Patents by Inventor Akiko Niimi
Akiko Niimi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8297732Abstract: A cleaner unit to clean an inkjet head, ejecting ink onto a recording medium, and an ink conveyer tube, conveying the ink to the inkjet head, of an inkjet printer in cleaning liquid, is provided. The cleaner unit includes an air-liquid two-phased cleaner conveyer tube, which conveys air-liquid two-phased cleaner, and a cleaner spout, which is connected to an upstream-side end of the ink conveyer tube and to a downstream-side end of the air-liquid two-phased cleaner conveyer tube with respect to a fluid flow, and through which the air-liquid two-phased cleaner is supplied to the ink conveyer tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akiko Niimi, Kazuyuki Kondo
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Patent number: 8215763Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of forming an image on a recording medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes a recording head to eject ink onto the recording medium, a recording head controller to control movement of the recording head according to printing data, which represents the image to be formed on the recording medium, a carriage to carry the recording head in a main scanning direction relative to the recording medium, a plurality of platens, each of which has a holding surface to hold the recording medium thereon and is movable respectively in an auxiliary direction, which is perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and a plurality of drive mechanisms, each of which drives one of the platens in the auxiliary direction. The plurality of platens can be moved synchronously with one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Patent number: 8087764Abstract: A printing apparatus to form an image on a recording medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes a first recording head, which is movable in a main scanning direction and ejects a specific-colored ink onto the recording medium, a first ink cartridge to store the specific-colored ink, a first ink conveyer, which connects the first recording head and the first ink cartridge to convey the specific-colored ink, and a first conveyer retainer, which is movable along with the first recording head and holds the first ink conveyer to extend there-along. The first conveyer retainer is arranged in a position higher than a connecting portion of the first ink conveyer with the first recording head and holds the first ink conveyer in a vertical range between a top level of the first conveyer retainer and a bottom level of the first ink cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Patent number: 8047628Abstract: A printing apparatus to form an image on a recording medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes a recording head, an ink cartridge, which contains the ink therein, an ink cartridge storage to store the ink cartridge, an ink conveyer tube, which connects the recording head and the ink cartridge to convey the ink, and a maintenance system having an aspirator to aspirate the ink to be drawn in the recording head and the ink conveyer tube and a cap to cover a nozzle surface of the recording head, and a releasing system, which is arranged in the ink conveyer tube to switch an open state and a closed state. The releasing system is arranged in a position higher than a position of the ink cartridge so that the releasing system and the ink cartridge have a predetermined water head difference therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2009Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishiInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Patent number: 8029086Abstract: A printing device includes first and second print heads, first and second print head control units, a first print head feeding unit moving the first print head in a main scanning direction, a second print head feeding unit moving the second print head in the main scanning direction, a first medium feeding unit moving a first medium holding unit in an auxiliary scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, a second medium feeding unit moving a second medium holding unit in the auxiliary scanning direction in parallel with the movement of the first medium feeding unit, a first printing unit control unit (controlling the first print head control unit, the first print head feeding unit and the first medium feeding unit), and a second printing unit control unit (controlling the second print head control unit, the second print head feeding unit and the second medium feeding unit).Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akiko Niimi, Shumei Mori, Toshiaki Mizutani, Toshinobu Ozawa
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Publication number: 20100245461Abstract: A cleaner unit to clean an inkjet head, ejecting ink onto a recording medium, and an ink conveyer tube, conveying the ink to the inkjet head, of an inkjet printer in cleaning liquid, is provided. The cleaner unit includes an air-liquid two-phased cleaner conveyer tube, which conveys air-liquid two-phased cleaner, and a cleaner spout, which is connected to an upstream-side end of the ink conveyer tube and to a downstream-side end of the air-liquid two-phased cleaner conveyer tube with respect to a fluid flow, and through which the air-liquid two-phased cleaner is supplied to the ink conveyer tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akiko Niimi, Kazuyuki Kondo
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Publication number: 20090244123Abstract: A printing apparatus to form an image on a recording medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes a recording head, an ink cartridge, which contains the ink therein, an ink cartridge storage to store the ink cartridge, an ink conveyer tube, which connects the recording head and the ink cartridge to convey the ink, and a maintenance system having an aspirator to aspirate the ink to be drawn in the recording head and the ink conveyer tube and a cap to cover a nozzle surface of the recording head, and a releasing system, which is arranged in the ink conveyer tube to switch an open state and a closed state. The releasing system is arranged in a position higher than a position of the ink cartridge so that the releasing system and the ink cartridge have a predetermined water head difference therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Publication number: 20090244216Abstract: A printing apparatus to form an image on a recording medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes a first recording head, which is movable in a main scanning direction and ejects a specific-colored ink onto the recording medium, a first ink cartridge to store the specific-colored ink, a first ink conveyer, which connects the first recording head and the first ink cartridge to convey the specific-colored ink, and a first conveyer retainer, which is movable along with the first recording head and holds the first ink conveyer to extend there-along. The first conveyer retainer is arranged in a position higher than a connecting portion of the first ink conveyer with the first recording head and holds the first ink conveyer in a vertical range between a top level of the first conveyer retainer and a bottom level of the first ink cartridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Patent number: 7587257Abstract: A print/embroidery data creating device is provided with a usable color designating system, an output information setting system, a pixel examining system, an area setting system that sets a pixel area determined to correspond to the usable color as a usable color area and sets an area which does not correspond to the usable color area as a print area, an embroidery data creating system. The usable color area is output with the size set by the output information setting system at the position set by the output information setting system by the embroidering machine, and a print data creating system that creates print data such that a pixel area set as the print area by the area setting system is output as printed area with a color corresponding to the pixel color, the print area being output with the size set by the output information setting system at the position set by the output information setting system by the printer.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akiko Niimi, Kenji Yamada
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Patent number: 7561302Abstract: An image formation control system including an input system that is adapted to input instruction signals concerning a vividness enhancement target color of image signals from a user, and a vividness enhancement processing system that is adapted to apply a vividness enhancement process by converting at least one first area of a color space concerning the image signals to a single vividness enhancement target color corresponding to each first area according to the instruction signals from the user input through the input system, and by determining a second area which is the remaining area of the color space wherein the vividness enhancement process is not applied is provided. The image signals processed with the vividness enhancement process are converted to output data for a printer.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akiko Niimi, Takeshi Watanabe
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Publication number: 20090102869Abstract: A printing device comprises first and second print heads, first and second print head control units, a first print head feeding unit moving the first print head in a main scanning direction, a second print head feeding unit moving the second print head in the main scanning direction, a first medium feeding unit moving a first medium holding unit in an auxiliary scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, a second medium feeding unit moving a second medium holding unit in the auxiliary scanning direction in parallel with the movement of the first medium feeding unit, a first printing unit control unit (controlling the first print head control unit, the first print head feeding unit and the first medium feeding unit), and a second printing unit control unit (controlling the second print head control unit, the second print head feeding unit and the second medium feeding unit).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2008Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akiko Niimi, Shumei Mori, Toshiaki Mizutani, Toshinobu Ozawa
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Patent number: 7513583Abstract: A printing apparatus for fabric, comprising a retainer unit having a retainer surface on which a piece of fabric is removably installed, an ink ejecting unit which ejects ink onto a surface of the fabric retained by the retainer unit according to image data transmitted from an external device, an image data receiving system which receives the image data transmitted from the external device, and a print controlling system which controls executing one of a normal printing operation wherein the image data received by the image data receiving system is printed on the surface of the piece of fabric retained by the retainer unit and a positioning information printing operation wherein positioning information to be used for arranging the piece of fabric in position with respect to the retainer surface is printed on the retainer surface, is provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2007Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Publication number: 20080238978Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of forming an image on a recording medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes a recording head to eject ink onto the recording medium, a recording head controller to control movement of the recording head according to printing data, which represents the image to be formed on the recording medium, a carriage to carry the recording head in a main scanning direction relative to the recording medium, a plurality of platens, each of which has a holding surface to hold the recording medium thereon and is movable respectively in an auxiliary direction, which is perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and a plurality of drive mechanisms, each of which drives one of the platens in the auxiliary direction. The plurality of platens can be moved synchronously with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Patent number: 7413301Abstract: An inkjet type fabric printing apparatus is provided with an inkjet head, a platen and a positioning member. The inkjet head reciprocally moves in main scanning direction and auxiliary scanning direction relative to a fabric (e.g., clothes). The platen holds the fabric to extend on a plane parallel with the main scanning direction and the auxiliary scanning direction with a first predetermined distance spaced from the inkjet head. On the positioning member, the fabric is set. The fabric is positioned on the platen in place in a direction parallel with the main scanning direction and the auxiliary scanning direction. The positioning member supports at least one of a neck portion and a shoulder portion of the fabric such that the neck portion and/or a shoulder portion is spaced from the inkjet head by a second predetermined distance.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2006Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akiko Niimi, Katsuya Watarai, Kousuke Fukaya
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Publication number: 20080079958Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided with a medium supporting unit configured to support a recording medium, a first recording head, a second recording head, a first head moving device configured to move the first recording head, a second head moving device configured to move the second recording head, in the main scanning direction. The medium supporting unit is controlled to move such that a moving range of the medium supporting unit is differentiated depending on whether the ink is ejected from both the first recording head and the second recording head, only from the first recording head or only from the second recording bead.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2007Publication date: April 3, 2008Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Patent number: 7338155Abstract: A printing device, which reduces weight and space while ensuring excellent stability, includes a medium conveyance section on which a workpiece such as a fabric can be set, a fixed side structure for supporting the same, and a head for performing printing onto the workpiece. When the power supply to the device is switched off, the medium conveyance section is at a first position so as to be within the fixed side structure. When a workpiece is set on, or removed from the medium conveyance section, the medium conveyance section is at a second position so as to project partially from one side of the fixed side structure. During a printing operation, the medium conveyance section moves from the second position, to a third position where it projects partially to the second side, and return again to the second position where it projects partially to the second side.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2004Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Patent number: 7311041Abstract: A printing device contains a printing medium supporting member having a supporting face for supporting a printing medium; a screen plate fitting detachably onto said supporting face in a state where the printing medium is sandwiched between said screen plate and said supporting face of said printing medium supporting member; and an ink emission section for emitting ink onto the printing medium on said supporting face. A printing system has the printing device described above, and ink color determining means for setting the color of the ink used in printing by means of said screen plate to a lighter color than the ink used in printing by means of said ink emission section. A printing method contains the step of screen printing for printing onto a printing medium by means of a screen plate, and the step of ink emitting for emitting ink of a darker color than the ink used in said screen printing step, onto the screen printed region, from an ink emission section.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2004Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Publication number: 20070195119Abstract: A printing apparatus for fabric, comprising a retainer unit having a retainer surface on which a piece of fabric is removably installed, an ink ejecting unit which ejects ink onto a surface of the fabric retained by the retainer unit according to image data transmitted from an external device, an image data receiving system which receives the image data transmitted from the external device, and a print controlling system which controls executing one of a normal printing operation wherein the image data received by the image data receiving system is printed on the surface of the piece of fabric retained by the retainer unit and a positioning information printing operation wherein positioning information to be used for arranging the piece of fabric in position with respect to the retainer surface is printed on the retainer surface, is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2007Publication date: August 23, 2007Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akiko Niimi
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Patent number: 7237890Abstract: An inkjet type fabric printing apparatus is provided with an inkjet head, a platen and a positioning member. The inkjet head reciprocally moves in main scanning direction and auxiliary scanning direction relative to a fabric (e.g., clothes). The platen holds the fabric to extend on a plane parallel with the main scanning direction and the auxiliary scanning direction with a first predetermined distance spaced from the inkjet head. On the positioning member, the fabric is set. The fabric is positioned on the platen in place in a direction parallel with the main scanning direction and the auxiliary scanning direction. The positioning member supports at least one of a neck portion and a shoulder portion of the fabric such that the neck portion and/or a shoulder portion is spaced from the inkjet head by a second predetermined distance.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2006Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akiko Niimi, Katsuya Watarai, Kousuke Fukaya
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Patent number: 7222930Abstract: An inkjet recording device is provided with a first ejecting system that operates to eject at least one ink whose color has a maximum L* value among the plurality of inks onto one or a predetermined number of lines on the substrate at a time, a second ejecting system that operates to eject at least an ink whose color has a minimum L* value among the plurality of inks, the second ejecting system ejecting inks which are not ejected by the first ejecting system onto the same lines, onto which the first ejecting system has ejected the at least one ink whose color has the maximum L* value, at a time, and a controlling system that controls the first ejecting system and the second ejecting system such that the first ejecting system operates a predetermined period after the first ejecting system has operated.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akiko Niimi