Patents Examined by Alexander D. Shenderov
  • Patent number: 12097710
    Abstract: A print liquid supply apparatus or interface structure to be connected to a print system comprises a liquid channel, liquid interface and integrated circuit contact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Judson M. Leiser, Miquel Boleda Busquets, Bernd Karlsboeck, David Olsen, Michael E. Peterschmidt, Lynn A. Collie, Paul Allan Osborne, Wesley R. Schalk, Ronald J. Ender, Paul Mark Haines, Roger J. Kolodziej, Steve A. O′hara
  • Patent number: 12097707
    Abstract: A wiping device includes a wiping member and a moving part. The wiping member wipes a liquid off a nozzle surface of a recording head. The moving part moves the wiping member along the nozzle surface in a predetermined moving direction. The wiping member performs a first wiping operation in which the wiping member is moved while not coming into contact with the nozzle surface but coming into contact with the liquid adhering to the nozzle surface, and a second wiping operation in which the wiping member is moved while coming into contact with the nozzle surface after the first wiping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Issei Nakano, Takuma Araki
  • Patent number: 12090763
    Abstract: A head cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning unit that includes a cleaning member and a hardware processor. The head cleaning apparatus is configured to perform a cleaning operation of cleaning a nozzle surface of an inkjet head with the cleaning member, the nozzle surface having a water-repellent film. The cleaning operation is performed either in a rub mode or a stamp mode. In the rub mode, the cleaning member and the nozzle surface are brought into contact and relatively slid on each other. In the stamp mode, the cleaning member and the nozzle surface are brought into contact and kept still. The hardware processor determines which mode is performed, the rub mode or the stamp mode, in the cleaning operation based on a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Yohei Ito
  • Patent number: 12090773
    Abstract: A method of printing on a polymeric article includes applying a decoration-forming deposit on a transfer blanket. The method further includes transferring the decoration-forming deposit from the transfer unit to the polymeric article to provide a decoration on the polymeric article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: BERRY GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Dewig, Shawn A. Hyneman, Russell Schwartz, Nigel Caiger, Damian Ward, Richard Baker
  • Patent number: 12090764
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit to print using a first consumable or a second consumable and a printing control unit to control the printing unit. The printing unit is controlled to use the second consumable if the printing apparatus is in a contracted state, and decides, based on information at the time of attachment of the second consumable to the printing apparatus, whether to control the printing unit using the second consumable if the printing apparatus is in an uncontracted state. The information includes date and time of attachment of the second consumable to the printing apparatus and an identifier of the second consumable. In the uncontracted state, if the information indicates the second consumable has been attached to the printing apparatus during the contracted state, the printing unit is controlled using the second consumable, and otherwise the driving control is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuo Oki, Kazunari Shishido
  • Patent number: 12090754
    Abstract: Provided are a nozzle inspection method and a nozzle inspection apparatus capable of accurately detecting a defect in an inkjet head nozzle within a short time. The nozzle inspection method comprises discharging a plurality of droplets into a first region of interest of a substrate using a first nozzle to form an inspection pattern, and determining whether the first nozzle is defective based on the inspection pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Uk Son, Yong Tak Hyun, Dae Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 12091561
    Abstract: A recording method of the present disclosure includes: an adhesion step of ejecting an ink composition from an ink jet head so as to be adhered to a recording medium; and a primary heating step of heating the ink composition adhered to the recording medium in the adhesion step, and the ink composition is a water-based ink containing an organic compound which is a solid at 25° C. having a standard boiling point of 280° C. or less and which has a solubility of 50 [g/100 g of water] or more in water at 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kunihiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 12083788
    Abstract: Provided is a printing device including: an capacitive touch panel; a home operation portion including a mechanical key for transitioning from a screen displayed on the capacitive touch panel to a basic screen; and a power supply operation portion including a mechanical key for shifting a power state of the printing device, in which the home operation portion is located in a first direction of the capacitive touch panel, and the power supply operation portion is located in a second direction of the capacitive touch panel, and the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal or opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Koyauchi, Seiji Kimura
  • Patent number: 12070959
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes at least one processor, an apparatus main body that is capable of holding a tank that stores liquid; and a sensor that detects at least a state of motion of the tank. The processor outputs dispersion information showing an operation to move the apparatus main body to disperse the liquid in the tank based on the state of the motion of the tank detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fumihiro Osakabe
  • Patent number: 12070954
    Abstract: A liquid housing container includes a container main body including a housing chamber for housing liquid therein; and a feeding port for feeding the liquid to the housing chamber, and a plug member that is attachable to and detachable from the container main body and seals the feeding port, the plug member including a cover portion for covering the feeding port from an outer side of the container main body in a mounting state, in which the plug member is mounted to the container main body, and a protruded portion that protrudes from the cover portion to an inner side of the feeding port. The protruded portion includes a liquid holding portion that is provided at a position including a distal end surface of the protruded portion and is capable of holding the liquid by capillary force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mika Ogura, Masatoshi Ohira
  • Patent number: 12064973
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a valve unit configured to be movable to a position to close the atmosphere communication hole and a position to open the atmosphere communication hole; and a lever configured to fix the valve unit to the position to close the atmosphere communication hole by pressing the valve unit and configured to be capable of moving the valve unit to the position to open the atmosphere communication hole by removing the pressing against the valve unit, wherein the lever is configured to remove the pressing against the valve unit by moving in a direction intersecting a direction in which the valve unit moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Kishikawa, Keisuke Kouno, Hiroki Hayashi, Tatsuo Nanjo
  • Patent number: 12049087
    Abstract: The liquid storage unit includes a rectangular parallelepiped case having an open upper surface and a liquid storage pack including a rectangular parallelepiped adapter. The liquid storage pack is detachably housed in the case, the case includes a convex portion that protrudes from the inner side surface along a first direction perpendicular to a bottom surface, the adapter includes a concave portion that is formed on the outer side surface along a first direction and open to the lower surface, and the concave portion can engage with the convex portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the inner side surface, and is formed asymmetrically with respect to a surface that passes through the center of the adapter in the first direction and is perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yu Katano
  • Patent number: 12043033
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a first drive circuit including a switching element that selects, from a plurality of drive elements, a drive element to which a drive signal for ejection of liquid through a nozzle is sent, a case defining a first accommodating portion that is a space accommodating the first drive circuit, and a first gas supply passage that is in communication with the first accommodating portion and through which gas is supplied to the first accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Miyajima, Kazuya Tajima, Yuji Shingu, Yasuyuki Kudo
  • Patent number: 12043035
    Abstract: An aerosol-based printing apparatus is provided capable of producing an aerosol stream at a constant rate and constant material deposition to a substrate to provide high-definition, high-resolution traces. The aerosol-based printing apparatus provides production, transport, and delivery of an aerosol stream at a constant rate for a period of time of at least 8 hours and other instances more than 24 continuous hours of constant operation. By inhibiting bulging and necking of the deposited trace, superior line width tolerances are achieved, and such tolerances are maintained for extended periods of time, thereby allowing for both the deposition of complex traces as well as consistent manufacture of duplicate articles that maintain the tolerances across a production ran. The accumulation of fluids in the aerosol and gas transport conduits are eliminated, thereby eliminating the need for purge or cleaning cycles and allowing for uninterrupted operation for a minimum of 24 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Integrated Deposition Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcelino Essien, David M. Keicher
  • Patent number: 12030319
    Abstract: A pressure fluctuation suppression device including a suppressor and a detector. The suppressor is disposed on a flow path of a liquid and suppresses fluctuations in pressure of the liquid in the flow path. The detector detects deterioration of a suppression function of the suppressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Tasuku Asanuma
  • Patent number: 12023934
    Abstract: Examples of conductive connections are described herein. Some examples of a fluid ejection device may include an electrically conductive non-metal structure in contact with fluid in a fluid reservoir. Some examples of the fluid ejection device may include conductive adhesive forming a conductive connection between the electrically conductive non-metal structure and circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eleanor Sarah Wright, Sean Mathew Instasi
  • Patent number: 12017461
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Akihito Ono, Mikio Hirano, Suguru Tomoguchi, Yutao Wang, Tomohiro Kanbe
  • Patent number: 12011917
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a transport belt, an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a controller. The transport belt transports the recording sheet. The optical sensor emits light to the transport belt, and receives the light reflected by the transport belt. The ultrasonic sensor transmits ultrasonic wave to the transport belt, and receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted through the transport belt. The controller decides whether an output from each of the optical sensor and the ultrasonic sensor represents a normal value or an abnormal value, and executes predetermined control, depending on a combination of decision results about the respective outputs from the optical sensor and the ultrasonic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hayamizu, Daijiro Ueno, Tetsuya Ueno, Hisaji Kawai, Haruki Sayama
  • Patent number: 12011938
    Abstract: A self-propelled printer is provided having communication circuitry to receive print data for an image to be formed. A drive mechanism of the printer to provides locomotion of the entire self-propelled printer and a print head is arranged to transfer a print material onto a print medium. Processing circuitry to generates an image formation path to be traversed by the print head via locomotion of the self-propelled printer. The image formation path is based at least in part on the received print data. The processing circuitry controls the drive mechanism to autonomously drive the self-propelled printer along the image formation path. A corresponding method and computer program for generating a 2D image using a self-propelled printer are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Aviv Yehezkel Hassidov Pleser, Borja Navas-Sanchez, Ramón Viedma Ponce, Anna Margareta Hjort
  • Patent number: 12005713
    Abstract: A base board includes a board and a controller mounted on the board. A controller is configured to receive signals outputted from a first sensor and a second sensor. A recording head, a case, the first sensor, a maintenance unit, a waste liquid container, the second sensor, and the base board are arranged in an internal space of a housing. The base board has a flat surface extending in a first horizontal direction and in a second horizontal direction. A range occupied by the base board in a vertical direction overlaps each of a range occupied by the first sensor in the vertical direction and a range occupied by the second sensor in the vertical direction. The second horizontal direction is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction. The vertical direction is perpendicular to both the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Yoshimune, Hikaru Tamura, Akinari Ishibe