Patents Examined by Lisa Solomon
  • Head chip, liquid jet head, liquid jet recording device, and method of manufacturing head chip
    Patent number: 11654683
    Abstract: There are provided a head chip, a liquid jet head, a liquid jet recording device, and a method of manufacturing the head chip each capable of preventing the short circuit of electrodes by ink to maintain an excellent ejection performance over a long period of time. The head chip according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an actuator plate, a cover plate, and an intermediate plate. In the actuator plate, open apertures which communicate an inside and an outside of a non-ejection channel with each other are formed in both end portions of the non-ejection channel in a Y direction. In the actuator plate, open apertures which communicate an inside and an outside of a non-ejection channel with each other are formed in both end portions of the non-ejection channel in the Y direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SII PRINTEK INC
    Inventors: Yuzuru Kubota, Satoshi Horiguchi, Tomoaki Hoshi
  • Unsupported top hat layers in printhead dies
    Patent number: 11648773
    Abstract: In example implementations, a printhead die is provided. The printhead die includes a substrate, a chamber layer formed on the substrate, a plurality of printing fluid ejection chambers coupled to opposite sides of the chamber layer and along a length of the chamber layer, and a top hat layer formed on the chamber layer and the plurality of printing fluid ejection chambers. The chamber layer includes a void to store printing fluid. The top hat layer includes an initial unsupported top hat layer portion over the void, wherein the initial unsupported top hat layer portion comprises a first end that is narrower than a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Vincent C. Korthuis, Huyen Pham, Tsuyoshi Yamashita
  • Liquid coating apparatus
    Patent number: 11648775
    Abstract: A liquid coating apparatus includes a liquid chamber, a diaphragm deformable to change a volume of the liquid chamber, a piezoelectric element that deforms the diaphragm in a thickness direction, a pressurized casing bottom-wall portion between the piezoelectric element and the diaphragm to support the piezoelectric element from a diaphragm side, a fixed casing bottom wall portion that supports an end of the piezoelectric element on a side opposite to the diaphragm, a plunger that extends through the pressurized casing bottom-wall portion and transmits expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element to the diaphragm, and a coil spring that is between the piezoelectric element and the pressurized casing bottom-wall portion and is supported by the first support portion to apply a compressive force to the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: HEISHIN LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Maeda, Masaji Nakatani, Akira Ishitani, Yasushi Nakamura, Akihiro Nishimura
  • Methods of fabricating micro-valves and jetting assemblies including such micro-valves
    Patent number: 11639057
    Abstract: A method of constructing a micro-valve includes providing a substrate for an actuating beam of the micro-valve, the substrate including a first surface and a second surface. The method also includes forming a plurality of constituent layers on the first surface of the actuating beam, including a layer of piezoelectric material. The method also includes removing a portion of the substrate from at least one of the first surface or the second surface to define a cantilevered portion of the actuating beam. The method also includes providing an orifice plate including an orifice. The method also includes providing a valve seat on a surface of the orifice plate, the valve seat having an opening aligned with the orifice. The method also includes attaching the surface of the orifice plate to the second surface via an adhesive such that an overlapping portion of the cantilevered portion overlaps the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Matthews International Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Buskirk, Steven E. Flego, Charles C. Haluzak, John Whitlock, Eric R. Miller, Glenn J. T. Leighton
  • Liquid-consuming apparatus
    Patent number: 11633955
    Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber which stores a liquid, an inlet formed in a surface of the tank, and an outlet through which the liquid from the liquid storage chamber flows; a cap which is movable between a first position and a second position; a cover which is movable relative to the tank between a closed position and an open position; and a holding member which is connected to the cap and which holds the cap at the second position. The cap at the second position or the holding member is configured to obstruct a movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus
    Patent number: 11628669
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a head body configured to discharge a liquid, a head cover on the head body, a head cover covering at least a part of the head body, the head cover disposed outside the head body; a liquid supply port on an upper surface of the head cover, the liquid supply port configured to supply the liquid to the head body, an electrical connection on a side surface of the head cover. The head cover includes a protruding part protruding from the upper surface of the head cover, the protruding part is on a side end of the upper surface of the head cover adjacent to the side surface of the head cover on which the electrical connection is disposed, and the protruding part is higher than another part of the upper surface of the head cover with respect to a lower end surface of the head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yoshida, Takashi Kinokuni
  • Substrate, liquid ejection head, and method of manufacturing substrate
    Patent number: 11623442
    Abstract: In a substrate, a first flow channel opened in a first surface of a silicon base material having a crystal orientation of <110>, and a second flow channel opened in a second surface of the silicon base material opposite the first surface are formed to communicate with each other. The second flow channel has an opening width narrower than an opening width of the first flow channel, and a groove portion shallower than a depth of the second flow channel is formed close to the opening of the second flow channel in a region that is inside the opening of the first flow channel and outside the opening of the second flow channel in the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsunori Toshishige
  • Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing method using the same
    Patent number: 11618257
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes: a passage plate in which a head chamber is disposed; and a plurality of nozzle plates disposed below the passage plate, the plurality of nozzle plates comprising a nozzle that is in fluid connection with the head chamber. The plurality of nozzle plates are stacked on each other, and the nozzle of the plurality of nozzle plates comprises a plurality of through holes passing through the plurality of nozzle plates and overlapping each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seon Uk Lee, Kang Soo Han, Che Ho Lim, Don Chan Cho, Hak Bum Choi
  • Liquid ejection module
    Patent number: 11607882
    Abstract: A liquid ejection module includes a pressure chamber, a supply flow channel that supplies a liquid to the pressure chamber, a collection flow channel that collects the liquid from the pressure chamber, a liquid feeding chamber connected to one of the supply flow channel and the collection flow channel, and a connection flow channel connecting the liquid feeding chamber to the other of the supply flow channel and the collection flow channel. The liquid feeding chamber includes a liquid feeding mechanism that circulates the liquid in the supply flow channel, the pressure chamber, the collection flow channel, the liquid feeding chamber, and the connection flow channel. A ratio of a sum of flow channel resistance of the supply flow channel, the pressure chamber, and the collection flow channel relative to flow channel resistance of the connection flow channel is equal to or above 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Nakakubo, Akihisa Iio, Rei Kurashima, Takahiro Akiyama, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Digital printing system
    Patent number: 11607878
    Abstract: A printing system for printing on a substrate, comprises a movable intermediate transfer member in the form of a flexible, substantially inextensible, belt guided to follow a closed path, an image forming station for depositing droplets of a liquid ink onto an outer surface of the belt to form an ink image, a drying station for drying the ink image on the belt to leave an ink residue film on the outer surface of the belt, first and second impression stations spaced from one another in the direction of movement of the belt, each impression station comprising an impression cylinder for supporting and transporting the substrate and a pressure cylinder carrying a compressible blanket for urging the belt against the substrate supported on the impression cylinder, and a transport system for transporting the substrate from the first impression station to the second impression station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventors: Aharon Shmaiser, Benzion Landa, Sagi Moskovich, Nir Zarmi, Yehuda Solomon
  • Fluid ejection polymeric recirculation channel
    Patent number: 11597204
    Abstract: A fluid ejection assembly may include a fluid ejection die comprising a back face and a front face through which fluid is ejected. The fluid ejection die may further include a fan-out fluid passages converging towards the back face of the fluid ejection die, the fan-out fluid passages comprising a first fan-out fluid passage and a second fan-out fluid passage and a recirculation channel extending within a polymeric material from the first fan-out fluid passage to the second fan-out fluid passage adjacent the back face of the fluid ejection die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Chen, Michael W. Cumbie, Si-Iam J. Choy
  • Printing apparatus and correction method therefor
    Patent number: 11590784
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printhead having a plurality of chips, each including a plurality of nozzle arrays which are arranged in a predetermined nozzle array direction and each of which is formed from a plurality of nozzles and energy generation elements provided in correspondence with the nozzles of each nozzle array and each configured to generate energy used for discharging ink. The apparatus relatively moves the printhead and a print medium in a direction intersecting the nozzle array direction, reads a predetermined test pattern printed on the print medium by driving the printhead, analyzes the read test pattern, calculates a slant of the printhead with respect to a reference based on a result of the analysis, and corrects the calculated slant of the printhead by moving the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Murayama, Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Daisuke Ishii
  • Liquid ejection head and method for manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 11584127
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head has at least a structure including an ejection orifice forming member having an ejection orifice for ejecting a liquid and a flow path communicating with the ejection orifice and a flow path forming substrate having a liquid introduction flow path communicating with the flow path and supplying the liquid, and includes: a first titanium oxide film with a pure water contact angle of 40° or less; and a second titanium oxide film with a pure water contact angle of 70° or more, wherein the first titanium oxide film covers the structure including inner walls of the flow path and the liquid introduction flow path and is exposed in the flow path and the liquid introduction flow path, and the second titanium oxide film has a portion covering the first titanium oxide film in a vicinity of an opening end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taichi Yonemoto
  • Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus
    Patent number: 11577511
    Abstract: The piezoelectric material has, when viewed in the stacking direction, a first region including a border between an end of the active portion and the non-active portion in an extending direction of the individual electrode, the piezoelectric material has a second region different from the first region, and the piezoelectric material in the first region is thicker than the piezoelectric material in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Yamazaki
  • Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge apparatus, liquid discharge module, and manufacturing method for liquid discharge head
    Patent number: 11571890
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a substrate, a pressure chamber through which a first liquid and a second liquid flow while being in contact with each other, a pressure generating element configured to pressurize the first liquid, and a discharge port configured to discharge the second liquid. The substrate has a first channel and a second channel that each extend through the substrate. The first channel is used to supply the first liquid to the pressure chamber. The second channel is used to supply the second liquid to the pressure chamber. A viscosity of the second liquid is greater than a viscosity of the first liquid. An average cross-section area of the second channel is greater than an average cross-section area of the first channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Kishikawa
  • Manifold length in a printhead
    Patent number: 11571892
    Abstract: Printheads and manifolds within printheads. In one embodiment, a method comprises determining a resonant frequency of jetting channels for a printhead, and selecting a target length for a manifold fluidly coupled to the jetting channels such that resonant frequencies of the manifold differ from the resonant frequency of the jetting channels by a threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishimura, Giang Vo, Cesar Hurtado
  • Customization of multichannel printhead
    Patent number: 11571896
    Abstract: A method of forming a print head, by forming a heater chip. Via zones having peripheries are defined on a substrate, with heaters formed along the entire peripheries of the via zones. Traces that electrically connect to each of the heaters are formed. In some embodiments, the heater chip is then stored for a period of time. After storing the heater chip, vias are formed in only a selected portion of the via zones, which is a subset of the via zones. A channel layer is formed on the heater chip by forming a first layer on the heater chip. Flow channels are formed in the first layer from the vias to only those heaters on the heater chip that are disposed along the selected portion of the via zones. Bubble chambers are formed in the first layer around only those heaters on the heater chip that are disposed along the selected portion of the via zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventors: Michael A. Marra, III, Sean T. Weaver
  • Control apparatus for printing apparatus, printing method, and storage medium
    Patent number: 11571886
    Abstract: A printing apparatus prints an image by applying ink to a print surface of an inclined print medium using a print head. A control apparatus for the printing apparatus acquires information on an inclination of the print surface. Based on the information, printing is controlled according to a print condition corresponding to a magnitude of the inclination of the print surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Sumi
  • Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
    Patent number: 11571893
    Abstract: In this liquid ejecting head, the pressure chamber extends in a second direction crossing a first direction, the first direction being a direction from the pressure chamber to the nozzle. The pressure chamber and the absorbing chamber are disposed at a same position in the first direction and next to each other in the second direction. The actuator is disposed on an opposite side in the first direction with respect to the pressure chamber. The absorption member is disposed on the opposite side in the first direction with respect to the absorbing chamber, the absorption member including at least part of members constituting the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Takabe, Shohei Mizuta, Yu Shiozawa
  • Liquid discharge head
    Patent number: 11571891
    Abstract: A recording head includes a pressure chamber and a piezoelectric actuator configured to change a volume of the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric actuator includes a vibration plate forming one wall surface of the pressure chamber, a lower electrode formed on the vibration plate, a piezoelectric body formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the piezoelectric body and the vibration plate. When viewed from a ±Z direction orthogonal to the vibration plate, the lower electrode and the piezoelectric body do not overlap a central portion of the pressure chamber, when viewed from the ±Z direction, the lower electrode, the piezoelectric body, and the upper electrode overlap an end portion of the pressure chamber, and when viewed from the ±Z direction, the upper electrode overlaps the central portion of the pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventors: Harunobu Koike, Koji Sumi, Masao Nakayama