defect detection output to the recording medium, predetermined density correction values are set in respect of the correction hold recording elements, density correction values calculated on the basis of the acquired recording density information are set in respect of recording elements other than the correction hold recording elements, and output image data is output to the recording medium on the basis of the set density correction values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sasayama
  • Patent number: 9010920
    Abstract: A drying device of this disclosure is a drying device that dries ink discharged onto a surface of a recording medium and includes a drying conveyor portion and a blower portion. The drying conveyor portion conveys the recording medium. The blower portion blows air toward the recording medium substantially parallel to an ink recording surface of the recording medium being conveyed by the drying conveyor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Takatoshi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9004677
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for an adaptive filter scheme in handheld positioning device are described herein. The adaptive filter scheme may determine a direction that the positioning device is traveling and adjust one or more parameters of the filter scheme based at least in part on the determined direction. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: James D. Bledsoe, James Mealy, Asher Simmons
  • Patent number: 9004666
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a protective-layer-provided substrate in which a protective layer is formed on a substrate on the surface of which a plurality of structures have been arranged at intervals. The protective layer has a resin layer and a film for chucking. The process includes the steps of forming the resin layer between the respective structures, on the surfaces of the respective structures and on the surface of the substrate having the plurality of the structures; and forming the film for chucking on the resin layer to form the protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaya Uyama
  • Patent number: 8979258
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device has a feeding mechanism, a nozzle, an irradiating section, and a color meter. The feeding mechanism is configured and arranged to feed a medium in a feed direction. The nozzle is configured and arranged to eject a liquid to be cured by irradiation of light toward the medium. The irradiating section is configured and arranged to radiate the light toward the liquid landed on the medium. The color meter is disposed on a downstream side of the feed direction with respect to the irradiating section so as to perform color measurement of an image generated on the medium, the color meter being configured and arranged such that calibration of the color meter is performed by reading a reference. The irradiating section is configured and arranged to radiate the light when the calibration of the color meter is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenori Usuda
  • Patent number: 8967768
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method are realized which can improve a print quality while minimizing the volume of waste ink, running cost and throughput degradations. For this purpose, the scan width is set according to the size and position of the print medium and then, based on that scan width, a location where the preliminary ejections are to be executed and the number of times that the preliminary ejection is to be executed in a single preliminary ejection session are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jumpei Jogo, Masaki Nitta, Satoshi Hayashi, Yuhei Oikawa, Joji Katsuura, Kosuke Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8967790
    Abstract: A sheet cutting device includes a cutter including opposed blades to cut a sheet fed along a sheet feed path to the device, a cutter holder holding the cutter and reciprocally movable in a width direction of the sheet perpendicular to a sheet feed direction in which the sheet is fed, and a guide member including a first path to guide the holder in the width direction of the sheet to cut the sheet with the cutter and a second path to guide the holder in the width direction after the sheet is cut. The second path is disposed away from the first path in a thickness direction of the sheet perpendicular to both the sheet feed direction and the width direction of the sheet. When the holder moves along the second path, the holder is retracted away from the sheet feed path in the thickness direction of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Yamada, Kazuhiro Wakamatsu, Yuichiro Maeyama, Masato Ogawa, Toshihiro Yoshinuma
  • Patent number: 8967785
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and printing methods include a media support member to support media and an ink applicator unit to selectively apply ink to the media disposed on the media support member in a print mode. The image forming apparatus and printing methods also include a heating unit to preheat at least one of the media support member and the media to a predetermined temperature in a preheat mode prior to the selective application of the ink to the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Ltd.
    Inventors: Alex Veis, Lior Lifshitz, Alon Sarig, Gilhad Ben-Bassat
  • Patent number: 8967786
    Abstract: Methods for curing ink printed on a print medium are disclosed. The methods comprise heating air to a temperature suitable for curing the ink, and blowing the air through a plurality of holes onto the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventors: Antonio Monclus Velasco, David Claramunt Morera, Raimon Castells De Monet, Fco Javier Pérez Gellida, Xavier Soler Pedemonte, Jesús Garcia Maza, Roger Bastardas Puigoriol, Mikel Zuza Irurueta, Elena Laso Plaza, Francisco Javier Rodriguez Escañuela
  • Patent number: 8960889
    Abstract: The application describes a method and apparatus for controlling surface finish in the printing of a substrate in a plurality of passes using a curable print material and an ink jet printer having a radiation source. A first set of passes is carried out, including depositing ink on the substrate and emitting radiation from a radiation source toward the deposited ink. The emitted radiation applies a dose of radiation in a first range. A second set of passes is then carried out to deposit ink on the substrate. Further radiation is emitted from a radiation source toward the deposited ink, the emitted radiation applying a dose of radiation in a second range different from the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Inca Digital Printers Limited
    Inventors: Paul Anthony Anderson, Roger Matthew Walkley
  • Patent number: 8899706
    Abstract: A recording apparatus, including: a tank mount on which a tank is mountable; a first casing; a second casing provided with the tank mount, connected to the first casing with a shaft, and pivotable between a close position and a distant position about the shaft; a judging section configured to judge whether a tank mount state is a middle-of-mounting state; a limitation portion configured to establish a limitation state for limiting the pivotal movement of the second casing at the close position and a release state for allowing the pivotal movement at the close position; and a limitation control section configured to control the limitation portion to establish the limitation state when the tank is in the middle-of-mounting state, and control the limitation portion to establish the release state when the tank is not in the middle-of-mounting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyasu Yabuki
  • Patent number: 8882212
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid, a hollow needle that communicates with the liquid ejection head, a moving mechanism that moves the hollow needle or a liquid cartridge such that the hollow needle penetrates a sealing member of the liquid cartridge, a reader that reads a data stored in a memory, and a controller that controls a speed of the hollow needle relative to the sealing member based on the data read by the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mutsumi Otobe
  • Patent number: 8876277
    Abstract: A printing system includes one or more lineheads disposed opposite a first side of a print media and at least one vacuum assembly having a vacuum manifold disposed opposite a second side of the print media. The linehead or lineheads has one or more print zones where a liquid or ink is deposited onto the first side of the print media. The vacuum manifold is aligned with a non-print zone of each linehead and outputs a vacuum force proximate to the second side of the print media such that at least a portion of the second side of the print media is deflected away from the lineheads. The printing system can also include another component, such as a dryer, disposed over the print media and laterally adjacent to the linehead. Another vacuum manifold can be disposed adjacent to the second side print media between the linehead and the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Randy D. Vandagriff, Michael J. Piatt, Harsha S. Bulathsinghalage, W. Charles Kasiske, Jr.