Patents Issued in December 1, 2009
  • Patent number: 7625021
    Abstract: A bumper cover assembly includes a resin panel, a fastener and a retainer. The panel has an inner surface. The fastener extends outwardly from a vehicle body. The retainer is fixedly secured to the inner surface of the resin panel. The retainer includes a hole for receiving the fastener therethrough, so as to fixedly secure the resin panel to the body of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Umesh Naik, Brian Lindsay, Eric Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 7625022
    Abstract: A bumper assembly for a vehicle and the associated vehicle comprising this bumper assembly are described. The vehicle comprises a chassis. The bumper assembly comprises: a bumper core. The bumper core, in turn, comprises: a first cross member made of a first thermoplastic material and a first and a second substantially undeformable connection device for rigidly fixing the first cross member to the chassis of the vehicle. The first and the second substantially undeformable connection devices co-operate with the first cross member. The bumper core also comprises a second cross member and at least one shock absorbing element arranged between the first cross member and the second cross member. The second cross member is connected to said first and second substantially undeformable connection devices or it is formed as one piece with said substantially undeformable connection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Avelda S.r.l.
    Inventors: Jean Louis Toneatti, Mario Vismara
  • Patent number: 7625023
    Abstract: A modular energy absorber 10 that is tunable. It comprises one or more energy absorbing modules 12. The energy absorbing modules 12 have means for coordinating 14 energy absorbing units 16 of the one or more modules. The means 14 for coordinating position and support the units 16 in relation to each other before and during relative motion between an incident object and the energy absorber. The units 16 are provided with an upper perimeter 22, a lower perimeter 24 and an intermediate wall 26 with stiffening male 36 or female 38 ribs. A method for configuring and for making the modular energy absorber are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Oakwood Energy Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Francois Audi, Ryan Johnson Brooks, Joel Matthew Cormier, Donald Scott Smith, Michael Anthony Rossi
  • Patent number: 7625024
    Abstract: A lifting lug apparatus comprises a mounting plate adapted for attachment to an upper portion of an object to be lifted. A lifting lug defines a hook aperture and is pivotally attached to the mounting plate such that the hook aperture is movable from a lateral position, wherein the hook aperture is oriented in a lateral plane extending outward from the mounting plate and outward from an attached object to be lifted, to an upright position, wherein the hook aperture is oriented in an upright plane extending upward from the mounting plate. The lifting lug is biased toward the lateral position so that a lifting hook can conveniently be engaged in the hook aperture and when the object is lifted the lifting lug pivots upward to reduce stress on the connection between the lifting lug and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventors: Hal Wright, Murray MacDonald
  • Patent number: 7625025
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for picking up dog waste has a container and plurality of claw elements moveable from a first position entirely within the container and a second position outside the container and spaced apart. In retrieving dog waste, the claws may be retracted radially to underlie such waste, and then be axially raised into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Bijan Zahedi
  • Patent number: 7625026
    Abstract: An animal litter collector, comprising a foldable board and a foldable bag having an opening, wherein the foldable board is thin, flat and elongated having a receptacle portion at one end for receiving animal litter, a handle portion in the middle for holding with the human hand and a fastening portion at the other end with a fastener for closing the opening of the foldable bag by fixing it in place; one side of the opening of the foldable bag is fixed onto the fastening portion of the board, and the fastener of the fastening portion is in shape and position that can engage with the other side of the opening to fix it in place and keep the opening closed after animal litter is disposed inside the foldable bag. The present invention is to provide an animal litter collector which is portable, simple and easy to use, and is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture and an affordable price of sale, and can effectively pick up and hold the litter for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Design Manufacture Limited
    Inventor: Tung Yan Lau
  • Patent number: 7625027
    Abstract: An end effector for a robot arm couples to the arm at a mounting fixture. The end effector includes a first paddle head assembly, the assembly including a paddle head and a solenoid controlling extension and retraction of the paddle head away from and toward the mounting fixture. In addition, the effector includes a vacuum region positioned in the first paddle head assembly adapted to receive a disk and coupled to an extendable vacuum arm. A method for operating a dual paddle end effector includes the steps of: connecting at least a first paddle head assembly including a paddle head to a robotic arm; positioning the arm adjacent to a disk in a carrier; and providing a vacuum suction to a vacuum region in the paddle head assembly sufficient to lift the disk into the vacuum region in the paddle head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Aries Innovations
    Inventors: Jubin Kiaie, Alex Dadiomov
  • Patent number: 7625028
    Abstract: A flipping double tweezers having a stationary and a movable tweezers. Each tweezers is formed from two elongated plates or molded as a single piece and has a tweezer head including a pincer and its tips and a fused rear section. The rear section of the stationary and the movable tweezers are designed to connect the tweezers and form a flipping mechanism whereby the movable tweezers can swing along a 180 degree orbit relative to the stationary tweezers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Yong Hoon Cho
  • Patent number: 7625029
    Abstract: A bag grip includes a movable jaw for securing handles of plastic or other bags therein. A battery powered light is contained within the body of the grip for use at night or other times when artificial light is required. The grip is molded from a conventional durable plastic and will allow the user to easily, manually transport multiple shopping or other bags having handles. A shoulder strap is attached to the body for additional convenience while carrying heavy loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Edison Nation, LLC
    Inventor: James H. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7625030
    Abstract: In order to reduce torsional vibrations and wheel slip in a wheel set for a rail vehicle the wheel set comprising a pair of wheels connected by an axle is provided with a vibration absorbing device comprising a mass, resiliently mounted on the wheel set and adapted to oscillate at the resonant frequency of torsional vibrations of the wheel/axle system. A method of preventing or reducing torsional vibrations in a wheel set of a rail vehicle is also disclosed, the method comprising determining the resonant frequency of torsional vibrations of the wheel/axle system and resiliently mounting a vibration absorbing device in the form of a mass, on the wheel set, the mass and its resilient mounting being selected to oscillate at or near that resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation
    Inventors: Guido Bieker, Heinz Dieter Dörner
  • Patent number: 7625031
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a selectively detachable tailgate cable assembly comprises a tailgate cable having first and second ends and a wiring harness having first and second ends. One of the first and second ends of the tailgate cable is connected to a portion of a vehicle and the other of the first and second ends of the tailgate cable is connected to a portion of a tailgate. At least one of the first and second ends of the tailgate cable may be selectively detached from either the vehicle or the tailgate. One of the first and second ends of the wiring harness is operatively connected to a power source and the other of the first and second ends of the wiring harness is connected to an electrical connection positioned on a portion of the tailgate. At least one of the first and second ends of the wiring harness may be selectively detached from either the vehicle or the tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin G. Ohly
  • Patent number: 7625032
    Abstract: A passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger automobile, is provided having a dashboard, which has a lower cover connected thereto, and having a carpet laid out in the foot well of the vehicle, which is situated raised up from the foot well floor in the area of a forward front wall of the vehicle. In this passenger compartment, the carpet is provided with at least one molded-on support for the forward area of the cover of the dashboard in its raised area. A simple, and also secure mounting of a lower cover for a dashboard, which is rapid to mount, is provided in this way in a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Thilo Schäfer
  • Patent number: 7625033
    Abstract: A latching assembly for attaching an accessory such as a canopy to a wagon or other children's vehicle. Body tubes are positioned within each corner of the wagon and each features an exposed annular notch. The body tubes are engaged by latches attached to the four corner poles of the canopy. Each latch includes a housing within which pivoting latch fingers reside. Each latch finger includes button and jaw portions as well as leaf springs that urge the jaw portions into engagement with the annular notch of a corresponding body tube. A latch may be removed from the body tube by squeezing the button portions of the latch fingers together. This procedure is repeated for the remaining three corners of the wagon so that the canopy may be removed there from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Radio Flyer, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Michelau, Timothy Seckel
  • Patent number: 7625034
    Abstract: A semi-trailer or other cargo vehicle enclosure includes a rearward end portion extending between opposite left and right sidewalls. The sidewalls include vertically extending rearward corner portions that define air passageways for directing rearwardly flowing air from alongside the sidewalls toward a region of low pressure behind the rearward end portion of the enclosure. Preferably, the rearward corner portions include vertically extending rearward corner posts and deflector components that are formed to cooperatively define circularly shaped passageways for gradual air-flow redirection, with the sidewall exterior surfaces and the deflector exterior surfaces being within prescribed maximum semi-trailer widths while the interior corner post spacing does not reduce the usual width of semi-trailer cargo space. Bi-folding doors open to wide-open positions that clear the deflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: James P. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 7625035
    Abstract: A vehicle air guiding system in a rear area of the vehicle has a central air guiding element displaceable between a moved-in inoperative position into a moved-out operative position. Lateral air guiding elements, which are displaceable together with the central air guiding element, are telescopically displaceable relative to the central air guiding element while enlarging the transverse dimension of the air guiding system transversely to vehicle longitudinal direction from an also moved-in inoperative position into an also moved-out operative position. In the inoperative position, the lateral air guiding elements are pushed over the central air guiding element so that they rest against one another by way of the end sections and completely cover or envelop the central air guiding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Josip Vlahovic
  • Patent number: 7625036
    Abstract: A multi-sectional, modular energy absorber 10 comprising one or more modules, which have one or more energy absorbing units 12. Some have a first section 14 and a second section 16 that are united like a clamshell to form the energy absorbing unit 12. There is a means for locating the sections 18 in relation to each other. First and second flange sections 20,22 extend from at least some of the first and second sections. There are means for coordinating energy absorbing units 24 in one of the one or more modules, the means for coordinating 24 having a topography including a number (n) of apertures 26 defined therein, where n is an integer ?0. At least some of the sections include an upper perimeter 28, a lower perimeter 30 and an intermediate wall 32 extending therebetween with a number (m) of breaches defined in the intermediate wall before impact, where m is an integer ?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Oakwood Energy Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Matthew Cormier, Ryan Johnson Brooks, Richard Francois Audi
  • Patent number: 7625037
    Abstract: The invention concerns a vehicle body panel. The vehicle body panel, such as a floor pan, may have a generally planar portion adapted to be located adjacent to and conceal a vehicle component, such as a fuel pump module. An access portion is located within and extends out of plane of the generally planar portion, and includes a periphery, wherein the access portion is integral with the generally planar portion. Also, a cutting guide feature extends around it adjacent to the periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gollehur, Stephen H. Miller, Marcel R. Cannon, John T. Freiwald, Steven P. Balgaard, Charles E. Jensen, Anthony J. Brower
  • Patent number: 7625038
    Abstract: A side door grommet is formed in an L-shaped configuration to be seated in a side door between the primary and secondary door seals to release air pressure experienced when the side door is closed against the body shell. The grommet includes an L-shaped tube that allows air to pass into the interior of the side door and bends downwardly to prevent the passage of water from the interior of the side door through the grommet tube into the sealed area of the side door. A grill is mounted in the grommet to prevent the passage of small fingers and/or toys through the grommet into the interior of the side door. The release of the air bind between the primary and secondary seals allows the side door to be closed with a minimum of effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Moccio, Paul Repp, Thomas Leung
  • Patent number: 7625039
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate to a vehicle seat assembly supportable on a floor of a vehicle having a battery pack disposed behind the vehicle seat, operable to help cool the battery pack, a vehicle battery pack cooling system, and a method of cooling a vehicle battery pack. In at least one embodiment, the vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat bottom comprising a structural support portion made of a first material and a foam seat cushion supported on the structural support portion, with the first material being more resilient than the foam. The structural support portion is supportable on the vehicle floor and, when supported on the floor, communicates with the vehicle floor to form an air flow passage extending under the seat bottom to provide air flow to the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Brent R. Mangiapane, Kurt Dettloff
  • Patent number: 7625040
    Abstract: A frame for a vehicle sliding sunroof or tilt-slide sunroof is proposed, comprising at least one single-piece frame base element (22), that is embodied as a plastic injection-molded piece and comprises at least one front frame piece (24) and two side stringers (26, 28) that are directed in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. For formation of a light and stiff frame, the frame base element (22) according to the invention is embodied as a composite component, and provided with at least one profile- or cup-shaped inserted piece (38, 40) that serves as a reinforcing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Martin Pollak, Mathias Rainer, Boris Koch
  • Patent number: 7625041
    Abstract: A multifunction saddle structure, designed to be anchored to a bicycle frame. Includes a tapered front portion and a widened rear portion. Quick-connection means are provided for connection of bicycle accessories to the rear portion. The structure further has an ergonomically shaped peripheral edge, which is at least partly beveled and rounded and has no sharp edges, to define a comfortable and safe grip for a user to enable lifting and handling of the bicycle. The quick-connection means are located along the shaped edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Selle Royal SpA
    Inventor: Barbara Bigolin
  • Patent number: 7625042
    Abstract: The invention relates to a remote mechanism and systems including a remote mechanism for securing a chair to a game machine and for effecting release of the chair from the game machine. The present mechanisms and systems are adapted to be used in conjunction with conventional and novel quick release bracket apparatus and provide remote locking and unlocking mechanisms therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Top Line Seating Inc.
    Inventor: Norman Friedrich
  • Patent number: 7625043
    Abstract: A car seat is formed with a seat member pivotally connected to a base member for positional adjustment in desired reclined positions controlled by an intuitively operable adjustment mechanism. The seat back is pivotally connected to the seat member to be oriented in a shipping position or an operative position. A latching mechanism secures the seat back to the seat member in the operative position. The seat back is provided with a head rest that is vertically movable relative to the seat back to uncover routing openings in the seat back as the child grows and the head rest is positioned accordingly. The harness is routed through selected routing openings in the seat back before passing over a hanger at the top of the seat back so that the length of the harness remains constant irrespective of the positioning of the harness in conjunction with the size of the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Curtis M. Hartenstine, Sharon A. Gillett, Robert E. Haut
  • Patent number: 7625044
    Abstract: Chair backrest, comprising a support structure constituted by a single piece of injected plastic material, including a bearing section having a front surface against which a user's back is to bear. The bearing section has an opening that extends in a lumbar region of the front surface. The backrest comprises a lumbar support panel movably positioned in said opening. The lumbar support panel has a front surface against which a lumbar region of the user's back is to bear and it has an outer perimeter that is connected to the edge of said opening by means of an elastic element that tends to thrust the support panel towards a position in which the front surface of the lumbar support panel projects anteriorly relative to the front surface of said bearing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Pro-Cord S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Piretti
  • Patent number: 7625045
    Abstract: A task chair, including a backrest assembly and a seat assembly pivotally coupled both to one another and to side portions of a fixed yoke member for synchronized movement, in which the seat of the seat assembly moves upwardly and forwardly concurrently with recline of the backrest of the backrest assembly. The chair further includes a tension assembly including an elongate tension member, such as a leaf spring, secured at one end thereof to the yoke member, and a contact member, such as a contact roller, adjustably mounted to the seat assembly. The contact member engages the tension member such that the tension member resists recline of the backrest assembly and concurrent movement of the seat assembly from their initial positions, and also provides a restoring force which tends to move the backrest to its initial upright position and the seat to its initial rearward and lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Kimball International, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Hatcher, Michael L. Deimen
  • Patent number: 7625046
    Abstract: The present invention relates to task chairs that support the body of the user in healthy positions while the user performs various tasks over extended sitting periods and that provide independent and independently adjustable support to the lower and the upper back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Garrex LLC
    Inventor: Gary L. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7625047
    Abstract: A kit for use in producing a three-dimensional article from flat cardboard sheets, includes: a cardboard assembly of flat cardboard sheets, each cut according to a predetermined configuration and formed with a predetermined arrangement of fold lines such as to permit the cardboard assembly to be folded from a flat condition for shipping and handling, to a three-dimensional condition defining a three-dimensional article having dimensional stability, structural rigidity and a pleasing appearance. Disclosed, for purposes of example, are kits for producing a stool, a chair, a desk and a table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Krooom Ltd.
    Inventor: Nitzan Bertele
  • Patent number: 7625048
    Abstract: A four-point seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat is disclosed. Two shoulder belts are provided which are buckled together with a pair of lap belts. The convergence of the shoulder belts created at the buckles defines a V-shaped configuration which aids in occupant safety and comfort. Movably-adjustable retractors are provided to anchor the upper end of each shoulder belt to the vehicle seat. A movable headrest having a pair of laterally-adjustable belt loops is provided to further enhance occupant security and comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen William Rouhana, Paul George Bedewi, Dean M Jaradi, Kirsten Marie Carr, John L. Sullivan, Tiffani Michelle Natalini-Whitmore, Sundeep Venkat Kankanala
  • Patent number: 7625049
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber crawler used for a running unit of a vehicle for farm work, or civil engineering/construction work. Core bars are embedded with a constant spacing in a lengthwise direction of the rubber crawler without steel cords. A closed-loop opening is formed in each of left and right wing portions, which are of a rubber embedding portion of a core bar. The edge portions of the closed-loop openings of the adjacent core bars are fitted into fitting portions with a coupling body including the fitting portions in which both ends are opened in an inward direction. The edge portions are connected with each other at the coupling body to make the coupling body as a counter-tensile material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 7625050
    Abstract: An individual replacement drive or guide lug for missing or worn lugs located on an inner circumference of various endless rubber tracks used on multi-surface vehicles. The lug comprises a body and a fastening including a bolt and washer. To install the drive lug properly, an inner surface of the track where the original vulcanized rubber drive lug was located must be prepared. When the original drive lug fails, it leaves an irregular surface and must be ground flat with the inner track belt substrate. The bolts are then secured through the track and the as to removably secure the lug to the inner surface of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Bair Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Bair
  • Patent number: 7625051
    Abstract: An adjustable mounting bracket is provided which includes an adjuster passing through an aperture of the bracket. The adjuster is moveable within the aperture, allowing an adjustment between the bracket and a cabinet member or a drawer member to which the adjuster is secured. Once properly adjusted, the bracket, which is coupled to a drawer slide or drawer panel, can be secured to the cabinet member or drawer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Accuride International, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Kim
  • Patent number: 7625052
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a container moving system for a refrigerator are provided. The refrigerator includes a main body including at least one chamber; a container disposed in the chamber, the container being movable along a first direction and along a second direction; a door located on the main body, the container being moveable along the first direction by moving the door along the first direction; a motor, the container being movable along the second direction by the motor; and a battery electrically connected to the motor to supply power to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Oh Kim, Seung Hwan Oh, Kyung Han Jeong
  • Patent number: 7625053
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink jet recording head in which a volume of a pressure chamber is caused to vary by deflecting actuators according to drive signals applied between an electrode formed in a pressure chamber (9c) from which ink is to be ejected and electrodes formed in two pressure chambers adjacent the former, and a drive signal generator that generates drive signals for driving the recording head in the time-divisional drive method. The drive signals are applied to electrodes formed in pressure chambers 9a, 9b, 9d, and 9e, from which ink is not to be ejected so that pressure vibrations derivatively generated in the adjacent pressure chambers 9b and 9d are evenly dispersed to the pressure chambers 9a, 9b, 9d, and 9e. Thus, dropping of velocities of ink droplets that are subsequently ejected can be prevented and thereby printing quality can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoka Takanose, Ryutaro Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 7625054
    Abstract: A printer (100) has or obtains information from one or more of its components, the information being related to the performance of the relevant component. The performance level of the entire device is set at least partially based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7625055
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes a conveyor unit that conveys a recording medium, liquid droplet ejection head that records an image by ejecting liquid droplets onto the recording medium conveyed by the conveyor unit, and a controller that increases or decreases ejection timing of the liquid droplet ejection head in amounts equal to a correction time determined based on conveyance speed data of the conveyor unit such that a shift amount generated in a period from when the liquid droplet is ejected to when the liquid droplet lands on the recording medium becomes constant with respect to a reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masami Furuya
  • Patent number: 7625056
    Abstract: There is disclosed a head driving device which drives a plurality of pressure generating elements for generating pressure fluctuation in a jetted object contained in each of associated pressure chambers formed in a jetting head of a jetting apparatus to eject the jetted object from each of nozzles communicated with the associated pressure chambers. In the device, a head driver generates a drive signal which is selectively applied to at least one of the pressure generating elements to be driven. A bias potential provider selectively applies a bias potential to at least one of the pressure generating elements not to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takakazu Fukano, Noboru Tamura
  • Patent number: 7625057
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting ejection timing including: forming adjustment patterns on a medium by shifting relative ejection timings of liquid droplets from a first nozzle row and a second nozzle row lined up in a direction intersecting a row direction in which nozzles of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are lined up, while shifting the first nozzle and the second nozzle in respect to the medium in the intersecting direction of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row; and determining adjustment amounts of relative ejection timings of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row based on the adjustment patterns, wherein the adjustment patterns are formed in the intersecting direction in a plural number separated from each other by a predetermined distance, and the ejection timing is adjusted based on an average of the adjustment amounts determined based on the adjustment patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Koase
  • Patent number: 7625058
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording head which includes nozzles, a paper feeding mechanism which feeds a recording medium to the recording head, a paper discharge mechanism which discharges the recording medium from the recording head, a detecting mechanism which detects a change occurred in the paper feeding mechanism or the paper discharge mechanism, a recovery mechanism which recovers a jetting state of the nozzles, a timer which measures a time elapsed after the recovery operation is carried out, and a controller which controls the recovery mechanism according to the elapsed time. When the recovery operation for the nozzles is necessary, an operation preceding the recording operation is detected, and the recovery operation is carried out promptly before the recording operation, thereby shortening a waiting time of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisaki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7625059
    Abstract: A container having a non-planar external surface and a digital image printed thereon by ink droplets is provided. The ink droplets may vary in diameter from about 10 to about 200 microns and the droplets may range from about 200 to about 1200 drops per inch. Methods for digital printing plastic containers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Uptergrove
  • Patent number: 7625060
    Abstract: An ink cartridge 111 holding a recording material used for printing therein has a sensor substitute module 170 to simulate operations of a cartridge having a built-in sensor. As a control circuit 222 of a printer 200 gives a sensor access instruction to the ink cartridge 111, the sensor substitute module 170 generates a specific signal and outputs the specific signal via an output module 178. The specified signal is equivalent to a signal that represents a sufficient level of remaining ink and is expected to be output from the built-in sensor of the cartridge. The ink cartridge 111 is thus applicable to both a printer designed for the use of a cartridge with a built-in sensor and a printer designed for the use of a cartridge without a built-in sensor. Namely the cartridge of the invention is compatible with the cartridge having the built-in sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kosugi, Toshihisa Saruta
  • Patent number: 7625061
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7625062
    Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus including an inkjet head including a nozzle portion having a length in a main scanning direction that is at least the same as a width of a paper to be fed therein, a platen to move between a printing position facing the nozzle portion and to support a rear surface of paper and a maintenance position that is apart from the printing position in a sub-scanning direction, and including a receiving portion to receive waste ink, a waste ink container, and a pumping unit to operate by linking with a moving operation of the platen to pump the waste ink from the receiving portion to the waste ink container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youn-gun Jung, Dong-woo Ha
  • Patent number: 7625063
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a first apparatus is provided for inkjet printing. The first apparatus includes an inkjet head support that includes a plurality of inkjet heads. A first inkjet head of the plurality of inkjet heads is adapted to be independently moveable in both directions along a lateral axis relative to a second inkjet head of the plurality of inkjet heads. The first apparatus also includes a system controller adapted to control an independent lateral movement of the first inkjet head relative to the second inkjet head. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. White, Fan Cheung Sze, Quanyuan Shang, Shinichi Kurita, Hongbin Ji, Janusz Jozwiak, Inchen Huang, Emanual Beer
  • Patent number: 7625064
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table facing a drawing area by an X-axis table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes a periodic flushing unit which is disposed on a main scan moving axis at a position offset from the drawing area towards the main scanning direction and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head during non-drawing time and a pre-drawing flushing unit which is disposed adjacent to the set table and faces the drawing area and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head performed immediately before starting the drawing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Kojima
  • Patent number: 7625065
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet print head that allows for a fast printing of high-density, high-quality images without increasing cost and size of the print head. To this end, the ink jet print head has orifices for ejecting ink of a first volume and orifices for ejecting ink of a second volume, the second volume being smaller than the first volume. Further, the number of orifices for first-volume ink per unit length is greater than the number of orifices for second-volume ink per unit length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kanda, Toshiyuki Chikuma, Jiro Moriyama
  • Patent number: 7625066
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus including a plurality of nozzle groups each formed of nozzles for ejecting the same fluid arranged in group, the nozzles being provided with openings for ejecting fluid, to cause the plurality of nozzle groups to separately eject a plurality of fluids to mix the fluids in areas on the extending lines of the nozzles, wherein the openings of the nozzles forming the nozzle groups are arranged along annular loci and the plurality of nozzle groups are arranged coaxially to each other, a plurality of supplying channels for supplying the plurality of fluids to the nozzle groups corresponding to the plurality of nozzle groups are annular in cross section in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which fluid supplied to the supplying channels flows and arranged coaxially to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Teshima, Kazumichi Nakahama, Yukio Hanyu
  • Patent number: 7625067
    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 channel length of the drive transistor is less than 1 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7625068
    Abstract: A printhead for an Inkjet Printer is disclosed. The printhead has a large number of nozzle assemblies. Each nozzle assembly has 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 for providing an energy pulse to the resistive element of said actuator, and control logic for controlling said drive transistor. Nozzles are spaced from other nozzles ejecting ink of a same color by less than 25 ?m in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of a print media upon which ink is ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7625069
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a substrate having an energy generating element configured to generate energy required to discharge liquid, a discharge port configured to discharge the liquid and provided in an opposed relationship to the energy generating element, a wall member defining a chamber adapted to store the energy required to discharge liquid the energy being generated by the energy generating element, a discharge portion defining a fluid path connecting the chamber and the discharge port, a supply path facilitating supplying the liquid into the chamber, and a pair of hollow portions provided in the wall member, wherein the hollow portions oppose each other and sandwich at least the entire discharge port in a direction from the discharge port to the substrate, and the hollow portions are independent of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naozumi Nabeshima, Toru Yamane, Takumi Suzuki, Masahiko Kubota, Tamaki Sato, Ryoji Kanri, Maki Hatta, Kazuhiro Asai
  • Patent number: 7625070
    Abstract: The liquid ejection head including: a plurality of ejection ports which eject liquid to a recording medium; a plurality of pressure chambers which are connected respectively to the ejection ports; a plurality of piezoelectric elements which respectively deform the pressure chambers and are provided on a side of the pressure chambers opposite to a side on which the ejection ports are formed; a common liquid chamber which is provided on the side of the pressure chambers opposite to the side on which the ejection ports are formed; and a plurality of wiring members which are formed in such a manner that at least a portion thereof rises upward through the common liquid chamber in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to a surface on which the piezoelectric elements are disposed, each of the wiring members containing driving wires through which driving signals are applied respectively to at least two of the piezoelectric elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiya Kojima