Patents Examined by Alexander D. Shenderov
  • Printing system, image processing apparatus, and print method
    Patent number: 11084299
    Abstract: A printing system is provided and includes an image processing portion that generates a generated image by image processing, and a printing portion that performs printing on a medium based on the generated image. The image processing portion generates the generated image by performing a quantization processing that performs quantization by comparing the pixel value of each pixel in the input image with a threshold, and in the quantization processing, calculates a dot influence value indicating to what extent a position corresponding to a selected pixel is covered by the ink dots formed at the position set on the medium in correspondence with the peripheral pixels of the selected pixel, performs adjustment of reflecting the dot influence value on at least one of the pixel value of the selected pixel or the threshold, and compares the pixel value and the threshold based on a value after adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wataru Arai
  • Printing system having multiple printheads and bypass lines
    Patent number: 11077681
    Abstract: A printing system includes: an ink supply; a feed line coupled to the ink supply; a return line coupled to the ink supply; and a plurality of printhead modules each having an inlet port fluidically coupled to the feed line and an outlet port fluidically coupled to the return line; and bypass lines fluidically coupling the feed line to the return line. A bypass line is open for both priming and printing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Rosati, David Petch, David Burney, Jim Sykora, Kenneth A. Regas, Andy Bound, Neil Doherty, Scott Dennis, Ben Jones, Oksana Buyda, Locson Tonthat, Andrew Buyda, Patrick Kirk, Loren Hunt, Jason Dewey, Jim Trinchera, Bill Cressman, Ron Zech
  • Liquid cartridge including movable member
    Patent number: 11072184
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section including a casing, a movable member, and an urging member. The casing includes a liquid chamber storing liquid therein; a liquid passage extending in a first direction in an upright posture, and a top surface. The top surface faces upward in the upright posture and formed with a recess. The movable member has a light blocking portion. The light blocking portion in the upright posture is configured to move between a first position and a second position. At least a part of the light blocking portion in the first position is positioned above the top surface in the upright posture. The urging member is configured to urge the movable member toward the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Methods, apparatuses, and systems for batch print voiding
    Patent number: 11065899
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for a printer having verifiers are disclosed herein. Such methods provide for voiding a printed media in a batch printing run. The methods further correspond to identifying the printed media that is printed as part of the batch printing run as a failed media in an instance an assigned grade fails to satisfy a predetermined threshold, marking the printed media as a failed printed media, determining one or more subsequently printed media that were printed after the failed printed media, and reprinting the printed failed media in a next available media after the one or more subsequently printed media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: DATAMAX-O'NEIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Axel Jonas Celinder, Cheng Khoon Ng, Sze Ping Ching, Harry Nicholas Makabali Lansangan
  • Liquid container and liquid ejecting system
    Patent number: 11059296
    Abstract: A liquid container has: a liquid storage section that stores a liquid; a surrounding wall that envelops the liquid storage section; a liquid supply opening formed in the surrounding wall, the liquid supply opening enabling the liquid to be supplied from the liquid storage section to the liquid introducing section; a first storage device that can be electrically coupled to the holder-side terminal through a first contact section; and a second storage device that can be electrically couple to the holder-side terminal through a second contact section. Even when the liquid container is rotated by 180 degrees around the central axis of the liquid supply opening and is mounted in the holder, either of the first storage device and second storage device is coupled to the holder-side terminal. Information about the amount of the liquid is stored in both the first storage device and the second storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Kosugi
  • Integrated circuit device for a replaceable printer component
    Patent number: 11052669
    Abstract: In one example, an article for a replaceable printer component includes an integrated circuit device having a device controller, a conductor to supply power to the device controller and to carry a signal to and from the device controller, and a sensor operatively connected to the device controller to sense a voltage and/or a frequency on the conductor. The device controller to send an indication of a sensed voltage and/or a sensed frequency to the printer controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Jeran, Bartley Mark Hirst, Jefferson P Ward, Dee Chou
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 11054760
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a light emitting element array, a photosensitive member, a transparent member, a gap spacer, and a biasing member. The light emitting element array includes a plurality of light emitting elements. The photosensitive member forms a latent image by being exposed by light emitted from the light emitting element array. The transparent member is positioned between the photosensitive member and the light emitting element array. The transparent member has a relative position fixed with respect to the light emitting element array, and transmits the light emitted from the light emitting element array. The gap spacer keeps a distance between the photosensitive member and the transparent member constant. The biasing member biases the transparent member toward the photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Tanimoto, Takeshi Watanabe
  • Printing apparatus and method of controlling printing apparatus
    Patent number: 11052680
    Abstract: A printing apparatus including: a printing apparatus main body, a main body of a cutter unit, an attachment position thereof with respect to the printing apparatus main body being changeable, a fixed blade, a movable blade configured to mesh with the fixed blade to cut a printing medium, and a pickup sensor configured to detect a printing medium, in which the movable blade and the pickup sensor are supported on the main body, and with a change of an attachment position of the cutter support, an amount of a remaining portion of the printing medium after being cut by the movable blade changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Tokuda
  • Combination printer and cutting apparatus
    Patent number: 11052559
    Abstract: A combination printer and cutting device for printing upon and cutting a web of media or tag stock into individual units. The device may cut vinyl, plastic, or RFID stock material as it moves through the printer in both back and forth directions. The device comprises a printer and a cutting apparatus that is further comprised of a carriage assembly and a movable cutter assembly. The cutter assembly is easily interchangeable and comprises a cutting element such as a wheel blade, and a pressure adjusting element for adjusting the amount of pressure applied by the cutting element to the stock material. Alternatively, the cutter assembly may be manufactured with a predetermined pressure load, but still permit an operator to adjust the depth of cut. The cutting apparatus is adaptable for use with both new and existing printers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Servives, LLC
    Inventors: John D. Mistyurik, Timothy L. Brown, Donald J. Ward, Jan M. Watson, Jesus Romo, Jr., Jason R. Wheeler, Mitchell G. Stern, Jeanne F. Duckett
  • Waste paper recycling apparatus and waste paper recycling method
    Patent number: 11040560
    Abstract: A waste paper recycling apparatus includes a liquid ejection device which receives a first liquid and a second liquid different from the first liquid; a receiving portion receiving a selection operation which selects one of the first liquid and the second liquid which is adhered to a predetermined region of a sheet containing fibers formed from waste paper; and a control portion which controls the liquid ejection device to adhere the liquid selected by the selection operation to the predetermined region. In the waste paper recycling apparatus, the first liquid contains a binder which binds fibers together, and the second liquid contains a pigment and a binder which binds fibers together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Aoyama, Shinichi Kato, Shigemi Wakabayashi
  • Dual spittoon arrangement for inkjet printhead
    Patent number: 11040540
    Abstract: A printer includes: an inkjet printhead having first and second rows of printhead chips; a platen having first and second spittoon slots corresponding to the first and second rows of printhead chips, each spittoon slot having a length corresponding to a length of the printhead and a width extending between a respective upstream sidewall and a respective downstream sidewall of the platen; first and second rollers positioned in the respective first and second spittoon slots for receiving ink spitted from the first and second rows of printhead chips; a rotation mechanism for rotating the first and second rollers; and first and second scrapers engaged with respective first and second rollers. A diameter of each roller is less than the width of its respective spittoon slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventors: Dan Baterna, Rommel Balala
  • Printing device configured to, when header part of object to be printed does not match already-printed header part, print header part and body part of object and cut off already-printed header
    Patent number: 11040555
    Abstract: A printing device configured to perform: printing a first body part of a first object on a first portion of a printing medium; after printing the first body part, printing a specific header part which is the same as a first header part of the first object on a second portion positioned upstream of the first portion; after printing the specific header part, acquiring a second object including a second header part and a second body part; determining whether the first header part and the second header part match; when determining that the two header parts do not match, printing the second header part on a third portion positioned upstream of the second portion; and cutting an upstream end of the second portion; and when determining that the two header parts match, printing the second body part on the third portion without printing the second header part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro Murayama
  • Liquid discharge apparatus
    Patent number: 11027541
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a head configured to discharge a liquid, a liquid receptacle configured to receive the liquid discharged from the head, a moving device configured to move the liquid receptacle relative to the head, and control circuitry. The liquid receptacle includes an absorber and an absorber case configured to house the absorber. The absorber includes a slit. The control circuitry is configured to cause the head to discharge the liquid into the slit of the absorber while moving, with the moving device, the liquid receptacle with respect to the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Yoda
  • Printing apparatus and printing method
    Patent number: 11020988
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that enables proper sorting of discharged print media by suppressing curling of each of the print media sufficiently. A determining unit determines a curling suppressing operation to be executed such that in a case where sorting operation is executed, the suppressing operation having a higher effect of suppressing curling is executed than in a case where the sorting operation is executed. Then, a print control unit controls a print head to perform printing on print media while executing the suppressing operation determined by the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Somano, Kosuke Yamamoto, Norio Sakurai, Yuki Emoto, Kentaro Muro
  • Sheet-fed printing machine with a humidification device
    Patent number: 11014377
    Abstract: A sheet-fed printing machine contains a printing unit, a drier, and a sheet handling device for transporting or guiding print sheets. The sheet handling device has an opening disposed downstream of the drier in the direction of transport. A humidification device for rehumidifying the print sheets is disposed in such a way that it rehumidifies the print sheets through the opening. The sheet handling device may contain a guide plate or several guide plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Ruppaner, Claudius Haas, Markus Leva, Uwe Angst, Ulrich Fellenberg, Edmund Klein, Andreas Boettger, Sebastian Wilhelm, Peter Hachmann
  • Piezoelectric element, liquid discharge head, and printer
    Patent number: 11014357
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes: a first electrode and a second electrode; and a piezoelectric layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, where: the piezoelectric layer contains a complex oxide having a perovskite structure and including potassium, sodium, and niobium; on a cross-section of the piezoelectric layer, a standard deviation of values that are obtained by normalizing sodium atom concentrations in eight regions by an average value of the sodium atom concentrations in the eight regions is 0.140 or less; each of the regions includes a central line of the piezoelectric layer; each of the regions is a square having a size in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric layer and a size in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of 150 nm; and the eight regions are aligned in the direction orthogonal to the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Sakai, Kazuya Kitada, Yasumi Ikehara
  • Internal print head flow features
    Patent number: 11014359
    Abstract: A system and apparatus includes a nozzle formed on a first surface of a substrate, and a fluid passage in the substrate and fluidically connected to the nozzle, the fluid passage being nonlinear along at least a portion of its length and having a cross section that varies along its length, wherein the fluid passage has a width near a second surface of the substrate that is different from a width near a bottom of the fluid passage. A system and apparatus includes a nozzle formed on a surface of a substrate, and a fluid passage defined in the substrate and fluidically connected to the nozzle, the fluid passage having a first portion that substantially lies on a first plane, a second portion that substantially lies on a second plane different from the first plane, and a connecting passage fluidically connecting the first portion to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: James Leslie Cole-Henry, Andrew Beech Johns, Robert L. Wells, Jr.
  • Tape cartridge
    Patent number: 10987959
    Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a platen roller, a winding up core, and a cartridge casing that accommodates a printing tape, an ink ribbon, the platen roller, and the winding up core. The cartridge casing includes an insertion hole in which a head cover on a cartridge installation portion of a tape printing apparatus is inserted when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion. The insertion hole includes a first concave portion and a second concave portion that face a first convex portion and a second convex portion, respectively, on the head cover when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion, and the first concave portion and the second concave portion are formed on an inner wall of the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Sakano, Hideo Sodeyama
  • Platen assembly for sheet fed printer
    Patent number: 10987933
    Abstract: A printer includes: a platen having an ink-collection slot extending across its width; a wick bar received in the ink-collection slot, wherein an upstream gap and a downstream gap are defined at either side of the wick bar relative to a media feed direction; a printhead positioned over the wick bar; and a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the ink-collection slot. The wick bar is absent from a mid-portion of the platen and the mid-portion of the platen is aligned, in the media feed direction, with an upstream media picker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Dan Baterna, Rommel Balala
  • Printers
    Patent number: 10981400
    Abstract: A printer (5) operable to print a message in strokes on a substrate (7) passing in a print direction (8) along a moving line (6), wherein the printer is operable (15) to receive an indication of an allowable increase in length in the print direction of a message due to an increase in length in the print direction of gaps between successive strokes printed by the printer, to receive (14) an indication (9) of a speed of movement in the print direction of a moving line, to determine from the indication of the speed of movement of the moving line whether an increase in length in the print direction of a message printed by the printer is greater than the allowable increase in length and, if so, to generate an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Thomas Calhoun Bridges, Daniel John Lee, Juergen Martin