Patents Issued in December 25, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080316235
    Abstract: A display device which exhibits functional effects in which color separation between sub-pixels constituting a pixel is hardly recognized and white line display is easily recognized as one line, in enlargement of the color reproduction range in image display using multi-primary colors, and thereby improves display quality, and provides a liquid crystal display device including such a display device. The display device displays an image constituted by pixels each including sub-pixels of four or more colors, wherein the pixels constituting the display device mainly include a pixel arranging a sub-pixel of a color having the highest brightness value in a central region of the pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shoji Okazaki, Yoshihiro Okada, Kenji Nakamura, Kozo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20080316236
    Abstract: A printer that includes at least one printhead mounted to a carriage of a printing system, and a secondary ink container mounted to the carriage and which holds an ink and is in fluid communication with the at least one printhead. A pressure source in fluid communication with the secondary ink container provides a pressure to the secondary ink container during a purging operation to cause the ink to flow from the at least one printhead. The secondary ink container has a large enough volume to hold a sufficient amount of ink for a purge operation of at least about seven seconds. The secondary ink container has a minimum ink level, and an inlet that is located below the minimum ink level so as to minimize aeration of the ink as it flows through the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: John P. Duffield
  • Publication number: 20080316237
    Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus includes a print head, an ink supply unit, an ink supply flow path connecting the ink supply unit and the print head, an ink supply amount detector which detects the amount of ink supplied through the ink supply flow path, and a controller which controls a maintenance operation of the print head according to the amount of supplied ink detected by the ink supply amount detector. The controller determines the states of nozzles of the print head according to the amount of supplied ink and cleans the nozzles using supersonic waves or performs wiping and spitting of the nozzles, thereby achieving efficient maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Seong Nam JEON
  • Publication number: 20080316238
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus. Each of a plurality of first nozzle rows includes a plurality of nozzles disposed in a predetermined direction that discharge cyan or magenta liquid. Each of a plurality of second nozzle rows includes a plurality of nozzles disposed in the predetermined direction that discharge yellow liquid. The number of second nozzle rows is smaller than the number of first nozzle rows. The first nozzle rows form cyan or magenta dots at pixels on a medium. The second nozzle rows form yellow dots at pixels whose number is smaller than the number of pixels at which the first dots are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji FUKASAWA, Tsuneo KASAI, Hirokazu KASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20080316239
    Abstract: A printhead IC is provided which has an array of nozzles, drive circuitry for receiving print data and sending drive pulses of electrical energy to the array of nozzles in accordance with the print data, a temperature sensor connected to the drive circuitry to adjust the drive pulse profile in response to the temperature sensor output and open actuator test circuitry for selectively disabling the actuators when they receive a drive signal while comparing the resistance of the resistive heater to a predetermined threshold to assess whether the actuator is defective. During use, the temperature sensor can be de-activated after a period of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Brian Christopher Morahan, Alireza Moini, Timothy Peter Gillespie, Michael John Webb, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316240
    Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a CMOS-implemented control circuit for operating a micro-electromechanical inkjet nozzle arrangement of a printer. The circuit includes a plurality of sequential shift registers, a transfer register, a firing control gate and a drive transistor. The method includes the steps of transferring data from the shift register to the transfer register, latching the data in said transfer register, activating the firing control gate to arrange a heater element of the nozzle arrangement in electrical communication with a current source to facilitate ink ejection via thermal cavitation of ink in the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316241
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current. A shift register comprising a plurality of successive registers is also included. The shift register receives input data in a first register, and shifts the input data to successive registers upon receipt of a shift signal. A transfer register latches data in one of the registers of the shift register. A control gate outputs a control pulse in response to data in the transfer register. A drive transistor provides an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator upon receipt of the control pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316242
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current, a shift register comprising a plurality of successive registers, the shift register receives input data in a first register, and shifts the input data to successive registers upon receipt of a shift signal, a transfer register for latching data in one of the registers of the shift register; a control gate for outputting a control pulse in response to data in the transfer register, and a drive transistor for providing an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator upon receipt of the control pulse. Each energy pulse has a pulse voltage of less than 10 Volt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316243
    Abstract: A printhead IC is provided which has an array of nozzles, drive circuitry for receiving print data and sending drive pulses of electrical energy to the array of nozzles in accordance with the print data, and a temperature sensor connected to the drive circuitry to adjust the drive pulse profile in response to the temperature sensor output. During use, the temperature sensor can be de-activated after a period of use. The drive circuitry is configured to operate in two modes, a printing mode in which the drive pulses it generates are printing pulses, and a maintenance mode in which the drive pulses are de-clog pulses, such that, the de-clog pulse has a longer duration than the printing pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Brian Christopher Morahan, Alireza Moini, Timothy Peter Gillespie, Michael John Webb, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316244
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to photo-curable ink-jet ink compositions, systems, and methods. One exemplary ink-jet ink composition includes a liquid vehicle, a milled pigment, a photo initiator and a halogenated polyolefin. In this embodiment, the addition of the halogenated polyolefin improves adhesion to a non-porous substrate or a low surface tension substrate such as polypropylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Elena Lugassi, Amir Shapira, Or Brandstein, Liat Neeman, Eytan Cohen
  • Publication number: 20080316245
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a first image forming unit and a second image forming including a printing medium supplier which supplies a printing medium, a selection guide which selectively guides the printing medium from the printing medium supplier to one of a first supplying path of the first image forming unit and a second supplying path of the second image forming unit, and a first feed roller which is disposed between the selection guide and the printing medium supplier, and transfers the printing medium from the printing medium supplier to the selection guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-gun You, Yong-duk Lee, Dong-hun Han, Sin-ae Kim
  • Publication number: 20080316246
    Abstract: A method for calibrating as ink sense response of an optical ink sensor device in an imaging apparatus configured to facilitate optical ink sensing for an ink tank having an ink sensing window includes obtaining a calibration response to a reference reflective surface having a known reflectivity, which is associated with a printhead carrier of the imaging apparatus that carries the ink tank, using the optical ink sensor device; and calibrating the ink sense response based on the calibration response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Jason Todd McReynolds, Robert Muyskens
  • Publication number: 20080316247
    Abstract: A maintenance method for an ink jet imaging device comprises ejecting drops from a plurality of ink jets to successively form a plurality of images on the image receiver. Inter-image intervals between the ejection of drops to form one image in the plurality of images and the ejection of drops to form a successive image in the plurality of images are detected. A plurality of drops is ejected from at least a portion of the ink jets in the plurality of ink jets during at least one detected inter-image interval. The plurality of ejected drops having at least one drop ejecting characteristic selected from: a drop mass for the plurality of drops being greater than a standard drop mass; a drop ejecting frequency for the plurality of drops being lower than a standard drop ejecting frequency; and a substantially sequential drop ejecting pattern for the plurality of drops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Cellura, Elliott A. Eklund
  • Publication number: 20080316248
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to detect the temperature of an inkjet head are provided. A method of detecting the temperature of an inkjet head, comprising detecting an amount of printing data allocated to each of a plurality of unit head chips of the inkjet head, determining a detection frequency of temperature information on each of the plurality of unit head chips according to the detected amount of printing data, and detecting the temperature information on each of the plurality of unit head chips according to the determined detection frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-ho LEE, Seong-nam JEON
  • Publication number: 20080316249
    Abstract: A liquid sealing structure includes: a liquid lead-out portion which has a liquid passage and an opening end surface formed in a liquid lead-out end of the liquid passage; a sealing member which is disposed on the opening end surface inside the liquid passage; a valve mechanism which is disposed inside the sealing member in the liquid passage to close the liquid passage; and a sealing film which covers the liquid passage and the opening end surface of the liquid lead-out portion and is thermally welded to the opening end surface and the sealing member, wherein a notch portion for passing a liquid lead-out member which is inserted into the liquid passage to open the valve mechanism is formed in the sealing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Hitotoshi Kimura, Izumi Nozawa
  • Publication number: 20080316250
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a printing ink tank to contain a printing ink, a nozzle unit having a nozzle part to eject the printing ink and to move between a printing section and a cleaning section, a cleaning ink tank to contain a cleaning ink to clean the nozzle part, and a control part to control supply of the printing ink to the nozzle part when the nozzle unit is positioned in the printing section and to control supply of the cleaning ink to the nozzle part when the nozzle unit is positioned in the cleaning section. The Image forming apparatus may further include a cleaning ink collecting unit which collects the cleaning ink discharged from the nozzle part and returns the collected cleaning ink to the cleaning ink tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Jeong-seok Oh
  • Publication number: 20080316251
    Abstract: A print head cleaning device and an ink-jet image forming apparatus having the same are disclosed. The ink-jet image forming apparatus includes a print head having a nozzle part to eject an ink, and a print head cleaning device to clean the nozzle part. The print head cleaning device includes a cleaning liquid tank to store a cleaning liquid, a cleaning bath mounted below the nozzle part to be supplied with the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank, a connecting tube to connect the cleaning liquid tank to the cleaning bath, a pump connected to the connecting tube to circulate the cleaning liquid, a sensing tube mounted in a portion of the connecting tube and provided with a flow passage through which the cleaning liquid flows, a moving member mounted within the flow passage of the sensing tube so as to move by the flow of the cleaning liquid, and a sensor to sense the movement of the moving member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gun HEO
  • Publication number: 20080316252
    Abstract: An ink-jet image forming apparatus includes a main body, an ink-jet head mounted in the main body and provided with a nozzle part, and a cleaning device mounted movably along the nozzle part to clean the nozzle part. The cleaning device includes a roller to supply a cleaning liquid to the nozzle part, and a wiper to wipe the nozzle part. The ink-jet head includes a cleaning liquid nozzle to supply the cleaning liquid to the roller, and a cleaning liquid storage part to store the cleaning liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Gu Hwan NA, Heon Soo Park
  • Publication number: 20080316253
    Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus has: a liquid ejection head which includes a nozzle plate forming a nozzle surface in which nozzles ejecting droplets of a first liquid are provided; a wiping member which wipes the nozzle surface; an edge determination device which includes a determination plate with which a front tip portion of the wiping member wiping the nozzle surface can make contact, and determines an edge shape of the front tip portion of the wiping member according to a state of the determination plate; and a judgment device which judges timing of replacing the wiping member, according to the edge shape determined by the edge determination device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Hiroshi INUOE
  • Publication number: 20080316254
    Abstract: A waste ink container includes a container main body which forms a chamber to accumulate waste ink therein. An upper plate covers an upper part of the chamber and includes an opening to introduce a plurality of waste ink droplets therethrough. A waste ink containment device includes a discharge preventing unit which is adjacent to the opening and extends from the upper part of the chamber to inhibit the waste ink droplets from being discharged through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Chang-soo BYUN
  • Publication number: 20080316255
    Abstract: A flexible wiring member which connects a device and an external signal source has a plurality of wire members in which a plurality of wires are formed on one surface of a substrate, and a plurality of wire members is stacked to face the device. A plurality of bumps for connecting with the device are provided to the wires on a surface, of the wirings, facing the device. Bumps of one of the wire members overlapping with the other of the wire members face the device via the through hole formed in the other of the wire members. Accordingly, it is possible to realize high densification of wires in the flexible wiring while suppressing a rise in a cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kubo, Hirofumi Kondo
  • Publication number: 20080316256
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided for a printer system. The printhead assembly includes an elongate substrate defining a channel and spaced apart sets of ink supply holes. An ink distribution arrangement is located within the channel and is configured to distribute ink to the sets of ink supply holes. A first plate is in engagement with the substrate to hold the ink distribution arrangement within the channel. A power supply arrangement is also located within the channel. A second plate is in engagement with the substrate so that the power supply arrangement is sandwiched between the plates and held within the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy, Angus John North, Samuel George Mallinson, Mehdi Azimi
  • Publication number: 20080316257
    Abstract: An ink-jet head having a passage unit including pressure chambers each having one end coupled to a nozzle and the other end to be coupled to an ink supply source. The pressure chambers are arranged along a plane to neighbor each other. The ink-jet head further includes actuator units attached to a surface of the passage unit for changing the volume of each pressure chamber. Each actuator unit includes pressure generation portions respectively corresponding to pressure chambers, and is formed to extend over the pressure chambers. The actuator units are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the passage unit so that each neighboring actuator units partially overlap each other in the lateral direction of the passage unit. Each actuator unit has a basic region where many pressure generation portions are formed in a matrix, and an additional region neighboring the basic region in the lateral direction of the passage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Sakaida, Takeshi Asano, Atsushi Hirota
  • Publication number: 20080316258
    Abstract: A computer readable medium contains a program for causing a printer to execute a multipass printing method characterized in that, on any given pass, the number of selected print locations onto which printing ink is deposited by each of N nozzles varies from nozzle to nozzle. The variation is governed in accordance with a weighted smoothing spline function, particularly a polynomial B-spline function of the order “j”, where j is a value equal to one less than the number of passes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Cesar Leonardo Nino
  • Publication number: 20080316259
    Abstract: A multipass printing apparatus is characterized by a computer-implemented controller that controls printing operation so that, on any given pass, the number of selected print locations onto which printing ink is deposited by each of N nozzles varies from nozzle to nozzle. The variation is governed in accordance with a weighted smoothing spline function, particularly a polynomial B-spline function of the order “j”, where j is a value equal to one less than the number of passes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Cesar Leonardo Nino
  • Publication number: 20080316260
    Abstract: Provided is a pagewidth printer having an elongate bi-lithic printhead unit. The unit includes two integrated circuits laid end-to-end, each having a multitude of micro-electromechanical nozzles for operatively ejecting printing fluid, and an ink distribution plate for feeding printing fluid into apertures defined in the integrated circuits. The unit also includes an ink distribution molding defining a plurality of elongate conduits for distributing printing fluid to the plate along a length of the printhead, and an end plug configured for fitment onto an end of the distribution molding to arrange said conduits in fluid communication with ink reservoirs. The unit further includes a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to relay data signals from a printer controller to respective ends of the integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Publication number: 20080316261
    Abstract: A droplet printing apparatus using capillary electric charge concentration includes a reservoir which contains a solution, a capillary nozzle comprising a back-end part and a front-end part disposed substantially opposite the back-end part, a target member spaced apart from the front-end part of the capillary nozzle at a predetermined distance, and a voltage supplier which supplies a voltage to the solution, wherein the back-end part is immersed in the solution and transmits the solution to the front-end part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Beom-seok Lee, Jeong-gun Lee, In-seok Kang, Jin-seok Hong, Dustin Moon
  • Publication number: 20080316262
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current. A drive transistor provides an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator, and control logic controls the drive transistor. The drive transistor, control logic and inkjet nozzle covers an area of less than 20,000 ?m2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316263
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a single printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The array has a nozzle aperture density of more than 100 nozzle apertures per square millimetre and all the nozzle apertures are formed in a printhead surface layer on one face of the printhead IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316264
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The array has a nozzle aperture density of more than 100 nozzle apertures per square millimetre and all the nozzle apertures are formed in a printhead surface layer on one face of the printhead IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316265
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a single printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The printhead IC also has drive circuitry for providing the actuators with power, the drive circuitry having patterned layers of metal separated by interleaved layers of dielectric material. The layers of metal being interconnected by conductive vias, wherein the drive circuitry has more than two of the metal layers and each of the metal layers are less than 2 microns thick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316266
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The nozzle apertures each have an area less than 600 microns squared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316267
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. When printing 100% coverage at full print rate, each of the actuators has an average power consumption less than 1.5 mW.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316268
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. When printing 100% coverage at full print rate, each of the actuators has an average power consumption less than 1.5 mW.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316269
    Abstract: The invention provides for a micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead. The arrangement includes a substrate defining an inverted pyramidal ink chamber with a vertex thereof terminating at an ink supply channel defined by the substrate, said substrate having a layer of CMOS drive circuitry. The arrangement also includes a roof structure connected to the drive circuitry layer and covering the ink chamber, the roof structure defining a fluid ejection nozzle rim above said chamber. Also included is a plurality of actuators fast with and displaceable with respect to the roof structure, the actuators radially spaced about the nozzle rim between the guide rails. Each actuator has a serpentine heater element configured to expand thermally upon receiving current from the drive circuitry thereby moving said actuators into the chamber to increase a fluid pressure inside the chamber to eject a drop of ink via the ejection nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Publication number: 20080316270
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a printhead, in turn, including a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. A nozzle guard is formed from hydrophobic photoresist and is mounted to the printhead. The nozzle guard defines a plurality of channels located in register with respective nozzles so that droplets of ink from the nozzles can be bounced off internal walls of the channels during printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Publication number: 20080316271
    Abstract: Provided is nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer. The arrangement includes a wafer substrate defining a supply channel and chamber side and roof walls positioned on the substrate, said walls defining a nozzle chamber operatively supplied with ink via the supply channel, a nozzle rim defined in the roof wall. The arrangement also includes a thermal bend actuator attached to said substrate via a post, the actuator passing through a slot defined in a wall of the chamber, the actuator ending in an ejection paddle inside the chamber, said actuator configured to operatively eject ink from the nozzle chamber. The arrangement further includes a poker extending from the paddle towards the nozzle rim such that an ink meniscus is formed between the rim and the poker, as well as an actuator slot protection barrier mounted on the actuator proximate the slot and configured to reduce ink wicking on the nozzle rim during ejection of ink from the nozzle rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316272
    Abstract: An ink jet head is constituted by a recording element substrate, comprising ejection outlets for ejecting ink, to which an electrical connecting portion is provided at an outer portion of the recording element substrate; an electric wiring member having an end portion to be electrically connected to the electrical connecting portion; a supporting member comprising an outer surface, a first recess which is provided in the outer surface to accommodate the recording element substrate, and a second recess which is provided in the outer surface in a depth less than that of the first recess to accommodate the end portion of the electric wiring member; and a sealant for sealing a spacing between the second recess and the end portion of the electric wiring member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Goto
  • Publication number: 20080316273
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an electrical load and a flexible wiring member, on which a circuit element is mounted, and which transmits a signal from an external signal source to the electrical load via the circuit element, by a plurality of electroconductive wires. The flexible wiring member is a band-shaped member, and on one surface of the flexible wiring member, an output electrode for connecting to the electrical load is formed in an area facing the electrical load and a connecting electrode for mounting the circuit element is formed in a drawing area in which the electroconductive wires are drawn from the electrical load. An opening is formed in the drawing area and the flexible wiring member is folded such that the circuit element is exposed, through the opening to a side of the other surface of the flexible wiring member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20080316274
    Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a jetting head unit having a nozzle which jets liquid droplets; an electric circuit board having a wiring and a circuit component which are connected to the jetting head unit and having one surface which is electrically insulated from the wiring and the circuit component; and a box-shaped head holder which supports the jetting head unit and the electric circuit board and has an opening. The jetting head unit and the electric circuit board are electrically connected with each other in the head holder; the jetting head unit is fixed to the head holder so as to airtightly close an inside of the head holder; and the electric circuit board is fixed to the head holder to airtightly close the inside of the head holder, with the one surface of the electric circuit board facing the outside of the head holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kondo
  • Publication number: 20080316275
    Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly having a number of printhead modules each having a plurality of support members and modular printhead tiles mounted thereon with each tile having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle assemblies for operatively printing on a printing medium. The assembly also includes a ducting assembly having a laminated stack of layers, each layer of the stack having a number of apertures which, when the layers are stacked, provide ducts whereby ink is able to flow from an ink reservoir to the nozzle assemblies. Also included is a casing having a support frame in which the printhead modules are arranged so as to be removably mounted in linearly aligned relationship through removable engagement of a support member of each printhead module with the support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20080316276
    Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit (IC) for an inkjet printer. The printhead IC has a wafer substrate with drive circuitry and a plurality of nozzle arrangements located thereon. Each nozzle arrangement includes nozzle chamber structures defining a nozzle chamber and an ink ejection nozzle in fluid communication with said nozzle chamber, as well as an elongate actuator attached to the substrate for displacement towards and away from the substrate in response to actuating signals from the drive circuitry. Each arrangement also includes an ink ejection member attached to the actuator, the ejection member being positioned for acting on ink within the nozzle chamber to eject a drop of ink from the ink ejection nozzle. Each elongate actuator further includes an actuator arm of a laminated structure comprising a resiliently flexible inner layer, a conductive layer and a compensation layer, the inner layer being interposed between the conductive and compensation layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20080316277
    Abstract: A micro-fluid ejection head and method for reducing a stagger pattern distance and improving droplet placement, on a receiving medium. The micro-fluid ejection head includes a substrate containing a plurality of ejection actuators on a device surface thereof and a fluid supply slot for providing fluid to be ejected by the micro-fluid ejection head. The ejection head also includes a flow feature component in flow communication with the fluid supply slot and configured for providing fluid ejection chambers and fluid supply channels for the fluid ejection chambers. Adjacent first and second ejection actuators in a substantially linear array of ejection actuators are each spaced a first distance from the fluid supply slot and second and third ejection actuators in the linear array of ejection actuators are each spaced a second distance from the fluid supply slot that is less than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: John Glenn Edelen, George Keith Parish, James Harold Powers
  • Publication number: 20080316278
    Abstract: An ink jet print head is provided having an ink chamber and a nozzle plate closing the ink chamber at an end comprising a nozzle for ejecting a drop of ink through it. The nozzle plate further includes an ink path for flowing an ink through in a direction parallel with the nozzle plate and passing the inner end of the nozzle. This ink flow is in excess of that required for replenishing the ejected drops of ink in the ink chamber and may flow continuously passed the inner end of the nozzle and along the ink path to refresh the ink that is used for ejecting through the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Xaar plc of Science Park
    Inventor: Patrick Van Den Bergen
  • Publication number: 20080316279
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a nozzle plate having a nozzle that ejects liquid drops, an actuator that deforms a portion of the nozzle plate surrounding the nozzle with heat, and a flow path member opposing the nozzle plate, which forms a flow path for guiding liquid to the nozzle. A fluidity resistance path is provided in the flow path between a nozzle plate portion surrounding the nozzle and a portion of the flow path member opposing the nozzle plate portion. A fluidity resistance of the fluidity resistance path is changed by deforming the nozzle plate portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Takemoto, Yasuhisa Kato, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Minori Ichimura, Manabu Izumikawa
  • Publication number: 20080316280
    Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes: a plurality of nozzles that discharge liquid droplets; and a plurality of piezoelectric elements that generate pressure for discharging liquid droplets from the respective nozzles, wherein the piezoelectric elements are performed with repolarization process to set non-uniformity of the droplet discharging characteristics of the nozzles to be in a predetermined range by combining adjustment of a polarization sensitivity and adjustment of a polarization voltage for each of the piezoelectric elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: RICOH PRINTING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tokahiro Yamada, Tomohiko Koda, Hitoshi Kida
  • Publication number: 20080316281
    Abstract: Contemplated printheads include a piezoelectric material in which a channel is formed across the piezoelectric material to thereby create at least part of the nozzle through which ink is expelled from the inside of the printhead to the outside. Contemplated nozzles may be configured as cylindrical elements or ring-shape elements. Consequently, application of a voltage across the piezoelectric channel may result in constriction of the cylindrical element or convex/concave deformation of the ring-shape element. Most preferably, the piezoelectric material, conductive traces, and supporting structures are applied from a liquid phase to a carrier, and shaped using photolithographic methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: MVM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Loyer
  • Publication number: 20080316282
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit; a main chassis case; a fluid-containing pack; a container case; and a plurality of holders. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The main chassis case houses the fluid ejection unit. The fluid-containing pack contains a fluid for ejection. The container case houses the fluid-containing pack. The plurality of holders is disposed inside the container case. Each of a plurality of holders includes an incline panel that inclines toward the inside base plane, and the fluid-containing pack rests on the incline panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuro Osawa, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Etsuo Tsuji, Masayuki Horikawa, Tsutomo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080316283
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid container; a fluid ejection unit; a delivery needle; a guard cover; and a guide. The fluid container includes a container portion and a withdrawal portion. The container portion contains a fluid for ejection, and the withdrawal portion allows withdrawal of the fluid contained in the container portion. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The delivery needle provides a flow passage which communicates with the fluid ejection unit. The guard cover projects over the delivery needle. The guide mates with the fluid container, and then slidably guides the withdrawal portion toward a locking position where the delivery needle sticks through the withdrawal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuro OSAWA, Hiroyuki Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20080316284
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit, a main chassis case, a fluid-containing pack, and a container case. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The main chassis case houses the fluid ejection unit. The fluid-containing pack contains a fluid for ejection. The container case houses the fluid-containing pack. The container case is pivotably attached to the main chassis case and openable by rotation about a rotation shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuro OSAWA, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Etsuo Tsuji, Masayuki Horikawa, Tsutomu Yamamoto