Patents Examined by Stephen Meier
-
Patent number: 9266346Abstract: An ink color mixing in an inkjet printing head can be securely detected without being influenced by foreign matters such as the existence of dust and without requiring a complicated image processing. To realize this, the occurrence of a color mixing is detected when a printing density-changed part of a printed image of an inspection pattern continuously extends over a predetermined range or more in a direction in which the printing head is moved relative to the printing medium during the printing of the inspection pattern.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tetsuro Yasukawa
-
Patent number: 9259936Abstract: A circuit board holder holding a circuit board which is not fixed to a liquid container containing an ink and stores information relating to the ink includes a support portion configured to have an inclined surface supporting the circuit board. The circuit board supported by the support portion is inclined to a horizontal direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takeshi Iwamuro, Hidetoshi Kodama
-
Patent number: 9254654Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a nozzles plate including a plurality of nozzles to discharge droplets; a channel plate including a plurality of individual liquid chambers disposed in a row and connected to the plurality of nozzles; a wall-forming member to form a wall of the individual liquid chambers; a plurality of dummy individual channels disposed on the channel plate along a nozzle alignment direction outside lateral ends of the row of individual liquid chambers; and partitions between the dummy individual channels. A width of the partitions between the dummy individual channels along the nozzle alignment direction increases away from the individual liquid chambers.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Takahiro Yoshida
-
Patent number: 9254687Abstract: The invention is intended to produce a high-quality print image in a simple fashion. As a solution, there is provided a printing method for transferring an applied ink on a transfer medium 1 to a printing target 5. The method includes a first applying step of forming an image layer 2 on the transfer medium 1; a first curing step of curing the image layer 2; a second applying step of forming an adhesive layer 4 on the image layer 2; a second curing step of curing the adhesive layer 4 to such an extent as to maintain the adhesiveness of the adhesive layer 4; a transfer step of transferring the image layer 2 to the printing target 15; and a third curing step of further curing the adhesive layer 4.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.Inventor: Masaru Ohnishi
-
Patent number: 9254666Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus which includes a carriage which reciprocates in a state where a liquid ejecting head is mounted thereon, a tank unit which is provided outside the carriage and accommodates ink, four liquid supply tubes which communicate with the liquid ejecting head and the tank unit, and a tube support portion which supports the liquid supply tubes in a state where the liquid supply tubes are aligned in a horizontal direction, in which, in a case main body, the liquid supply tubes extend further to the tank unit side than a portion in which the liquid supply tubes are supported by the tube support portion, in a state where a parallel alignment direction of the four liquid supply tubes changes from the horizontal direction (a transporting direction) to a vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Naomi Kimura, Koki Hayashi, Hidenao Suzuki, Shoma Kudo
-
Patent number: 9248666Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus, heaters are enclosed with a heater casing, achieving accumulation of heated air and efficient performance of heating. A blowing fan blows air to the heaters. The heater casing includes a blowing port configured to narrow and blow warm air heated with the heaters to a transportation path outside the heater casing in a direction along the transportation path. The warm air narrowed at the blowing port obtains an increased air velocity thereof. In addition, uniform air-quantity distribution and uniform heat-quantity are obtainable. Moreover, the heaters face the transportation path. Consequently, the heaters are provided closer to the transportation path than a conventional external heater. This suppresses heat loss.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignees: RICOH COMPANY, LTD., SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroyuki Fuchioka, Takeshi Katayama, Akira Taiji, Mitsuru Tanemoto
-
Patent number: 9248659Abstract: A filter unit including a liquid flow path through which ink flows and a filter chamber which forms a portion of the liquid flow path and is filled with a pressurized ink includes a filter unit main body and a second cover member which include the liquid flow path and form the filter chamber; and a filter which is disposed within the filter chamber, the second cover member being provided with a protruding portion in a region which opposes the filter, and the protruding portion being provided between a supply port of the ink which is supplied to the filter chamber and a discharge port of the ink which is discharged from the filter chamber in plan view in relation to the filter.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Ishii, Hiroyuki Hagiwara, Masayuki Eguchi
-
Patent number: 9248658Abstract: A liquid storage container includes a liquid storage part, a liquid supply part, a liquid outflow part, and a cover. The liquid storage part stores a liquid. The liquid supply part has a liquid supply port defining an opening by which the liquid is supplied to a liquid jet apparatus from the liquid storage part. The liquid outflow part is made of a porous material. The liquid outflow part is disposed inside of the liquid supply port and allows the liquid to flow out to the liquid jet apparatus from the liquid storage part. The cover includes a sealing part contacting with the liquid supply part and sealing off the liquid supply port, the sealing part and the liquid outflow part defining a space therebetween, and a contact part made of a non-porous material, the contact part contacting with a part of the liquid outflow part.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Koichi Toba, Atsushi Kobayashi
-
Patent number: 9248641Abstract: An ink transfer element for a printing apparatus, the ink transfer element comprising a surface for transferring ink applied thereto to at least one further ink transfer element, wherein the surface is configured to, when an ink comprising pigment particles and a liquid vehicle is applied to the surface, at least partly separate the liquid vehicle from the pigment particles, through the surface. The ink transfer element further relates to printing apparatus and a method of printing.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2012Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.Inventors: Ziv Gilan, Michal Kalish, Zeharia Levi, David Levi
-
Patent number: 9242491Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is adapted to eject liquid toward a target medium. A transporter is adapted to transport a tray on which the target medium is mounted toward a region facing the liquid ejecting head via a transporting path. A tray guide is disposed in a front side of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and having a supporting face adapted to support the tray thereon. The tray guide is movable between a first position connecting the supporting face with the transporting path to allow the transporter to transport the tray to the transporting path and a second position escaping the supporting face from the transporting path. The supporting face is kept being parallel to the transporting path when the tray guide is moved between the first position and the second position.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2014Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Eiichi Miyashita, Takashi Akahane, Hiroki Nakashima, Satoshi Noda
-
Patent number: 9242458Abstract: An ink jet recording method for recording an image on a recording medium using a recording head includes executing relative movement between the recording medium and the recording head in a second direction intersecting a first direction in which a plurality of recording elements are arrayed. The recording head is controlled so that the plurality of recording elements in each group of respective driving blocks of recording elements are driven in order and at a predetermined time interval between respective driving blocks. A plurality of element arrays are driven so that pixels, based on recording data for one column extending in the first direction, are recorded by using the plurality of element arrays within an area of the recording medium corresponding to relative movement width of the relative movement in the second direction within the predetermined time interval.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Eisuke Nishitani, Koichiro Nakazawa
-
Patent number: 9242462Abstract: A jet stack has a set of plates forming an array of body chambers, the set of plates including a nozzle plate having an array of jets wherein each jet corresponds to a body chamber, each body chamber having an inlet to allow fluid to flow into the body chamber and an outlet to allow fluid to flow out of the body chamber, the outlet fluidically coupled to a jet in the array of jets, wherein the inlet and outlets are concentric.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventor: Terrance L. Stephens
-
Patent number: 9239972Abstract: A recording apparatus is capable of forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head including first and second recording element arrays for one color component wherein each recording element array includes a plurality of recording elements arranged therein. To perform, in a short time, processes including converting of multilevel data to binary data and assigning of the binary data to the recording element arrays, a multilevel data buffer stores multilevel data, a reading unit reads the multilevel data stored in the multilevel data buffer, and a production unit produces binary data from the multilevel data by using a code table including a plurality of code sets depending on a gray level wherein each code set includes codes corresponding to the first and second recording element arrays. A transferring unit transfers the binary data produced by the production unit to corresponding recording element arrays.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2010Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yusuke Komano
-
Patent number: 9238374Abstract: A print head module for delivering ink to a print head comprising a module venting system comprising a one-time vent built into the interior of the print head module in which, when an amount of ink comes in contact with the one-time vent, air is prevented from passing through the one-time vent. A system for delivering ink to a print head comprising a print head, a external reservoir of ink, and a print head module comprising a one-time vent built into the interior of the print head module and fluidly coupling the print head to the external reservoir of ink, in which, when an amount of ink comes in contact with the one-time vent within the print head module, air is prevented from passing through the one-time vent.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2012Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Ralph L. Stathem, Beverly Asoo Stonas, Sundar Vasudevan, Frank Shala, Ernest Foster
-
Patent number: 9238372Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body; a printhead to discharge droplets; a sub tank to hold a liquid to be supplied to the printhead for discharge as droplets; a movable carriage for scanning, including the printhead and the sub tank; a main tank to contain the liquid to be supplied to the sub tank; a liquid supply pump, disposed on the carriage, to supply the liquid from the main tank to the sub tank; a first liquid supply tube that connects the main tank to the liquid supply pump; and a second liquid supply tube that connects the liquid supply pump to the sub tank. A fluid resistance of the first liquid supply tube is greater than a fluid resistance of the second liquid supply tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Takeyuki Kobayashi, Hiroshi Noda, Tomomi Katoh
-
Patent number: 9233549Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit that has a head unit provided with a recording head in a movable manner in a scanning direction of the recording head, and a scanner unit that is provided on the upper side of the recording unit and is capable of opening and closing the upper side of the recording unit; the recording unit includes a flexible ink tube that guides ink which is sent from a ink holding unit for holding the ink to the head unit, a gap formation member configured to form between the recording unit and the scanner unit a gap through which the ink tube passes and the size of which is sufficiently large so as not to block an ink flow path in the ink tube, and a medium reception tray having a relief portion that is formed on the upstream side in a medium discharge direction so as to avoid a feeding unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Yosuke Nakano, Satoshi Shimizu
-
Patent number: 9233544Abstract: A head unit, in which unit head rows are formed by respectively arraying unit heads in parallel on both sides of a transmission substrate. The head unit includes a first liquid fluid channel that is disposed on a first side of the transmission substrate and a second liquid fluid channel that is disposed on a second side of the transmission substrate. The unit heads are provided with a flexible cable. A first head fluid channel sandwiches the flexible cable and is provided on a side that is opposite a transmission substrate side. A second head fluid channel is provided on the transmission substrate side. The first head fluid channel is in communication with a first liquid fluid channel on a surface side on which the unit heads are disposed. The second head fluid channel straddles the transmission substrate and is in communication with a second liquid fluid channel on a surface side that is opposite the unit heads.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Fujio Akahane, Hiroaki Okui, Keiji Hara, Yasuyuki Kudo
-
Patent number: 9221278Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is provided and includes: a carriage on which a recording head for discharging ink droplets onto the recording medium is mounted and that moves relative to the recording medium; a platen that supports the recording medium at a predetermined position; and heating means for heating the recording medium, in which heating means includes a platen heater that is mounted on the platen and heats the recording medium from a lower side of the recording medium, a carriage heater that is mounted on the carriage and heats the recording medium from an upper side of the recording medium, and an upper heater that is disposed on a downstream side of the carriage in a moving direction of the recording medium and heats the recording medium from the upper side of the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.Inventor: Masaru Ohnishi
-
Patent number: 9224952Abstract: An ink printing process employs per-nozzle droplet volume measurement and processing software that plans droplet combinations to reach specific aggregate ink fills per target region, guaranteeing compliance with minimum and maximum ink fills set by specification. In various embodiments, different droplet combinations are produced through different print head/substrate scan offsets, offsets between print heads, the use of different nozzle drive waveforms, and/or other techniques. Optionally, patterns of fill variation can be introduced so as to mitigate observable line effects in a finished display device. The disclosed techniques have many other possible applications.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2015Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Lucas D. Barkley, Christopher R. Hauf, Eliyahu Vronsky, Conor F. Madigan
-
Patent number: 9221260Abstract: A liquid jet head includes a piezoelectric body substrate having an upper surface, a lower surface, at least two groove arrays each having ejection grooves penetrating from the upper surface to the lower surface, and a first opening portion penetrating from the upper surface to the lower surface between the at least two groove arrays. Drive electrodes are provided on side surfaces of the ejection grooves and terminal electrodes are electrically connected to the drive electrodes. A flexible circuit board is electrically connected to the terminal electrodes and extends from the lower surface to the upper surface of the piezoelectric body substrate through the first opening portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: SII PRINTEK INC.Inventors: Yoshinori Domae, Yuki Yamamura