Patents Examined by Bradley Thies
  • Ink cartridge, for inkjet printer, enabling refilling of ink by user
    Patent number: 9694586
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, the ink cartridge having a separate refilling port formed on the upper surface of a main body housing in which ink is stored and having mounted a port cover for opening and closing the refilling port, thereby enabling convenient refilling of ink through the refilling port by an individual user even without using a separate working tool or a specialized company for refilling ink. In addition, by having formed a display window for observing, with the naked eye from the outside, the amount of ink being refilled, the ink cartridge enables the user to easily perceive time for refilling ink. Also, by preventing the ink from being refilled too much or too little when the ink is being refilled, the ink cartridge enables refilling of an appropriate amount of the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: WOOSIM SYSTEM INC.
    Inventor: Il Bok Lee
  • Ink cartridge
    Patent number: 9694589
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink cartridge. The ink cartridge comprises: a space for storing ink; an ink cartridge module having a pair of heads arranged in an offset manner such that a print width is extended; and a flexible printed circuit board connected to the ink cartridge module on a circuit configuration, wherein the ink cartridge module has a cross sectional shape in which two rectangular shapes having long sides and short sides respectively come in close contact with each other such that the long sides of the two rectangular shapes overlap in part, and thus can configure an array in the direction of either the long side or the short side. The ink cartridge according to the present invention can implement various sizes of print widths and various colors by arranging one or more ink cartridge modules adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: WOOSIM SYSTEM INC.
    Inventor: Il Bok Lee
  • Image forming apparatus and method for processing reused sheet
    Patent number: 9682588
    Abstract: A sheet erasing method according to an embodiment includes controlling a printer unit that forms an image on sheets, a finishing unit that performs post-processing on sheets, and a conveying unit that conveys sheets to the printer unit and to the finish unit. When a print job includes a selection of a reused sheet mode and an instruction to perform post-processing, a first reused sheet is conveyed to the printer unit for forming an image and to the finishing unit for performing post-processing. When the print job includes a selection of the reused sheet mode and not an instruction to perform post-processing, the second reused sheet is conveyed to the printer unit for forming an image without performing post processing in the finishing unit. When the print job includes a selection of the new sheet mode, the new sheet is conveyed to the printer unit for forming an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKYO, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiki Takeishi
  • Inkjet printing apparatus and a method for printing ultraviolet (UV) curable ink
    Patent number: 9676209
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus (10, 10?, 10?, 100, 100?) for printing ultraviolet (UV) curable ink (12) includes a printhead assembly (26) for printing the UV curable ink (12) on a substrate (14); a UV radiation source (20) for pinning the UV curable ink (12) printed on the surface of the substrate (14); a liquid coating unit (22) for dispensing a liquid coating (16) on the printed and pinned UV curable ink (12, 12?); and an ink curing unit (28) for fully curing the printed, pinned, and coated UV curable ink (12, 12?). The liquid coating (16) prevents contact between atmospheric oxygen and the printed and pinned UV curable ink (12, 12?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Alex Veis
  • Recording apparatus for ejecting liquid including a main tank and a sub tank storing liquid supplied from the main tank
    Patent number: 9676198
    Abstract: A recording apparatus comprising a container to store a sheet of recording medium; a conveyer configured to convey the recording medium in the container; a main tank receiving portion configured to receive a main tank for storing liquid; a sub tank configured to store liquid supplied from the main tank; and a recording head including an ejection surface where ejection openings for ejecting liquid supplied from the sub tank are formed. Each of three projected areas which are an area of the main tank receiving portion, an area of the sub tank, and an area of the recording head, each projected to a virtual plane parallel to a surface of the recording medium contained in the container from a first direction orthogonal to the virtual plane, at least partially overlaps a container projected area which is an area of the container projected to the virtual plane from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Hirata, Motohiro Tsuboi
  • 2-D straight-scan on imaging surface with a raster polygon
    Patent number: 9676206
    Abstract: A 2-D scanning system uses a fast-rotating raster-polygon as a single scanning component to produce straight scan lines over a 2-D image surface. An approach angle of incident light beams to the raster-polygon is selected to minimize pin-cushion distortion of scan lines introduced by polygon scanning on the image surface, and a tilt angle of the rotational axis of the raster-polygon is selected to position said polygon-scanning distortion symmetrically on the image surface. In addition, scan optics are configured to generate a predetermined amount of barrel distortion of scan lines on the image surface to compensate for pin-cushion distortion introduced by polygon scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: PRYSM, INC.
    Inventors: Hanxiang Bai, Roger A. Hajjar
  • Image forming apparatus and method for processing reused sheet
    Patent number: 9662923
    Abstract: A sheet erasing apparatus according to an embodiment includes an erasing unit, a scanning unit, and first, second and third sheet cassettes. A processing unit determines a number of times of reuse, and whether the sheet is reusable. When the sheet is determined to be reusable and the number of times reuse is less than a predetermined number, the sheet is conveyed to the first sheet cassette. When the sheet is determined to be reusable and the number of times of reuse is equal to a predetermined number, the sheet is conveyed to the second sheet cassette. When the sheet is determined to not be reusable, the sheet is conveyed to the third sheet cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiki Takeishi
  • Gradient ink containment printing process and apparatus
    Patent number: 9662918
    Abstract: A printing operation using a gradient ink containment structure to test wetting characteristics of printing compositions. The gradient ink containment structures are arranged in columns with gaps between adjacent structures. These gaps may increase when progressing through the column of gradient ink containment structures. The top surfaces of the gradient ink containment structures define geometric shapes that may vary in area when progressing through the column of gradient ink containment structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventor: Jann Paul Kaminski
  • Conveyance method utilizing a swing guide
    Patent number: 9656483
    Abstract: A conveyance method involves a conveyance control step of conveying a printing medium at least including a booklet along a conveyance surface; and a swing guide control step of rotating a swing guide before the printing medium passes a gap between the swing guide and a page turning roller until a first end of a flat section is above an arrangement surface of a conveyance surface and a second end of the flat section is below the arrangement surface of the conveyance surface, wherein the first end of the flat section is located further along the conveyance direction than the second end of the flat section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Inaba
  • Printing device
    Patent number: 9656458
    Abstract: A printing device that can continuously print on a plurality of recording media even if a user is not beside the printing device over a long period of time is provided. The printing device includes a tray storing container (10) that installs a plurality of trays (20) on which mount media (100) are mounted, and a transfer section (30) that takes out one tray (20) among the plurality of trays (20) from the tray storing container (10), and transfers the same to a printing region (R1) facing a surface for discharging ink in a head (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Ikeda
  • Image forming device with exposure unit and pressing member
    Patent number: 9651889
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a photoconductive body, an exposure unit configured with a plurality of light emitting elements aligned in a predetermined direction, the exposure unit being adopted to expose the photoconductive body to light emitted by the light emitting elements, a frame configured to support both sides of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction, the frame having a reference portion configured to position the exposure unit in the predetermined direction in contact with an end of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction, and a pressing member provided to one of the frame and the exposure unit, the pressing member being configured to press the end of the exposure unit against the reference portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Sugiyama, Junichi Yokoi
  • Printing apparatus
    Patent number: 9643424
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: an ink discharge head discharging UV ink; a sub-tank storing the UV ink; a supply pump sending the UV ink to the sub-tank from an ink cartridge; an ink circulation path having a forward circulation path through which the UV ink supplied to the ink discharge head from the sub-tank flows, and a backward circulation path through which the UV ink returning to the sub-tank from the ink discharge head flows; and a receptacle that has an opening opened upward and is provided inside the sub-tank. Here, a backward-path downstream-side end which is an end portion of the backward circulation path on the sub-tank side is positioned below the opening inside the receptacle and a forward-path upstream-side end which is an end portion of the forward circulation path on the sub-tank side is positioned below the receptacle inside the sub-tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Ando
  • Printing press and a method for threading a printing material web into a printing unit of a printing press
    Patent number: 9643436
    Abstract: A printing press has a printing unit with a print head, which is configured as an ink jet printing head, and a printing material guiding element which can be rotated about a respective rotational axis. The print can be moved along an actuating path in an actuating direction. The actuating direction has a component which is oriented orthogonally to an axial defined by the rotational axis of the printing material guiding element. A threading assembly, for threading in a printing material web along a threading path, is arranged within the printing unit. Parts of the threading path are spaced at least two centimeters from the axial direction in relation to every target region of every nozzle of every printing head of the printing unit. A method for threading a printing material web into the printing unit utilizes the threading assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer, AG
    Inventors: Christoph Häcker, Mathias Metz, Stefan Wander
  • Method and apparatus for creating 3D effects with ceramic inkjet inks
    Patent number: 9630425
    Abstract: A 3D relief effect is created on a ceramic tile with an inkjet printer and an inkjet print head by printing a relief pattern with an effect ink having a low surface tension on the ceramic tile. The inkjet printer and inkjet print head apply an aqueous glaze slurry having a high surface tension on top of the effect ink. An image is printed on the glaze and the tile is fired. A difference in surface tensions causes the aqueous glaze to move away from the printed effect ink, resulting in a relief pattern in the image at locations of the printed relief pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Zavada, David Weber, Ursula Good
  • Image forming apparatus controlling driving current for adjusting light emission intensity of light-emitting element
    Patent number: 9632450
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus incudes a driving unit configured to drive a light-emitting element for emitting a laser beam; a rotational polygon mirror scans a photosensitive member with the laser beam. The driving unit executes a first adjustment for causing the light-emitting element to emit light at a first light emission intensity to adjust a first driving current, and a second adjustment for causing the light-emitting element to emit light at a second light emission intensity to adjust a second driving current. During a time period after the polygon mirror has started rotating until a predetermined speed is reached, the driving unit performs the first adjustment and the second adjustment, after the polygon mirror has started rotating and before performing the first adjustment, performs the second adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Shiomichi
  • Select print mode based on sector luminosity
    Patent number: 9628651
    Abstract: A method of printing a document using one of a plurality of print modes, the method comprising: (i) notionally dividing a digital image of the document into sectors; (ii) for each sector, comparing one or more properties of the luminosity of pixels within each sector with one or more threshold values; (iii) using the comparison of (ii) to determine whether each sector is likely to show an image defect if printed at a lower image quality print mode; (iv) selecting a print mode such that all sectors are determined not to be likely to show an image defect; (v) printing the document using the determined print mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Angel Martinez, Alejandro Campillo, Marc Serra
  • Medium drying device, medium drying method, recording apparatus, and vapor removing device
    Patent number: 9623676
    Abstract: A medium drying device for drying a medium that is transported, the medium drying device includes a medium drying section that evaporates liquid attached to the medium; a first recovery chamber into which gas containing vapor generated by the evaporation enters; a second recovery chamber into which gas within the first recovery chamber flows; a pressure increasing section that makes the first recovery chamber be in a high pressure state to liquefy vapor by increasing a pressure within the first recovery chamber; a liquid separation section that is provided between the first recovery chamber and the second recovery chamber, and transmits gas to the second recovery chamber after separating liquid generated by the liquefaction; and a blowing section that blows dried gas within the second recovery chamber onto a surface of the medium to which the liquid is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneyuki Sasaki
  • Supply fluid from a fluid chamber to a porous wipe material to wipe a printhead
    Patent number: 9623662
    Abstract: A cleaning module includes an actuator device, a fluid chamber, and a wiper member. The actuator device may enter an activation state based on a movement of at least a portion of the actuator device in response to an engagement with the printhead. The fluid chamber may store and supply fluid to the porous wipe material in response to the activation state of the actuator device. The wiper member may apply pressure to a porous wipe material including the fluid therein to wipe the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Mauricio Seras Franzoso, Marta Coma Vives, Antonio Gracia Verdugo
  • Method for transferring a sheet between two conveyors
    Patent number: 9610780
    Abstract: A method for transferring a sheet in a sheet transport assembly from a supplying conveyor to a receiving conveyor. The method includes arranging a contact side of a sheet in contact with a transport belt of the supplying conveyor, advancing the sheet on the transport belt in a transport direction along a process unit, which applies a process to a process side of the sheet opposite to the contact side, and to a transfer area where the sheet is transferred to a receiving conveyor. To correct for curl deformation of the sheet, air flow is directed onto the process side of sheet, which urges the sheet towards a supporting element. The air flow is controlled in response to a curl deformation behavior of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Peter G. La Vos, Johannes H. A. Dinnissen, Daisuke Kawaguchi
  • Cartridge case
    Patent number: 9604463
    Abstract: A cartridge case includes a case body, a shaft portion, a first support portion, a second support portion, and a switching member. The shaft portion includes a shaft support portion and engages with an end portion of an elastic member. The shaft portion is configured to be moved by an energizing force of the elastic member. The switching member is configured to switch a position of the second support portion between an operating position and a released position. The operating position is a position where the second support portion and the first support portion hold the shaft support portion between the second support portion and the first support portion. The released position is a position where the second support portion has moved away from the shaft support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Takagiwa