Patents Examined by Henok Legesse
  • Patent number: 10093050
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head including a nozzle forming face in which a plurality of nozzles through which liquid is ejected toward a droplet landing object are formed, and a protruding face protruding toward the droplet landing objet and disposed so as to surround the nozzle forming face, and a cap body including a bottom plate and a wall extending upwardly from the bottom plate and configured to seal the nozzle forming face within a sealing space formed by bringing a top portion of the wall into contact with the protruding face. Further, at minimum, a portion included in the wall and being brought into contact with the protruding portion is an elastic member including liquid repellency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Nagatoya
  • Patent number: 10086607
    Abstract: An inkjet printer that is configured to perform multi-pass printing operations includes at least one printhead, a memory and a controller. The controller receives a input row of image data for one pass including a plurality of pixels. The controller uses a table of index lookup offsets in the memory to generate a row of output image data with at least one pixel at a first index in the input row being located at a second index in the output row. The controller operates the inkjets in the printhead to eject at least one drop of ink using an inkjet in the printhead that corresponds to the second index in the output row and that is different than another inkjet in the printhead that corresponds to the first index in the input row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Metcalfe, John F. Seward, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10081189
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a carriage, a medium support member, a gap switching unit, and a maintenance unit. The carriage includes a recording head configured to record on a medium. The medium support member is provided at a position facing the recording head and is configured to support the medium. The gap switching unit is configured to switch a gap between the medium support member and the recording head. The maintenance unit is configured to perform maintenance on the recording head. The gap switching unit and the maintenance unit are driven by a common motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masamitsu Shimazu, Makoto Sato
  • Patent number: 10081204
    Abstract: A print module including a printhead cartridge releasably engaged with a supply module The supply module includes a body housing electronic circuitry for supplying power and data to a printhead of the printhead cartridge; and an ink inlet module and an ink outlet module flanking the body at opposite sides thereof. Each of the ink inlet and ink outlet modules having a respective ink coupling engaged with complementary inlet and outlet couplings of the printhead cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Profaca, David Burke, Billy Sy, Gilbert Alemana, Christopher Hibbard, Rommel Balala
  • Patent number: 10081205
    Abstract: A printhead maintenance system includes: a maintenance chassis having a maintenance module with a laterally movable capper; a print bar chassis movably mounted on the maintenance chassis, the print bar chassis having a printhead and a cover for the capper; a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the print bar chassis relative to the maintenance chassis between a capping position a printing position; and a retraction mechanism for laterally extending and retracting the capper between the capping position and the printing position. The printhead is engaged with the capper in the capping position and the cover is engaged with the capper in the printing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Profaca, David Burke, Billy Sy, Gilbert Alemana, Christopher Hibbard, Rommel Balala
  • Patent number: 10081210
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of multi-pass inkjet printing comprising: (i) providing an inkjet ink comprising a radiation-curable monomer and a photoinitiator; (ii) jetting the ink via a printhead on to a substrate, wherein the ink is applied in multiple passes of the printhead with respect to the substrate, with each pass jetting a portion of ink in a layer on the substrate, with a first layer being jetted directly on to the substrate and subsequent layers being jetted onto the preceding layer, to build an image formed of the multiple layers; and (iii) exposing all of the layers of ink to actinic radiation to cure the ink, wherein the order of jetting the layers and curing is that pairs of layers are applied to the substrate without exposing the first layer of the pair to actinic radiation prior to the second layer of the pair of layers being applied, curing the pair of layers simultaneously by exposing the pair of layers to actinic radiation, and repeating until the image is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems Limited
    Inventors: Lee Corfe, Mark Pemble
  • Patent number: 10081208
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a casing, a circuit board, an electrolytic capacitor, an explosion-proof valve, a first wall, a second wall, and a specific region. The electrolytic capacitor is connected to the circuit board. The electrolytic capacitor includes a sleeve portion containing electrolysis liquid therein and has an axis defining an axial direction. The sleeve portion has one end portion, another end portion, and a peripheral surface extending therebetween. The explosion-proof valve is provided at the one end portion. The first wall is disposed in the casing and faces the explosion-proof valve. The second wall extends from the first wall and faces at least a portion of the peripheral surface. The specific region is provided in the second wall and has one of a recessed portion and a protruding portion. The recessed portion is recessed away from the peripheral surface. The protruding portion protrudes toward the peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10081198
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjustable path length of print media in a dryer of a printing system. In one embodiment, the dryer includes a drum that applies heat to a web of print media. The dryer also includes first rollers positioned in an arc around the drum to define a path of travel of the web along the arc when the web is between an entrance of the dryer and the drum. The dryer further includes second rollers positioned inside the arc from the first rollers to reverse the path of travel of the web inside the arc when the web is between the drum and an exit of the dryer. A first roller and a second roller transport the web around the drum. A location of the first roller and the second roller relative to the arc defines a length of the web inside the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart Boland, Scott R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10081175
    Abstract: A method of recording an image on a recording medium by applying an auxiliary liquid containing a water-soluble resin and wax particles to an intermediate image formed on an intermediate transfer member, bringing the intermediate image into contact with the recording medium at a temperature higher than a melting point of the wax particles, subsequently peeling off the intermediate image from the intermediate transfer member at a temperature lower than the melting point of the wax particles and transferring the intermediate image onto the recording medium. The method can improve the efficiency of transferring the intermediate image from the intermediate transfer member onto the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Sakurada, Takashi Imai
  • Patent number: 10065424
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a nozzle plate provided with nozzle openings; an actuator unit including a flow channel formation substrate in which pressure generation chambers are provided and piezoelectric actuators that cause a change in the pressure of the liquid within respective pressure generation chambers; a communication substrate in which communication channels that communicate between the pressure generation chambers and corresponding nozzle openings are provided; a first case member that is a frame member affixed to the communication substrate so that the actuator unit is disposed within the first case member and that, along with the actuator unit, forms a manifold that holds the liquid to be supplied to the pressure generation chambers; and a second case member that is affixed to the first case member and in which is formed an introduction channel that sends the liquid from the exterior to the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinao Miyata
  • Patent number: 10059125
    Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus that includes a transport belt for transporting a medium, a pressing roller configured to press the medium against the transport belt, and a support portion capable of supporting the transport belt. In the stated recording apparatus, the transport belt and the support portion make contact with each other when the pressing roller is pressed against the medium. By making the recording apparatus have the constitution as described above, it is possible to make the transport belt support the medium with certainty and suppress an increase in friction force between the transport belt and the support portion capable of supporting the transport belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoyuki Okumura
  • Patent number: 10059112
    Abstract: The printing apparatus (liquid discharging apparatus) is provided with a support section that supports a medium, a discharge section that discharges ink on the medium supported on the support section, and a transport unit that transports the medium in a transport direction. The support section includes a support structure including a liquid permeable portion that supports the medium and allows ink to pass therethrough, and a liquid holding portion that holds ink that has passed through the liquid permeable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Shibata
  • Patent number: 10040302
    Abstract: A pinion gear is coaxially attached to vicinity of an end of an inner bar. The pinion gear is engaged with a rack gear and rotates in response to upward and downward movements of the tension bar. When the pinion rotates, the inner bar correspondingly rotates. The inner bar and an outer bar, which is a tension applying bar, are connected to each other so as to freely rotate. When the pinion rotates, the inner bar correspondingly rotates, while the outer bar remains unrotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Nakamura, Kazutaka Tamaki
  • Patent number: 10022967
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus jetting a liquid onto a recording medium conveyed in a first direction includes head units arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. One head unit includes nozzle chips; one nozzle chip has a nozzle arrangement area wherein nozzles are aligned in a third direction crossing the first and second directions. The nozzle chip is arranged to be shifted relative to another nozzle chip in a direction crossing the first and second directions and different from the third direction. The head unit has a first overlapping portion wherein nozzle arrangement areas of first and second nozzle chips included in the nozzle chips partially overlap with each other in the first direction. The liquid jetting apparatus has a second overlapping portion wherein nozzle arrangement areas of third and fourth nozzle chips included in the head units partially overlap with each other in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taisuke Mizuno, Hideki Hayashi, Keita Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10027829
    Abstract: An apparatus main body including a recording mechanism portion that performs recording on a paper sheet; and a reading mechanism portion which is linked to the apparatus main body to be rotatable in an upper portion of the apparatus main body, and reads a document, the reading mechanism portion includes a reading unit which extends in a main scanning direction, and moves in an auxiliary scanning direction intersecting with the main scanning direction, a motor which moves the reading unit, and a first linking portion and a second linking portion which are disposed on the outside of a moving region when the moving region of the reading unit is viewed in a plan view, and are linked to the apparatus main body to be rotatable, and the motor is disposed at least in any of the first linking portion and the second linking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Miyamoto, Yoshiyuki Okazawa
  • Patent number: 10011112
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid discharge head substrate includes a substrate having a parallelogram shape, a plurality of liquid discharge elements disposed on the substrate, a plurality of power supply terminals disposed along a first side of the substrate, and a first wiring, having a lattice shape, connected to the plurality of power supply terminals. On the substrate, the first side and a third side form an obtuse angle, and the first side and a fourth side form an acute angle. In the plurality of power supply terminals, the number of power supply terminals at positions closer to the third side than to the fourth side is larger than the number of power supply terminals at positions closer to the fourth side than to the third side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Takagi
  • Patent number: 10005284
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle that is disposed on a nozzle surface, and an absorption member which is able to contact the nozzle surface, in which it is possible to perform a first contact operation which causes the absorption member to contact the nozzle surface at a position which corresponds to a nozzle region that includes an opening region of the nozzle, and a second contact operation which causes the absorption member to contact the nozzle surface at a position which corresponds to a non-nozzle region that is a region outside of the nozzle region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Suzuki, Koji Harada, Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Kazuhiko Hara, Yasunori Koike, Ryo Oguchi
  • Patent number: 10000076
    Abstract: A drying device includes a drying section to dry a recording medium; a cooling section to cool the recording medium conveyed from the drying section; and a duct to expel air inside the drying section to outside the drying device. The duct includes a joint section where the air from the drying section meets air from the cooling section meet. The air from the drying section containing moisture and solvent medium is cooled in the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Ohba
  • Patent number: 9994049
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjustable path length of print media in a dryer of a printing system. In one embodiment, the dryer includes a drum that applies heat to a web of print media. The dryer also includes first rollers positioned in an arc around the drum to define a path of travel of the web along the arc when the web is between an entrance of the dryer and the drum. The dryer further includes second rollers positioned inside the arc from the first rollers to reverse the path of travel of the web inside the arc when the web is between the drum and an exit of the dryer. A first roller and a second roller transport the web around the drum. A location of the first roller and the second roller relative to the arc defines a length of the web inside the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart Boland, Scott R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9987848
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head having a nozzle arrangement region in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink is arranged, and a cleaning unit configured to perform cleaning operation on the recording head. A control unit is configured to control the cleaning unit and a change operation for changing relative position relation between a region where the record medium passes and the nozzle arrangement region. The control unit acquires end passage positions in a first recording operation before the change operation is performed, and a passage region in a second recording operation after the change operation is performed. The control unit performs control for executing the cleaning operation in a case where the end passage position is included in the passage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Susumu Hirosawa, Minoru Teshigawara, Atsushi Sakamoto, Yoshiaki Murayama, Takatoshi Nakano, Takahide Takeishi