Patents Examined by Lisa M. Solomon
  • Patent number: 10252558
    Abstract: A method for operating a UV curing device in a printing machine includes providing a printing material to which a UV-curing fluid or UV printing ink or varnish is applied. The printing material is paper or foil moving in a transport direction and having a width. The fluid is cured by UV radiation emitted by a fluid-cooled first UV LED emitter of the device at least in an effective range thereof. The first UV LED emitter is operated in a curing mode and at a first power, and a fluid-cooled second UV LED emitter is operated in a temperature control mode different than the curing mode and at a second power lower than the first power and different than zero. The second power and the temperature of an LED array of the second UV LED emitter is selected to cause the LED array to be free from condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Michael Kohlmann, Oliver Gottschalt
  • Patent number: 10220643
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mobile printer freefall detection and protection mechanism. Printers may be subject to vibration or free fall during printing. This is more likely to happen for a mobile printer. In such cases, the printing performance will be adversely affected a lot or a thermal printhead (TPH) in the printer could be damaged. This disclosure describes a system and method of solving this problem by measuring the G-forces at using at least one sensor to determine if it is safe to start operation again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: DATAMAX-O'NEIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fong Yin Lau, Yong Chiap Cheng, Zhiyong Liu
  • Patent number: 10208219
    Abstract: A non-aqueous ink jet composition includes a pigment component containing a diketopyrrolopyrrole pigment and an organic solvent. The organic solvent contains glycol ethers. The amount of dissolved nitrogen in the non-aqueous ink jet composition is 90 mass ppm or less based on the total amount of the non-aqueous ink jet composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kubota, Naoki Koike, Jun Ito, Shugo Hattori
  • Patent number: 10201982
    Abstract: An example disclosed printer includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position in which the lid is at least partially separated from the base; a cavity defined between the lid and the base, wherein the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position; a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity that is pivotably attached to at least one of the lid or the base wherein the ribbon positioning assembly is configured to move between a printing position when the lid is in the closed position, and an accessible position when the lid is in the open position, wherein the ribbon positioning assembly comprises a ribbon tensioning mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Randal Wong, Petrica D. Balcan, Shu-Hsun Chiang, Kuan-Ying Lu, Chia-Wen Chang
  • Patent number: 10195858
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of suppressing ink from remaining on a nozzle surface. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a head unit 16 capable of ejecting a liquid from a nozzle 27 provided in a nozzle surface 22a of a nozzle plate 22, an anchoring plate 17 in which the head unit 16 is anchored and that is provided with an opening region 17a that exposes the nozzle surface 22, and a wiper member 12 that wipes an anchoring plate exposed-surface 17b located on the opposite side of the head unit 16 of the anchoring plate 17 and the nozzle surface 22a. When an angle of contact between the nozzle surface 22a and the liquid is taken as ?n, an angle of contact between the anchoring plate exposed-surface 17b and the liquid is taken as ?s, and an angle of contact between the wiper member 12 and the liquid is taken as ?w, the relationship ?n>?s>?w>90° is fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Watanabe, Yuma Fukuzawa, Katsumi Enomoto, Hiroaki Okui, Yoshinao Miyata, Satoshi Oguchi, Fujio Akahane
  • Patent number: 10195861
    Abstract: A printhead device includes firing chambers, nozzles, and shipping fluid. The shipping fluid includes a shipping fluid density and a shipping fluid viscosity greater than a corresponding ink density and ink viscosity of an ink that will be ejected from the firing chambers and through the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Curtis Voss, Palitha Wickramanayake
  • Patent number: 10190008
    Abstract: A method for printing on a water-soluble material which comprises the following steps: a) ink jet printing an ink onto a water-soluble material so as to form an image wherein the ink comprises a self-dispersible pigment which comprises a carboxy-functional dispersant crosslinked around a pigment core by a cross-linking agent having at least two groups selected from oxetane, carbodiimide, hydrazide, oxazoline, aziridine, isocyanate, N-methylol, keteneimine, isocyanurate and epoxy groups; b) overprinting the image formed in step A) with a water soluble overprint varnish, also printed material and inks. Also inks, ink-sets and printed water-soluble material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Fujifilm Imaging Colorants, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Oriakhi, Philip John Double, Ravi Shankar, Emmanuel Dimotakis
  • Patent number: 10189254
    Abstract: A droplet ejecting head includes a board, a pressure chamber, a nozzle, and an actuator configured to cause a pressure change in the pressure chamber in response to an electrical signal supplied from a drive circuit. The drive circuit is configured to set the electrical signal at a first voltage level, change the electrical signal to a second voltage level, set the electrical signal to a third voltage level during a time period after changing the electrical signal from the first voltage level to the second voltage level, the time period being equal to a primary natural oscillation period of the actuator when the pressure chamber and the nozzle are filled with solution, and set the electrical signal to the first voltage level after the time period has elapsed. The third voltage level is between the first and second voltage levels or equal to the second voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuhei Yokoyama, Ryutaro Kusunoki, Ikuo Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 10189255
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a flow passage member and a plurality of pressurizing sections. The flow passage member includes a plurality of discharge holes, a plurality of pressurizing chambers respectively connected to a plurality of the discharge holes, a plurality of first flow passages respectively connected to a plurality of the pressurizing chambers, a second flow passage commonly connected to a plurality of the first flow passages, a plurality of third flow passages respectively connected to a plurality of the pressurizing chambers, and a fourth flow passage commonly connected to a plurality of the third flow passages. A plurality of the pressurizing sections respectively pressurizes liquid in a plurality of the pressurizing chambers. A flow passage resistance in the third flow passages is lower than a flow passage resistance in the first flow passages. In the flow passage member, a damper is formed in the fourth flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10173431
    Abstract: A liquid containing member that can supply a liquid having a uniform concentration of a precipitating component to a liquid ejecting portion is provided. A liquid containing member includes: a liquid containing portion that can contain ink; a liquid supply port for supplying the ink contained in the liquid containing portion to a liquid ejection head; and a communication channel that is in communication with the liquid containing portion and the liquid supply port. The communication channel has a first end that is positioned at a lower end on the gravity direction side in the liquid containing portion and can suck the ink, and a second end that is positioned closer to the anti-gravity direction side than the first end is, and can suck the ink, in an in-use state in which the ink is supplied from the liquid supply port to the liquid ejection head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawate, Manabu Yamaguchi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Takuma Ozawa, Satoshi Oya, Hiroyoshi Ozeki
  • Patent number: 10166795
    Abstract: A tape cartridge configured to mounted in a tape printing apparatus includes: a cartridge case, a tape-shaped member contained in the cartridge case, an ink ribbon contained in the cartridge case, a roller contained rotatably in the cartridge case and is configured to feed the tape-shaped member outside the cartridge case by rotation, and is movable to a tape feeding upstream side in association with a retracting of the tape-shaped member into the cartridge case, a retracting prevention part cantilevered by the cartridge case on the tape feeding upstream side from the roller, and holds the tape-shaped member together with the roller moved to the tape feeding upstream side, and a ribbon guide part which is provided in the retracting prevention part. the retracting prevention part includes: a tape holding part, and an upstream base end provided at a base end of the tape holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kubota, Taishi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10160207
    Abstract: The invention is directed at a print head for printing a suspension fluid. The print head comprises a nozzle having one or more nozzle outlets for allowing the suspension fluid to be ejected from the nozzle, a flow path including a supply channel for supplying the suspension fluid to the one or more nozzle outlets, and a supply pump for establishing a flow within the flow path. The nozzle further comprises an actuator for imparting pressure fluctuations on the suspension fluid at the one or more nozzle outlets for generating a stream of droplets therefrom. The flow path further comprises a shear section for locally increasing the shear rate at least at a location in the flow path upstream of the one or more nozzle outlets. The flow path further includes a return channel for allowing excess fluid not ejected from the nozzle to flow away from the one or more nozzle outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Andries Rijfers, René Jos Houben, Robin Bernardus Johannes Koldeweij
  • Patent number: 10155384
    Abstract: A drop ejection system includes a working fluid source containing a working fluid, an ink source containing an ink that is immiscible with the working fluid, and at least one drop ejector array module. Each drop ejector array module includes a substrate and an array of drop ejectors disposed on the substrate. Each drop ejector includes a nozzle; an ink inlet connected to the ink source; a working fluid inlet connected to the working fluid source; a pressure chamber in fluidic communication with the nozzle, the ink inlet, and the working fluid inlet; and a heating element configured to selectively vaporize a portion of the working fluid to pressurize the pressure chamber for ejecting ink drops through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: RF Printing Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Richard Mu, Yonglin Xie
  • Patent number: 10155379
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device including a printhead die having a plurality of layers, including a single metal layer, and having an integrated ink level sensor. The ink level sensor includes an ink chamber above the metal layer, a metal plate of a sense capacitor disposed in the metal layer, and a clearing resistor circuit disposed in the metal layer including four clearing resistors arranged in a surround-4 configuration about the metal plate and electrically connected in parallel between a voltage potential and ground, wherein adjacent ends of at least two clearing resistors are not directly connected to one another so as to leave a gap between the adjacent ends in the metal layer. A metal lead in the metal layer extends through the gap to the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Boon Bing Ng, Hang Ru Goy, Patrick Leonard, Shane O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10144227
    Abstract: A recording substrate treatment apparatus includes transporting mechanism for transporting a sheet of a recording substrate through a first chamber in the interior space of the recording substrate treatment apparatus; a first suction device arranged for removing a gaseous medium from the first chamber; and an impingement device, arranged for providing a first flow of the gaseous medium at the outer surface of the transporting mechanism. The first suction device is fluidly connected to the impingement device, such that in operation the impingement device receives a first flow of the gaseous medium from the first suction device. With this arrangement, the impingement flow is balanced with an air flow directly extracted from the first chamber of the recording substrate treatment apparatus. A printing system including such a recording substrate treatment apparatus and a method of drying a recording substrate using such a recording substrate recording apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus G. M. Ramackers, Albert M. Van Beek
  • Patent number: 10147720
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor connected to a terminal having a first potential, an anti-fuse element connected between the transistor and a terminal having a second potential different from the first potential, and a resistor element connected in parallel with the anti-fuse element. An electric path between the transistor and the anti-fuse element has a length smaller than a length of an electric path between the transistor and the resistor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunari Fujii, Toshio Negishi
  • Patent number: 10138389
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous reaction liquid comprising a salt, a first surfactant being an amphoteric surfactant and a second surfactant being a non-ionic surfactant, preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic silicones (such as polyalkylene oxide modified silicones/polyether modified silicones), alkoxylated alcohols, fluorosurfactants, polyether modified silicone surfactants and polyethyleneoxides. Reaction liquids according to the present invention show improved spreading on print substrates when applied, which is beneficial when the reaction liquid is applied by an ink jet method. The present invention further pertains to an ink set comprising such a reaction liquid and a method of printing using such an ink set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: OCÉ-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Guido G. Willems, Heidy A. J. M. Kuijpers
  • Patent number: 10124612
    Abstract: A printer includes a battery, and a conveying unit powered by the battery and configured to convey printing media at a first speed and a second speed lower than the first speed, a printing unit that prints on the printing media conveyed by the conveying unit, a measuring device that measures a residual capacity of the battery, a display for displaying information related to the residual capacity of the battery, and a processor configured to control the display to, when the residual capacity of the battery is not less than a predetermined residual capacity value, display first information indicating a total number of the printing media that can be printed at the first speed, and when the residual capacity of the battery is less than the predetermined residual capacity value, display second information indicating a total number of the printing media that can be printed at the second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shu Satake, Masami Yamanashi, Michio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10118389
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a fluid slot, a plurality of fluid ejection chambers communicated with the fluid slot, a plurality of drop ejecting elements one of each within one of the fluid ejection chambers, a plurality of fluid circulation channels each communicated with the fluid slot and one or more of the fluid ejection chambers, and a plurality of fluid circulating elements each communicated with one or more of the fluid circulation channels. The fluid circulating elements are to provide intermittent circulation of fluid from the fluid slot through the one or more of the fluid circulation channels and the one or more of the fluid ejection chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Chris Bakker
  • Patent number: 10120306
    Abstract: A gas impingement device includes a first surface including a pattern of a plurality of gas outlets, the pattern including a number of substantially parallel rows of gas outlets, the rows arranged in a direction, which direction is at a skew angle ? with a front edge of the first surface of the gas impingement device. A recording substrate treatment apparatus and a printing system including such a gas impingement device and a method of drying a recording substrate by using the gas impingement device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: OCÉ-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus G. M. Ramackers, Stan H. P. Kersten