Patents Examined by Renee I Wilson
  • Patent number: 9458337
    Abstract: A curable resin composition comprises fine particles, a polymerizable compound having an ethylenic unsaturated group, a photopolymerization initiator having a betaine structure; and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Yofu
  • Patent number: 9457572
    Abstract: An inkjet head and a production method wherein the inkjet head is produced by forming a film on a head chip having a channel member with an ink channel formed thereon and joining an end surface of the head chip coated with the film to a nozzle plate. The method includes a step of applying an adhesive containing spherical particles, whose volume average particle diameter is in the range of 0.95*Rz (MV) to 2.0*Rz (MV), in the range of 0.1 volume % to 10.0 volume % to at least one of the end surface of the head chip and a joint surface of the nozzle plate and then joining the nozzle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Akihisa Yamada, Tadashi Hirano
  • Patent number: 9458339
    Abstract: An inkjet ink which is electron beam curable includes 10 to 40 wt.-% of at least one oligomer based on a total weight of the inkjet ink, 5 to 25 wt.-% of at least one reactive thinner based on the total weight of the inkjet ink, 25 to 84 wt.-% of a solvent mixture comprising at least two solvents based on the total weight of the inkjet ink, and 1 to 15 wt.-% of at least one pigment based on the total weight of the inkjet ink. The at least two solvents have a boiling point of from 50 to 300° C., a dielectricity constant of from 5 to 20, and an evaporation rate of 3 to 5000. The evaporation rate of the at least two solvents differs by a factor of from 2 to 10. The inkjet ink is free from photoinitiators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: MANKIEWICZ GEBR. & CO. GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Umberto De Rossi, Oliver Bolender
  • Patent number: 9453138
    Abstract: An ink for ink jet including a coloring material; and a water-soluble organic solvent. The coloring material contains a compound represented by the following general formula (I). The water-soluble organic solvent contains a compound represented by the following general formula (II) and a linear both-terminal alkanediol having 4 to 6 carbon atoms. The content A (mass %) of the compound represented by the following general formula (II) based on the total mass of the ink is 4.0-12.0 mass %, and the mass ratio (A/B) of the content A (mass %) to the content B (mass %) of the alkanediol based on the total mass of the ink is 2.5-4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuhei Shimizu, Masayuki Ikegami, Takashi Saito
  • Patent number: 9447300
    Abstract: There is provided an ink comprising a colorant, a polymer particle, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, wherein the ink has a static surface tension of 30 mN/m or less and, when examined for dynamic surface tension by the maximum bubble pressure method, has a width of variations in dynamic surface tension, for a period from 1 msec after to 1 sec after, of 0.2 mN/m to 3.0 mN/m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ueki, Mami Hatanaka, Hirohito Yoneyama, Reika Abe
  • Patent number: 9441125
    Abstract: A photo-curable ink composition including UV curable polyurethane dispersions, water, photo-initiator, colorant and hydrophobic radiation-curable monomers. Also disclosed herein is a method for forming a printed article and an inkjet printing system using said photo-curable ink composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing LTD.
    Inventors: Or Brandstein, Nataly Lisitsin, Malan Calitz, Alex Trubnikov, Eytan Cohen
  • Patent number: 9434196
    Abstract: Printed products can be efficiently sorted into non-defective ones and defective ones even when a discharge failure occurs during the printing operation. Two inspection patterns for detecting discharge failure are printed before and after a plurality of images. The inspection patterns are read to determine the type of discharge failure. Printed media are sorted based on whether it is determined that there is a continuous discharge failure, whether it is determined that there is an accidental discharge failure, or whether it is determined that the discharge is normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa, Yoshiaki Murayama, Satoshi Azuma, Minoru Teshigawara
  • Patent number: 9434201
    Abstract: An inkjet receiving medium including a substrate and having a topmost layer coated thereon at solid content of from 0.1 to 25 g/m2, wherein the topmost layer comprises from 30-70 wt % of one or more aqueous soluble salts of multivalent metal cations and at least 0.05 g/m2 of a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer binder. Improved optical density, reduced mottle and improved wet abrasion resistance are provided when the receiver is printed with an aqueous pigment-based ink. In further embodiments, the topmost layer may further comprise a latex dispersion for improved image durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dannhauser, Gerald A. Campbell
  • Patent number: 9421808
    Abstract: An inkjet receiving media comprising a substrate having a transparent topmost layer coated thereon at solid content of from 0.3 to 2.5 g/m2, wherein the topmost layer includes from 30-70 wt % of one or more aqueous soluble salts of multivalent metal cations, 5 to 20 wt % of a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer binder, 4 to 12 wt % of a cationic polymer to stabilize 10 to 40 wt % silica that is less than 200 nm is size. Improved optical density, reduced mottle and improved wet abrasion resistance are provided when the receiver is printed with an aqueous pigment-based ink. In further embodiments, the topmost layer can further include high levels of silica that makes the layer porous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Wayne Thomas Ferrar, Thomas Joseph Dannhauser, Raouf Botros, Peter G. Bessey, Hwei-Ling Yau
  • Patent number: 9422440
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to an amorphous bis-urea compound having a formula 1: where X is a branched alkyl bridge and R? and R? are alkyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naveen Chopra, Adela Goredema, Kentaro Morimitsu, Stephan V. Drappel, Jeffrey H. Banning
  • Patent number: 9415580
    Abstract: Systems, mechanisms, and methods are described that relate to the production of a custom printed insert(s) that can be custom printed prior to insertion of the custom printed insert(s) into an envelope along with a personalized card/carrier combination for mailing to the intended holder of the personalized card. The inserts are custom printed using an insert printer that is located in the inserter mechanism that is used to insert the insert(s) and the card/carrier combination into an envelope for mailing to an end user of the card. The inserter mechanism can have an “off-line” configuration, i.e. configured as a stand-alone mechanism, or configured for “in-line” use, i.e. used together with other mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ENTRUST DATACARD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Beech, Thomas J. Wagener
  • Patent number: 9409414
    Abstract: A customization system for an article of equipment includes a printing system for printing a graphic onto the article. The customization system also includes a cylinder for holding the article for printing a graphic upon the article. The cylinder can include one or more recesses in the outer surface of the cylinder to accommodate the article. A partial vacuum applied to the article when disposed within the recess through ports in the bottom surface of the recess holds the article in place within the recess while the cylinder rotates during printing. A gasket can be included between the recess in the cylinder and the article to provide an airtight seal to hold the article in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Miller, Catherine F. Morrison
  • Patent number: 9403371
    Abstract: A liquid storage container includes a liquid storage section configured to store a liquid, a liquid injection section connected to the liquid storage section and configured to inject the liquid into the liquid storage section, an air chamber communicated with air, an air introduction section communicated to the air chamber and configured to introduce the air to the air chamber, a communicating passage through which the liquid storage section and the air chamber are communicated to each other, a liquid injection port defined as an intersection at which the liquid injection section and the liquid storage section intersect each other, and a connecting port defined between the liquid storage section and the communicating passage and located above the liquid injection port in a posture where the liquid injection port is oriented upward in a direction intersecting with a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Koike, Takashi Mano
  • Patent number: 9393792
    Abstract: A liquid discharge recording apparatus includes: a liquid containing first glycol ether; a liquid discharge head which discharges the liquid; an absorber which absorbs the liquid discharged from the liquid discharge head; and second glycol ether which is contained in the absorber and of which vapor pressure is lower than that of the first glycol ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriaki Satoh, Junichiro Sugimoto, Ayako Ohishi, Akihiko Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9388322
    Abstract: The invention provides an ink for use in an ink jet recording process in which an ink is ejected from a recording head by the action of thermal energy, the ink comprising a pigment, a water-soluble polyurethane polymer, a compound represented by a general formula (1) having a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 or more and 8,500 or less, and a polyethylene oxide alkyl ether, the alkyl group of which has 12 or more carbon atoms, wherein, based on the total mass of the ink, the content (mass %) of the compound represented by the general formula (1) is 0.4 times or more and 10.0 times or less in terms of mass ratio with respect to the content (mass %) of the polyethylene oxide alkyl ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kakikawa, Kouhei Nakagawa, Yuhei Shimizu, Takakazu Mizutani, Hideki Takayama
  • Patent number: 9383675
    Abstract: An image forming section includes a bearing member configured to bear an image, and a light-emitting-element array having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged linearly in an arrangement direction. The image forming section is configured to form an image on the bearing member by using the plurality of light emitting elements to form the image on a sheet. A reader is configured to read an image formed on a sheet. A memory stores instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform: a pattern reading process of controlling the reader to read a sheet on which a pattern image is formed, the pattern image being an image for detecting positional deviation of the light-emitting-element array; and a deviation calculating process of calculating an amount of positional deviation of the light-emitting-element array based on a reading result by the pattern reading process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 9382082
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device and an image forming apparatus include a conveying member that adsorbs a sheet by an electric charge and conveys the sheet, a first electric charger to charge the conveying member by applying voltage, and a second electric charger to charge the conveying member by applying voltage. The second electric charger is arranged downstream from the first electric charger in a conveying direction, and applies the electric charge with the same polarity as the first electric charger to the conveying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Imoto
  • Patent number: 9381755
    Abstract: In one example, a platen for supporting a print substrate includes multiple support surfaces that together define the full extent of a substrate support area of the platen. Each support surface is oriented parallel to other support surfaces along a line that is oblique to a direction the print substrate is to pass over the support surfaces when the platen is in use in a printer or other liquid dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Jesus Garcia Maza, David Claramunt Morera, Antonio Hinojosa Trigo, Daniel Gutierrez Garcia
  • Patent number: 9370926
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a media tray; a roller pair capable of selectively conveying the media tray and a sheet; a recording device disposed downstream of the roller pair in a conveying direction and configured to eject ink droplets; lower contact portions disposed downstream of the roller pair in the conveying direction; and an upper contact portion configured to cooperate with the lower contact portions to corrugate the sheet. The media tray has a downstream edge portion in a tray inserting direction in which the media tray is inserted. The downstream edge portion has at least one inclined portion inclining obliquely upward toward an upstream side in the tray inserting direction. The at least one inclined portion contacts the upper contact portion to move the upper contact portion upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Iwane Sano
  • Patent number: 9370941
    Abstract: A double-walled housing (3) for an ultra-violet ink curing apparatus (1), comprising an inner skin (5) and an outer wall (7) secured together by at least one locking means (9), wherein the locking means (9) is adapted to secure the inner skin (5) and the outer wall (7) together while permitting relative movement of the inner skin (5) along the length of the outer wall (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: GEW (EC) LIMITED
    Inventors: Malcolm Rae, James Hicks