Patents Examined by Leslie J. Grohusky
  • Patent number: 6178885
    Abstract: An ink vessel-containing stamp pad having an ink pad saturated with ink, the main body having ink storage area which stores an ink vessel, a cap which covers said ink pad and is freely placeable on and removable from said main body, said ink vessel stored in said ink storage area and a bottom plug covering the exterior of said ink storage area which stores said ink vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Tsukineko, Inc.
    Inventor: Rira Yasoshima
  • Patent number: 6176185
    Abstract: A method for marking a side of a straight-sided chip with a decoration by pad printing. The method comprises providing an ink plate with an image defined by radially deformed representation of the decoration of the straight side of the chip in a ring-shaped zone, moving a pad coaxially into contact with the ink plate such that the image transfers to the pad, and moving the pad coaxially into contact with the chip such that the image transfers to the side of the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Etablissements Bourgogne et Grasset
    Inventors: G{acute over (e)}rard Charlier, Eric Philippe, Michel Tollhupp
  • Patent number: 6170944
    Abstract: An ink jet printing process for improving the water-fastness of an ink jet image comprising: a) providing an ink jet recording element comprising a support having thereon an image-recording layer comprising a cross-linkable gelatin and a mordant, b) applying liquid ink droplets of an anionic, water-soluble dye on the image-recording layer in an image-wise manner, and c) submerging the element in an aqueous solution of a hardener to cross-link the gelatin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Romano, Jr., Elizabeth A. Gallo
  • Patent number: 6167807
    Abstract: A fluid medium containing article for use in transferring an image onto a second article is provided. The fluid medium containing article includes a base and a fluid medium retaining pad positioned on the base. The base is generally in the shape of a terminal portion of a human extremity, such as a hand. A fluid medium is disposed on the pad. The user presses a hand onto the surface of the fluid retaining medium pad to form a thin layer of fluid medium on the surface of the hand and then presses the hand against a second object to transfer an image of the hand to the second article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Inventor: Michael Maggio
  • Patent number: 6164205
    Abstract: A device for actuating a tensioning device for fastening flexible packings to printing-unit cylinders of rotary printing machines, the actuating device having a tensioning shaft for accommodating respective ends of flexible packings, for clamping at least one end of the flexible packings, and an actuating mechanism arranged outside the printing-unit cylinder for activating the tensioning shaft, includes an actuating element passing through a cylinder journal of the printing-unit cylinder and being displaceable axially relative to the cylinder journal, and a transmission element via which the displacement of the actuating element is convertible into a rotational movement of an attachment to the tensioning shaft; and a printing unit and a printing-unit cylinder having the actuating device, as well as a method of operating a tensioning device for fastening flexible packings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Jacques Metrope
  • Patent number: 6164204
    Abstract: A recording drum has a clamp groove extending in its circumferential direction formed on its outer peripheral surface. A plurality of front end clamps are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum. Rear end clamps are attached so as to be movable and so as to be fixable along the clamp groove on the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum. A recording head is disposed ahead of the recording drum, and a clamp driving device is disposed behind the recording drum. The clamp driving device comprises a first driving device for fixing the front end clamps and fixing and releasing the rear end clamps and a second driving device for releasing the front end clamps. The front end clamps and the rear end clamps reliably fix a front end and a rear end of a plate to the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum by a reaction force produced by a spring and a centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the recording drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Kawada, Shiro Kitawaki, Tadaaki Tani, Arifumi Omoto, Kazuma Kan
  • Patent number: 6161972
    Abstract: The invention provides an ink ribbon cartridge which ensures proper, reliable mounting of an ink ribbon. The ink ribbon cartridge of the invention includes a pair of spools, an ink ribbon including a band-like sheet wound around the pair of spools and provided with a layer of ink formed on one surface thereof, four spindles which have disk-shaped sections at one end and can be placed, for a specific length in both ends of the pair of spools, and a cover covering the pair of spools around which the sheet is wound and having four round holes in which the disk-shaped sections of each of the spindles are loosely fitted. In one of the four ends of the pair of spools, only the other end of a specific one of the four spindles can be inserted for a specific length, and one of the four round holes formed in the cover is formed such that only the disk-shaped section on one side of the specific spindle can be loosely fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Kameyama, Hiroaki Yazawa
  • Patent number: 6161477
    Abstract: In a web anti-wrap device for a web printing press, anti-wrap means is disposed between printing cylinders and a processing device which is positioned downstream of the printing cylinders in the printing press, to prevent a broken web from wrapping around the printing cylinders. Guide means is provided for guiding the anti-wrap means for movement between a first position in which the anti-wrap means fulfills the function to prevent the broken web from wrapping, and a second position in which the anti-wrap means is moved away from the first position to create a working space between the anti-wrap means and the printing cylinders or between the anti-wrap means and the processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Baldwin-Japan Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Hara, Kazuteru Kawazoe
  • Patent number: 6161929
    Abstract: A method of improving the durability of an ink jet ink image comprising the steps of: a) providing an ink jet ink receiving layer containing acetoacetylated poly(vinylalcohol); b) depositing pigment-based ink jet ink to form an image on the gelatin-containing ink receiving layer; and c) applying to the image formed in step b) a solution comprising a hardener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David Erdtmann, Charles E. Romano, Thomas W. Martin
  • Patent number: 6158341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for transferring a conductive picture (12) to an irregular surface of a mobile phone casing (4) for shielding the mobile phone casing from electromagnetic radiation. It also relates to the printing colour used for the conductive picture and tampon pads (5) used for the transferring of the conductive printing colour to the phone casing (4). Conductive partial pictures (7) are printed on the irregular surface of the casing (4) step by step by means of tampon pads until the complete conductive picture (12) is achieved. The tampon pad has a shape corresponding to the surface of the phone casing. The printing colour has a composition, which facilitates the adhering on the tampon pad. The invention also describes a method for printing an electrical circuit pattern on a phone casing (4) by using the above mentioned tampon pads and printing colour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Per Holmberg
  • Patent number: 6152631
    Abstract: An automatic paper sensing apparatus for an ink jet printer which can supply and print sheets of paper can automatically subsequently sense the existence of paper when a message indicating the absence of paper is generated. A first arm is fixed to the actuator feed in the direction of a separator, a second arm is mounted rotatably around a hinge axis at one side of the separator moved by an adjustable lever so as to interlock slidably with the first arm, the second arm being supported elastically by a tension coil spring fixed at one side thereof to the separator, one side of the actuator feed can be attached and detached to and from an optical sensor by means of the interlocking of the first and second arms. When the actuator feed and the separator are provided with an arm which is slidably interlocked with each other, the automatic sensing apparatus can automatically sense the subsequent existence of paper in order to facilitate convenient use of the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Chae Park
  • Patent number: 6152627
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a plurality of keyswitches each having a keytop movable up and down, wherein the angle of the keytop varies depending on whether the keytop is in an initial position or in a pressed position. In this structure, the keytop moves in a direction corresponding to the motion of an operator's finger and thus smooth operations can be achieved, as opposed to a conventional keyboard device in which a keytop moves vertically while maintaining itself horizontal and thus the motion of the keytop occurs in a direction different from the motion of an operator's finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Watanabe, Tsuyoshi Narusawa, Yoshirou Koutaka, Kunio Hosono
  • Patent number: 6152030
    Abstract: A drying/curing apparatus for a rotary screen printing machine includes a carriage supporting a flash curing unit. The curing unit has a height or thickness that is less than the gap between the workpiece platen of the printing machine and the printing screen. The drying apparatus includes a structure attached to a print station of the printing machine that is configured to permit reciprocation of the curing unit across a substrate supported on the workpiece platen after an ink layer has been applied to the substrate and the platen has been retracted from the print screen. The curing unit includes a plurality of heat generating elements, such as high power quartz lamps, that are directed toward the ink layer on the substrate. The curing unit includes an insulator plate disposed between the curing lamps and the printing screen of the printing machine when the curing unit travels across the workpiece platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Rick Lee Fuqua
  • Patent number: 6152033
    Abstract: A method of printing electrode and electronic circuit patterns. A metal frit containing part is transferred from an intaglio recessed imaging pattern to a suitable substrate. The frit pattern is preferrably cured during deposition to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Bernard Eid, Ronald E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6148723
    Abstract: A process of fabricating weather resistant signage by screen printing indicia on a UV-treated impregnated polyester protective film using a Cellosolve acetate-based ink. The resulting sign is extremely resistant to solar UV, thus preserving the indicia brightness and clarity for a very long period of time even under the most extreme conditions. The screen printing process of the preferred embodiment comprises the steps of first preparing a film image, then preparing a fabric mesh ranging from 125 to 230 mesh for black and white images and ranging from 355 to 425 mesh for halftone color images. The fabric mesh is attached to a stencil and the film image is attached to the stencil. The combination is placed into a vacuum frame for exposure to high intensity light, after which the stencil is washed with pressurized water, dried by fan, taped and touched up for pinholes or other blemishes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventors: Roland E. Pemberton, Kirk Pemberton
  • Patent number: 6142621
    Abstract: An ink jet printing process for improving the water-fastness of an ink jet image comprising:a) providing an ink jet recording element comprising a support having thereon an image-recording layer comprising a cross-linkable polymer of acetoacetylated poly(vinyl alcohol) and a mordant,b) applying liquid ink droplets of an anionic, water-soluble dye on the image-recording layer in an image-wise manner, andc) submerging the element in an aqueous solution of a hardener to cross-link the binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Romano, Jr., Elizabeth A. Gallo
  • Patent number: 6142071
    Abstract: A re-useable stencil kit made of a semi-rigid panel material for the application of painted address characters and a decorative painted background on a street curb. A base decorative background stencil (10) having an elongated opening featuring a decorative shape (12, 28) at the right and left sides of the opening. Address characters formed in separate, character stencil cards (18) featuring one address character (20) each, are arranged within the cavity of the opening in the background stencil along with blank spacer cards (22, 24, 26) to form the desired address. The spacer cards fill in void space on either side of, and center the character stencil cards, simultaneously masking the painted background. The stencils and spacers fit closely together to prevent paint over spray and to provide accurate character alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventor: Don P. Fexer
  • Patent number: 6135025
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for cleaning a fluid substance from an application device with substance supply channels, and, if required, for cleaning a screen that surrounds the application device. The substance to be removed from the application device and, if required, from the screen, or a mixture of the substance and a cleaning fluid are forced away through the supply channels for the substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: Johannes Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6135023
    Abstract: A stencil printing machine includes a printing drum having a flexible ink-permeable circumferential wall adapted to receive a perforated stencil sheet around an outer circumferential surface thereof, the printing drum being rotated around a central axis thereof; a squeegee roller having an axis and situated inside the printing drum to be parallel to the central axis of the printing drum, the squeegee roller being rotated around the axis in synchronization with rotation of the printing drum with an outer circumferential surface thereof contacting an inner circumferential surface of the printing drum; a pair of bearing members attached to end portions of the axis of the squeegee roller for rotationally supporting the axis; a doctor roller having an axis and situated parallel to the squeegee roller at a predetermined distance away from the outer circumferential surface of the squeegee roller; a pair of adjusting screws situated perpendicular to the axis of the squeegee roller and fixed to the pair of bearing mem
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Sato
  • Patent number: 6135657
    Abstract: A compact ribbon cassette for dispensing and storing a ribbon or tape. The supply and take-up rolls of ribbon or tape are disposed upon a common rotatable shaft mounted for rotation within the housing. A unique chevron disposed adjacent the take-up roll and on the post-printing portion of the cassette causes the dispensed ribbon to reverse direction and change level and to be presented for storage upon the take-up roll. The ribbon cassette also includes a partition disposed between the supply and take-up rolls for preventing ink particles in the take-up portion of the housing from migrating and thereby contaminating the printing ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Axiohm Transaction Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip M. Martinez, Scott J. Longrod