Patents Issued in December 20, 2011
  • Patent number: 8079632
    Abstract: A door structure of a vehicle includes a reinforcing member horizontally extending from a leading end, which is connected to a leading reinforce-installation fitting, and to a tail end, which is connected to a tail reinforce-installation fitting, an upper vertical beam extending from an upper end, which is connected to a head-installation fitting, to a lower end, which is connected to the tail reinforce-installation fitting, a lower vertical beam inclined to the upper vertical beam and extending from an upper end, which is connected to the tail reinforce-installation fitting, to a lower end, which is connected to a base-installation fitting, and a horizontal beam positioned below the reinforcing member and extending from a leading end, which is connected to a leading beam-installation fitting, to a tail end, which is connected to a tail beam-installation fitting, such that the horizontal beam intersects the lower vertical beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Sinichi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8079633
    Abstract: A cabin of a mobile home or other transport vehicle is provided with an internal living space adapted to minimize the space of furniture and beds during transport such that a small automobile may be received within the living space. In a set-up configuration and the automobile removed, beds can be deployed externally to the living space by a system of hinged panels attached to the side of the cabin. Furniture may also be rearranged within the interior of the cabin or mobile home on floor tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Paul Michael Freeman & Phillip Graeme Fisher
    Inventor: Raymond Bruce Cunningham
  • Patent number: 8079634
    Abstract: A drag reducing device utilizing sealed aft cavities designed to limit interference with existing truck and trailer designs is described. The invention comprises one or more sealed aft cavities affixed to the rear of a traditional commercial straight truck or trailer, or any other blunt (or mostly blunt) aft faced vehicle. A means is provided by which the device is stowed to allow normal operation of the straight truck, trailer or vehicle. Drag is reduced by the streamlining of the rear of the vehicle, postponing and narrowing the flow separation downstream of the trailing edge as well as increasing the pressure on the back of the vehicle with the open to the rear, sealed aft cavity. The concept described focuses on the utilization of (a) sealed aft cavity(ies) to limit the effects of blunt body drag and the means for attachment and stowage for loading and unloading cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Clarkson University
    Inventors: Kenneth Dale Visser, Kevin Grover, Luis Eduardo Marin
  • Patent number: 8079635
    Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate vehicle passenger protection during side impact events and, more particularly, to systems and methods which increase the survival space between the vehicle side structure and a vehicle passenger located in the vehicle passenger compartment while maintaining reasonable vehicle structure deceleration levels. The systems and methods enable the seat structure assemblies to move inboard during side impact events by coupling the seat structure assemblies to a deformable cross bar or beam. The embodiments include a deformable cross-car beam that is deformable in one or more locations along its length using changes in geometry and/or changes in material to initiate controlled deformation under a cross-car load due to a side impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Next Autoworks Company
    Inventors: Michael DeVor, Paul Elio, Frank Gabbianelli, Robert Glaspie, Hari Sankara Iyer, Edward Kustrzyk, Azhagu Nachimuthu Sennimalai Subramanian, Bogoljub Velanovich, Frank Varansano, Jerrold Lavine
  • Patent number: 8079636
    Abstract: A cab for a construction machine includes a pillar member and a beam member. The pillar member is disposed generally along a vertical direction, and includes a cutout portion and a protruding portion. The cutout portion is formed on an upper end thereof. The protruding portion is formed on the upper end on an inner side of the cutout portion with respect to a widthwise direction of the cab. The beam member is disposed generally along a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The beam member is joined to the pillar member with the beam member partially overlapping the cutout portion on the upper end of the pillar member in a plan view, and a lateral surface of the beam member abutting against the protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihide Namura, Takahiro Noguchi, Hiroaki Tanaka, Fumiaki Kawahara
  • Patent number: 8079637
    Abstract: An external grid device for an automotive vehicle, including a flexible plastic sieve, and a meshing that is thinner than that of the grid, provided along an internal face of the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Franck Barcelo, Guy Bettray
  • Patent number: 8079638
    Abstract: Provided is a front structure of a vehicle 1, and the front structure includes a pair of side members 30, a first cross member 10, a bumper 60, upper protruding-plate portions 41, lower protruding-plate portions 42, and a bracket 70. Each of the side members 30 includes an upper plate 31, a lower plate 32, and a vertical plate 33, the upper plate 31 and the lower plate 32 arranged to vertically face each other, the vertical plate 33 connecting the upper and lower plates 31 and 32. The first cross member 10 connects front-end portions 35 respectively of the side members 30. Each of the upper protruding-plate portions 41 extends frontwards integrally from the corresponding upper plate 31. Each of the lower protruding-plate portions 42 extends frontwards integrally from the corresponding lower plate 32 so as to face the corresponding upper protruding-plate portion 41.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Noriyuki Miura, Tatsuji Ooeda
  • Patent number: 8079639
    Abstract: A bouncer includes a seat, a first connecting member, a support member, and an engaging member. The first connecting member has a first end and a second end. The first end of the first connecting member is connected to the seat. The support member is rotatably connected to the second end of the first connecting member. The engaging member is movably disposed in the support member and capable of moving between a locked position and an unlocked position, so as to selectively restrain the support member from rotating. Accordingly, the bouncer of the invention can be operated in different using states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Hai-Bo Zeng, Sharon A. Gillett
  • Patent number: 8079640
    Abstract: The present invention provides a seat cover for a vehicle which is configured such that when a side airbag is initially deployed, an airbag can be smoothly guided in a lateral direction. The seat cover includes a front sheet, a rear sheet and a side sheet. A reinforcing fabric is provided on an inner surface of the front sheet. The side sheet is sewn at a first edge thereof to the front sheet and sewn at a second edge thereof to the rear sheet. A reinforcing liner is adhered or welded to an inner surface of the side sheet. The reinforcing fabric is less extensible or stretchable than the reinforcing liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Ho Kim, Ki Jin Kwon, Jong Kweon Pyun, Jae Young Kim
  • Patent number: 8079641
    Abstract: The invention discloses an adjusting apparatus for adjusting vehicle seat. The adjusting apparatus of the invention includes a first guiding rail, a base and a supporting member. The first guiding rail is mounted on a floor of a vehicle. The base further includes a first sliding portion, slidably disposed in the first guiding rail; a receiving base disposed on the first sliding portion; and a rotation-guiding groove. The supporting member further includes an axle rotatably mounted in the receiving base; and a guiding wheel movably disposed in the rotation-guiding groove. When the first sliding portion slides in the first guiding rail, the base and the supporting member slide opposite to the first guiding rail. Additionally, when the axle rotates in the receiving base, the guiding wheel moves along the rotation-guiding groove, so that the supporting member rotates opposite to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Red Heart Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Yung Lung, Hsiu-Chu Shen
  • Patent number: 8079642
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy frame part for use in a seat frame of a motorcycle includes a seat mounting section arranged to mount a seat thereon, the seat mounting section extending along a vehicle length direction; a first side wall section extending from the seat mounting section; a second side wall section extending from the seat mounting section and being located on the outer side, along a vehicle width direction, of the first side wall section; and a plurality of protrusions provided at at least one of a boundary between the seat mounting section and the first side wall section and a boundary between the seat mounting section and the second side wall section. The seat mounting section has a thickness greater than at least one of a thickness of the first side wall section and a thickness of the second side wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaharu Suzuki, Junichi Inami
  • Patent number: 8079643
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention can include a surface layer made of a fabric material and the surface layer covering one or more portions of a top plate main portion, top plate side portions, outside portions, a seat back portion, and a headrest portion has been subjected to an antiallergenic treatment and the antiallergenic treatment is a treatment in which a back side surface of the surface layer is dipped in an antiallergenic agent containing an aromatic hydroxy compound as an active ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norie Hara, Akihiro Matsuyama, Kazuhiro Takami, Mitsuhito Teramoto
  • Patent number: 8079644
    Abstract: An ergonomic footrest includes a substantially planar platform having a pair of lateral extensions. A support structure suspends the platform a desired distance above an underlying surface. The support structure includes means for adjusting the height and angle of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: Maria H. Pangilinan
  • Patent number: 8079645
    Abstract: A furniture member component drive mechanism includes a force multiplying gear assembly. A wire member can slide within a flexible sheath in opposed first and second directions. The wire member is connected to the gear assembly for axial displacement. A lever arm connected to the gear assembly defines a lever arm first axis of rotation. Rotating the lever arm in a first direction about the first axis of rotation axially incrementally displaces the wire member in the first displacement direction. The lever arm is rotatably connected to a pivot base defining a second axis of rotation of the lever arm transverse to the first axis of rotation. Rotating the lever arm about the second axis of rotation displaces the wire member in the second displacement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventor: Larry P. LaPointe
  • Patent number: 8079646
    Abstract: A vehicle or trailer for transporting a load of, for example, fluent bulk material. The vehicle or trailer comprising a chassis (28) and a container mounted on said chassis (28). Said container comprises a base, a plurality of load retaining walls defining a volume for receipt of said load and a discharge opening. The container is mounted to the chassis by at least one connector (34, 35) that permits reciprocal translational movement of the container relative to the chassis (28) whilst mounted thereon between first and second positions so as to agitate the load and encourage it to flow out of the discharge opening. The at least one connector is arranged to permit translational movement of the container from the first position to the second position more slowly than from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: John Edward Morten
  • Patent number: 8079647
    Abstract: A continuous mining method includes operating a vibratory milling machine having a milling head, a base, and a milling tool to oscillate the milling head in a substantially linear reciprocating fashion relative to the base to move the milling tool along a milling axis; and advancing the vibratory milling machine in a work piece in a cutting direction and wherein milling axis is oriented at an attack angle relative to the cutting direction, the attack angle being between about 0 and about 40 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventors: Jing James Yao, Robert Eugene Able, Thomas J. Oothoudt
  • Patent number: 8079648
    Abstract: A cutting tool body that includes an elongate steel body, which has an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The elongate steel body contains at the axial forward end thereof a cold-headed socket. The cold-headed socket has an axial forward open end, an axial rearward closed surface, and a side socket surface extending between the axial forward open end and the axial rearward closed surface. The side socket surface contains an undercut adjacent the axial rearward closed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Swope, William P. Prezlock
  • Patent number: 8079649
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system for a vehicle comprises at least one source of pressurized air for pressurizing the vehicle brake system, and a brake actuator configured to receive air from the source of pressurized air. A control is operatively associated with the source of pressurized air for selective application of the brake actuator. A supplemental parking brake control system is in communication with the control and the brake actuator. The control system is responsive to data indicative of gradient and speed vehicle conditions. The control system is configured to send a signal to the brake actuator to allow gradient and speed dependent supplemental parking. The control system is configured to prevent application of the brake actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Charles E. Eberling
  • Patent number: 8079650
    Abstract: A spring loaded track tensioning assembly for a track on a track driven vehicle has a spring subassembly that is retained on a spring shaft under a preload with a first fixed spring retainer and a second slidable spring retainer. The spring shaft has an outer end that extends beyond the second spring retainer and the outer end is slidably received in a bore in a piston or actuator shaft of a grease cylinder, with the end of the actuator shaft bearing on the second spring retainer. The grease cylinder contacts and applies a force to the second spring retainer, for initial positioning of the tensioning assembly, and additional loads on the first spring retainer that compress the spring cause the outer end of the spring shaft to slide in the bore of the actuator shaft as the second spring retainer slides along the spring shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Thomas Tokach, William Shelbroun
  • Patent number: 8079651
    Abstract: An extension and retraction arrangement with a control system for adjusting a monitor from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration. The control system controls an extension and retraction of a trolley structure and a retained monitor and an opening and closing of a door through which the monitor can be extended. The control system has an operation mode with an UP sequence and a DOWN sequence. Sensors can sense open and closed positions of the door and raised and extended and retracted positions of the trolley and the monitor. The control system can automatically react to monitor positioning issues, losses in power, and obstructions to the travel of the door and the trolley structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: Sava Cvek
  • Patent number: 8079652
    Abstract: A connection system for connecting a built-in appliance to a furniture unit is provided and includes a securing strip having first securing elements for securing to the furniture unit side of the securing strip and second securing elements for securing to the appliance side of the securing strip and at least one cover strip which can be attached to the securing strip. Said securing strip comprises at least one recess for securing the cover strip to the securing strip. The invention also relates to a furniture unit arrangement, in particular a kitchen range, comprising a plurality of furniture units, wherein at least one furniture unit comprises a niche, and at least one built-in appliance. The built-in appliance is built into the niche. The built-in appliance is connected to the furniture unit by means of the inventive connection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Friedrich Laible, Hans-Philipp Reitz
  • Patent number: 8079653
    Abstract: A sliding track assembly includes an inner slide rail with a circulating guide groove, a slide block supported on and movable along the inner slide rail, a positioning block set that has a guide rod coupled to the circulating guide groove of the inner slide rail and a positioning rod inserted through the slide block, an intermediate slide rail unit having a first intermediate slide rail member movable by the slide block and a second intermediate slide rail member mounted in the first intermediate slide rail member and a locating block mounted in the second intermediate slide rail member adjacent to the slide block, the locating block having a transverse groove for receiving the positioning rod of the slide block to hold the slide block in position, and an outer slide rail unit receiving the inner slide rail unit and the intermediate slide rail unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Nan Juen International Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kuo-Sheng Huang
  • Patent number: 8079654
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus is for mounting a slide rail to a support of an electronic equipment cabinet. The mounting apparatus includes a mounting bracket slidably engaging with the slide rail, a locking member attached to the mounting bracket, and a supporting member movably located between the locking member and the mounting bracket. A post extends from the mounting bracket configured for being received in a through hole of the support of the cabinet. The locking member includes a resisting portion, which is capable of being urged to engage with the support by the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mo-Ming Yu, Hai-Chen Zhou
  • Patent number: 8079655
    Abstract: A furniture system which is readily reconfigurable into a variety of work surface configurations and shelving configurations as well as additional component configurations associated therewith so as to readily adapt the furniture system to the specific needs of an office area. The system includes a system of brackets which readily accommodates mounting of work surfaces at a variety of elevations, and a shelving system which maintains shelves of different materials and thicknesses so that the top surfaces thereof align in a common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Compton, Brent Kunzi, Kristen Glick, Randall W. Borgman, Steve King, Shane Kuipers, Alex Lamfers, Mark Powell, Robert C. Wayner, Steffen Lipsky, Bret Wyngarden, Brian Gingrich
  • Patent number: 8079656
    Abstract: In the case of printing at high addressability, where the cell size is smaller than the spot size, an image can be decimated in a manner that will limit the large accumulation of printed material. The proper decimation of the image will depend on the spot size, the physics of drop coalescence and the addressability during printing. A simple method of using concentric decimation is disclosed herein to enable this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Uma Srinivasan, Stephen David White
  • Patent number: 8079657
    Abstract: A liquid sensing device is for a liquid consuming system in which air is introduced from the upstream end in association with consumption of liquid at the downstream end. The liquid sensing device includes a sensor positioning member that defines a sensing flow channel including an inlet hole at the upstream end and a first outlet hole at the downstream end, a sensor positioned on the outside face of the sensor positioning member at a location facing the sensing flow channel as to sense whether liquid is present in the sensing flow channel, and a sensor positioning member mounting portion that mounts the sensor positioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akihisa Wanibe
  • Patent number: 8079658
    Abstract: A print density adjusting device of print image information includes a print image information acquirer configured to acquire the print image information. A forming information acquirer is configured to acquire forming information of a medium on which an inkjet printer prints and which is to be bent. A vertex detector is configured to detect a vertex of a bent part which is to be bent based on the forming information. A bending angle detector is configured to detect a bending angle of the bent part based on the forming information. A print density adjuster is configured to adjust a print density of the print image information acquired by the print image information acquirer based on the vertex detected by the vertex detector and based on the bending angle detected by the bending angle detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Ikeda, Yutaka Miyasaka, Satoshi Takezawa, Masakatsu Okawa
  • Patent number: 8079659
    Abstract: Provided are a printing apparatus and a conveying-error controlling method capable of printing a high-quality image by correction reflecting the conveying amount of a printing medium. A provided inkjet printing apparatus prints images by printing scans for actual printing and by conveying the printing medium with a roller orthogonally to the printing-scan direction. In each printing scan, the printing medium is scanned with a print head having an array of nozzles from which the ink is ejected. The print head moving direction differs from the arranging direction of the nozzles in the array. The apparatus includes a conveying controller to control the conveying of the printing medium on the basis of a correction value used to correct a conveying error of the roller. The conveying controller changes the correction value to be applied in accordance with the conveying amount of the printing medium between two scans with the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tajika, Hitoshi Nishikori, Takeshi Yazawa, Jun Yasutani, Fumiko Yano, Satoshi Seki, Atsushi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8079660
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor storage devices, each of which includes an access determination unit that determines whether the semiconductor storage device is accessed, an input terminal and an output terminal used for connection checking, a normally-closed switching element that electrically disconnects the input terminal from the output terminal when the access determination unit determined that the semiconductor storage device is accessed, and a bypass circuit that electrically connects the input terminal to a reference point through predetermined impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Kosugi
  • Patent number: 8079661
    Abstract: Provided is a print cradle assembly for a printhead cartridge. The cradle assembly includes a docking bay molding and a media feed drive assembly positioned on the docking bay molding and configured to feed media through the assembly. The cradle assembly also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a printer controller for controlling the media feed drive assembly and operation of the cartridge, as well as a heatshield mounted to the PCB for shielding the printer controller from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and user contact with the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Paul Ian Mackey, Bruce Gordon Holyoake, Garry Raymond Jackson, John Douglas Peter Morgan
  • Patent number: 8079662
    Abstract: A droplet applying apparatus includes a base 11 having a mounting surface 11a on which a substrate 10 is to be mounted, an arm part 4 which is fitted to the base 11 so as to be movable relative to the base 11 in an arrow A direction, a plurality of droplet ejecting sections 6 which are fitted to the arm part 4 so as to be movable relative to the base 11 in an arrow B direction and which eject droplets to the substrate 10 mounted on the mounting surface 11a, image pickup parts 90 for detecting alignment marks 110 of the substrate 10 mounted on the mounting surface 11a, and a attitude adjustment member 12 for adjusting an attitude of the substrate 10 mounted on the mounting surface 11a based on a detection result of the image pickup parts 90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nakajima, Toshihiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 8079663
    Abstract: A printhead having at least first and second rows of print nozzles. Each nozzle has first circuitry of a first type arranged asymmetrically to second circuitry of a second type. The respective positions of the first and second circuitry of each nozzle of the first row are arranged mirrored with respect to the first and second circuitry of each nozzle of the second row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mark Jackson Pulver, Michael John Webb, John Robert Sheahan, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 8079664
    Abstract: An inkjet printer has a molded ink manifold bonded to a printhead by an adhesive film. The printhead has: (a) a plurality of nozzles formed on a frontside of a substrate, the nozzles being arranged in rows extending longitudinally along the substrate, each nozzle having a respective nozzle inlet; and (b) a plurality of ink supply channels extending longitudinally along a backside of the substrate. Each ink supply channel is configured for supplying ink from the backside to at least one corresponding row of nozzle inlets. Further, each ink supply channel is interrupted along its length by one or more transverse bridges. The transverse bridges provide the printhead integrated circuit with strength in a transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 8079665
    Abstract: For a serial color ink jet printing apparatus that forms an image using a symmetric printing head that ejects large dots and small dots, the configuration of a printing head is provided for suppressing, to the extent possible, a cyclic fluctuation in the main scanning direction. According to the present invention, individual nozzle arrays are arranged so that two nozzle arrays, i.e., a cyan nozzle array c1 and a magenta nozzle array m1, that are located nearer each other, form dots on adjacent scan lines. With this arrangement, a high quality image, having neither an uneven density nor an uneven color, can be formed when a printing head is inclined, or when a cyclic shift in printing positions occurs, depending on the position of the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiichiro Takahashi, Naoiji Otsuka, Osamu Iwasaki, Minoru Teshigawara, Tetsuya Edamura, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Satoshi Seki, Naomi Oshio
  • Patent number: 8079666
    Abstract: A printhead is provided having a support frame, a plurality of nozzle integrated circuits having printing fluid ejection nozzles, and a one-piece printing fluid distribution member commonly supporting the plurality of nozzle integrated circuits, the distribution member being removably engaged with the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8079667
    Abstract: A drop generator having a via structure configured for electrical and fluidic interconnection. The via structure includes an electrically conductive layer and an electrically insulating layer disposed on the electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Y. Young, Patrick C. Cheung, Stephen David White, John R. Andrews, David J. Gervasi
  • Patent number: 8079668
    Abstract: A thermal bend actuator comprises an active beam for connection to drive circuitry and a passive beam mechanically cooperating with the active beam. When a current is passed through the active beam, the active beam expands relative to the passive beam resulting in bending of the actuator. The passive beam comprises a first layer comprised of silicon nitride and a second layer comprised of silicon dioxide. The second layer is sandwiched between the first layer and the active beam to provide thermal insulation for the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Vincent Patrick Lawlor, Rónán Pádraig Seán O'Reilly
  • Patent number: 8079669
    Abstract: A printhead that has an array of ink ejection nozzles, an array of chambers adapted to store ink for ejection through each of the nozzles respectively, a silicon substrate for supporting the array of chambers and defining a plurality of ink inlet channels for feeding ink to the array of chambers, the silicon substrate having a planar structure with one surface that supports the chambers and an opposing surface from which the elongate ink feed channels extend, a plurality of actuators, one of the actuators being positioned in each of the chambers respectively for ejecting drops of ink through the nozzle, a plurality of ink inlet channels connecting the ink feed channels to the array of chambers and, layers of CMOS drive circuitry supported on the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8079670
    Abstract: A printhead is provided having a fluid ejection nozzles which each have a substrate, a layer of drive circuitry deposited on the substrate, and subsequent etchant layers deposited on the drive circuitry to define a nozzle chamber with walls and a roof structure defining a fluid ejection port. Each nozzle also has a stacked capacitive actuator arranged in the chamber. The actuator has alternate electrode plates sandwiched between a compressible polymer, wherein activation of the stacked actuator draws the electrode plates together to compress the polymer storing energy therein, with subsequent de-activation releasing the energy to eject fluid within the chamber from the ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8079671
    Abstract: A drop on demand printer is provided having: an ink ejection location for ejecting ink droplets, the ejection location having an associated ejection electrode for causing electrostatic ejection of the droplets from the ejection location; an intermediate electrode spaced from the ejection location, and in use disposed between the ejection location and a substrate onto which the droplets are printed in use; wherein either the ejection electrode or the intermediate electrode is coated with a film, the film being formed from a blend of a polymer insulating host and a conducting polymer dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Tonejet Limited
    Inventor: Peter James Brown
  • Patent number: 8079672
    Abstract: A heater stack includes first strata configured to support and form a fluid heater element responsive to repetitive electrical activation and deactivation to produce repetitive cycles of fluid ejection from an ejection chamber above the heater element and second strata overlying the first strata and contiguous with the ejection chamber to protect the heater element. The first strata includes a substrate with a cavity formed either in or above the substrate, a heater substrata overlying the cavity and substrate, and a decomposed layer of material between the substrate and heater substrata and processed to provide the cavity substantially empty of the layer of material such that the cavity provides a means which, during repetitive electrical activation, enables the heater element to transfer heat energy into the fluid in the ejection chamber for producing ejection of fluid therefrom substantially without transferring heat energy into the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin Guan, Burton Lee Joyner, II
  • Patent number: 8079673
    Abstract: A disclosed droplet discharging head includes: a common liquid chamber; a plurality of liquid flow paths branching from the common liquid chamber; a nozzle communicating with the liquid flow path; an actuator substrate having a heater disposed in the vicinity of the nozzle communicating with the liquid flow path; and an additional flow path on a surface above the liquid flow path in the vertical direction, the additional flow path communicating with the common liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohzoh Urasaki
  • Patent number: 8079674
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a recording element substrate provided on one side thereof with a plurality of ejection outlet arrays each including a plurality of ejection outlets for ejecting recording liquid and provided on the other side thereof with a plurality of supply ports for supplying the recording liquid to the ejection outlet arrays, respectively; and a supporting member for supporting the recording element substrate by connecting with the other side of the recording element substrate. The supporting member has a plurality of supply passages for supplying the recording liquid to respective supply ports. The supporting member is provided with a partition between adjacent ones of the liquid passages, and at least one side of the partition is provided with pits and projections arranged alternately along a longitudinal direction of the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kurihara, Hirotaka Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8079675
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a substrate provided with an energy generating element to generate energy used for discharging ink, a discharge port through which the ink is discharged, a supply port for supplying the ink, and an ink path formed on the substrate for making the discharge port and the supply port communicate with each other, wherein wall members forming the ink path are made of an inorganic material, and a space between adjacent ink paths is filled up by a metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruo Ozaki, Ichiro Saito, Kenji Ono, Satoshi Ibe, Toshiyasu Sakai, Sakai Yokoyama, Kazuaki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8079676
    Abstract: Features described herein relate to ejecting drops from a thin layer of fluid. Piezoelectric elements can generate a uniform high acoustic field, which is transferred through a segmented metal support structure and an acoustic horn. The sound waves generate capillary waves on a thin layer of fluid on a top surface of the acoustic horn. At sufficiently high amplitudes, the capillary waves begin to break apart, resulting in the ejection of drops from the thin layer of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventor: Scott A. Elrod
  • Patent number: 8079677
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure generating chamber that is communicated with a nozzle opening and a piezoelectric element includes a first electrode formed above the pressure generating chamber, a piezoelectric layer formed above the first electrode, and a second electrode formed above the piezoelectric layer. In addition, an amorphous layer including an amorphous material is formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer at the second electrode side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Morozumi, Jiro Kato, Satoshi Denda, Ichiro Asaoka
  • Patent number: 8079678
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead has an elongate chassis, an ink distribution unit for connection to an ink supply, and a plurality of printhead modules supported along the elongate chassis. The printhead modules each define an elongate array of ink ejection nozzles. During use, the printhead modules are each supplied with ink from apertures in the elongate chassis which are in turn supplied by the ink distribution unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8079679
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carriage, a plurality of sub-tanks, a main tank, and a plurality of supply tubes. The carriage includes a plurality of recording heads that jet liquid droplets of a plurality of colored ink. The plurality of sub-tanks supply the plurality of recording heads with the corresponding colored ink. The main tank supplies the corresponding colored ink to each of the sub-tanks. The plurality of supply tubes connect the main tank and the sub-tanks. The plurality of supply tubes are fused in a band-shape at a position between the main tank and the carriage, and a maximum of two of the supply tubes are fused together at a position corresponding to a groove of a tube fixing unit provided to the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Naruse, Takayuki Niihara
  • Patent number: 8079680
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid supply apparatus including a liquid supply path which supplies a liquid from an upstream side, which is a liquid supply source, to a downstream side in which the liquid is consumed; a defoaming chamber which is provided in the liquid supply path and defoams air bubbles included in the liquid; and a depressurization chamber which is provided at a position adjacent to the defoaming chamber with a partition wall interposed therebetween and is depressurized such that the pressure thereof becomes lower than the pressure of the defoaming chamber, wherein the partition wall allows permeation of gas by the depressurization of the depressurization chamber and restricts permeation of the liquid, and wherein an air bubble integrating portion which collects the air bubbles included in the liquid is provided in the defoaming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ito, Hideya Yokouchi
  • Patent number: 8079681
    Abstract: A fluid container holder has an attachment position to which a fluid container can be attached and detached with movement of the fluid container. The fluid container has a cantilevered fluid supply member bringing a holder flow hole into contact with a container flow hole to enable the fluid to flow when the fluid container is attached to the attachment position. The fluid supply member has a free end that can be elastically deformed about a fixed end where the holder flow hole is disposed. A fluid flow channel connecting the holder flow hole to a fluid source is disposed from the free end to the fixed end. The free end is elastically deformed about the fixed end when the fluid container moves to apply a pressing force to the free end in a state where the container flow hole is in contact with the holder flow hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideya Yokouchi