Patents Issued in April 12, 2011
  • Patent number: 7922279
    Abstract: A inkjet printhead maintenance facility that has an ink storage reservoir for holding ink ejected from the inkjet printhead during a maintenance operation and, an outlet coupling in fluid communication with the ink storage reservoir and configured for connection to a vacuum source to draw ink out of the ink storage reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Christopher Hibbard, Geoffrey Philip Dyer, Paul Ian Mackey, Makomo Tsubono, Attila Bertok, Kia Silverbrook, Nicholas Kenneth Abraham, David William Jensen
  • Patent number: 7922280
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a frame and a maintenance sled movably coupled to the frame. The maintenance sled includes a carrier engagement member. A printhead carrier is coupled to the frame. A carrier motor is drivably coupled to the printhead carrier. A controller is coupled to the carrier motor. The controller controls the carrier motor to drive the printhead carrier at a first velocity and at a second velocity. The second velocity is lower than the first velocity. The printhead carrier is controlled to move at the first velocity toward the maintenance sled, wherein prior to the printhead carrier contacting the carrier engagement member of the maintenance sled, the printhead carrier is decelerated from the first velocity to the second velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Charles Griesemer, Marc Alan Herwald, Martin Alan Johnson, Daniel Robert LaBar
  • Patent number: 7922281
    Abstract: A protection device for an ink cartridge storage unit having an ink inducing member is provided with a supporting beam, a funnel member having a narrow conical end and a wide conical end, the narrow conical end being connected to a distal end of the supporting beam, and an elastic cap arranged inside the funnel member. The elastic cap seals the ink inducing member in an engaged state. In the course of removing the protection device from the ink cartridge storage unit, the protection device can be lifted in the upper direction. The upper rim of the wide conical end makes contact with the rear surface of the ink cartridge storage unit in due course. As the protection device is lifted further, the part of the elastic cap is constricted, and the upper rim of the wide conical end functions as the fulcrum for the leverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Yano
  • Patent number: 7922282
    Abstract: A cap apparatus includes a cap which seals nozzles of a liquid jetting head, an absorber which is accommodated tightly inside the cap, a cap holder which is accommodated tightly inside the cap, and a holder which has a holding body which makes a contact with an upper surface of the absorber, a pin which is protruded downward from the holding main portion, and an engaging portion which is provided on a front end of the pin. Through holes which make the cap, the absorber, and the cap holder communicate, are formed in the cap, the absorber, and the cap holder. Since the through holes function as a passage, it is possible to improve an assembling workability of the cap apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shindo, Takamasa Usui
  • Patent number: 7922283
    Abstract: A gear arrangement for a capper of an inkjet printer comprises a first gear assembly mounted to the printer so as to cooperate with a motor gear for driving rotation of the first gear assembly, the first gear assembly having a code feature; and a second gear assembly mounted to the printer so as to cooperate with the first gear assembly to be rotatable therewith, the second gear assembly, in use, cooperating with a capper for capping a printhead so that the rotation of the second gear assembly moves the capper out of and into its capping position. The code feature of the first gear assembly is arranged to cooperate with a holding feature of a mounting arrangement used to mount the second gear assembly to the printer, the code feature being configured so that the cooperation with the holding feature maintains the first gear assembly at a predetermined position during the mounting of the second gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Gregory Michael Tow, Attila Bertok, Geoffrey Philip Dyer, Robert John Brice, Paul Ian Mackey, Christopher Hibbard
  • Patent number: 7922284
    Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a pressure generating block, a nozzle plate having an ink jetting surface, and a manifold block. The manifold block has an inclined surface which inclines toward the ink jetting surface and is continuous to the ink jetting surface at one end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 7922285
    Abstract: A method of cleaning an inkjet printhead, by generating a liquid foam on the ink ejection face such that particulate contaminants on the ejection surface disperse into the foam, then transferring the foam, together with the particulate contaminants dispersed within, onto a rotatable transfer surface moving relative said ejection face and, rotating the rotatable transfer surface into contact with a removal surface to remove the foam and the particulate contaminants dispersed within. Ink consumption is minimized by use of a foam and damage to the face is avoided since the rotatable transfer surface does not contact the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Vesa Karppinen, Kia Silverbrook, John Douglas Peter Morgan, David John Worboys, Patrick John McAuliffe
  • Patent number: 7922286
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a recording medium conveying mechanism; a recording head for recording an image on a recording medium based on the input data; a faulty record detection unit for detecting a faulty record when a recording process is performed; and a control unit for controlling these components. With the configuration, the recording head and the faulty record detection unit are arranged opposite at least one conveying unit, the recording head and the faulty record detection unit are fixed to the same coupling member, and the coupling member is fixed to a fixing member of the recording medium conveying mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7922287
    Abstract: An image having high quality is output, in which density unevenness due to a deflection in an ejecting direction is reduced, in an inkjet printer for forming an image by ejecting small droplets at a high frequency and high density. Thereby, in a mask pattern employed for multi-pass printing, a print permission rate of an ejection port positioned at the end of a ejection port array is set higher than those of ejection ports positioned at the other parts of the ejection port array. Thus, even if extremely small droplets are ejected at a high frequency and high-density, the generated density unevenness is reduced, and an image excellent in uniformity and having high definition can be output at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eri Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7922288
    Abstract: A printing system includes a first image applying component configured for applying one or more primary colorants to print media for rendering an image. A second image applying component is configured for applying a second colorant, such as black colorant, to print media for rendering an image. A first pathway conveys print media between the first image applying component and the second image applying component. A second pathway bypasses the first image applying component for conveying print media which is printed by the second image applying component. Where an image is to be rendered with the primary colorants and optionally also black, the print media is directed on the first pathway to both the first and second image applying components. Where an image is to be rendered only with black colorant, the print media may be directed to the second image applying component via the bypass pathway. In this way, during black printing, the first image applying component can be placed in a standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7922289
    Abstract: Provided are a nozzle plate of an inkjet printhead and a method of manufacturing the same. The nozzle plate includes: a substrate including a plurality of nozzles; and a plurality of first grooves formed on the surface of a substrate around the nozzles. In this structure, ink remaining on the surface of the nozzle plate can be efficiently removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-chang Lee, Tae-kyung Lee, Tae-woon Cha
  • Patent number: 7922290
    Abstract: A printhead assembly comprises an elongate support structure; a series of side wall sections extending a length of the support structure and defining a plurality of ink supply channels, edges of the walls delineating a gap; a plurality of carriers positioned end-to-end in the gap and supported at a bottom surface thereof by said edges of the walls; and a printhead integrated circuit mounted to each carrier. The bottom surface of each carriers defines a plurality of apertures each in fluid communication with a respective ink supply passage defined through the carrier and respective ink supply channels defined by the series of side wall sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7922291
    Abstract: An ink jet head, includes: an actuator including a plurality of terminals; a wiring material including a base made of a flexible resin film on which a plurality of lands are arranged in arrays corresponding to the plurality of terminals, the wiring material of which one end is superimposed on a surface of the actuator, and which is extended in a direction parallel to the surface of the actuator; and a drive circuit for driving the actuator, wherein: the wiring material includes a small width portion, of which a width in a direction, perpendicular to an extended direction is smaller than that of the one end superimposed on the actuator, arranged on an extended portion; and the drive circuit is mounted on the extended portion; and wiring patterns are formed on the wiring material, for connecting the drive circuit and the plurality of lands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kubo, Seiji Shimizu, Hiroo Ogawa, Hiromitsu Mizutani, Atsushi Ito
  • Patent number: 7922292
    Abstract: A droplet discharge head includes: a head body having a surface opposed to an object; a plurality of nozzles aligned on the surface and discharging a droplet to each of positions of the object; and an irradiation part disposed on the surface and irradiating the object with light. In the droplet discharge head, the irradiation part includes i×j pieces of irradiation parts arranged such that i (an integer number of 1 or more) pieces of irradiation parts are aligned in an alignment direction of the nozzles and j (an integer number of 2 or more) pieces of irradiation parts are disposed in a predetermined direction that is orthogonal to the alignment direction of the nozzles and aligned along the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotsuna Miura
  • Patent number: 7922293
    Abstract: Provided is a printhead having a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each arrangement includes a wafer substrate defining a nozzle chamber, said chamber having a roof wall with an ink ejection port defined therein and an ink supply channel defined through the substrate for supplying the chamber with ink. Each arrangement also includes a magnetic paddle arranged within an electrical coil arrangement which is positioned about the inlet of the nozzle chamber such that the magnetic paddle ejects ink from the chamber via the ejection port when the coil arrangement receives electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7922294
    Abstract: An ink jet printhead comprising: a substrate; a plurality of chambers supported by the substrate for receiving therewithin bubble forming liquid; a nozzle aperture formed in a surface of each chamber; a beam suspended within each chamber, the beam comprising at least one respective heater element. The at least one respective heater element heats at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein, thereby causing ejection of a drop of the bubble forming liquid through the nozzle aperture corresponding to the heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7922295
    Abstract: An ink jet apparatus electrifies ink in a nozzle, and ejects the ink from an ink ejecting hole onto a printing medium by a first electric field generated between the nozzle and the printing medium. The apparatus includes an ink catching device including an ink catching portion adjacent to the nozzle that catches an ejected substance. Between the nozzle and the ink catching portion, the apparatus applies a voltage for generating a second electric field which (i) causes an ejected substance, formed from the ink or the ink whose viscosity is changed, to be ejected from the nozzle, and (ii) causes the ink catching portion to attract the ejected substance. The apparatus, utilizes an electrostatic force to eject fluid, removes a clogging of an ejection head at any position, realizes less initial ejection fluctuation and improves the reliability of ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hidetsugu Kawai, Shigeru Nishio, Haruhiko Deguchi, Shigeaki Kakiwaki, Kazuhiro Murata
  • Patent number: 7922296
    Abstract: Provided is a method of operating a nozzle chamber. The nozzle chamber has a wafer defining a chamber with an ink ejection port and ink supply channel along with a plurality of radially positioned actuators about the port. Each actuator has an internal serpentine core arranged in signal communication with a CMOS layer on the wafer. The method includes the steps of supplying the chamber with ink via the ink supply channel, and passing current through the serpentine cores for a predetermined period of time. The current produces thermal expansion of the actuators into the chamber to increase a chamber ink pressure to eject ink from the ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Patent number: 7922297
    Abstract: A silicon chip has a plurality of ink jetting structures. Each ink jetting structure of the plurality of ink jetting structures includes a heater stack having an electrical heater element. A power transistor is electrically connected to the electrical heater element. A planarization layer is interposed between the power transistor and the heater stack. The planarization layer has a planar base surface on which the heater stack is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin Guan, Kristi Maggard Rowe, Timothy Lowell Strunk, Carl Edmond Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7922298
    Abstract: A printhead includes a substrate defining a plurality of ink inlet channels; a drive circuitry layer; and a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement comprises a wall portion bounding a respective ink inlet channel, a crown portion defining an ink outlet, and a skirt portion depending from the crown portion. The crown, skirt and wall portions define a nozzle chamber. The printhead further includes an elongate actuator provided within the nozzle chamber and connected to the crown portion at one end and anchored to the substrate at an opposite end; and conductive pads provided at the anchor point of the elongate actuator, the conductive pads being provided between the elongate actuator and the substrate. The elongate actuator receives electrical signals from the drive circuitry via the conductive pads, and upon receipt of electrical signals from the drive circuitry, displaces towards and away from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrok Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7922299
    Abstract: An ink jet print head comprises a print head matrix having nozzles for drop? formation and release opening onto a print side surface of said matrix and individual local micro-reservoirs, each associated with the local nozzles. The reservoirs open onto an ink supply surface of the matrix and are supplied with ink by capillary action from wiping or spraying of ink regularly refreshed onto the ink supply surface. The design allows for a print head that substantially covers the area of the print media and thus permits stationary printing. Printing is rapid and the ink supply arrangement allows for reliable ink supply at atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: Moshe Einat, Nissim Einat
  • Patent number: 7922300
    Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a common liquid chamber, a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of nozzles which eject ink, a plurality of individual ink channels communicating with the common liquid chamber, the pressure chambers and the nozzles, and a piezoelectric actuator which selectively varies the volume of the plurality of pressure chambers. The common liquid chamber is disposed on the side opposite to the nozzles with respect to the piezoelectric actuator. A through-hole which forms a part of the individual ink channels is formed in the piezoelectric actuator. This structure ensures a large region in which the nozzles can be disposed, and allows the nozzles to be arranged at higher density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 7922301
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a vibration plate, a plurality of individual electrodes, wiring sections each extending from corresponding one of the individual electrodes and passing between the other individual electrodes other than the corresponding individual electrode, a piezoelectric layer arranged on the vibration plate to cover the individual electrodes, and a common electrode arranged on a surface of the piezoelectric layer disposed on a side opposite to the piezoelectric layer. At least portions of the plurality of wiring sections, each of which is allowed to pass between the another individual electrodes, are covered with a second insulating layer. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the strain of the piezoelectric layer in the area between the individual electrodes through which the wiring section is allowed to pass, without providing any complicated shape of the common electrode in which the common electrode is partially cut out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 7922302
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Tony S. Cruz-Uribe, Adel Jilani, David Pidwerbecki
  • Patent number: 7922303
    Abstract: An ink-jet head has a flow channel unit having a number of laminated plates, including a first, second, and third plate, which together form a common ink chamber, nozzles, and pressure chambers. The first plate has apertures which place the common ink chambers in fluid communication with the pressure chambers, and also has first recesses extending away from the second plate, and second recesses extending toward the third plate. The surface of the third plate has recesses extending away from the first plate. An opposite surface of the first plate has a number of openings which place the first and second recesses in fluid communication with the third recesses of the third plate. In another ink-jet head, a surface of the second plate has recesses extending away from the first plate, a portion of which are configured to be in fluid communication with recesses on the first plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadanobu Chikamoto
  • Patent number: 7922304
    Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a channel unit in which a channel is formed, a piezoelectric unit, and a wiring unit stacked on the piezoelectric unit. The wiring unit has a substrate, an individual supply-terminal group which includes a plurality of individual supply-terminals, a common supply-terminal, and an isolative covering layer, which is stacked on a surface of the substrate facing the piezoelectric unit. In the covering layer, a trap groove which runs between the individual supply-terminals and the common supply-terminal, and surrounds the individual supply-terminal group is formed. Accordingly, there is provided a liquid droplet jetting head which is capable of preventing a shorting between the individual drive electrodes of the piezoelectric unit, and between the individual supply-terminals of the wiring unit, due to the liquid entered from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kubo
  • Patent number: 7922305
    Abstract: A liquid ejector including: a nozzle; a pressure chamber communicating, at one end thereof in a specific direction, with the nozzle; a liquid-store chamber; a restrictor through which the other end of the pressure chamber in the specific direction and the liquid-store chamber communicate with each other; and an actuator having a plurality of piezoelectric layers, a pair of electrode layers, and an active portion that is constituted by a portion of one of the plurality of piezoelectric layers, which portion is interposed between the pair of electrode layers, wherein the active portion is disposed at a position corresponding to the pressure chamber so as to extend in the specific direction, and has a shorter length than the pressure chamber in the specific direction, and wherein a center of the active portion in the specific direction is shifted toward the nozzle than a center of the pressure chamber in the specific direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Iriguchi
  • Patent number: 7922306
    Abstract: A print ink transport mechanism includes a first ink pipe for transporting a first colored ink, and a second ink pipe for transporting a second colored ink, a rotary module including a first protruding component with a first cavity disposed in a position corresponding to the first ink pipe, and a drive means connected to the rotary module for driving the rotary module. When the drive means drives the rotary module to rotate to a first position, the first protruding component presses the second ink pipe, and the first ink pipe passes through the cavity on the first protruding component, so that the second ink pipe is unable to transport the second colored ink and the first ink pipe is able to transport the first colored ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventor: Tsung-Chi Hung
  • Patent number: 7922307
    Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Shinya Yamagata, Kiyoshi Mukaiyama, Steven Chen, Juliet Chen
  • Patent number: 7922308
    Abstract: A liquid detection device includes a casing main body in which a passage is formed and exposed in an opening, a sensor base that is disposed to face the passage of the casing main body, a sensor chip provided on the sensor base, a film that seals the opening in which the sensor base is held, and a partition wall that divides the passage into an upstream side and an downstream side. The sensor chip has a sensor cavity, and the sensor base has a first hole that guides a liquid from the upstream side to the sensor cavity, and a second hole that guides the liquid from the sensor cavity to the downstream side. The sensor base can come into contact with the casing main body through only the partition wall in a depth direction of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Wanibe, Yasuharu Godo, Takayuki Ayuzawa
  • Patent number: 7922309
    Abstract: An ink refill kit for injecting ink into an ink cartridge includes an ink bottle and an injector. The ink bottle stores ink. The injector siphons the ink from the ink bottle and injects the ink into the ink cartridge. The ink bottle includes an opening, an inner bottom surface, and a single deepest portion. The opening allows the injector to pass therethrough. The inner bottom surface is provided on an inner bottom of the ink bottle. The single deepest portion is provided in the inner bottom surface opposite the opening and having a depth greater than that of the inner bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Juichi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7922310
    Abstract: A modular printhead assembly includes an elongate substrate member that defines a plurality of holes. An ink conduit is mounted longitudinally on one side of the substrate member and defines a plurality of ink holes to be in fluid communication with the ink holes defined by the elongate substrate member. A plurality of printhead module assemblies is mounted along an opposite side of the substrate member. Each module assembly includes an ink feed structure in fluid communication with the ink holes defined by the elongate substrate member and a printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink feed structure. A bus bar assembly is arranged on the substrate member for providing the printhead integrated circuits with power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7922311
    Abstract: An ink-jet head has a passage component made of resin and a filter plate through which ink is filtered. The filter plate is fixed to the passage component and has a melting point higher than that of the passage component. The filter plate has an annular region and an inner region, and holes are formed through the filter plate in the annular and inner regions. The passage component has a filter support face that is in contact with the annular region but out of contact with the inner region. A holder is formed on the filter support face. The holder penetrates through at least one of the holes formed in the annular region and covers the other face of the filter plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadanobu Chikamoto, Atsuo Sakaida
  • Patent number: 7922312
    Abstract: In one embodiment an ink pen for an inkjet printer includes: an ink filter chamber; a pressure regulator chamber downstream from the ink filter chamber along a path of ink flow through the pen; a pressure regulator in the pressure regulator chamber; a filter in the ink filter chamber; an inlet to the ink filter chamber upstream from the filter along the ink flow path; and an outlet from the ink filter chamber to the pressure regulator chamber downstream from the filter along the ink flow path such that ink flowing from the inlet to the outlet passes through the filter. In another embodiment a method implemented in an ink delivery system for an inkjet ink pen includes: chambering ink in the pen; filtering the chambered ink; and then regulating the pressure of filtered ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Mark Haines, Mark A. Devries, Ronald J. Ender, Craig L. Malik
  • Patent number: 7922313
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead is provided. The printhead comprises a plurality of nozzle assemblies; a nozzle plate covering the plurality of nozzle assemblies; an ink supply system for supplying ink to the plurality of nozzle assemblies, the ink supply system comprising at least one conduit wall defined by part of the nozzle plate; and at least one pressure-dampening structure positioned in the part of the nozzle plate. The pressure-dampening structures dampen ink pressure fluctuations in the ink supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7922314
    Abstract: One method of ink formulation may include providing a shipping material in a reservoir of a printing mechanism, placing a concentrated ink in communication with the reservoir, and mixing the shipping material and the concentrated ink together to create a print-ready ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James M Brenner, Harold F Mantooth, Jeffrey D Langford
  • Patent number: 7922315
    Abstract: Disclosed are an inkjet ink and a method for printing on hydrophobic media such as offset coated media using the inkjet ink. Specifically disclosed is an inkjet containing a pigment, water and a surfactant which is characterized by also containing 40 to 75 weight % of a polar non-protic solvent with a molecular weight of 40 to 130 which has permeability to a hydrophobic surface such as the coating of an offset coated medium. Such an inkjet ink enables better printing on hydrophobic media such as offset coated media than the conventional inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: General Company Limited
    Inventor: Kozo Isobe
  • Patent number: 7922316
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus is provided, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus contains a recording head with a filter, an ink that comprises a colorant, a humectant, a surfactant, and a wetting agent is discharged from the recording head, the viscosity of the ink at 25° C. is 6 mPas to 13 mPas, and the fluid resistance of the filter against the ink is 4.4×109 Pas/m3 and 2.2×1010 Pas/m3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Bannai, Eisuke Hori, Akihiko Gotoh, Kiyofumi Nagai
  • Patent number: 7922317
    Abstract: Without newly providing a curling inhibition apparatus or a curling inhibitor and without placing excessive restrictions on a composition of an ink or a printing properties enhancing liquid, curling after printing is suppressed. In an ink jet printing apparatus which performs printing on a printing medium by ejecting from a printing head an ink and a reaction liquid which reacts with the ink, said apparatus comprising; means for on the basis of ink ejection data for ejecting the ink onto an one side of the printing medium, generating reaction liquid ejection data for ejecting the reaction liquid onto an other side of the printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Nakazawa, Takuei Ishikawa, Hideaki Takamiya
  • Patent number: 7922318
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus, includes: recording head having nozzles that jet ink onto recording medium, wherein ink is cured by irradiating active energy ray and/or applying thermal energy; ink curing device for curing ink jetted onto recording medium, having an active energy ray irradiating unit and/or thermal energy applying unit; and controller that performs image recording by repeating a recording process plural times to form a single band in which process the recording head jets ink and then the active energy ray irradiation and/or thermal energy application is performed. Herein the controller controls the active energy ray irradiating unit and/or thermal energy applying unit such as to change at least one of operating parameters being an active energy ray irradiation amount, active energy ray irradiation timing, and thermal energy application amount, at least a first time and a last time of the repeated times of the recording process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihide Hoshino
  • Patent number: 7922319
    Abstract: A shield plate fixing device of an electronic apparatus includes a mechanical section for performing operation in a main body housing, an electronic substrate for controlling operation shielded by two upper and lower shield plates above the mechanical section, and an upper housing for sealing an upper opening of the main body housing above the electronic substrate. The mechanical section, the electronic substrate, and the upper housing are respectively placed in a stacked manner. The upper shield plate is directly fixed to the main body housing, so as to reduce tolerance accumulation in the assembled electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Morimoto, Mikinobu Abe
  • Patent number: 7922320
    Abstract: A frame seat unit of an eyegear includes a pair of frame seats and a bridge interconnecting the frame seats. Each of the frame seats defines an accommodation space that opens downwardly and has a frame strip that defines a top side of the accommodation space. The eyegear further includes a pair of lens units, each removably retained in the accommodation space of a respective one of the frame seats and including a lens frame and a lens. The lens frame has a ring portion for holding the lens therein. For each pair of the frame seat and the respective one of the lens units, one of the frame strip and the lens frame includes a releasably lockable tab, and an other one of the frame strip and the lens frame is formed with an engaging slot for engagement with the releasably lockable tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: Tsung-Meng Tsai
  • Patent number: 7922321
    Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Howell, David Chao, C. Douglass Thomas, Peter P. Tong
  • Patent number: 7922322
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display (1) for mounting on a pair of eyeglasses (2), the display comprising an electronic and optical system for generating light beams (20A) and an imager (20B) for shaping the light beams coming therefrom, the display including a releasable securing arrangement for releasably securing it on the pair of eyeglasses, and an adjustment arrangement for adjusting the position of said imager relative to the eye of the wearer. According to the invention, the display comprises two elements, a first element (10) carrying said removable securing arrangement, and a second element (20) including said electronic and optical system and said imager, and connectable to said first element via said adjustment arrangement for adjusting the pupillary distance and including position-locking means for locking it in the adjusted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Renaud Moliton, Cécile Bonafos, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7922323
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for causing the optical center of the eye to align “HIGH point” of the anterior surface of the cornea. In accordance with one aspect of the invention relating to corneal ablation procedures, the HIGH point of the eye is used as the pole of a spherical surface which is fitted approximately to a portion of the anterior surface of the cornea within a “bounded region.” For corneal ablation procedures, the “bounded region” comprises a generally inverted-cup shaped region of the anterior surface of the eye bounded at its periphery by a plane which is substantially perpendicular to a local z-axis. During the operation local high points which project above the spherical surface are ablated. According to another aspect of the invention relating to radial keratotomy procedures, a pair of incisions in the plane of a “great circle” are formed in the cornea to weaken and flatten it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Scientific Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lieberman, Johnathan Grierson
  • Patent number: 7922324
    Abstract: The synthetic resin lens has a function to generate heat by selectively absorbing infrared rays with wavelengths of 780 to 3000 nm. The synthetic resin lens includes an infrared absorber. Selective absorption of infrared rays allows the synthetic resin lens itself to generate heat and thus the lens of the present invention has the same function as being electrically heated to prevent fogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Yamamoto Kogaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Ishibashi, Jindai Yamaguchi, Keishi Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7922325
    Abstract: An optical article includes: an optical substrate, and a functional layer that is light-transmissive and is laminated to the surface of the optical substrate, the period Pk (nm?1) of reflectance of the functional layer in the k-space being not more than 3.66×10?5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Toda, Yuta Hoshino
  • Patent number: 7922326
    Abstract: An ophthalmic lens for providing a plurality of foci has an optic including an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and an optical axis. The ophthalmic lens further includes a central phase plate, an intermediate phase plate surrounding the central phase plate, and an outer refractive region. The central phase plate comprises a first base curvature having a first radius of curvature and is configured such that the lens is able to direct light to a first focus and a second focus corresponding different diffraction orders of the phase plate. The intermediate phase plate is configured to change the overall resultant distribution of light directed to the second focus. The outer refractive region has no diffractive optical power and surrounds the intermediate phase plate. The outer refractive region is configured to direct light to the second focus and has an aspheric shape configured to reduce an optical aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Mark H. Bandhauer, Alan J. Lang
  • Patent number: 7922327
    Abstract: A digital camera that combines the functions of the retinal camera and/or corneal camera into one, single, small, easy to use instrument includes features such as image and laser spot stabilization, an LED light source, stereo corneal imaging, polarizing reflection reduction, visual function testing, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Clarity Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Su, Norbert A. Massie
  • Patent number: 7922328
    Abstract: Methods and systems for obtaining an ocular aberration measurement of an eye of a patient are provided. Exemplary techniques involve obtaining a first induced metric for the eye that corresponds to a first accommodation state of the eye, obtaining a second induced metric for the eye that corresponds to a second accommodation state of the eye, and determining a natural metric of the eye based on the first and second induced metrics. An induced metric may include a pupil size or a spherical aberration. Techniques can also include determining a target metric for the eye base on the natural metric, determining whether an actual metric of the eye meets the target metric, obtaining an ocular aberration measurement of the eye if the actual metric meets the target metric, and determining a treatment for the eye based on the ocular aberration measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Guang-Ming Dai, Leander Zickler