Patents Issued in July 1, 2014
  • Patent number: 8764118
    Abstract: A road milling machine includes a sensor mounting system having a first mounting member, which is attached to a first machine component and supports a portion of a position sensor, and a second mounting member attached to a second machine component having a pivotable attachment to a machine frame. An extension member has a first end attached to the second mounting member and a second end including an attachment flange. A unitary ski member has a first end attached to another portion of the position sensor and a second end pivotably attached to the attachment flange. The unitary ski member includes a ground engaging surface that is positioned inboard relative to first and second side plates, which flank a rotor, and has a pivot movement compensation curve. A controller is configured for determining a milling depth of the rotor from measurements obtained by the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Sundararajan Krishnamoorthy, Arul Kumar Ramasamy, Timothy Miller
  • Patent number: 8764119
    Abstract: A paint brush (201) is provided. The brush comprises a bristle cluster (207) and a handle (202) for holding the cluster. The root end of the cluster is set into adhesive composition by a set depth X. The cluster comprises bristles of two or more different lengths. For a majority of the bristles the difference in length between a longest bristle and a shortest bristle is a range value Y. Y is less than X which means that one end of all bristles conforming to this rule must be embedded in adhesive composition but not all bristles will extend all the way to the tip end of the cluster. This ensures that bristles do not fall out of the handle while providing a tip end with reduced weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: L G Harris & Co Limited
    Inventor: Stuart Hobbs
  • Patent number: 8764120
    Abstract: An interchangeable wheel cover for a wheel of a piece of luggage, including a center cap assembly and a trim ring assembly. The center cap assembly interchangeable affixes the trim ring assembly to the wheel of the piece of luggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Tumi, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul V. Scicluna
  • Patent number: 8764121
    Abstract: A front flange portion formed at an outer peripheral edge portion of a wheel disc includes an annular front peripheral portion provided on a design surface side and an annular back peripheral portion folded backward from the annular front peripheral portion to extend radially inwardly and in surface contact with a back surface of the annular front peripheral portion, and the annular front peripheral portion and the annular back peripheral portion are integrally inclined to the surface side. Therefore, the front flange portion can mitigate stress concentration on the front flange portion due to a load generated while the automobile is running. In addition, the front flange portion has, because of its shape, high durability against a radially inward load generated by a contact with a curbstone or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Central Motor Wheel Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuya Chashiro
  • Patent number: 8764122
    Abstract: A wheel retaining device is provided for axially retaining a wheel on an axle having a notch. The cap is adapted for being affixed to a wheel. One or more springs is affixed to the cap at a lateral edge. The springs have a first position wherein the distal ends are located radially outward from the lateral edge. The springs are bendable into a second position wherein the springs are adjacent to the inboard side of the outer plate so that distal ends are urged inward. The distal ends include a protrusion that is adapted for being received in a notch on the axle. The cap is held onto the wheel by tabs that extending into apertures and catching behind the apertures. The cap is designed for maintaining the lateral position of the axle with respect to the wheel to which it is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Custom Engineered Wheels, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Chalk, Bruce E. Harrison, Jeremy L. Howard
  • Patent number: 8764123
    Abstract: The invention relates to an axle assembly for a commercial vehicle, having an axle produced from a first metal material and at least one trailing link produced from a second metal material which has a connecting portion with a seat which the axle sits with a hollow coupling portion such that the axle and the trailing link are in torque-proof engagement with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Schmitz Cargobull AG
    Inventors: Peter Schmitz, Jorg Ebert
  • Patent number: 8764124
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus includes a braking force generating section and a control unit. The braking force generating section generates braking forces at wheels of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Furuyama
  • Patent number: 8764125
    Abstract: A hydraulic pump comprising a containment body (2) having inside a cylindrical cavity (3) provided with a conduit (4) communicating with a hydraulic actuator and capable of holding a fluid. A piston (5) is movable in the cylindrical cavity (3) and a reservoir (12) of the fluid is in fluid communication with the cylindrical cavity (3). Actuation means (6) connected to the piston (5) move the piston (5) within the cylindrical cavity (3) to operate the hydraulic actuator. The pump also comprises means (13) for closing or opening the connection between the reservoir (12) and the cylindrical cavity (3). The reservoir (12) is substantially lined up with the cylindrical cavity (3) along an axis of longitudinal development (X) of same cylindrical cavity (3), so as to reduce the overall dimensions and the weight of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Formula S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giancarlo Vezzoli, Gabriele Di Pietro, Samuele Laghi, Marco Fiesoli
  • Patent number: 8764126
    Abstract: A controller for controlling braking of a wheel of a vehicle. The controller includes a first connection to a friction brake, a second connection to a motor/generator, a third connection to a plurality of sensors, and a fuzzy logic module. The motor/generator is configured to drive the wheel in a driving mode and to brake the wheel in a regenerative braking mode. Operating parameters of the vehicle are sensed by the plurality of sensors. The fuzzy logic module is configured to determine a stability of the vehicle and the wheel based on data from the plurality of sensors. The fuzzy logic module allocates braking force between the friction brake and the motor/generator operating in the regenerative braking mode based on the stability of the vehicle and the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hsien-Cheng Kevin Wu, Edward Heil
  • Patent number: 8764127
    Abstract: In a method for carrying out an emergency braking procedure in a vehicle, at least one electric actuator in the braking system is automatically actuated to generate an increased brake force in the case of an emergency situation. A maximum voltage, which exceeds the rated voltage of the actuator, is applied to the electric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Leibfried, Oliver Schmautz, Christian Doberschuetz, Ralph Lauxmann
  • Patent number: 8764128
    Abstract: A ground engaging track for a track-type machine includes a set of identical standard track shoes each having a relatively narrow shoe footprint, and a sweeping track shoe having a relatively wide shoe footprint. The sweeping track shoe is connectable via track links with the standard track shoes in an endless chain configuration such that the sweeping track shoe juts outwardly of the standard track shoes, for sweeping debris from a clearance between the track and a main frame of the track-type machine. The sweeping track shoe includes bolting apertures formed therein and communicating between an upper shoe surface and a ground contacting shoe surface, the bolting apertures being arranged in a directional link bolting pattern. The directional link bolting pattern defines a minor shoe axis and a major shoe axis, and the sweeping shoe body may be configured such that an inboard sweeping edge is spaced further than an outboard edge from the minor shoe axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Nebergall, Stephen Garnett, Britta A. Jost
  • Patent number: 8764129
    Abstract: A system and method of increasing the traction and mobility of a tandem axled vehicle by disposing an endless track 16 around the vehicle tires 18,20 and using a tensioning device 22 to impart a force on the endless track 16 to maintain an optimal track tension. The tensioning device 22 may impart a constant force, a force within a set range, or a variable force controlled by a processor 64 on the endless track 16. The processor 64 monitors vehicle parameters to determine if endless track slipping is occurring. The slip-control processor 64 sends signals to the tension device 22 to increase endless track tension when a track slip condition is sensed, and sends signals to decrease endless track tension when slipping is not occurring, thereby allowing for greater suspension movement and improving overall vehicle mobility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: GSE Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Glen Raymond Simula, Steven John Tarnowski
  • Patent number: 8764130
    Abstract: A frame assembly can be configured to couple one or more doors to a refrigeration case having an opening. The frame assembly can be mounted outside the opening of the refrigeration case, which can reduce the amount of energy needed for heating the frame assembly and doors to prevent condensation. Mounting the frame assembly outside the opening can also improve the uniformity of light used to illuminate goods displayed in the refrigeration case. Mounting the frame assembly outside the opening can also allow for the use of larger doors. In some embodiments, and adapter can be used to mount the frame assembly outside the opening. In some embodiments, refrigeration units having a frame assembly mounted in the opening can be retrofitted to include a frame assembly that is mounted outside the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Anthony Inc.
    Inventors: William Pack, Ryan Wach, Matthew Rolek, Mark Sandnes, Paul Artwohl, John Roche
  • Patent number: 8764131
    Abstract: An undercabinet secretary provides organization and storage for items as well as concealed or hidden storage for items. The undercabinet secretary prevents concealed items from being accessed while allowing authorized persons or those who are aware of the hidden storage to conveniently retrieve the items. The undercabinet secretary may have one or more dividers to provide compartments for organization and storage of items, and may have a hidden compartment assembly having the same outward appearance to conceal items. In one or more embodiments, the hidden compartment assembly may have its own divider which may be used as a handle to access the hidden compartment assembly and which allows the hidden compartment assembly to blend in with the other dividers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventor: Marie Risley
  • Patent number: 8764132
    Abstract: A panel assembly includes a panel, a first mounting part and a second mounting part. The first mounting part and the second mounting part each include buckling pieces. Part of buckling pieces are moveable mounted on the first mounting part for mounting the first mounting part on a side of a cabinet. The another buckling pieces are immovable mounted on the second mounting part for mounting the second mounting part on an opposite side of the cabinet. When the buckling pieces of the first mounting part are in a free state, the buckling pieces of the first mounting part are attached on the other one of the two opposite sidewalls of the cabinet. When the buckling pieces of the first mounting part are pushed to move towards the second mounting part, the first mounting part are detached from the other one of the two opposite sidewalls of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ya-Zhong Li
  • Patent number: 8764133
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a hinge bracket that is installed on a cabinet between an upper door and a lower door, which are configured to individually open and close an upper portion and a lower portion of a cabinet, respectively, and rotatably supports the upper door and the lower door, the hinge bracket coupled to a connecting member through a reinforcing bracket, which is installed at an inner side of a wall forming a heat insulation space of the cabinet, thereby enhancing the sealing performance of a filler unit configured to seal between the upper door and the lower door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Yong Park, Hyun Tae Chu, Hyoung Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 8764134
    Abstract: The device for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture unit comprises a body (108), associated with a fixed part of the furniture unit (116), for supporting a slider (3) reversibly sliding along a sliding axis (100) in contrast and due to the action of a first spring (5), the slider being engageable with a drawing device provided on a drawing element (105) slidable in the direction of the sliding axis with an integral or reversibly couplable connection to the movable part (103) of the furniture unit, the supporting body comprising a first displacement device suitable for moving the drawing device so as to release the drawing device and the slider from their mutual engagement, an elastically yielding stop element against which the drawing element abuts directly or indirectly before engaging with the drawing device in the first displacement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Arturo Salice S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Salice
  • Patent number: 8764135
    Abstract: A linking mechanism includes a rotary wheel set, a linking cord set and an actuator set s chair includes a chair body carrying a rotating wheel and coupled between a drawer cabinet and a drawer to synchronize the operation of two sliding rail assemblies that are coupled between the drawer and the drawer cabinet, enabling the drawer to be accurately moved in and out of the drawer cabinet between an open position and a close position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nan Juen International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuo-Sheng Huang
  • Patent number: 8764136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling device for detachably connecting a drawer to a movable rail of a drawer pull-out guide. The coupling device includes at least one movably mounted coupling part for detachably connecting the coupling device to the movable rail of the drawer pull-out guide. The coupling device includes an adapter device, so that the height position of the coupling part relative to the draw bottom can be adjusted. The adapter device includes a bearing part to be fastened to the drawer, and an adjustment part is connected to the coupling part. The adjustment part is adjustably supported in a direction substantially at a right angle to the drawer bottom in order to adjust the height position of the coupling part relative to the bearing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Simon Grabherr
  • Patent number: 8764137
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drawer for furniture, said drawer being dismantled, for assembly using practically no tools. The drawer consists of: two lateral wall elements, a front-and rear-face wall element that consist of a base profile, and a drawer base that consists of several identical base elements. The base element consists of a profile that has a tongue profile edge and a groove profile edge. Thus, any number of base elements can be mechanically joined together and then dismantled to form a surface. A drawer of equal size without a base surface may be connected to the drawer with a base surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fehre Design GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Fehre
  • Patent number: 8764138
    Abstract: A computer network system and method for printing purchase transaction receipts includes a novel printer physical structure, data structure, and control logic for printing on both sides of a register receipt, business rules designed to facilitate the two sided printing, and print paper designed to facilitate two sided printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
    Inventors: Baxter Byerly, Jeff Mount
  • Patent number: 8764139
    Abstract: A preliminary vibration number storage unit stores a first preliminary vibration characteristic which indicates a relation between a downtime of an ejection opening and a smallest number of vibrations in preliminary vibration, the smallest number of vibrations required to enable normal preliminary ejection from the ejection opening immediately after the preliminary vibration. The downtime of each ejection opening TR is irregularly distributed within a range between zero and T1max, the range defining the first preliminary vibration characteristic, and preliminary ejection is performed subsequently to the preliminary vibration. At this point, the preliminary vibration performed is set to include N1R vibrations, the number of which corresponds to the downtime TR of the first preliminary vibration characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 8764140
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid; a tank having a liquid capacity greater than that of the liquid storage unit; a liquid supply unit supplying the liquid in the liquid storage unit to the tank; an agitation device that agitates the liquid accommodated in the tank; and a liquid ejection unit that ejects the liquid from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Matsumoto, Toshio Kumagai
  • Patent number: 8764141
    Abstract: A system for shaping media for printing by a media width printhead is provided having a media width printhead of fluid ejection nozzles defining a media width print zone, input rollers disposed for transporting media into the print zone at an angle to a plane parallel with the print zone, output rollers for transporting media out of the print zone at an angle to a plane parallel with the print zone, and an elongate platen for supporting and shaping the media as the media is transported through the print zone. The platen has a series of ribs disposed upstream of the print zone and a series of ribs disposed downstream of the print zone. The ribs are configured so that the transported media adopts a constrained curved path past the nozzles through contact with the ribs in the print zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Zamtec Ltd
    Inventors: John Christian Love, Biagio Agostinelli, Javier Escobedo, Antoni Murcia, David Tyvoll
  • Patent number: 8764142
    Abstract: A drive signal generating circuit of the liquid ejection apparatus may output a second drive signal including a first unit signal including a set of two ejection drive pulses, and a fine vibration drive pulse, and a second unit signal including a set of two ejection drive pulses; and at a steady speed area of the recording head, both the first unit signal and the second unit signal are output according to one timing signal while at an acceleration or deceleration area of the recording head, one first unit signal is output according to one timing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hirofumi Teramae
  • Patent number: 8764143
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of heads, each of which includes a capacitive load used as an actuator for discharging ink; a drive-voltage generating circuit that outputs a drive voltage to be applied to the actuator and includes a plurality of current amplifying circuits; and a plurality of head drivers that control the actuators of the heads. Each of the current amplifying circuits is configured to include a plurality of bipolar transistors and to operate so as to equalize output current loads of the bipolar transistors included in the current amplifying circuits, and waveforms of the drive voltages output from the current amplifying circuits are combined to form a combined waveform of the drive voltages to be applied to each of the head drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yuji Ieiri
  • Patent number: 8764144
    Abstract: Provided are method of controlling nozzles of an inkjet head and an apparatus for measuring the amounts of ink ejected from the nozzles of the inkjet head. The method includes: preparing a mass measuring device, which measures the mass of ink by using an oscillation change, in a pixel; ejecting ink into the pixel from a nozzle of the inkjet head, and measuring the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle by using the mass measuring device; and adjusting a voltage waveform applied to the nozzle of the inkjet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tae-gyun Kim, Tae-woon Cha, Sang-il Kim
  • Patent number: 8764145
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink particle generation unit that makes a pressurized ink injected from a nozzle into particles, a charging unit that electrically charges the ink particle of those subjected to particulation, which corresponds to a dot to be printed, a polarizing unit that polarizes the electrically charged ink particle in a polarizing electric field, a collection unit that allows a gutter to collect the ink particle corresponding to the dot that is not printed, and a character forming unit that forms a character as a dot matrix on a printing object. A phase detection charging signal is applied to the ink particle that is not used for printing when forming the dot matrix character so as to detect an optimum charging timing in a process of forming the dot matrix character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Moriai, Nobuhiro Harada, Takashi Kawano
  • Patent number: 8764146
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head having a nozzle through which ink that contains thermoplastic resin particles and whose viscosity at 50° C. is equal to or greater than 2.1 mPa·s is discharged, a pressure chamber, and a driving element; an ink non-absorptive medium; a heating unit; and a control unit that applies driving signals to the driving element. In the printing apparatus, a discharge waveform generated by the driving signal includes a first expansion-element that expands the pressure chamber, a contraction-element that contracts the pressure chamber having been expanded by the first expansion-element, a second expansion-element that expands the pressure chamber having been contracted by the contraction-element, a third expansion-element that further expands the pressure chamber having been expanded by the second-expansion element, and a connection-element that connects an end terminal of the second expansion-element with a start terminal of the third expansion-element at the same potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masako Fukuda, Tomohiro Sayama, Hironori Sato, Nagatoshi Kasahara, Hiroshi Mukai, Toshihiro Shinbara
  • Patent number: 8764147
    Abstract: The number of head contacts, which increases along with an increase in the number of ink colors and nozzles used in a printhead and the length of the printhead, can be decreased. To accomplish this, a reception unit, which receives a serialized control parameter having an identification code indicating a normal drive pulse for discharging ink or a pulse short enough not to discharge ink, is arranged on the head substrate of a printhead. Further, a normal pulse generation unit, which generates the normal drive pulse based on a received control parameter, and a short pulse generation unit, which generates the short pulse based on a received control parameter, are arranged on the head substrate. Based on the identification code of the control parameter, it is controlled to output the normal drive pulse or short pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Aida
  • Patent number: 8764148
    Abstract: An ink jet printing device (1) for printing multicolored images has an essentially horizontally extending conveyor mechanism (2) for moving items to be printed (3) lying on it in a forward feed direction (4), and a print head arrangement (5) disposed above the conveyor mechanism (2) which is disposed stationary relative to the conveyor mechanism (2) during the printing process. The print head arrangement (5) is made up of several print heads (6) each with several nozzles disposed in a nozzle row (26), and the nozzle rows (22) have a printing range width (24) as measured perpendicular to the forward feed direction (4) which forms a total printing range width (27) of the print head arrangement (5) corresponding to the number of print heads (6). The print head arrangement (5) is disposed so that it can be displaced vertically on a guide (10) and a nozzle rinsing device (14) is provided which can be positioned underneath the print head arrangement (5) as and when necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Durst Phototechnik—A.G.
    Inventors: Franz Obertegger, Mario Gandini, Thomas Stoll, Andrä Niederbacher
  • Patent number: 8764149
    Abstract: A method for process direction registration in an inkjet printer includes ejecting ink drops from a first inkjet at less than a maximum operating rate onto an image receiving surface moving in a process direction. The method includes generating image data samples of the image receiving surface including the ink drops. The method further includes identifying a center of the ink drops in the process direction with reference to the image data samples and storing a time offset value in a memory to correct an identified process direction offset between the identified center of the ink drops and another identified center of ink drops that are ejected by another inkjet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Helen Haekyung Shin, Howard A. Mizes, Jeffrey J. Folkins, Yeqing Zhang
  • Patent number: 8764150
    Abstract: The ink jet recording method according to the invention includes a first image recording step of recording an image by adhering the background ink to a first region and a second region of a recording medium; a second image recording step of recording an image by adhering a color ink onto the background ink of the first region; and a heating step of heating the recording medium at 35° C. to 100° C., and in which at least one of the background ink and the color ink does not contain a pyrrolidone derivative with a standard boiling point of 240° C. or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Aoyama, Ippei Okuda, Hidehiko Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8764151
    Abstract: A method for image correction preserves edges in image data stored in a printing system. The method identifies edge image data values within a plurality of image data values and excludes the identified edge image data values from the dithering of the image data values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David Allen Mantell
  • Patent number: 8764152
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided which, when forming an image using a plurality of different inks, can produce a satisfactory image free from problematical levels of density unevenness, graininess and insufficient density with any of these inks. To this end, when printing on pixel areas of a print medium by a plurality of relative movements between the printing unit and the print medium, the dot overlap rate of an ink that tends to show density unevenness is set higher than that of an ink that tends to show other image impairments more conspicuously than the density unevenness. This results in a good image that eliminates such image impairments as density unevenness, graininess and density insufficiency in the entire color gamut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumitaka Goto, Fumihiro Goto, Akitoshi Yamada, Akihiko Nakatani, Mitsuhiro Ono, Okinori Tsuchiya, Takashi Fujita, Rie Kajihara, Ayumi Sano, Tomokazu Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8764153
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: an inkjet head having nozzles which eject ink onto a recording medium, the ink being curable by irradiation of an active light beam; a relative movement device recording medium; an active light beam irradiation device having an active light beam emission unit that emits the active light beam and is divided into units in a direction of the relative movement for irradiating the ink deposited on the recording medium with the active light beam while relative movement between the recording medium and the active light beam irradiation device is caused along with the inkjet head; and an active light beam irradiation control device which controls on or off switching with respect to each of the divided units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Sanada
  • Patent number: 8764154
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a printing unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The conveyance unit conveys a sheet that is a continuous sheet. The printing unit prints an image onto the conveyed sheet. The detection unit detects a splice of the conveyed sheet. A following sheet area follows and is continuous from the splice. The control unit adjusts, in response to the detection unit detecting a splice of the conveyed sheet, the conveyance by the conveyance unit of the following sheet area depending on conveyance characteristics of the following sheet area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Sugimura, Takashi Nojima, Shinya Asano
  • Patent number: 8764155
    Abstract: A method of controlling a maintenance operation of an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printer, the method includes providing at least one parameter of the maintenance operation as a function of humidity condition; receiving data corresponding to a current outdoor humidity condition; determining a humidity condition corresponding to the current outdoor humidity condition; and controlling the maintenance operation, wherein the at least one parameter is determined in accordance with the determined humidity condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Frederick Allen Donahue, Brian Gray Price, Gary Alan Kneezel
  • Patent number: 8764156
    Abstract: An aqueous inkjet printer includes a print zone with a relative humidity sensor and a temperature sensor. A controller identifies a dew point of air between a printhead and an intermediate imaging member with reference to the air temperature and the moisture in the air of the print zone, and identifies a target dew point with reference to the image data used to operate the printhead. The controller operates a heater and an air mover to adjust the dew point of the air between the printhead and the intermediate imaging member to the target dew point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Palghat S. Ramesh, Paul J. McConville, Chu-heng Liu, Anthony S. Condello
  • Patent number: 8764157
    Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes a recording head and a waste ink tray. The recording head is configured to eject droplets of ink. The waste ink tray is configured to receive the ink drained from the recording head. A surface of the waste ink tray, which receives the ink, is made of an antibacterial agent containing resin composition. A solubility of the antibacterial agent containing resin composition, which is measured by a predetermined measurement method, is 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Noriaki Ozawa
  • Patent number: 8764158
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus includes a pressing plate movable up and down configured to allow recording media to be stacked thereon, a feeding roller configured to feed recording media stacked on the pressing plate, an urging unit configured to urge the pressing plate in a direction to come close to the feeding roller, and a moving-away unit configured to cause the pressing plate to move away from the feeding roller against an urging force from the urging unit. The moving-away unit causes the pressing plate to move so that a distance between the uppermost recording medium being stacked and the feeding roller becomes approximately constant regardless of an amount of recording media stacked on the pressing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Asai, Yuki Emoto
  • Patent number: 8764159
    Abstract: A head cleaning device includes: a cleaning liquid holding unit provided with a cleaning liquid holding surface inclined corresponding to the nozzle surface of an ink jet head obliquely disposed; movement unit moving a head with respect to the cleaning liquid holding unit; and a cleaning liquid supply unit that supplies cleaning liquid from the upper portion of inclination so as to slide down the inclination of a cleaning liquid holding surface while cleaning liquid forms a meniscus between the cleaning liquid holding surface and the nozzle surface, in a state where the cleaning liquid holding surface and the nozzle surface face each other, and includes cleaning liquid nozzles disposed so that a position of the outer edge on the downstream side of the head in a movement direction is located further to the upstream side than the center in a head movement direction of the cleaning liquid holding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Maida
  • Patent number: 8764160
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid treatment agent coating device including a coating roller that coats a recording medium with a liquid treatment agent; a pressing roller that cooperates with the coating roller to nip and convey the recording medium; a first container that holds the coating roller and the liquid treatment agent, wherein the first container has an opening portion in the vicinity of a nip portion between the coating roller and the pressing roller; a second container that accommodates an amount of the liquid treatment agent held in the first container, wherein the second container has second airtightness that is greater than first airtightness of the first container; a removal channel extending from the first container to the second container; a first on-off valve disposed in the removal channel; and a return channel extending from the second container to the first container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Sunaoshi
  • Patent number: 8764161
    Abstract: A method of continuous inkjet printing by using a printing fluid comprising water, a soluble or dispersed polymeric component, and less than a total of 10 wt % of low-volatile water soluble humectant having a boiling point of greater than 170C; ejecting spaced droplets from a printhead and controlling the spaced droplets to mark a substrate; stopping delivery of the printing fluid to the printhead; and then delivering the maintenance fluid from the maintenance fluid supply to the printhead to purge the printing fluid from the printhead, with the maintenance fluid comprising water and at least 5 wt % low-volatile water soluble humectant having a boiling point of greater than 170C, wherein the concentration of low-volatile water soluble humectant in the maintenance fluid is greater than that in the printing fluid to purge the printing fluid from the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne Lee Cook, Jeremiah D. Allen
  • Patent number: 8764162
    Abstract: A cleaning and protecting device suited for a cartridge is provided. The cartridge moves back and forth along a first axis and has a print head. The cleaning and protecting device includes a cap, a scraper, and a transmission assembly. The cap moves back and forth along a second axis. When the cartridge moves to a first position and the cap moves to a second position, the cap leans against the cartridge to cover the print head. The transmission assembly is coupled to the cap and the scraper. When the cartridge is located at the first position and the cap moves away from the second position, the cap drives the transmission assembly to move the scraper to a third position to scrape the residual ink on the print head. An office machine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: Kinpo Electronics, Inc., Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventor: Yu-Hsiang Chiu
  • Patent number: 8764163
    Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes a main body and a movable unit. The main body includes a recording head and a pump. The recording head is configured to eject ink onto a recording medium to record an image. The pump is configured to draw the ink from the recording head. The movable unit is configured to move between a near position and a far position where is away from the near position with respect to the main body. The movable unit includes a waste liquid chamber configured to accommodate the ink drawn by the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motohito Muraki
  • Patent number: 8764164
    Abstract: A service station for use with a printer includes a spittoon. The service station includes a shuttle movable along a shuttle axis, and a spittoon plow supported by the shuttle. The spittoon plow includes at least one blade portion that is angled to spread the service ink along both a width and a length of the spittoon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Jay Anderson
  • Patent number: 8764165
    Abstract: A printing head configured to apply white light-blocking ink, specialty gloss ink, and color ink is controlled, and the inks are applied so that the color ink, the specialty gloss ink, and the white light-blocking ink are formed in this order onto a printing medium having light-transmissive properties. When the printing medium is viewed from the surface on which ink has not been formed, a white ink layer is formed behind the color ink layer and the metallic ink layer, and light-blocking properties can be ensured. Because the amount of the metallic ink can be reduced, adequate expression of the color ink can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seishin Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8764166
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a main liquid ejecting head body, in which is formed a liquid flow channel through which a liquid flows, that ejects the liquid from a nozzle opening using a pressurizing unit; a driving board configured so as to supply power to the pressurizing unit; a connector provided at an end portion of the driving board; and a holding member configured so as to hold the driving board in a bent state and erected relative to one end surface of the main liquid ejecting head body. The holding member has a stopping portion that holds an end of the driving board in which the connector is provided, and the configuration is such that the stopping portion prevents the driving board from opening in the direction of the bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Miyajima, Kimiyasu Otsuki
  • Patent number: 8764167
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head including a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle opening and a piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric layer and an electrode, the method including: forming a first piezoelectric precursor film containing Bi and Fe, or Ba and Ti; forming a first piezoelectric layer by heating and crystallizing the first piezoelectric precursor film; forming a second piezoelectric precursor film further containing at least one selected from Li, B, and Cu on the first piezoelectric layer, in addition to Bi and Fe, or Ba and Ti contained in the first piezoelectric precursor film; and forming the piezoelectric layer by heating and crystallizing the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric precursor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Kitada, Xiaoxing Wang, Koji Sumi