Patents Examined by Henok Legesse
  • Patent number: 9789706
    Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments concern removable ultraviolet (UV) curable dye sublimation ink to be used in various printing systems and printing methods. In some embodiments, the ink includes a dye component, a UV curable component, and a soluble or solvent-sensitive component. In order to print an image on a substrate, the ink is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause sublimation of at least the dye component. During the sublimation process, the dye is able to permeate the substrate and form a printed image. After the transfer process has been completed, a solvent can be jetted onto the substrate that causes the soluble component to dissolve. The washing process ensures that any residual ink remaining on the surface of the substrate is substantially removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Andrew Edwards
  • Patent number: 9776423
    Abstract: A web-fed inkjet printing press has at least one printing unit and uses a printing material which is configured as a printing material web which is guided or which can be guided through the printing unit and which can be printed by at least one inkjet print head in the printing unit in a printing process with a printing color of a defined hue which is configured as ink. The inkjet print head in the printing unit is directed directly onto the printing material. A printing material web is made from a mechanical paper with a weight per unit area between 3.5 and 80 g/m2 and/or with a surface to be printed with a roughness according Bendtsen of at least 30 ml/min and or a thickness of from 50 to 120 ?m which is guided through the printing unit. The printing material web, in order to be printed, is in interaction indirectly or directly with the at least one inkjet print head of the printing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Oliver Christian Baar, Klaus Eppich, Sven Michael
  • Patent number: 9776414
    Abstract: A print pen capping apparatus for a printer comprises a cap station carrying one or more caps, wherein the cap station is moveable between a retracted position in which the cap station is arranged at a side of a print media path and a capping position adjacent the media path for capping the print pen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Rafael Ulacia Portoles, David Soriano Fosas, Luis Garcia Garcia
  • Patent number: 9770910
    Abstract: An image forming system includes a fluid applicator unit, a substrate positioning unit, and a fluid collector assembly. The fluid collector assembly includes a collector substrate, a collector advancement unit, and a collector control module. The fluid applicator unit may apply fluid to a substrate. The substrate positioning unit may position the substrate in a printzone to receive the fluid from the fluid applicator unit such that a first portion of the fluid remains on the substrate and a second portion of the fluid does not remain on the substrate. The collector substrate may collect the second portion of the fluid in the printzone below the substrate. The collector advancement unit may advance the collector substrate along a collector transport path below the substrate in the printzone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Francesc Ros Cerro, Daniel Gutierrez Garcia, Marcia Sole Pons
  • Patent number: 9764571
    Abstract: A device for feeding sheets to a digital sheet-processing machine includes a feed drum for transporting the sheets to the printing machine. At least two transport paths are provided to convey the sheets to be processed to the feed cylinder in at least two different positions from where the sheets are taken over by a gripper device of the feed cylinder and accelerated to processing speed. A digital sheet-fed printing machine having the device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Mueller, Burkhard Wolf
  • Patent number: 9757947
    Abstract: A wiper moving mechanism moves a wiper member a predetermined distance in an intersecting direction intersecting with an ejection surface, between a wiping position where a wiper of the wiper member is in contact with the ejection surface and a separation position. The cam is rotatable about a rotation shaft and includes a contact part which causes the wiper to make contact with a cleaning member when the contact part makes contacts with a wiper holder. The contact part is configured to be distant from the wiper holder in the intersecting direction when the wiper member is positioned at the wiping position and to be overlapped with a moving range of the wiper holder in the intersecting direction by moving the wiper member by the predetermined distance in the intersecting direction. The contact part has a length which is shorter than the moving range in the intersecting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kuno
  • Patent number: 9757965
    Abstract: In some examples, printing device performance analysis may include actuating a motor to operate a first separation tire of a printing device in a first rotary direction. The first separation tire may be operable adjacent to a second separation tire rotatable in a second rotary direction that is opposite to the first rotary direction to separate physical media. Printing device performance analysis may further include actuating the motor to operate the first separation tire in the second rotary direction, and determining whether a motor torque difference of the motor between the first and second rotary directions is greater than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Devin Scott Uehling
  • Patent number: 9757960
    Abstract: A UV inkjet printer includes a UV radiation device to irradiate jetted ink on a receiver, wherein the UV radiation device is attached to an inkjet print head module and includes a UV bulb lamp parallel to a slow scan direction; and the radiation device includes a shutter system to create a first irradiation zone on the receiver and to create a second irradiation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Piotr Weglicki, Martin De Kegelaer, Konstantinos Karellas
  • Patent number: 9751341
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a medium support portion which supports, at a support surface, a recording medium in a recording region by the recording head, and a base portion to which the medium support portion is attached in a state of being movable in a direction toward the support surface while being biased in a direction intersecting the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoshino, Kensuke Tamai
  • Patent number: 9751332
    Abstract: The present invention describes a two-sided radiation exposure method including a step of applying a coating or ink composition on a surface of a nonporous substrate. The applied coating or ink composition surface of the nonporous substrate is exposed to radiation one or more times. In addition, a non-applied surface of the nonporous substrate is exposed to radiation one or more times. The two-sided radiation exposure method improves adhesion and/or curing properties of the coating or ink composition applied on the nonporous substrate. The present invention also describes a radiation exposed, nonporous substrate with a coating or ink composition applied on a surface thereof produced by the steps of the above-mentioned method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SUN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuemei Zhang, Prasad K. Adhikari
  • Patent number: 9747531
    Abstract: The envelope printer is adapted for use with envelopes. The envelope printer is a printer that is customized for printing envelopes. The envelope printer comprises a feed tray, an output tray and a printer. The feed tray and the output tray are attached to the printer. The feed tray is a first bin that is designed specifically to hold envelopes. The printer will draw blank envelopes from the feed tray for printing. The output tray is a second bin that is designed specifically to receive envelopes from the printer. The printer is a specially designed printer that is optimized for processing and directly printing on envelopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventor: Paul Onish
  • Patent number: 9738097
    Abstract: A device for redirecting sheets in a sheet transport mechanism, especially sheets of a print medium in a printing system includes a support member, which carries or supports at least one guide member for directing a path of travel of a sheet. The support member is configured to be mounted adjacent a first transport path of a plurality of sheets and such that the support member is movable between a first inoperative position in which the at least one guide member does not impinge upon the first transport path, and a second operative position in which the at least one guide member is introduced into the first transport path to redirect one or more of the sheets to a second, alternative transport path. The device further includes an actuator configured to move the support member between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Erik E. M. Nolting, Joseph A. Schulkes, Marinus T. W. Gruntjens
  • Patent number: 9731502
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of this invention, the following data transfer between a printhead and a printing apparatus is performed. That is, a priority is set for each of a plurality of data to transfer the plurality of data. Print timings of the printhead are generated in accordance with a relative moving speed between the printhead and a print medium, and the print resolution of the printhead. Data to be transferred to the printhead in an interval between the generated print timing and the next print timing following the print timing are selected from the plurality of data based on the interval, the data length of each of the plurality of data, and the set priorities. The selected data are transferred to the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuki Hirobe
  • Patent number: 9731523
    Abstract: A cutter blade drive mechanism reliably returns a cutter blade from a forward position to a retracted position. A rotation transfer mechanism 34, which transfers rotation of a drive motor 31 to a drive gear 32, has a cutter blade return gear 50 that meshes with the drive gear 32, a compound gear (controller) 40 to which rotation from the drive motor 31 is transferred, and a transfer gear 51 that meshes with the compound gear 40 and the cutter blade return gear 50. While an intermittent teeth part 43a of the compound gear 40 and the transfer gear 51 are meshed, the cutter blade 21 moves to the forward position 21A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsugo Ishida
  • Patent number: 9731505
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a plurality of individual electrodes, a piezoelectric layer formed on each of individual electrodes, and a common electrode which is formed on the piezoelectric layer and is an electrode common to the individual electrodes. Further, a protection film covering a region, which is not covered by the common electrode on the individual electrode, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Yazaki, Takahiro Kamijo, Tatsuro Torimoto, Motoki Takabe
  • Patent number: 9724940
    Abstract: A recording method includes: ejecting aqueous ink to a surface of a recording medium by an ejection head, the aqueous ink containing a colorant, polymer particles having a glass-transition temperature Tg of 35° C. to 65° C., and a solvent containing water and an aqueous organic solvent, the aqueous ink having a viscosity ratio (V35/Vi) of a viscosity V35 that is obtained when the aqueous ink is heated at 35° C. for 30 minutes to an initial viscosity Vi of the aqueous ink being lower than 2.0 and a viscosity ratio (V65/Vi) of a viscosity V65 that is obtained when the aqueous ink is heated at 65° C. for 30 minutes to Vi being 8.0 to 20.0; and drying the aqueous ink ejected to the recording medium. The head temperature Th of the ejection head, the glass-transition temperature Tg, and the drying temperature Td satisfy an expression: Th<Tg<Td.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ueki, Mami Hatanaka, Toshitake Yui
  • Patent number: 9720346
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of correcting relative position in exposure position between laser beams that scan a photosensitive drum in a scanning direction of the laser beams. A semiconductor laser includes first and second light emitting elements for emitting first and second laser beams. These elements are arranged such that the laser beams expose positions on the photosensitive drum different in the sub scanning direction. A polygon mirror deflects the laser beams to scan the photosensitive drum. Relative position in the scanning direction between images to be formed on the photosensitive drum by exposure by the first and second laser beams is corrected based on correction data. An image data generation section generates drive signals associated with the respective light emitting elements. A semiconductor laser drive circuit causes the semiconductor laser to emit the first and second laser beams, based on the drive signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasutomo Furuta, Shunsaku Kondo
  • Patent number: 9702624
    Abstract: A drying apparatus includes: a heat drying section that heats a medium to which a liquid has been applied from a first surface side of the medium; a temperature adjusting section that adjusts a temperature of the medium from a second surface side of the medium, the second surface being on the opposite side to the first surface; and a control section capable of controlling the heat drying section and the temperature adjusting section. The control section controls the heat drying section and the temperature adjusting section individually in accordance with the type of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Toya, Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 9688078
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and non-transitory computer readable medium for printing on a spherical object are disclosed. For example, the apparatus includes a print head, at least two wheels, wherein each one of the at least two wheels rotates around a single axis, at least one ball support coupled to a mechanical arm, wherein the at least one ball support rotates 360 degrees around and is positioned to secure the spherical object against the at least two wheels and a controller in communication with the print head and the at least two wheels to rotate the spherical object via the at least two wheels into a position to print via the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Roberto A. Irizarry, Carlos Manuel Terrero, Donald R. Fess, Brian Andrew Hanna, Lynn C. Saxton
  • Patent number: 9690095
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a polygonal mirror configured to deflect a light beam emitted from a light source such that the laser beam scans a member to be scanned, a drive motor configured to rotate the polygonal mirror, aboard on which the polygonal mirror and the drive motor are mounted, an installation portion where the board is installed, a rubber member provided between the board and the installation portion, and an adjustment unit configured to position on the board with respect to the installation portion and to adjust inclination of the board with respect to the installation portion by deforming the rubber member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Ishidate