With Web Supply Or Takeup Or Mount Therefor (e.g., Web Cartridge, Etc.) Patents (Class 400/613)
  • Patent number: 7201272
    Abstract: A consumer tote for a roll of wallpaper is disclosed. The tote has a disposable exterior with a main access flap and a pair of core access openings, one at each end. The tote has an interior in which may be located a disposable core. The core aligns with the access openings. In some embodiments there is a gap between the access flap and an adjacent edge of the exterior, when the flap is closed. In preferred embodiments, the core is supported at each end by a molding having a hub which engages the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Janette Faye Lee
  • Patent number: 7201522
    Abstract: A printer cartridge suitable for use in a cartridge-based printer houses and dispenses a roll of label media, and includes a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall. A yoke pivotally mounted between the top and bottom walls for pivotable movement about a pivot axis includes a label media supply shaft for holding a roll of label media. The label media supply shaft has a longitudinal axis spaced from, and parallel to, the pivot axis. A label media drive roller is rotatably mounted between the top and bottom walls, and a biasing means biases the yoke toward the label media drive roller to maintain the roll of label media in contact with the label media drive roller. Ratchet teeth fixed relative to at least one of the housing and yoke engage structure of the other of the housing and the yoke to prevent the yoke from pivoting away from the label media drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent A. Bandholz, Richard L. Carriere
  • Patent number: 7191978
    Abstract: A media web cartridge for storing a media web to be introduced into a wallpaper printing system, the wallpaper printing system including a region to receive the media web cartridge and feed the media web past a printhead at least as wide as the width of the media web, the media web cartridge comprising: a casing which envelopes the media web; a fixed shaft about which the media web is wound and is free to rotate; two support members that each hold an opposite end of the shaft, the support members adapted to be supported by the casing and to prevent rotation of the shaft relative to the casing; at least two feed rollers to draw the media web from about the shaft and force the media web through an exit region of the casing; and, at least one of the feed rollers including a coupling which protrudes through an opening in an end of the casing and is adapted to engage with a drive spindle provided in the printing system, the drive spindle adapted to rotate the at least one feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7186042
    Abstract: A printer is disclosed for producing rolls of wallpaper. The printer has a frame in which is located a media path which extends from a media loading area to a winding area. A printhead located across the media path. One or more input devices are used for capturing operator instructions. A processor accepts operator inputs which are used to configure the printer for producing a particular roll. The winding area is adapted to hold a core and wind onto it, wallpaper produced by the printer, preferably on demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Janette Faye Lee
  • Patent number: 7168869
    Abstract: A tape printer includes a detection device that detects a type of tape in a tape cassette, a print data storage device that stores print data, a print head that performs printing on the tape based on the print data stored in the print data storage device, a recycle mark storage device that stores recycle mark data to be printed on the tape, wherein the recycle mark data can indicate whether the tape can be recycled, a composition device that composes, if the tape is detected by the detection device to be recyclable tape, the recycle mark data stored in the recycle mark storage device with the print data stored in the print data storage device, and a print control device that controls the print head so that the print head performs printing based on composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitomi Hioki, Takeo Ito
  • Patent number: 7168654
    Abstract: A media cartridge is constructed as a case in which a roll of blank media may be deployed for supplying a wallpaper printer. The case has two halves, hinged together. An area between the two halves, when they are closed, defines a media supply slot. The case has internally and adjacent to the slot, a pair of rollers. At least one of the rollers is a driven roller which is supported at each end, by the case, for rotation by an external motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Janette Faye Lee
  • Patent number: 7150573
    Abstract: A label printer assembly has a support for a supply roll of labels on a flexible web which is fed into an ink jet printer for printing onto a label without contacting the label. After printing, the web carrying the printed label is fed beyond a tear strip to permit removing the printed label by tearing off the web at a space between the labels carried on the web. A feed roller is used to provide a slack loop on the output side of the supply roll that is controlled as to its size during printing, so the drag of the web on the printer feed rollers is reduced. The printer will selectively print bar codes onto the labels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Primera Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Cummins, Todd Britz, Michael Tolrud
  • Patent number: 7140794
    Abstract: A label printing apparatus for accommodating a plurality of widths of rolled label stock is provided. The label printing apparatus includes a frame, a label stock support arm extending from the frame, and a print head located for having label stock pass thereby for printing. The label stock support arm may have at least two stepped regions for supporting rolled label stock, including a first stepped region with edges spaced apart by a first distance corresponding to a first width of label stock and a second stepped region with edges spaced apart by a second distance corresponding to a second width of label stock. One or more label stock guides may include recessed regions for guiding different widths of label stock. A movable wall may also be provided. The various features could also be provided in connection with printers using rolled print media other than label stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Randall L. Redman, Lee E. Trouteaud, Matthew A. Zakel
  • Patent number: 7125182
    Abstract: Disclosed are a printer and a stacker and methods. The printer prints selectively on one or both sides of a printable web and sheets or labels are cut from the web and stacked in the stacker. The printer has an unwind mechanism that accepts and holds web rolls of different widths in center-justified relationship with respect to a print head. The printer has a spindle for mounting an ink ribbon core with a detent for center-justifying the ink-ribbon with respect to the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Paxar Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Campbell, Donald J. Ward
  • Patent number: 7114865
    Abstract: After a numbering character string is input, the start position of the numbering character string to be serially incremented and the end position of the numbering character string to be repeatedly incremented and printed on a print tape are set, and the number of print tapes on which the input numbering character string is serially implemented and printed is set. In this case, a numbering character string to be printed on a first print tape and a numbering character string to be printed on a last print tape are displayed on a liquid crystal display before the start of printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Ishii, Jun Itakura, Hajime Okochi
  • Patent number: 7114866
    Abstract: A tape printing apparatus that prints a character string including a plurality of character regions divided by specified delimiting codes, which composes of space codes, tab codes and new block codes, onto a tape, there is provided a normal printing means for performing normal printing with the character region being in a normal order, and an inversed printing means for performing inversed order printing for printing a character string with the character regions being in inversed order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Ueno, Hajime Okochi, Hidekazu Ishii, Mizue Terai
  • Patent number: 7108221
    Abstract: A printer using a paper supply roll is provided with a capability for conversion between snap-in loading of the paper roll, in which the roll is snapped into place with the tubular core of the paper roll being held to rotate between a pair of bearing members, and drop-in loading, in which the roll is dropped onto a support surface, against which the periphery of the roll then turns. In a first version, each of the bearing members has a flat side and a spherical side, which is turned inward for snap-in loading and outward for drop-in loading. In another version, the bearing members are moved inward for snap-in loading and outward for drop-in loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Myers, Jeff David Thomas
  • Patent number: 7108434
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for printing wallpaper onto a web of media. The method uses an on-demand printer having a cabinet in which is located a media path. The path extends from a media loading area to a winding area. A printhead is located in the media path. The cabinet houses a processor which accepts operator inputs from one or more input devices that communicate with the processor to capture data from an operator regarding a specification for an operator's requirements. The processor establishes a pattern or a configuration for the printer according to the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Janette Faye Lee
  • Patent number: 7104712
    Abstract: A tape printer includes a holder support member at one side end in a roll sheet holder storage part in a direction substantially perpendicular to a feeding direction. In the holder support member, a mounting piece which is substantially rectangular in section and formed protruding outward on a positioning holding member of a roll sheet holder is fitted. The tape printer further includes a flat portion formed substantially horizontally between a rear edge of an insertion opening through which a roll sheet is inserted into the tape printer. On the flat portion, a front portion of a guide member is placed. At a rear edge of the flat portion in the feeding direction, at plural positions corresponding to various kinds of the roll sheets having different widths, there are formed four second positioning grooves in which part of the guide member is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Keiji Seo, Akira Sago, Atsushi Kasugai
  • Patent number: 7097372
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refillable tape cassette for accomodating a supply of printable tape. In order to avoid the need for different tape cassettes for different tape widths the tape cassette is capable of selectively housing supplies of tapes of different widths. Alternatively or additionally, the tape cassette can have a housing comprising a base on which the tape supply can be releasably fixed, and a lid fixed to the base, wherein the lid is pivotally mounted to the base by means of a hinge, Further, according to the invention, the windings of refill tape units are held together by means of a strip of adhesive or by means of wax on the axial ends of the units, or by scuffing the backing layer of an image receiving tape which is broader than the image receiving layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Esselte N.V.
    Inventors: Geert Heyse, Robert Day, Charles Robert Sims
  • Patent number: 7083344
    Abstract: In a label printer in which either a peeling mode or non-peeling mode can be selected as the label dispensing mode, labels are printed and thus wasted when the operator loads the label paper into a transportation path that does not match the desired dispensing mode. This problem is solved by a label printer enabling selecting as the printing configuration either a peeling configuration for peeling printed labels from the web of label paper 11, or a non-peeling configuration in which the printed labels are not separated from the web of the label paper 11. A printing configuration selection unit 27 enables selecting which printing configuration to use. To operate in the non-peeling mode, the label paper 11 is loaded into a first paper transportation path A. To operate in the peeling mode, the label paper 11 is loaded to a second paper transportation path B. A cover unit 2 can be opened and closed to enable handling the label paper, and takes the label printer off-line when the cover unit 2 is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masayo Miyasaka, Go Hiroike, Kazuko Fukano, Toru Takami, Koji Yamada
  • Patent number: 7083345
    Abstract: A system for assisting a user with the proper printing of postage indicia and other value bearing items onto labels in rolls of labels in a label printer, and a roll for use therewith. The system includes providing a roll bearing pre-printed labels for printing with postage indicia. The roll has a plurality of label sets, each with a leader portion and a label body, where each leader has a serial number which is the same as a serial number located on its corresponding label body. Interactive computer software guides a user to confirm that the serial number on the pre-printed label body to be printed with postage indicia matches a label serial number in the software that will be encoded into a 2-D barcode portion of the postage indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Stamps.com
    Inventor: Tod E. Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 7077515
    Abstract: A media cartridge for an inkjet printhead that has a roll of media substrate wrapped around a tubular core that stores a supply of ink. The ink outlets are at the end of the core and the drive gear for the drive roller is adjacent the end of the core. Providing the media in a roll allows the cartridge to be small and compact. The hollow core holds a relatively large amount of ink and the ink outlets and drive roller at one end of the cartridge allows the cartridge to be installed with a convenient single action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research PTY LTD
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7066670
    Abstract: A printer (24) for printing upon a continuous web of print receivable media (18) is provided. The printer includes a print head (28) having a media drive assembly side and a media drive assembly for moving the media across the print head. The media drive assembly is disposed only on the media drive assembly side of the print head. The printer further includes a platen (30) disposed adjacent the print head and a controller (102) coupled to the print head, the media drive assembly, and the platen. The controller controls the printer during continuous printing and single sheet printing. During continuous printing, the media is moved in a downstream direction past the print head. During single sheet printing, the media is moved past the print head in an upstream direction one sheet at a time. Further, the printer may perform single sheet pull printing or single sheet push printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Tallygenicom LP
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bakken, Craig J. Cornelius, Gary A. Gesellchen, Kenneth R. Hallock, Michael B. O'Leary, Scott D. Phillips
  • Patent number: 7059793
    Abstract: A printer with automatic cutter, provided with a built-in type cutting section. The printer includes a printing section, a cutting section arranged downstream of the printing section in a paper feeding direction, a support mechanism for supporting the printing section and the cutting section, and a drive source provided in the cutting section. The printing section acts to provide a print to printing paper fed continuously thereto. The cutting section includes a fixed blade and a movable blade which cooperate with each other to cut the printing paper, the fixed blade and the movable blade being shiftable relative to each other between a cooperative mutually-adjoining position and an uncooperative mutually-remote position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Yukihiro Mori, Masahiro Tsuchiya, Sumio Watanabe, Fumio Sakurai, Kunihiko Funada
  • Patent number: 7059791
    Abstract: A pinion wheel for a spitter mechanism of a tape printer includes a first surface that does not engage with a tape, and a second surface for contact with a portion of the tape. Rotation of the pinion wheel causes the second surface to engage and move the portion of tape. In an implementation, the first surface has a first curvature and the second surface has a second curvature. The first surface may be flat and the second surface may be arcuate. In another implementation, a tape printer includes a printer body, a printing means, a cutting means for cutting a tape, and a spitter mechanism for moving a portion of the tape. The spitter mechanism includes an element rotatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a first surface does not engage the portion of tape, and in the second position a second surface engages the portion of tape. Rotation of the element to the second position causes the portion of tape to be moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: DYMO
    Inventor: Kris Vandermeulen
  • Patent number: 7056040
    Abstract: A personal digital assistant (901) stores personal information in an electronic and transportable from. The digital assistant includes a body section (902) connected to a display screen (904). The body (902) houses a memory, control circuitry for operating the personal digital assistant and an internal printer (500) for printing stored and/or displayed information. The printer (500) has a removable ink/print media cartridge (504) disposed in the hinge joint (905) connecting the body section (902) and the display screen (904).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7037014
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printing machine and media cartridge. The printing machine has a housing, a printing mechanism and a processing unit connected to the housing, a media cartridge interface connecting the media cartridge to the printing machine, and a look-up table for storing media cartridge parameters. The media cartridge has a media support for a media source, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit has a plurality of conductive traces with fusible links connected together in a circuit pattern on at least one of its sides. The circuit pattern includes an encoding of at least one media cartridge parameter that may be stored in the look-up table of the printing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Clayvon, James J. McElligott
  • Patent number: 7025296
    Abstract: A tape unit has a support including a rotation support section rotatably supporting a tape spool and facing a roll part of a print tape, and a junction section extending from the rotation support section. A guide groove for guiding the print tape pulled out from the roll part is formed on the junction section. By virtue of such composition, the tape unit can be attached to a cassette case body of a tape cassette maintaining the print tape in the guide groove, by which the replacement of the tape unit which is stored in the cassette case body can be made easier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihito Nonomura
  • Patent number: 7021758
    Abstract: A hand held personal digital assistant including: information storage means; display means; an in-built printer; control means allowing a user to selectively retrieve and display information from said storage means on said display means and to print said information using said printer means; a receptacle for receiving an ink cartridge containing at least one ink for supply to the in-built printer; and an interface enabling a user to enter and store new information in said information storage means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7011464
    Abstract: A printer having a hopper without shaft which performs a print operation on a roll of continuous paper. Detection marks are provided in flanges provided in supported members removably attached to the continuous paper, and the presence/absence of the detection mark in a detection position of an optical sensor is determined. A rear end of the continuous paper in the hopper is determined if the result of determination of the presence/absence of the detection mark during conveyance of the continuous paper is the same. A passage length from the position of the determined rear end of the continuous paper to a print unit is equal to or longer than a predetermined maximum print size. By this arrangement, the rear end of the continuous paper can be detected without upsizing the apparatus and without complicating the structure, and the continuous paper can be effectively utilized without causing shortage of the continuous paper during execution of print operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiharu Sekino
  • Patent number: 6997629
    Abstract: Improvements that facilitate loading of supply items into data bearing identification or financial document production equipment. Supply items include web materials that are used in data bearing identification or financial document production equipment, and which are supplied from a supply cylinder and wound onto a take-up cylinder after use. Examples of supply items include monochromatic and multi-color print ribbons, webs that carry laminate patches, cleaning tape, and other web materials that are used up during use of the equipment. Data bearing identification or financial document production equipment include thermal printers, laminators and combinations thereof, and other equipment that utilize supply items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: DataCard Corporation
    Inventors: Lyle C. Bungert, Brian Clemens, Brett Ryan Johnson, Jennifer Astwood, Charles Austen Angell
  • Patent number: 6997623
    Abstract: A printer unit comprises a first positioning mechanism and a second positioning mechanism for positioning a platen with respect to a print head when a cover frame is closed. The first positioning mechanism is constituted to restrict a change in the position of the platen to a rotation around a first positioning fulcrum, such as a lock pin. The second positioning mechanism is constituted to restrict the rotation of the platen around a first positioning fulcrum by abutment on a second positioning fulcrum, such as a lock lever spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiko Nebashi
  • Patent number: 6991391
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a roll-like printing paper, a video printer using such roll-like printing paper and a method of detecting a remaining quantity of a roll-like printing paper. More specifically, this invention relates to a roll-like printing paper in which a paper spool may include a detection portion for detecting a rotation of the paper spool and a rotation of the paper spool can be detected by this detection portion. Further, this invention relates to a video printer and a printing paper remaining quantity detection method in which the rotation of the paper spool of this roll-like printing paper may be detected and an alarm may be displayed if it is determined based on the detected paper spool rotation that the remaining quantity of the roll-like printing paper approaches to its end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masahide Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6991098
    Abstract: A consumer tote for a roll of wallpaper is disclosed. The tote has a disposable exterior with a main access flap and a pair of core access openings, one at each end. The tote has an interior in which may be located a disposable core. The core aligns with the access openings. In some embodiments there is a gap between the access flap and an adjacent edge of the exterior, when the flap is closed. In preferred embodiments, the core is supported at each end by a molding having a hub which engages the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Janette Faye Lee
  • Patent number: 6988845
    Abstract: A commercial printer for use in a scalable printing system, that has a housing with a media web inlet, a media web outlet and a media feed path there between, a printhead adjacent the media web inlet, and a drying fluid supply duct extending along one side of the feed path to direct a drying fluid flow across the media web generally transverse to the feed path and parallel to the plane of the media web. The casing has ink, power and drying fluid inlets configured such that the printer is stackable with other printers. The system is then scalable to suit the particular needs of individual print runs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6988797
    Abstract: An unbacked transport and conditioning printing system for printing a pattern on a fabric is disclosed. The system includes a fabric characterization and tension control subsystem for gathering information on variations in the fabric and an irregularity detection subsystem for detecting irregularities in the fabric, as well as, crease detection and removal. The fabric passes through a fabric drying and conditioning subsystem for characterization of the fabric. The system also includes a fabric control subsystem for advancing the fabric through a print zone, where a pattern is printed on an unbacked fabric. The fabric is transported through a drying and post-processing subsystem and a closed-loop color control subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mohammad M Samii, Mark A. Van Veen, Jack H Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6977811
    Abstract: A hand-held portable computer has a mouse button that is surrounded in close proximity by directional buttons. Placing the directional buttons in close proximity around the mouse button makes on-screen navigation easier, since the same single finger need only be moved by a small amount to actuate one or more of these buttons. If the mouse button is actuated, a mouse cursor can be moved about a page displayed on a display screen. If the directional buttons are actuated, the page can be panned around the display screen, while the mouse cursor remains stationary. The portable computer is also provided with a plurality of hot keys, and with buttons that are located off its keyboard, such as at the back of the portable computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Vulcan Portals Inc.
    Inventors: Rod G. Fleck, Jeffrey M. Johnson, Michael D. Smith
  • Patent number: 6974270
    Abstract: The invention refers to a tape printing device (2) for hand-held operation, having a housing with a first part and a second part, wherein the first part of the housing comprises a surface with a keyboard with keys (6) for inputting desired characters to be printed onto an image receiving tape (80), the surface having a breadth which is larger than a thickness of the first part of the housing, preferably a multiple thereof, and the second part of the housing comprises a cassette receiving bay (54) for accomodating a tape cassette (100) holding a supply of the image receiving tape (80), the second part of the housing further enclosing a print mechanism (26) arranged to print the desired characters onto the image receiving tape (80). Further a tape cassette (100) with an angled peel slot (110) is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Esselte
    Inventors: Sam Cockerill, Costa Panayi, Francois Lecomte, Anthony Roy Dunn, Jonathan Tremlett
  • Patent number: 6971313
    Abstract: A printer has a fluid outlet that outputs a drying fluid over at least one surface of print media after printing to dry material printed onto the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6964533
    Abstract: A printing zone arrangement for an inkjet printer of the type having an inkjet type printing mechanism comprising at least one nozzle for printing ink onto at least one surface of print media is provided. The printing zone arrangement comprises first and second sets of opposed rollers that engage opposite sides of print media to define a printing zone therebetween. The print media is engaged by the rollers so that it is tensioned and unsupported through the printing zone. The printing zone is arranged adjacent the printing mechanism of the printer so that the nozzle of the printing mechanism is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm from the respective print media surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research PTY LTD
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6955488
    Abstract: A fixed frame has a bucket in which rolled paper is stored. A movable frame is movably attached to the fixed frame such that a passage, through which paper drawn out from the rolled paper is transported, is formed between the fixed frame and the movable frame when the movable frame is placed at a first position, and such that the passage is opened when the movable frame is placed at a second position. A printing head is disposed at a printing section, adjacent the passage. The printing head is provided on one of the fixed frame and the movable frame. A winding shaft is mounted on the fixed frame to wind up the paper that is transported through the printing section. The movable frame is formed with an opening through which the winding shaft passes when the movable frame is moved between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shigehiko Uehara
  • Patent number: 6955318
    Abstract: In a tape cassette (5) to be used for a tape printing device (1), a roll part T0 of a print tape T having a preset tape width is firmly attached to the under surface of a rotation support section (21a) of a tape unit (20) by a lower spool (22). The tape unit (20) is provided with a tape identification section (30) for identifying the type etc. of the rolled tape. In the tape identification section (30), a vertical through hole (61) as a tape width identification part is provided varying its position depending on the tape width. Meanwhile, a cassette case body (32) and a cassette cover (33) of the tape cassette (5) are provided with a tape detection part (50a, 50b) to which the tape identification section (30) can be set or attached, while being provided with a projection (52) as a tape width detection part to be paired with the vertical through hole (61) so that only a tape unit (20) including a rolled print tape having a preset tape width is allowed to be attached to the tape cassette (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihito Nonomura
  • Patent number: 6953246
    Abstract: In recording on a recording medium such as a CD-R using a tray, a recording apparatus is provided, which is capable of correctly conveying the recording medium in a recording apparatus with easy operation by a simple low-cost recording construction. A tapered portion is provided at the leading end of the tray while a tray sheet, which is smaller in thickness than the tray, is stuck on the bottom surface of the tapered portion so as to protrude from the leading end of the tray in the conveying direction of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Takahashi, Kenji Kawazoe, Haruyuki Yanagi
  • Patent number: 6929415
    Abstract: A label media for use in a label media printer forms dynamically sized label markers. The label media includes a continuous tube affixed to a length of a carrier web. Indicia is printed on the tube which is then cut to a desired length that accommodates the indicia printed thereon to dynamically form the wire marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin L. Wilken
  • Patent number: 6925935
    Abstract: A printhead assembly has one or more printhead chips mounted end or end in or on a housing. The housing has an elongate air duct that supplies air to the printhead chips. The duct is open at both ends so the assembly may be used in left and right hand configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research PTY LTD
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 6921222
    Abstract: A high-speed printer is provided. The printer includes a media assembly for supporting a media roll that supplies the sheet of media and also for controlling a flow rate of the sheet of media through the printer. The sheet of media is received by the feedback control system, which is used to detect a slack position of the sheet of media. The slack position is used by the media assembly to determine a flow rate of the sheet of media through the printer. In addition, the printer also includes a roller system for receiving the sheet of material from the feedback control system and to feed the sheet of media to a print carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Venture Manufacturing (Singapore) Ltd.
    Inventors: Keng Leong Ng, Kok Hong Kan, Yong Soon Lim, Siao Hau The, Chi Siang Sean Yew, Chee Weng Wong, Chee Seng Ong
  • Patent number: 6916132
    Abstract: The present invention is made to provide a double-sided printing apparatus at a relatively lower cost having little possibilities of dust generation or slowing feed speed of a continuous paper without complex mechanical structure nor control process, which includes: a first printer including a first transporting unit; a first recording unit disposed on upper or lower side of a transportation path of a recording medium, the recording medium being horizontally transported from the first transporting unit; and a first discharging unit for discharging the recording medium after printing; a second printer including a second transporting unit; a second recording unit disposed on upper or lower side of the transportation path of the recording medium horizontally transported from the first transporting unit, wherein the second recording unit is disposed on the same side where the first recording unit is disposed; and a second discharging unit for discharging the recording medium; and a guiding path disposed from the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Otsuka, Masanori Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6910819
    Abstract: A printer cartridge suitable for use in a cartridge-based printer houses and dispenses a roll of label media. The cartridge includes a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall. A yoke pivotally mounted between the top and bottom walls for pivotable movement about a pivot axis includes a label media supply shaft for holding a roll of label media. The label media supply shaft has a longitudinal axis spaced from, and parallel, to the pivot axis. A label media drive roller is rotatably mounted between the top and bottom walls, and a biasing means biases the yoke toward the label media drive roller to maintain the roll of label media in contact with the label media drive roller and defines a beginning of a media path. In one embodiment, the yoke is adjustable to accommodate different label media widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Carriere, Kevin L. Wilken
  • Patent number: 6910820
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing on a continuous web of linerless tape defined by a print side for subsequent application to an article. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support for a continuous web of linerless tape; an undriven platen roller located downstream of the support; a print head associated with the undriven platen roller, wherein the undriven platen roller directs the continuous web of linerless tape past the print head for printing on the print side thereof; and a driven roller positioned adjacent the platen roller and downstream of the print head for pulling the web of linerless tape from the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Daniel D. Baker, Lloyd S. Vasilakes
  • Patent number: 6890112
    Abstract: There is disclosed a linerless label web roll wherein the label web has a patterned coating of pressure sensitive adhesive on its underside between marginal side edges and at marginal side edges of the label web. The adhesive is provided in longitudinally extending laterally spaced stripes of adhesive with intervening adhesive-free zones. The label web can be supported and/or guided by support or guide elements which contact the adhesive-free zones in a suitable utilization device such as a printer or label applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Paxar Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: James Richard Kline
  • Patent number: 6877920
    Abstract: A holding device is provided with adapters capable of dealing with a case where the hollow shaft portions of a roll-like fixing medium differ in inner diameter. Thus, it is unnecessary to have a complete set of roll paper supporting members to be used every time the hollow shaft portions of the roll-like fixing medium differ in inner diameter. As the size of such an adapter can be made at least smaller than the size of the roll paper supporting members, the adapter is easily stocked under control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Fujioka
  • Patent number: 6863458
    Abstract: There are provided a tape printing apparatus that is capable of enhancing the operability thereof in inputting text data by providing an edit area aside from a text data input area where text data can be input, on a display screen, and a data input processing method therefor. The inputted data is recognized in a manner distinguishing between data within the maximum printable number of lines and data in excess of the maximum printable number of lines. Of the inputted data, there are displayed not only the data recognized to be within the maximum printable number of lines but also data of a predetermined number of lines in excess of the maximum printable number of lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Konishi, Kiyoshi Ogawa, Takuya Suetani, Tomoki Nakamura, Yasuhide Anbiru, Shinji Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 6860664
    Abstract: A continuous media inkjet type printer has printheads located very close to a pair of opposed media feed rollers, thereby enabling a very small printhead to media gap due to the media being held at a substantially constant location by the feed rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research PTY LTD
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6860663
    Abstract: The printing device comprises a print head unit, a transporting device for the printing material and a structural housing board on which the print head unit and the transporting device are mounted at one end in cantilevered manner and in a predetermined relationship relative to one another. The transporting device comprises a stiff support member which is rigidly connected to the housing board, a mounting member which extends substantially parallel relative to the housing board and is held on the stiff support member, and at least one transport roller for the transportation of the strip of printing material which is mounted at both ends. The stiff support member comprises connecting elements for releasably fixing th mounting member and also guide elements which co-operate with corresponding guide elements of the mounting member for exactly positioning the arrangement with reference to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Bizerba GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Bernhard, Hans Michael Eppler, Willi Sautter