For Carriage On Which A Type-head-carrier Is Mounted Patents (Class 400/320)
  • Patent number: 11255416
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and components for the design of a flat belt based block and tackle design that is theoretically free of fleet angles. A mapping technique forms a set of planar positions for the centerlines of the free spans that provides a plurality of sheave geometries, which reside on a common axis and spans that are free of fleet angles at the sheave engagement interfaces. This permits the use of high-performing flat belts in high-reduction (e.g., 6:1 or greater) block and tackle topologies, with the principal benefits of an extended service life, high power transmission efficiency, more effective traction power transfer, and a compact machine design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Liftwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Sessions
  • Patent number: 10870296
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for controlled motion of one or more printing units (2) designed for printing images (I) on one or more faces (F) of a sheet material (M) that is designed to move in a feeding direction defining a longitudinal axis (L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Panotec S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Capoia
  • Patent number: 10549558
    Abstract: A cutter unit is attached to a carriage in a predetermined direction, the carriage moving in a cutting direction of a sheet. A first set of first fitting sections and a second set of second fitting sections are provided as groups of fitting sections provided at positions, which face each other, on the carriage and the cutter unit. The first fitting sections and the second fitting sections each of which are fitted to each other in a predetermined direction. When the cutter unit is attached to the carriage, the fitting of the first fitting sections starts before the fitting of the second fitting sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Masuda, Naoki Wakayama, Masakazu Nagashima, Daiki Anayama, Tetsuo Kikuchi, Takakazu Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9566805
    Abstract: A cutting device includes a cutting blade, a receiving block, a motor, a cutting blade movement mechanism, and a receiving block movement mechanism. The cutting blade includes a blade portion. The receiving block includes a contact surface including a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The motor is configured to rotate in a forward direction and a reverse direction. The cutting blade movement mechanism supports the cutting blade and is configured to move the cutting blade between a separated position and a contact position in concert with a rotation of the motor when the motor rotates in a forward direction and when the motor rotates in a reverse direction. The receiving block movement mechanism is configured to move the receiving block from a first opposed position to a second opposed position in concert with the rotation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Kano, Kohei Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9519849
    Abstract: An image processing device allows for easy removal of a process medium stuck in the conveyance path while protecting the image processing unit from the outside. In many embodiments, the device includes a conveyance path for conveying process media in a specific conveyance direction, an image processing unit having an ejection surface (process surface) disposed facing the conveyance path, and a first cover and a second cover disposed along the conveyance path and covering the conveyance path. Typically, the first and second covers open and close by pivoting on first and second pivot pins disposed in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction, and the first and second pivot pins are disposed adjacent the conveyance path upstream and downstream of the portion of the conveyance path facing the ejection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9302509
    Abstract: A device for processing media may include a front panel, a rear panel, a side panel, a support surface, and an access door assembly. The access door assembly may be pivotally coupled to the support surface and may include a major door pivotally coupled to a minor door. The minor door may be movable from an operational position to a minor support position and the major door may be movable from the operational position to a major support position in which the major door is positioned against and supported by the support surface. The side panel may define an imaginary plane that extends upward beyond the support surface and the access door assembly may be sized to be supported on the support surface without crossing the imaginary plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ZIH CORP.
    Inventors: Timothy T. Anderson, Mark B. Urban, Robert P. Gotschewski
  • Patent number: 8909371
    Abstract: A pointer is guided by a user of a processing machine in succession to a number of locations of a working space of the processing machine. The pointer has first location determining devices which are arranged at predetermined pointer locations relative to a pointer coordinate system in fixed relationship to the pointer. Through interaction of the first location determining devices with second location determining devices arranged at predetermined locations relative to a machine coordinate system in fixed relationship to the processing machine, data describing a geometric relationship of the location determining devices relative to one another are acquired. These data are transmitted to a control device which determines the position of the pointer in the working space based on the characteristic data and based on the data subdivides the working space into a permitted movement range for a component of the processing machine and a complementary prohibited movement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Carsten Hamm
  • Patent number: 8740483
    Abstract: An adjusting apparatus includes a shaft, a rack, and a gear. The shaft includes a cam portion contacting a bracket and a securing portion. The cam portion includes a first outer edge and a second outer edge connected to the first outer edge. The cam portion defines a pivoting axis. The distance between the first outer edge and the pivoting axis is less than the distance between the second outer edge and the pivoting axis. The gear is toothed and secured to the shaft and the rack defines a plurality of slots engaged by the toothed gear. The rack is used to drive the gear and the shaft to be rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Szu-Hai Huang
  • Patent number: 8727648
    Abstract: A printer has a carriage being movable between a first end and a second end of a reciprocating path; and a driving force transmitting path selecting mechanism provided at the second end of the reciprocating path. The selecting mechanism has: a common driving force outputting member; a plurality of force receiving members; a selecting member; and a position retainer for keeping the position of the selecting member. The selecting member connects the force outputting member to one of the plurality of force receiving members, and moves in association with the carriage when the carriage moves in a vicinity of the second end in a first direction extending from the first end to the second end. The position retainer keeps the position of the selecting member when the carriage moves in a second direction extending from the second end to the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Koga, Masatoshi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 8504427
    Abstract: Methods of, and systems for, multi-lingual two-sided printing are provided. According to one embodiment, a method of multi-lingual two-sided printing is provided, the method comprising: initiating a transaction; identifying a first language for printing on a first side of two-sided media and a second language for printing on a second side of the two-sided media based on one or more aspects of the transaction; printing information on the first side of the two-sided media in the first language; and printing information on the second side of the two-sided media in the second language, wherein the first language is different from the second language. Variations including the printing of transaction information on a first side of two-side media and additional information on a second side of the two-sided media when an identified first language is not different from an identified second language are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Quinlan, Charles Q. Maney
  • Patent number: 8475067
    Abstract: A printer has a carriage being movable between a first end and a second end of a reciprocating path; and a driving force transmitting path selecting mechanism provided at the second end of the reciprocating path. The selecting mechanism has: a common driving force outputting member; a plurality of force receiving members; a selecting member; and a position retainer for keeping the position of the selecting member. The selecting member connects the force outputting member to one of the plurality of force receiving members, and moves in association with the carriage when the carriage moves in a vicinity of the second end in a first direction extending from the first end to the second end. The position retainer keeps the position of the selecting member when the carriage moves in a second direction extending from the second end to the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Koga, Masatoshi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 8393809
    Abstract: A printer includes a carriage movable between first and second ends of a reciprocating path; and a driving force-transmitting, path-selecting mechanism provided at the second end. The force-transmitting, path-selecting mechanism includes a driving force outputting member; force receiving members; a selecting member; and a position retainer. The selecting member connects the driving force outputting member to one of the force receiving members, and moves with the carriage when the carriage moves in a vicinity of the second end in a first direction from the first end to the second end. The position retainer keeps the position of the selecting member when the carriage moves in a second direction from the second end to the first end. The force receiving member connected to the driving force outputting member is selected in accordance with a movement of the carriage along the reciprocating path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Koga, Masatoshi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 7955012
    Abstract: A printer has a carriage being movable between a first end and a second end of a reciprocating path; and a driving force transmitting path selecting mechanism provided at the second end of the reciprocating path. The selecting mechanism has: a common driving force outputting member; a plurality of force receiving members; a selecting member; and a position retainer for keeping the position of the selecting member. The selecting member connects the force outputting member to one of the plurality of force receiving members, and moves in association with the carriage when the carriage moves in a vicinity of the second end in a first direction extending from the first end to the second end. The position retainer keeps the position of the selecting member when the carriage moves in a second direction extending from the second end to the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Koga, Masatoshi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 7775733
    Abstract: A printer apparatus is disclosed. The printer includes a medium feeding passage for conveying a medium; print head for performing a spacing and for performing a printing processing on the medium; a detector for detecting a first end position in a widthwise direction of the medium at a first position in a medium conveyance direction and for detecting a second end position in the widthwise direction of the medium at a second position in the medium conveyance direction; and a comparator for comparing the first end position with the second end position detected with the detector. The control of the print head is performed according to the compared result from the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Noda, Hiroaki Ono, Hironobu Sakai, Naoki Sato
  • Publication number: 20090097896
    Abstract: A printhead carrier having a zero clearance bearing arrangement includes a first open-faced bearing coupled to a dampener frame. The first open-faced bearing has a first bearing surface positioned to contact the cylindrical guide surface of a guide rod of an imaging apparatus. A second open-faced bearing is coupled to the dampener frame. The second open-faced bearing has a second bearing surface positioned to contact the cylindrical guide surface of the guide rod. The guide rod is diametrically positioned between the first open-faced bearing and the second open-faced bearing. An elastic foam member is interposed between the first open-faced bearing and the dampener frame. The elastic foam member is compressed to exert an expansion force between the first open-faced bearing and the dampener frame to load the second open-faced bearing on the guide rod in a zero-clearance relationship with the guide rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: William Michael Connors, Stephen Edward Stewart
  • Patent number: 7517163
    Abstract: A slide track of a notched slider control can include a continuous path extending between two end points. A slider can be a graphical element able to move along the slide track. The end points can correspond to upper and lower extremes of a value range. Positions between the end points can represent values within the value range. The slide track can include at least one notch that is visually represented within the slide control as a deviation from a straight line segment having the two end points. The notch corresponds to a value within the value range. The notch can causes the slider to become fixed at a point along the slide track whenever a pointing device controlling the slider is moved in a direction of the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Danny H. Addison, Stacy L. Arrington, Richard H. Harris, Robert A. Myers
  • Publication number: 20080193185
    Abstract: In this image generating apparatus, a driving gear portion is so formed that the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of a first toothless portion is smaller than the tip diameter of a first toothed portion, and so arranged that the first toothless portion thereof slides on a second toothed portion of a driven gear portion of a print head rotating member in the vicinity of a position where a print head presses a platen roller with a pressing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio SAWAI, Takahiro Naito
  • Patent number: 7410317
    Abstract: A first end position in a widthwise direction of a medium at a first position in a lengthwise direction of the medium, while a second end position in the widthwise direction of the medium at a second position in the lengthwise direction of the medium, and a comparison of the detected first end position with the detected second end position is performed to make predetermined processing according to the compared result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Noda, Hiroaki Ono, Hironobu Sakai, Naoki Sato
  • Patent number: 7261389
    Abstract: A thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device is used to dissipate heat from a thermal fluid ejector module in a fluid ejection device. The thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device is molded from a polymer, or a polymer material including at least one thermally-conductive filler material. The thermal fluid ejector module is brought into contact with the thermally-conducting polymer carriage to dissipate heat. The polymer can be a highly thermally-conductive polymer. A method of manufacturing the thermally-conductive polymer carriage includes molding the carriage at least partially from a polymer that includes thermally-conductive filler materials, and contacting the thermally-conducting polymer carriage with the fluid ejector module. A method for use of the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device includes establishing a heat flow path from the fluid ejector module to ambient air through the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric A. Merz, Roger G. Markham
  • Patent number: 7131779
    Abstract: An actuating control device for use between a printer head and an actuating and transmitting device includes a path planning unit, a feedback unit, a proportional-integral controller and a feed forward controller. The path planning unit issues a position command value and a speed command value. The feedback unit generates a position feedback signal and a speed feedback signal according to the position and the speed of the printer head. The proportional-integral controller generates a first control signal according to the difference between the position command value and the position feedback signal and the difference between the speed command value and the speed feedback signal. The feed forward controller generates a second control signal according to a computation on the speed command value. The printer head is driven to move by the actuating and transmitting device in response to the first control signal and the second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 7073882
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a main logic board having elements controlling the inkjet printer, and first and second carriers where first and second cartridges are mounted. The first and/or second cartridges are arbitrarily mounted on any one of the first and second carriers. A circuit component recognizing the arbitrarily mounted cartridge and informing an external apparatus of specifications of the recognized cartridge is provided at the main logic board. At least one of the first and second cartridges is a black or color cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-hwan Kim, Young-bok Ju
  • Patent number: 6854905
    Abstract: A portable printer includes a top cover, a bottom cover, one or more rail units located on the inside surface of the top cover, and a carriage assembly. Media is positionable on the inside surface of the bottom cover. The carriage assembly is movably connected to the rail units, such that the carriage assembly is able to move at least one of horizontally and vertically over the media, and print on substantially any part of the media, wherein the media is capable of being stationary during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jaime S. Hardisty, Mackenzie Williams
  • Patent number: 6832864
    Abstract: Printing apparatus for printing an image on a selected surface, includes a print head for printing the image, respective supports for the print head that allow the print head to translate left and right along an x-axis and to translate up and down along a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis to move the print head over the selected surface, and respective supports for the print head that allow the print head to translate forward and rearward along a z-axis perpendicular to the x-and y-axes and to swing in a plurality of curves from the z-axis in order to adjust the print head for surface variations on the selected surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David L. Patton, Loretta E. Allen, Dale F. McIntyre
  • Patent number: 6789968
    Abstract: A printer having a plurality of switching mechanisms movable between a first position and a second position. A selector is associated with a carriage of the printer such that the carriage moves the selector so as to actuate at least one of the switching mechanisms to the second position when the carriage moves to the first non-printing region, and so as to actuate the at least one of the switching mechanisms to the first position when the carriage moves to the second non-printing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Maruyama, Toshiyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6715947
    Abstract: A low rotational inertia shuttle system (24) for a dot matrix line printer (20) is disclosed. The low rotational inertia shuttle system (24) includes an elongate support structure (26), a carriage (22) and a counterbalance (62). The carriage and the counterbalance are reciprocally mounted on the support structure. The low rotational inertia shuttle system also includes a reciprocating assembly (60) disposed on the support structure for reciprocating the carriage and the counterbalance. The reciprocating assembly has an inertia that is purposely minimized with respect to the mass of the carriage and the counterbalance, such that the printer operates at a substantially constant level of kinetic energy to produce a substantially linear velocity profile for the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Tally Printer Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Jack Cornelius, John Wayne Whiting, Charles Gordon Whitaker
  • Patent number: 6695497
    Abstract: A print head transport mechanism of a postage meter for printing postal indicia which are of greater height than a printing height of a print head comprises a carriage to traverse the print head in a first direction over a band of a print receiving area and a guide to displace the print head from a home position to an index position during a second traverse of the print head in a reverse direction whereby the print head traverses over a second band, adjacent the first band, of the print receiving area during the second traverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventor: Thomas David Reid Ford
  • Patent number: 6679580
    Abstract: A printer having a power bus for delivery of power to a print carriage is disclosed. The power from the power bus is picked up by a charge pickup system mounted on the print carriage. The charge pickup system can include a conductor contact and a spring to pressure the conductor to maintain contact with the power bus. The power bus can be implemented on the slide bar or on a separate bus bar. A ground return bus can be used to provide ground lines to the print carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Meados
  • Patent number: 6648528
    Abstract: A portable printer includes a top cover, a bottom cover, one or more rail units located on the inside surface of the top cover, and a carriage assembly. Media is positionable on the inside surface of the bottom cover. The carriage assembly is movably connected to the rail units, such that the carriage assembly is able to move at least one of horizontally and vertically over the media, and print on substantially any part of the media, wherein the media is capable of being stationary during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jaime S Hardisty, Mackenzie Williams
  • Patent number: 6461064
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved wide format color digital print engine, and in particular to a drum-based large format digital ink jet print engine having a vertically articulated carriage portion which carries both the print heads and an imaging array, adjustable saber angles for print heads, a novel service station, and an extremely robust weight-bearing carriage architecture. In particular, the present invention provides a highly manufacturable print engine benefiting from a discrete few controlled mounting locations so that accurate mounting of the cooperating sub-assemblies allow a very stable carriage assembly for driving said carriage laterally with respect to a printing medium coupled to the exterior of a drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Leonard, Michael David Hanson, Kerry Ray Anderson, Gregg Michael Bloom
  • Patent number: 6447183
    Abstract: A print head transport mechanism of a postage meter for printing postal indicia which are of greater height than a printing height of a print head comprises a carriage to traverse the print head in a first direction over a band of a print receiving area and a guide to displace the print head from a home position to an index position during a second traverse of the print head in a reverse direction whereby the print head traverses over a second band, adjacent the first band, of the print receiving area during the second traverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventor: Thomas David Reid Ford
  • Patent number: 6407380
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus utilizing an indirect-contact transmission arrangement. The image reading apparatus includes a securing apparatus for placing a object for scanning; an image receiving apparatus; a guiding shaft; a transmitting component which can slide along the guiding shaft and drive the securing apparatus to move relatively to the image receiving apparatus via an indirect-contact component; and a dragging component which connects and drives the transmitting component. The indirect-contact component prevents the dragging component from transmitting vibrations generated during the scanning process to either the securing apparatus or the image receiving apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Acer Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventor: Li-Fu Sung
  • Patent number: 6283651
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for mounting a print head in a printer. The arrangement comprises a frame (1) to which a feeder device feeds a material to be printed which the printer will print on by means of a print head (3), movably arranged adjacent to a print roll (2) for being brought into, or out of, contact with the material to be printed. According to the invention, the arrangement uses a magnet (5) to hold the print head. Preferably, the print head is fitted in a fixture device (4), which is pivoting freely around a rear axle (7) parallel to the print roll, and the pressure is applied on the print head by a pressure member (6). The magnet (5) is preferably attached to the pressure member (6) so as to transfer pushing as well as pulling forces. The invention enables screws or fixed mounting of the print head to be avoided. The arrangement according to the invention also allows for the print head (3) pressure point to be transversally displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Intermec IP Corp
    Inventor: Robert Holmberg
  • Patent number: 6244686
    Abstract: A print head drive mechanism utilizing a lead screw is provided. In one embodiment, the print head drive mechanism comprises a lead screw that is coupled to the print head and extends through the threaded hub of a gear. The gear is driven by a stepper motor through a pinion. A support cylinder extends from one face of the gear and includes a tapered nose that seats within a recess in a brace. The thread pitch of the lead screw matches the jet spacing in the print head to minimize positional offsets due to component irregularities and misalignments. In another embodiment, the print head is coupled to at least one nut that is translated by a rotating lead screw, with the lead screw having a thread pitch that matches the jet spacing in the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Jensen, Brent R. Jones, David L. Knierim
  • Patent number: 6244765
    Abstract: An inkjet printing mechanism includes a vibration isolating attachment system for securing a drive belt to an inkjet printhead carriage for increasing print quality by isolating the carriage from multi-directional vibrations generated by a carriage drive motor while propelling the carriage during printing. The vibration isolating member is of a resilient material having a first end coupled to a drive mechanism interface member which is joined to the belt, a second end coupled to a carriage interface member supported by the carriage, and a body section between the first end and the second end. Two or more vibration isolating members may be used, with a preferred shape being an I-shaped cross section. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a vibration isolating attachment system, and a method of method of isolating an inkjet printhead carriage from vibrations generated by a carriage drive motor, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Douglas L. Harriman, Jason Quintana
  • Patent number: 6158908
    Abstract: A head drive mechanism capable of improving color shading in an exposed image due to a variation or nonuniformity in speed of a photosensitive head corresponding to pitches of teeth of a toothed belt. The photosensitive head includes a dot block which is constituted by a luminous dot group constituted of a line of a row A formed of even luminous dots and a line of a row B formed of odd luminous dots. Also, the rows A and B are so arranged that the luminous dots of the row A and those of the row B are offset from each other with an interval Ds being defined therebetween. A final transmission system is constituted of a toothed drive pulley, a toothed driven pulley and a toothed belt. The toothed belt is constructed so as to have tooth pitches Q=2Ds/(2n+1) reduced in terms of a relative travel distance of the head, wherein n is 0 or a positive integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiko Yuge
  • Patent number: 6134978
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism which includes a pair of gears bilaterally disposed at one end of a scanning path defined inside a scanner, a first pair of fixed pulleys respectively and fixedly mounted on the gears, a second pair of fixed pulleys bilaterally disposed at an opposite end of the scanning path, a pair of movable pulleys synchronously moved along the scanning path, and a flexible transmission member mounted on the fixed pulleys and the movable pulleys subject to a designed order for power transmission for permitting the movable pulleys to be moved synchronously along the scanning path. By means of changing the revolving direction of the gears and the tangential velocity of the first fixed pulley and second fixed pulley, a different speed ratio is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: Bob Lin
  • Patent number: 6129461
    Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, if a main sheet feed roller is displaced during rotation thereof, a carrier contacted with an outer peripheral surface of the main sheet feed roller via a pressure plate is rotated around a guide shaft upwardly or downwardly. As a result, a position of a nozzle of a recording head held by the carrier is changed. Further, a platen is rotated around support shafts upwardly or downwardly in response to rotation of the carrier around the guide shaft. As a result, a position of a recording surface of the platen is changed. In this way, even if the main sheet feed roller is displaced during rotation thereof, a distance between the nozzle surface of the recording head and a recording medium on the recording surface of the platen is always kept constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakai
  • Patent number: 6123470
    Abstract: A printer head includes a wireless print head provided with a memory buffer for storing data corresponding to at least one line of data. The print head is also provided with a motor and runs along a guide means in a self-propelled manner, the print head further includes power pick-up means for taking power for the motor from the guide means. In one embodiment for example the guide means are a pair of parallel metal rails connected to a power supply and the print head includes metal wheels and brush means. In this way the amount of cabling required to connect to the print head to a controlling computer may be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: N K Technology LTD
    Inventor: Shun Pui Chiu
  • Patent number: 6123473
    Abstract: A reciprocating belt drive arrangement for the printhead carriage of a printer comprises an endless belt looped around a toothed drive pulley, which engages a toothed part of the belt, and an idler pulley with circumferential grooves which are arranged to receive ribs on the remaining part of the belt to prevent transverse movements of the belt leading to wear. The ribs and grooves may be interchangeable. In an alternative embodiment the toothed and ribbed parts extend side-by-side along the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Roberto Guillen, Emilio Angulo
  • Patent number: 6109803
    Abstract: A printer is provided with: a heating device for heating a solid ink to dissolve the solid ink into a liquefied ink while an alternative current is supplied thereto; a recording device, on which the heating device is provided, for recording record information onto a record sheet by use of the liquefied ink; and a moving device for moving the recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuneo Yasui, Kazuhiko Matsuda, Hakudai Kondo, Masashi Suzuki, Akira Sago
  • Patent number: 6064416
    Abstract: A linear translation system for use in a laser imaging system. The linear translation system includes a base member including a pair of longitudinally extending guide rails positioned parallel to each other. A carriage mechanism is carried by the base member, wherein the carriage mechanism is slidably coupled to the guide rails using a three position kinematic design. A rotary to linear motion mechanism is coupled to the carriage mechanism which slidably moves the carriage mechanism along the guide rails. A laser imaging assembly is coupled to the carriage mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jay A. Esch, Timothy S. Vraa, Yun Zhong Li, Paul C. Schubert, James E. Steffen
  • Patent number: 6045212
    Abstract: A rising rate integral spring drive belt system for driving a carriage carrying an inkjet printhead is quieter and more economical than earlier systems. An integral spring drive belt of a resilient material is secured to the carriage and driven by a motor to selectively move the carriage across the printzone. The belt is of a resilient elastomeric material. The belt has an integral spring portion with two segmented members defining a void therebetween and a web member coupling together the two segmented members. The remainder of the belt has a constant spring constant, while the spring portion has a higher spring constant which varies with the degree of tension experienced by the belt. The variable spring constant allows the spring portion to more readily respond to and damp periodic belt tension vibrations to provide a quieter, more economical printing mechanism. A method is provided driving an inkjet printhead carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Ruhe, Brently L. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6004050
    Abstract: A carriage drive system includes a carriage driven along a carriage path under a force generated by a drive motor. The driving force is coupled to the carriage by a drive belt. High frequency vibrations occurring in the drive belt are isolated from the carriage to improve print quality or scanning accuracy. Vibrations are introduced to the drive belt by the drive motor, the connection between the drive motor and the drive belt or from another source. High frequency decoupling is achieved using a spring connection which serves as a low pass filter of vibration frequencies. In addition, a linear encoder is included on the carriage for detecting carriage position. Such linear encoder samples carriage position at a rate fast enough to enable compensation for low frequency carriage vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard
    Inventors: David Rehman, Tod S. Heiles, Geoff Wotton, John Sturman
  • Patent number: 6000866
    Abstract: A printer including, from an upstream side to a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction, a sheet feed mechanism, a carriage, a curl straightening device, and a sheet discharge mechanism. A curl straightening head of the curl straightening device is resilient. The carriage and the curl straightening device are driven by a same drive source. The printer is a cheap printer which can allow reliable straightening of curled recorded sheet, even when sheets of different thicknesses are used, and which can reliably discharge the sheet out the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Funaki, Hideki Yorozu, Yuusai Ishitobi, Mitsuo Tsushima
  • Patent number: 5886490
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the operational characteristics of a motor. The method includes the steps of reading a plurality of optically encoded controller position signals, determining a motor control signal state and differential based thereon and outputting a motor control signal. The central operation of the method and apparatus is based on a motor control signal state diagram and the transitions therein. The apparatus includes a rotary digital optical encoder having a plurality of output signals, a programmable controller device and an output circuit. The programmable controller device includes motor control logic for determining the operational characteristics of a motor. The motor control signal may be either/or a pulse width modulated (PWM) or analog output. Additionally, described embodiments include an apparatus having logic for determining the directional characteristics of a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Apsco International
    Inventors: Michael Justin Miller, Scott Robert Shepler, Bruce Alan Nielsen
  • Patent number: 5873663
    Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of printing by moving a carriage mounting a printing head to a recording paper detects a movement of the carriage for a predetermined distance by an encoder, clocks the time for the carriage to move in the distance, and obtains the moving speed of the carriage in accordance with the clocked time. Time intervals for printing by the printing head are determined by the carriage moving speed, and a printing is performed at a constant printing density in an acceleration/deceleration area in addition to the area where the carriage is moving at a constant speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Yokoi, Masafumi Wataya
  • Patent number: 5832820
    Abstract: A dot matrix printer having a plurality of hammers on a hammerbank with a counterbalance for the hammerbank in adjacent parallel relationship to the hammerbank. The hammerbank and counterbalance are driven by a first crank arm connected to the hammerbank and a second crank arm connected to the counterbalance with looped circular portions having bearing surfaces for moving the crank arms in opposite relationship to each other. A single shaft with two eccentrics, each respectively in the bearing surfaces turns the two crank arms. The crank arms are in close parallel relationship to each other and close proximity to the hammerbank and counterbalance. The single shaft is connected to a motor for driving the hammerbank and counterbalance, and is formed with a stator having coils with a magnetic ring formed as a rotor portion surrounding the stator, and a flywheel surrounding and connected to the magnetic rotor ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Printronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Brent Barrus
  • Patent number: 5803628
    Abstract: A printing apparatus and method for printing on a recording medium at locations being determined by encoder pulses of an encoder signal generated by an encoder including an encoder pending circuit. The encoder pending circuit outputs an encoder pending signal indicating the generation of one of the encoder pulses during a current printing operation. A controller coupled to the encoder pending circuit, receives the encoder pending signal and generates an enable signal after the completion of the current printing operation. The method of printing includes receiving one of the encoder pulses; determining whether the received one of the encoder pulse is generated during a current printing operation and completing the current printing operation before responding to the received one of the encoder pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick A. Donahue
  • Patent number: 5797691
    Abstract: A carriage driver includes a cam shaft having a shaft, a cylinder provided around the shaft and made of material of which thermal expansion coefficient is different from that of the shaft, and a cam groove provided on the cylinder, a carriage motor which rotatively drives the cam shaft, a carriage having a print head and movably mounted on the cam shaft, and a prohibiting mechanism provided at boundaries between the shaft and the cylinder of the cam shaft and simultaneously at ends of printing area, in order to prohibit distortion of the cam shaft in an axial direction due to change in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Star Micronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kanji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5788385
    Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by scanning a recording head, includes a scan unit for scanning the recording head by changing the scan speed of the recording head, and a control unit for controlling the scan unit to change the scan speed of the recording head according to the resolution of image data to be recorded by the recording head so as to perform recording. A recording controller for controlling the recording apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoshi Inoue, Kiyoharu Yoshioka, Hiroyuki Kuriyama, Soji Hamano, Akihiko Hamamoto, Makoto Hinohara, Osamu Yamada