Patents Examined by Geoffrey S. Mruk
  • Patent number: 11964472
    Abstract: An optical sensor device (10) includes an application module (12) for applying an irregular pattern of marks to a surface of a medium and an optical detector module (14). The optical detector module (14) acquires images of the applied marks and may determine an advancement speed of the medium based on the acquired images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Li Qian, Diego Lopez Ubieto, Francisco Guerrero Carvajal
  • Patent number: 11958291
    Abstract: an adhesive having a first amount exists on a side of the first piezoelectric element line, of a joint of the wiring substrate and the pressure chamber substrate or the vibration plate, an adhesive having a second amount that is larger than the first amount exists on a side of the second piezoelectric element line of the wiring substrate, of the joint, and a first discharging element related to the first piezoelectric element line is different from a second discharging element related to the second piezoelectric element line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shohei Mizuta, Hiroaki Okui
  • Patent number: 11951755
    Abstract: A printing apparatus according to an embodiment may include: a printing device; a cooling device; an environmental value detector configured to detect an environmental value in or around the printing apparatus; an environmental value storage storing the environmental value detected by the environmental value detector before a current printing operation starts; and a print controller configured, in response to starting the current printing operation, to select one of the environmental value stored in the environmental value storage before the start of the current printing operation and an environmental value detected by the environmental value detector after a start of cooling the printing device by the cooling device in the current printing operation, calculate, based on the selected environmental value, a parameter for the printing device to perform the current printing operation, and cause the printing device to perform the current printing operation based on the calculated parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Fujikura, Bing Han
  • Patent number: 11951740
    Abstract: A communication plate in which are provided a first communication channel communicating with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber and a first common liquid chamber communicating with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber at positions different from positions at which the first communication channel communicates with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and a nozzle substrate in which a first nozzle communicating with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber in common via the first communication channel is provided. A second communication channel communicating with the first common liquid chamber and communicating with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber in common is provided in the pressure chamber substrate or the communication plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shotaro Tamai, Takahiro Katakura, Takanori Aimono, Yuta Okawa, Hitoshi Takaai
  • Patent number: 11945223
    Abstract: To provide a head device, a liquid jetting apparatus, and a head maintenance method with which it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance of a liquid-repellent film on a nozzle surface that is caused by a wiping process with respect to the nozzle surface. Provided is a head device including an ink jet head (10) in which a liquid-repellent film (10B) is formed on a nozzle surface (10A) and a head control unit. The head control unit applies a negative pressure to liquid in a nozzle, performs a non-jetting driving operation of causing the liquid in the nozzle to vibrate without being jetted, and stops the non-jetting driving operation for a wiping target nozzle (12A) with which a wiping member (22) to be used in a wiping process comes into contact in a case where the wiping process with respect to the nozzle surface is to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Ozaki, Jun Yamanobe
  • Patent number: 11945220
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing element is provided. The element comprising; a dispensing plate comprising a plurality of orifices; the dispensing plate at least partially defining a fluid flow path; a plurality of piezoelectric transducers each comprising a piston configured to move perpendicular to the dispensing plate between a first position wherein the piston is close to the dispensing plate and a second position wherein the piston is further from the dispensing plate. The movement between the first and second positions results in the ejection of a droplet of fluid via a surface cavitation droplet ejection process such that the diameter of the droplet is less than a diameter of the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Jetronica Limited
    Inventors: Simon Kew, Alan Hudd, Thomas Blythe, Andi Tao, Albert Kocsis
  • Patent number: 11938732
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head supported by a support body includes: a first head chip; a holder having a holding portion holding the first head chip and a flange portion; and a heater heating the holding portion, in which the holding portion has a heat receiving portion receiving heat from the heater, and a shortest path of heat transferred through the holder from the heat receiving portion to the flange portion is bent or curved at two or more points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Okubo, Takahiro Kanegae, Kentaro Murakami, Shingo Tomimatsu, Hiroki Kobayashi, Haruhisa Uezawa
  • Patent number: 11932016
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head and a cap configured to contact on an annular contacting region provided in a fixing plate. The liquid ejecting head includes head chips, each including a nozzle plate, and the fixing plate provided with opening portions for exposing the respective nozzle plates. A first hole and a second hole different from the opening portions are provided in the fixing plate. The fixing plate includes a first surface provided with the contacting region and a second surface to which the head chips are fixed. The opening portions are disposed inside the contacting region in a plan view when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first surface. Each of the first hole and the second hole is disposed inside the contacting region in the plan view and is blocked by a filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Inoue
  • Patent number: 11919294
    Abstract: A system for stamping suitcases and luggage items, by in-line digital printing and drying, in a single pass, including: a printing module configured to print an image on one side of the suitcase with at least one printing head and one drying lamp; movement means for moving the items to be printed, with an individual conveyor belt, synchronised with the injector and the drying lamp, and movement means formed by a plurality of individual conveyors synchronised to operate according to the presence or absence of suitcases on adjacent conveyors, preventing them from impacting each other; and a traceability-tracking system configured to determine the position of each suitcase, by means of a unique two-dimensional identification code associated with each item, or by means of supervision of an operator. It also includes trays for coupling those suitcases that have an uneven shape, controlling the movement thereof and the correct alignment of the side to be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Juan Ferri Soler
  • Patent number: 11912028
    Abstract: A substrate for liquid ejection head comprising, a base material, a heating element including a heating resistor layer for generating thermal energy for discharging a liquid, a wiring layer for supplying electric power to the heating element, and an interlayer insulating film for insulating the heating resistor layer and the wiring layer. A part of a first interlayer insulating film for insulating the heating resistor layer and a first wiring layer adjacent to the heating resistor layer, and a second interlayer insulating film for insulating the first wiring layer and a second wiring layer adjacent to the second interlayer insulating film, includes a material layer represented by SiwOxCyNz (w+x+y+z=100 (at. %), 37?w?60 (at. %), 30?x?53 (at. %), 6?y??29 (at. %), 4?z?9 (at. %)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mai Hirohara, Kenji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11904613
    Abstract: There is provided an inkjet recording device including a head, a support member, a storage portion, a valve, an actuator, and a controller. The head includes a nozzle and is configured to eject ink from the nozzle. The support member supports the head. The storage portion storing therein ink. The storage portion has a part positioned above the nozzle. The storage portion has an air communication opening allowing an interior of the storage portion to be communicated with an outside of the storage portion. The valve is movable between an opening position in which the valve opens the air communication opening and a closing position in which the valve closes the air communication opening. The actuator is configured to move the valve. The controller configured to control, while the head is ejecting ink from the nozzle toward a recording medium, the actuator to maintain the valve at the closing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumio Nakazawa, Yoshinori Osakabe, Taichi Shirono, Sosuke Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 11884072
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a flow passage substrate which is formed with individual flow passages, the individual flow passages including nozzles and pressure chambers communicated with the nozzles respectively, the pressure chambers being open on a surface of the flow passage substrate; a sealing member which is adhered to the surface via an adhesive and which seals the pressure chambers; and an actuator substrate which has a piezoelectric layer adhered to a surface of the sealing member on a side opposite to the flow passage substrate via an adhesive and individual electrodes formed on a side opposite to the sealing member with respect to the piezoelectric layer. The sealing member is composed of a material different from a material of the piezoelectric layer; and the surface has an adhesion area to which the sealing member is adhered and a non-adhesion area to which the sealing member is not adhered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Yoshino, Taisuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11878524
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a first pressure chamber group formed by pressure chambers arranged in a first direction; a second pressure chamber group formed by pressure chambers arranged in the first direction, and disposed side by side with the first pressure chamber group in a second direction; a first common channel extending in the first direction and communicating with the pressure chambers composing the first pressure chamber group; a second common channel extending in the first direction and communicating with the pressure chambers composing the second pressure chamber group; a first dummy pressure chamber disposed on one side in the first direction relative to the first pressure chamber group; and a second dummy pressure chamber disposed on the one side in the first direction relative to the second pressure chamber group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taisuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11878528
    Abstract: A controller of a liquid ejection device obtains a temperature of a head after recording and before a pre-cap flushing and determines a pre-cap flushing voltage based on the temperature. Then, the controller outputs the pre-cap flushing voltage to the head in the pre-cap flushing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Shotaro Iida
  • Patent number: 11878531
    Abstract: A wiping device includes a wiper unit, a carriage, and a fixing member. The wiper unit includes a wiper that wipes a liquid discharge surface of a liquid discharge head from which liquid is to be discharged. The carriage moves along the liquid discharge surface in a first direction and a second direction, both of which are opposite to each other. The fixing member fixes the wiper unit to the carriage. When the carriage is disposed on a side in the first direction with respect to a middle point in a moving range of the carriage, the fixing member is removable in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Shimomura, Seiya Sato, Toshihiro Imae
  • Patent number: 11865842
    Abstract: A cleaning unit is provided with a cleaning member for cleaning an ejecting head for ejecting liquid and a holder detachably mounted in a holding portion disposed at a position faceable with the ejecting head. The cleaning member is held in the holder in a state in which an absorbent body configured to absorb liquid is wrapped around an elastic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 11865841
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spittoon assembly for a printing device, a printing device comprising a spittoon assembly, and a method of cleaning a print head using a spittoon assembly. The spittoon assembly comprises a waste receptacle and a spit plate with a receiving surface. The receiving surface is inclined relative to a horizontal direction by an inclination angle when the spittoon assembly is mounted in the printing device. A fluid path extends from the receiving surface to the waste receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ignasi Bonjoch Roma, Andreu Vinets Alonso, Javier Deocon Mir
  • Patent number: 11858262
    Abstract: A fluid ejector for ejecting discrete volumes of ejectant includes a body with opposing first and second surfaces. One or more nozzles are defined as conduits extending through the body between the surfaces to connect first and second orifices at the first and second surfaces respectively. The fluid ejector further includes a gas supply means having a gas outlet and an ejectant supply means. The ejectant supply means supplies the ejectant to the nozzles at a pressure above ambient via their supply orifices. The supply orifice is defined in a conduit's side or is the second orifice. Relative movement of the gas supply means and body exposes first orifices to the gas outlet allowing the gas supply means to supply gas at a pressure above ambient, wherein a pressure difference thereby created between the first and second orifices causes ejection of the ejectant from the nozzles through the second orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ARCHIPELAGO TECHNOLOGY GROUP LTD
    Inventors: Daniel Richard Mace, Neil Emerton, David Alan Crooks, Guy Charles Fernley Newcombe, Charlotte Giverny Pamela Joy Stokes, Theodore John Snudden
  • Patent number: 11858269
    Abstract: According to examples, an apparatus may include a fluidic chamber, in which fluid is to be temporarily held. The apparatus may also include a heating component to generate heat to form a drive bubble in the fluid held in the fluidic chamber and a cavitation plate may be provided between the fluidic chamber and the heating component. The cavitation plate may be in communication with the fluidic chamber and may physically separate the fluidic chamber from the heating component to protect the heating component. In addition, a controller may determine a condition in the fluidic chamber based on an electrical signal received from the cavitation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric Thomas Martin, Tsuyoshi Yamashita, Vincent C. Korthuis
  • Patent number: 11850855
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes ejection orifices for ejecting liquid, common liquid chambers connected to the ejection orifices, common flow passages, and pitch conversion flow passages that connects the common flow passages and liquid chambers to each other. The pitch conversion flow passages includes a periphery formed with resin. In a case where a number of pitch conversion flow passages in a group is minimum on a condition that one or more of the pitch conversion flow passages are respectively included in the group, the pitch conversion flow passages have a repeating pattern in which the group is repeatedly arranged. At least one of two pitch conversion flow passages adjoining an m-th pitch conversion flow passage (m is all integers from 1 to n?2, where n is an integer of 3 or more) is one of first to (m+1)-th pitch conversion flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoko Shimizu, Toru Nakakubo, Kazuhiro Yamada, Atsushi Teranishi, Osamu Kanome