With Additional Feature Patents (Class 347/67)
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Patent number: 8083323Abstract: A chip used for dispensing a fluid such as ink provides ink-dispensing ejectors having an ink cavity over a supporting substrate, and further provides a heater for heating the ink in the cavity. The heater can be interposed between the substrate and the ink cavity to provide direct heating of ink as it is being dispensed. Various embodiments further comprise the use of the heater structure as a temperature probe to measure the temperature of the ink in the ink cavity. Other embodiments provides a chip having both a temperature probe and a heater as separate structures interposed between the ink cavity and the substrate. Further described is a temperature probe and/or heater which traverses a majority of a width of a substrate, and surrounds each drop ejector on at least two sides.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Peter M. Gulvin, Andrew W. Hays
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Patent number: 8070267Abstract: An ink jet recording element substrate includes a substrate; an ejection outlet array for ejecting ink; a heat generating element array comprising a plurality of heat generating elements for generating ejection energy for ejecting the ink from the ejection outlet array; a protecting film, comprising protecting portions, for protecting the heat generating element array; a common line, disposed along a side of the heat generating element array, for supplying electric power for driving the heat generating elements, and being divided into at least two portions by a line perpendicular to the heat generating element array; a testing electrode for testing a function of the protecting film; and an externally connecting electrode, disposed at an end of the substrate, for externally supplying electric power to the common line; wherein the ink jet recording element substrate further includes, in an area between the portions of the common line, a connecting line for electrically connecting the protecting portions of theType: GrantFiled: April 30, 2008Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Souta Takeuchi, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Takuya Hatsui, Takaaki Yamaguchi, Takahiro Matsui, Kousuke Kubo
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Patent number: 8070248Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs an image forming operation by driving a ejecting element of a recording head with an ink ejecting drive voltage for ejecting ink, detects a temperature of ink to be flown into the recording head and a temperature of ink to be discharged respectively with a first temperature detection section and a second temperature detection section, and corrects the ink ejecting drive voltage on the basis of a temperature of ink being heat-transferred with the ejecting element, which is estimated with a predetermined conversion formula on the basis of the detected ink temperatures, for controlling an ink amount to be ejected.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignees: Ortek Corporation, Riso Kagaku CorporationInventor: Takeo Ogama
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Publication number: 20110228010Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a plurality of ink chambers fed by a common ink inlet, the plurality of ink chambers sharing a common roof structure; a plurality of heater elements respectively allocated to each of ink chambers; a plurality of nozzle apertures defined through the common roof structure and respectively aligned with the heater element of each ink chamber; and a bubble vent defined in the common roof of the ink chambers and aligned with the common ink inlet, the bubble vent sized to allow ink surface tension to restrict an egress of ink, and permit egress of gas bubbles therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Roger Mervyn Lloyd Foote, Angus John North, Jennifer Mia Fishburn, Paul David Lunsmann, Lakshmi C.S., Frederik Jacobus Crous, Matthew Stewart Walker, Samuel George Mallinson, Paul Justin Reichl
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Patent number: 7997697Abstract: A droplet discharge head including a nozzle substrate having nozzle openings, a cavity substrate having discharge chambers that communicate with the nozzle openings and discharge droplets from the nozzle openings, a reservoir substrate having a reservoir concave portion that serves as a reservoir which communicates commonly with the discharge chambers. The reservoir substrate is provided between the nozzle substrate and the cavity substrate and a resin thin film is formed on a whole inner face of the reservoir concave portion and on a bottom face of a second concave portion. The second concave portion is provided in a peripheral of the reservoir concave portion and has a depth which is smaller than the depth of the reservoir concave portion. The resin thin film is cut circularly so as to surround the reservoir concave portion, and a part of the resin thin film serves as a diaphragm buffering pressure variation. serves as a diaphragm buffering pressure variation.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Katsuji Arawaka, Kazufumi Oya
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Patent number: 7988260Abstract: A recording element substrate includes a recording element array including a plurality of recording elements, a drive circuit configured to drive the recording elements, and a heater located to surround the recording element array as viewed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the recording element substrate and located above or below a capacitive element or a resistive element included in the drive circuit as viewed on a cross section of the recording element substrate.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2009Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoko Kudo, Tatsuo Furukawa, Nobuyuki Hirayama, Ryo Kasai
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Patent number: 7980667Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet channel; a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel, the nozzle chamber including an ink ejection port defined through a roof of the nozzle chamber, and a pivotal wall formed as part of one sidewall of the nozzle chamber; a paddle attached to the pivotal wall in a cantilevered manner, and extending into the nozzle chamber; a pair of anchors extending from the substrate assembly, a first anchor of the pair connected to a positive electrical contact and a second anchor of the pair connected to a negative electrical contact; and a thermal expansion actuator forming a bridge between the pair of anchors and the pivotal wall, the thermal expansion actuator having two arms each respectively attached to each of the pair of anchors, the thermal expansion actuator further having a bridge portion bridging the two arm.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventor: Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7980669Abstract: An inkjet printhead is disclosed. The printhead has an array of ink chambers. Each ink chamber has a nozzle and a thermal actuator for generating vapor bubbles to eject ink through the nozzle. The thermal actuator has a pair of contacts and at least two parallel current paths between the contacts. Each of the current paths has a plurality of heater elements for nucleating a vapor bubble.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2009Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Matthew Taylor Worsman, Mehdi Azimi, Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7971962Abstract: There provides a nozzle plate having fine nozzle holes capable of transferring a pattern collectively, and a method of producing the same. Further, there provides a method of forming fine nozzle holes in a required shape, at a required position on a substrate, and an inkjet nozzle plate obtained by the method. Moreover, there provides a collective transfer inkjet nozzle plate can have a high imaging efficiency, and can reduce the cost by simplifying a nozzle controller; and a method of producing the same. Fine nozzle holes in a plate of a setting material are formed by: forming three-dimensional structures on a substrate in accordance with a fine inkjet process based on data in a computer, coating a setting material in a portion other than portions where the three-dimensional structures are formed, and then hardening and removing the setting material.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2005Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and TechnologyInventor: Kazuhiro Murata
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Patent number: 7966743Abstract: A dryer operable in close proximity to and in series with an inkjet printhead comprises a heat source and an air bearing structure on one side of the predetermined path and having a pressurized air inlet and an air outlet adjacent to the drying position of the receiver medium. Air flow from the air bearing structure outlet forms an air bearing for the receiver medium. A microporous filter positioned at the outlet and being adapted to convert the air flow from the outlet to a diffuse flow, the microporous filter being formed of an inner layer of very fine screen for optimum air diffusion and an outer layer of courser woven screen to add rigidity and protection from scuffing.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Michael J. Piatt, Kenneth E. Hix, Daniel Gelbart
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Patent number: 7946674Abstract: A printhead IC comprising: an array of nozzles; an ejection actuator corresponding to each of the nozzles respectively, the ejection actuator having a resistive heater that is activated when the actuator ejects ink through the corresponding nozzle; drive circuitry for receiving print data and activating the actuators with drive signals in accordance with the print data; and, open actuator test circuitry for selectively disabling the actuators when they receive a drive signal while comparing the resistance of the resistive heater to a predetermined threshold to assess whether the actuator is defective.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2006Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Brian Christopher Morahan, Alireza Moini, Timothy Peter Gillespie, Michael John Webb, Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7942506Abstract: An inkjet printer head includes a substrate, an insulating layer having a groove and disposed on the substrate, a heating member having a concavely curved upper surface and disposed on an upper portion of the groove, an electrode to make contact with the heating member to apply electric current to the heating member, a chamber layer disposed on the heating member, and a nozzle layer having one or more nozzles and disposed on the chamber layer. According to the inkjet printer head, the heating member has a curved structure to increase a length of the heating member, so that resistance of the heating member can be increased. Thus, the heating member can stably operate regardless of current variation applied thereto, and the printing work can be performed.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sung Joon Park, Tae-Jin Kim, Young Hye Park, Dai Geun Kim
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Patent number: 7926915Abstract: An inkjet nozzle assembly includes a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof. The roof has a nozzle opening defined therein, and a moving portion moveable towards the floor. The assembly further comprises a thermal bend actuator, defining at least part of the moving portion of the roof, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening. The thermal bend actuator comprises an upper first beam for connection to drive circuitry and a lower second beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam resulting in bending of the moving portion towards the floor of the nozzle chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2010Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7905569Abstract: A substantially inorganic planarization layer for a micro-fluid ejection head substrate and method therefor. The planarization layer includes a plurality of layers composed of one or more dielectric compounds and at least one spin on glass (SOG) layer having a total thickness ranging from about 1 microns to about 15 microns deposited over a second metal layer of the micro-fluid ejection head substrate. A top most layer of the planarization layer is selected from one or more of the dielectric compounds and a hard mask material.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Byron V. Bell, Craig M. Bertelsen, Brian C. Hart, Girish S. Patil, Sean T. Weaver
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Patent number: 7866793Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a printhead, in turn, including a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. A nozzle guard is formed from hydrophobic photoresist and is mounted to the printhead. The nozzle guard defines a plurality of channels located in register with respective nozzles so that droplets of ink from the nozzles can be bounced off internal walls of the channels during printing.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
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Patent number: 7862158Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink jet head which discharges ink, comprising: a step of preparing a silicon substrate; a step of forming a membrane having a layer in which a plurality of holes are disposed to constitute a filter mask, and a layer with which a first surface is coated in such a manner that the first surface is not exposed from the plurality of holes on the first surface of the substrate; a step of forming a close contact enhancing layer on the membrane formed on the substrate; a step of forming a channel constituting member on the close contact enhancing layer to constitute a plurality of discharge ports and a plurality of ink channels communicating with the plurality of discharge ports; a step of forming an ink supply port communicating with the plurality of ink channels in the silicon substrate by anisotropic etching from a second surface facing the first surface of the substrate; and a step of forming a filter in a portion of the close contact enhancing layer positioned in an opening of the inType: GrantFiled: August 17, 2007Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Fujii, Shuji Koyama, Masaki Osumi, Shingo Nagata, Jun Yamamuro, Yoshinori Tagawa, Hiroyuki Murayama, Yoshinobu Urayama
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Patent number: 7837302Abstract: An inkjet nozzle array includes a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle includes a chamber having an input aperture adapted to receive ink into the chamber and an output aperture through which ink is ejected from the chamber. Each chamber further includes a window adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation and operable to heat ink in the chamber responsive to the electromagnetic radiation and eject an ink droplet through the output aperture.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2005Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Marvell International Technology Ltd.Inventors: Gregory Frank Carlson, Ronald Gregory Paul, Steven Michael Goss, Todd Alan McClelland
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Patent number: 7832843Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes plural ejection outlets for ejecting droplets; liquid flow paths in fluid communication with the ejection outlets; and a liquid supply opening for supplying the liquid to the liquid flow paths. The ejection outlets include first and second ejection outlets disposed at least at one side of the liquid supply opening and are staggered. The first ejection outlets are nearer to the liquid supply opening than the second ejection outlets. Each of first recording elements corresponding to the first ejection outlets includes one rectangular heat generating resistor having a long side extending along a direction crossing with an arranging direction of the ejection outlets. Each of second recording elements corresponding to the second ejection outlets comprises plural rectangular heat generating resistors which are adjacent to each other at long sides thereof and are electrically connected in series.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Oikawa, Mineo Kaneko, Ken Tsuchii, Toru Yamane, Keiji Tomizawa, Mitsuhiro Matsumoto, Shuichi Ide, Kansui Takino, Naozumi Nabeshima
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Patent number: 7819507Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer that has a printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink, and a support structure for mounting the printhead IC within the printer. The support structure has ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink, the ink conduits have a meniscus anchor for pinning part of an advancing meniscus of ink to divert the advancing meniscus from a path the advancing meniscus would otherwise take. If a printhead consistently fails to prime correctly because a meniscus pins at one or more points, then the advancing meniscus can be directed so that the advancing meniscus does not contact these critical points. Deliberately incorporating a discontinuity into an ink conduit immediately upstream of the problem area can temporarily pin to the meniscus and skew the meniscus to one side of the conduit and away from the undesirable pinning point.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Brian Robert Brown, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Paul Timothy Sharp, John Douglas Peter Morgan, Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Michael John Hudson, Christopher Hibbard, Samuel George Mallinson, Paul Justin Reichl
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Patent number: 7815105Abstract: An automated banking machine which dispenses cash and includes a mechanism for accepting deposited items. Deposited items may be provided to the machine in envelopes which are first passed to a user from an envelope storage area (132) in the machine through a transport (124) and which are presented to the user through an opening (244). A user may thereafter include deposit items in the dispensed envelope. The deposited items are passed through the opening (244) and are deposited in a deposit-holding container (128). The deposited items may be marked by an inkjet printer with indicia corresponding to the transaction or properties of the deposited item. The operation of the printer is caused by a controller (56) which controls the operation responsive to one or more environmental parameters.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, IncorporatedInventors: Thomas S. Mason, Sean Haney, Jeff Brannan, Dale Chapman
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Patent number: 7802873Abstract: The invention provides for a nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer. The arrangement includes a wafer substrate defining a chamber with an ink inlet and ejection port, the substrate having a micro-electromechanical drive layer. The arrangement also includes a paddle dividing the chamber into an ink chamber and a nozzle chamber, and an actuating arm coupled to the paddle. The arm includes an outer arm portion mechanically linked to an inner arm portion via posts electrically isolating the inner arm portion from the outer arm portion. The arm is pivotal with respect to the substrate during operative electrical thermal expansion of the inner arm portion displacing the paddle towards the ejection port.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventor: Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7794039Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided which is capable of detecting a width and a position of a recording paper sheet with a simple configuration and does not cause a positional deviation of an image. The recording apparatus includes a carriage configured to reciprocate and having a recording head mounted thereon, and a sensor disposed on the carriage to detect an image recorded on the recording medium. The sensor is configured detect an end portion in a width direction of the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2005Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroyuki Kinoshita
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Patent number: 7758159Abstract: The mist spraying apparatus includes: a liquid chamber filled with liquid; a mesh member which is disposed on a liquid ejection side of the liquid chamber, has a net shape, and retains a free surface of the liquid filled in the liquid chamber, the mesh member including an intersection point to form the net shape; and an ultrasonic wave generating device which is disposed at a position opposing the intersection point of the mesh member and emits an ultrasonic wave into the liquid.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Sho Onozawa
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Patent number: 7753496Abstract: An inkjet printhead with multiple actuators in respective ink chambers, where a plurality of the actuators activate simultaneously from the same drive signal. By replacing a single relatively large chamber with two or more smaller chambers, such that the separate actuators are in the same driver circuit (either in series or parallel), each nozzle ejects drops of smaller volume, and having different misdirections. Smaller drops with differing misdirections are less likely to create any visible artefacts.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventor: Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7740347Abstract: A replaceable print cartridge for installation in a mobile device, the print cartridge comprising: a printhead; at least one ink reservoir; storage means configured to store information indicative of an amount of printing that can be achieved by the cartridge based on the amount of ink in the at least one ink reservoir; and an information changing mechanism for changing a value of the information.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2005Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Richard Thomas Plunkett, Simon Robert Walmsley, Paul Lapstun
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Patent number: 7735974Abstract: Provided is a mobile telephone which includes an internal printhead, an ink cartridge and an optical sensing arrangement. The internal inkjet printhead arrangement is fed with print media via internal and external pathways defined by a body of the telephone. The ink cartridge supplies ink to the printhead. The optical sensing arrangement enables the telephone to decode tags of coded data printed on such media fed through the internal and external pathways. The sensing arrangement includes a beam splitter configured to deflect incoming light onto an image sensor of the telephone, a first infrared LED operatively directing light onto media present in the external pathway, and a filter and lens arrangement configured to receive and direct light reflected from the external media onto the beam splitter.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory Michael Tow
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Patent number: 7690751Abstract: A temperature detection circuit acquires first temperature data detected by a temperature sensor corresponding to a heater of a recording head in a state in which no electric current is flowed into the heater, and second temperature data for the heater in a state in which an electric current is flowed into the heater. Correction data for correcting the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor is obtained based on the first and second temperature data. The temperature data detected by the temperature sensor is corrected based on the correction data.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Takabayashi, Takatsuna Aoki
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Patent number: 7677688Abstract: When printing an image on a printing sheet, it is judged whether or not an RFID tag has been arranged in the printing sheet. When an RFID tag has been arranged, an image indicating the presence of RFID tag is printed, or an RFID tag cutting assistant line or the like for invalidating RFID tag is printed, whereby the user can easily recognize the presence of RFID tag. Also, the user can easily cut out and invalidate the RFID tag. When the user's information has been recorded on the RFID tag, a mark indicating the writing of information into RFID tag is attached to the printing sheet, whereby the user can easily recognize the presence/absence of information recorded on RFID tag. Consequently, there can be provided a method capable of identifying and easily discarding a printing sheet with RFID tag which can leak out the user's secret, privacy information or the like, and a method for easily judging whether or not ID information has already been recorded on a printing sheet with RFID tag.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yojiro Tagawa
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Patent number: 7665826Abstract: Disclosed is an inkjet printing head which ejects ink in response to generation a bubble in the ink accompanying the action of heat from a heater, and which preferably allows ejection energy to be effectively used, and desired attachment accuracy of a movable valve to be secured and maintained. To this end, employed is a two-body structure formed of a substrate including the heater; and a valve retaining member having the movable valve. Then, the effective use of ejection energy is achieved by appropriately selecting the shape and dimensions of the movable valve. Furthermore, the desired attachment accuracy is secured and maintained by attaching the valve retaining member to the substrate by applying a photolithography process without using an adhesive agent.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.Inventors: Kayo Mukai, Toshio Kashino
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Patent number: 7645026Abstract: An inkjet printhead with multiple nozzles in each ink chamber. By giving the chamber multiple nozzles, each nozzle ejects drops of smaller volume, and having different misdirections. Several small drops misdirected in different directions are less detrimental to print quality than a single relatively large misdirected drop.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventor: Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7641316Abstract: An ink jet head circuit board is provided which has heaters to generate thermal energy for ink ejection as they are energized. This circuit board reduces areas of the heaters to achieve higher printing resolution and image quality. This board also prevents a degradation of thermal energy efficiency and reduces power consumption. The protective insulation layer for the electrode wire layer is formed of two layers and one of the two layers is removed from above the heater to improve the heat energy efficiency. The resistor layer is deposited over the electrode wire layer. The patterning for removing the protective insulation layer is done in a wider range than a gap of the electrode wire layer, the gap being used to form the heater. Further, by forming the electrode wires in two layers, a possible reduction in an effective bubble generation area of the heater can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2005Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyasu Sakai, Teruo Ozaki, Kenji Ono, Ichiro Saito, Sakai Yokoyama, Satoshi Ibe, Kazuaki Shibata
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Patent number: 7628464Abstract: An ink jet head (1), a substrate (13) receiving a liquid drop (2) discharged from the ink jet head (1), a device for irradiating or reflecting light from a nozzle hole or its vicinity of the ink jet head (1) toward the substrate (13), a position moving device (10) for controlling a relative position between the ink jet head (1) and the substrate (13), and a control device (9) for discharging a liquid from the ink jet head (1) are included. A light-receiving element (6) for recognizing a position of the ink jet head (1) is disposed behind the substrate (13), when seen from the ink jet head (1), the substrate (13) has a transparency at least to a degree that the irradiated light or the light reflected from the nozzle hole or its vicinity toward the substrate (13) enters the light-receiving element (6), and the light-receiving element (6) senses the irradiated light or the light reflected from the nozzle hole or its vicinity toward the substrate (13).Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Tohru Nakagawa, Norihisa Mino
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Patent number: 7625072Abstract: In order to dissipate to a high degree of efficiency the heat of a liquid discharge substrate of an ink jet recording head and effectively suppress increases in the substrate temperature, in an ink jet recording head in which a liquid discharge substrate is mounted on a supporting member through a foil-shaped heat dissipation member, the area of the heat dissipation member is greater than the projected area of the liquid discharge substrate with respect to the supporting member.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2005Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Riichi Saito, Yasutomo Watanabe, Toshiaki Hirosawa, Shuzo Iwanaga, Akira Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7621616Abstract: A recording head includes an ink-discharging surface and nozzles. The ink-discharging surface is provided with ink-discharging ports of the nozzles. A light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are disposed opposite each other close to the ink-discharging surface. The light-receiving element outputs a detection signal. A reflector is provided on the ink-discharging surface and reflects light emitted from the light-emitting element toward the light-receiving element. One of the nozzles is driven and whether the nozzle discharges an ink drop is checked on the basis of change in the detection signal due to interception of the reflected light by the ink drop. If the nozzle discharges an ink drop, then whether the nozzle discharges the ink drop in an appropriate direction is checked on the basis of change in the detection signal due to interception of the direct light by the ink drop.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2005Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasutaka Mitani, Tadashi Yamamoto, Takuya Tsujimoto, Yasuhiro Unosawa
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Publication number: 20090231394Abstract: A liquid ejection recording head includes an element substrate provided with a plurality of ejection energy generating elements for generating energy for ejecting liquid, an ejection outlet array comprising a plurality of ejection outlets for ejecting the liquid, and bubble generation chambers for generating bubbles by the ejection energy generating elements. The element substrate includes a first liquid supply port provided, by being penetrated through the element substrate, along an arrangement direction of the ejection outlets and includes a plurality of second ink supply ports disposed between a lateral end of the element substrate and the bubble generation chambers. Each of the bubble generation chambers communicates with the first liquid supply port through a first liquid supply passage and communicates with the second liquid supply ports through a second liquid supply passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomoyuki Inoue, Ken Tsuchii, Masataka Sakurai, Akiko Saito
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Patent number: 7587821Abstract: A method of manufacturing an inkjet head at a low cost is provided. The inkjet head has a passage unit. A plurality of plates are laminated together to form the passage unit. The passage unit has individual ink passages that extend in the plate laminating direction. When the passage unit is to be manufactured, communication holes that will become individual ink passages later will first be formed in the plurality of plates that form the passage unit. All of the plates in which the communication holes are formed will be laminated together with a thermosetting adhesive. The laminated plates will be heated and pressure will be applied thereto. In this way, all of the plates will be simultaneously adhered. An ink passage unit can be manufactured in one adhesion step. The manufacturing costs of the ink passage unit can be reduced. Components such as actuator units, an ink supply unit, and the like will be attached to the manufactured ink passage unit to complete an inkjet head.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tatsuo Terakura
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Patent number: 7584539Abstract: A method of manufacturing an inkjet printer component and an inkjet printer component electropolishing device are provided. The method includes positioning an electrode in a fluid passageway of an inkjet printer component, the electrode including a conductive face and a nonconductive face; polishing a side of the fluid passageway by: biasing the nonconductive face of the electrode toward a side of the fluid passageway such that the conductive face of the electrode does not contact any portion of the fluid passageway; providing an electrolytic fluid to the fluid passageway of the inkjet printer component; and applying a voltage between the electrode and the inkjet printer component.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: James E. Harrison, Francis T. Galbraith, Kevin P. Egan, Bruce A. Bowling, Richard W. Sexton
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Patent number: 7585052Abstract: An inkjet print-head is formed by selectively disposing a first layer on a substrate. The first layer and the substrate form a topography. A second layer is selectively disposed over the substrate and the first layer. A third layer is disposed over the second layer. The second layer selectively disposed over the substrate and the first layer reduces a surface topography of the third layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Adrian Kriz, Bradley Chung
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Patent number: 7581821Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a head substrate having a fuse ROM without increasing the size. To achieve the object, a head substrate includes an ink supply port which has a long hole shape elongated in a first direction, a plurality of printing elements arrayed along the first direction on both sides of the ink supply port, a plurality of first driving elements, arrayed along the first direction at positions spaced apart further away from the ink supply port than the plurality of printing elements, for driving the plurality of printing elements, a plurality of fuse ROMs which store information, and a plurality of second driving elements for driving the plurality of fuse ROMs. A signal line used for driving the plurality of first driving elements and second driving elements is shared. The plurality of second driving elements are arranged on the same array as the first driving elements at positions adjacent to both ends of each array of the plurality of first driving elements.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2007Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takuya Hatsui, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Yoshiyuki Toge
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Patent number: 7581816Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet channel. A nozzle chamber structure defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel. The nozzle chamber structure includes a roof defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. A pivotal wall is pivotally mounted with respect to the nozzle chamber structure. A paddle is cantilevered to the wall and extends into the nozzle chamber. An anchor extends from the substrate assembly at a location external the nozzle chamber. A thermal expansion actuator forms a bridge between the anchor and the pivotal wall which, upon actuation, expands to pivot the wall so that the paddle ejects ink in the nozzle chamber out through the ink ejection port.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2007Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventor: Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7553002Abstract: An ink-jet printhead including a substrate, in which an integrated circuit for a driving logic circuit to selectively drive the nozzle, and a logic circuit to input/output printing data to/from a fuse array, are formed. The printhead further includes an electrode which is used for wirings of the integrated circuit and the logic circuit and is patterned on the substrate, a plurality of heaters which are formed on the electrode and generate heat by current applied through the electrode from the integrated circuit, and a fuse array which includes a plurality of fuse members formed on the electrode on a same plane with the heater and selectively fused by current applied through the electrode from the logic circuit and stores printing data. The printhead further includes a cover member which is provided on the heater and the fuse array and in which an ink chamber and a nozzle are formed in a position corresponding to each of the heaters.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2006Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Oh-hyun Baek
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Patent number: 7517054Abstract: The present invention provides an ink-jet recording head. The ink-jet recording head includes a nozzle that ejects an ink droplet; an ink flow path member that includes the nozzle; a beam member connected to the ink flow path member or which includes the ink flow path member; a first drive component connected with and set at the beam member and which bends the beam member; and a second drive component that deforms the beam member so as to become convex from concave in the ink droplet discharging direction. The second drive component deforms the beam member so as to become convex from concave in the ink droplet discharging direction and the first drive component bends the beam member. Thereby, the beam member is buckling reverse deformed with the second drive component.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Torahiko Kanda
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Patent number: 7500730Abstract: There is disclosed an inkjet recording apparatus which comprises a head having an actuator and at least one nozzle row each of which comprises a plurality of nozzles for ejecting an ink droplet therethrough onto a recording medium by driving of the actuator, a drive element which outputs to the actuator a drive signal for ejecting the ink droplet, an ink supply portion which is connected to the head so as to supply ink to the head, a heat radiating member which has a contact portion in contact with the drive element and an extending portion disposed alongside at least a part of the ink supply portion so as to release heat generated at the drive element, and a head holder which holds the head, the drive element, ink supply portion, and the heat radiating member.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsunori Nishida, Tomoyuki Kubo
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Patent number: 7484835Abstract: A filter plate usable with an ink jet head, an ink jet head with the filter plate, and a method of fabricating the filter plate are provided. The filter plate includes a filter substrate having a filter hole region. Filter holes having angled line shapes extend through the filter substrate of the filter hole region. Each of the filter holes may include an upper filter hole formed to have a first angle with respect to the filter substrate at an upper portion of the filter substrate, and a lower filter hole formed at a lower portion of the filter substrate to be connected to the upper filter hole and having a second angle with respect to the filter substrate different from the first angle.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2005Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kwang-Ryul Kim, Myong-Jong Kwon, Kyong-Il Kim, Nam-Kyun Kim, Byung-Ha Park, Yong-Shik Park, Eun-Bong Han, Young-Ung Ha, Sung-Joon Park, Jao-Sik Min
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Patent number: 7475959Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head including an ejection port surface on which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting a liquid toward a recording medium are arranged; a drive condition selection device which selects at least one of drive conditions for the liquid ejection head in order to eject the liquid from the ejection ports, the drive conditions including a first drive condition in which individual performance variations among the liquid droplet ejection heads in relation to ejection performance are reflected, and a second drive condition in which ambient environmental changes are reflected on the first drive condition; and an ejection failure determination device which performs determination of ejection state of the liquid, wherein, if the liquid ejection head is driven under the second drive condition during normal ejection, then the liquid ejection head is driven during the determination of the ejection state under a drive condition in which an ejection performance isType: GrantFiled: September 21, 2005Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventor: Kanji Nagashima
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Patent number: 7470001Abstract: A thermal inkjet printhead. The inkjet printhead includes a heater that heats an ink in an ink chamber to generate a bubble, conductors to supply an electric current to the heater, and a bubble separation wall protuberantly formed on the heater to protect the heater by inducing an extermination position of a bubble when the bubble generated by the heater shrinks and dissipates.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Kyong-il Kim, Su-ho Shin
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Patent number: 7470000Abstract: An ink jet head substrate, an ink jet head and a method of manufacturing an ink jet head substrate are provided. The ink jet head substrate includes a substrate having an ink ejection region. An interlayer insulating layer is formed on the substrate. A plurality of pressure-generating elements that generate pressure to eject ink are disposed on the interlayer insulating layer to form a predetermined array. Segment heaters that heat the substrate are disposed at predetermined positions on the substrate. The segment heaters are electrically connected to each other by heater wirings.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2005Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Oh-Hyun Beak
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Patent number: 7461913Abstract: The liquid droplet ejection apparatus comprises: a liquid droplet ejection head which includes a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with a plurality of nozzles through which droplets of liquid is ejected toward a recording medium; a plurality of resistance elements which determine pressure inside the pressure chambers, the resistance elements presenting in a number of equal to or less than a number of nozzles; and a determination circuit in which a bridge circuit is configured with a group of four of the resistance elements and determines a state of droplet ejection of each of the nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventor: Tsutomu Kusakari
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Patent number: 7434916Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid ejection head capable of performing a stable ejection operation at high speed even when thermal expansion of a valve supporting member occurs during liquid ejection. This is because the liquid ejection head allows the thermal expansion to influence supported valves only to a small extent, and a highly accurate and stable adhesion state to be obtained. To this end, first holes, second holes and slits are provided in the valve supporting member.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.Inventors: Kayo Mukai, Masahiro Hamano
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Patent number: 7431432Abstract: An inkjet printhead comprising: an array of nozzles; a plurality of actuators for ejecting ink through the nozzles such that a bulb of ink attached to a droplet stem forms prior to drop separation when the stem breaks; a plurality of droplet stem anchors positioned between adjacent actuators; wherein during use, the adjacent actuators eject ink simultaneously and the droplet stem anchors combine the ink simultaneously ejected by the adjacent nozzles into a single drop.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Matthew Taylor Worsman, Mehdi Azimi, Kia Silverbrook