Patents Examined by Shelby l Fidler
  • Patent number: 11123988
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a nozzle substrate in which a nozzle that ejects a liquid is formed and a flow path substrate that is joined to the nozzle substrate. The flow path substrate includes a pressure chamber that communicates with the nozzle and a first liquid storage chamber that stores the liquid to be supplied to the pressure chamber. The nozzle substrate includes a first damper chamber and one or more first hole portions which communicate with the first liquid storage chamber and the first damper chamber and in which a meniscus for absorbing a pressure fluctuation of the liquid in the first liquid storage chamber is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 11123981
    Abstract: Fluid ejection devices with multiple activation modes are disclosed. An example printhead assembly includes a fluid ejection nozzle, a first resistor fluidically coupled to the fluid ejection nozzle, and a second resistor fluidically coupled to the fluid ejection nozzle. The example printhead also includes an addressing circuit to receive a nozzle address and an activation mode to activate the fluid ejection nozzle. The activation mode determines which of the first resistor and the second resistor are to be energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric T. Martin, Chris Bakker
  • Patent number: 11117386
    Abstract: An inlet seal, an outlet seal, and a piston are connected to a shaft. The inlet seal seals an ink inlet of an ink reservoir. The outlet seal seals an ink outlet of the ink reservoir. Also, the piston is within a cylinder. The inlet seal, the outlet seal, and the piston all move with the shaft. A biasing member contacts the piston to bias the piston in a first direction. Pressurized air simultaneously provided to the cylinder and to the ink reservoir biases the piston in a second direction, opposite the first direction, and pressurizes ink within the ink reservoir. Moving the shaft in the first direction does not seal the ink inlet but does seal the ink outlet. Moving the shaft in the second direction seals the ink inlet but does not seal the ink outlet, thus allowing the pressurized ink out from the ink reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory A. Ludgate, Timothy G. Shelhart, Michael J. Severn, Richard P. Ficarra, Dale T. Platteter, Victoria L. Warner
  • Patent number: 11117764
    Abstract: A vacuum roller system and a method of operating the vacuum roller system can include a group of vacuum rollers operable to move a sheet of media through a dryer. The vacuum rollers do not require a vacuum to be drawn between the vacuum rollers. Each vacuum roller can include a plenum operable to direct the vacuum to a top portion of the vacuum roller to drive the sheet of media from one roller to the next roller. The plenum can engage vacuum holes in a rotating vacuum roller when the vacuum holes in the vacuum roller are aligned with the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K. Herrmann, Seemit Praharaj, Michael J. Levy, Jason M. Lefevre, Paul McConville, Chu-Heng Liu, Linn C. Hoover, David A. VanKouwenberg
  • Patent number: 11110715
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion having a nozzle ejecting a liquid onto a medium, a liquid storage portion that stores the liquid, a supply flow path through which the liquid storage portion communicates with the liquid ejecting portion, an opening/closing mechanism having an opening/closing portion bringing the supply flow path into an open state or a closed state and an operation portion operating the opening/closing portion, a carriage mounted with the liquid ejecting portion and the opening/closing mechanism and configured to reciprocate in a main scanning direction, a contact portion that comes in contact with the opening/closing mechanism when the carriage moves while the supply flow path is in the closed state, and a detection portion that detects contact between the opening/closing mechanism and the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Tojo
  • Patent number: 11110709
    Abstract: A system for cleaning and treating a printhead includes (a) a movable carriage having affixed to a base of the movable carriage a cleaning blade and an absorptive pad, (b) a low vapor pressure organic solvent, the low vapor pressure organic solvent is deliverable to the absorptive pad via a pump, the low vapor pressure organic solvent has a vapor pressure lower than water and (c) a carriage moving mechanism that moves the carriage so that the cleaning blade and the absorptive pad pass over the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael J. Levy, Seemit Praharaj, Jason M. LeFevre, Linn C. Hoover, Paul J. McConville, Chu-heng Liu, Douglas K. Herrmann, David A. Vankouwenberg
  • Patent number: 11104132
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle substrate and a cover member. The nozzle substrate includes a liquid discharge surface, a plurality of nozzles, and a continuous recess. The plurality of nozzles is arranged in a nozzle arrangement area on the liquid discharge surface and configured to discharge liquid from the liquid discharge surface. The continuous recess surrounds the nozzle arrangement area on the liquid discharge surface. The cover member is joined to the nozzle substrate with the nozzle arrangement area being exposed. The nozzle arrangement area has a liquid repellency with respect to the liquid. An inside of the recess is lyophilic to the liquid and is provided with an adhesive, and the nozzle substrate is joined to the cover member with the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yohsuke Kobayashi, Kaname Morita, Kenshiroh Munetomo, Yoshihide Niisato
  • Patent number: 11104151
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus generates dot data for printing an image on a printing medium by using dots of different sizes formed by a plurality of nozzles ejecting ink. The image processing apparatus includes a first acquisition unit that acquires dot data specifying printing or non-printing of each of the dots of a plurality of sizes for each pixel, a specification unit that specifies a dot having a strong possibility of being pulled by a dot having landed earlier on the printing medium of dots in the dot data, and a correction unit that corrects a dot specified by the specification unit in the dot data. The image processing apparatus can output an image whose banding is unlikely to be recognized by suppressing image defect due to a change of dots accompanying liquid droplet interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Ochiai, Hisashi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11104128
    Abstract: First and second individual flow paths coupling a first common liquid chamber to a second common liquid chamber are arranged side by side, and each individual flow path is provided with first and second pressure chambers. At least a part of the first individual flow path is provided in a space overlapping a region between the adjacent second pressure chambers when viewed in a Z axis direction, the space not overlapping the second pressure chamber when viewed in a Y axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuma Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 11104152
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus is provided with a head including a plurality of nozzle groups, a main scanning portion that scans the head in a main scanning direction, a sub-scanning portion that relatively moves the head and the medium in a sub-scanning direction, which intersects the main scanning direction, and a control portion, in which the control portion acquires a possible printing Duty of a predetermined nozzle group on the basis of a number of occurrences of non-discharging nozzles in the predetermined nozzle group, compares a set printing Duty that the predetermined nozzle group is to print among an overall printing Duty, and the possible printing Duty. and supplements a printing Duty with another nozzle group in a case in which the possible printing Duty is smaller than the set printing Duty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eishin Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 11097540
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a base plate and at least two device chips in which ejection ports for ejecting a liquid are formed and which are disposed on the base plate. At least one first reference mark is provided on the base plate. A second reference mark is provided on each of the device chips. At least one space is formed between adjacent device chips. The second reference marks and the first reference mark present in the space are disposed on an array axis along which the device chips are arrayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Asai, Koji Sasaki, Jun Yamamuro, Shingo Nagata
  • Patent number: 11090927
    Abstract: A driving circuit generating a driving signal, includes a modulator generating a modulated signal by performing pulse modulation on a signal specifying a waveform of the driving signal, an amplifier generating an amplified signal by amplifying the modulated signal, and a smoothing section generating the driving signal by smoothing the amplified signal. The amplifier includes first and second transistors coupled in series between a voltage line to which a voltage which is higher than a ground voltage is supplied and a grounding conductor to which the ground voltage is supplied, and a third transistor having a drain electrode coupled to a gate electrode of the second transistor and a source electrode coupled to the grounding conductor. The first and second transistors are exclusively set to an On state in accordance with the modulated signal, and the amplified signal is output from a node which couples the first and second transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dai Nozawa
  • Patent number: 11090947
    Abstract: An inkjet printing machine on slabs that includes a support for supporting a slab; a locking and centring group configured to contact the slab temporarily locking and centring it on the support; and a printing device provided with at least one inkjet printing head that is mobile with respect to the support along a sliding direction and spaced from it, wherein the printing head is configured to release a decoration on a surface of the slab resting on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: KERAGLASS INDUSTRIES S.R.L.
    Inventor: Stefano Spezzani
  • Patent number: 11077688
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a plurality of pressure generating elements configured to generate pressure to discharge a liquid, a plurality of wirings configured to transmit a drive signal to the plurality of pressure generating elements, respectively, a plurality of integrated circuits configured to drive the plurality of pressure generating elements, respectively, the plurality of integrated circuits being provided on the plurality of wirings, respectively, and a heat sink configured to contact the plurality of integrated circuits to dissipate heat in the plurality of integrated circuits. The heat sink includes a first dissipation part that directly contacts one of the plurality of integrated circuits, and a second dissipating part that contacts another of the plurality of integrated circuits via one of the plurality of wirings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Iwama, Shiomi Andou, Satoru Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11065877
    Abstract: A drying device for drying a recording medium includes a medium guide part that guides the recording medium; a heating body that heats the medium guide part; a cover that is arranged opposing the medium guide part such that the medium carrying path intervenes between the cover and the medium guide part and an air flow path is formed with the medium guide part and the cover; a fan that generates an air flow; and (e) a duct that is configured to discharge the air in the air flow path together with a vapor generated as the recording medium is heated, wherein an air intake port that takes the air in the air flow path into the duct is formed on the downstream side of the flow direction with resect to the heating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11052670
    Abstract: A liquid circulation device includes a circulation path, a liquid feeding device, and circuitry. The circulation path is configured to circulate a liquid to be supplied to a liquid discharge head of a circulatory type and collected from the liquid discharge head. The liquid feeding device is configured to feed the liquid to circulate the liquid in the circulation path. The circuitry is configured to control an amount of the liquid to be fed by the liquid feeding device, on a basis of discharge information about the liquid to be discharged from the liquid discharge head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Mori
  • Patent number: 11052662
    Abstract: Inkjet printhead cleaning methods and systems control an articulation structure (that is connected to a wiper blade) to move the wiper blade to contact an inkjet printhead to wipe the inkjet printhead. These methods/systems further control the articulation structure to move the wiper blade to contact a blade cleaning structure to clean the wiper blade. The blade cleaning structure comprises a fluid manifold and bundles of fibers mounted in brush openings of the fluid manifold, and cleaning fluid is in the fluid manifold. The mounting ends of the bundles of fibers are mounted in the brush openings of the fluid manifold and the cleaning ends of the bundles of fibers are positioned to contact the wiper blade. The blade cleaning structure is positioned so as to gravity feed the cleaning fluid from the mounting ends of the fibers to the cleaning ends of the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Ficarra, Victoria L. Warner, Richard A. Kalb, Douglas A. Gutberlet
  • Patent number: 11046537
    Abstract: A controlling method for an image forming apparatus which has plural sheet containers and can perform printing by using a sheet contained in the sheet container is provided. When there is no sheet in at least one of the sheet containers, it is set whether to perform a notification in consideration of another sheet container. No sheet in the sheet container is detected. When it is not set to perform the notification in consideration of another sheet container, it notifies notification information of no sheet to a preset notification destination in accordance with the detection. When it is set to perform the notification in consideration of another sheet container and there is another sheet container containing a sheet corresponding to the sheet which should be contained in the sheet container in which there is no sheet, it does not notify the notification information in accordance with the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke Aizono
  • Patent number: 11046082
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a plurality of nozzles to discharge liquid, a plurality of individual liquid chambers communicating with the plurality of nozzles, respectively, a common liquid chamber to supply the liquid to the plurality of individual liquid chambers, and a liquid supply member including a liquid supply channel to supply the liquid to the common liquid chamber. The liquid supply member includes a first member including a part of the liquid supply channel, a second member including a gas chamber, and an elastic member disposed between the first member and the second member and forming a wall of the liquid supply channel of the first member and a wall of the gas chamber of the second member. The gas chamber of the second member is disposed opposite the liquid supply channel of the first member via the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masataka Yoshiike
  • Patent number: 11040529
    Abstract: A liquid-ejecting-apparatus includes a nozzle that ejects liquid with a viscosity of 50 mPa·s or higher; a pressure-chamber communicating with the nozzle; a pressure-change-portion that changes a pressure of the liquid in the pressure-chamber; and a controller that controls the pressure-change-portion. The controller executes first control of decreasing the pressure of the liquid in the pressure-chamber, hence pulling a center portion of a meniscus toward the pressure-chamber, and forming a liquid-membrane with the liquid at an inner-wall-surface of the nozzle; and second control of, in a state in which the liquid-membrane is formed at the inner-wall-surface of the nozzle, increasing the pressure of the liquid in the pressure-chamber, hence inverting a shape of the center portion of the meniscus to a protruding shape protruding toward an opening of the nozzle and forming a liquid-column, and further, ejecting the liquid-column so as not to contact the liquid membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventor: Keigo Sugai