Patents Examined by Leslie J. Evanisko
  • Patent number: 11691448
    Abstract: A bidirectional ribbon supply system for a printer includes: a shaft supported by a frame of the printer, the shaft to rotate about an axis; a pulley affixed to the shaft; and a bias member coupled between the frame and the pulley to apply a force to the pulley in either of a first or second direction responsive to rotation of the pulley in the other of the first or second direction, wherein rotation of a spindle supported on the shaft in the first direction dispenses inside-coated ribbon toward a printhead, and rotation of the spindle in the second direction dispenses outside-coated ribbon toward the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Lanigan
  • Patent number: 11691412
    Abstract: A transport device includes a transport belt having a support surface configured to support a medium, and configured to transport the medium supported by the support surface, a cleaning roller including an absorbent member configured to absorb cleaning liquid, and configured to clean the support surface as the absorbent member comes into contact with the support surface, a supply unit configured to supply the cleaning liquid to the cleaning roller, and a spray unit configured to spray gas to the support surface cleaned by the cleaning roller. The spray unit is configured to spray the gas to the cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Sato, Yoshihisa Horikawa
  • Patent number: 11691444
    Abstract: A supply device for a roll medium includes a drawer-type lower holding unit configured to support a shaft of a roll medium to hold the roll medium, and a guide member configured to be pressed in a direction toward the shaft from below to come into contact with the roll medium held by the lower holding unit, and be displaced in accordance with a change in an outer diameter of the roll medium. In addition, the lower holding unit is configured to be drawn from a main body of the supply device in a first direction. When the lower holding unit, in a drawn-out state, is stored in the main body of the supply unit, the guide member comes into contact with the roll medium. The guide member is caused to be retracted downward from a travel path of the lower holding unit against a force pressing upward from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Murata, Keiichi Yato
  • Patent number: 11685149
    Abstract: A printing plate pressure adjustment system for a can decorator including a printing plate cylinder assembly having a printing plate cylinder drive shaft, and a blanket wheel. The system includes an actuator, a control system structured to control operation of the actuator to adjust a pressure between the printing plate cylinder assembly and the blanket wheel, an eccentric bushing disposed around the printing plate cylinder drive shaft, wherein rotation of the eccentric bushing causes the printing plate cylinder to move toward or away from the blanket wheel, and a drive mechanism coupled between the actuator and the eccentric bushing, wherein operation of the actuator causes the drive mechanism to rotate the eccentric bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventors: Bryon Lee Kajfosz, David Matthew Sebesta, Karl Scott Fleischer
  • Patent number: 11685176
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a housing that houses a recording unit that performs recording on the medium transported by a transport unit, a cutting unit that is disposed downstream of the recording unit and that cuts the medium, a discharge unit that is disposed downstream of the cutting unit and that discharges the medium, a storage unit that is disposed below the cutting unit and that is configured to store cutting waste of the medium, and a receiving unit that is disposed downstream of the discharge unit and that has a receiving surface configured to receive the medium discharged from the discharge unit, wherein the storage unit and the receiving unit are integrated, and the integrated storage unit and receiving unit are configured to be detachable from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keishi Sawada
  • Patent number: 11679612
    Abstract: A method and system for printing multiple-color at multiple positions on a golf ball is disclosed herein. A printing station of the system and method is capable of printing as many as twenty different colors in a single cycle. The printing station preferably has a four stamping stations, four curing stations and four reorientation stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventor: Maeve Moylan
  • Patent number: 11679606
    Abstract: There is provided with printing apparatus. A printing unit prints an image on a printing medium and is able to move. A cutter unit is able to connect with or separate from the printing unit, and, by following a movement of the printing unit, cuts the printing medium. A control unit, in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied after the printing medium is cut by the cutter unit, causes the printing unit to perform printing on a succeeding printing medium, while moving the printing unit in a state in which the cutter unit is connected with the printing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromasa Yoneyama, Yasuyuki Asai, Ryohei Maruyama, Itaru Wada, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Tomohito Abe, Tsutomu Obata, Noriyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 11660854
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous printing apparatus using a vacuum suction roller, and it is to provide a continuous printing apparatus and method using a vacuum suction roller capable of reducing costs and improving productivity by continuously printing on the surface of a woven fabric using the vacuum suction roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: DUKSUNG CO., LTD
    Inventors: Sung Jin Kim, Young Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 11642896
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a plant (1) for printing a fibrous material (T). The printing plant (1) comprises: a station (14) for supplying a fibrous material configured for supplying the fibrous material along a predetermined operative path, a treating station (10) configured for treating the fibrous material with a treatment composition by applying the composition itself on a first side (T1) of the fibrous material (T); and a printing station (6) configured for ink-printing at least part of a second side (T2) of the fibrous material (T) opposite to the first side (T1). Moreover, the present invention refers to a process of printing a fibrous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Dover Europe Sàrl
    Inventor: Luigi Milini
  • Patent number: 11633965
    Abstract: A printer includes a first accommodating portion, a supply roller, a recording device, a cutter configured to cut a recording medium into a first recording medium and a second recording medium, a second accommodating portion, a third accommodating portion that accommodates an unrecorded second recording medium that is the second recording medium on which an image has not been recorded by the recording device, and a switcher. The third accommodating portion is movable between a first position at which the third accommodating portion receives the unrecorded second recording medium cut by the cutter and a second position at which the unrecorded second recording medium accommodated in the third accommodating portion is in contact with the supply roller. The supply roller is configured to supply the unrecorded second recording medium accommodated in the third accommodating portion that is positioned at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11607877
    Abstract: A printing device includes a cleaning head configured to contact a cleaning member with the screen mask to perform a cleaning process on the screen mask, a moving section connectable and disconnectable to the cleaning head to move the cleaning head between a cleaning area and a standby area, a door member configured to open and close an opening portion through which the cleaning member passes when the cleaning member is moved from the standby area to an outside of the printing device and be lockable in a closed state, and a control section configured to unlock the door member in a state where the moving section is disconnected to the cleaning head and the cleaning head is located in the standby area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshimune Yokoi
  • Patent number: 11602929
    Abstract: A mounting unit, or printing system including a mounting unit, for mounting printing plate segments on a carrier sheet. The mounting unit includes a base for receiving the carrier sheet, at least two cameras, a controller for positioning the cameras relative to the base, and a computer connected to the controller and cameras. The computer is configured to receive a mounting file including a printing plate segment identifier, information regarding alignment of registration marks relative to the carrier sheet; and image data corresponding to a characteristic pattern associated with each printing plate segment. The unit is configured to display a composite image depicting the image data corresponding to the characteristic patterns in a predetermined arrangement of printing plate segment locations and orientations overlaid on an image of the carrier sheet from one of the at least two cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventors: Joachim Scheele, Nils Kay
  • Patent number: 11597201
    Abstract: A method and device change printing plates on a cylinder. The method includes opening a first clamping device and releasing a leading edge of a first printing plate and opening a second clamping device and releasing a trailing edge of the first printing plate. The first and second clamping devices are both opened before a first rotation process of a cylinder. The cylinder is rotated during the first rotation process in a first direction to dismount the first printing plate from a circumferential surface of the cylinder. The cylinder is rotated in a second rotation process in an opposite second direction to mount a second printing plate replacing the first printing plate to the circumferential surface of the cylinder. Because the first clamping device and the second clamping device are both opened before the first rotation of the cylinder, the set-up period required for a printing plate change is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Rolf Kuendgen, Rudi Stellberger, Dirk Schoenmann
  • Patent number: 11590595
    Abstract: A paste dispensing transfer system of a stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The transfer system includes a paste cartridge mechanism coupled to a print head assembly of the stencil printer, and a rotary indexing mechanism coupled to a frame of the stencil printer. The paste dispensing transfer system is configured to transfer a used paste cartridge from the print head assembly to the rotary indexing mechanism supported by the frame and to transfer a new paste cartridge from the rotary indexing mechanism to the print head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James Lynch, William A. Losiewicz, Kenneth J. King, Patsy A. Mattero, Blake T. Monjar
  • Patent number: 11577502
    Abstract: A printing device for printing substrates, such as circuit boards, wafers, or solar cells, has at least one movably mounted printing unit with a working surface on which the substrate to be printed can be placed. The printing unit is paired with a transport belt device, which has a supply roller with a transport belt wound thereon, a collection roller for winding up the transport belt, and two deflecting surfaces, in particular deflecting rollers, which are paired with the working surface. The transport belt is guided by the supply roller over one deflecting surface and onto the working surface in order to form a contact surface for the substrates, and by the working surface over the other deflecting surface to the collection roller. The deflecting surfaces can be moved together with the respective printing unit. The supply and collection rollers are held on the printing device in a stationary manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: EKRA AUTOMATISIERUNGSSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventor: Hubert Reinisch
  • Patent number: 11577534
    Abstract: Provided is a production method of a sheet member, including a process of forming, by printing, a phosphorescent layer containing a phosphorescent material on a surface of a sheet-shaped substrate with a transmissive property, and a process of forming a reflection layer, by printing, including a reflective material to reflect light on a surface of at least either one of the substrate or the phosphorescent layer in such a manner that the reflection layer overlaps at least a part of the phosphorescent layer in a thickness direction of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Takahiko Tsurumaki
  • Patent number: 11565516
    Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of measuring the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is measured by using phase shifted monochromic light to produce optical path differences through the fountain solution film. The intensity of the reflected light through the fountain solution film is very sensitive due to the phase shifted light so interference fringes are easier to delineate and fountain solution thickness measurement more reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. McConville, Chu-heng Liu, Jason M. LeFevre, Seemit Praharaj, Douglas K. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 11565515
    Abstract: A method of screen printing positionally synchronizes a plurality of pallet assemblies on a first screen printing machine with a plurality of pallet assemblies on a second screen printing machine. A screen printed garment having a properly aligned first image received from the first screen printing machine is transferred on a portion of one of the pallet assemblies on the first screen printing machine to one of the plurality of pallet assemblies on the second printing machine. The properly aligned first image on the garment is in proper positional alignment with a screen printing head on the second screen printing machine such that a second image complimentary to the first image is printed on the garment in proper position on the garment relative to the first image without user intervention to positionally locate the first image relative to the screen printing head on the second machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: M&R Printing Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Hoffman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11559979
    Abstract: A pad printing machine (1) to print an object (8) in at least two stages, said machine comprising at least one printing pad (6) to print said object and at least two printing plate zones (10) within each of which a printing plate (14) may be moved into the desired position, the pad printing machine furthermore comprising an image recorder (44) generating an image of at least a partial area of at least one printing plate zone (10), and a comparator (46) to compare the image generated by said recorder (44) with reference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ITW MORLOCK GMBH
    Inventor: Udo Vogt
  • Patent number: 11559978
    Abstract: A printing system for rotary screen printing includes a screen-printing cylinder having flexible surface elements. The flexible surface elements give way upon contact with sheet grippers projecting from an impression cylinder, so that it is not necessary to move the screen-printing cylinder out to avoid contact with the sheet grippers. A screen-printing cylinder, a method for producing a screen-printing cylinder, a printing machine and a method for using a screen-printing cylinder, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Gallus Ferd. Rüesch AG
    Inventors: Heinz Brocker, Roland Greutmann, Hans-Rudolf Frick