Patents Examined by Lisa M. Solomon
  • Patent number: 9643408
    Abstract: Methods and systems for sequentially quantizing probability density functions for inkjet printing. In an example embodiment, an operation can be implemented to quantize probability density functions associated with larger drops among a plurality of drops provided by an inkjet printer. Non-quantized probability functions associated with remaining ink drops are then modified utilizing an error incurred at each quantization during quantization of the probability density functions associated with the larger drops. Quantizing the probability density functions and modifying the non-quantized probability functions continue until all drop size probability functions associated with the plurality of drops are quantized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Stuart A. Schweid
  • Patent number: 9630410
    Abstract: A thermal inkjet printhead is described. The thermal inkjet printhead comprising a passivation layer and a plurality of bond pads formed over the passivation layer. The thermal inkjet printhead further comprises a plurality of insulating strips formed over the passivation layer. The insulating strips are formed such that two adjacent bond pads are separated by an insulating strip, from among the plurality of insulating strips. Further, each of the plurality of the insulating strips is of a dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Stan E. Leigh, Terry Mcmahon, Tom P. Abdilla
  • Patent number: 9624395
    Abstract: An image recording method including the steps of applying an ink containing a coloring material and anionic resin particles to a recording medium; and applying a liquid composition to the recording medium so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the ink is applied, the liquid composition destabilizing a dispersion state of the coloring material or of the anionic resin particles in the ink. The ink contains a polyamine compound having a group formed by substituting a hydrogen atom of an amino group by a structure represented by —Rnn—H, where R is an alkyleneoxy group including an ethyleneoxy group, and the number of Rs per molecule is 5 or more and 180 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamiko Kaji, Takashi Imai
  • Patent number: 9616659
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a controller for controlling a print execution unit. The print execution unit repeatedly performs ejection processing of ejecting a droplet of color material onto a printing medium. The controller is configured to perform: specifying an estimate value for a target partial image by using color gap information, the target partial image being selected among a plurality of partial images included in an N-th band image; determining whether the estimate value satisfies an estimate condition; determining an ejection execution direction with respect to an N-th ejection processing to be a first direction in response to determination that the estimate value satisfies the estimate condition; and determining the ejection execution direction with respect to the N-th ejection processing to be opposite to the ejection execution direction with respect to an (N?1)-th ejection processing in response to determination that the estimate value does not satisfy the estimate condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Morikawa
  • Patent number: 9610769
    Abstract: An individual electrode formed on an inside surface of a dummy channel, a common electrode formed on an inside surface of a discharge channel, an individual pad formed in a connection groove of an actuator plate, connecting the individual electrodes opposed in an X direction across the discharge channel, and to which an FPC is connected, a shallow groove portion opened toward a rear side on the actuator plate, a common pad formed in the shallow groove portion, and connecting the common electrode and the FPC through the shallow groove portion, and a dividing groove formed in a corner portion made by a surface and a rear-side end surface of the actuator plate, and dividing the common pad from the individual pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SII PRINTEK INC.
    Inventor: Yuzuru Kubota
  • Patent number: 9610764
    Abstract: A printer includes a surface preparatory material remover. The remover is configured with a pad mounted to a roller to engage selectively the surface preparatory material on a surface of a rotating member to remove a portion of the surface preparatory material outside of an area where an ink image is formed to reduce the adhesion of media to the rotating member surface as the media exits a nip in which the ink image is transferred to the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Thayer, Linn C. Hoover, Robert A. Clark
  • Patent number: 9611400
    Abstract: UV-curable ink formulations are provided that are capable of being cured under low-energy conditions, such as with a conventional mercury vapor lamp operating at half or less of the lamp's nominal wattage or using an LED lamp. Methods for forming a printed ink image on a substrate using the ink are also provided, which permit maintenance of relatively high line speeds while consuming less energy due to the use of lower-wattage lamp settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Polymeric Ireland Limited
    Inventor: Donald D. Sloan
  • Patent number: 9604452
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including a controller for controlling a print execution unit. The print execution unit repeatedly performs ejection processing of ejection droplet of color material onto a printing medium. The controller is configured to perform: specifying an estimate value for a target pixel image by using at least one pixel value corresponding to at least one of a plurality of pixels included in target partial data representing the target partial image, the target partial image being selected among a plurality of partial images included in an N-th band image and representing a part of an object; specifying an object type of the object; and determining an ejection execution direction with respect to an N-th ejection processing to be one of a first direction and a second direction according to the estimate value and the object type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Morikawa
  • Patent number: 9604480
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing closure bodies of containers having a transfer device that is associated in input with a feeder of closure bodies to be printed and in output with an unloader of printed closure bodies. The transfer device defines seats for a respective closure body to be printed which are provided with at least one resting region for at least one abutment portion defined on the outer lateral surface of the respective closure body. The seats are mutually spaced at preset distances and movable along a transfer trajectory. The apparatus includes a device for digital printing of the closure bodies to be printed which is arranged along the transfer trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SACMI IMOLA S.C.
    Inventors: Danilo Albonetti, Dario Beltrandi, Gildo Bosi
  • Patent number: 9586421
    Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes a movement unit configured to move a recording medium or a placement part for placing the recording medium thereon; a detection unit configured to continuously detect movement of the recording medium or the placement part; and a control unit configured to control the movement unit and the detection unit. The detection unit includes a gripping unit having a gripping part for gripping the recording medium or the placement part and a detection part for continuously detecting movement of the gripping unit. The gripping unit is configured to move in conjunction with the movement of the recording medium or the placement part by gripping the recording medium or the placement part by the gripping part. The control unit is configured to control the movement of the movement unit on the basis of a detection result by the detection part when the gripping unit is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin Ito, Tomohiro Takano
  • Patent number: 9579896
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus and a liquid ejecting head in which mist does not close an ejection port so as to prevent any degradation of the reliability of ejection. In view of this, a ceiling surface is formed between a mist recovering unit and a gas blowing unit in a mist recovering mechanism, thus forming a recess. Inside of the recess are formed a suction port of the mist recovering unit and a gas blowing port of the gas blowing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Imahashi, Hiroshi Arimizu, Nobuhito Yamaguchi, Arihito Miyakoshi, Yoshinori Itoh, Masahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 9573381
    Abstract: An embodiment of this invention implements both suppression of occurrence of a print failure, and suppression of wasteful ink consumption along with bubble exhaust. Bubble sucking is performed as follows in a printing apparatus including a printhead in which a plurality of orifices are provided for discharging ink, an ink tank for supplying ink to the printhead through an ink channel, and a suction unit configured to suck ink from the orifices. A bubble is injected to the ink channel by using, for example, a pump and hollow needle. After injecting the bubble to the ink channel, the suction unit is operated to suck the injected bubble from the orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kanda, Monta Matsui
  • Patent number: 9566784
    Abstract: An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes a reversible thermal substrate that changes optical density in areas where material drops are ejected onto the substrate. An optical sensor generates image data of the substrate after material drops are ejected onto the substrate and these image data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Victoria L. Warner, James L. Giacobbi, Matthew R. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 9566786
    Abstract: A droplet deposition apparatus, such as an inkjet printhead, that includes an integrally-formed manifold component and one or more actuator components; these actuator components provide an first array of fluid chambers, each of which has a piezoelectric actuator element and a nozzle, with this piezoelectric actuator element being able to cause the release in a deposition direction of fluid droplets through the nozzle in response to electrical signals; the first array of fluid chambers extends in an array direction from a first longitudinal end to a second, opposite longitudinal end, this array direction being perpendicular to the deposition direction; in addition, the manifold component is elongate in the array direction and includes a first and second manifold chambers, with these manifold chambers extending side-by-side in the array direction and the first manifold chamber being fluidically connected to the second manifold chamber via each of the fluid chambers in the first array; the cross-sectional area o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: XAAR TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Colin Brook, Alin Ristea, Michael Walsh, Chris Gosling
  • Patent number: 9566796
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a pump tube that supplies a liquid to a handpiece intermittently ejecting the liquid and a tube pump that passes the pump tube to supply the liquid. An internal diameter of the pump tube is equal to or less than ? 1.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Miyamoto, Sosuke Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 9566780
    Abstract: A method for treating a hydrophobic release layer of an intermediate transfer member for use in a printing process in which a negatively charged aqueous inkjet ink is jetted onto the surface of this layer. The method comprises contacting the release layer with a chemical agent which is an amine functionalized silicone. Transfer members comprising such a treated release layer and images printed therefrom are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: LANDA CORPORATION LTD.
    Inventors: Benzion Landa, Meir Soria, Sagi Abramovich
  • Patent number: 9550386
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a discharging unit that includes a nozzle row that discharges a liquid, and that is able to reciprocate in a first direction that intersects the nozzle row; a transport unit that transports a medium in a second direction that intersects the first direction; and a reading unit that reads the liquid discharged from the discharging unit to the medium. The liquid discharging apparatus is configured to execute an adjustment pattern forming operation for forming a first adjustment pattern for adjusting a landing position of the liquid discharged from the discharging unit in the first direction and a second adjustment pattern for adjusting the landing position of the liquid discharged from the discharging unit in the second direction on the medium, and an adjustment pattern reading operation for reading the first and second adjustment pattern with the reading unit according to a single command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Coporation
    Inventor: So Yokota
  • Patent number: 9550380
    Abstract: A device for processing media may include a system and method for loading and unloading consumable supplies of a media processing device, and more particularly, a system and method for providing a compact form factor media processing device which provides convenient access to the replaceable components of the media processing device. A media processing device may include a base and a lid hingedly attached to the base, moveable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position. A cavity may be defined between the lid and the base, where the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position. The media processing device may include a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Petrica Dorinel Balcan, Randal Wong Mun Hon, Kuan-Ying Lu
  • Patent number: 9550898
    Abstract: An inkjet printing method includes the steps of jetting ink dots on a substrate of a plurality- of radiation curable inkjet inks having a viscosity of no more than 50 mPa·s at 25° C. and a shear rate of 90 s?1, the plurality of radiation curable inkjet inks including a) at least one non-polymerizable, non-polymeric bisacylphosphine oxide present in a concentration of no more than 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: AGFA GRAPHICS NV
    Inventors: Johan Loccufier, Roel De Mondt
  • Patent number: 9546292
    Abstract: An inkjet ink for improving printhead lifetimes includes: an aqueous-based ink vehicle; a colorant; an anti-kogation additive; and an anti-corrosion additive having at least one acetylenic group, the acetylenic group being absent any tertiary or quaternary ?-carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: David Tyvoll, Simon Fielder, Michele Gimona, Christopher Barton, Jognandan Prashar, Michele Shepard, Iain Blake, Richard Myors, Luke Grassy