Patents Examined by Matthew Marini
  • Patent number: 7523704
    Abstract: An offset lithography printing press and method wherein dampening structure applies a thin moisture layer directly to a blanket cylinder to facilitate separation between the blanket cylinder and paper or other printable sheet material when passing through a nip between the blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Inventor: Julius Domotor
  • Patent number: 7377705
    Abstract: A printing device, including: a mechanical energy storage mechanism for storing mechanical energy; and a mechanical energy application mechanism for carrying a sheet and/or printing on the sheet, using the mechanical energy stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Karaki, Shoichi Nagao
  • Patent number: 7379700
    Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes a feeding roller for feeding a document, a reading unit for reading images of the document fed by the feeding roller and a substantially U-shaped document transfer path for guiding the document fed the feeding roller. The substantially U-shaped document transfer path is constituted by an internal guide and an external guide. The external guide is separated from the internal guide by rotating the external guide. The internal guide is rotatably disposed and supports the reading means. A reading transfer path in which the reading unit is arranged is opened by rotating the internal guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hyoe Iwata
  • Patent number: 7376382
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that uses a stackless ADU and executes image formation on both sides of a paper sheet in a facedown mode, a CPU confirms, when double-side image formation is to be executed with two paper sheets, image formation on reverse surfaces of which is finished, being stayed in the ADU, whether monochromatic image formation or color image formation is to be executed on an obverse surface of a first paper sheet that is stayed in the ADU and has a reverse surface on which image formation is finished. When the color image formation is to be executed, the CPU controls the image formation on the obverse surface of the first paper sheet that is stayed in the ADU and has the reverse surface on which image formation is finished. When the monochromatic image formation is to be executed, the CPU controls the image formation on a reverse surface of a second paper sheet that is stayed in the ADU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kyoichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 7354214
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a chassis, a feed roller, and a press roller. The chassis includes first and side surfaces, a bottom surface that connects the first and second side surfaces, and a curved part formed unitarily with the bottom surface. The curved part has a feed roller bearing support portion. The feed roller is rotatably supported between the first and second side surfaces via feed roller support bearings for conveying paper. The feed roller bearing support portion of the curved part supports one of the feed roller support bearings. The press roller is rotatably supported between the first and second side surfaces for pressing on the feed roller. The feed roller has a paper conveying portion that has a plurality of projecting portions. A widthwise center of the paper conveying portion substantially matches with a widthwise center between the pair of feed roller bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Sawai
  • Patent number: 7344324
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes the print unit pivotably supported by the chassis, and the pivoting member rotatably supported by the support rod. The print unit has arm portions and the print head element. One of the arm portions has a downward facing portion. The pivoting member has a first side part configured to receive driving force from the motor in first and second rotational directions, and a second side part relatively unrotatably coupled to the first side part. The first side part is integrally provided with a lifting projection, which is configured to engage the downward facing portion of the print unit from below and move the print unit in a direction away from the platen roller while the pivoting member is pivoted in the first rotational direction. It is possible to reduce the number of members for moving the print unit away from the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Sawai
  • Patent number: 7331728
    Abstract: A printer includes a print head for printing on a print medium and a platen which supports the print medium, and is located opposite to the print head. The print head is linearly moved along the print medium. The platen includes first and second end portions and an intermediate portion, and is formed of material having stiffness. The first and second end portions are located at respective ends of the platen in the moving direction of the print head, and the intermediate portion is located between the first and second end portions. The first and second end portions are supported by respective spring members, such that they can be elastically displaced in a direction toward or away from the print head. The intermediate portion is formed to be more easily warped than the first and second end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sanada, Kiyotaka Nihashi
  • Patent number: 7325989
    Abstract: A paper supply apparatus provided with a support component, a slit plate and a rotation force transmission component. The support component freely rotatably supports a winding core around which roll paper is wound. The slit plate rotates integrally or interlockingly with the support component, and causes pulses to be generated at a sensor. The rotation force transmission component transmits a rotation force of the support component to the slit plate. At the rotation force transmission component, predetermined free play in a direction of rotation of the slit plate is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiji Itoh
  • Patent number: 7322760
    Abstract: An antijamming device for a printed ticket vending machine having an exit opening for exiting of a printed ticket and a control for controlling feeding of unprinted tickets to a printing mechanism for printing tickets, having a pathway through which printed tickets pass from the printing mechanism to the exit opening, and a sensor in the pathway for sensing when an occlusion occurs at the exit opening to prevent bunching of the printed tickets at the exit opening and stopping feeding of printed tickets to the exit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Custom Engineering Spa
    Inventor: Alberto Campanini
  • Patent number: 7322761
    Abstract: A spool, such as supply for a wide-format printer, is provided. The spool comprises a spindle for slidingly receiving an outer shaft, which is typically the core of a roll of print media. A first resiliently deformable gripping ring is circumferentially mounted about the spindle, and a compression mechanism is provided for axially compressing the gripping ring. The axial compression causes radial expansion of the gripping ring, thereby urging the gripping ring into gripping engagement with the outer shaft received on the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Nagesh Ramachandra, Jan Waszczuk
  • Patent number: 7322762
    Abstract: A tape-like object feeding device in accordance with the present invention comprises a feeding mechanism 7 for feeding a tape-like object toward an outlet and a cutting mechanism 8 for cutting the tape-like object fed by the feeding mechanism. An ejection roller 62 is placed at a position on the outlet 9 side of the cutting mechanism 8. The ejection roller 62 ejects the tape-like object cut off by the cutting mechanism 8 through the outlet by revolving while making contact with the tape-like object. The feeding device further comprises control means which controls at least one of revolving speed, revolving time and revolving timing of the ejection roller 62 in the ejection of the tape-like object depending on at least one selected from the type of the tape-like object, the thickness of the tape-like object, the width of the tape-like object and a feeding length of the tape-like object by the feeding mechanism 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Murata, Kazuyoshi Minaminaka, Shigeki Kato, Toshihiro Takahashi, Shin Manabe
  • Patent number: 7320283
    Abstract: Patterns of nanometer and micrometer dimensions are printed on a substrate by first forming a solution or suspension of a liquid and a printing material and then applying a layer of the solution or suspension to the substrate. Then, without applying pressure, a stamp provided with relief patterns is positioned at a distance of 0 nm to 500 ?m from the substrate with the relief patterns in contact with the layer of the solution or suspension. The liquid is then evaporated from the solution or suspension from between the substrate and the stamp so as to draw the suspension or solution by capillarity to the relief patterns and deposit the material on the substrate in accordance with the relief patterns of the stamp. Thereafter the stamp is separated from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche
    Inventors: Massimiliano Cavallini, Fabio Biscarini
  • Patent number: 7319842
    Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying apparatus capable of enhancing an accuracy of correcting a skew of a sheet, and of preventing position shift of a sheet. The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet by a sheet conveying unit disposed along a sheet conveying path, including: a skew detection sensor for detecting a skew of the sheet with respect to a sheet conveying direction by a plurality of detection sensors disposed in a direction intersecting perpendicularly the sheet conveying direction; and a skew correction roller adapted to be pivotally moved in a direction of correction of a skew of the sheet in a state with the skewed sheet being held on the basis of a detection signal from the skew detection sensor, in which one of the plurality of detection sensors of the skew detection sensor is disposed nearly on an extension line from a pivotal movement center of the skew correction roller in the sheet conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriaki Koyanagi, Takeshi Suga
  • Patent number: 7309179
    Abstract: A media advancing device for a hardcopy apparatus comprising: a platen having at least one slot and a top surface, whereby a medium advances on the top surface; and a plurality of openings connecting the top surface to at least one zone of negative pressure; and a revolving overdrive roller having an outer surface, the outer surface emerging above the top surface through the slot, the overdrive roller being substantially sealed in a housing below the top surface, the housing separating the overdrive roller from the zone of negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jose Miguel Toran, Xavier Gros, Raimon Castells
  • Patent number: 7306387
    Abstract: A tape printer includes a holder support member at one side end in a roll sheet holder storage part in a direction substantially perpendicular to a feeding direction. In the holder support member, a mounting piece which is substantially rectangular in section and formed protruding outward on a positioning holding member of a roll sheet holder is fitted. The tape printer further includes a flat portion formed substantially horizontally between a rear edge of an insertion opening through which a roll sheet is inserted into the tape printer. On the flat portion, a front portion of a guide member is placed. At a rear edge of the flat portion in the feeding direction, at plural positions corresponding to various kinds of the roll sheets having different widths, there are formed four second positioning grooves in which part of the guide member is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sugimoro, Keiji Seo, Akira Sago, Atsushi Kasugai
  • Patent number: 7296519
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transferring a pattern from a stamping surface (31) of a stamp (30) to a receiving surface (21) of a substrate (20). The pattern is transferred to the receiving surface (21) by successively bringing portions of the pattern within such a range of the receiving surface (21) during a certain period, that the pattern is locally transferred from the stamping surface (31) to the receiving surface (21). The individual portions can be moved by means of individual actuators (50). By applying the method, the transfer of the pattern can be performed according to a wave, which is for example ring-shaped, moving from the center of the receiving surface (21) to the circumference, or linear, moving from side of the receiving surface (21) to an opposite side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Marinus Josephus Jakobus Dona, Martin Hillebrand Blees, Michel Marcel Jose Decre, Patrick Petrus Johannes Van Eerd, Richard Joseph Marinus Schroeders, Teunis Johannes Antonius Heijmans, Christiaan Leonard Jozef Janssen, Peter Jan Slikkerveer
  • Patent number: 7290952
    Abstract: The invention provides the recording apparatus, which has excellent operability of drawing and retracting the sheet discharge tray and excellent design in accommodating the sheet discharge tray and includes a sheet discharge mechanism having an advantage for miniaturization and improvement of performance of the recording apparatus. A tray accommodation portion which slidably accommodates a sheet discharge unit including a plurality of sheet discharge trays and an opening portion which is opened and closed by a cover member are provided in an exterior of the apparatus. The drawn sheet discharge tray is retained on a backside of the cover member retained at a predetermined opening angle. Stepwise grooves having difference of elevation for sliding guide protrusions provided in the sheet discharge tray unit are formed on both sides of the tray accommodation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Kagami
  • Patent number: 7287921
    Abstract: A key array for a keyboard is provided having an input key section including a plurality of input keys. Each input key has a left key part, a central key part, and a right key part. A left control key is positioned on a left side of the input key section so as to convert a mode of the keyboard into a right key input mode so that the right key part is operated when a user presses the key input section. A right control key is positioned on a right side of the input key section so as to convert the mode of the keyboard into a left key input mode so that the left key part is operated when the user presses the key input section. A shift key section including two shift keys is aligned on both sides of the keyboard adjacent to the left and right control keys in order to attain additional functions of the keyboard when the shift keys are pressed simultaneously with the input key section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gwang-Woo Choe, Kyung-Ho Oh, Heui-Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 7284921
    Abstract: A mobile device including: a printhead for printing onto a print medium, the print medium including coded data; a media path for directing the print medium past the printhead for printing; an optical sensor; a first optical pathway for directing optical image information to the sensor to enable it to read at least some of the coded data from the print medium while at least some of the print medium is within the media path; and a second optical pathway for directing optical image information to the sensor to enable it to read coded data from the print medium when the print medium is not in the media path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7281870
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage for reciprocal movement while carrying a recording head for effecting recording by ejecting ink; a platen for supporting recording material at a position opposed to the recording head; a changing member for changing a distance between the recording head and the platen; a detecting member, provided on the carriage, for detecting recording positional deviation by reading a pattern recorded on a recording material by the recording head; a member to be detected that is movable with an operation of the changing member; and a discriminating unit for discriminating a distance between the recording head and the platen by detecting a state of the member to be detected by the detecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kota Uchida