Patents Issued in March 22, 2016
  • Patent number: 9289949
    Abstract: A composite laminate has a primary axis of loading and comprises a plurality resin plies each reinforced with unidirectional fibers. The laminate includes cross-plies with fiber orientations optimized to resist bending and torsional loads along the primary axis of loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Max U. Kismarton
  • Patent number: 9289950
    Abstract: A mandrel includes a support structure; main sectors carried by the support structure and each having a main forming surface; and intermediate sectors carried by the support structure and each having an intermediate forming surface. The main sectors and intermediate sectors are alternately arranged around the axis. The main sectors are moveable relative to the support structure between a radially inner main retracted position, and a radially outer main forming position. The intermediate sectors are moveable relative to the support structure between a radially inner intermediate retracted position, and a radially outer intermediate forming position. The mandrel further includes drive means for moving the main sectors and intermediate sectors from their respective retracted positions to their respective forming positions. The drive means is configured such that each main sector reaches its main forming position before the adjacent intermediate sectors reach their respective intermediate forming positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Kristofer J. Bottome, Ian C. D. Care
  • Patent number: 9289951
    Abstract: Composite moulded product comprising of at least one polyamide-reinforcement layer consisting of a polyamide matrix and reinforcement fibers, characterised in that the polyamide-reinforcement layer is porous due to the consolidation using a pressurised steam process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Autoneum Management AG
    Inventors: Pierre Daniere, Philippe Godano, Wenzel Krause, Stefan Königbauer
  • Patent number: 9289952
    Abstract: A system for producing and repairing plastic composite components with a laminate structure includes a prefabricated woven fiber blank, which is enclosed in a safety sleeve, with the safety sleeve in turn completely enclosed by a processing sleeve. After the safety sleeve is removed from the processing sleeve and a desired cutout contour is marked on the processing sleeve, the woven fiber blank can be replaced in the processing sleeve and impregnated with adhesive there. The advantage of this system is the prefabrication of the woven fiber blank and the almost contactless processing of the woven fiber blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Jörg-Ulrich Zowalla
  • Patent number: 9289953
    Abstract: A tire repair device, which has a container for containing the tire repair fluid and a securing jig therefor, is characterized in that the securing jig is configured by coupling a securing portion, which holds the container in a predetermined direction, to a step plate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Takahara
  • Patent number: 9289954
    Abstract: Example eye-mountable devices and methods for fabricating eye-mountable devices are described. A method may include applying a first amount of polymerizable material to a ring-shaped structure, where the ring-shaped structure comprises at least one sensor configured to detect an analyte. The method also may include positioning the ring-shaped structure with the first amount of polymerizable material applied thereto in a mold, where the mold is configured to form an eye-mountable device. Further, the method may include applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure in the mold while curing the first amount of polymerizable material. Still further, the method may include adding a second amount of polymerizable material to the mold with the ring-shaped structure therein, and curing the second amount of polymerizable material to form an over-molded polymer layer such that the ring-shaped structure is at least partially enclosed in the eye-mountable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey George Linhardt, Harvey Ho
  • Patent number: 9289955
    Abstract: The present techniques provide multi-layer plastic structures and methods for making such. The multi-layer plastic structures include an inner surface made from a polyolefin resin, and resistant to environmental stress cracking, and an outer surface that includes a styrenic copolymer. The outer surface has a kinetic coefficient of friction with itself of 0.42 and a static coefficient of friction with itself of 0.44.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP, Silgan Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee A. Carvell, Mark Wanderlich, Susan L. Banovic, James Jalutkewicz, Charles E. Rees, Michael A. Smith
  • Patent number: 9289956
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the deposition of elementary semifinished products in a process for building tires for vehicle wheels includes: driving in rotation, around a rotation axis, at a rotation speed between about ?/8 rad/s and about 6? rad/s, a tire being processed which tire has a radially external surface including one or more elementary semifinished products; sending a first electromagnetic radiation to the radially external surface, the latter generating a corresponding first reflected radiation; detecting, through a first detecting device, at least one first image representative of the first reflected radiation; controlling the first detecting device in such a manner that a first exposure time for detecting the at least one first image is included between about 0.1 s and about 10 s; carrying out a first comparison between the at least one first image and one or more reference data; and generating a first notification signal as a function of the first comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A., Politecnico Di Torino
    Inventors: Michele Ballabio, Gaetano Lo Presti, Bartolomeo Montrucchio, Vincenzo Orlando
  • Patent number: 9289957
    Abstract: A tread rubber 2G comprises a base portion 9 made of electrically non-conductive rubber compounding silica and having a width substantially equal to a width of the tread reinforcing-cord layer 7; a conducting portion 11 made of the electrically conductive rubber, covering a radially outer surface of the base portion 9 and extending in the axial direction of the tire, and protruding both end portions 11a and 11b outwardly from the base portion 9 so as to connect the both end portions with tire members Ty electrically conducted to a rim J at a state of mounting the tire on the rim; and a cap portion 10 made of electrically non-conductive rubber compounding silica and disposed outside the conducting portion 11 in the radial direction of the tire and forming a major part of a ground contact surface 2a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kuroki
  • Patent number: 9289958
    Abstract: A molding die for molding a resin-made roller shaft therein includes: a cavity for molding the roller shaft therein; and a holding member which is provided on an end of the cavity and holds both ends in an axial direction of the roller shaft, wherein the holding member can rotate the roller shaft around a axis of the roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Murao, Takashi Arai, Kenji Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 9289959
    Abstract: A machine frame for a high-pressure roller press for receiving the rollers in the bearings of the press, including at least one first frame element below the rollers and at least one second frame element. At least one connecting element is provided for connecting the at least one first frame element to the at least one second frame element. The at least one connecting element has a U-shaped design forming two limbs. With this design, the frame can be constructed with smaller dimensions than current constructions and in one piece, because no releasable connections are necessary with this configuration of the machine frame. This design saves weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: KHD HUMBOLDT WEDAG GMBH
    Inventor: Meinhard Frangenberg
  • Patent number: 9289960
    Abstract: A heat press can include a frame, a first lower platen, a second lower platen, an upper platen, a press mechanism, a shuttle mechanism, and a heating element. The lower platens can be supported by the frame. The press mechanism can be coupled to the upper platen and operable to move the upper platen between open and closed positions. In the open position, the upper platen can be spaced apart from the lower platens by a greater distance than when in the closed position. The shuttle mechanism can be supported by the frame and can move the press mechanism linearly between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the upper platen can be located above the first lower platen. In the second position, the upper platen can be located above the second lower platen. The heating element can be configured to heat the upper platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: GroupeSTAHL
    Inventors: Benjamin Robinson, Rich Antoszewski
  • Patent number: 9289961
    Abstract: A method for producing bags containing fiber material, comprises the steps of forming at least one continuous layer of fiber material; separating in succession portions of fiber material from the continuous layer and moving them along a predetermined path; feeding each portion of fiber material to respective containment and compaction elements of a first transfer conveyor; feeding an ordered succession of bags containing respective portions of fiber material to respective supporting elements of a second transfer conveyor; transferring the portions of fiber material from the first transfer conveyor into respective housings of a third transfer conveyor; transferring the portions from the third transfer conveyor inside containment bags carried by a second transfer conveyor; transferring the containment bags from the second transfer conveyor to a fourth transfer conveyor; and moving in succession the bags housing respective portions of fiber material to a folding unit at which the bags are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: G.D s.p.A.
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti
  • Patent number: 9289962
    Abstract: Laser-personalizable security articles include a multi-layer security document and an optically transparent processing tape. The multi-layer security document includes an optically transparent cover layer, a composite image and an imagable layer adjacent to the cover layer. The first surface of the cover layer is at least partially a microstructured surface, where the microstructured surface forms microlenses or a lenticular surface. The composite image is made by a collection of complete or partial images viewed through the microstructured surface of the cover layer. The composite image is located on or within the second surface of the cover layer. The imagable layer is a laser. The optically transparent processing tape sufficiently wets out on the misconstructured surface to render the microstructured surface invisible to a writing laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kui Chen-Ho, Christopher K. Haas, Douglas S. Dunn, Duane D. Fansler, Jianhui Xia, Dong-Wei Zhu, Timothy D. Filiatrault, Barbara J. Filiatrault, David B. Olson, Randy A. Larson, Jun-Ying Zhang, Encai Hao
  • Patent number: 9289963
    Abstract: The present invention has an objective to provide a silicone elastomer composition in which a cured product thereof is flexible, which provides a silicone elastomer with a small hardness change even due to thermal aging, and in which superior adhesive properties with respect to other silicone elastomers and superior curing properties are exhibited. The objective of the present invention can be achieved by a silicone elastomer composition comprising: (A) an organopolysiloxane having two or more silicon atom-bonded alkenyl groups on average in a molecule, in which the content of the alkenyl group is less than 0.2% by weight with respect to the amount of component (A); (B) an organopolysiloxane having two or more silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms on average in a molecule, in which the amount of the silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms in component (B) ranges from 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: DOW CORNING TORAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yoshida, Nozomi Ishigami
  • Patent number: 9289964
    Abstract: An alloy-saving type high purity ferritic stainless steel sheet, comprising a steel sheet which contains, by mass %, C: 0.001 to 0.03%, Si: 0.01 to 1%, Mn: 0.01 to 1.5%, P: 0.005 to 0.05%, S: 0.0001 to 0.01%, Cr: 13 to 30%, N: 0.001 to 0.03%, Al: 0.005 to 1%, and Sn: 0.01 to 1% and has a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities and which has a surface film, the surface film containing one or both of Al and Si in a total of 5 to 50 at % and Sn, an average concentration of Cr in the surface film being 1.1 to 3 times the concentration of Cr inside the steel sheet, and the surface film having a surface roughness of an arithmetic average roughness Ra of 0.1 to 1.5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN STAINLESS STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaharu Hatano, Hiroyuki Matsuyama, Akihito Yamagishi, Naoto Hansaki, Eiichiro Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 9289965
    Abstract: A composite material includes a polymeric matrix, at least one transparent region including a plurality of optically clear elements provided in the polymeric matrix and at least one opaque region including a plurality of opaque reinforcing elements provided in the polymeric matrix generally adjacent to the at least one transparent region. A structural window and a method for reinforcing a composite material are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark S. Wilenski, Alan M. Markus, Larry A. Godby
  • Patent number: 9289966
    Abstract: A metal layer-free multi-layer film with a surface weight of ?33 g/m2, shrinkage behavior of ?10% at 90° C. as described herein and a layer structure: a layer (a) composed of at least one thermoplastic olefin homopolymer or copolymer as an outer layer, an adhesive layer (b) inseparable under a cohesion peeling effect, a layer (c) of at least one homopolyamide and/or copolyamide, at least one internal gas barrier layer (d) adjoining layer (c) and differing from layers (c) and (e) in the composition of the polymer component(s), a layer (e) adjoining the gas barrier layer (d) and composed of at least one homopolyamide and/or copolyamide, and a layer (i) of at least one homopolyamide and/or copolyamide as an outer layer. Also disclosed is a method of using such a multi-layer film for the production of a buoyancy/lift body and a buoyancy/lift body made of such a multi-layer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: MARIA SOELL HIGH TECHNOLOGY FILMS GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Erich Fischer, Achim Borm, Thomas Blum
  • Patent number: 9289967
    Abstract: A method includes rotating a drum about an axis and rotating an anvil roll about an axis adjacent to the drum so as to form a nip there between. The drum includes a fluid nozzle and a press member, the press member having an outer surface. The anvil roll includes a compliant outer circumferential surface. First and second substrates are advanced in a machine direction onto the drum. The fluid nozzle moves radially outward and a jet of heated fluid is directed onto the substrates. The fluid nozzle retracts radially inward and the press member is shifted radially outward. The substrates are advanced through the nip and compressed between the press member and the anvil roll such that the press member deforms the compliant outer circumferential surface of the anvil roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David Carlton Ordway, Jillian Marie Franke, Gene Xiaoqing Huang, Uwe Schneider, Michael Devin Long
  • Patent number: 9289968
    Abstract: A method of handling an adhesive laminate, wherein the adhesive laminate is provided releasably adhered to a first web, comprising a plurality of cut or punched sections and wherein adjacent sections of the adhesive laminate remain joined to one another in the longitudinal direction of the web through one or more tie points. A first supporting structure and a second supporting structure adjacent to the first supporting structure are provided. The first web is led over the first supporting structure. A second web is provided and led over the second supporting structure, wherein the second web is oriented such that the release surface of the second web faces the first supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John M. Sever, Gordon P. Knutson
  • Patent number: 9289969
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are materials and methods used to form a three dimensional (3D) article having a printed layer thereon. The 3D articles are capable of displaying rear projected images, effectively as a 3D “screen” for displaying an image or a movie. The 3D articles are used as standalone articles or as a portion of an animatronic figure. The articles are made by forming a substantially planar thermoformable laminate including a rear projection screen material, printing and curing a radiation curable ink onto one or both sides of the laminate, and thermoforming to impart a shape to the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Dolce Lin Wang, Thomas F. LaDuke
  • Patent number: 9289970
    Abstract: A film member attached to the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical plate is fixed by a peeling roller and a clamp of a peeling unit and peeled from the cylindrical plate by moving the peeling unit, and the intervals between each of the peeling units and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plate are same so that the contact portions of the peeling rollers are variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: SangHo Seo, SungJin Kim
  • Patent number: 9289971
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for determining an untensioned product length of a web moving through a printing press under tension. A controller determines a tensioned repeat length of the web in a span of the printing press while the web is moving through the printing press under tension; determines an elastic strain of the web in the span of the printing press while the web is moving through the printing press under tension; and calculates an untensioned product length of the web in the span of the printing press while the web is moving through the printing press under tension as a function of the tensioned repeat length and the elastic strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc
    Inventors: Douglas Joseph Dawley, Daniel Matthew Perdue, Drew Edwin Kiefaber
  • Patent number: 9289972
    Abstract: An impression medium usable with an impression member of a printing system is disclosed. The impression medium includes a top layer and a backing layer disposed between the top layer and the impression member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Marc Aronhime, Tamir Weinstein, Shai Druckman
  • Patent number: 9289973
    Abstract: A transfer decorating machine that utilizes powdered material or granules comprises: a mobile rest surface (10), on which the objects to be decorated are translated according to a predetermined direction; a device for the application of a decoration, operating above the mobile rest surface (10) and provided with a mobile transfer belt (3), which is a closed loop between movement rollers (2, 20) having mutually parallel axes, and serves the function of receiving a decoration realized with powdered material or granules (9) and then transferring it on objects to be decorated. Said device comprises a first unit (100) suitable for composing a decoration on the transfer belt (3) and a second unit (200) that carries out the transfer of the decoration from the transfer belt (3) onto an object to be decorated. The transfer belt (3) is commanded to move in a direction concordant with that of the mobile rest surface (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SYSTEM S.P.A.
    Inventors: Franco Stefani, Carlo Antonio Camorani
  • Patent number: 9289974
    Abstract: A printhead control system comprises a voltage supply control module to selectively supply an operating voltage to a printhead, and the voltage supply control module is configured to receive a first and a second control voltages, and to disconnect the supply of operating voltage to the printhead at least when the first and second control voltages have the same logical level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Javier González Bruno, David Soriano Fosas, Juan Luis López Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9289975
    Abstract: A printing device, which prints an image on a recording medium using a printing head which has a nozzle row, where a plurality of nozzles are aligned in a first direction, for each color of ink, including: a printing control section which executes a plurality of cycles of a dot forming action, where dots are formed on the recording medium along a second direction which intersects with the first direction by discharging ink from the nozzles while the printing head is moved in the second direction, and a transport action, where the recording medium is relatively transported in the first direction with regard to the printing head after completion of the dot forming action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yumiko Takeda
  • Patent number: 9289976
    Abstract: A method can include receiving an initial waveform and generating, testing, and evaluating the performance of an initial child set of waveforms based on an initial parent set of waveforms from the initial waveform. The method can also include determining whether a termination condition has been met based on the evaluating and, if so, providing an optimized waveform. If the termination condition has not been met, the method can also include generating subsequent child sets of waveforms based on the previous child set(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Paulson, Steven E. Ready
  • Patent number: 9289977
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an amplifier that employs a bias current to drive a print nozzle. A current reduction module can be employed to offset the bias current and to reduce a portion of the bias current from appearing in a subsequent stage to the amplifier in order to mitigate power in the subsequent stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Andrew Van Brocklin
  • Patent number: 9289978
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a plurality of address lines and a fire line for communicating a fire signal. The device also includes a plurality of nozzle circuits coupled to the fire line and the plurality of address lines. Each nozzle circuit is configured, when enabled, to eject fluid via a different one of a plurality of nozzles in response to the fire signal. A subset of the plurality of address lines is coupled to each pair of the plurality of nozzle circuits. Each subset that is coupled to one of the pairs of nozzle circuits is selected so that simultaneous activation of every address line of that subset simultaneously enables each nozzle circuit in the pair or pairs of nozzle circuits coupled to that triad and none of the other nozzle circuits of the plurality of nozzle circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Trudy Benjamin, Joseph Torgerson
  • Patent number: 9289979
    Abstract: A design assistance method for a liquid ejection device includes an acquiring step of acquiring a pulsation frequency fp of a liquid pressure applying unit, a compliance capacity C of a pressure absorber, and a composite inertance L of a liquid ejection head and a liquid supply flow channel; a determining step of determining whether a relationship between a cutoff frequency fc expressed by fc=1/(2?(LC)0.5) using the acquired C and L, and the pulsation frequency fp satisfies a predetermined relationship that satisfies fp?fc; and an outputting step of outputting a determination result in the determining step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Arimoto
  • Patent number: 9289980
    Abstract: The device and method handles increases in power consumed by an inkjet head. When greater-than-specified electric power is being input from both the first input section and the second input section, the control section controls the state of connection so as to prioritize connection of the second power source to the inkjet head driving system over the first power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Masakazu Mori
  • Patent number: 9289981
    Abstract: An object is to provide a head drive unit that prevents an increase in viscosity of inks in nozzles even when a head is present outside an image forming region and also provide an inkjet printer, and the head drive unit includes: a drive signal output device 31 that outputs either a discharge signal or a meniscus oscillation signal to each head; a cycle generator 326 that generates a cyclic oscillation timing signal for the meniscus oscillation signal; an input interruption detector 324 that detects that input of a print timing signal is interrupted; and a drive signal selector 32 that selects the meniscus oscillation signal as a drive signal output from the drive signal output device and continuously applies the meniscus oscillation signal to all nozzles of each head in synchronization with an oscillation timing signal when interruption of the input of the print timing signal is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Naoya Komada, Shingo Tsubotani
  • Patent number: 9289982
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an inkjet nozzle with a main actuator and at least one peripheral actuator in the same firing chamber. When the inkjet nozzle has sat idle, both the main actuator and the peripheral actuator are activated to jet at least one ink drop to renew the inkjet nozzle to mitigate decap conditions. When the inkjet nozzle has not sat idle, only the main actuator is activated to jet ink drops. The ink drops jetted by activating both the main and the peripheral actuators and the ink drops generated by activating only the main actuator have the same drop weight and drop velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Brian M. Taff, Erik D. Torniainen, Daniel A. Kearl
  • Patent number: 9289983
    Abstract: When charging an actuator, first, the charging is performed by applying an intermediate voltage lower than a driving voltage which is a target voltage and then charging is performed by applying the driving voltage to the actuator. When discharging the actuator, the discharging is performed by applying the intermediate voltage and then the discharging is performed by applying a zero voltage to the actuator which is charged by the driving voltage. The time for applying the intermediate voltage at a timing of ejecting the ink from the nozzles is shorter than the time for applying the intermediate voltage to the actuator at other timings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Nitta, Teruyuki Hiyoshi, Shunichi Ono
  • Patent number: 9289984
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a liquid discharge substrate configured to discharge liquid; a flow channel configured to supply the liquid to the liquid discharge substrate and including a first flow channel portion, a second flow channel portion communicating with the first flow channel portion and extending in a direction intersecting a predetermined direction in which the first flow channel portion extends, and a third flow channel portion provided on a downstream side of a position of communication between the first and second flow channel portion with respect to a flow of liquid flowing in the first flow channel portion and communicating with the first flow and second flow channel portion, the third flow channel portion including a first wall defining an end portion of a flow channel and a second wall having an inclined surface inclining toward a wall which defines the second flow channel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigekazu Shimizu, Takuya Iwano, Kenji Kitabatake
  • Patent number: 9289985
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes: a liquid ejecting head having a liquid ejecting surface in which a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid is formed; a head fixing substrate which holds the surface sides opposite to the liquid ejecting surfaces of a plurality of liquid ejecting heads; and a height changing-fixing section which is provided between the head fixing substrate and the liquid ejecting head and can adjust a distance between the head fixing substrate and the liquid ejecting head, in which the height changing-fixing section is detachably fixed to the surface opposite to the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head, and the height changing-fixing section and the head fixing substrate are detachably fixed to each other by screwing from the surface side opposite to a fixing surface of the head fixing substrate, to which the liquid ejecting head is fixed through the height changing-fixing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Fujio Akahane
  • Patent number: 9289986
    Abstract: An inkjet nozzle device includes: a firing chamber having a nozzle aperture; and a heating element for generating gas bubbles in the firing chamber so as to eject ink through the nozzle aperture. A non-heating stabilizing bar extends across the nozzle aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: Sam Mallinson, Glenn Horrocks, Christopher Barton, Giedre Milinkeviciute, Chia-An Lin, Aidan O'Mahony
  • Patent number: 9289987
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides for a fluid ejection device. The fluid ejection device includes a substrate, a conductive layer, a resistive layer, and at least one upper layer. The conductive layer is disposed on the substrate and an outer perimeter and an inner region thinner than the outer perimeter. The outer perimeter includes conductive elements spaced apart from one another. The resistive layer includes an outer resistive portion overlying the conductive elements and a central resistive portion lying on top of a raised bridge of the substrate, wherein the width of the raised bridge is substantially greater than the width of the central resistive portion. The at least one upper layer defines a boundary of a fluid chamber, and the boundary is aligned vertically above a border of the central resistive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Galen P. Cook, Bradley D. Chung, Anthony M. Fuller
  • Patent number: 9289988
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid ejection head including a substrate provided with an energy-generating element for generating energy utilized for ejecting a liquid; and a nozzle plate provided with an ejection orifice from which the liquid is ejected as a droplet and an opening from which a static-removable gas for electrically neutralizing the droplet is jetted, the nozzle plate being joined to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ozaki, Mitsutoshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9289989
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting head including a liquid ejection surface through which liquid is ejected, a head casing body in which the liquid ejection surface is provided on one surface, an atmosphere opening port which is open in an outer-side wall surface of the head casing body, a first space portion which communicates with the atmosphere opening port in the head casing body, and a second space portion which communicates with the first space portion through a connection path. The first space portion reserves liquid entering through the atmosphere opening port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 9289990
    Abstract: An inkjet head may include a nozzle hole; a pressure chamber; and a piezoelectric device disposed on the side opposite to the nozzle hole. A cross-sectional shape of the pressure chamber may include a circular-arc-shaped side wall portion and linear side wall portions connected with two ends of the circular-arc-shaped side wall portion on the side opposite to the supply side, the distance between the linear side wall portions gradually decreasing toward the side opposite to the supply side. The piezoelectric device may include a displacement portion that causes the pressure change inside the pressure chamber, and an electrode connection portion electrically connecting the piezoelectric device and an electrode. A cross-sectional shape of the displacement portion may include a circular-arc-shaped portion and has a smaller cross section than a corresponding cross section of the shape formed by the circular-arc-shaped side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yuichi Machida, Kusunoki Higashino
  • Patent number: 9289991
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes a base, a driving element, a nozzle plate, electrodes, wires, a supplying unit, and a discharging unit. The base includes an attachment surface and a side surface crossing the attachment surface. The driving element is attached to the attachment surface and includes pressure chambers. The nozzle plate is attached to the driving element and includes nozzles opened to the pressure chambers. The electrodes are provided in the pressure chambers. The wires are provided on the side surface and connected to the electrodes. The supplying unit is connected to the pressure chambers and supplies ink to the pressure chambers. The discharging unit is connected to the pressure chambers and discharges the ink from the pressure chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keizaburo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9289992
    Abstract: Two members among a plurality of members are bonded to each other with a hard adhesive. The plurality of members constitute a liquid ejecting head and the members are a member formed of a material other than a resin material and a member with a film shape formed of the resin material. Two members among the plurality of members are bonded to each other with a soft adhesive and the members constitute the flow passage between two members of which at least one is molded with the resin material. Two members among the plurality of members are bonded to each other with a hard adhesive and the members do not constitute the flow passage between two members of which at least one is molded with the resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Miyajima
  • Patent number: 9289993
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a nozzle surface which is a two-dimensional imaginary surface, and which includes first areas which are staggered in a plan view and second areas which are staggered in the plan view, wherein a nozzle is disposed in each of the first areas in the plan view, a recess is disposed in each of the second areas in the plan view, and the recess is recessed with respect to the nozzle surface and includes a bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fujio Akahane
  • Patent number: 9289994
    Abstract: A channel-structure has first to third nozzle-rows for first-ink, and first and second nozzle-rows for second-ink. Between the first nozzle-row for the first-ink and the first nozzle-row for the second-ink, and between the second nozzle-row for the first-ink and the second nozzle-row for the second-ink, each nozzle is located in the same position. The third nozzle-row for the first-ink is located in a different position with respect to the first and second nozzle-rows. Either the first and the second nozzle-rows for the second-ink are arranged between the first and second nozzle-rows for the first-ink, or the first and second nozzle-rows for the first-ink are arranged between the first and second nozzle-rows for the second-ink. A distance between the first nozzle-row for the first-ink and the first nozzle-row for the second-ink is equal to a distance between the second nozzle-row for the first-ink and the second nozzle-row for the second-ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohei Koide, Atsushi Ito
  • Patent number: 9289995
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a liquid ejecting head having an ejection surface; a platen; a capping mechanism including: a first member opposed to the ejection surface with the platen interposed therebetween when image recording is performed; and a second member disposed around the head so as to cooperate with the first member to hermetically close an ejection space; a distance adjusting mechanism for adjusting a distance between the ejection surface and the first member; a platen moving mechanism for moving the platen between the facing position and a non-facing position at which the platen does not face the ejection surface; and a controller configured to control the platen moving mechanism such that the platen is located at the non-facing position and controls the distance adjusting mechanism such that the distance is equal to a members-abuttable distance that allows the second and first members to abut on each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Kakigahara
  • Patent number: 9289996
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus that suppresses temperature rising of a recording head to decrease standby time when the recording head is high in temperature, thereby reducing a drop in recording speed and degradation in image quality. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head configured to have a discharge port surface in which a discharge port for discharging ink is formed, a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of the recording head, and a cleaning unit configured to make contact with the recording head to clean the discharge port surface. The inkjet recording apparatus controls whether to make the cleaning unit contact the discharge port surface based on the recording head temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Suzuki, Masaya Uetsuki, Toshimitsu Danzuka, Masataka Kato, Tsuyoshi Ibe, Asako Tomida, Hiroaki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9289997
    Abstract: A method of monitoring nozzle condition in an array of inkjet nozzles includes ejecting at least one black ink drop from an inkjet nozzle, wherein the black ink includes a black colorant and a colloidal metal or metal-containing dopant. Light from a collimated light source is directed onto an ink drop-in-flight, and light-scatter from the drop is detected. The dopant increases light-scatter by the ink drop of an incident collimated light beam relative to the same ink without the dopant. From the detected light-scatter, an operational condition of the inkjet nozzle is determined. The dopant is visually undetectable in a printed mark made by the black ink, and the ink has a printed black optical density which is substantially the same as that of the same ink without the dopant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Brian M. Taff, Vladek Kasperchik
  • Patent number: 9289998
    Abstract: A recording device includes a main body case that is arranged inside a recording head which ejects ink to paper, and an ink storing device that stores the ink to be supplied to the recording head and is attached to the outer side surface of the main body case through a screw member. When upward external force is added from the ink storing device, the main body case includes a reception section which can accept the external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshisada Aoki