Patents Examined by Huan Tran
  • Ink port adapter for inkjet head
    Patent number: 9849682
    Abstract: Ink port adapters for multi-color inkjet heads. In one embodiment, the ink port adapter includes two hose fittings for connecting to hoses, and four openings that align with four ink ports of a four-color inkjet head. The adapter includes one ink path that connects one of the hose fittings to two of the openings, and another ink path that connects the other hose fitting to the other two openings. The adapter therefore converts the four-color inkjet head into a two-color inkjet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nishimura
  • Method and apparatus for transferring a printing substance onto a substrate by means of laser radiation
    Patent number: 9849692
    Abstract: A method for transferring a printing substance provided as a coating on a carrier onto a substrate by laser radiation from a laser beam source that comprises an amplifier and that has an output power includes initiating a transfer process at the start of an active phase during a first time period by a temporary increase in the output power above an upper power threshold of the laser radiation, and adjusting the output power during a second time period of the active phase following the first time period, wherein the output power is adjusted during the second time period constantly in the range between the upper power threshold and a lower power threshold. The laser radiation and the carrier are moved relative to one another and the output power of the laser beam source is time modulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: LPKF LASER & ELECTRONICS AG
    Inventors: Udo Buenting, Bostjan Podobnik, Rok Petkovsek, Roman Ostholt
  • Thermal stencil making unit
    Patent number: 9849664
    Abstract: A thermal stencil making unit that makes a stencil of a perforated image on a thermal gauze by moving a thermal print head having the plurality of heat elements relative to the thermal gauze tightly stretched in a gauze frame detachably set in a unit housing, includes a head-protecting member that moves between a protection position where the thermal print head is protected and a protection release position where a protective state is released. The thermal stencil making unit moves the head-protecting member to the protection position when the gauze frame is not set in the unit housing and moves the head-protecting cover member from the protection position to the protection release position, in conjunction with an operation of setting the gauze frame in the unit housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dai Takahashi, Kazuo Nakano, Shigeyuki Chuugun
  • Laminated nozzle with thick plate
    Patent number: 9849480
    Abstract: A laminated nozzle assembly includes a first end plate having first and second fluid inlets, a second end plate, and a plurality of nozzle plates positioned between the first and second end plates. A first fluid conduit is fluidically connected to the first fluid inlet. The first fluid conduit has a reservoir and one or more first openings. A second fluid conduit is fluidically connected to the second fluid inlet. The second fluid conduit has an inlet channel, a connecting channel and one or more second openings. An orifice assembly includes a first orifice fluidically connected to the first opening and a second orifice fluidically connected to the second opening. The first and second orifices are disposed in the same plate of the plurality of nozzle plates and are coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Mel Steven Lessley, Edward W. Bolyard, Jr.
  • Inkjet recording device
    Patent number: 9849687
    Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a ink-jet printing device which can detect leak of ink or solvent without the exclusive sensor for leak detection and without increasing cost. An ink jet printing device for printing letter by ejecting ink, comprising, a liquid container for containing ink or solvent, a surface level sensor for detecting surface level arranged on the liquid container, a control unit and a display unit, wherein the display unit displays indication in the case where the surface level change time detected by the control unit using the surface level sensor is larger than the settled surface level change time in settled printing condition is provided for solving the problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Katou, Nobuhiro Harada, Masahiko Sakuraba, Takehiko Matsushita
  • Ink port adapter for inkjet head
    Patent number: 9849683
    Abstract: Ink port adapters for inkjet heads. In one embodiment, the ink port adapter includes two hose fittings for connecting to hoses, and four openings that align with four ink ports of an inkjet head. The adapter includes one ink path that connects one of the hose fittings to two of the openings, and another ink path that connects the other hose fitting to the other two openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nishimura
  • Systems and methods for printing on large surface with portable printing devices
    Patent number: 9849693
    Abstract: Computerized systems and computer-implemented methods that enable printing on a large solid surface, such as a floor, wall, or ceiling using mobile printer heads guided by coded light. In one implementation, a user points a projector onto the printing surface to project a sequence of images with a unique temporal identifier (ID) for each pixel, wherein different space partitions are associated with different pixel IDs. The mechanical transmissions of the conventional printers are replaced with the aforesaid coded light used in conjunction with small mobile printer heads equipped with light sensors, while the coded light is used to guide the printer heads' movements during the printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiong Liu, Shang Ma, Donald Kimber, Patrick Chiu, Sven Kratz
  • Printer including a spit zone
    Patent number: 9849676
    Abstract: A printer includes a printhead assembly, a spit zone, and a controller. The printhead assembly includes nozzles to eject ink drops. The spit zone is to store maintenance ink. The controller is to move the printhead assembly over the spit zone while ink is ejected from the nozzles during spits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Randal Morrison, Jafar N. Jefferson, Lisa Michels, Cris Jansson, Bob Davis
  • Ink-jet recording apparatus and platen apparatus
    Patent number: 9844957
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a platen, a contact portion disposed between a pair of first ribs of the plurality of first ribs with respect to a scanning direction. A lower end of the contact portion is located lower than each upper end of the pair of first ribs. The platen includes a second rib disposed between one first rib of the pair of first ribs and the contact portion with respect to the scanning direction, and an upper end of the second rib is located lower than the upper end of the one first rib of the pair of first ribs and higher than the lower end of the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Yuji Koga
  • Computer-implemented methods and computer systems/machines for identifying dependent and vehicle independent states
    Patent number: 9846174
    Abstract: This application relies on terminology found in the Vehicle State Detection (STATE) patent and describes methods of detecting acceleration, deceleration, accidents and cornering operational states, which we will also call vehicle dependent states, and vehicle independent states, triggered when the portable device is moved independently of movement of the vehicle. These methods enhance classification of driving behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Inventors: Roy Schwartz, Zarick Schwartz
  • Oil-based inkjet ink set and method for producing printed item
    Patent number: 9845402
    Abstract: An oil-based inkjet ink set including two or more liquid compositions, for use with an inkjet head having two or more discharge port arrays, wherein at least one of the two or more liquid compositions is an oil-based inkjet ink, the initial boiling point of each of the two or more liquid compositions is, independently, 280° C. or higher, and the difference in the specific gravities of any pair of liquid compositions in the two or more liquid compositions is at least 0.005 but not more than 0.012, is disclosed. A method for producing a printed item is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichiro Shimura, Toshihiro Endo, Akiko Yamamoto
  • Electromagnetic wave identification method and identification device
    Patent number: 9841439
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave identification device includes a detection section for detecting an electromagnetic wave signal which is output from an antenna for detecting electromagnetic waves and whose level is equal to or greater than a predetermined level; a measurement and record section for recording and storing the detected electromagnetic wave waveform data; and an analysis and evaluation section for receiving the recorded and stored electromagnetic wave waveform data, normalizing the electromagnetic wave waveform data by an maximum amplitude value to obtain normalized data, and determining whether or not the received electromagnetic wave is a direct wave by reference to the normalized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KYUSHU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shinya Ohtsuka, Toshitake Umegane, Hiroki Shibata
  • Liquid ejecting apparatus
    Patent number: 9840084
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid; a head flow path connected to the liquid ejecting head, that supplies the liquid; an attaching member that is attachable at a position adjacent to the head flow path; and an opening/closing mechanism that opens the head flow path when the attaching member is attached at the adjacent position and closes the head flow path when the attaching member is removed from the adjacent position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Nakamura, Takashi Mano
  • Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9841699
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus according to one aspect of this invention includes a light source that outputs a light beam having a light power based on a supplied driving current, a detection unit that detects the light power of the light beam, and a voltage holding unit that holds a charged voltage used to control the driving current. The optical scanning apparatus further includes a control unit that controls a charging unit so that the voltage holding unit is charged in a state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source, and controls the charging unit based on a detection result of the detection unit so that the voltage held in the voltage holding unit is controlled from the voltage of the voltage holding unit charged in the state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Systems and methods for implementing data analysis workflows in a non-destructive testing system
    Patent number: 9838442
    Abstract: A collaboration system may include a first computing device that may communicate with at least one other computing device via a computing network. The computing network may communicatively couple to a number of computing devices and the first computing device may receive inspection data acquired by one or more non-destructive testing (NDT) devices. After receiving the inspection data, the first computing device may determine at least one of a workflow for analyzing the inspection data based on the inspection data, a layout configured to display the inspection data, or a set of tools configured to analyze the inspection data. The first computing device may then implement the workflow, display the inspection data according to the layout, and/or display the set of tools. The workflow may include one or more processes that may be used to analyze the inspection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sekhar Soorianarayanan, Michael Christopher Domke, Jason Howard Messinger, Thomas Eldred Lambdin, Charles Burton Theurer, Robert Carroll Ward, Susan Montagna, Scott Leo Sbihli
  • Medium holder and liquid ejecting apparatus
    Patent number: 9834016
    Abstract: A medium holder according to the invention includes a medium roll being a wound medium, and a medium holder unit that is mounted onto an end portion of the medium roll in an axial direction. The medium holder unit includes a movement mechanism having a rotating body that moves the medium roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Watanabe
  • Encapsulation layer thickness regulation in light emitting device
    Patent number: 9831473
    Abstract: An ink jet process is used to deposit a material layer to a desired thickness. Layout data is converted to per-cell grayscale values, each representing ink volume to be locally delivered. The grayscale values are used to generate a halftone pattern to deliver variable ink volume (and thickness) to the substrate. The halftoning provides for a relatively continuous layer (e.g., without unintended gaps or holes) while providing for variable volume and, thus, contributes to variable ink/material buildup to achieve desired thickness. The ink is jetted as liquid or aerosol that suspends material used to form the material layer, for example, an organic material used to form an encapsulation layer for a flat panel device. The deposited layer is then cured or otherwise finished to complete the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Eliyahu Vronsky, Nahid Harjee
  • Automatic thermal printhead cleaning system
    Patent number: 9827796
    Abstract: A printhead cleaning system includes a wiper assembly configured for putting a printhead wiper in contact with the printhead. A solvent container is configured for providing solvent to the printhead wiper. A lateral feed mechanism is coupled to the printhead and the wiper assembly, and is configured for driving the wiper assembly in reciprocating motion along the printhead. The cleaning cycle can be started when a predetermined condition (such as a number of operations) is reached. A method for printhead cleaning can include starting a cleaning cycle by lifting a printhead from a printing position once a number of printing operations reaches a predetermined value, and transporting a cleaning assembly along the printhead for a predetermined time duration or number of passes, while providing contact between the cleansing applicator and the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: Hao Zheng, Yaw Horng Yap, Chin Young Wong
  • Cross-flow cooling systems for continuous-form print media
    Patent number: 9827797
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide rollers that cool a print medium downstream of a dryer while minimizing the temperature differentials across the print medium. In some embodiments, air is directed through the interiors of different rollers in opposing directions based on a pattern to reduce the temperature differential across a width of the print medium. In other embodiments, a controller alternates a direction of the air through the interior of a roller to reduce the temperature differential across the width of the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart James Boland, Dilan Nirushan Fernando, Scott Richard Johnson
  • Liquid cartridge provided with protection protrusion
    Patent number: 9821558
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge body having a first surface facing in a first direction; an accessed part disposed on the first surface; and a first protrusion protruding from the first surface in the first direction. The first surface has a first end in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and a second end in a third direction opposite the second direction. The first protrusion is disposed on the first surface at a position closer to the first end than the accessed part is to the first end, the first protrusion having a first protruding end positioned further in the first direction relative to the accessed part, the first protrusion being tapered toward the first protruding end, the first protrusion having a sloped surface that faces in the third direction toward the accessed part and slopes away from the accessed part toward the first protruding end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihito Ono