Patents Assigned to Imaje
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Patent number: 9102157Abstract: The invention concerns a measuring system in a fluid circuit of a continuous inkjet printer. According to the invention, a system for measuring the quantity of ink is realized using a continuous sensor (15) equipping a measuring tank (12), which is first emptied then connected by communicating vessel with an intermediate tank (11) storing the ink which, pressurized, supplies the printing head and The measuring system advantageously constitutes a multifunctional system since it makes it possible, using a dedicated constant level tank (13) communicating with the intermediate tank (11) and also by communicating vessel with the measuring tank (12), to measure the viscosity of the ink and the correction thereof if necessary by adding solvent from a dedicated solvent tank (14).Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: MARKEM-IMAJE HOLDINGInventors: Florent Prothon, Francis Pourtier, Sébastien Pouzet
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Patent number: 9044941Abstract: A directivity detection device for detection of trajectories of electrically charged drops issuing from a liquid jet is provided. The device includes an electrostatic sensor and a signal processing unit. The electrostatic sensor has a flat functional surface having a precise geometric shape and arrangement relative to a nominal trajectory of drops, and the signal processing unit evaluates the signal from the electrostatic sensor and performs calculations and comparisons which enable the trajectory of the drops to be followed both in the plane parallel to the flat surface of the sensor and in the plane perpendicular to the flat surface of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: MARKEM-IMAJEInventor: Florence Odin
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Patent number: 9028024Abstract: The invention relates to a new control method for controlling the printing of a binary continuous inkjet printer provided with a printhead (20) with a set of deflection electrodes (8a, 8b; 9a, 9b) shared by all of the nozzles of the head, at least one pair of electrodes (8, 9) supplied in phase opposition relative to each other, and actuators (6) to which pulses are sent to form a distance Lbr from the plane of the nozzles (11), from the break of a jet discharged by a nozzle (3) in communication with a stimulation chamber (2) to which said actuator is mechanically coupled, drops not able to be electrically charged or jet segment subjected to the electrostatic influence of the deflection electrodes. According to the invention, the pulses are controlled so as to minimize the total electrical charge taken on by the ink jet segments inside a volume of influence of the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Markem-ImajeInventors: Bruno Barbet, Damien Bonneton
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Patent number: 8998391Abstract: A method for determining the quality of a break-off of an ink jet of a CIJ printing machine is disclosed. In one aspect, this method includes: generating a first line of N1 drops, all charged by the charge means, at the same voltage V1. Also included is: generating at least one drop G1, charged by the charge means, at a second voltage (VG1), followed by at least one drop G2, charged by the charge means, at a third voltage (VG2) lower than V1; generating a second line of N2 drops, all charged by the charge means, at a same voltage V2; and measuring, using an electrostatic sensor, the charge variation of a non-deflected jet of drops including at least the first line of drops and the second line of drops, separated by the drops G1 and G2, during the passage of the jet in front of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Markem-ImajeInventors: Florence Odin, Jean-Pierre Arpin
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Publication number: 20150079216Abstract: This specification describes connectors for tubes, pipes and poles, such as can be used in laser marking systems. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a body having a hole formed to receive a tube to connect an interior of the tube with an interior of the body, the tube having a circular groove formed in an exterior surface of the tube; and a clamp including a tab sized to fit within the circular groove of the tube; wherein the clamp is configured and arranged to attach to the body in a first state and in a second state, the first state being where the tube is held to the body axially by the tab and is freely rotatable, and the second state being where the tube is held in a fixed position relative to the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: Markem-Imaje CorporationInventors: Jeffrey B. Brooks, Lawrence Edward Drew, II
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Patent number: 8955948Abstract: The invention concerns a device forming a continuous inkjet printer cabinet including a combined ventilation system for the electronic compartment and consumable fluids compartment (ink and solvent). According to the invention, condensates derived from solvent vapors not condensed by the condenser are extracted through a pipe then retained in order to be evaporated by the ventilation airflow. The solution according to the invention ensures that the increase in solvent concentration around the printer remains below the legal limits for unpleasant smells for persons. One advantageous embodiment consists of using a heat exchanger on the ventilation airflow path, to condensate solvent vapor in the ink reservoir to enable gravity flow of vapors thus condensed and return them to the ink reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Markem-ImajeInventor: Nicolas Rolland
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Patent number: 8922611Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus includes: a band capable of holding hot melt ink thereon; rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate; a printhead configured and arranged to thermally transfer a portion of the ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate; and a heating device configured and arranged to heat the band to cause ink on the band to re-melt, flow and replace at least some of the portion of the ink transferred to the substrate previously before arriving at the printhead again for a next print.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Markem-Imaje CorporationInventor: Frances H. Benton
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Patent number: 8888209Abstract: A system for determining the autonomy in consumable fluids (ink and solvent) of a continuous inkjet printer, including a system for measuring the total volume of available ink, a system for determining the average ink consumption, the ink autonomy (AE) by division of the volume of ink with the average ink consumption.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Markem-ImajeInventor: Sébastien Pouzet
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Patent number: 8854411Abstract: A system directs a laser beam to mark a material with an alphanumeric code. Character and quality information corresponding to a mark to apply to the material with the laser beam can be received, a font definition that specifies character segments can be obtained, a set of multiple spaced locations can be generated from the character segments in accordance with the character and quality information, and the material can be marked with the laser beam by directing the laser beam to dwell at the locations and move between the locations without deactivating the laser beam.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Markem-Imaje CorporationInventors: Andrew Yohn, Mark Rapposelli, Kevin Franklin
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Patent number: 8848236Abstract: A variable resolution print system is provided. The system includes a variable resolution printer coupled to a positional encoder and a configuration module. The position encoder provides a pulse train to a controller in the variable resolution printer, the pulse train representing the movement of a target relative to the printer. A user of the print system enters or sets a desired resolution for printing via the configuration module. The controller calculates the difference between pulses in the pulse train. The controller then determines an adjustment to the calculate difference based on the desired resolution. The adjustment is used to generate a pulse train that actuates one or more print head of the printer.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Markem-Imaje CorporationInventor: Mark Christopher Gordon
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Patent number: 8814330Abstract: Systems and methods for detection of the directivity of trajectories of charged drops issuing from a jet are disclosed. According to one aspect, an electrostatic sensor is disclosed which includes a flat functional surface. The electrostatic sensor is configured to function in a non-differential manner and has a geometric shape and arrangement that are substantially aligned relative to a nominal trajectory of drops. A trajectory of drops can be followed at the same time in a plane parallel to the flat surface of the sensor and in a plane perpendicular to the flat surface of the sensor. As a result, it can be verified whether a drop is present or remains in a predefined monitoring zone. According to another aspect, a method of controlling trajectories of drops in a print head having a continuous deflected jet, and a method of monitoring the effective recovery by the gutter of drops not intended for printing are disclose.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Markem-ImajeInventor: Florence Odin
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Publication number: 20140225944Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a dynamic user interface capable of adaption for dynamically providing printing information for various types of printing technologies.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: MARKEM-IMAJEInventor: Mattias Larsson
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Patent number: 8801306Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to printing include an apparatus including a base mounting a storage spool to store printing ribbon including a web carrying marking medium, the base mounting a ribbon take-up spool. A ribbon path from the storage to the take-up spool runs through a printing station where there is a print head, and printing is effected at the printing station when relatively moving the head and the substrate with the ribbon interposed between. The apparatus includes a movable ribbon guide member, a ribbon guide member drive device to move the ribbon guide member, and a controller which, during or in between at least some printing operations, controls drive of at least the take-up spool to advance ribbon through the printing station. The controller controls the ribbon guide member in response to an input signal representative of ribbon tension along the ribbon path to adjust the ribbon tension.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Markem-Imaje Industries LimitedInventors: Phillip Lakin, Stephen Carter
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Publication number: 20140198324Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a universal printing controller, and corresponding method, for universal printing control. A universal printing controller is presented herein which may provide instructions and/or control functionality to printers of various print technologies. Based on a particular print-head type, the universal controller may choose a print technology format from a variety of different print technology formats. The universal printing controller may also provide print instructions for printing an image description based on the chosen print technology format.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: MARKEM-IMAJEInventors: Bjorn BOSELL, Bjorn ERIKSSON, Thomas KLEIN, Isak STYF
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Patent number: 8778074Abstract: Solvent-based inkjet ink formulations including an organic solvent, a resin, a surfactant, and a colorant are provided. The inks have many desirable attributes such as extended decap time.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Markem-Imaje CorporationInventors: Benjamin J. Brown, Richard C. Woudenberg, Richard J. Larson, Jr., Ann Benjamin, Corey Williams
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Publication number: 20140184718Abstract: A method of printing including testing the status of a printhead (12) having a plurality of printing elements (14) each of which is operable to transfer a marking medium from a web (16) to a substrate (18), wherein the method includes testing the status of each printing element (14), and providing a preview of an image (30) to be printed and, in the event that the print quality of the image is inadequate owing to the position of one or more damaged printing elements (14a, 14b) relative to the image (30) to be printed, adjusting the position of a component (30a, 30b) of the image (30) relative to the printhead (12) to improve the print quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: MARKEM-IMAJE LIMITEDInventor: James Cupit
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Publication number: 20140168322Abstract: A printing control method of a multi-nozzle binary continuous ink jet printer wherein drops of a first category and drops of a second category are formed by jet breaking The flowpaths followed by the drops of the first and second categories are differentiated. For printing a black pixel followed by a white pixel, a drop of the first category and a drop of the second category are formed. The cumulative formation time drops of the first and second categories is equal to or higher than the running time of one pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Markem-ImajeInventor: Damien Bonneton
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Patent number: 8734921Abstract: Ink composition for continuous deflected jet printing, that is liquid at ambient temperature, comprising a solvent containing less than 0.5% by weight of water and less than 0.5% by weight of alcohols relative to the total weight of the ink composition; one or more dye(s) and/or pigment(s) that is (are) insoluble in water, and in mixtures of water and of at least one alcohol; and a binder, comprising at least 50% by weight, relative to the total weight of the binder, of at least one binder resin capable of being obtained by reaction between at least one alkoxysilane and at least one hydroxyaromatic resin.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Markem-ImajeInventor: Pierre De Saint-Romain
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Publication number: 20140132698Abstract: A method of detecting a reduction in tension in a tape, wherein the tape is transferable between a first spool (15) and a second spool (17) by a tape drive (11), the tape drive (11) having a motor control system (25) which includes two DC motors (16, 18) and a controller (24) for controlling the operation of the motors (16, 18), the tape drive (11) also having two spool supports (12, 14), each of which is suitable for supporting a spool (15, 17) of tape, and each of which is driven by a respective one of the motors (16, 18), the method including storing a value relating to the current required to be supplied to each motor (16, 18) to maintain tension in the tape, and comparing a value relating to the current being supplied to each of the motors (16, 18) during tape transfer with the respective stored values.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2013Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: Markem-Imaje LimitedInventor: Phillip Lakin
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Patent number: 8711193Abstract: A printing apparatus including a printhead for transferring ink from a ribbon to a substrate to be printed, a print roller for guiding the substrate to be printed, a peel-off roller for separating the ribbon from the substrate, downstream of the printhead, wherein a peel-off angle is subtended between a portion of ribbon which, when the printing apparatus is in use, extends between the printhead and the peel-off roller and a tangent to the print roller at a contact point on the circumference of the print roller, and a printhead angle is subtended between a part of the printhead which transfers ink from the ribbon to the substrate and a radius of the print roller at the contact point, and wherein the printhead angle is adjustable in accordance with the speed of the ribbon relative to the printing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Markem-Imaje LimitedInventors: Frances H. Benton, Peter Carey Landers, Mark Rapposelli, Simon Starkey