Patents Examined by Alexander C Witkowski
  • Patent number: 8727527
    Abstract: A recording device includes a device body, a roll accommodating unit accommodating a roll that is a long recording medium wound up into a roll shape, the roll accommodating unit being provided to an exterior of the device body, a recording head that performs recording on the recording medium unwound and conveyed from the roll accommodated in the roll accommodating unit, an ejection conveying unit that ejects the recording medium subjected to recording by the recording head out of the device body, and a carrying unit on which the recording medium ejected by the ejection conveying unit is carried. The carrying unit is formed by a top surface of the device body and a topside surface in a vertical direction of the roll accommodating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideshi Horikawa
  • Patent number: 8721066
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a recording unit, a feeding mechanism, a guide member, and a lock portion. The feeding mechanism is configured to feed a first feeding object along a feeding path. The feeding path has a straight path and a curved path. The recording unit faces the straight path. The guide member defines the curved path and is rotatable between an exposed position and a closed position. The lock portion is movable between a locked position at which the guide member is locked in the closed position and an unlocked position at which the lock is released. The guide member has a recess formed therein and the feeding mechanism further feeds a second feeding object to the recess along the straight path. When the second feeding object is disposed in the recess, the lock portion is disposed at the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Asada, Satoru Nakakita
  • Patent number: 8721068
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nail print apparatus including a printing finger fixation section which fixes a printing finger and a printing section, and the printing finger fixation section includes at least on finger insertion member which is provided so as to slide along a finger inserting direction according to a length of the printing finger when the printing finger is inserted, and the finger insertion member includes a nail portion exposure window which is provided for exposing the nail portion in a side of the printing section, a finger pressing section for pressing a vicinity of a base of the nail portion from above when the printing finger is inserted, and an abutment member which is arranged in a back side in the finger inserting direction than the nail portion exposure window so that a tip portion of the printing finger abuts when the printing finger is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 8702224
    Abstract: To provide a printing method that enhances bonding between a colored-ink layer and an overprint layer, flatten a surface of the overprint layer, and make it possible to print glossy images or decorative colors when performing overprinting on a colored ink print using an inkjet printer. The printing method includes sequentially performing: Step (1) of forming a UV curable colored-ink layer on a surface of a recording medium; Step (2) of irradiating the colored-ink layer with a weak UV light; Step (3) of forming an overprint layer on the colored-ink layer; Step (4) of flattening the surface of the overprint layer after allowing a predetermined time to elapse; Step (5) of irradiating the colored-ink layer and the overprint layer with a weak UV light; and Step (6) of irradiating the colored-ink layer and the overprint layer with a strong UV light to cure the colored-ink layer and the overprint layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 8702192
    Abstract: This invention prevents a possible color mixing, that may occur more than a predetermined time after the wiping operation, by executing a pre-printing cleaning ejection while at the same time minimizing the amount of waste ink produced by the cleaning ejection. To this end, if a color mixing is determined as being likely to occur an elapsed time after the previous wiping operation, the pre-printing cleaning ejection uses a second ink volume U, which represents both the color mixing elimination ink volume and the ejection failure elimination ink volume. If it is decided that there is no likelihood of the color mixing occurring the elapsed time after the wiping operation, the pre-printing cleaning ejection uses the first ink volume D which represents only the ejection failure elimination ink volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Danzuka, Kazuo Suzuki, Yutaka Kawamata, Masataka Kato, Asako Tomida, Jumpei Jogo, Hiroaki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8702226
    Abstract: An inkjet recording method using a clear ink composition includes processes of applying the clear ink composition and of heating the applied clear ink composition, wherein the clear ink composition contains an amino group-containing resin, water, a sparingly water soluble alkanediol, and a wetting agent which is solid at 20° C. and 60% relative humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Koganehira
  • Patent number: 8696103
    Abstract: A transfer type inkjet recording method uses an aggregation liquid, in which the aggregation liquid contains a polyurethane resin having an amino group and the polyurethane resin has a number average molecular weight of 10,000 or more and 1,000,000 or lower and an amine value of 0.5 mmol/g or more and 3.0 mmol/g or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinsuke Tsuji, Yuichiro Kanasugi
  • Patent number: 8696102
    Abstract: A printing apparatus and method may provide efficient transfer of ink from a transfer belt to a recording sheet by using a transfer mechanism having a supporting member for supporting the recording sheet and a contact member. In one arrangement, the contact member may be configured to contact an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt to bend the transfer belt and push the outer peripheral surface of the belt outward at an angle smaller than 90°. By pushing and bending the transfer belt, the an ink transfer surface of the belt and the recording sheet may be pinched together to affect transfer of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8690312
    Abstract: A printer includes a dryer, a liquid-deposition unit, a charging member, a development station, and a fixer arranged in that order along the paper path. The dryer dries a selected region of the paper on the transport to a moisture content not to exceed that of the paper equilibrated to 20% RH. The liquid-deposition unit deposits hydrophilic liquid in a selected fluid pattern on the paper within 15 seconds of the completion of drying. The charging member selectively charges the paper so that a charge pattern of charged and discharged areas is formed on the paper and the charged areas have a potential of at least 100 V. The development station deposits dry ink on the charged paper in a dry ink pattern corresponding to the selected fluid pattern. The fixer permanently fixes the dry ink to the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Donald Saul Rimai
  • Patent number: 8690311
    Abstract: Methods of treating ink on a porous substrate and methods of printing onto porous substrates are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the methods of treating ink on a porous substrate includes applying a layer of ink onto a first surface of a porous substrate; irradiating the layer of ink with first radiation having a first spectrum effective to partially cure the ink layer and reduce penetration of the ink into pores of the substrate; leveling the partially-cured ink layer; and irradiating the as-leveled ink layer with second radiation to further cure the ink layer, the second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum of the first radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Edward B. Caruthers, Michael D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8684512
    Abstract: An ink drying apparatus is provided with a gas passage through which a printed material to which ink is attached passes. Further, a flow applying unit configured to create a flow of gas in the gas passage in a predetermined direction, a heating unit configured to heat the gas in the gas passage, and a solvent removing unit configured to remove a solvent in the ink from the gas passage are provided. In the ink drying apparatus, the heating unit and the solvent removing unit are associated with each other such that heat can transfer from the solvent removing unit to the heating unit by a heat transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Nakazawa, Yoshimasa Araki
  • Patent number: 8681194
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing a latent image includes a light source, a photodetector, a rotary contact, a power supply, driving electronics and a plurality of thin-film transistors. The light sources receives the digital data signals and transmits encoded optical data signals. The photodetector receives the encoded optical data signals and transmits signals including selection signals and digital pixel voltages. A rotary contact receives operating voltage potentials from a controller and the power supply receives the operating voltage potentials from the rotary contact. The power supply generates a low voltage potential, a ground potential and a high voltage potential. Driving electronics receive a low voltage potential, a ground potential, selection signals and digital pixel voltages and generate bias signals and pixel voltages. The plurality of TFTs receive the high voltage potential, the bias signals and the pixel voltages and drive the hole injection pixels to generate an electrostatic latent image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: George Cunha Cardoso, Mandakini Kanungo, Jeffrey Folkins
  • Patent number: 8668323
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printing device including: a plurality of heads configured to discharge inks cured by light irradiation and arranged in a transport direction of a medium; a plurality of pre-curing light sources provided in correspondence with the plurality of heads and configured to irradiate pre-curing light to dots formed on the medium by the heads; and a completely-curing light source configured to irradiate completely-curing light to the dots to which the light from the plurality of pre-curing light sources is irradiated, wherein a first printing mode in which a background ink is discharged from a head of an upstream side of the transport direction of the heads for discharging color inks and a second printing mode in which the background ink is discharged from a head of a downstream side of the transport direction of the heads for discharging the color inks are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Onishi
  • Patent number: 8662660
    Abstract: A printer includes a jet and an adjusting device. The adjusting device includes a base, a movable rod on the base, and an idle roller secured to the movable rod. The idle roller drives a piece of paper to slide. A feed roller is secured above the idle roller, and a gap between the feed roller and the idle roller has a gap height accommodating a paper thickness. A driving mechanism is in a side of the idle roller and transports the piece of paper out of the gap. During a printing process, the feed roller faces a printed side, and the idle roller faces an opposite side. The jet is secured above the printed side and between the driving mechanism and the feed roller. The idle roller moves substantially perpendicular to a printing surface, and the idle roller adjusts the gap height substantially equal to the paper thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-I Wu
  • Patent number: 8662654
    Abstract: A printing device includes a plurality of heads ejecting ink cured by irradiation of light and arranged in a transport direction of a medium, a plurality of temporary curing light sources provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of heads and respectively irradiating light for temporary curing to dots formed on the medium by the respective heads, and a main curing light source irradiating light for main curing to the dots to which the plurality of temporary curing light sources have irradiated the light, wherein the printing device has a first printing mode where a clear ink is ejected from a head placed at the upper stream in the transport direction when seen from heads ejecting color inks, and a second printing mode where the clear ink is ejected from a head placed at the lower stream in the transport direction when seen from the heads ejecting the color inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Onishi
  • Patent number: 8657437
    Abstract: A bar code printing device that prints print data including a bar code that has bars arranged in parallel in a main scan direction and spaces therebetween includes: a decoder that detects a point of change from a bar to a space based on bar code position information that indicates a position of the bar code in the print data and a data value for each line in the print data; and a data transfer part that moves up timing for outputting a drive signal for printing a bar immediately preceding the space and that outputs the drive signal, if the decoder detects the point of change from the bar to the space in the bar code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Syuji Sato
  • Patent number: 8651657
    Abstract: Printer module includes a media processing member and a bumper that is arranged to be adjusted in height to provide for a parallel arrangement of the media processing member with respect to a printer roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Inigo Oraa, Felix Ruiz, Jonathan Negro
  • Patent number: 8651655
    Abstract: Printer, comprising a media path that in one embodiment is arranged so that a print height is lower than a highest point of the media path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Allan G. Olson, Anyee J. Worley, Michael L. Gustafson, Michael J. Allison
  • Patent number: 8651653
    Abstract: An apparatus and method apply release fluid to a leveler in a printing apparatus. The apparatus can include a substrate path, at least one release fluid spray nozzle, and a marking material leveling system having a marking material leveler. The method can include transporting a substrate with marking material along the substrate path. The method can include pulse spraying release fluid to the marking material leveling system using the at least one release fluid spray nozzle to apply the release fluid to the marking material leveler. The method can include leveling marking material on the substrate using the marking material leveler with release fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony S. Condello, Bryan J. Roof
  • Patent number: 8641185
    Abstract: To prevent conveyance defects due to kicking, a printing device includes a conveyance roller for conveying a medium in a conveyance direction; a guide for supporting the medium on a top surface of the guide on an upstream side in the conveyance direction from the conveyance roller; and a head for ejecting ink and printing on the medium on a downstream side in the conveyance direction from the conveyance roller; wherein the top surface of the guide is positioned higher than a line tangent to the conveyance roller at a position of contact between the conveyance roller and the medium; and an end part of the guide on the downstream side in the conveyance direction has a smaller thickness in the direction in which the medium is supported than on the upstream side of the end part in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Igarashi