Patents Examined by Kendrick X Liu
  • Patent number: 10350883
    Abstract: liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head including a plurality of electrodes arranged in parallel, a common electrode positioned to face the liquid discharge head, and a control unit configured to control a voltage to be applied to each of the plurality of electrodes to control the plurality of electrodes as a discharging electrode, which is to discharge a liquid, or as a non-discharging electrode, which is to discharge no liquid, wherein the control unit adjusts a value of the voltage to be applied to the electrode that is to be driven as the non-discharging electrode, based on the voltage to be applied to the electrode adjacent to the electrode that is to be driven as the non-discharging electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuji Yamamoto, Hideaki Okamoto, Junji Yasuda, Koji Inoue
  • Patent number: 10343410
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing; and a liquid supply portion. The cartridge casing has a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid therein. The cartridge casing has an inner surface defining the liquid storage chamber. The liquid supply portion has a liquid supply hole extending in a frontward direction from the liquid storage chamber to an outside in an operational posture of the liquid cartridge. The frontward direction is perpendicular to a gravitational direction. The inner surface includes a side surface and a bottom surface in the operational posture of the liquid cartridge. The bottom surface has a curved region connected to the side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyao, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 10343412
    Abstract: The liquid container has a spacer member provided in the liquid storage portion. When three directions orthogonal to each other are assumed to be a D direction, a T direction, and a W direction, in the D direction, a direction from a liquid outlet portion toward the other edge portion of the bag is assumed to be a +D direction, and the opposite direction to the +D direction is assumed to be a ?D direction, and a direction in which the dimension of the outer shape of the liquid container is smallest is assumed to be the T direction, and the spacer member has, on the +D direction side, a face inclined such that the dimension in the T direction of the spacer member increases from the +D direction side toward the ?D direction side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corpoation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawate, Hiroyoshi Ozeki, Manabu Yamaguchi, Takumi Nagashima, Yoshiaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10345677
    Abstract: A laser printing system includes a laser configured to produce a beam of light modulated according to image data input to the laser printing system, a photoreceptor drum including a photoconductive layer disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum, and a non-mechanical beam steerer configured for receiving the modulated light beam from the laser and steering the light beam in a scanning motion back and forth across the photoconductive layer of the photoreceptor drum. The laser printing system also includes a printer controller configured to structure the image data input to the laser printing system, and control an amount of electrical current flowing through portions of the non-mechanical beam steerer to change an effective index of refraction of the non-mechanical beam steerer and steer the modulated light beam in the scanning motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: CAPITAL ONE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventor: David Wurmfeld
  • Patent number: 10343416
    Abstract: A printer that performs printing on a medium by an inkjet scheme includes an inkjet head, for ejecting droplets of an ink containing a solvent to be evaporated to fix the ink on the medium; and an ultraviolet light source that irradiates the ink with an ultraviolet light. The ink contains a colorant, the solvent, an exothermic polymerizable substance, and a polymerization initiator. The colorant develops a color of the ink. The exothermic polymerizable substance causes a polymerization reaction to generate heat. The polymerization initiator starts the polymerization reaction of the exothermic polymerizable substance in response to irradiation with ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light source irradiates the ink adhered to the medium with ultraviolet light to make the exothermic polymerizable substance cause the polymerization reaction. Thus, the solvent in the ink is evaporated by the heat generated by the polymerization reaction to fix the ink on the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 10336084
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, first and second storage chambers, a liquid flow path, and a communication opening. The rear wall is spaced away from the front wall in a rear direction perpendicular to a gravitational direction in an upright posture, and is spaced away from the front wall in an upward direction in a rotated posture. The communication opening is provided at the bottom wall and is configured to provide communication therethrough between the first and second storage chambers. The communication opening defines an imaginary horizontal plane. The first storage chamber in the rotated posture defines a first capacity above the imaginary horizontal plane and a second capacity below the imaginary horizontal plane. The first capacity is less than the second capacity. The liquid flow path is positioned downward relative to the imaginary horizontal plane in the rotated posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10336105
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints on a medium, and a downstream side support unit that is disposed on a downstream side in a transport direction of the medium with respect to the printing unit and includes a heater which heats the medium and suction holes which is communicated with suction mechanisms. In a case of cutting the medium, the suction mechanisms are driven so that the medium is sucked and supported by the downstream side support unit via the suction holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mayu Sakai, Junya Kato
  • Patent number: 10315416
    Abstract: An ink-jet head driving circuit includes: PMOS transistors each of which has an Nwell area, a drain terminal and a source terminal, the PMOS transistors connected to a piezoelectric element for jetting ink from a nozzle; and an NMOS transistor connected to the drain terminals of the PMOS transistors. The source terminals and Nwell areas of the PMOS transistors are connected respectively to power sources, and voltage of one of the power sources connected to the Nwell area of each of the PMOS transistors is equal to or higher than the highest voltage of the power sources connected to the source terminals of the PMOS transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10293624
    Abstract: The present invention embraces a method and apparatus for providing feedback to a user on the status of media or ribbon of a printer. The feedback may be provided by incorporating a feedback mechanism in a hanger of a printer. The printer may be a thermal printer, but may be another type of printer. The feedback mechanism of the printer may be designed to work with one or more sensors to provide a feedback loop so that without an input from a user, the printer is able to detect the presence/absence of media or ribbon, as well as determine the width of the loaded media or ribbon. In another embodiment, the feedback mechanism is able to determine the weight of the roll of media or ribbon and hence determine the quantity of media or ribbon available on the hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: DATAMAX-O'NEIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chin Young Wong, Boon Kheng Lim, Yaw Horng Yap, Sébastien Michel Marie Joseph d'Armancourt
  • Patent number: 10286690
    Abstract: Described is a print zone assembly comprising a print platen device including at least a section of a print platen, hiving a first dimension and a second dimension, the second dimension being perpendicular to the first dimension, wherein the print platen device has a higher rigidity in the direction of the second dimension and a lower rigidity in the direction of the first dimension; and a platen support structure supporting the print platen device at a number of references, establishing a multi-point contact, wherein the print platen device conforms to the references for providing a flat platen surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ricardo Sanchis Estruch, Pau Martin Vidal, Alberto Arredondo, Alejandro Puente
  • Patent number: 10286669
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a cartridge body including: a liquid storage chamber, a liquid supply portion providing a liquid supply hole supplying the liquid in the liquid storage chamber to an outside, an air communication passage communicating liquid storage chamber with an atmosphere, a front wall, a rear wall spaced apart from the front wall, a lower wall connecting a lower end of the front wall and a lower end of the rear wall, and an upper wall extending between the front wall and the rear wall. The air communication passage includes an air communication pipe having one open end positioned downward relative to a highest liquid level and upward relative to an up-down center portion of the liquid storage chamber. The highest liquid level is defined in a state where a maximum permissible amount of liquid is stored in the liquid storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10265979
    Abstract: A thermosensitive printing device includes a print roller, a printhead module, a printhead pressure adjusting mechanism and a casing. The printhead pressure adjusting mechanism is supported by the casing. When a print medium is transferred through a region between the printhead module and the print roller, the print medium is printed by the printhead module. The printhead pressure adjusting mechanism is located over the printhead module and contacted with the printhead At least a portion of the printhead pressure adjusting mechanism is penetrated through the casing groove and movable within the casing groove according to a width of the print medium. The printhead pressure adjusting mechanism includes an adjusting knob and an identification pattern. When an adjusting knob is rotated, a pressure of the printhead pressure adjusting mechanism applied to the printhead module is adjusted and the pressure is recognized according to the identification pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Wei, Chen-Yu Lee
  • Patent number: 10265957
    Abstract: In some examples, a print bar includes a body, a plurality of printing fluid dispensing devices mounted to the body, and an assembly to carry a printing fluid to the printing fluid dispensing devices. The assembly comprises a first part having outlets to receive the printing fluid from a first conduit, and a second part attached to the first part, the second part having inlets aligned with the outlets of the first part, the second part to carry the printing fluid to the plurality of printing fluid dispensing devices. The assembly further comprises a pliable gasket comprising first and second flat sealing surfaces sealing the first and second parts around a first inlet of the inlets and a first outlet of the outlets, the first flat sealing surface contacting a ridge on one of the first and second parts, and the second flat sealing surface contacting a flat surface on the other of the first and second parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Rhonda Lynn Wilson, Daniel D. Dowell
  • Patent number: 10265968
    Abstract: A linerless label is printed and separated from a ribbon (7) of the labels by a label printer (1, 1?) having a printing unit (2, 2?), a holder (6) for the linerless label ribbon, a cutting unit (3) and a paper-feeding unit (8, 8?). The paper-feeding unit advances the linerless label ribbon through the printing unit and the cutting unit. The printing unit prints a part of the linerless label ribbon as it is advanced. The printed linerless label (9) is separated from the linerless label ribbon by the closing of at least two blades (4, 5) arranged on the sides of the linerless label ribbon. Afterward, the blades return to an open starting position for a next cutting operation. Before the blades open, the linerless label ribbon is pulled back from the blades, creating a distance (z) between the linerless label ribbon and the blades).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: METTLER-TOLEDO (ALBSTADT) GMBH
    Inventors: Walter Holike, Albert Gerstenecker
  • Patent number: 10259962
    Abstract: There is provided a printed medium manufacturing method for manufacturing a printed medium by performing printing with ink with respect to a permeable medium, which is a recording medium that permeates the ink, the method including an ink attaching process of attaching the ink to the permeable medium, a pigment fixing process of fixing a pigment in the ink to the permeable medium with a binder resin in the ink by heating the ink attached to the permeable medium in the ink attaching process, and a dye color developing process of causing the permeable medium itself to develop color with the dye in the ink by heating the ink attached to the permeable medium in the ink attaching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 10255531
    Abstract: An inkjet printer system that records images in a shorter time while taking ink drying time into account includes an output data generator including an ink information acquirer, a hard-to-dry index acquirer, a first image setter, a first area setter, and a layout arranger. The ink information acquirer acquires, for two or more images, ink information including an amount of ink required to record the images. The hard-to-dry index acquirer acquires, for each of the two or more images, a hard-to-dry index calculated from the ink information and indicating how difficult the ink is to dry. The first image setter sets an image having a highest hard-to-dry index to be a first image. The first area setter sets a first area in a recording area of a recording medium that is upstream in a conveying direction. The layout arranger arranges the first image in the first area earlier than other images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ayako Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10245863
    Abstract: Of at least three drive sources provided inside a printer body, a carriage-driving motor and a transport motor are disposed on one side with respect to a center portion in a width direction that intersects a medium transport direction while a sheet-feed motor is disposed on the other side with respect to the center portion in the width direction. The battery that provides electric power to the three drive sources is disposed such that the center of gravity of the battery is on the other side with respect to the center portion in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masachika Nagase, Hisayuki Akahane, Toshio Miyake, Eiji Taketsugu
  • Patent number: 8011782
    Abstract: An elongate hand-held printer device for printing on a medium when a user moves said device over the medium. The device includes an upper and a lower moulding configured to complementarily receive each other to define a housing, said housing defining an ink ejection slot along, and a printhead module housed in the housing. The module has a plurality of micro-electromechanical ejection devices for operatively ejecting ink via the ink ejection slot. The device also includes an ink supply cartridge housed in the housing, the cartridge for supplying the printhead module with ink, as well as an optical encoder wheel to facilitate regulation of a printing rate of the printhead module as the device is moved along the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8002884
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of ink jet printing a radiation-curable ink from a printer having a de-wetting faceplate onto a substrate in which the ink is such that it has an advancing contact angle on the substrate of no more than 22° and a receding contact angle on the faceplate, after a period of contact of one month, of greater than 28° . The invention also provides a radiation-curable ink for use in an ink jet printer having a de-wetting faceplate, the ink having a receding contact angle on a material having a surface energy in the range of 16 to 20 dyne/cm of greater than 28° after a period of contact of one month and having an advancing contact angle on a substrate having a surface energy of less than 30 dyne/cm of no more than 22°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Sun Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Grant, Stephen Paul Wilson, Hugh Alexander Allen, Nigel Anthony Caiger, Derek Edward Wilson
  • Patent number: 7992959
    Abstract: A printing system including a substrate and a dual-mode printing device, the dual-mode printing device including a permanent writing source and a transient writing source, wherein the permanent writing source is adapted to deposit an imaging material onto the substrate and the transient writing source is adapted to develop an image on the substrate by applying a stimulus to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Edwards, John Thomas Writt