Patents Issued in January 12, 2010
  • Patent number: 7644987
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly that includes a seatback frame and an active head restraint system operatively supported by the seatback frame. The active head restraint system includes an upper armature moveably mounted to the seatback frame and a head restraint mounted to the upper armature. The active head restraint system also includes a lower armature operatively attached to the upper armature. The lower armature is operable to move toward the upper armature in response to a predetermined force applied to the lower armature and act on the upper armature to move the head restraint toward the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mladen Humer, Nagarjun Yetukuri, Gerald Locke, Dale Smallwood
  • Patent number: 7644988
    Abstract: A highchair assembly includes a seat supported by a plurality of legs with an upstanding back wall and opposite first and second side walls. An access device is mounted to one of the side walls. The access device has an upper end located generally at the one side wall and the lower end for placement on a support surface. A child can enter and exit the highchair through use of the access device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Raphael John Kolenko
  • Patent number: 7644989
    Abstract: Pivot mechanism incorporating first and second rigid plates interconnected by a hypocycloid gear train, the first plate being formed in one piece with a circular toothing belonging to the hypocycloid gear train. A seat frame is fixed to the first plate by a weld located at the position of the toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile
    Inventor: François Baloche Faurecia
  • Patent number: 7644990
    Abstract: A personal support apparatus for supporting the head and body of a person sleeping in a seated position includes a generally U-shaped collar member for contacting the wearer's neck from the back, with the collar being made from a soft resilient material that retains its shape, and first and second side arm support members permanently or reversibly and adjustably attached to the collar, with the side arm support members being made from a soft malleable material that reversibly conforms to the contours of the passenger's body and/or the vehicle seat or other surface, the first and second side arm support members being characterized by a first level of firmness, and the collar member being characterized by a second level of firmness that is greater than the first level of firmness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Jon D. Pearson
  • Patent number: 7644991
    Abstract: A chair for offices and the like includes at least one armrest that can be folded from a generally upright position to a folded position and visa-versa. The folding mechanism has a thin profile, thereby minimizing the thickness of the armrest and providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance. A cover for the armrest includes an elastic material that stretches to accommodate folding, and also contracts to reduce or eliminate wrinkles. The folding mechanism may bias the armrest to the folded position to overcome forces generated by stretching of the cover when the armrest is folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Judy G. Davis, Dickon Isaacs, Jonathan I. Kaplan, Kurtis K. Kemper, Jon H. LeFors, Thomas Overthun, David J. Rinaldis, Robert L. Stewart, James R. Yurchenco
  • Patent number: 7644992
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat with an underframe comprising two pairs of rails, each having a seat rail and a floor rail, a seat belt and a seat belt retractor. The seat further comprises a tie bar for the seat belt retractor, the tie bar extending from the one seat rail to the other seat rail and is connected to the respective one of the seat rails. The seat belt retractor is connected to the tie bar and, in one embodiment, is disposed beneath the tie bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Wilfried Beneker, Frank Peters
  • Patent number: 7644993
    Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface organic-rich rock formation, for example an oil shale formation, in which the oil shale formation contains water-soluble minerals, for example nahcolite, is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of heating the organic-rich rock formation in situ. Optionally, this heating step may be performed prior to any substantial removal of water-soluble minerals from the organic-rich rock formation. In accordance with the method, the heating of the organic-rich rock formation both pyrolyzes at least a portion of the formation hydrocarbons, for example kerogen, to create hydrocarbon fluids, and converts at least a portion of the water-soluble minerals, for example, converts nahcolite to soda ash. Thereafter, the hydrocarbon fluids are produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Kaminsky, William A. Symington, Jesse D. Yeakel, Michele M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7644994
    Abstract: In a construction machine 1 for the treatment of ground surfaces, comprising a chassis 2 carrying a machine frame 4, a drive motor 6, a work drum 8 supported on the machine frame 4 and having exchangeable tools 14 fastened to its outer surface 12, and a drive line 18 for the work drum 8 comprising at least the drive motor 6 and a transmission coupled to the drive motor 6, it is provided that an auxiliary drive 20, adapted to be coupled to the drive line 18, is arranged to rotate the work drum 8 in the raised condition of the drum by a predetermined or selectable rotational angle, the torque of the auxiliary drive 20 being higher than the moment of inertia of the work drum 8 and of the drive line 18 in the switched-off or decoupled state of the drive motor 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Busley, Olaf Gaertner, Dieter Simons
  • Patent number: 7644995
    Abstract: The speed of an ABS pump motor is increased during an ABS braking cycle upon determining that an extended ABS braking cycle duration is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Mark Haller
  • Patent number: 7644996
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the unintended rolling of a rolling stock, the rolling stock having a driver park brake, and an in-vehicle network for signals transmission, the method comprises the steps of selecting among the signals transmitted over the in-vehicle network, a set of predefined signals, then analyzing the status of the selected signals to determine a regulation process to be applied to the rolling stock, and monitoring the regulation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Francis Bredin
  • Patent number: 7644997
    Abstract: A fill-up device of a master cylinder is included in a hydraulic brake system for an automotive vehicle and generates a hydraulic pressure corresponding to an operation of a brake operating member. A coupled switching valve is switched by being mechanically coupled with movement of a piston relative to a housing. The coupled switching valve is in a first state where a fill-up chamber is in communication with a reservoir via a relief valve until the piston is advanced by a predetermined distance from a rearmost position, and switched to a second state where the fill-up chamber is in direct communication with the reservoir via the communication passage without the relief valve disposed therebetween when the piston is advanced by a distance larger than the predetermined distance. Thus, the hydraulic pressure in the fill-up chamber rapidly decreases, and the hydraulic pressure in pressure chambers rapidly increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isono
  • Patent number: 7644998
    Abstract: Even in the case that at least one braking force generating function fails, it is possible to secure a maximum braking force as well as suppressing a yaw moment generated on the basis of the failure as much as possible even at a time when whatever braking force is requested, A target braking force to a normal brake apparatus is calculated on the basis of a result of detection by a malfunction detecting portion, in such a manner that a total of braking forces generated in the brake apparatuses in respective wheels becomes as equal as possible to a requested braking force, at a time when a malfunction is generated in the brake apparatus or a braking force control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimio Nishino, Toshiharu Sugawara, Kenichiro Matsubara, Toshiyuki Innami, Hitoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7644999
    Abstract: An idler assembly is disclosed for a shovel having a flexible track assembly. In an embodiment, the idler assembly comprises an idler gear operatively associated with the track assembly; a sleeve; a shaft, sets of splines on the shaft and on the sleeve sized for engagement, and connectors at ends of the shaft; at least one bearing block forming a bore therethrough; at least one bushing liner disposed within at least one bearing block; and at least one retaining device for constraining the shaft from withdrawal from the bearing block. A method for retrofitting a shovel with an existing idler assembly is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method comprises positioning at least one bushing liner within a bore of at least one bearing block; attaching an idler shaft and an idler gear together; and positioning the idler shaft within the at least one bushing liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventors: Edwin Bradberry, Leeland Boday, Chris Peralta
  • Patent number: 7645000
    Abstract: A driving mechanism having a braking system, for use on a storage unit movable about guiding tracks, The driving mechanism comprises a frame rotatably carrying at least one driving wheel, which in turn rollably engages a floor-embedded guiding track, A toothed wheel rotatably carried by the frame is operatively connected to the driving wheel and rotates in synchronism therewith, and defines at least one first interlock member, The driving mechanism also comprises a gravity-biased second braking member defining at least one second interlock member, said second braking member movably mounted to the frame so as to be movable between a standby position in which the second interlock member clears the first interlock member, and a braking position in which the second interlock member is interlocked with the first interlock member to block rotation of the rotary first braking member and thus of the driving wheel, The second braking member is biased under the action of gravity towards the braking position when it is
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Montel Inc.
    Inventor: Serge Rainville
  • Patent number: 7645001
    Abstract: A shelf having two telescoping plates secured by a toothed crank is provided for locker users. The plates have a generally rectangular shape with perimeter edges reinforced by lips and pads to engage the locker walls. Friction between the pads and the walls holds the present invention at a desired elevation. This shelf has a toothed rack upon a first plate and a crank with teeth upon the second plate. The teeth upon the crank engage the rack and turning of the crank secures the second plate relative to the first plate longitudinally at a desired width for fitting against the inner walls of a locker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Wire Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Harris
  • Patent number: 7645002
    Abstract: A piece of furniture with a furniture body and a first and at least one second drawer, displaceable relative to the furniture body, the front panel of the first drawer essentially completely covering the front panel or front wall of the second drawer in the closed position for both drawers, characterized in that the first and the at least one second drawer comprise an opening device for displacing the drawers from a closed position to an open position and a switch element is provided between both opening devices which couples both opening devices in a first switch position and uncouples the same in a second switch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Fitz
  • Patent number: 7645003
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a thermally insulating housing and a thermally insulating door. At least one of the housing and the door define an evacuated interspace and have an evacuated thermal insulation filling the interspace, a shaped, thermoplastic, substantially gas and water vapor impermeable outer cladding, and a shaped, thermoplastic, substantially gas and water vapor impermeable inner cladding. The inner cladding and the outer cladding substantially surround the interspace in a vacuum-tight manner. The cladding can be formed from polyolefins, polyvinylidene chloride, perfluoroalkoxy polymers. For reducing gas permeability, the cladding can be formed from ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyacrylonitrile, and polyamide. The claddings can have co-extruded and/or laminated layers. The cladding can include a sputtered metal layer and/or a plastic/metal composite foil. The cladding can be formed from a thermoformed or blow-molded plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Wenning, Hans-Frieder Eberhardt, Michael Neumann, Thomas Zeiler
  • Patent number: 7645004
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection device for ejecting a liquid from a nozzle of a head to a workpiece, the liquid droplet ejection device including: a table for loading the workpiece; a first shifting section capable of shifting the table in a first direction and in a second direction approximately intersecting the first direction at a right angle; a plurality of carriages having the head; and a second shifting section capable of positioning each of the carriages by mutually shifting each of the carriages along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eishoku An, Yoshiaki Murayama
  • Patent number: 7645005
    Abstract: The invention provides for a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly for a pagewidth printer. The assembly includes a number of modular printhead controller PCBs each configured to control a respective modular printhead integrated circuit, and modular supports defining a raised portion and a recessed portion at an end thereof. Each PCB has electrical connecting strips which operatively overlie the respective recessed portions. The assembly also includes at least one connecting member for operatively connecting respective PCBs to each other, each connecting member having a series of parallel spaced conducting strips, said member shaped and configured for fitment into a cavity defined by the raised and recessed portions of two abutting supports to connect the connecting strips of two PCBs via said conducting strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 7645006
    Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to lifting a printhead are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wesley R. Schalk, Allan G. Olson, Ezra Szoke, John J. Cantrell
  • Patent number: 7645007
    Abstract: In this ink jet printer, on the basis of voltage of a nozzle plate 27 at the time that a print head 24 is driven and in a state in which a predetermined potential difference has been generated between the nozzle plate 27 and the inspection area 52, a nozzle inspection is performed so as to confirm whether or not ink is in practice being ejected from each nozzle 23, so that ink can be sequentially ejected to an inspection area 52 from each nozzle. According to the nozzle inspection voltage change is detected in the nozzle plate 27 by a voltage detection circuit 54 provided on an encoder board 64 on a carriage 22. Since both the nozzle plate 27 and the voltage detection circuit 54 are installed on the carriage 22, and the distance between the two of them is shorter, they are less likely be affected by noise. In addition, there is no need to prepare a new board on which the voltage detection circuit 54 needs to be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7645008
    Abstract: The pressure sensor is provided commonly with respect to a plurality of pressure measurement objects. The pressure sensor comprises: a piezoelectric body; and a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed on either side of the piezoelectric body in a thickness direction, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is formed so as to have a narrower width in coupling sections corresponding to positions between the pressure measurement objects, than a width of sections corresponding to the pressure measurement objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Kanji Nagashima
  • Patent number: 7645009
    Abstract: Bidirectional recording is carried out with a printer that enables variable size dots of different ink quantities to be created with different driving waveforms W1 and W2. Variables are set to a time delay n0 before output of the driving waveform W1 and a time interval n6 between the driving waveform W1 and the driving waveform W2. The output timings n0 and n6 of the driving waveforms W1 and W2 in the course of a backward pass of main scan are individually regulated on the basis of dots created in a forward pass of the main scan as a reference. This arrangement desirably reduces a positional misalignment of dots created in the forward pass with dots created in the backward pass with regard to each of the variable size dots having different ink quantities, thus ensuring high-quality printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukimitsu Fujimori
  • Patent number: 7645010
    Abstract: The ink ejection amount measurement method for an inkjet recording head, includes: an ink ejection step of ejecting ink onto a recording medium from a recording head by applying a drive voltage to the recording head, in such a manner that an ink dot image is formed on the recording medium; an image reading step of reading the ink dot image formed on the recording medium by means of an image reading device; a number of pixels measurement step of measuring number of pixels occupied by the ink dot image formed on the recording medium; a correlation table preparation step of preparing a correlation table representing a correlation among a value of the drive voltage, number of pixels occupied by an ink dot image formed on the recording medium, and an ink ejection amount ejected by the recording head; a drive voltage sweeping step of changing a value of the drive voltage applied to the recording head, from a first drive voltage measurement value which is a value of the drive voltage when the number of pixels measur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7645011
    Abstract: Provided is a print engine controller for a pagewidth printhead. The controller includes contone and bi-level decompression circuitry for decompressing a contone layer of compressed page data and a bi-level layer of compressed page data, respectively. The controller also includes halftoner and compositor circuitry for halftoning the decompressed contone layer to associated bi-level versions and compositing the decompressed bi-level layer over the halftoned contone layers. Also included is printhead interface circuitry for receiving the halftoned and composited data so as to generate print data suitable for printing by the printhead. The controller further includes line loader and formatter circuitry for receiving dot data from the halftoner and compositor circuitry to store the dot data for lines to be printed in memory circuitry of the controller and to format said lines into an order required by the printhead interface circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 7645012
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a sheet feed section configured to feed loaded recording sheets one by one toward the recording head, a carriage moving along a recording sheet and mounting the recording head thereon, a first detection unit configured to detect the width of the loaded recording sheet, and a second detection unit arranged in the carriage and configured to detect the width of the recording sheet as the carriage moves along the recording sheet. A detection area of the second detection unit is set based on the width of the loaded recording sheet detected by the first detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7645013
    Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, reference patterns are provided on a surface of a transport belt that transports a recording medium such as paper attracted thereto to image recording sections defined by recording heads. It is arranged such that the reference patterns are detected while being transported as the transport belt is driven, and a speed change of the transport belt and a position shift in a direction perpendicular to the transporting direction of the transport belt are calculated based on information resulting from the detection, thereby controlling ejection timing and ejection position of ink droplets ejected from the recording heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Murakami, Akira Mihara, Hiroaki Satoh, Masami Furuya, Kishiharu Itazu, Hiroshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7645014
    Abstract: Embodiments for use with infrared light absorbent dyes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Erick B. Kinas
  • Patent number: 7645015
    Abstract: Embodiments of determining drop weight are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Charles H. McConica
  • Patent number: 7645016
    Abstract: A liquid ejection method includes: (A) moving nozzles relative to a medium, (B) ejecting liquid from the nozzles while the nozzles are moving relative to the medium, (C) forming a first pattern on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at either one of a timing delayed from a certain reference timing by a predetermined interval and a timing preceding the certain reference timing by a predetermined interval while the nozzles are moving in a certain direction with respect to the medium, and (D) when the first pattern has been formed on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at the timing delayed by the predetermined interval, forming a second pattern on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at a timing delayed from the certain reference timing by an interval equal to the predetermined interval while the nozzles are moving in a direction opposite to the certain direction with respect to the medium, and when the first pattern has been formed on the medium with the liquid ej
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akito Sato, Naoki Sudo
  • Patent number: 7645017
    Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection ports which eject droplets of liquid; a light emitting device which emits a determination light beam intersecting with flight paths of the droplets ejected from at least two of the ejection ports to be examined; a light receiving device which receives the determination light beam having passed through the flight paths of the droplets and outputs a determination signal corresponding to an amount of received light; an ejection port selection device which selects the at least two of the ejection ports to be examined so that the at least two of the ejection ports are disposed on a line parallel to an optical axis of the determination light beam, and that a distance between the at least two of the ejection ports along the optical axis of the determination light beam is smaller than a prescribed specific distance; an ejection control device which performs ejection driving to eject the droplets at substantially same time f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kusakari, Tsutomu Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 7645018
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of adjusting a discharge quantity of a liquid droplet with accuracy. When a plunger moves forward and stops sliding while closely contacting with an inner wall face of a tube, a discharge quantity of the liquid droplet discharged from a discharge port communicating with the tube is adjusted. A moving speed of the plunger is adjusted such that the liquid droplet discharged from the discharge port becomes constant at every discharge. The apparatus for discharging a liquid material, has a tube, a plunger sliding while closely contacting with an inner wall face of the tube, a discharge port communicating with the tube and discharging the liquid material so as to be scattered, and a control means controlling an operation of the plunger. The control means controls a moving speed of the plunger moving forward from start of deceleration to stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Musashi Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ikushima
  • Patent number: 7645019
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: an object liquid deposition device which deposits an object liquid containing coloring material onto a recording medium; a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits a treatment liquid that insolubilizes the coloring material onto the recording medium; and a control device which controls the treatment liquid deposition device in such a manner that volume of the treatment liquid deposited in a high-density region on the recording medium where volume per prescribed surface area of the object liquid deposited on the recording medium is high, is less than volume of the treatment liquid deposited in a low-density region on the recording medium where the volume per prescribed surface area of the object liquid deposited on the recording medium is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 7645020
    Abstract: A printing device adapted to print upon a printing media. The printing device has a printing media inserter, a media path, and a plurality of printheads, positioned serially in the media path. Each of the printheads is adapted to print upon the printing media moving along the media path. The printing media inserter transfers the printing media to a printing media buffer or into the media path. A piece of the printing media traveling along the media path is sequentially printed upon by each of the printheads. The plurality of printheads are controlled to combine print from the plurality of printheads on the piece of printing media and form a resultant combined print image with a resolution different than at least one print of at least one of the plurality of printheads on the piece of printing media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: NEOPOST Technologies
    Inventor: James M. Mattern
  • Patent number: 7645021
    Abstract: A device spray cleans an inkjet print head. The purpose of the device is to avoid the formation of stalagmites during spray cleaning and therefore also to improve the print quality as a result of the fact that the transport device for the print carriers or items of mail is soiled as little as possible. This is achieved by a relative movement of a baffle element in a flat space or in a plane parallel to the nozzle surface of the at least one inkjet print head in conjunction with the spray cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Turner, Wolfgang Muhl
  • Patent number: 7645022
    Abstract: A mobile device including: (a) an inkjet printhead; (b) a print media feed path for directing print media past the printhead in a feed direction during printing; (c) a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between: a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print media, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; (d) a locking mechanism configured to hold the capper in the uncapped position until after a trailing edge of the media is clear of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory Michael Tow, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7645023
    Abstract: A printer is provided having a printhead assembly and a capping mechanism. The printhead assembly has two confronting pagewidth printheads and a plurality of nozzles located along each printhead and arranged in use to deliver ink onto opposite surfaces of print media as it is transported past the printheads. The capping mechanism has capping members having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printheads and actuating means arranged to effect linear movement of the capping members in a first direction and linear movement of the printheads in a second direction to a position at which nozzle capping engagement is effected between the capping members and respective ones of the printheads. The first and second directions are non-parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Norman Michael Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7645024
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the printhead-to-media spacing in an inkjet printer is disclosed. The apparatus includes a carriage rod that is fixed in position relative to a media support and a carriage for supporting at least one printhead. The carriage has a contact surface that abuts the carriage rod to allow the carriage to be supported thereon and moveable laterally along the length of the carriage rod. The apparatus further includes an actuating means that moves the carriage relative to the carriage rod along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the carriage rod. During the movement, the contact surface of the carriage remains in abutment with the carriage rod to thereby allow the carriage to continue to be supported on the carriage rod. A method of printhead-to-media spacing adjustment, implementable using the apparatus, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kale Mark Buonerba, Wai Yuen Ho
  • Patent number: 7645025
    Abstract: A printer cartridge for an inkjet printer including a printing fluid storage and a pagewidth printhead in fluid communication with said printing fluid storage, said printhead including two print chips which extend the length of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7645026
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead with multiple nozzles in each ink chamber. By giving the chamber multiple nozzles, each nozzle ejects drops of smaller volume, and having different misdirections. Several small drops misdirected in different directions are less detrimental to print quality than a single relatively large misdirected drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7645027
    Abstract: A print head using a thermomechanical actuator is capable of improving ejection efficiency and improving print quality by stabilizing an ejecting direction. In a print head for ejecting droplets with the thermomechanical actuator having a first layer and a second layer, the first layer includes a heat generation layer and the second layer includes a plurality of dielectric layers. The thermomechanical actuator includes a fixed end and a free end. The plurality of dielectric layers are laminated on a droplet ejecting side in relation to the heat generation layer and between the fixed end and the free end at the same film thickness. A linear expansion coefficient of the dielectric layer of the fixed end side is smaller than that of the heat generation layer. A linear expansion coefficient of the dielectric layer of the free end side is larger than that of the heat generation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenjiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7645028
    Abstract: The invention provides for an ink ejection nozzle for a printhead integrated circuit. The nozzle includes a fluid chamber and a paddle. The fluid chamber has a fluid outlet port and a fluid inlet port respectively defined in opposite walls of the chamber, the chamber having chamber wall edge portions for locating a paddle therebetween. The paddle is located in the chamber between the edge portions, the paddle operatively displaceable to eject ink from the fluid outlet port. The paddle is formed with a series of protrusions in a central portion of the paddle, the protrusions aiding in reducing outward ink flow from the centre of the paddle as the paddle moves towards the outlet port to eject ink via the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7645029
    Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printhead nozzle arrangement including side walls located on a wafer substrate with a roof layer deposited on said walls to define an ink chamber, the roof layer defining a nozzle aperture, and an inlet defined in the substrate to supply the ink chamber with printing fluid. The arrangement also includes at least one heater element having two opposite sides parallel to a plane of the ejection aperture and configured such that a gas bubble formed by that heater element is formed at both of said sides. The heater elements and associated electrodes are arranged in the chamber so that the electrodes are non-coincident and have an annular shape with a point of collapse of the bubble near a center thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook, Angus John North
  • Patent number: 7645030
    Abstract: An ink jet head has a plurality of individual head chips integrated to form a head chip block. Each head chip has a plurality of grooves, and the grooves of all the head chips open at one end to respective nozzle holes formed in a nozzle plate. Each head chip has an actuator substrate in which is formed an ink chamber that supplies ink to the grooves in that head chip. An ink flow path connects an ink supply to one of the ink chambers in one of the head chips, and the ink chambers of all the head chips communicate with one another through ink holes. Since ink is supplied to the grooves of all the head chips from a single ink flow path connected to the ink supply, the size of the ink jet head, particularly in the thickness direction, the weight, the number of parts and the manufacturing cost can all be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: SII Printek Inc.
    Inventor: Osamu Koseki
  • Patent number: 7645031
    Abstract: The liquid ejection head includes: a liquid ejection unit which includes nozzles ejecting liquid, pressure chambers connected with the nozzles and filled with the liquid, and piezoelectric elements pressurizing the liquid in the pressure chambers; a frame substrate which has a hole section passing through the frame substrate and is disposed on a side of the liquid ejection unit reverse to a side on which the nozzles are arranged, the hole section being defined with a lateral wall and corresponding to a common liquid chamber accumulating the liquid to be supplied to the pressure chambers; a cover plate which is arranged on a side of the frame substrate reverse to a side adjacent to the liquid ejection unit; and through electrodes which pass through the lateral wall of the frame substrate and are exposed on the side adjacent to the liquid ejection unit and the side adjacent to the cover plate, wherein the piezoelectric elements are applied with drive signals via the through electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Enomoto, Yasuhiko Maeda
  • Patent number: 7645032
    Abstract: A droplet ejection head according to the present invention includes a layered body made up of a plurality of metal plates in which at least a part of a liquid passage is formed, and an ejection face in which an ejection port provided at one end of the liquid passage and ejecting an ink droplet is formed. The plurality of metal plates in the layered body include m metal plates whose lengthwise directions form the same angle with a rolling direction thereof, and n metal plates whose lengthwise directions form the same angle with the rolling direction. The angle formed between the lengthwise direction of the m metal plates and the rolling direction is different from the angle formed between the lengthwise direction of the n metal plates and the rolling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7645033
    Abstract: An ink reservoir (2) for a printer with an inkjet printhead, having a housing (6) for storing a quantity of ink (42), an ink outlet valve (10), an air inlet valve (8); and, a valve actuator (52). The valve actuator opens the air inlet valve in response to the ink outlet valve opening to establish fluid communication with the inkjet printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Jonathan Mark Bulman, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7645034
    Abstract: An inkjet printer with a printhead integrated circuit (IC) (28), an ink supply reservoir (6) for storing ink, an ink supply line (3) defining a flow path from the ink supply reservoir to the printhead IC (28). A pulse damper (16) positioned along the flow path to decrease the amplitude of pressure pulses in the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Brian Robert Brown, John Douglas Peter Morgan, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7645035
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink set which includes a combination of a recording liquid including a resin-coated colorant, and a treatment liquid including a particle which has a reactivity with the resin-coated colorant. The ink set can obtain a high quality image free from feathering and color bleeding, can obtain a high quality image even when used for printing on a plain paper sheet, can obtain a print excellent in wear resistance, can obtain a high image density without causing a deep permeation of a recording liquid in the paper sheet, can perform a favorable double-sided printing with a low image density when the image is viewed from an opposite face of an image print face, can be free from an image stain attributable to drying failure of the recording liquid, and can provide the print with a proper glossiness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ricob Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Adachi, Juichi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7645036
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording ink set, containing at least one recording liquid containing a colorant and a polymerizable compound and an ink spread suppressing liquid containing at least one surfactant and substantially no colorant, wherein all of the following conditions (A), (B) and (C) are satisfied, and an ink-jet recording method using the same: (A) the surface tension of the ink spread suppressing liquid is smaller than that of at least one recording liquid contained in the ink-jet recording ink set; (B) at least one of the surfactants contained in the ink spread suppressing liquid satisfies the following relationship: ?s(0)??s(saturated)>1 mN/m; and (C) the surface tension of the ink spread suppressing liquid satisfies the following relationship: ?s<(?s(0)+?s(saturated)max)/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Umebayashi, Toshiyuki Makuta, Yutaka Maeno, Masaaki Konno, Tetsuzo Kadomatsu