Patents Examined by Julian Huffman
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Patent number: 9592685Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes an inkjet print head arranged to be moveable in a direction of movement along a guiding assembly. The guiding assembly includes a support structure; a strip mounted on the support structure, the strip being substantially rigid and straight in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement and mounted in such way that a straightness in the direction of movement is provided; and an air bearing system operatively coupled to the strip. The strip extends in a vertical plane, the vertical plane being substantially parallel to the direction of movement and being substantially parallel to the first direction. The air bearing system is configured to control a position of the inkjet print head in a horizontal plane relative to the strip during movement of the print head in the direction of movement, the horizontal plane being substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.Inventors: Brandon Rigio, Brian D. Otter, Ryan C. Bryde, Michael P. Hoy, Chad A. Koehn
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Patent number: 9586396Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a modulation circuit that generates a modulated signal by pulse-modulating a source signal; a transistor that amplifies the modulated signal to generate an amplified modulated signal; a low-pass filter that includes an inductor and a capacitor and smoothes the amplified modulated signal to generate a drive signal; a feedback circuit that returns the drive signal to the modulation circuit; a circuit board; a piezoelectric element that is displaced by application of the drive signal thereto. The circuit board has a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface. The capacitor and the feedback circuit are mounted and a first ground wiring connected to the capacitor and a second ground wiring connected to the feedback circuit are provided on the first mounting surface. At least one of the modulation circuit, the transistor, and the inductor is mounted on the second mounting surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Toru Kashimura
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Patent number: 9587123Abstract: An active light beam-curable inkjet magenta ink, wherein the ink comprises at least a pigment, a polymer dispersing agent, a crystalline gelling agent, a photopolymerizable compound and a photopolymerization initiator, the pigment is a solid-solution of PV19 and PR202 which has been subjected to surface treatments with alumina and sulfonic acid, the impart amount of the alumina with respect to the pigment is from 1,500 to 7,500 ppm by mass ratio, and the content of the crystalline gelling agent is from 1.5 to 3.0% by mass with respect to the entirety of the ink has fine storage stability and pinning property, and has a small gloss difference from other colors.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Katsunori Goi, Ryo Aoyama
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Patent number: 9586423Abstract: Provided is a tape cartridge or the like that prevents detection target portions from contacting a finger or the like when an exposed area is provided in a cartridge case to cause the detection target portions of a tape-shaped member to be exposed. A tape cartridge includes a label tape 101 having a plurality of label portions 105 and a plurality of detection target portions 109 and a cartridge case and is installed in a tape feeding apparatus that feeds the label tape 101 based on the passage detection of the detection target portions 109 to separate the label portions 105 at a cut spot 112 on the label tape 101 at a cut position P3 outside the cartridge case.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Taishi Sasaki, Kenichi Nakajima
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Patent number: 9586412Abstract: A head holder has an opening through which a space between the head holder and a conveyer communicates with an inside of the head holder. A head cooler includes a blower configured to blow air into the head holder from an outside of the head holder with a flow rate of blow air and a suction unit configured to suction air from the head holder with a flow rate of suction air. The head cooler generates cooling air for cooling an ink-jet head inside the head holder by the blower and the suction unit. A controller controls the flow rate of blow air and the flow rate of suction air such that air containing ink mist is suctioned into the head holder through the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichiro Otsuka, Hirohito Kubota
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Patent number: 9586416Abstract: A system for enabling a wide format ink jet printer to print onto discontinuous flexible media. A wide format inkjet printer includes a print head and a feed roller that can be configured as a flat bed printer for printing onto stiff media or as a roll to roll printer for printing onto continuous flexible media. Addition of a tray connected to a vacuum pump that can be fed using the feed roller when in flat bed configuration enables the printer to be used for printing onto flexible discontinuous media.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Inventors: Hanan Yosefi, Erez Zimerman, Avi Zehavi, Nadav Hollander
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Patent number: 9579897Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: an ink-jet head including an energy applier that causes ejection of ink; a medium supplier that supplies a recording medium; a first sensor provided on a supply path through which the recording medium is to be supplied to the ink-jet head by the medium supplier; and a controller. The controller controls the energy applier to perform first preparatory driving including flushing before the ink-jet head performs image recording. The controller controls the energy applier to perform second preparatory driving including the flushing or ink agitation driving after the first preparatory driving and detection of the recording medium by the first sensor. The controller controls the energy applier to perform the second preparatory driving in accordance with an elapsed time extending from an input of a recording command to the detection of the recording medium by the first sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshiharu Furuhata, Tomohiro Nodsu, Shin Hasegawa
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Patent number: 9579913Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink tank forming an ink chamber and including an injection inlet, a cover, a cover sensor, a recording head, a monitor, and a controller. The cover is movable between a covering position and an exposing position. The cover sensor is positioned to output a signal depending on the position of the cover. The controller controls operation of the recording head, the monitor. The controller receives either a first positional signal or a second positional signal of the cover sensor, and based on receipt of the first positional signal after receipt of the second positional signal from the cover sensor, performs a decision process deciding whether an operation regarding ink injection into the ink chamber is completed.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Mana Honoki
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Patent number: 9579901Abstract: An object is to improve a user's convenience. There is provided a control unit for use in a liquid ejecting apparatus using a tank containing a liquid and a storage material attachable to and detachable from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and storing an amount of the liquid in the tank. After the storage material is not mounted on a predetermined place, the control unit receives an answer for a question to ask whether or not the liquid is injected to the tank.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shuichi Koganehira, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Tomohiko Sano, Kenji Matsumoto, Kenta Masuzawa
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Patent number: 9573369Abstract: In an embodiment, a fluid ejection device includes a die including a fluid feed slot that extends from a back side to a front side of the die, a firing chamber formed on the front side to receive fluid from the feed slot, a fluid distribution manifold adhered to the back side to provide fluid to the feed slot, and a corrosion-resistant layer coating the back side of the die so as not to extend into the feed slot.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2012Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Rio Rivas, Ed Friesen
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Patent number: 9573397Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a conveyance unit; a support part including ribs; a recording head; a carriage carrying the recording head; a detecting unit configured to detect a position of the sheet conveyed; and a controller. In a case that the sheet supported by the support part is in a position in which the sheet is nipped by the conveyance unit, the controller is configured to shift nozzles, from which ink droplets are jetted to a center area of an upper surface of the support part in the width direction, to an upstream or a downstream in the conveyance direction by a predetermined number relative to nozzles from which ink droplets are jetted to outer areas positioned outside the center area in the width direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2016Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Iwane Sano, Gakuro Kanazawa
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Patent number: 9561666Abstract: Systems and methods for degassing fluid are disclosed. An example fluid ejection device including a channel having an entrance and an exit; a supply slot in communication with the channel; a vent; a first bubble impeding structure at the entrance of the channel; and a second bubble impeding structure at an exit of the channel, the first and second bubble impeding structures to retain a bubble within the channel to enable the bubble to be vented through a vent and to deter the bubble from entering the ink supply slot.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2016Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.Inventor: Alexander Govyadinov
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Patent number: 9561646Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for providing a high speed adaptive thermal printhead interface. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program instructions, the computer program instructions being configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to determine identifier information for a connected printhead; retrieve printhead interface configuration data for a configurable printhead interface based at least in part on the identifier information; configure printhead interface circuitry in accordance with the printhead interface configuration data; and enable communication with the printhead through the configurable printhead interface.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: ZIH Corp.Inventors: Dwight D. Dipert, Ashok K. Charles, Daniel Donato, Robert Ehrhardt, David Schmitt
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Patent number: 9561652Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an inkjet head comprises a plurality of groove-shaped pressure chambers formed on piezoelectric members of which the polarization directions are opposite, and a nozzle plate arranged at the lateral side of the pressure chambers across a lid section with high rigidity. A plurality of through holes connected to a plurality of nozzles formed on the nozzle plate is formed in the lid section. The inkjet head is set in a range of 10˜25% before and after a center, that is, a length ratio where the relation between ejection voltage of ink ejected from the nozzles and a length ratio between the length of the through hole of the lid section in the longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber and the length of the pressure chamber in the longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2016Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masashi Shimosato, Hideaki Nishida, Keizaburo Yamamoto, Ryutaro Kusunoki
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Patent number: 9562789Abstract: A magnetic field sensor comprises a substrate and a moving part which is displaced when subjected to a Laplace force. There is a gauge for measuring the displacement of the moving part. There is a suspended lever that is rotationally displaced about an axis of rotation at right angles to the direction of displacement of the moving part. The lever is connected to the moving part to transmit displacement of the moving part to the lever to cause rotation of the lever about the axis of rotation. The lever is also connected to a first part of the gauge. The sensor comprises a hinge that connects the lever to the substrate. The hinge allows the rotation of the lever about its axis of rotation and is rigid to allow for a lever arm effect. The second part of the gauge is fixed with no degree of freedom to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternativesInventors: Robert Philippe, Dirk Ettelt, Arnaud Walther
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Patent number: 9555629Abstract: A liquid discharge substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of heating elements, a plurality of driving elements, a signal supplying unit which supplies a control signal used to control the plurality of driving elements, and a plurality of delay circuits which delay the control signal. A delay amount of a first delay circuit is different from a delay amount of a second delay circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masanori Shibata, Kazunari Fujii, Takaaki Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 9555650Abstract: The recording device includes an adhesive belt extending across a plurality of rotating bodies configured to support and convey a recording medium, a first sensor configured to detect that the recording medium is separated relative to the adhesive belt in a first range, a second sensor configured to detect that the recording medium P is separated relative to the adhesive belt in a second range within the first range, a take-up unit configured to take up the recording medium, and a control unit configured to control the take-up unit so as to take up the recording medium when the first sensor detects that a separation position of the recording medium is within the first range, and control the rotating body to stop movement of the adhesive belt when the second sensor detects that the separation position of the recording medium is within the second range.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Tomonori Nakamura
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Patent number: 9555626Abstract: An inkjet head includes a plurality of head units including a first head unit and a second head unit. Each head unit has a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of drive elements. The second head unit has an ejection performance of nozzles lower than an ejection performance of nozzles of the first head unit. The second head unit is farther from a center portion of the inkjet head than the first head unit is. A drive unit is configured to apply a drive voltage for generating energy to each of the plurality of drive elements included in each of the plurality of head units. The drive voltage applied to each of the plurality of drive elements included in the first head unit is lower than the drive voltage applied to each of the plurality of drive elements included in the second head unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Aiba, Shohei Koide, Keita Sugiura
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Patent number: 9557352Abstract: A current detection structure includes a plurality of busbars arranged in parallel, and a plurality of magnetic detection elements each provided for corresponding one of the plurality of busbars so as to measure a strength of a magnetic field generated by a current flowing through the corresponding busbar. The plurality of magnetic detection elements are mounted on a single circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.Inventors: Katsuya Akimoto, Hisashi Tate, Naofumi Chiwata, Ken Okuyama, Naoki Futakuchi, Yukio Ikeda, Kazuhisa Takahashi, Shinya Hayashi, Takahiro Futatsumori
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Patent number: 9558431Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes an optical box having a top surface that is constituted by a single lid. A first surface of the top surface is disposed closer to a rotary polygon mirror than a second surface and is disposed closer to a bottom surface of the optical box than an edge portion of a light deflector positioned farthest from the bottom surface. A third surface of a convex portion of the top surface is positioned farther from the bottom surface than the first surface. A lower edge portion of the convex portion is disposed outside a circumscribed circle of the rotary polygon mirror.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jun Nagatoshi, Mitsuhiro Ohta