Patents Examined by Michael Konczal
  • Patent number: 10611155
    Abstract: Printing systems are disclosed for preventing sediment buildup. In one implementation, a printing system is provided. The printing system includes a print area and a print head housing configured to enclose a print head spaced from the print area. The print head has a plurality of nozzles for expelling a printing liquid therefrom. The printing system further includes a pipe for interconnecting the print head with a reservoir, a pump for circulating the printing liquid from the reservoir to the print head and through the plurality of nozzles, and a processor. The processor may cause the pump to circulate the printing liquid to the print head and through the plurality of nozzles during a period of non-printing. In one embodiment, circulating the printing liquid includes flowing the printing liquid from the reservoir to the print head and from a retainer located below the plurality of nozzles back to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: XJET LTD.
    Inventors: Eli Kritchman, Hanan Gothait, Timofey Shmal, Sharon Fima
  • Patent number: 10583650
    Abstract: In some examples, a printer determines a difference between an enlarged calibration pattern portion printed on a substrate by a first portion of a nozzle array of the printer and an enlarged reference pattern portion printed on the substrate by a second portion of the nozzle array, the enlarged calibration pattern portion produced by printing respective smaller calibration pattern portions at corresponding different relative positions between the nozzle array and the substrate, and the enlarged reference pattern portion produced by printing respective smaller reference pattern portions at corresponding different relative positions between the nozzle array and the substrate. The printer adjusts at least one drive signal to at least one of the first portion of the nozzle array and the second portion of the nozzle array to compensate for the determined difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jordi Sender Beleta, Montserrat Solano Pallarol, Alejandra Terron Arregui
  • Patent number: 10427423
    Abstract: A recording device discharge position adjustor includes a recording device to discharge liquid droplets onto a recording medium; an edge detector unit to detect a lateral edge position of the recording medium in a direction perpendicular to a recording medium conveyance direction; a discharge position adjustor to adjust a discharge position of the liquid droplets from the recording device relative to the recording medium; a controller to adjust the discharge position using the discharge position adjustor; and an edge position converter to convert the edge position of the recording medium detected by the edge detector unit to an edge position at a position of the recording device, in which the controller adjusts the discharge position of the recording device by an adjustment amount corresponding to the edge position of the recording medium at the position of the recording device converted by the edge position converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Richoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nagasu, Takahiro Inoue, Tomoaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10232632
    Abstract: An object is to provide a liquid ejection apparatus that allows suppression of a fluctuation in a pressure of a liquid in a flow path caused by a liquid delivery unit, enabling the liquid to be stably ejected through an ejection port. The liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head having an ejection port through which a liquid is ejected, a flow path configured to communicate with the ejection port, and a liquid delivery unit configured to feed the liquid to the flow path. A relation between an angular frequency ? of the liquid delivered from the liquid delivery unit, a coefficient of kinematic viscosity ? of the liquid, and an equal diameter a of at least a part of a section of an extra-head flow path in a direction normal to a direction in which ink flows satisfies ?(?/2?)×a>1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10207506
    Abstract: There is provided an inkjet printing apparatus that can execute a recovery process appropriate for a print head according to a use condition of the inkjet printing apparatus. Therefore a recovery operation is performed based upon both an elapsed time in a non-use state where the printing is not performed and an elapsed time from the previous recovery process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Iwasaki, Tomoyuki Tenkawa, Atsushi Takahashi, Kei Kosaka
  • Patent number: 10197532
    Abstract: The present application relates to pulsed discharge ionization detectors (PDIDs) and non-radioactive ionization sources, including miniaturized forms thereof. In some examples, the PDID includes annular electrodes, where each electrode is disposed between annular insulators. Also provided herein are methods of making and using such PDIDs, such as for detecting one or more volatile organic compounds, as well as non-radioactive ionization sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald P. Manginell, Matthew W. Moorman, Kent B. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 10184284
    Abstract: A door closer assembly for an entryway device having a position sensor that assists in determining the location of the door closer assembly, and thus the location of the associated entryway device, relative to at least an entryway. The position sensor can be coupled to, and/or part of, the door closer assembly. Information obtained by the position sensor may be used by one or processing devices of an access control system to determine whether the door closer assembly and/or the entryway device is at the closed location, among other locations, as well as the direction(s) of displacement of the entryway device. Such information may be utilized in calibrating other devices, as well as determining the occurrence of a number of events, including unauthorized displacement or holding of the entryway device. A timer may also be utilized to further evaluate the nature of the displacement of the entryway device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Wayne Baumgarte
  • Patent number: 10173421
    Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric element including: a first electrode; a piezoelectric layer which is provided over the first electrode; and a second electrode provided on a side of the piezoelectric layer opposite to the first electrode, in which the second electrode includes a first layer which is provided on the piezoelectric layer side, and a second layer which is provided on a side of the first layer opposite to the piezoelectric layer, and the second layer does not contain platinum and covers an end portion of the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Nakayama, Eiju Hirai, Naoto Yokoyama, Motoki Takabe, Toshihiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10160206
    Abstract: Accounting for oscillations with drop ejection waveforms can include identifying a previous ejection waveform having a first plurality of parameters including a time interval from a final pulse of the previous ejection waveform. Accounting for oscillations with drop ejection waveforms can include determining a second plurality of parameters based on the first plurality of parameters, where the second plurality of parameters define a current ejection waveform that accounts for oscillations caused by the previous ejection waveform. Accounting for oscillations with drop ejection waveforms can include applying the current ejection waveform to cause an ejection nozzle of the printhead to generate a desired fluid drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Zhizhang Chen, Tony S. Cruz-Uribe, Peter J. Fricke
  • Patent number: 10160213
    Abstract: A fluid flow structure may include a micro device embedded in a monolithic molding. The molding may include a channel therein through which fluid flows directly into the micro device. The micro device may include a fluid flow passage connected directly to the channel, a silicon substrate, and a fluid port formed in the silicon substrate and fluidically coupled to the channel. A fluid is feedable through the fluid port. The channel is wider than the fluid port. The channel includes an open channel exposed to an external surface of the micro device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Chen, Michael W. Cumbie
  • Patent number: 10160199
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharging apparatus including: a discharging portion which discharges liquid; a fixing portion which fixes the discharging portion; a circuit substrate for controlling discharge of the liquid; a head cover which covers the circuit substrate; and a covering portion which connects the fixing portion and the head cover to each other, and covers a part between the fixing portion and the head cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kyohei Date
  • Patent number: 10144230
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism that improves accuracy for positioning a head relative to a carriage, and easily performs positional adjustment for the head. A carriage unit includes a first carriage structure and a second carriage structure. The first carriage structure includes a first sliding face that can slide along a guide shaft, and a head can be mounted on the first carriage structure. The second carriage structure includes a second sliding face that can slide along the guide shaft, and can hold the first carriage structure to allow positional adjustment for the first carriage structure in a predetermined direction in which a position where the first sliding face contacts the guide shaft is to be shifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Sekino, Koichi Kudaki, Ryoma Arai
  • Patent number: 10124603
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing panels having a decorative surface, wherein the panels at least comprise a substrate and a top layer, wherein the top layer comprises a paper layer having a printed pattern, and wherein the method at least comprises the step of providing the paper layer with thermosetting resin by transporting the paper layer through a resin application device in a resin application direction, and the step of providing the paper layer with at least a portion of the printed pattern by means of a digital inkjet printer, wherein the printed pattern comprises a wood motif having wood nerves extending generally in a nerve direction substantially corresponding to the resin application direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignees: UNILIN, BVBA, AGFA, NV
    Inventors: Benjamin Clement, Laurent Meersseman, Patrick Van Den Bergen, Rudi Vanhooydonck
  • Patent number: 10114046
    Abstract: A sample and hold circuit takes a sample of the current flowing through an inductor of a buck switched-mode power supply (SMPS) at substantially the middle of the low side portion (50 percent point during low side switch ON) of the pulse width modulation (PWM) period. This sample of the current through the SMPS inductor during the low side ON 50% point may be considered as the “average” or “DC output” current of the SMPS, and taken every time at precisely the same low side ON 50%. A constant current source and sink are used to charge and discharge a timing capacitor whose voltage charge is monitored by a high speed voltage comparator to provide precise sample timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Scott Dearborn, Cliff Ellison
  • Patent number: 10105959
    Abstract: A liquid supplying apparatus, configured to supply a liquid to a liquid ejecting section that is configured to eject the liquid, includes a tank configured to contain the liquid, the tank including a liquid containing section, and a container section connected to the tank. The container section is exposed to air through the tank, and the container section is connected to the liquid containing section of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenao Suzuki, Munehide Kanaya, Naomi Kimura, Koki Hayashi, Koji Nishimaki, Shoma Kudo
  • Patent number: 10099488
    Abstract: Marking device for marking information carriers, has a housing, a marking unit, a marking region inside the housing, and a holding device for holding at least one information carrier. The holding device is movable between a loading and unloading position outside the marking region and a marking position inside the marking region. A feed magazine for a plurality of information carriers to be marked, a deposit magazine for depositing a plurality of marked information carriers, a conveyor device and a positioning device are provided. An information carrier can go from the feed magazine into a first lower level below the holding device in the marking region by means of the conveyor device and vertically between the first lower level and the marking position in a second upper level by the positioning device, and from the first lower level in the marking region to the deposit magazine by the conveyor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Kilian Klages, Moez Bibani, Jörg Donoth, Mario Hiss
  • Patent number: 10099477
    Abstract: A fluid printhead including at least one fluid ejection element. The fluid ejection element includes a fluid chamber, a throat portion through which fluid is provided to the fluid chamber, and a heater element disposed within the fluid chamber. The fluid ejection element also includes a printhead condition detection system. The printhead condition detection system includes a first electrode at least a portion of which is disposed within the fluid chamber, the first electrode configured to receive a step voltage, a second electrode disposed within the throat portion, and a sense circuit electrically connected to the second electrode that generates an output based on the application of the step voltage to the first electrode as an indication of printhead condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: John Glenn Edelen, Steve Bergstedt
  • Patent number: 10093117
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a transportation belt, a washing portion that washes the transportation belt, and a selection unit. The selection unit selects a transportation mode for transporting the recorded medium from among a washing transportation mode in which the transportation belt is transported while being washed by the washing portion, and a non-washing transportation mode in which the transportation belt is transported without being washed by the washing portion. The selection unit selects the transportation mode in accordance with a recording mode. The selection unit selects, as a transportation mode for use in transporting the recorded medium along with no recording operation after a recording operation onto the recorded medium has been brought to a halt, the washing transportation mode or the non-washing transportation mode, whichever has been selected in the recording operation having been brought to a halt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Itaru Kozuma
  • Patent number: 10093095
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inkjet printing apparatus performing printing to an elongated printing medium 11, the method having a discharging step of performing continuous application to a piezoelectric element 23 of a nozzle to be used with a pulse number of two or more waves per one printing element to deform the piezoelectric element and thereby discharge ink in an ink chamber 22 from an opening portion 21, and a vibrating step of performing application of the piezoelectric elements 23 to all the nozzles with a pulse number of one wave per one printing element to deform the piezoelectric elements, thereby imparting only vibrations to the inks in the ink chambers 22 without discharging the inks, where the discharging step and the vibrating step are performed alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: MIYAKOSHI PRINTING MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Izawa, Yasushi Katagiri, Seiji Komatsuda
  • Patent number: 10096273
    Abstract: A method for debugging an overdrive table is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of establishing debugging conditions for debugging overdrive gray-scale values in overdrive table of different primary colors according to a partition mode of a liquid crystal display device, backlights of two color fields, and a refresh rate of the backlight. According to the method, various factors which influence the display effect of the liquid crystal display panel are taken into consideration when the overdrive table is debugged, whereby the accuracy of the overdrive table can be improved significantly, and a better display effect can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Fan, Chih Tsung Kang