Waste Storage Patents (Class 347/36)
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Patent number: 9555637Abstract: A cartridge 1 is provided with an ink pack 9, an air bag 10 capable of abutting the ink pack 9, and a pressurizing chamber 11 that stores the ink pack 9 and the air bag 10. In the case where the amount of ink in the ink pack 9 decreases, pressurized air is introduced into the air bag 10, the ink pack 9 is pressed against the air bag 10, and thereby the internal pressure of the ink pack 9 is increased. After that, pressurized air is introduced into the pressurizing chamber 11 so as to increase the internal pressure of the pressurizing chamber 11 and pressurize the ink pack 9 from outside. Accordingly, the ink in the ink pack 9 is supplied from an ink supply port 12 to the inkjet printer 2.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masaru Kumagai, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Masaru Kobashi
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Patent number: 9555633Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a waste liquid container accommodation part, and a waste liquid drain passage member. The waste liquid container accommodation part replaceably accommodates a first waste liquid container to contain waste liquid. The waste liquid drain passage member guides waste liquid into the waste liquid container accommodation part. The apparatus body includes a mount portion to mount a second waste liquid container having a capacity greater than the waste liquid container accommodation part. The mount portion of the apparatus body is different from the waste liquid container accommodation part. The waste liquid container accommodation part accommodates a relay unit to relay a drain passage from the waste liquid drain passage member to the second waste liquid container, replaceably with the first waste liquid container.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Masashi Ohnishi
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Patent number: 9545794Abstract: A method of performing maintenance on a printhead of an imaging device includes the detection of at least one contaminated ink jet in a printhead. A first pressure is applied to ink in the printhead in response to the detection of the at least one contaminated ink jet. The first pressure is configured to prevent ink from entering a plurality of apertures in an aperture plate of the printhead and to prevent ink from drooling from the plurality of apertures unless the apertures are wiped by a wiper blade. A first portion of apertures in the plurality of apertures in the aperture plate is wiped with a wiper blade while leaving a second portion of the apertures untouched by the wiper blade while the first pressure is applied to the ink in the printhead. The wiping of the first portion of apertures enables ink to drool from the first portion of apertures. The first portion of apertures includes the at least one detected contaminated ink jet.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: James Matthew Cunnington, Trevor James Snyder, Edward F. Burress, Heidi Noce
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Patent number: 9539838Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a front wall and a tape feed exit located on the front wall; a tape included at least partially within the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit; and tape type indicator apertures formed on the front wall, wherein a combination of the tape type indicator apertures forms a pattern corresponding to a type of the tape included at least partially within the housing. The tape type indicator apertures may be positioned proximate to the tape feed exit, and may comprise a first hole and a second hole, the first hole is formed at a bottom edge of the front wall, and the second hole is disposed on a downstream side of the first hole in a feed direction of the tape.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9533507Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
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Patent number: 9522556Abstract: A tape cassette for use with a label printer having a plurality of tape type detecting switches that includes a housing having a front wall, a tape feed exit on the front wall, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, a recess on the front wall extending from the bottom surface towards the top surface, and an aperture on the front wall. The aperture is positioned downstream, in a tape feed path direction, of the recess, and is configured to receive one of the tape type detecting switches. The tape feed path direction is a direction in which the tape is configured to be fed along a portion of the tape feed path proximate to the front wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9517647Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a pair of side surfaces, a tape that is a print medium housed in the housing, a tape exit that discharges, from the housing, the tape guided in the housing along a predetermined feed path, at least a part of the feed path extending parallel to the front surface, and a type indicator portion provided adjacent to the tape exit and in a specified area of the front surface on an upstream side of the tape exit in a feed direction of the tape, the type indicator portion indicating a type of the tape and including vertical information sections and a protrusion formed in at least one of the vertical information sections, the vertical information sections being strip-shaped sections extending along a direction orthogonal to the feed direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki
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Patent number: 9511609Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a tape feed path, a front wall, and a tape feed exit adjacent to the front wall configured to expose a tape guided in the housing along the tape feed path. The tape cassette also includes a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path to the tape feed exit, a first aperture, formed on the front wall above a first centerline bisecting the front wall into top and bottom halves, and to the right of a second centerline on the front wall bisecting the housing into right and left halves, and a second aperture, formed on the front wall to the left of the second centerline, wherein at least a portion of the second aperture is below the first centerline.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9511611Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front wall, a tape feed exit located on the front wall, and an arm portion formed by the front wall and an arm rear surface behind the front wall. The arm portion partially surrounds an opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface behind the front wall, and a tape feed path passes through the arm portion from an upstream portion of the arm portion to a downstream end of the arm portion. The tape cassette also has a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, and a first aperture formed on a bottom edge of the front wall and positioned downstream of an upstream end of the opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9498997Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a pair of side surfaces, a tape that is a print medium housed in the housing, a tape exit that discharges, from the housing, the tape guided in the housing along a predetermined feed path, at least a part of the feed path extending parallel to the front surface, and a type indicator portion provided adjacent to the tape exit and in a specified area of the front surface on an upstream side of the tape exit in a feed direction of the tape, the type indicator portion indicating a type of the tape and including vertical information sections and an aperture formed in at least one of the vertical information sections, the vertical information sections being strip-shaped sections extending along a direction orthogonal to the feed direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9493021Abstract: A tape cassette for use with a label printer having a plurality of tape type detecting switches that includes a housing having a front wall, a tape feed exit on the front wall, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, a recess on the front wall extending from the bottom surface towards the top surface, and an aperture on the front wall. The aperture is positioned downstream, in a tape feed path direction, of the recess, and is configured to receive one of the tape type detecting switches. The tape feed path direction is a direction in which the tape is configured to be fed along a portion of the tape feed path proximate to the front wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9481191Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a tape feed path, a front wall, and a tape feed exit adjacent to the front wall configured to expose a tape guided in the housing along the tape feed path. The tape cassette also includes a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path to the tape feed exit, a first aperture, formed on the front wall above a first centerline bisecting the front wall into top and bottom halves, and to the right of a second centerline on the front wall bisecting the housing into right and left halves, and a second aperture, formed on the front wall to the left of the second centerline, wherein at least a portion of the second aperture is below the first centerline.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9475325Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front wall, a tape feed exit located on the front wall, and an arm portion formed by the front wall and an arm rear surface behind the front wall. The arm portion partially surrounds an opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface behind the front wall, and a tape feed path passes through the arm portion from an upstream portion of the arm portion to a downstream end of the arm portion. The tape cassette also has a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, and a first aperture formed on a bottom edge of the front wall and positioned downstream of an upstream end of the opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9475322Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a pair of side surfaces, a tape that is a print medium housed in the housing, a tape exit that discharges, from the housing, the tape guided in the housing along a predetermined feed path, at least a part of the feed path extending parallel to the front surface, and a type indicator portion provided adjacent to the tape exit and in a specified area of the front surface on an upstream side of the tape exit in a feed direction of the tape, the type indicator portion indicating a type of the tape and including vertical information sections and a protrusion formed in at least one of the vertical information sections, the vertical information sections being strip-shaped sections extending along a direction orthogonal to the feed direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki
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Patent number: 9469141Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a pair of side surfaces, a tape that is a print medium housed in the housing, a tape exit that discharges, from the housing, the tape guided in the housing along a predetermined feed path, at least a part of the feed path extending parallel to the front surface, and a type indicator portion provided adjacent to the tape exit and in a specified area of the front surface on an upstream side of the tape exit in a feed direction of the tape, the type indicator portion indicating a type of the tape and including vertical information sections and an aperture formed in at least one of the vertical information sections, the vertical information sections being strip-shaped sections extending along a direction orthogonal to the feed direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2013Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9457604Abstract: A tape cassette for use with a label printer having a plurality of tape type detecting switches that includes a housing having a front wall, a tape feed exit on the front wall, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, a recess on the front wall extending from the bottom surface towards the top surface, and an aperture on the front wall. The aperture is positioned downstream, in a tape feed path direction, of the recess, and is configured to receive one of the tape type detecting switches. The tape feed path direction is a direction in which the tape is configured to be fed along a portion of the tape feed path proximate to the front wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9421806Abstract: A tape cassette for use with a label printer having a plurality of tape type detecting switches that includes a housing having a front wall, a tape feed exit on the front wall, a top surface, and a bottom surface, a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, a recess on the front wall extending from the bottom surface towards the top surface, and an aperture on the front wall. The aperture is positioned downstream, in a tape feed path direction, of the recess, and is configured to receive one of the tape type detecting switches. The tape feed path direction is a direction in which the tape is configured to be fed along a portion of the tape feed path proximate to the front wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9421805Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a front wall and a tape feed exit located on the front wall; a tape included at least partially within the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit; and tape type indicator apertures formed on the front wall, wherein a combination of the tape type indicator apertures forms a pattern corresponding to a type of the tape included at least partially within the housing. The tape type indicator apertures may be positioned proximate to the tape feed exit, and may comprise a first hole and a second hole, the first hole is formed at a bottom edge of the front wall, and the second hole is disposed on a downstream side of the first hole in a feed direction of the tape.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Masato Kato, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki, Takashi Horiuchi, Akira Sago, Yasuhiro Shibata
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Patent number: 9399345Abstract: A waste liquid container is detachably mounted on a mounting unit which includes a discharge portion discharging a waste liquid and a projection to which a substrate connection portion is joined. The waste liquid container includes: a containing portion that is able to contain the waste liquid; a connection concave portion that is opened in a mounting direction; a circuit substrate that includes connection terminals electrically connected to the substrate connection portion and is joined to the connection concave portion; and a waste liquid introduction portion that is connected to the discharge portion. In the connection concave portion, one pair of guide portions guiding the projection is formed so that the connection terminals are interposed therebetween in a width direction intersecting the mounting direction. Of the pair of guide portions, one guide portion is disposed between the connection terminals and the waste liquid introduction portion in the width direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yusuke Hirasawa
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Patent number: 9375935Abstract: A waste liquid container includes a fitted portion, in which a discharge unit is fittable in a removable manner, a container connection terminal, which contacts a device connection terminal, an insertion restriction portion, which contacts a device contact portion and restricts movement of the waste liquid container in the insertion direction, and an engaged portion, which includes a contacted portion that contacts a removal restriction unit and restricts movement of the waste liquid container in the removal direction. The engaged portion is located toward an inner side in the lateral direction from a side wall at a position lower than both of the container connection terminal and the insertion restriction portion. The removal restriction unit is receivable in a region located toward an outer side in the lateral direction from the engaged portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2015Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuhei Harada, Masanori Nakata, Shigenori Fukasawa, Hitotoshi Kimura
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Patent number: 9302489Abstract: A liquid discharge recording apparatus includes: a liquid; a liquid discharge head configured to discharge the liquid; an absorber configured to absorb the liquid discharged from the liquid discharge head; and unsaturated fatty acid of which specific gravity is smaller than that of the liquid and which is contained in the absorber.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Junichiro Sugimoto, Noriaki Satoh, Ayako Ohishi, Akihiko Taniguchi
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Patent number: 9272551Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head unit which has liquid ejecting heads that eject liquid; an in-head roller which abuts against a landing surface of an ejecting medium; and a frame which pivotally supports the in-head roller. The liquid ejecting head unit is provided to be able to ascend and descend with respect to the frame. In the liquid ejecting head unit, at least two head rows, each of which includes the liquid ejecting heads and a void aligned in a reference direction intersecting a transporting direction of the ejecting medium, are arranged in the transporting direction. The in-head roller is disposed at a position where at least a part of the in-head roller faces the void, in a direction which is orthogonal to the landing surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Fumiya Takino, Taku Hirashima
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Patent number: 9193169Abstract: The method of this invention for discharging a shipping ink from a newly installed print head filled with that ink minimizes the amount of shipping ink that may remain in the print head after the ink discharging process is performed. The shipping ink discharging method according to this invention comprises: a print head; an ink tank; a first pump; a second pump; a switch valve; and a cleaning mechanism; wherein the switch valve is closed and the first pump is operated to discharge the shipping ink from the ink ejection nozzles and the cleaning mechanism is operated to clean the print head, after which the switch valve is opened and the second pump is operated to supply ink from the ink tank to the print head.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shunya Sunouchi, Seiji Suzuki, Takaya Sato
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Patent number: 9193165Abstract: To provide a waste ink absorber having excellent permeability and retention performance, in a waste ink absorber to absorb waste ink discharged from a head for ejecting ink, maximum parts where the density is locally high and a low density portion where the density is lower than the high density portion are provided in a single piece of the waste ink absorber.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hidehiro Takano, Shunichi Seki
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Patent number: 9162467Abstract: An ink cartridge (1) for inserting into an inkjet printer, with an outer housing (2) and an ink container (4) located inside, wherein the ink contained comprises an ink outlet piece (5) through which the ink container (4) can be contacted from the outside in a fluid-conductive manner, wherein on the outer housing (2) of the ink cartridge (1) guiding means (136) are provided in order to align the outer housing (2) on inserting the ink cartridge (1) in the inkjet printer relative to puncturing means, arranged in the inkjet printer in a fixed location, the outer housing (2) of the ink cartridge (1) at least for the greatest part is of a cellulose material and the guiding means are formed as a component that is separate from the outer housing (2) and fixed to the latter, and the component comprises a material that differs from the material of the outer housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Marabu GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Constanze Marceddu, Uwe Wiesebrock, Ulrich Zech
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Patent number: 9150034Abstract: A printing assistance apparatus for a media width printhead, the apparatus having: an elongate platen having a surface for supporting media across the media width during printing on the media by fluid ejection nozzles of the printhead; and a wick element positioned within the platen for wicking fluid ejected by the nozzles from the supporting surface, the wick element having an elongate body positioned within the platen and a plurality of pads projecting from the body along the longitudinal length body toward the printhead, the pads being separated by notches.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.Inventors: John Christian Love, Biagio Agostinelli, Javier Escobedo, Antoni Murcia, David Tyvoll
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Patent number: 9144982Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting head that can eject a solution; a rotational body that has a circumferential surface which can accommodate the solution ejected from the ejecting head; a scraper that can come into sliding contact with the circumferential surface of the rotational body; and an accommodation container that accommodates the solution which is scraped off from the circumferential surface by the scraper. The accommodation container has a liquid storage section that stores a liquid which can dissolve a solute component of the solution.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masaaki Miyamoto, Kazuyuki Fujioka
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Patent number: 9144981Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head including: an element substrate; a first recess having inner walls including a first side surface of the element substrate, a second side surface facing thereto, and a part of a fitting surface to which the element substrate is fitted; and a second recess having inner walls including a third side surface of the element substrate, which is a rear surface of the first side surface, a fourth side surface facing the third side surface, and another part of the fitting surface; and the liquid ejection apparatus also includes a wiping member configured to move from the second recess toward the first recess to wipe the ejection port surface. The first recess is provided with a sealing material to a level higher than the level of a sealing material in the second recess, in a direction of ejecting liquid.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2011Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihisa Saikawa
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Patent number: 9132644Abstract: In a waste liquid container which is attachable and detachable to a recording portion including a liquid ejecting head which discharges a waste liquid and can store the waste liquid which is discharged from the liquid ejecting head in a state of being mounted on the recording portion, an engagement portion which protrudes from a side wall of the waste liquid container and is disposed lower in a vertical direction than a guide portion which is provided on the recording portion in the state of being mounted on the recording portion is provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuhei Harada, Masanori Nakata, Taisuke Yamamoto
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Patent number: 9096068Abstract: A container for holding a volume of fluid includes a housing defining an interior for retaining the volume of fluid, a vent system disposed at an upper portion of the interior adjacent to a fluid chamber to vent air to atmosphere. The vent system includes an air chamber in fluid communication with the fluid chamber through an air inlet and disposed within the interior. The air chamber includes a bottom surface angling from the air inlet towards a distal end of the air chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michael Renejane Larrobis, Jr., Jeffrey Grengia Abanto
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Patent number: 9073372Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a head, a liquid-receiving face and a flushing box. The head is configured and arranged to eject a liquid. The liquid-receiving face is configured and arranged to receive the liquid ejected from the head when flushing is carried out by the head. The flushing box is configured and arranged to receive the liquid deposited on the liquid-receiving face and dripped from the liquid-receiving face.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2013Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Nobuaki Kamiyama
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Patent number: 9050836Abstract: A printer is provided with a transfer belt, a sucking fan, a printing portion, and an inter-head guide roller. The printing portion has a head row and a head holder. The inter-head guide roller is rotatably supported by a pair of support portions fixedly arranged on the head holder on one end side and the other end side of the inter-head guide roller. A plurality of belt holes is arranged on the transfer belt so that the plurality of belt holes passes just below each support portion when the transfer belt is moving.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2014Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATIONInventor: Tomohisa Oe
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Patent number: 9033462Abstract: The case 22 of a waste ink tank 13 has ribs 51, 52 that partition the space between a waste ink inlet 36 and an air vent 33. Air passages 65, 66 that connect the waste ink storage spaces S1, S2, S3 partitioned by the ribs are formed at the top ends of the ribs 51, 52. Waste ink permeates all of a sponge 21 through the space between the ribs 51, 52 and the bottom wall 24. Because a path for air to flow to the air vent 33 is constantly maintained inside the case 22 by the air passages 65, 66, air is discharged from the air vent 33 as waste ink is introduced to the case 22. The strength of the case can therefore be increased without interfering with introducing waste ink to the case and absorption of introduced waste ink by the sponge.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Takeshi Komaki
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Patent number: 9028043Abstract: A printhead cleaning device is configured to use a cleaning web to absorb the residual ink left on the faceplate of the printhead. The cleaning web is supplied from a feed cartridge and taken up by a take-up cartridge. The cartridges include indexing mechanisms that are configured to dispense and pull-in, respectively, a predetermined length of the cleaning web during each maintenance cycle of the printhead.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Jeffrey John Bradway, Matthew D. Savoy, Frank Berkelys Tamarez Gomez, Jorge M. Rodriquez, Jeffrey Swing
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Patent number: 9028044Abstract: First, second, and third ink absorbing bodies are accommodated in a container of a recovery reservoir in this order from the side corresponding to a bottom surface of the container, so that an introduction chamber is defined in the middle of a recovery space. A lid having a shutter plate and a communication hole is located over the third ink absorbing body. The upper side of the introduction chamber is covered by the shutter plate to suppress volatilization of solvent element of waste ink introduced into the introduction chamber. In addition, the communication hole is located in a portion of the upper surface of the third ink absorbing body, so that solvent element of ink absorbed by the third ink absorption body volatilizes.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuhei Harada, Keiji Matsumoto, Manabu Yamada
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Patent number: 9028039Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, an ejection detector, a cleaner and cleaning ejection controller. The ejection detector has a droplet landing member disposed in an area in which the droplet landing member faces the head. The ejection detector detects ejection or non-ejection by detecting electric change caused by landing of the droplets on the droplet landing member. The cleaner cleans a droplet landing surface of the droplet landing member. The cleaning ejection controller controls the recording head to eject droplets on the droplet landing surface for cleaning the droplet landing surface before cleaning the droplet landing surface by the cleaner. A quantity of the droplets for cleaning the droplet landing surface is greater than a quantity of the droplets for detecting ejection or non-ejection.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2014Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shingo Masaoka, Shotaro Takeuchi, Masahiko Hisada
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Patent number: 8998392Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
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Patent number: 8998379Abstract: An image forming apparatus prevents the problem of reduced utilization efficiency of a waste fluid tank caused by the storage of waste fluids with high and low viscosities in the same open-type waste fluid tank. The image forming apparatus includes a first waste fluid tank for storing waste ink fluid ejected from a recording head, and a second waste fluid tank for storing waste ink fluid ejected into a cap of the recording head. The waste ink fluid ejected into the cap is guided to the second waste fluid tank via a tube. The second waste fluid tank is an airtight structure having an inlet at one end to which the tube is detachably connected via a needle or a valve. At the other end of the second waste fluid tank, there is disposed an opening communicating the inside and the outside of the tank.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2009Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Masashi Ohnishi, Junji Seto, Tsutomu Sasaki
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Patent number: 8967767Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from nozzles; a liquid accommodation body having a liquid receiving surface configured to accommodate the liquid flushed from the nozzles; a pump that discharges the liquid; a liquid supply flow path that discharges the liquid discharged by the pump toward the liquid receiving surface in the liquid accommodation body; and a liquid discharge flow path that discharges the liquid from the liquid accommodation body.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Akihiko Maruyama
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Patent number: 8955948Abstract: The invention concerns a device forming a continuous inkjet printer cabinet including a combined ventilation system for the electronic compartment and consumable fluids compartment (ink and solvent). According to the invention, condensates derived from solvent vapors not condensed by the condenser are extracted through a pipe then retained in order to be evaporated by the ventilation airflow. The solution according to the invention ensures that the increase in solvent concentration around the printer remains below the legal limits for unpleasant smells for persons. One advantageous embodiment consists of using a heat exchanger on the ventilation airflow path, to condensate solvent vapor in the ink reservoir to enable gravity flow of vapors thus condensed and return them to the ink reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Markem-ImajeInventor: Nicolas Rolland
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Patent number: 8950847Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head which discharges liquid onto a recording material, thereby performing recording; and a waste liquid recovery device which recovers waste liquid which has not been attached to the recording material, of liquid discharged from the recording head, wherein the waste liquid recovery device includes a movable sheet-like member which is provided on a side facing the recording head and receives the waste liquid which has not been attached to the recording material.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takanori Seki, Kenichi Ishihara, Hidenori Usuda
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Publication number: 20150035901Abstract: In order to perform recording head maintenance by discharge and reflux of ink with higher pressures without creating instability of the meniscus in the nozzle surface, this image forming device may be provided with a recording head having multiple nozzles, a first reservoir unit and a second reservoir unit which store the ink supplied to the recording head, a supply unit which is opened and closed by a solenoid valve and connects the recording head and the first reservoir unit, a pump which supplies the ink in the second reservoir unit to the first reservoir unit, a recovery passage which is opened and closed by solenoid valves and connects the recording head and the second reservoir unit, and a control unit which controls operation of the solenoid valves and the pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: Konica Minolta, IncInventor: Mitsuru Obata
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Publication number: 20150035902Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an apparatus main body which includes an accommodation chamber for detachably accommodating a cartridge capable of accommodating liquid and a cover which opens and closes the accommodation chamber, a gap is formed in the accommodation chamber when the cartridge is attached to the accommodation chamber, and a stopper unit provided at the cover enters the gap when the cover is closed in a state where the cartridge is attached to the accommodation chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Kazuhiko TSUYAMA, Ryoichi SHUTO
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Patent number: 8926062Abstract: Printers and duplexers are described herein. An example duplexer for a printer includes a waste ink roller movable between a concealed region and a receiving region.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Daniel Fredrickson, Russell Yearout
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Patent number: 8919919Abstract: The present invention relates to a device characterized in that it comprises a base (3) including a cleaning plate (4), provided with cleaning elements (5), which can be moved along said base (3) and which defines three positions: an injection position which allows the passage of the ink through holes (6) in said base complementary to holes or recesses (7); a cleaning position in which said cleaning elements (5) contact the cartridges (2); and a resting position; and a resting plate (8), provided with closing elements (9), which can be moved along said base (3) by means of the movement of the print head (1) between a position of use of the print cartridges (2) and a resting position in which said closing elements (9) contact the cartridges (2).Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: TKT Brainpower, S.L.Inventors: Antoni Guimerá Predola, Francesc Masgrau Lagresa, Antoni Balsells Mercadé
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Patent number: 8911068Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image and an ink cartridge that includes a deformable ink supply bag having an ink supply port; a deformable waste ink collection bag having a fluid gateway; and a cartridge housing to accommodate the deformable ink supply bag and the deformable waste ink collection bag at the same time. A connecting member having a non-return valve is provided to connect the deformable ink supply bag and the deformable waste ink collection bag with each other at a section other than the ink supply port and the fluid gateway. The non-return valve prevents ink from flowing from the waste ink collection bag into the ink supply bag. A non-return valve control mechanism is provided not to operate the non-return valve in an initial state in which the ink supply bag is initially filled with ink.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2013Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Honriku Jo
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Patent number: 8899723Abstract: A waste liquid container for storing a waste liquid discharged from an image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a first container having a single waste liquid inlet into which the waste liquid enters and a second container communicating with the first container. The first and second containers are detachably attached to each other.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2008Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuki Suzuki, Shigeyuki Ito
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Patent number: 8888237Abstract: There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a liquid jetting head configured to jet liquid; a liquid discharge unit configured to discharge the liquid from the liquid jetting head; a waste liquid recover unit including a waste liquid absorber configured to absorb a waste liquid discharged from the liquid jetting head by the liquid discharge unit and detection electrodes configured to detect a waste liquid amount absorbed into the waste liquid absorber; and a vibration generating source configured to vibrate the waste liquid absorber in a vibration direction, wherein the detection electrodes are disposed to make contact with an end surface defining the waste liquid absorber, and a normal direction of the end surface intersects with the vibration direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirofumi Kondo, Shuhei Hiwada, Masato Sueyasu, Yasuhiro Kato, Reiko Higashikawa, Tomoyuki Kubo, Toru Yamashita, Shigeru Suzuki, Hiroto Sugahara, Masayoshi Hayashi, Tatsuya Nishikawa
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Patent number: 8888236Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes: a carriage which is movable in a forward direction from one end to the other end; a recording head provided in the carriage and having a plurality of nozzle groups from which the ink is discharged; an ink receiver provided at a side of the one end including a flushing position and configured to receive the ink discharged by a flushing operation; and a controller configured to control operations of the carriage and the recording head. In a case that the carriage is moved in the forward direction, the controller executes: an acceleration process for accelerating the carriage; a selecting process for selecting at least one nozzle group for which the flushing operation is performed; a flushing process for performing the flushing operation for the nozzle group selected in the selecting process during the acceleration process; and a recording process for recording the image.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Isao Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8882248Abstract: A supporting section is disposed to confront an ejection surface and supports a recording medium. A first tank is mounted on a first-tank mount section. A liquid conveying section conveys liquid to a liquid ejecting head. A receiving section receives liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head. A waste-liquid conveying section conveys liquid to the waste-liquid tank. A first casing holds the liquid ejecting head, the first-tank mount section, and the liquid conveying section. A second casing holds the supporting section, the receiving section, the waste-liquid tank, and the waste-liquid conveying section. The first casing is connected with the second casing such that the first casing is movable relative to the second casing. The first casing takes a first position at which the 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinya Yamamoto