Patents by Inventor Mike P. VAN EEKHOUT

Mike P. VAN EEKHOUT 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).

  • Method and apparatus for detecting a media touch of an inkjet printhead
    Patent number: 8579405
    Abstract: In a printer having a print head moveable relative to a recording medium, the recording medium and print head may touch each other, thereby possibly damaging the print head and/or the recording medium. In order to prevent further damage, it is advantageous to detect a medium touch as soon as possible. An available feedback signal relating to the print head, e.g. originating from a carriage on which the print head is mounted, is employed to determine whether a medium touch has occurred such that a dedicated medium touch or crash sensor may be omitted. A malfunctioning nozzle signal is used to determine a change in a number of malfunctioning nozzles to detect a medium touch. Alternatively, a print head position signal is used to determine a position error and derive from the position error whether or not a medium touch has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: OCE-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes H. Huyghen, Franciscus J. W. M. Wolters, Stefan A. C. J. Winteraeken, Henricus W. C. Douven, Mike P. Van Eekhout, Hubertus M. J. M. Boesten
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING A MEDIA TOUCH OF AN INKJET PRINTHEAD
    Publication number: 20090225119
    Abstract: In a printer having a print head moveable relative to a recording medium, the recording medium and print head may touch each other, thereby possibly damaging the print head and/or the recording medium. In order to prevent further damage, it is advantageous to detect a medium touch as soon as possible. An available feedback signal relating to the print head, e.g. originating from a carriage on which the print head is mounted, is employed to determine whether a medium touch has occurred such that a dedicated medium touch or crash sensor may be omitted. A malfunctioning nozzle signal is used to determine a change in a number of malfunctioning nozzles to detect a medium touch. Alternatively, a print head position signal is used to determine a position error and derive from the position error whether or not a medium touch has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes H. HUYGHEN, Franciscus J.W.M. WOLTERS, Stefan A.C.J. WINTERAEKEN, Henricus W. C. DOUVEN, Mike P. VAN EEKHOUT, Hubertus M.J.M BOESTEN