Patents Examined by Shelby l Fidler
  • Patent number: 11858264
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing droplet may include a droplet discharging member, a stage and a control member. The droplet discharging member may include a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction by a constant interval. The stage may receive a substrate including a plurality of regions for forming a plurality of pixels of a same size disposed in the first direction and a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The control member may control the droplet discharging member such that amounts of droplets may be substantially identical in the regions of the substrate for the pixels if the numbers of the nozzles of the droplet discharging member with respect to sides of the regions of the substrate for the pixels are different in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yeonsu Jung, Yeonchul Song, Myeongjun Lim, Chulwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 11850846
    Abstract: A method for reducing instability of a nozzle meniscus of a droplet deposition apparatus. The method includes the steps of receiving first and second data blocks for respective first and second line pixels, receiving a data set of forbidden pixel periods, determining a first jitter delay value based on the forbidden pixel periods, generating first and second print data based on the first and second data blocks, the first print data defining a first holding period and one or more drive pulses and the second print data defining one or more drive pulses; wherein the first and second print data generate first and second actuating element signals that cause an actuating element to eject at least one droplet from a nozzle, wherein the first jitter delay value adjusts a first pixel period, defined by the drive pulses, to fall outside of the forbidden pixel periods to reduce nozzle meniscus instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Xaar Technology Limited
    Inventors: Jesus Garcia Maza, Nigel Heather, Tomas Cerny, Peter Boltryk, Mario Massucci
  • Patent number: 11845289
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a carriage having a recording head and an ink tank that stores ink to be supplied to the recording head, which are mounted on the carriage, wherein the ink tank has an inlet port provided in an upper part of the ink tank, and a prism provided in a lower part of the ink tank, the recording apparatus includes a sensor located under the carriage and having a light-emitting portion that emits light toward the prism and a light-receiving portion that receives light reflected by the prism, and, when the carriage is located at an ink replenishment position where the ink in the ink tank is replenished via the inlet port, the sensor is disposed at a position hidden by the carriage in plan view of the carriage as viewed from above the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunari Kumagai, Takayuki Yazawa, Norihide Hashimoto, Katsumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 11840077
    Abstract: In a state where a distance from an ejection port surface of an ejection head to a predetermined position corresponds to a first distance, a period detection unit detects a first period from when ejection of a droplet from an ejection port is started until when a droplet detection unit detects the droplet, and in a state where the distance from the ejection port surface of the ejection head to the predetermined position is changed to a second distance by a change unit, the period detection unit detects a second period from when ejection of a droplet from the ejection port is started until when the droplet detection unit detects the droplet, the second distance being different from the first distance. A calculation unit calculates an ejection speed of the droplet, based on the first distance, the second distance, the first period, and the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Kiyokawa, Masashi Negishi
  • Patent number: 11833818
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a first pressure chamber that applies pressure to a liquid; a second pressure chamber that applies pressure to the liquid; a nozzle channel that extends in a first direction and includes a nozzle that ejects the liquid; a first communication channel that extends in a second direction crossing the first direction and enables the first pressure chamber and the nozzle channel to communicate with each other; a second communication channel that extends in the second direction and enables the second pressure chamber and the nozzle channel to communicate with each other; and a first branch channel that has a portion extending in the first direction and enables the first pressure chamber and the nozzle channel to communicate with each other through a path different from a path of the first communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuma Fukuzawa, Eiju Hirai, Yoichi Naganuma, Shotaro Tamai, Akinori Taniuchi
  • Patent number: 11820149
    Abstract: An ink bottle is mounted in a DOD printer with the ink bottle acting as an ink supply reservoir that supplies ink to a DOD print head. A unique cap is provided that is configured to be affixed to an end of the ink bottle via threads or the like. The cap can be provided with one or more mechanical keying features used to limit mounting of the cap and the bottle assembly to a correct receiver in the DOD printer. The cap can also be provided with a valve controlled ink passage that allows ink to flow out of the bottle through the cap and a valve controlled vent passage that allows air to enter the bottle through the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Entrust Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle Johnson, Randy Jordan, Brian O'Dell, Daniel Sarkinen
  • Patent number: 11820139
    Abstract: A print chip includes: an elongate silicon substrate defining nominal leading and trailing longitudinal sides of the print chip; circuitry layers positioned on the silicon substrate; and a MEMS layer positioned on the circuitry layers. The MEMS layer includes a plurality of parallel nozzle rows, each nozzle row having a plurality of inkjet nozzle devices arranged in a main row portion and a dropped row portion offset from the main row portion. The circuitry layers include data latches configured to provide dot data for the inkjet nozzle devices. A first row of data latches is positioned adjacent a leading row of the main row portion, and a second row of data latches is positioned adjacent a trailing row of the dropped row portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: Julie Catherine Hogan, Ronan Palliser, John Sheahan, Brian Brown, Caitriona Forbes, Pat Lehane
  • Patent number: 11813861
    Abstract: A method of printing an image from a printhead module having a plurality of horizontal nozzle rows. Each nozzle row has a main row portion and a corresponding dropped row portion vertically offset from the main row portion. The method includes the steps of: determining a predetermined delay for the dropped row portions based on the offset, a print speed and a print resolution; allocating dot data for image lines to respective nozzle rows based on the print speed and print resolution, sending first dot data for each main row portion and second dot data for each dropped row portion to the printhead module; and firing nozzles from the main row portions and dropped row portion in a predetermined sequence. Each dropped row portion is fired independently of its corresponding main row portion and delayed relative to its corresponding main row portion by the predetermined delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: Julie Catherine Hogan, Ronan Palliser, John Sheahan, Brian Brown, Caitriona Forbes, Pat Lehane
  • Patent number: 11813859
    Abstract: Printheads and methods of operation. In one embodiment, a printhead includes a plurality of jetting channels comprising first jetting channels configured to jet a first print fluid and second jetting channels configured to jet a second print fluid, and a driver circuit communicatively coupled to actuators of the jetting channels. The driver circuit receives a drive waveform comprising non-jetting pulses and jetting pulses, and gating signals comprising a first active gating signal designated for jetting the first print fluid, and a second active gating signal designated for jetting the second print fluid. The driver circuit selectively applies the non-jetting pulses and the jetting pulses to actuators of the first jetting channels based on the first active gating signal to jet the first print fluid, and selectively applies the jetting pulses to actuators of the second jetting channels based on the second active gating signal to jet the second print fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11813862
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejection section that includes a nozzle which ejects a liquid, a pressure chamber which communicates with the nozzle, and a piezoelectric actuator which imparts a pressure fluctuation to the liquid in the pressure chamber, a drive waveform generation section that generates a drive waveform including a non-ejection vibration pulse which, when supplied to the piezoelectric actuator, imparts the pressure fluctuation to the liquid in the pressure chamber such that the liquid is not ejected from the nozzle and a control section that controls supply of the non-ejection vibration pulse to the piezoelectric actuator in accordance with a temperature of the liquid in the pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mikiya Yajima, Shinichi Itaya
  • Patent number: 11801685
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion having a nozzle ejecting a liquid onto a medium, a liquid storage portion that stores the liquid, a supply flow path through which the liquid storage portion communicates with the liquid ejecting portion, an opening/closing mechanism having an opening/closing portion bringing the supply flow path into an open state or a closed state and an operation portion operating the opening/closing portion, a carriage mounted with the liquid ejecting portion and the opening/closing mechanism and configured to reciprocate in a main scanning direction, a contact portion that comes in contact with the opening/closing mechanism when the carriage moves while the supply flow path is in the closed state, and a detection portion that detects contact between the opening/closing mechanism and the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Tojo
  • Patent number: 11794470
    Abstract: There is provided print apparatus including: piezoelectric member; individual electrode; first and second common electrodes; voltage application circuit; detection circuit configured to detect a capacitance of a first capacitor configured by the piezoelectric member, the individual electrode, and the first common electrode and a second capacitor configured by the piezoelectric member, the individual electrode, and the second common electrode; first switching element; and control circuit. The control circuit is configured to execute: a first voltage application process to apply a first voltage to the second common electrode in order to discharge the ink; a detection process to detect the capacitance after electrically connecting the piezoelectric member and the detection circuit with the first switching element; and a second voltage application process to apply a second voltage to the second common electrode before the detection process, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsubasa Horie
  • Patent number: 11794489
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a facility (1) for printing surfaces of parts comprising: —apart support (3) mounted on a movement device (4) having at least five degrees of freedom, —at least one spray printing head and means (8) for sensing speeds and/or coordinates mounted on a support (11), —means (10) capable of controlling the printing means and the movement device (4), the movement device (4) and the support (11) being arranged opposite each other and a spatial reference frame (X, Y, Z) being assigned to said fixed support structure (11). A printing facility (1) characterised in that the printing means (5) consist of at least two monochromatic or bi-chromatic printing heads that are able to rotate and/or move in translation with at least one degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: SMRC AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS NETHERLANDS B.V., ROBO
    Inventors: Jérome Boniface, Romuald Richebourg, Michel Demarchi
  • Patent number: 11787171
    Abstract: An ink impact point correction apparatus for automatically measuring and correcting an impact point of ink using a pattern on a substrate, on which a coordinate system is displayed, and a substrate treating system including the same are provided. The ink impact point correction apparatus includes a recognition unit for acquiring information on the impact point of ink at a plurality of points located on a substrate; and a correction unit for correcting a position of an ink discharge point on the substrate based on the information on the impact point, wherein a coordinate pattern in the form of a coordinate system is formed at the plurality of points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Semes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Ho Kim, Yoon Ok Jang, Hyun Min Lee, Jun Seok Lee, Kwang Jun Choi
  • Patent number: 11780239
    Abstract: A method of controlling a system including an arrangement of at least two nozzles, wherein the arrangement and the shape move relative to each other, each nozzle traces a respective path on the shape, and each nozzle is configured to jet drops at actual jetting locations along the respective path of the nozzle. The method results in sequence of actuation events received from a control signal to be more frequent than would be needed for an arrangement printing on a flat surface to produce the required dot resolution. It is then possible to select which of the individual nozzles are to jet for a given actuation event from the sequence so that the actual jetting locations deviate from the target jetting locations by no ore than a define maximum error distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Global Inkjet Systems Limited
    Inventors: Philip Collins, Nicholas Campbell Geddes, Damian Howard Laurence Smith
  • Patent number: 11772375
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head, a first drive signal, a second drive signal output circuit, a third drive signal output circuit that outputs a third drive signal, having a smaller voltage amplitude than voltage amplitudes of other drive signals, to drive the liquid ejecting head, and a first conductive component including a first conductive section that electrically couples the liquid ejecting head to the first drive signal output circuit, a second conductive section that electrically couples the liquid ejecting head to the second drive signal output circuit, and a third conductive section that electrically couples the liquid ejecting head to the third drive signal output circuit. The first conductive section is positioned between the second conductive section and the third conductive section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Yoichiro Kondo, Toru Kashimura, Asami Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11766862
    Abstract: First and second individual flow paths coupling a first common liquid chamber to a second common liquid chamber are arranged side by side, and each individual flow path is provided with first and second pressure chambers. At least a part of the first individual flow path is provided in a space overlapping a region between the adjacent second pressure chambers when viewed in a Z axis direction, the space not overlapping the second pressure chamber when viewed in a Y axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuma Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 11760088
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a drive signal generation section configured to generate a plurality of drive pulses that is supplied to a pressure generation unit to change a pressure in liquid in a pressure chamber communicated with a nozzle. The plurality of drive pulses include: first and second discharge pulses to discharge liquid from the nozzle; and first and second micro-vibration pulses to not discharge liquid. The first discharge pulse and the first micro-vibration pulse are included in a first period included in a repetition cycle. The second discharge pulse and the second micro-vibration pulse are included in a second period included in the repetition cycle and later than the first period. The length from a start of the first period to the first micro-vibration pulse differs from the length from a start of the second period to the second micro-vibration pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shushi Makita, Masako Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11760087
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus has: a head unit that discharges a liquid; and a control unit that controls the operation of the head unit. The head unit has: a driving circuit board that includes a driving signal output circuit that outputs a driving signal, and also includes a substrate on which the driving signal output circuit is mounted; a discharge head that includes a driving element driven by the driving signal, a switching circuit that selectively supplies the driving signal to the driving element, and a nozzle plate in which a nozzle is formed, the nozzle discharging the liquid by being driven by the driving element; a first flow path member through which the liquid to be discharged from the nozzle passes; and a first heat dissipating member coupled to the driving circuit board. The first heat dissipating member is coupled to the first flow path member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Shoichiro Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11752763
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a head unit that ejects a liquid, and a control unit that controls an operation of the head unit, wherein the head unit includes a drive signal output circuit that outputs a drive signal, a first substrate on which the drive signal output circuit is provided, and a first ejection head including a first drive element driven by the drive signal, and a first nozzle plate including a first nozzle from which a liquid is ejected by driving the first drive element, wherein the first substrate includes a first face and a second face, wherein the drive signal output circuit is provided on the first face, and wherein a shortest distance between the first nozzle plate and the second face is shorter than a shortest distance between the first nozzle plate and the first face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yamamichi, Yusuke Matsumoto