Record Receivers And/or Driving Means Therefor Patents (Class 346/134)
  • Patent number: 11225100
    Abstract: Color change compositions that transition from a first to second color state upon application of an applied stimulus are provided. Also provided are substrates having the compositions on a surface thereof, as well as methods of making and using the compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Segan Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans O. Ribi
  • Patent number: 10926557
    Abstract: Devices include an inkjet printhead having nozzles and a transport item adjacent the nozzles. The transport item includes vacuum openings adapted to maintain print media on the transport item. The transport item moves the print media in a processing direction. The transport item also includes a jetting area lacking the vacuum openings. The jetting area is elongated and is oriented perpendicular to the processing direction. The nozzles are controlled to eject ink to the jetting area when the nozzles are aligned with the jetting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. McLaughlin, Frank B. Tamarez Gomez, Rachel L. Tanchak, Paul M. Fromm
  • Patent number: 10913625
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a conveying roller configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction; driven rollers arranged with intervals in a width direction intersecting with the conveying direction, the driven rollers being opposed to the conveying roller in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and the width direction; and coil springs provided corresponding to the driven rollers respectively and serving as rotating shafts for rotatably supporting the driven rollers, wherein the coil springs include a right-handed twining coil spring and a left-handed twining coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Mimoto, Shohei Ichikawa, Kengo Noda, Tsuyoshi Ito, Yoshimitsu Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 10523828
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing in which an image forming section is contained and a paper output section into which a sheet of paper on which an image has been formed is ejected. The paper output section includes a paper output tray that supports the front side or back side of the sheet of paper, a back-end supporting member that supports a back end of the sheet of paper in a paper ejection direction, and a paper takeout slot through which the sheet of paper is taken out. The paper output section is provided at the outer edge of the interior of the housing. The housing has an external wall whose inner face side is used as the paper output tray. The paper takeout slot opens upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukio Kanaoka, Masaaki Aida, Hidetoshi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 10513123
    Abstract: A recording apparatus comprising a container to store a sheet of recording medium; a conveyer configured to convey the recording medium in the container; a main tank receiving portion configured to receive a main tank for storing liquid; a sub tank configured to store liquid supplied from the main tank; and a recording head including an ejection surface where ejection openings for ejecting liquid supplied from the sub tank are formed. Each of three projected areas which are an area of the main tank receiving portion, an area of the sub tank, and an area of the recording head, each projected to a virtual plane parallel to a surface of the recording medium contained in the container from a first direction orthogonal to the virtual plane, at least partially overlaps a container projected area which is an area of the container projected to the virtual plane from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Hirata, Motohiro Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 10362188
    Abstract: A captured image is obtained in which an adapter tray is captured which is fitted in a predetermined first area in a conveyance tray conveyed by a printing apparatus and has a second area fitted with a printing medium on which printing is performed by the printing apparatus. A shape of the second area is specified based on the captured image and information about the predetermined first area. Further, an image based on the specified shape of the second area is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sakai
  • Patent number: 10137708
    Abstract: A printer that partially cuts roll paper to leave an uncut portion prevents paper jams from reversing the roll paper. A printer 1 has a print unit 41 for printing images on roll paper R; a cutter unit 46 disposed downstream in the conveyance direction from the print unit for cutting the roll paper and leaving an uncut portion; a conveyance unit 42 for conveying the roll paper in the conveyance direction or a reverse direction that is the opposite of the conveyance direction; and a controller 40 that executes a reversing process conveying the roll paper in reverse by the conveyance unit 42 when the roll paper is separated from the paper roll at the uncut portion after the cutter unit 46 cuts the roll paper, and not executing the reversing process in specific circumstances in which the roll paper remains connected through the uncut portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Motoyama, Norio Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 10099472
    Abstract: A plurality of first contact portions is arranged to face a second supporting member between a nipping position and nozzles in a conveying direction. The first contact portions are spaced away from each other in a width direction, and contact a sheet from a first side. A second contact portion is provided at least between two of the first contact portions in the width direction, and contacts the sheet from a second side. A regulating member is provided at a first supporting member. The regulating member extends to provide an extending end portion that is located at a position closer to a second supporting member than the nozzle surface is in a perpendicular direction. The extending end portion locates the first contact portions at a regulating position that is closer to the second supporting member than the nozzle surface is in the perpendicular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Samoto
  • Patent number: 10012864
    Abstract: An apparatus for developing a photographic image includes a housing, a light source and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. The light source is disposed on a first wall of or inside the housing and configured to emit light inside the housing. The LCD panel having a front side and a back side is disposed on a second wall or inside the housing. The LCD panel is configured to display a digital image on the front side upon illumination of the light toward the back side and to expose a photographic media disposed in close proximity to or contacting the front side of the LCD panel. A method for developing a photographic image is also provided. The photographic media can be developed into a photographic image after exposure using the LCD panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventors: Travis Kniffin, Joshua Hopkins
  • Patent number: 9990968
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a control circuit may include a command interface, a clock selection signal output circuit, and a clock generating circuit. The command interface may output a selection enable signal in response to a command. The clock selection signal output circuit may output, in response to the selection enable signal, a clock selection signal according to various sub-operations performed in a selected operation. The clock generating circuit may generate main clocks having different periods according the clock selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Beom Seok Hah
  • Patent number: 9800758
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer, a drawing data generating circuit, and a medium feeding circuit. The drawing data generating circuit generates, from print data, drawing data that causes the printer to execute a print job. The medium feeding circuit feeds the print medium to the printer. The medium feeding circuit executes: a first feeding stage in which the print medium moves to a specific position; and a second feeding stage in which the print medium moves from the specific position to the printer. The medium feeding circuit starts the first feeding stage after the drawing data is generated by the drawing data generating circuit when the image forming apparatus is in specific states, and starts the first feeding stage before the drawing data is generated by the drawing data generating circuit when the image forming apparatus is not in the specific states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Norifumi Miyahara
  • Patent number: 9756208
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a contact glass, a document transport device, a first reading module, a second reading module, a opposite roller, and roller holders. The opposite roller transports a document while keeping it in close contact with an image reading surface of the second reading module arranged inside the document transport device. The roller holders rotatably support the opposite roller, and on their faces facing the second reading module, a pair of patterns for detection is provided to detect the inclination of the opposite roller. The patterns for detection are each formed to be increasingly wide toward a first end side in the axial direction upstream from an intersection in a central part thereof in the document transport direction, and increasingly wide toward a second end side opposite from the first end side downward from the intersection in the document transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hirotoshi Tagawa
  • Patent number: 9676198
    Abstract: A recording apparatus comprising a container to store a sheet of recording medium; a conveyer configured to convey the recording medium in the container; a main tank receiving portion configured to receive a main tank for storing liquid; a sub tank configured to store liquid supplied from the main tank; and a recording head including an ejection surface where ejection openings for ejecting liquid supplied from the sub tank are formed. Each of three projected areas which are an area of the main tank receiving portion, an area of the sub tank, and an area of the recording head, each projected to a virtual plane parallel to a surface of the recording medium contained in the container from a first direction orthogonal to the virtual plane, at least partially overlaps a container projected area which is an area of the container projected to the virtual plane from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Hirata, Motohiro Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 9670016
    Abstract: A transmission device of automatic document feeder includes a pickup roller assembly, a paper-feed roller assembly, a paper-out roller assembly, a pickup gear assembly for driving the pickup roller assembly, a first transmission gear assembly, a second transmission gear assembly, a drive gear assembly and a motor. The paper-feed roller assembly includes a paper-feed shaft. The paper-out roller assembly includes a paper-out shaft. The first transmission gear assembly includes a first one-way gear and a second one-way gear. The motor bidirectionally drives the drive gear assembly. The motor drives the drive gear assembly to drive the first one-way gear together with the second transmission gear assembly or the second one-way gear together with the second transmission gear assembly to drive the paper-out shaft and the paper-feed shaft to unidirectionally rotate towards the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung Ming Chou, Chi Cheng Chuang
  • Patent number: 9610790
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus which includes a carriage which can move in a reciprocating direction, in which the carriage is provided with an ejecting unit which ejects liquid, a circuit board which inputs a signal to the ejecting unit, and a fan which can blow air toward the circuit board, and includes a separator which separates a path through which mist which occurs along with ejecting of liquid from the ejecting unit reaches the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Suzuki, Tsutomu Sasaki, Satoru Katagami, Kazutoshi Fujishima
  • Patent number: 9610765
    Abstract: A plurality of first contact portions is arranged to face a second supporting member between a nipping position and nozzles in a conveying direction. The first contact portions are spaced away from each other in a width direction, and contact a sheet from a first side. A second contact portion is provided at least between two of the first contact portions in the width direction, and contacts the sheet from a second side. A regulating member is provided at a first supporting member. The regulating member extends to provide an extending end portion that is located at a position closer to a second supporting member than the nozzle surface is in a perpendicular direction. The extending end portion locates the first contact portions at a regulating position that is closer to the second supporting member than the nozzle surface is in the perpendicular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Samoto
  • Patent number: 9550384
    Abstract: Provided is a printer which includes a carriage which includes a recording head performing recording on a paper sheet, a transport driving roller which transports the paper sheet to the recording head side and is driven by a driving source, and a transport driven roller which is pressed to the transport driving roller, is rotationally driven in contact with the paper sheet, and has a diameter larger than that of the transport driving roller. The transport driving roller is located below a guide frame as a support member supporting the carriage and is located in an area of the guide frame in a paper transport direction (in other words, a y direction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Sakamoto, Ryoichi Shuto
  • Patent number: 9533517
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a conveyance roller pair which conveys a sheet in a conveyance direction; a recording section having a nozzle surface provided with nozzles and which jets ink droplets from the nozzles thereby recording an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair; a platen arranged to face the recording section; a first support frame which supports the recording section; a first contact member supported by the first support frame, arranged upstream of the nozzles in the conveyance direction, extended toward the platen, and which contacts with the sheet; a discharge roller arranged downstream of the nozzles in the conveyance direction; a second support frame which supports the discharge roller; and a spur arranged to face the discharge roller and which contacts with the sheet from the same direction as the first contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Kenji Samoto
  • Patent number: 9421794
    Abstract: A fluid application system and method having a support structure for guiding a plurality of pallets along a path of travel through the system. The plurality of pallets for arranging a medium that receives fluid during operation. The system further includes an application assembly for applying fluid and energy to a medium arranged on the plurality of pallets and a conveyance arrangement comprising first and second conveyors for transferring the one or more pallets through the fluid application system. The first and second conveyors have a dedicated trolley selectively coupled to one of the plurality of pallets during movement along a first direction of the path of travel and selectively decoupled from the one of the plurality of pallets during movement along a second direction of the path of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: CED Integrated Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew B. Persons, Michael Novik, Timothy B. McGlinchy
  • Patent number: 9365053
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device for a printer includes a movable tray for supporting a print media. The tray is movable between an open position in which media may be moved on to the tray and a closed position in which media is blocked from moving on to the tray. The device also includes a rotatable media drive component for moving print media on to the tray and a movable restraint operatively connected to the tray. The restraint is movable between: a first position, corresponding to the open position of the tray, in which the restraint does not restrain the media drive component; and a second position, corresponding to the closed position of the tray, in which the restraint restrains rotation of the media drive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark G. Miranda, Keith Jariabka, Robert Lawrence Winburne
  • Patent number: 9342265
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a portion to receive a print job, a portion to generate print data of the print job, a portion to perform prescribed processing on the print data to convert it into processed data, a portion to form an image of the print data or the processed data, a portion to generate first reduction information including a difference in the amount of resources consumed when an image is formed under a print condition included in the print job and when an image is formed under a predetermined print condition, a portion to generate second reduction information including a difference in the amount of resources consumed when an image is formed from the print data and when an image is formed from the processed data, and a portion to store history information which associates the first and second reduction information with the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kano, Norihisa Takayama
  • Patent number: 9321285
    Abstract: A printer has a platen top unit fastened above the platen unit. The platen top unit is separate from the platen unit, and has first star wheels and second star wheels disposed on parallel horizontal frame members extending perpendicularly to the media conveyance direction above the platen surface. The first star wheels and second star wheels prevent the continuous paper conveyed over the platen surface from lifting away from the platen surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Hirashima, Hironori Maekawa
  • Patent number: 9242491
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is adapted to eject liquid toward a target medium. A transporter is adapted to transport a tray on which the target medium is mounted toward a region facing the liquid ejecting head via a transporting path. A tray guide is disposed in a front side of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and having a supporting face adapted to support the tray thereon. The tray guide is movable between a first position connecting the supporting face with the transporting path to allow the transporter to transport the tray to the transporting path and a second position escaping the supporting face from the transporting path. The supporting face is kept being parallel to the transporting path when the tray guide is moved between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Miyashita, Takashi Akahane, Hiroki Nakashima, Satoshi Noda
  • Patent number: 9209740
    Abstract: An actuating apparatus includes a first pulley to which a rotational power of a motor is transmitted, a second pulley to which a rotational power of the first pulley is transmitted through a wire, displacement encoders for detecting respective rotational angles of the first pulley and the second pulley, a slip amount calculator for calculating a slip amount of the second pulley with respect to the wire, and a motor controller for controlling a torque output from the motor based on the slip amount. The slip amount calculator calculates the slip amount based on a change in a rotational angular velocity of the first pulley, a difference between the rotational angles of the first pulley and the second pulley, and the torque output from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsuo Orita
  • Patent number: 9205675
    Abstract: In a method or device to dry a web-shaped recording medium in a printer, the web-shaped recording medium is printed with aqueous ink and subsequently directed with a predetermined web tension past a heatable body whose contact surface that faces towards the recording medium is brought into contact with a side of said recording medium that has not been freshly printed to dry said recording medium in a drying operation. A first guide element is arranged before the heatable body and a second guide element is arranged after the heatable body, the first and second guide elements guiding the recording medium. The contact surface of the heatable body is substantially flat. A negative pressure device generates a negative pressure at the contact surface facing towards the recording medium. The negative pressure is deactivated in a halt operation, the deactivation process taking place continuously over an adjustable time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Samweber
  • Patent number: 9176103
    Abstract: Chemical indicator compositions comprising a bismuth compound; elemental sulfur; and a compound with relatively high water solubility which makes the composition alkaline when exposed to water vapor at an elevated temperature; a chemical indicator comprising a substrate and the composition coated on at least a portion of a major surface of the substrate; and methods of making and using the chemical indicator are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David A. Whitman, David M. Read, Ranjani V. Parthasarathy, Kevin D. Landgrebe, Anthony E. Bennett
  • Patent number: 9170245
    Abstract: A chemical indicator composition comprising a bismuth (III) compound selected from the group consisting of bismuth (III) oxide and a bismuth (III) compound comprising at least one organic group which includes 2 to 20 carbon atoms; elemental sulfur; and a compound which makes the composition alkaline when exposed to water vapor at an elevated temperature; a chemical indicator composition comprising a bismuth (III) compound; elemental sulfur; a compound which makes the composition alkaline when exposed to water vapor at an elevated temperature; and at least one acid other than any acid present in the bismuth (III) compound; a chemical indicator comprising a substrate and the composition coated on at least a portion of a major surface of the substrate; methods of making the chemical indicator; and methods of using the chemical indicator are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kevin D. Landgrebe, David M. Read, Steven S. Kirckof
  • Patent number: 9156270
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is accommodated in a first casing. A supporting section is accommodated in a second casing. The first casing is pivotally movable relative to the second casing about a predetermined axis. Pivotal movement allows the first casing to take a first position at which an ejection surface confronts the supporting section and a second position at which the ejection surface is farther away from the supporting section than at the first position. The predetermined axis is closer to a first side surface than to a second side surface, and extends in parallel with the first side surface. The second side surface is formed with: a first opening through which a first medium tray is inserted or removed; a second opening through which a first tank is inserted or removed; and a third opening through which a waste-liquid tank is inserted or removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9073355
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a transport path for transporting a recording medium; a cover that is capable of being opened and closed and that covers the transport path when the cover is in a closed state; and a blowing unit, provided in the cover, that is capable of blowing air toward the recording medium that is on the transport path when the cover is in a closed state and that retracts from the transport path when the cover is in an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seigo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9044928
    Abstract: Mailing lines and related methods are disclosed. An example book addresser includes a print head to address varying thickness books and a lift movable relative to the print head between a first position and a second position to substantially maintain a distance between the print head and the varying thickness books.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
    Inventor: James Warmus
  • Patent number: 8567899
    Abstract: A printing system that has a printhead assembly for printing media fed along a media path and a plurality of service modules for the printhead assembly. Each of the service modules is configured to operate in a plurality of different modes and each of the service modules are independently operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Zamtec Ltd
    Inventors: Robert Rosati, David Petch, David Burney, Jim Sykora, Kenneth A Regas, Andy Bound, Neil Doherty, Scott Dennis, Ben Jones, Oksana Buyda, Locson Tonthat, Andrew Buyda, Patrick Kirk, Loren Hunt, Jason Dewey, Jim Trinchera, Bill Cressman, Ron Zech
  • Patent number: 8246160
    Abstract: A recording apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium includes a U-turn conveying path and a redirecting conveying path. The U-turn conveying path reverses the front and back of the recording medium and conveys the recording medium to a conveying roller. The redirecting conveying path reverses a conveying direction of the recording medium, fed from the front side of a main body of the apparatus, at an upstream side of the conveying roller in the conveying direction, and conveys the recording medium to the conveying roller. Then, a first recording medium is conveyed along the U-turn conveying path, and a second recording medium is conveyed along the redirecting conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruo Uchida
  • Patent number: 8066357
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce force acting, when an ink-jet head moves, on a distal end portion of an ink supply pipe connected to a brancher, to thereby prevent damage to the ink supply pipe as much as possible. An ink supplier, which supplies ink to respective ink introduction ports of at least one ink-jet head, has an ink supply pipe connected to an ink cartridge, a brancher to which a distal end portion of the ink supply pipe connected, and branch pipes extending from the brancher to the respective ink introduction ports. The brancher and the branch pipes are adapted to move integrally with the at least on ink-jet head, and in addition the distal end portion of the ink supply pipe and the brancher are connected to each other in a relatively rotatable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsuhisa Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20110242151
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided. The printing apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet in a colorant, a first sheet feeder and a second sheet feeder to supply sheets to the image forming unit, a trial printing system, which conducts a trial printing process to print at least a part of images included in a print job on a sheet supplied from the second sheet feeder when the print job designates the first sheet feeder, a first receiving system, which receives an instruction to continue printing after completion of the trial printing process, and a main printing system, which conducts a main printing process to print the images included in the print job on a sheet supplied from the first sheet feeder when the first receiving system receives the instruction to continue printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomomi ARAI
  • Patent number: 7971990
    Abstract: A transported medium transporting apparatus includes a transported medium transporting device and at least one pressing driven roller. The transported medium transporting device transports a transported medium in a predetermined transportation direction. The pressing driven roller is driven so that the pressing driven roller contacts one surface of the transported medium, which is transported by the transported medium transporting device. The pressing driven roller includes a rotary body and a shaft portion, both of which are made of elastic synthetic resin and formed integrally with each other. A plurality of protrusions are formed on the rotary body at regular intervals in a circumferential direction of the rotary body. The shaft portion rotatably supports the rotary body so that the rotary body can be driven. The pressing driven roller has a shape such that the rotary body contacts the transported medium with a predetermined pressing force owing to an elastic force of the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Terao, Hiroshi Hamakawa, Hiroshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7819519
    Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus for printing on a moving substrate (16) is described. The apparatus comprises ink jet printheads (4) for printing on a surface of the substrate, a plurality of rollers (12, 14) arranged to move the substrate (16) relative to the printheads (4), and a pressure source (22). The pressure source (22) is arranged to apply a negative gauge pressure (32) to the substrate (16). The application of the pressure can hold the substrate flat and can reduce undesired movement of the substrate relative to the rollers (12, 14). The apparatus allows for high quality full colour images to be printed onto substrates in a single pass using an ink jet printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Inca Digital Printers Limited
    Inventor: Richard William Eve
  • Patent number: 7591552
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising a transporting path to transport a first target medium in a first direction and to transport a second target medium in the first direction and a second direction, a first and second rollers, a supporting member that supports the second roller and is movable between a first position where the first roller contacts the second rollers and a second position where the second roller is separated from the first roller, a releaser that moves the supporting member between the first and second positions, wherein the releaser has a lever that projects into the transporting path when the supporting member is in the first position and is adapted to be pushed by a leading edge of the second target medium, thereby receding from the transporting path and rotating the releaser such that the releaser moves the supporting member to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Sanshiro Takeshita, Eiichi Miyashita
  • Patent number: 7562975
    Abstract: A positioning structure of an image forming apparatus comprises an image recording medium to be transported; an ink head unit for ejecting ink fluids onto the image recording medium; a transport mechanism for transporting the image recording medium; a recording unit for retaining the ink head unit; an apparatus body frame for retaining at least the recording unit and the transport mechanism; a transport roller for introducing the image recording medium to the transport mechanism by regulating a transport position of the image recording medium; a restrict unit, being installed in the recording unit and the transport mechanism, for restricting a positional interrelationship between the recording unit and the transport mechanism; and an elevator mechanism for making a gap between the recording unit and transport mechanism changed, wherein the recording unit is retained by the apparatus body frame and/or the transport mechanism at three points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Noriko Yokoyama, Hiroshi Hashi
  • Publication number: 20080278523
    Abstract: A recording apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium includes a U-turn conveying path and a redirecting conveying path. The U-turn conveying path reverses the front and back of the recording medium and conveys the recording medium to a conveying roller. The redirecting conveying path reverses a conveying direction of the recording medium, fed from the front side of a main body of the apparatus, at an upstream side of the conveying roller in the conveying direction, and conveys the recording medium to the conveying roller. Then, a first recording medium is conveyed along the U-turn conveying path, and a second recording medium is conveyed along the redirecting conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Haruo Uchida
  • Publication number: 20080211837
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording head, a platen, and a first hole. The recording head includes a dot formation element array, and the platen holds a recording medium opposite the recording head. The first hole is disposed in an area of the platen opposite a downstream portion of the dot formation element array and guides ink discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin. Alternatively or additionally, a second hole is formed in an area of the platen opposite an upstream portion of the dot formation element array, and the platen guides ink, which is discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin, to the second hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetoshi KODAMA, Koichiro Yokoyama, Kiyoto Komuro, Takuya Yasue, Takashi Akahane, Masahiro Isono
  • Publication number: 20080180468
    Abstract: A shaft portion 2a of a platen roller 2 is inserted into an elongated hole-like recess 5a of a platen frame 5 so as to be movable therein. A release arm 9 having an engagement portion 9b engaged with a shaft portion 2a is swingably provided and is urged by a spring member 10. A switch 11 has an intercept 11a which can be contacted/separated to/from the release arm 9. When a thermal head 1 is moved against a spring force of a spring member 4, the release arm 9 follows the thermal head 1 to be allowed to swing by the spring member 10, thereby moving the shaft portion 2a in the recess 5a. When the switch 1 detects movement of the release arm 9, it is determined that recording is impossible since the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2 are spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: Masanori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7393097
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus comprises a first roller, a second roller, a looped conveyor belt, a conveyance face formed on the conveyor belt to convey a record medium, an ink-jet head, and a roller supporter. The conveyor belt is wrapped around the first and second rollers to be stretched between the first and second rollers. The ink-jet head has an ink ejection face on which nozzles each of which ejects ink are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuhisa Nakashima, Susumu Kuzuya
  • Publication number: 20080036798
    Abstract: The printing apparatus has: a recording medium holding device which holds a recording medium; a recording information acquisition device which acquires data relating to recording information recorded on the recording medium; a storage device which stores data relating to character images; an automatic determination device which automatically selects the character image corresponding to the data relating to the recording information recorded on the recording medium, from the character images stored in the storage device; and a printing device which prints the character image selected by the automatic determination device, onto a surface of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Atsushi Uejima
  • Publication number: 20080030528
    Abstract: A transported medium transporting apparatus includes a transported medium transporting device and at least one pressing driven roller. The transported medium transporting device transports a transported medium in a predetermined transportation direction. The pressing driven roller is driven so that the pressing driven roller contacts one surface of the transported medium, which is transported by the transported medium transporting device. The pressing driven roller includes a rotary body and a shaft portion, both of which are made of elastic synthetic resin and formed integrally with each other. A plurality of protrusions are formed on the rotary body at regular intervals in a circumferential direction of the rotary body. The shaft portion rotatably supports the rotary body so that the rotary body can be driven. The pressing driven roller has a shape such that the rotary body contacts the transported medium with a predetermined pressing force owing to an elastic force of the shaft portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya TERAO, Hiroshi HAMAKAWA, Hiroshi TAKEUCHI
  • Patent number: 7101036
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus comprises a first roller, a second roller, a looped conveyor belt, a conveyance face formed on the conveyor belt to convey a record medium, an ink-jet head, and a roller supporter. The conveyor belt is wrapped around the first and second rollers to be stretched between the first and second rollers. The ink-jet head has an ink ejection face on which nozzles each of which ejects ink are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuhisa Nakashima, Susumu Kuzuya
  • Patent number: 6834949
    Abstract: A device for holding a sheetlike article on a movable underlying surface for transporting the sheetlike article in at least one direction selected from the group consisting of a direction into and a direction out of an operating station having a printing unit, includes a member having a surface underlying the sheetlike article, the sheetlike article being retainable by pneumatic pressure on the surface, a screening device disposed locally fixedly with respect to an operating station, the screening device serving for reducing an airflow in a region of the printing unit at least with respect to adjacent regions, the reduction in the airflow resulting from the sheetlike article being held on the underlying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Martin Greive
  • Patent number: 6712463
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a sheet conveyor and platen provided with plural extrusions for supporting the sheet material in the recording area, the plural extrusions being arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet material at designated intervals in a configuration of being extended in the conveying direction, plural sheet-discharging rollers downstream of each of the extrusions in the conveying direction and in the same position as each of the extrusions in the intersecting direction, plural first spurs for nipping a sheet material with the plural sheet-discharging rollers, and a second spur downstream of the first spur and between the plural sheet-discharging rollers in the intersecting direction, being driven to rotate following the movement of a sheet material to push down the sheet material between the plural extrusions, the lowest part of the second spur being arranged to be lower than the uppermost part of the sheet-discharging roller when the sheet material does not abut thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6628316
    Abstract: A printer with donor and receiver media supply trays each adapted to allow a printer to sense type of media therein, and method of assembling the printer and trays. Donor and receiver media supply trays to be loaded into the printer are adapted to allow the printer to sense type of media therein. Each supply tray comprises a tray body having a supply of the media (i.e., donor or receiver) therein. A transceiver is disposed proximate the trays. The transceiver is capable of transmitting a first electromagnetic field and sensing a second electromagnetic field A first transponder is integrally connected to the receiver supply tray and has encoded data previously stored therein indicative of the type of receiver media. A second transponder is integrally connected to the donor supply tray and also has encoded data previously stored therein indicative of the type of donor media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Spurr, Kurt M. Sanger, Babak Tehranchi, Timothy J. Tredwell
  • Patent number: 6619792
    Abstract: A printing mechanism comprises a printhead that defines a printzone, and a tray adapted to support at least one sheet of print media. The tray is adapted to move through the printzone during printing by the printhead on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Carrie Roberts, Roberta Stinson, John H. Dion, Mark L. McCarty
  • Patent number: 6592198
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a conveying mechanism control unit which performs a first processing and a second processing almost simultaneously, when it is detected that a recording medium has reached a stop position. The first processing is to make invalid the output of a servo computing device and make effective the output in accordance with an output-for-stop setting register. The second processing is to generate an auto stop interrupt to inform that the output in accordance with the output-for-stop setting register is made effective. With this configuration, the recording apparatus enables the increase in speed of a stop operation control processing of a DC motor for use in conveying a recording medium and the improvement of the stop position accuracy of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiharu Shoji, Nobutsune Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Saito