Patents Examined by Justin Seo
  • Liquid discharging head
    Patent number: 11565526
    Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes: a first individual channel array constructed of individual channels aligned in a first direction; and a second individual channel array constructed of individual channels aligned in the first direction. The second individual channel array is arranged side by side to the first individual channel array in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Each of the individual channels includes: a nozzle, at least two pressure chambers communicating with the nozzle and arranged in the first direction, and a connecting channel connecting the nozzle and the at least two pressure chambers. The connecting channel has one end in a third direction communicating with the at least two pressure chambers, and the other end in the third direction communicating with the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taiki Tanaka
  • Liquid ejection apparatus and delivery system for liquid ejection head
    Patent number: 11560004
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head that is detachably attached and ejects a liquid, and a control section that is configured to transmit a delivery request for a new liquid ejection head to a server apparatus via a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakamura, Izumi Nozawa, Yuta Komatsu
  • Inkjet recording apparatus
    Patent number: 11554593
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a printing portion configured to discharge ink on a sheet, a drying portion configured to blow warm air to the sheet to dry ink, a first rotary member is in contact with the first surface of the sheet, a heating portion configured to heat the first rotary member, a second rotary member configured to form a nip portion that apply heat and pressure to the sheet, a first detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the first rotary member, a second detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the second rotary member, a cooling unit configured to cool the second rotary member, and a control unit configured to execute a cooling mode of activating the cooling unit in a state where a temperature difference between the first rotary member and the second rotary member is smaller than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Miyamoto
  • Liquid remaining amount detecting mechanism
    Patent number: 11548289
    Abstract: A liquid remaining amount detecting mechanism includes a rotating member that is disposed in a storage chamber of a tank that stores a liquid, and a sensor. The rotating member is rotatable about a shaft and includes a float that receives buoyancy from the liquid, a detection target portion that is detectable by the sensor, and a through-hole into which the shaft is inserted. The sensor is disposed at a position facing a portion of a locus of the detection target portion when the rotating member is rotated. The liquid remaining amount detecting mechanism further includes a liquid pool portion, at least a portion of which is located between an outer peripheral surface of the shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole to hold the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akane Hisanaga
  • Liquid ejection apparatus and liquid refill container
    Patent number: 11541663
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head configured to eject liquid; a liquid storage container including a storage portion configured to store liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, an opening configured to supply liquid from a liquid refill container to the storage portion, and a cover member configured to be in a first state to cover the opening and a second state to expose the opening; and a regulation unit configured to regulate transition from the first state to the second state of the cover member. Regulating by the regulation unit is released when a first portion, of the liquid refill container, configured to prevent misfilling the storage portion with an incorrect liquid, is fitted into a second portion of the liquid ejection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Hiramoto
  • Image recording apparatus
    Patent number: 11541668
    Abstract: When a specified image is recorded while ranging over a boundary between a first dot recording range and a second dot recording range, a controller of an image recording apparatus judges whether or not a predetermined condition is fulfilled, the predetermined condition including at least one of a first condition which relates to a duty and a second condition which relates to a positional deviation in a scanning direction of a landing position of a liquid. If the predetermined condition is fulfilled, the dot belonging to a correcting portion is formed by correcting discharge in which the liquid in a discharge amount smaller than a set discharge amount is discharged. If the predetermined condition is not fulfilled, the dot belonging to the correcting portion is formed by ordinary discharge in which the liquid in the set discharge amount is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Masao Mimoto, Tsuyoshi Ito
  • Cleaning method of liquid ejection head, control method of the same, and a liquid ejection device
    Patent number: 11518172
    Abstract: A cleaning method of a liquid ejection head where recording element substrates having an ejection orifice forming-face having ejection orifice arrays which are aligned, and at least one array ejects a different recording liquid than another, includes wiping and preliminary ejection. In the wiping, a wiping member is caused to move along and wipe the arrays. In the preliminary ejection, before the wiping of the entire ejection orifice forming-face is completed, preliminary ejection from the wiped ejection orifices is started. The wiping and preliminary ejection are sequentially performed from a recording element substrate at one end to a recording element substrate at the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shintaro Kasai
  • Liquid ejection apparatus
    Patent number: 11518171
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head and a controller. The controller configured to perform: determining whether a discharge failure occurs in a first nozzle; in a case where it is determined that the discharge failure occurs in the first nozzle, determining whether a certain condition is satisfied; in a case where it is determined that the certain condition is satisfied: applying a flushing signal to a second driving element; applying a driving signal to the second driving element; determining whether the discharge failure occurs in a second nozzle; in a case where it is determined that the discharge failure does not occur in the second nozzle, executing a first purge; and in a case where it is determined that the discharge failure occurs in the second nozzle, executing a second purge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shotaro Iida
  • Printer
    Patent number: 11504975
    Abstract: A printer includes an ink tank, a print head performing printing by using ink in the ink tank; a light source irradiating an inside of the ink tank with light; a sensor detecting light incident from the ink tank during a period in which the light source emits light; and a background plate facing the light source and the sensor in the ink tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Netsu, Takuma Usuda
  • Mobile printer
    Patent number: 11504976
    Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, a mobile printer includes a casing, a sensor, a print head, an interface, a controller, and a decolorizing device. The casing includes a power supply. The sensor detects the movement of the casing. The print head discharges ink containing a thermochromic colorant. The interface acquires image data. The controller discharges the ink from the print head based on the image data acquired by the interface and the movement of the casing detected by the sensor. The decolorizing device is coupled to the casing and includes a translucent film in which heat is generated by an applied voltage and a translucent substrate that is heated to a temperature at which the thermochromic colorant is decolorized by the heat generated in the translucent film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Ishikawa, Kazuki Taira, Takaya Kitawaki, Daisuke Harayama
  • Fluid ejection devices with reduced crosstalk
    Patent number: 11498330
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of fluid ejectors. Each fluid ejector includes a pumping chamber, and an actuator configured to cause fluid to be ejected from the pumping chamber. The fluid ejection apparatus includes a feed channel fluidically connected to each pumping chamber; and at least one compliant structure formed in a surface of the feed channel. The at least one compliant structure has a lower compliance than the surface of the feed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Kevin von Essen, Steven H. Barss, Mats G. Ottosson, Darren T. Imai
  • Liquid discharge device
    Patent number: 11491798
    Abstract: A printer is provided with a mounting portion and an arm. A head is mounted on the mounting portion. The head discharges a liquid. The arm can move between a fixed position and a released position. In the fixed position, the arm fixes the head mounted on the mounting portion to the mounting portion in a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction. In the released state, the arm unfixes the head from the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuo Ito
  • Inkjet printing apparatus and ink tank
    Patent number: 11491796
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes an ink tank that contains an ink to be supplied to a printing head that ejects the ink, the ink being injected from an ink bottle. The inkjet printing apparatus further includes an injection assistance member including a first passage and a second passage. The first passage is defined by a first upper end portion opening toward the outside of the ink tank and a first lower end portion opening toward the inside of the ink tank. The second passage is defined by a second upper end portion opening toward the outside of the ink tank and projecting upward less than the first upper end portion and a second lower end portion opening toward the inside of the ink tank and larger than the first lower end portion in terms of a distance from the bottom surface of the ink tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuta Araki, Kosuke Umehara, Koki Shimada
  • Recording apparatus
    Patent number: 11491794
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an apparatus main body including: a transport unit that transports a medium; a liquid ejecting head that is provided above a transport path for the medium and performs recording by ejecting liquid onto the medium; and an accommodating unit that accommodates a waste liquid container configured to store waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head, wherein a front surface of the apparatus main body is provided with a front wall and an operable operation unit, which are adjacent to each other in a width direction, and the accommodating unit is located between the front wall and the liquid ejecting head in a depth direction at a position that does not overlap the operation unit in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Takabayashi, Nobuhisa Nomoto
  • Printing apparatus
    Patent number: 11485150
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit configured to eject liquid to a medium, a medium supporting unit configured to support the medium on a support face, a medium width detector configured to detect a width of the medium supported at the supporting face. Further, the printing apparatus includes a plurality of air blowing ports provided along a width direction (X-axis direction) of the medium for blowing air toward the medium supporting unit, an air blowing unit from which the air is blown, a heating unit configured to heat the medium supporting unit. Further, the printing apparatus includes a controlling unit configured to control a blowing amount from each of the plurality of air blowing ports according to the width of the medium detected by the medium width detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichiro Nakano
  • Liquid discharging apparatus
    Patent number: 11485143
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes: a first storage which stores liquid; a first detector which detects an amount of the liquid in the first storage; a communication hole communicating the first storage and outside; a semipermeable membrane arranged to cover the communication hole; a head unit having at least one nozzle which discharges the liquid supplied from the first storage; a liquid flow channel which communicates the first storage and the head unit; a cap which seals the nozzle of the head unit; a cap movement mechanism which moves the cap; an electrode arranged in the cap and on which the liquid discharged from the nozzle is landed; a second detector connected electrically to the electrode; a suction mechanism which sucks the liquid and gas inside the cap; a waste liquid storage which stores the liquid sucked from inside of the cap by the suction mechanism; and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sosuke Kuroyanagi
  • Liquid discharge head, head module, head device, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus
    Patent number: 11479042
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a plurality of nozzle arrays arranged in a first direction. The plurality of nozzle arrays each includes nozzles from which a liquid is discharged, the nozzles arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and one of two nozzle arrays of the plurality of nozzle arrays adjacent to each other in the first direction include at least two nozzles arranged at different nozzle intervals from corresponding nozzles of another of the two nozzle arrays in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Bandoh
  • Printer
    Patent number: 11472193
    Abstract: A printer includes an ink tank, a print head performing printing by using ink in the ink tank; a light source irradiating an inside of the ink tank with light; a sensor detecting light incident from the ink tank during a period in which the light source emits light; and a processing section detecting an amount of ink in the ink tank based on an output of the sensor. The light source is turned on by an amount of light based on a result of the sensor detecting light reflected from an area where the ink does not exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Netsu, Takuma Usuda
  • Image recording apparatus
    Patent number: 11465429
    Abstract: A first cover moves between a first closed position and a first open position. The first cover is located at another end of a housing when the first cover is located at the first closed position. A second cover moves between a second closed position and a second open position. The second cover is located closer to one end than the first cover is at the first closed position and at the second closed position. A first portion of a first conveyance path is formed between the first cover and the second cover at the first closed position and at the second closed position. A second portion of a second conveyance path is formed at a side of the second cover facing the one end at the second closed position. When the first cover opens the first portion, the second cover is located at the second closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyase, Yoshinori Osakabe, Tsuyoshi Kuwayama, Jun Morikawa, Haruka Azechi, Yasuo Ono, Yuto Chiba
  • Inkjet recording method and inkjet recording apparatus
    Patent number: 11458737
    Abstract: Provided is an inkjet recording method comprising the step of forming an image by applying an ink containing at least a coloring material and a processing liquid containing at least a flocculant to a surface of a recording medium by a droplet discharge device, respectively, to coalescence the ink and the processing liquid, wherein the processing liquid is applied to an image forming region on which the image is formed and a peripheral region of the image forming region, and an application amount of the processing liquid to be applied to the peripheral region of the image forming region is controlled to be the same as an application amount of the processing liquid to be applied at an end portion of the image forming region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Naoto Niizuma