Patents Examined by Lamson Nguyen
  • Treated object modifying apparatus, printing apparatus, printing system, and method for manufacturing printout
    Patent number: 9566802
    Abstract: A treated object modifying apparatus includes a plasma-treating unit that includes a first electrode unit, a second electrode unit, and a dielectric that is interposed between the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit, and that plasma-treats a treated object positioned between the first electrode unit and the dielectric; and a controlling unit that controls the plasma-treating unit so that the amount of plasma energy delivered to any one of sides of the treated object in a duplex treatment that are performed with the one side of the treated object facing the first electrode unit and with the other side of the treated object facing the first electrode unit is different from the amount of plasma energy delivered to any one of the sides of the treated object in a simplex treatment that is performed with the one side of the treated object facing the first electrode unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Tsubaki, Satoshi Katoh
  • Inkjet printer
    Patent number: 9566797
    Abstract: An inkjet printer inkjet printer includes an inkjet head having a nozzle surface, a first tank for storing ink to be supplied to the inkjet head, a second tank for receiving ink that is not consumed by the inkjet head, an ink circulation path, a third tank directly or indirectly connected with a path from the second tank to the first tank on the ink circulation path, and a hermetic sealer for making the first and second tanks in a hermetically-sealed state. In a waiting mode in which ink is not circulated, the first and second tank is made in the hermetically-sealed state by the hermetic sealer and the third tank is made in an atmospherically-released state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nishiyama, Naoto Tsujino
  • Liquid cartridge
    Patent number: 9561661
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber with a liquid outlet configured to supply the liquid from an interior of the chamber to an exterior of the liquid chamber. A body is positioned in the chamber and is movable between a first position wherein movement of the body is restricted, and a second position wherein the body is movable along a movement path between the first and second positions. The body has a plurality of sides. A detector is positioned in the chamber and is movable in response to movement of the body between the first and second positions. The body defines a plurality openings that extend into the body through at least two sides of the body. A plurality of resist surfaces are formed by the plurality of openings, and the resist surfaces are configured to resist movement of the body between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kosuke Nukui
  • Ink-jet printer
    Patent number: 9561656
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet printer including an ink-jet head, a conveyance section, and a controller. The ink-jet head includes a plurality of nozzle groups. Between the plurality of nozzle groups, the nozzles forming the nozzle groups are positioned in conformity with each other, respectively, in a second direction. The controller causes the conveyance section to convey the recording medium between a first pass and a second pass such that the respective nozzle groups have partly overlapped scanning areas, and causes the ink-jet head to print separately between the first pass and the second pass in the second direction. The controller sets usable bordering positions in the overlapping range with respect to the passes. The controller sets the usable bordering positions based on one of such conditions as a duty of printing on the recording medium and a type of the nozzle groups to be used in printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunari Matsuura
  • System and method for ejecting adjustable amounts of ink
    Patent number: 9555640
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inkjet printing system including calculating a pigment concentration of ink ejected by the inkjet printhead relative to an initial pigment concentration of the ink based on a determined height of ink in an ink reservoir and a determined period of time since a last printhead activation. A firing pattern for the inkjet printhead is determined based on the determined height, the determined period of time and the calculated relative pigment concentration to account for settling of ink stored in the ink reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Oi
  • Method of controlling discharge of printed sheets as sheet bundle, sheet discharge control apparatus, and storage medium
    Patent number: 9555651
    Abstract: A method of controlling discharge of printed sheets, which makes it possible to acquire a desired number of printed sheets as a sheet bundle. A controller determines whether or not printed sheets are stored in the stacker. The controller detects the number of printed sheets stored in the stacker. A controller causes the stored printed sheets to be discharged from the stacker as a sheet bundle when the number of printed sheets stored in the stacker is equal to a desired sheet count set by a user. In a case where the set desired sheet count has been changed, if it is determined that the printed sheets are stored in the stacker, the controller causes the printed sheets stored in the sheet discharge unit to be discharged from the stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Wakana
  • Aqueous ink, ink cartridge, ink drying system, ink drying method, recording apparatus, and recording method
    Patent number: 9550902
    Abstract: An aqueous ink contains a colorant, an aqueous solvent, and as an infrared absorber, a compound represented by general formula (I): where Rb, Rc, and Rd are each independently alkyl, and Ra is a group represented by general formula (I-R): where Re is hydrogen or methyl, and e is an integer of 0 to 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Sakamoto, Kazuhiko Hirokawa, Takashi Kikuchi, Takahiro Ishizuka, Suguru Nakaso
  • Method of generating print data for inkjet printhead
    Patent number: 9545787
    Abstract: A method of generating print data for an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink planes. The method includes the steps of: receiving image data for a print job in a printer controller; retrieving keep-wet pattern data for each ink plane of the printhead, the retrieved keep-wet pattern data being determined using one or more input parameters; generating first print data for each ink plane in the printer controller based on the received image data; merging the first print data with the keep-wet pattern data to provide second print data for each ink plane; and sending the second print data from the printer controller to the printhead, thereby causing the printhead to print an image together with a keep-wet pattern. The keep-wet pattern is defined by a plurality of dots printed at a frequency sufficient to maintain hydration of each nozzle in the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: Julie Hogan, Angus North, Philip Palma, John Sheahan, Brian Brown, David Keeshan, Rodney Hardy, Peter Allworth, Colin Pickup, Caitriona Forbes, Kieran Roughan, William Jacob
  • Printing on a media web
    Patent number: 9539829
    Abstract: According to an example, printing on a media web may include outputting a first instruction to print a first frame on the media web. A first encoder count of an encoder may be determined between a first alignment mark and an end of frame for the first frame. Additionally, a second encoder count of the encoder may be determined between the first alignment mark for the first frame and a second alignment mark for a second frame. A difference value may then be calculated between the first encoder count and the second encoder count. Based on the difference value, a scaling factor of the encoder may be determined. Accordingly, another instruction may be output to print another frame on the media web based on the scaling factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Stephens, David C. Collins
  • Liquid ejection apparatus, print method, and print system
    Patent number: 9539807
    Abstract: Banding has been prone to take place as regards black ink. Nozzle columns for color inks are arranged side by side in a direction in which a medium is conveyed, and are allocated to each color, and an amount of the medium equivalent to the length of the nozzle columns of each of the colors among the nozzle columns for the color inks is fed, to print on a forward path and return path from the nozzle columns for the color inks. As such, by repeatedly printing 100% of the total number of dots on every single scan for the color inks, the corresponding print region is covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akito Sato, Naoki Sudo
  • Inkjet printhead assembly including slotted shield plate
    Patent number: 9539819
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes: a plurality of printhead segments arranged in two parallel rows in a staggered overlapping arrangement; and a slotted shield plate positioned relative to the printhead segments. Each of the printhead segments is exposed through the slotted shield plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Mernjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Inkjet recording apparatus with tank and method therefor including notification features
    Patent number: 9533512
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a tank forming an ink chamber and including an injection inlet, a recording head, a cover, a monitor, a cover sensor, an operation panel, and a controller. The controller controls operation of the recording head and the monitor. The controller performs decision processing deciding whether ink injection into the ink chamber after complement of an initial process is completed, and counts an amount of ink discharged from the recording head. The controller controls the monitor to display notification depending on the decision processing and the counted amount of discharged ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Matsui, Kenta Horade, Mana Honoki, Tomoya Oguchi
  • Droplet ejecting apparatus
    Patent number: 9527287
    Abstract: A droplet ejecting apparatus includes a droplet ejecting unit provided with ejecting ports capable of ejecting a solution onto a medium as droplets; a cap portion which performs capping in which a region to which the ejecting ports are open is set to a closed space; a gas supply portion capable of supplying a humidified gas to the closed space; and a liquid supply portion capable of supplying a liquid for humidifying the closed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Matsumoto, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Droplet driving control device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 9522533
    Abstract: A droplet driving control device includes: a droplet ejection control unit which ejects droplets at requested droplet ejection periods; and an adjustment unit which adjusts control of the droplet ejection control unit using at least continuous two of the droplet ejection periods as one set based on an error of droplet speed with respect to a proper value thereof, so that droplets can be ejected at different droplet ejection periods within a range of the one set, and an average value of the droplet ejection periods within the range of the one set for ejecting the droplets can be equal to each of the requested droplet ejection periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Seto, Hirotake Sasaki
  • Liquid discharge apparatus and control method of liquid discharge apparatus
    Patent number: 9522531
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a piezoelectric element in which a drive signal is applied and which is displaced to eject a liquid; a zeroth wire of a zeroth potential; a first wire of a first potential that is higher than the zeroth potential; a second wire of a second potential that is higher than the first potential; and a connection path selecting section that electrically connects one end of the piezoelectric element to the zeroth wire, the first wire, or the second wire in response to a voltage of a source drive signal that controls the voltage of the drive signal and a hold voltage of the piezoelectric element. Here, a first potential difference from the zeroth potential to the first potential is different from a second potential difference from the first potential to the second potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Otsuka, Tadashi Kiyuna, Toshifumi Asanuma
  • Maintenance method of liquid ejecting apparatus
    Patent number: 9522541
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising a liquid ejection head that ejects a liquid via nozzles; a first passage that communicates with the liquid ejection head, the first passage being configured to supply the liquid to the liquid ejection head; a second passage that communicates with the first passage in the liquid ejection head, the second passage forming, in cooperation with the first passage, a circulation passage; and a liquid driving unit provided in the circulation passage, the liquid driving unit being configured to move the liquid in the circulation passage when driven. The liquid is moved, by the driven liquid driving unit, at a first flow rate that maintains a meniscus of the liquid inside the nozzles after the liquid is moved at a second flow rate that is faster than the first flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideya Yokouchi, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Sheet conveyance apparatus, printing apparatus, control method for sheet conveyance apparatus, and computer readable storage medium
    Patent number: 9522553
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a convey unit, an obtaining unit, a determining unit, and a control unit. The convey unit conveys sheets. The obtaining unit obtains attribute information about sheets used in a job. The determining unit determines a first interval and a second interval. The first interval is an interval between sheets that are conveyed by the convey unit in a case where the attribute information about the sheets obtained by the obtaining unit is first attribute information. The second interval is an interval between sheets that are conveyed by the convey unit in a case where the attribute information about the sheets obtained by the obtaining unit is second attribute information that is different from the first attribute information. The control unit performs control to make the convey unit convey sheets at the interval between sheets determined by the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shinagawa
  • Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method
    Patent number: 9522550
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes (A) a carriage that moves a nozzle ejecting a liquid which is cured by irradiation of an electromagnetic wave in a moving direction, (B) a first irradiation section that is installed on the carriage and irradiates electromagnetic waves on dots formed by landing the liquid which is ejected from the moving nozzle, on a medium, and (C) a second irradiation section that is installed on the carriage and irradiates electromagnetic waves on the dots which are irradiated by the electromagnetic waves from the first irradiation section, in which an irradiance level of the electromagnetic waves from the second irradiation section is different from that of the electromagnetic waves from the first irradiation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toyohiko Mitsuzawa
  • Printing device and printing method
    Patent number: 9517620
    Abstract: A printing device is provided and includes: a head unit and a controller. The head unit performs a main scan operation corresponding to each of a predetermined N-number of printing passes (N is an integer of three or greater) on a same area of a medium in a multi-pass mode, and the controller sets a density of printing to be performed in a k-number of last printing passes (k is an integer which is equal to or greater than 1 and is less than N), so as to be lower than a density of printing to be performed in the (N?k)-th printing pass, and sets a density of printing to be performed by a plurality of individual nozzles of the nozzle row of the head unit for ejecting ink drops in the (N?k+1)-th printing pass, so as to gradually decrease toward a head rear end side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Okajima, Eiichi Ohara, Junki Kasahara
  • Print head die with thermal control
    Patent number: 9511584
    Abstract: A print head die with thermal control is described. In an example, a print head die includes a substrate having liquid feed slots formed therein extending along a major dimension of the substrate and nozzles extending along opposite sides of each of the liquid feed slots; a temperature sensor formed on the substrate adjacent to a first one of the liquid feed slots; and electrical interconnect formed on the substrate along the major dimension adjacent to a last one of the liquid feed slots farthest from the first liquid feed slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Garrett E. Clark, Chris Bakker, Mark H. MacKenzie, Glenn D. McCloy