Patents Examined by Bradley Thies
  • Patent number: 10195877
    Abstract: A tape cartridge is mounted on a mounting section of a tape printer, which has an identification portion configured to identify a type of cartridge containing a tape-shaped printing medium. The tape cartridge includes a tape roll around which the tape-shaped printing medium is wound, a core shaft portion that is formed into a fitting cylindrical shape and has a rotation shaft of the tape roll, an identification concave portion that is provided in an inner peripheral portion of the core shaft and engages with the identification portion, a depressed portion that engages with a pedestal which is disposed on the mounting section, and a core concave portion that includes the identification concave portion and the depressed portion. The identification concave portion is configured to accommodate the identification portion in a state where the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sakano
  • Patent number: 10195845
    Abstract: A head unit includes: a structure; and a driver IC, the structure including a plurality of ejection sections, the plurality of ejection sections being divided into a first array and a second array that differs from the first array, each of the plurality of ejection sections including an actuator and ejecting a liquid corresponding to a drive signal applied to one end of the actuator, the driver IC including: a first block that is electrically connected to one end of the actuator included in the first array, and applies the drive signal to the actuator included in the first array; a second block that is electrically connected to one end of the actuator included in the second array, and applies the drive signal to the actuator included in the second array; and a third block that is electrically connected to the other end of the actuator included in the first array and the other end of the actuator included in the second array, and applies a hold signal to the actuator included in the first array and the actuato
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Motonori Chikamoto
  • Patent number: 10195873
    Abstract: In one example, a printer includes a paper path having a drying area, a printhead near the paper path upstream from the drying area, and a convection dryer to force air simultaneously into an upstream part of the drying area at a first density and into a downstream part of the drying area at a second density less than the first density and to force air into the upstream part of the drying area at a first air speed for a duration and then at a second air speed faster than the first air speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mikel Zuza Irurueta, Francisco Javier Perez Gellida
  • Patent number: 10200568
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for processing an image such as a halftone image. For example, in some embodiments, pixels of an image are checked to see if when printed would be represented by a given output. Pixels of the image that match defined values are replaced with pixels that are represented by a different set of outputs. This latter set of outputs may be selected to optimize one or more imaging attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michel Georges Encrenaz, Peter Morovic, Johan Maurice Lammens, Jan Morovic
  • Patent number: 10183496
    Abstract: Printing methods and systems are described herein. In one example, a method includes rasterizing a document to create color rasters and linearizing the color rasters to create high drop weight (HDW) planes and low drop weight (LDW) planes. HDW and LDW halftone planes are created from the HDW and LDW planes. The HDW and LDW halftone planes are masked to create HDW and LDW printhead maps, and the HDW and LDW printhead maps are merged into print data. The print data is sent to a number of printheads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Lawrence H White, Arun K Agarwal, Ron Burns
  • Patent number: 10183486
    Abstract: When printing on the same printing object with multiple print nozzles in the past, consideration was not given to cases in which the time relationships of the set times and times-to-be-printed become mismatched between the respective print items of the print nozzles. To solve this problem, an inkjet printer that prints on a conveyed printing object and has multiple print nozzles, multiple auxiliary control units for controlling the printing performed by the multiple print nozzles, and a common main control unit connected to the multiple auxiliary control units via communication unit is provided. The main control unit extracts the time relationship of the set times and the time relationship of the times-to-be-printed between the items to be printed by the respective print nozzles of the multiple print nozzles and revises the print data so as to preserve the time relationship of the set times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: An Kyu, Takashi Kawano
  • Patent number: 10183491
    Abstract: A tank comprises a container body configured to contain an ink and an ink fill port configured to accept the ink to be injected into the container body. A cap is provided to close the ink fill port when the cap is attached to the tank. The cap comprises a covering portion configured to cover the ink fill port; a seal portion protruded from the covering portion to be inserted into the ink fill port and configured to close the ink fill port when the seal portion is inserted in the ink fill port; and a skirt portion protruded from the covering portion in a direction of protrusion of the seal portion from the covering portion and located away from the seal portion when the covering portion is viewed from a seal portion side. The skirt portion is protruded more than the seal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenao Suzuki, Naomi Kimura, Shoma Kudo, Soshi Okawa, Koji Kawai, Ekie Purnomo, Muhamad Gigih Agung Pratomo, Muhamad Auf
  • Patent number: 10173420
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a printhead assembly comprising a plurality of print nozzles in a nozzle array. Each of the plurality of print nozzles is coupled to a printhead firing resistor, the printhead firing resistor being individually addressable. A print control circuit is to actuate the printhead firing resistor. In accordance with one example implementation of the present subject matter, the print control circuit comprises pull-down resistors made of Tantalum-Aluminum (Ta—Al).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Wai Mun Wong, Leong Yap Chia, Ning Ge
  • Patent number: 10175627
    Abstract: In a sheet conveying device, a foreign substance separating unit has an air discharge chamber, foreign substance collection chamber, air introduction chamber, a plurality of first air vents formed in a first partition wall that partitions the air introduction chamber and the foreign substance collection chamber, a plurality of second air vents formed in a second partition wall that partitions the air introduction chamber and the air discharge chamber, centrifugal separation parts each including a reverse truncated cone-like wall portion extending downward from each of the first air vents, cylindrical parts that each are provided coaxially with each of the centrifugal separation parts, and an inclination surface portion that is formed around each of the cylindrical parts above each of the first air vents and is inclined in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Kawashima
  • Patent number: 10166762
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a head unit that moves in a predetermined scanning direction and on which a first nozzle which discharges first ink including a black color material, a second nozzle which discharges second ink having higher brightness than that of the first ink, and a third nozzle which discharges third ink having higher brightness than that of the first ink are arrayed in the scanning direction, and a control portion. The control portion is set to perform a conversion processing which sets a type and amount of the ink which is discharged from the head unit according to color data included in the image data and use the first ink, the second ink, and the third ink according to the color data of the darkest point in the conversion processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Kujiraoka
  • Patent number: 10166775
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head according to the present invention includes a flow passage member and a plurality of pressurizing sections. The flow passage member includes a plurality of discharge holes, a plurality of pressurizing chambers respectively connected to the plurality of the discharge holes, a plurality of first flow passages respectively connected to the plurality of the pressurizing chambers to supply liquid to the plurality of the pressurizing chambers, a plurality of second flow passages respectively connected to the plurality of the pressurizing chambers to collect the liquid from the plurality of the pressurizing chambers, and a plurality of third flow passages respectively connected to the pressurizing chambers to supply the liquid to the pressurizing chambers. A plurality of the pressurizing sections respectively pressurizes the plurality of the pressurizing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Kobayashi, Wataru Ikeuchi
  • Patent number: 10166771
    Abstract: A liquid ejection method includes ejecting liquid from an ejection opening, using a liquid ejection head including a heating surface configured to heat the liquid and the ejection opening corresponding to the heating surface, by heating the liquid with the heating surface to produce a bubble communicating with air through the ejection opening such that at least a part of the heating surface is exposed to the air through the ejection opening, wherein the liquid is heated with the heating surface for 0.5 microseconds or shorter to produce a bubble communicating with the air through the ejection opening such that at least a part of the heating surface is exposed to the air through the ejection opening, in order to eject the liquid from the ejection opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shintaro Kasai, Yoshiyuki Nakagawa, Akiko Saito, Shinji Kishikawa
  • Patent number: 10166761
    Abstract: A image forming apparatus includes: a device that detects abnormality of an image caused by abnormality of a nozzle in an inkjet head and a correcting device that performs correction by making a part of a plurality of nozzles non-ejectable based on a detection result of the abnormality and by compensating for it by another nozzle. The correcting device includes a plural non-ejection correcting device that performs correction by making two or more nozzles non-ejectable with respect to one abnormal nozzle and a single non-ejection correcting device that performs correction by making one abnormal nozzle non-ejectable with respect to the one abnormal nozzle. After a plural non-ejection correction is performed by making a nozzle group belonging to a nozzle range of a region including abnormality and including an abnormal nozzle non-ejectable, a single non-ejection correction is performed by making the abnormal nozzle non-ejectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 10166785
    Abstract: A method of fixing an artwork on a surface of a rigid substrate includes providing an ink receptive layer comprised of a dispersing pigment in a binder selected from the group consisting of: PVOH, EVA, PUD, latex polymer, and combinations of these, applying the ink receptive layer to the surface of the rigid substrate, drying the ink receptive layer, and printing the artwork onto the ink receptive layer by inkjet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventor: Albert Marco
  • Patent number: 10160228
    Abstract: A thermal head includes a substrate, a heat storage layer disposed on the substrate and including a bulging portion, heating elements disposed on the bulging portion, a protective layer disposed on the heating elements, and a covering layer disposed on the protective layer. The covering layer includes a first portion disposed apart from the bulging portion, and a second portion disposed between the bulging portion and the first portion. The height of the second portion from the substrate is smaller than the height of the first portion from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yui Tanaka, Youichi Moto
  • Patent number: 10160212
    Abstract: An ink distribution assembly for distributing different inks from respective ink sources to a plurality of print chips which together define an inkjet printhead. The assembly includes: a longitudinal distribution molding having an ink duct for each of the different inks extending longitudinally therealong; an ink inlet port corresponding to each ink duct, each ink inlet port being in fluid communication with a respective ink source for delivering ink from each ink source to a respective one of the ink ducts; and a laminated ink distribution stack in fluid communication with the distribution molding for distributing ink from the ducts to the print chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 10160224
    Abstract: In some examples, a cartridge includes a printhead comprising a fluid feed slot, a fluid chamber formed between a nozzle layer and a passivation layer, the fluid chamber fluidically coupling the fluid feed slot and a nozzle of the nozzle layer, and a printhead-integrated sensor to sense a property of a fluid in the fluid chamber, the sensor including a ground electrode exposed to the fluid chamber through an opening in the passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Ning Ge, Patrick Leonard, Adam L. Ghozeil
  • Patent number: 10155382
    Abstract: An ink jet print head 1 includes: a pressure chamber (cavity) 7; a movable film formation layer 10 arranged on the pressure chamber 7 and including a movable film 10A defining a ceiling surface portion of the pressure chamber 7; a piezoelectric element 9 formed on the movable film 10A and including a lower electrode 11, a piezoelectric film 12 formed on the lower electrode 11, and an upper electrode 13 formed on the piezoelectric film 12; and first upper wiring 16. The upper electrode 13 includes a main electrode portion 13A constituting the piezoelectric element 9 and an extension portion 13B as second upper wiring drawn out of the main electrode portion 13A and connected to the first upper wiring 16. The first upper wiring 16 has a portion arranged between the extension portion 13B and the movable film formation layer 10, and, within this portion, the extension portion 13B is connected to the first upper wiring 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kunio Iida
  • Patent number: 10150307
    Abstract: A tape printing device on which a tape cartridge is mounted, the device includes a sensor unit that faces a specification reading pattern formed on a base end surface of the tape cartridge; and a unit energizing portion that energizes the sensor unit toward a base end surface side. The sensor unit has a sensor portion that irradiates a specification reading pattern with a detection light and reads the specification reading pattern, and a sensor holder that supports the sensor portion and presses the base end surface by energizing of the unit energizing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sakano
  • Patent number: 10144217
    Abstract: Gas is ejected toward a region between a liquid ejection head and a recording medium so as to enlarge and stabilize a vortex generated by an airflow generated by liquid droplets ejected from ejection ports. Accordingly, an airflow turbulence generated between the liquid ejection head and the recording medium is reduced and displacements of positions at which the liquid droplets are applied due to the airflow turbulence are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihito Miyakoshi, Ken Tsuchii, Nobuhito Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Arimizu, Yumi Komamiya, Koichi Ishida