Patents Issued in December 14, 2004
  • Patent number: 6830283
    Abstract: A retractable roof for a vehicle has three rigid roof sections. A plurality of links and levers connect to the three roof sections and control and guide the three roof sections in an optimal manner as they move from a closure position covering a compartment of the vehicle to a storage position in a rear boot of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: France Design
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Guillez, Gérard Oueveau
  • Patent number: 6830284
    Abstract: A retractable roof for a vehicle has three rigid roof sections. A plurality of links and levers connect to the three roof sections and control and guide the three roof sections in an optimal manner as they move from a closure position covering a compartment of the vehicle to a storage position in a rear boot of the vehicle. The roof section and boot dimensions allow the roof sections to fit into the boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: France Design
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Guillez, Gérard Queveau
  • Patent number: 6830285
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for reinforcing a vehicle, in particular, a vehicle equipped with a retractable roof comprising of a rigid ring (3) enclosing the vehicle passenger compartment (4), the rigid ring (3) comprising elements (5,6,7) secured to the fixed parts of a body of the vehicle and of mobile elements (8,9) integrated in an upper part of vehicle doors (1,2), the mobile elements (8,9) being located in an extension of the fixed elements (5,6,7) when the doors (1,2) are closed, each mobile element (8,9) comprising at each of its ends locking devices mobile between an unlocking position and a locking position wherein the mobile elements (8,9,) are rigidly linked to the fixed elements (5,6,7) and form together a ring (3) having a uniformly distributed rigidity about the vehicle passenger compartment (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: France Design
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Guillez, Gérard Queveau
  • Patent number: 6830286
    Abstract: A fiber composite crash structure has a hollow body which is produced entirely or partially from fiber composite material. Within the hollow body a web element is arranged running essentially in the longitudinal direction thereof. The web element is connected to the hollow body essentially in the contact region of web element and hollow body such that the structure is reinforced by reinforcing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Michael Bechtold, Klaus Drechsler, Franz Maidl, Bruno Moeltgen, Frank Strachauer
  • Patent number: 6830287
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rear impact absorption system for a motor vehicle. The rear impact absorption system includes a rear body assembly including longitudinally extending rear rails including first and second portions having first and second respective heights relative to a generally horizontal plane, the first height being greater than the second height. The invention further provides a neutralizing member connectable to bridge the first and second heights of each rear rail so as to minimize the effect of a moment arm created by the first and second heights during a rear impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peyman Aghssa, John Jude Fusco, William Moore Sherwood, Martin Wedel
  • Patent number: 6830288
    Abstract: A vehicle body ventilation system for a vehicle having a windshield, a hood, and a cowl assembly, wherein the cowl assembly comprises a cowl grille panel having a front and a rear edge and a first seal including a sealing portion and a carrier portion wherein the carrier portion is frictionally engaged with the front edge of the cowl grille panel. A second seal is provided that includes a sealing portion and a carrier portion wherein the carrier portion is frictionally engaged with the rear edge of the cowl grille panel. The carrier portion of the first seal and the second seal are of a first durometer and the sealing portion of the first seal and the sealing portion of the second seal each are of a second durometer for sealing to a vehicle windshield and hood, wherein the second durometer is less than the first durometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Automotive Company Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen James Eynon, Edwin Eugene Clapham, Mathew Theodore Murto, John Carl Gall
  • Patent number: 6830289
    Abstract: A front structure of a vehicle includes a toe board, a pair of front side frames extending in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, a toe board cross member extending in a widthwise direction of the vehicle so as to connect the front side frames with each other, the toe board cross member and the toe board defining a structure having a dosed cross section, and front suspension member supports provided on the front side frames, the toe board cross member extending to positions in the vicinity of the front suspension member supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazushige Miyabayashi
  • Patent number: 6830290
    Abstract: Motor vehicle, especially a limousine, sedan or coupe, with a vehicle roof (2) with body-mounted side roof members (3), with a movable cover (9) which adjoins the front window (7) for closing and clearing a roof opening (6) which is formed in the vehicle roof (2), and with a rear window (8) which borders the roof opening, the cover (9). The cover is movably guided by a front bearing mechanism (17) and a rear bearing mechanism (19) on the front and the rear roof-mounted longitudinal guides (10 and 11) and can be raised for clearing the roof opening (6) at least at its rear edge and can be pushed over the rear window (8). The front and the rear roof-mounted longitudinal guides (10 or 11) are located countersunk with respect to the roof surface in the area of the two roof side members (3) and the rear longitudinal guides (11) run along the side edges of the rear window (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicles Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Francois De Gaillard
  • Patent number: 6830291
    Abstract: A guide rail (2) for a driver (4) which can be driven and which is coupled to a vehicle component, especially a sliding roof cover, with a guide channel (8) for holding an elongated, axially movable drive element (19) and with a guide (7) for movably supporting the driver (4) which is connected to the drive element (19), the guide channel (8) fitting around the drive element (19) and being formed of surrounding parts that alternate in the axial direction on different sides, on one of the sides the respective surrounding parts being interrupted so as to form a continuous slot (14) in which a connecting part (18) which connects the drive element (19) to the driver (4) is movably held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Langguth
  • Patent number: 6830292
    Abstract: A table supporting device is provided at an upper end thereof with a loop. The loop is hung on the headrest of the motor vehicle seat so that the table supporting device is positioned substantially vertically. The loop 9 is removable from the headrest. A plate-shaped table has a table holding mechanism. The table holding mechanism holds the table vertically rotatably by means of a horizontal shaft. The table holding mechanism is provided with a vertical hole. The vertical hole has a larger diameter than the table supporting device. The table supporting device is passed through the vertical hole of the table holding mechanism. A vertical bolt is threadedly engaged with the table holding mechanism. A lower end of the vertical bolt is in contact with a base portion of the table so as to maintain the table at a desired angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Yoda
  • Patent number: 6830293
    Abstract: The seat pad as a free-standing structure which provides a seat and back. A pair of contoured rigid bars are enclosed within opposite sides of a fabric sleeve to shape the sleeve into a seat and back. In addition, a web of densified padding is disposed between the bars and within the fabric sleeve to bias the rigid bars outwardly of each other to flatten the sleeve. Rows of stitching are employed to secure the padding to the fabric to provide not only reinforcement but also a pleasing aesthetic appearance to the seat pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Telescope Casual Furniture, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Vanderminden
  • Patent number: 6830294
    Abstract: A foldable seating structure includes a foldable frame defining a first frame section and a second frame section. The first and second frame sections are coupled together by a section hinge allowing the first and second frame sections to pivot relative to one another between a frame deployed configuration and a frame folded configuration wherein in the frame deployed configuration the first and second frame sections are in a substantially horizontal position and in a substantially co-linear relationship relative to each other and wherein in the frame folded configuration the first and second frame sections are in a substantially vertical position and in a substantially parallel and adjacent relationship relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Gilles Berthiaume
  • Patent number: 6830295
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a seat to a vehicle floor, the device comprising firstly a base designed to support a seat proper of the seat, and secondly a rear coupling and a front coupling that are secured to the base. The front coupling comprises an anchoring fork provided with first and second notches designed to co-operate respectively with a rear rod and with a front rod, and first and second hooks mounted on the anchoring fork to move between an unlocked position and a locked position, the first hook being adapted to be in its locked position while holding the rear rod captive, and the seat proper pivoting about the rear rod only, between its tilted-forwards position and its in-use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'automobile S.A.
    Inventors: Gilles Duquesnay, Gilles Sourdillon, Farid Senhadji, Didier Gallienne
  • Patent number: 6830296
    Abstract: A walk-in apparatus of a vehicle seat comprises an upper rail assembled to the vehicle seat, a lower rail engaged slidably with the upper rail and assembled to a vehicle floor; a lock plate locking a slide movement of the upper rail to the lower rail, a release lever engaged with the lock plate for releasing the locking of the slide movement of the upper rail on the lower rail and a reclining plate rotating in conjunction with a seat back when the seat back is rotated equal to or more than a predetermined angle in forward direction. The walk-in apparatus also includes a member for connecting the release lever and the reclining plate and is adapted to disengage the release lever from the reclining plate when a load is applied to the connecting member equal to or more than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kojima
  • Patent number: 6830297
    Abstract: A suspension seat arrangement (1) comprising a lower frame (2) mountable to a seat mounting, an upper frame (3) connected to the lower frame (2) and movable with respect thereto, the upper frame (3) being arranged to mount a seat base (16), and a suspension arrangement (12) suspending the upper frame (3) with respect to the lower frame (2), the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) arrangement being such that the upper frame (3) is able to move downwardly relative to the lower frame (2) so that the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) become nested together one within the other. In another embodiment a suspension seat arrangement comprising a suspension adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tension of the suspension. In a further embodiment a suspension seat arrangement comprising a cover arrangement to encapsulate the suspension arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: G and J Lewis Enterprises PTY LTD
    Inventor: Lewis Gordon
  • Patent number: 6830298
    Abstract: A tilt adjustment-locking mechanism for a seat back includes a rotating locking mechanism part attached to the seat body and a fixed locking mechanism part that may tilt with the seat back which are connected together by a cam. The fixed locking mechanism part includes an interior-toothed area to which an exterior-toothed area of the rotating locking mechanism part forming a part of a tumbler drive fits. Clamping areas overlapping the fixed and rotating locking mechanism parts are provided. At least one of the locking mechanism parts includes a polygonal circumference area. These areas are engaged against numerous polygonal surfaces on the matching surfaces of the circumference area in the receptor opening on the seat back or the seat body so that it may not rotate, and whose exterior circumference is entirely surrounded by a clamping area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Zbigniew Koczewski
  • Patent number: 6830299
    Abstract: A mounting arrangement for mounting a door or other element to an article of furniture using an existing slide mechanism of the type known for use in drawers, wherein the slide mechanism is hidden from view when the door or other element is in both a closed and in an open position to enhance the aesthetic design of the article of furniture. The slide mechanism is mounted to a rear or interior surface of the article of furniture, and a bracket connects the slide mechanism to a door or other element which is disposed adjacent a front face of the article of furniture. In this manner, the slide mechanism and bracket are hidden from view regardless of the position of the door or other element. In one embodiment, a cabinet with a door connected thereto by hidden slides is provided, and in another embodiment, a display board with covers connected thereto by hidden slides is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Kimball International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay M. Henriott, Kevin T. Rauscher
  • Patent number: 6830300
    Abstract: A slide assembly for slidably mounting a computer server unit to a rack. Front and rear brackets of the slide assembly include a plurality of dual-diameter mounting pins and a pair of spring elements having different lengths. The mounting pins are positioned within holes in the rack columns and one of the spring elements snaps behind the rack column to hold the slide assembly to the rack. If the holes in the rack columns have one diameter, then the mounting pins extend partially through the holes, and the shorter spring element snaps behind the rack column. For a larger diameter or square rack column hole, the mounting pins extend completely through the holes where the longer spring element snaps behind the rack column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Craig E. Lauchner
  • Patent number: 6830301
    Abstract: The disclosed printhead can speed up transfer of image data and driving of printing elements without increasing the number of signal lines and connection terminals. An image data signal supplied to the printhead has a 4-bit bus format containing block selection data in its head. This signal is separated by a selection signal, and only the block selection data contained in the head is held in a latch and supplied to a decoder. The 4-bit image data corresponding to the four subsequent segments are respectively held in the four latches of a first printing control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimiyuki Hayasaki
  • Patent number: 6830302
    Abstract: An inkjet head driving circuit driving piezoelectric actuators 21 for ink ejection provided on an inkjet head H includes one D/A converter 62 that converts a digital signal into an analog voltage and outputs the analog voltage, and a waveform generating portion 64 into which an output voltage of the D/A converter 62 is input, and which generates a voltage rising waveform when the output voltage of the D/A converter 62 is larger than a predetermined potential that is midway between a maximum value and a minimum value of that output voltage, and generates a voltage rising waveform when the output voltage of the D/A converter 62 is smaller than the predetermined potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Masumoto, Hiroaki Miyaso, Masaharu Oyama
  • Patent number: 6830303
    Abstract: A head driving apparatus including a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a switch circuit, a head driving circuit, a controller, and a determination unit. The controller supplies a control signal to the switch circuit so as to ON-OFF control the switch units every jet timing based upon jetting data. The determination unit calculates a total number of the switch units to be turned ON simultaneously in accordance with the control signal, and supplies a restriction signal to the switch circuit when the total number exceeds a predetermined number. A part of the switch units are turned OFF in spite of the control signal supplied from the controller when the switch circuit receives the restriction signal from the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Noboru Tamura
  • Patent number: 6830304
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus, using a printing head for ejecting ink drops on a sheet member, includes a conveying unit for conveying the sheet member, a cutting member for cutting the sheet member, and a carriage member having the printing head and the cutting member mounted thereon and scanning in a direction that intersects the direction of conveying the sheet member by the conveying unit. Dust generated by cutting the sheet member is prevented from scattering by cutting a cutting site with the cutting member after printing a predetermined pattern along the cutting site of the sheet member with the printing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Suzuki, Tomohiro Ishitsu, Kazumi Kobayashi, Takeshi Miura
  • Patent number: 6830305
    Abstract: A high-quality gray scale printing is attained by using an ink jet recording head having a simple and low-cost configuration and a general-purpose structure, and ink having common components. An ink jet recording head driving method to be disclosed comprises repeating a plurality of times a dot forming process for forming a plurality of dots on a recording medium, while an ink jet recording head is moved in a sub-scanning direction; the process comprising the steps of moving the ink jet recording head in a main scanning direction, generating a plurality of drive waveform signals according to a jet amount of ink droplets, selecting any one or none of the plurality of waveform signals for each of a plurality of nozzles according to gray scale information of printing data, and applying voltage to corresponding piezolectric actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fuminori Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6830306
    Abstract: A method for modifying a digital image having an array of raster lines, each raster line having an array of image pixels, to produce a modified digital image suitable for printing on an inkjet printer containing at least one printhead having nozzles, such that unwanted optical density variations in the print are reduced, includes determining an optical density parameter for each nozzle in the printhead; determining a line correction factor for a given raster line in response to the optical density parameter for each nozzle in the printhead and the raster line number; and modifying each pixel in the given raster line in response to the line correction factor to produce the modified digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Douglas W. Couwenhoven, Steven A. Billow
  • Patent number: 6830307
    Abstract: An integrated circuit in an ink jet printhead selectively activates one or more printing elements on the printhead based on a multi-dimensional addressing scheme. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of pass switching, power switching, and one or more ground switching devices for selectively connecting one or more power switching devices to ground to activate one or more of the printing elements to print an image on a print medium. The integrated circuit includes a number of first, second, third, and fourth control lines for selectively controlling the activation of one or more of the printing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Edward Anderson, George Keith Parish
  • Patent number: 6830308
    Abstract: An in-jet printing apparatus having a temperature detection device for outputting a signal in correspondence with a temperature, performs printing by using an ink-jet printhead which performs printing on a recording medium by discharging ink. A flag indicating whether acquisition of the temperature information is necessary or not is set, and the temperature information is obtained in accordance with the status of the flag, after the power on of the apparatus. The obtained temperature information is stored into a nonvolatile storage device. The temperature information can be obtained at appropriate timing in accordance with necessity, even if the power is interrupted during the operation. Thus a high-quality printed output can be obtained by performing a stable printing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Hamasaki, Jiro Moriyama, Hidehiko Kanda, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6830309
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an ink jet recording head including a plurality of ink flow paths, a plurality of energy generating elements provided in the respective ink flow paths, and a plurality of discharge ports communicated with the respective ink flow paths. The discharge ports are formed by patterning. The method includes a measuring step for measuring a discharge port area (an opening area of the discharge port), a step for determining a discharge amount rank (indicating a discharge amount) on the basis of a relationship between a discharge port area and the ink discharge amount, and a step for writing at least one of the discharge port area, the ink discharge amount having the relationship to the discharge port area, and the discharge amount rank, on a memory mounted to the ink jet recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 6830310
    Abstract: A cationic polymeric fixer material including cationic polymers and at least one marker composition soluble in the fixer material and detectable under either ultraviolet or near IR light; as well as a method of inkjet printing using said fixer material and a method of detecting cationic polymeric fixer material on a printed media using said fixer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kai Kong Iu, Yi-Hua Tsa
  • Patent number: 6830311
    Abstract: A cap holder on which a cap member is formed is mounted on a slider which constitutes a capping device. This slider is driven along vertical direction by receiving driving force executed by moving a carriage, so that an interval between the cap member and a nozzle forming surface of a recording head is adjusted. As a result, since a stopping position of the carriage is controlled in response to an adjustment amount of a platen gap, a distance between the recording head and the capping device when a flushing operation is carried out can be controlled under proper condition. Also, even when the control operation is advanced to a capping condition, the capping device can cap the nozzle forming surface under proper pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigenori Fukasawa, Atsushi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6830312
    Abstract: In a wire-driving system that drives and moves a movable unit along a guide path, a drive drum member is rotatably provided on the movable unit to be rotated around an axis which is perpendicular to a movement direction of the movable unit. An electric drive motor is provided in the movable unit and operationally connected to the drum member to be rotationally driven in either a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction. A wire cable has a first end and a second end, and is partially wound around the drum member such that a first cable section and a second cable section are extended from the drum member. The respective first and second ends of the wire cable are securely attached to two fixed points beside terminal ends of the guide path such that the first and second cable sections of the wire cable are tensionally extended along the guide path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Muramatsu, Tooru Uchida, Kouichi Furutou, Kaname Nagatani
  • Patent number: 6830313
    Abstract: Based upon a designated printing mode of a printer, a raster-data creation unit or a direct-data (or column-data) creation unit creates raster data, which corresponds to a print raster, or direct (or column) data, which corresponds to nozzles used on the printhead of a printer, as print data delivered to the printer. The print data created is transmitted to the printer from a transmitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jiro Moriyama, Yuji Hamasaki, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6830314
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus is provided with at least one inkjet head having a plurality of groups of nozzles that eject the ink, and a platen closely arranged to face the at least one inkjet head. The plurality of groups of the nozzles are arranged in a width direction of the recording medium with predetermined clearances therebetween, and parts of the plurality of groups overlap when viewed from a direction in which the recording medium is fed so that the plurality of groups are continuously provided as a whole. Further, a plurality of protrusions are formed on the main body of the platen at locations facing the clearances between the plurality of groups of the inkjet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsuhisa Nakashima
  • Patent number: 6830315
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes an elongate support structure that has a base portion and a plurality of wall portions that extend from one side of, and along, the base portion. A plurality of carriers is mountable, end-to-end, on the support structure so that each carrier engages a respect wall portion. The wall portions and the carriers define a plurality of ink supply conduits. A printhead is mounted on each carrier. Each printhead has a plurality of ink supply holes. At least one ink supply hole is in fluid communication with a respective ink supply conduit. A least one printed circuit board is mountable on an opposite side of the base portion, the, or each, printed circuit board being connected to the printheads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research PTY LTD
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 6830316
    Abstract: A method of ejecting ink from a chamber includes the step of providing a cantilevered beam actuator incorporating a shape memory alloy and transforming said shape memory alloy from its martensitic phase to its austenitic phase or vice versa to cause the ink to eject from said chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research PTY LTD
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6830317
    Abstract: In an ink jet recording head from which a small ink droplet and a large ink droplet can be discharged, a common liquid chamber is connected to discharge ports via ink flow paths and pressure chambers, and ink droplets are discharged from the discharge ports by utilizing thermal energy of heaters. Widths of the ink flow paths are narrower than widths of the pressure chambers so that the ink flow paths act as restriction portions. If it is assumed that a sectional area of the small liquid droplet ink flow path is SS, a sectional area of the small liquid droplet pressure chamber is SRS, a sectional area of the large liquid droplet ink flow path is SL and a sectional area of the large liquid droplet pressure chamber is SRL, a relationship SS/SRS<SL/SRL is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Tsuchii, Mineo Kaneko, Keiichiro Tsukuda, Masaki Oikawa, Kenji Yabe, Keiji Tomizawa
  • Patent number: 6830318
    Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles 3 and one or more heater elements 10 in a bubble forming chamber 7 corresponding to each nozzle 3. Each heater element 10 is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid 11 in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble 12 therein. The generation of the bubble 12 causes the ejection of a drop 16 of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through an ejection aperture 5 in each nozzle 3, to effect printing. The transient rise in pressure within the bubble forming chamber when the bubble forms is less than 20 MPa. Keeping the transient pressures relatively low, the strength requirements of the printhead structures are reduced. Accordingly the dimensions of the components can reduced for more compact design and easier manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research PTY LTD
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6830319
    Abstract: Disclosed is a head chip and a method of producing the same which help to achieve an improvement in production yield and a reduction in production cost and which allow high speed printing and high density printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: SII Printek Inc.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Harajiri, Yutaka Hongou
  • Patent number: 6830320
    Abstract: A continuous stream ink jet printer including a printhead having at least one nozzle or continuously ejecting a stream of ink droplets. A heater disposed adjacent to the nozzle thermally deflects selected ink droplets by asymmetrically heating the ink droplets to effect a printing operation. A cooling unit cools the ink provided to the printhead nozzle to increase the deflection angle of the droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gilbert A. Hawkins, James M. Chwalek, David P. Trauernicht, Christopher N. Delametter
  • Patent number: 6830321
    Abstract: A liquid tank according to the present invention comprises negative-pressure introducing sections for introducing negative pressure into the liquid tank, a liquid intake section for taking a liquid in the liquid tank on the basis of the negative pressure introduced by the negative-pressure introducing sections, an atmosphere communication port that is closed when the liquid is introduced through the liquid intake section, and a gas-liquid separating element disposed in the negative-pressure introducing sections so as to pass through only a gas. The gas-liquid separating element has a joined portion formed at least on the outer periphery of the gas-liquid separating element and joined to he negative-pressure introducing sections, and a ventilation area that contributes to ventilation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabsuhiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Okamoto, Hiroshi Netsu
  • Patent number: 6830322
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a liquid bag for containing liquid to be supplied to a liquid ejection head and is adapted to generate negative pressure in the liquid ejection head by a water head difference between the liquid ejection head and the liquid bag. The liquid bag is arranged so that, of two sides of the liquid bag having the largest areas, the side facing in a direction opposite to the direction of gravity is rigidly held at least partly and the other side is freely movable. The liquid bag is provided with a means for detecting an amount of liquid remaining in the liquid bag by reference to a position of the side facing in the direction of gravity, and the detecting means is adapted to move according to the amount of liquid contained in the liquid bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Shihoh, Osamu Kanome
  • Patent number: 6830323
    Abstract: A cartridge comprises a pair of housing portions having an opening at a seam formed between the housing portions, a memory chip accessible via the opening to permit electrical contact to be made with the memory chip, and a protuberance projecting from one of the housing portions and welded to the other housing portion within a cavity of the other housing portion. Since a flash which is formed at the weld can spread towards the seam including in the vicinity of the opening, the protuberance and the cavity are mutually dimensioned to restrict the flash substantially to within the cavity. This prevents the flash from spreading into the seam and bulging outward at least in the vicinity of the opening, which could interfere with formation of the seam and making electrical contact with the memory chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Perkins, Diana C. Petranek
  • Patent number: 6830324
    Abstract: In an ink storing container, movable members are properly constructed by molding sheet material into a convex form and are properly welded to a frame. The ink storing container is provided with an air passage section in which an ink meniscus is formed correspondingly to pressure relative to the atmosphere and through which the interior of an ink storing space is in communication with the atmosphere via an air path having a predetermined length. Thus, when negative pressure in the storing space increases, an air is introduced into the space via the air passage section. On the other hand, when the gas in the ink storing section expands to push the ink in the storing space, the ink can be kept in the path. As a result, the interior of the ink storing space is maintained at appropriate negative pressure for ink supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Ogura, Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Nobuyuki Kuwabara, Tetsuya Ohashi
  • Patent number: 6830325
    Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, a first flat plate layer formed by aligning a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the nozzles respectively and including at least one sheet of flat plates, a second flat plate layer formed with a common ink chamber having a shape elongated in a direction of aligning the pressure chambers and comprising at least one sheet of the flat plates, an ink supply passage connecting the common ink chamber and an ink supply source, a flat plate member in a shape of a thin film disposed between the first flat plate layer and the second flat plate layer, a restriction flow passage formed at the flat plate member for communicating one end thereof to the pressure chamber, communicating the other end thereof to the common ink chamber and controlling a flow of ink between the pressure chamber and the common ink chamber, and a damper chamber formed at the flat plate layer facing the flat plate member on a side thereof opposed to the common ink cham
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Hirota, Atsuo Sakaida
  • Patent number: 6830326
    Abstract: In a four pen ink jet printer comprising cyan, yellow, magenta, and black inks, a clear liquid is applied to printed ink on a print medium via a fifth pen, thereby fixing the colorants, which in turn improves the durability of the printed ink. The clear fixer fluid comprises at least one organic acid and, optionally, a salt of at least one polymeric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Yi-Hua Tsao, Howard A. Doumaux
  • Patent number: 6830327
    Abstract: The present invention provides ink-jet inks, systems, and methods for marking documents as original. Specifically, an aqueous ink-jet ink can comprise an ink vehicle; and a sufficient amount of particulates having directionally dependent light reflective properties within the ink vehicle such that when the ink-jet ink is substantially dried on a desired substrate, a multi-colored reflected light is emittable in the presence of a light source. Printing documents as original can be carried out for compensation, as a service, or by providing cartridges containing these inks to clients and/or customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Stuart D Asakawa
  • Patent number: 6830328
    Abstract: A combination input and output tray assembly for supplying and receiving elongated sheets of media for use with a printing device includes a first tray generally aligned with an input port of the printing device, the first tray receiving and supporting at least one elongated sheet of media to be processed by the printing device. A second tray overlies and is connected to the first tray, the second tray being generally aligned with an output port of the printing device, so that an elongated sheet of media discharged from the output port is received on and supported by the second tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Oki Data Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Cuyler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6830329
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording medium for use in an ink-jet image forming method in which a transparent film layer formed on a substrate as coating is placed on an ink-receiving layer of the recording medium, and then the side of the substrate is heated to transfer the transparent film layer on the ink-receiving layer, followed by peeling off the substrate to laminate the transparent film layer on the surface of the ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer contains polyvinyl alcohol and a cross-linking agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsu Iwata
  • Patent number: 6830330
    Abstract: An ink media pack integrally formed with an ink receptacle portion receiving ink and a printing medium receptacle portion receiving a printing medium to be used in an ink-jet printing system is disclosed. In the pack, an optimal combination of ink and a printing medium to obtain a high quality image is housed. In an embodiment the printing medium is cloth and the ink contains dye which can dye the cloth. In another embodiment, the ink has a coloring agent content in a range of 2.0 Wt % to 15.0 Wt % and the printing medium has a bleeding ratio in a range of 2.0 times to 4.0 times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mariko Suzuki, Tadayoshi Inamoto, Yoshiaki Kaburagi, Hiroyuki Saito, Ako Takemura, Akira Kuribayashi, Hiroshi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 6830331
    Abstract: Magnification viewer includes a conventional glasses and a pair of magnifying lens units. The magnifying lens units are fixed to respective eyeglasses of the conventional glasses so that a wearer of the glasses can observe a magnified image of an object through the magnifying lens units. The magnifying lens unit includes an ocular and an objective lens that constitute a Galilean telescope. A prism is disposed between the ocular and the objective lens for deflecting the optical axis of the magnifying lens unit towards an object placed below the head of a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignees: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Jojiki, Phyo Kim
  • Patent number: 6830332
    Abstract: According to the invention the ophthalmic lens further comprises a refractive part comprising at least one surface, which is configured to compensate a passing wavefront at least partly for at least one type of monochromatic aberration introduced by at least one of the optical parts of the eye. Said diffractive part is capable of compensating a passing wavefront at least partly for chromatic aberration introduced by at least one of the optical parts of the eye. Furthermore said refractive and diffractive parts together contribute to a required power of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia Ann Piers, Hendrik Albert Weeber