Patents Issued in May 24, 2016
  • Patent number: 9346266
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a nozzle plate provided with nozzle openings; an actuator unit including a flow channel formation substrate in which pressure generation chambers are provided and piezoelectric actuators that cause a change in the pressure of the liquid within respective pressure generation chambers; a communication substrate in which communication channels that communicate between the pressure generation chambers and corresponding nozzle openings are provided; a first case member that is a frame member affixed to the communication substrate so that the actuator unit is disposed within the first case member and that, along with the actuator unit, forms a manifold that holds the liquid to be supplied to the pressure generation chambers; and a second case member that is affixed to the first case member and in which is formed an introduction channel that sends the liquid from the exterior to the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinao Miyata
  • Patent number: 9346267
    Abstract: A liquid jet head includes a piezoeletric body substrate and an opaque substrate bonded to the piezoelectric body substrate. The piezoeletric body substrate has ejection grooves arrayed with an identical pitch P in a reference direction and non-ejection grooves arrayed alternately with the ejection grooves while shifted from the ejection grooves by a half pitch (P/2). The opaque substrate has through holes arrayed in the reference direction. The through holes include a row of through holes corresponding in number to and communicating with the respective ejection grooves, a first through hole arranged outside of one end side of the row of through holes so that it does not communicate with any of the ejection grooves, and a second through hole arranged outside of another end side of the row of through holes so that it does not communicate with any of the ejection grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: SII PRINTEK INC.
    Inventor: Satoshi Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 9346268
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a liquid ejection head comprises a pressure generation chamber in which liquid is filled; a plate configured to connect with the pressure generation chamber and include a plurality of liquid ejection sections of which the axes are directed to the center direction of an impact area of the liquid; and a driver configured to enable a pressure in the pressure generation chamber to fluctuate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Isao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9346269
    Abstract: A flow path structure includes: a substrate that includes a first surface and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface; a supply port formed on the first surface; a plurality of discharge ports formed on the second surface; grooves that are formed on the first surface so as to extend in an X direction and communicate with the supply ports and with the plurality of discharge ports via through-holes formed on the substrate; and a sealing portion that is disposed on the first surface and seals each groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Fujio Akahane, Isamu Togashi, Hiroaki Okui, Yasuyuki Kudo
  • Patent number: 9346270
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure chamber substrate where a plurality of spaces to be a pressure chamber along a Y direction are formed in an X direction, a vibration plate that seals the space by being stacked in the pressure chamber substrate, and a piezoelectric element and a supporting unit that are stacked in the vibration plate on an opposite side to the pressure chamber substrate, in which positions at one end in the Y direction are different from each other in a first space and a second space among the plurality of spaces, and the supporting unit suppresses a vibration of the vibration plate by being formed so as to overlap with at least the one end side portion in the first space in a planar view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Takabe, Eiju Hirai, Yoichi Naganuma, Shunya Fukuda, Akira Miyagishi
  • Patent number: 9346271
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a fixing plate which includes a bottom surface which is fixed onto the nozzle surface of each of a plurality of head units which are provided to line up in a state in which a first gap is formed along a first direction, and a first side surface which extends from an edge of the bottom surface which is positioned closer to an outside in the first direction than the lined-up head units to the head unit side. The fixing plate includes a second gap which is formed between the first side surface and the head units which are positioned at ends in the first direction among the head units. The liquid ejecting head also includes a second outer circumferential mold which fills at least a portion of the first gap, and a third outer circumferential mold which fills at least a portion of the second gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hiroshige Owaki, Toshinobu Yamazaki, Hiroyuki Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 9346272
    Abstract: There is provided a recording head unit that includes a recording head main body that drives a piezoelectric element to generate a pressure change in ink filling a pressure generation chamber so as to eject the ink through a nozzle formed in a nozzle plate; a holder to hold the recording head main body; and a fixing plate to which end surfaces, on the nozzle plate side, of the recording head main body and the holder are fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Chiaki Tatebe, Toshinori Hiraide
  • Patent number: 9346273
    Abstract: A method of making an inkjet print head may include forming, by sawing with a rotary saw blade, first discontinuous slotted recesses in a first surface of a wafer. The first discontinuous slotted recesses may be arranged in parallel, spaced apart relation. The method may further include forming, by sawing with the rotary saw blade, second discontinuous slotted recesses in a second surface of the wafer aligned and coupled in communication with the first continuous slotted recesses to define through-wafer channels. In another embodiment, the first and second plurality of discontinuous recesses may be formed by respective first and second rotary saw blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Stewart
  • Patent number: 9346274
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a liquid ejection head which includes applying a voltage to a coating layer of the liquid ejection head to cause the coating layer to be eluted in a liquid so that kogation deposited on a coating layer is removed. When removing kogation deposited on the coating layer, temperatures of the liquids in the liquid chambers are selectively changed among a plurality of liquid chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Misumi, Ichiro Saito, Maki Kato, Yuzuru Ishida, Norihiro Yoshinari, Akio Goto, Takahiro Matsui, Kenji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9346275
    Abstract: Many devices, such as printers, work with one or more removable unit. Often, the removable units have an electronic circuit that used to communicate with the device. It may be desirable to provide a replacement unit in these devices. The replacement unit must include an electronic circuit that is able to communicate with the original device. Disclosed is a method and apparatus where a replacement unit is provided with a new electronic circuit and a used electronic circuit. The new electronic circuit is electrically connected to the used electronic circuit and uses the used electronic circuit to facilitate communication with the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Static Control Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Larkin Shelby
  • Patent number: 9346276
    Abstract: A removable printhead cartridge for a single-pass inkjet printer, the printhead assembly including: a body adapted for user removal and insertion in the printer; an elongate ink manifold assembly mounted in the body, the ink manifold assembly having a plurality of longitudinally extending ink channels, a plurality of outlets defined in a mounting surface; and a plurality of ink conduits connecting each ink channel to a corresponding set of outlets; a plurality of printhead chips mounted on the mounting surface; a plurality of ink storage modules, each containing a device for delivering ink to the printhead chips at a negative pressure; and a plurality of electrical connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 9346277
    Abstract: A cartridge 5 is mounted on a carriage 8. The carriage 8 includes liquid introducing parts 710m, 710c and 710y and a guide projection 723. The guide projection 723 is extended from between the liquid introducing parts 710m and 710c toward the liquid introducing part 710y. The cartridge 5 includes an ink supply port 507m connectable with the liquid introducing part 710m to supply magenta ink to the liquid introducing part 710m, an ink supply port 507c connectable with the liquid introducing part 710c to supply cyan ink to the liquid introducing part 710c, an ink supply port 507y connectable with the liquid introducing part 710y to supply yellow ink to the liquid introducing part 710y, and a first groove 580. The first groove 580 is extended from between the ink supply port 507m and the ink supply port 507c toward the ink supply port 507y to allow for insertion of the guide projection 723. This configuration suppresses diffusion of ink leaked from any of the liquid supply ports of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shun Oya, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9346278
    Abstract: For a liquid container provided with a handle portion, some contrivance is necessary with respect to the distribution form from the standpoint of protecting the liquid container against breakage. In a packaging tray for an ink container, the ink container having a flexible ink bag, a supply portion provided in the ink bag, and a handle portion provided in the ink bag and protruding outward therefrom, the packaging tray includes a restricting portion that restricts the handle portion at such a position that a clearance is maintained between the supply portion of the ink container and the packaging tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Hiroyuki Kawate
  • Patent number: 9346279
    Abstract: In a liquid cartridge, a liquid storing section defines a liquid storing chamber storing liquid, and a channel section defines a channel in fluid communication with the liquid storing chamber. A field forming section forms a field that changes depending on a position of a movable member that is movable in the channel. A power-source potential is inputted to a power-source terminal, and a ground potential is inputted to a ground terminal. A sensor is electrically connected with the power-source terminal and the ground terminal, and generates a potential based on the position of the movable member by being disposed in the field formed by the field forming section. An output terminal outputs the potential generated by the sensor. The sensor generates the potential higher than a ground potential regardless of the position of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mutsumi Otobe
  • Patent number: 9346280
    Abstract: A liquid storing container includes a case, a flexible member, a pressure receiving member, a first urging member, and a second urging member. The case constitutes a part of an inner wall of a liquid containing section configured to store liquid. The flexible member constitutes at least a part of a remaining inner wall of the liquid containing section. The pressure receiving member is arranged between the case and the flexible member. The first urging member is provided between the pressure receiving member and the case, and one end is connected to the pressure receiving member to urge the pressure receiving member from the case to the flexible member. The second urging member is provided between the pressure receiving member and the case, and one end is connected to the pressure receiving member to urge the pressure receiving member from the case to the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Shigeki Nakata, Kenji Matsuyama, Kenta Anegawa, Atsushi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9346281
    Abstract: A liquid supply unit includes a pressure adjusting valve portion that includes a liquid outlet connectable to an upstream end of a supply passage, which supplies liquid to a liquid ejection head, a liquid inlet that draws in the liquid from a liquid supply source containing the liquid, a pressure chamber at least partially formed by a flexible portion configured to be deformed when the pressure changes, an urging member configured to urge the flexible portion in a direction in which the flexible portion increases a volume of the pressure chamber, and an opening-closing valve configured to allow the liquid to be drawn from the liquid supply source to the pressure chamber through the liquid inlet in accordance with a deformation of the flexible portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tokujiro Okuno, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9346282
    Abstract: An image is printed with an inkjet-printing device using specialty ink (300). The device can use standard cyan ink, standard magenta ink, standard yellow ink, and standard black ink to print full-color images on media. However, the specialty ink is a type of ink other than the types of the standard cyan ink, the standard magenta ink, the standard yellow ink, and the standard black ink. A replacement color ordinarily printed using the standard cyan ink, the standard magenta ink, the standard yellow ink, and/or the standard black ink is determined (306). An image having one or more pixels having the replacement color is printed on the media (316). The pixels that have the replacement color are printed using the specialty ink instead of using the standard cyan ink, the standard magenta ink, the standard yellow ink, and/or the standard black ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Adam F. Page, Corlene Ankrum
  • Patent number: 9346283
    Abstract: A generation unit is configured to generate a plurality of pieces of chromatic color material data, for each color positioned at a surface of a dark portion in a color gamut that can be reproduced using a black color material and the plurality of chromatic color materials, in such a way as to set a number of specific colors of the plurality of chromatic color materials whose dots are arranged exclusively with dots of other chromatic color materials on a recording medium to be equal to or less than one color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Jinno
  • Patent number: 9346284
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a liquid discharge head including a plurality of nozzles discharging liquid droplets; a discharge failure detection unit detecting a defective nozzle of the liquid discharge head, the defective nozzle having a discharge failure; and a notification unit giving, when the defective nozzle is detected during image formation, a notification of the possibility of the generation of an image failure at least one of during and after the image formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shinta Moriya
  • Patent number: 9346285
    Abstract: Methods of, and apparatus for, two-sided thermal printing comprising direct and/or thermal transfer print means are provided. In one embodiment, a combined direct thermal and thermal transfer printer and related media are disclosed wherein direct thermal printing is provided for on a first media side, and thermal transfer printing is provided on a second media side. In other embodiments, various two-sided thermal transfer printers and media are disclosed wherein thermal transfer printing is provided for on first and second media sides through use of, inter alia, a one- and/or a two-sided thermal transfer ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy W. Rawlings, Matthew A. McLaughlin, Jeffrey S. Denton, Richard D. Puckett, Yaoping A. Tan, Paul C. Blank, Michael J. VanDemark
  • Patent number: 9346286
    Abstract: A printing-driving control device and a method for a thermal transfer overprinter includes pre-drive shaft is connected to two bearings through their inner bores and is fixed to pre-drive support base. Pre-drive support base is connected to pre-drive carriage through pre-drive support shaft. Print spindle is fixed to spindle mounting block and is also connected to pre-drive carriage and print-head assembly through inner bores. Print pressure strut is installed through one inner bore of pre-drive carriage. Pre-drive fixing block is fixed to pre-drive carriage. As pre-drive support base moves to the right along arc on support plate, it rotates anticlockwise around pre-drive support shaft due to resistance of arc. Thus, print-head assembly stretches out and print-head moves down to print. After printing, print-head moves up to its home position. The invention has a simpler and smaller mechanical construction which is more energy-efficient, cost-effective, convenient and practical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Shanghai Dikai Coding Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qiuliang Wu
  • Patent number: 9346287
    Abstract: An imaging method includes coating a transfer member with an adhesion promoter in a liquid state, changing the adhesion promoter on the transfer member from the liquid state to at least one of a solid state and a get state, depositing a liquid marking agent on the solidified adhesion promoter corresponding to an image, changing a state of the adhesion promoter from the solid state to the flowable state, and transferring the liquid marking agent and the adhesion promoter in the flowable state from the transfer member to a substrate to form a hard version of the image thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Henryk Birecki, Napoleon Leoni, Omer Gila, Thomas C Anthony
  • Patent number: 9346288
    Abstract: A method for example of irradiating a light-curable material, may comprise irradiating light about a first axis from an array of light-emitting elements towards a light-curable surface, directing the irradiated light through an optical element interposed between the array of light-emitting elements and the light-curable surface, wherein a central axis of the optical element is offset from the first axis, and deflecting the irradiated light directed through the optical element asymmetrically away from the first axis towards the light-curable surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Doug Childers
  • Patent number: 9346289
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: an apparatus main body that has a transportation unit which transports a recording medium and a liquid droplet ejection head which ejects an ink onto the recording medium; a curing unit that has a curing heater which heats and cures the ink on the recording medium; and a support mechanism that connects the apparatus main body and the curing unit, and displaceably supports the curing unit to be in an unfolded state and to be in a folded state where a depth which is the total length of the apparatus main body and the curing unit is shorter than that in the unfolded state in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Kumai
  • Patent number: 9346290
    Abstract: A first irradiation section has a light source and an emitting member. The light source generates radiation, and the emitting member is located between a first irradiation point and a virtual plane that extends through the edge of a nozzle surface closest to the first irradiation section tangentially to a curved surface. The radiation generated by the light source goes out through the emitting member. A control section controls a transportation speed in such a manner that ink dots formed at a dot formation point should move to the first irradiation point in a second time period that is equal to or shorter than a first time period. The first time period is the time period from the time immediately after the ink dots are formed to the time when the diameter of the ink dots reaches twice the nozzle pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Kazuhito Hori
  • Patent number: 9346291
    Abstract: A sheet discriminator includes a sheet loader on which a recording medium is loaded, an information detector to detect information of the recording medium loaded on the sheet loader, and a sheet distinguisher to distinguish a type of the recording medium based on the information detected by the information detector. The information detector detects the information of the recording medium with the recording medium being inserted between the sheet loader and the information detector. An image forming apparatus incorporates the sheet discriminator and an image forming part to form an image on the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nishimura, Tetsuya Ofuchi, Tohru Matsumoto, Yukifumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9346292
    Abstract: A discharged sheet reception tray is displaced between a most protruded position which protrudes most and an accommodation position which is accommodated inside an apparatus. Since a control unit switches the positions of the discharged sheet reception tray depending on a length of a sheet to be discharged, taking the sheet from the discharged sheet reception tray is easily improved. Specifically, since a drive unit driving the discharged sheet reception tray is controlled so that a leading edge of the discharged sheet protrudes by a predetermined amount from the discharged sheet reception tray, it is possible to easily take the sheet from the discharged sheet reception tray by picking up the leading edge of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Nakano, Atsuhiko Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9346293
    Abstract: A recording medium post-processing apparatus includes: a stacker which is stacked with a plurality of sheet-like recording media with images being recorded thereon; an receiving device which receives at least one of information regarding the images to be recorded on the recording media and information regarding the recording media; an alignment device which applies an external force to the recording media stacked on the stacker so as to align the recording media; a controller which sets, on the basis of the at least one information received by the receiving device, at least one of (i) a stacked-sheet number that is the number of the recording media, and (ii) a magnitude of the external force that is applied to the recording media and which controls the alignment device on the basis of the setted at least one of the stacked-sheet number and the magnitude of the external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Itogawa
  • Patent number: 9346294
    Abstract: A device for processing media may include a modular design configured with a consumable support assembly configured to load a consumable supply spool and a consumable take-up spool into a device. Embodiments may include a printhead assembly that is structured to be removably received into a printhead guide and movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The printhead assembly may include a cooling channel configured to receive a cooling air flow. The printhead assembly may be easily removed from a media processing device and, when installed, engaged with the platen in response to a lid of the media processing device being closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ZIH CORP.
    Inventors: Daniel E. Perry, Stephen L. Ijams, Keath Jason Lawson Irizarry, Robert D. Hunter, Caleb J. Bryant, Ericka H. Bryant
  • Patent number: 9346296
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a generally rectangular box-like housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall defining a periphery of the housing, a first and second cavities extending from the bottom wall and disposed between a tape containing area and the periphery at opposite ends of a diagonal of the generally rectangular box-like housing, at least one tape wound and mounted within the housing in the tape containing area, the at least one tape including a first tape disposed in a first area, the first tape having a hole at a center of winding, and the first area being one of two areas formed by dividing the housing with respect to a line connecting the first and second cavities, and a third cavity that extends in the hole of the first tape from the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Akira Sago
  • Patent number: 9346297
    Abstract: A label printing apparatus, comprising a cassette-receiving bay adapted to receive a cassette, said cassette-receiving bay having a base, an opening opposite the base, and side walls extending between the base and the opening; a cassette locking mechanism comprising at least one locking element having a locking position for engagement with a cassette inserted into said cassette-receiving bay; and cassette detection means operable to determine whether said at least one locking element is engaged with a cassette inserted into the cassette-receiving bay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: DYMO
    Inventors: Frank Van Coppenolle, Jimmy Dullaert, Kris Vandermeulen
  • Patent number: 9346298
    Abstract: A single-pass inkjet printer is specified with a running path for guiding a printing medium along a running direction and with a number of print-head modules which extend over the running path in a transverse direction. It is provided here that the print-head modules are arranged in each case such that they can be introduced, in a manner which is suspended and self-adjusting, substantially in a vertical direction into a printing position, in which they are fixed to the unit. A single-pass inkjet printer of this type affords the possibility of a simple manual exchange of print-head modules, as a result of which the down times are shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: PadaLuma Ink-Jet-Solutions GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rick Van Der Zwan
  • Patent number: 9346299
    Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus including a controller which controls a recording operation relating to a recording medium, a carriage which can move in a predetermined movement direction, a cable which is connected to both the controller and the carriage and passes across the upper side of at least a part of a carriage movement area in the predetermined movement direction, and a metallic member which partially shields at least a part of the cable, which is a portion extending in a direction intersecting the predetermined movement direction, a guiding member which is formed of metal and guides the cable and a substrate which constitutes the controller. The metallic member is mounted on the guiding member, in a state where the cable is pinched between the metallic member and the guiding member. The metallic member is electrically connected to a ground in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ito
  • Patent number: 9346300
    Abstract: An inkjet printer records an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink onto the recording medium from a recording head mounted on a carriage. A housing suction fan is arranged on a rear surface of the housing for sucking a gas from an outside into an inside of the housing. A carriage suction fan is arranged on the rear surface of the housing opposite to the housing suction fan for sucking into the carriage the gas sucked by the housing suction fan. A rear surface exhaust fan and a side surface exhaust fan are arranged on the rear surface and a side surface, respectively, of the housing for exhausting the gas inside the housing to the outside. The gas sucked by the housing suction fan is sucked into the carriage by the carriage suction fan and flows into the housing without being sucked by the carriage suction fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Oki Data Infotech Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9346301
    Abstract: A method for controlling a digital printing system to print digital image data for an image region onto a continuous web of print media. An image region database stores data characterizing a plurality of reference image regions, each reference image region having one or more associated system control parameters that are appropriate for use in printing the reference image region. The system control parameters can include parameters related to correcting color registration errors. The image region to be printed is compared with the reference image regions in the image region database, and a similar reference image region is selected. The image region is printed using the system control parameters associated with the selected similar reference image region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Cumar Sreekumar, James A. Katerberg
  • Patent number: 9346302
    Abstract: A printer includes a casing, a cover, a ribbon cassette and a ribbon spool. The casing has a space and an opening. The cover is pivotally connected to the casing, and configured to close the opening. The cover has a protruding portion facing the space. The ribbon cassette is detachably accommodated in the space. The ribbon cassette includes elastic arms, at least one of which has a first hooking structure. The ribbon spool is detachably and pivotally connected to the ribbon cassette. The ribbon spool includes a second hooking structure. Before the cover closes the opening, the second and the first hooking structures are mutually locked. When the cover closes the opening, the protruding portion inserts between the elastic arms, such that the first hooking structure detaches from the second hooking structure, allowing rotational freedom of the ribbon spool relative to the ribbon cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: HiTi Digital, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 9346303
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods, including a method that includes depositing a curable adhesive onto a first surface of a substrate in a pre-determined pattern, placing topping material onto the substrate with the deposited adhesive, and applying UV energy to the substrate including the deposited adhesive and the placed topping material to cause curing of the deposited adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: SCODIX LTD
    Inventors: Eli Grinberg, Kobi Bar
  • Patent number: 9346304
    Abstract: A method for individualizing a security document includes providing a document blank with a lamination body; printing on at least one outer surface of the lamination body with a digital printing device to introduce individualization information into the lamination body. The document blank with the lamination body has an outer layer in an individualization region with an outer material layer adjacent to the at least one outer surface formed with perforation openings penetrating the outer material layer to an information layer. The individualization information is printed onto the outer surface with at least some of the individualization information printed onto the information layer through the perforation openings. A system for individualizing documents is configured to print individualization information onto the information layer through the perforation openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Bundesdruckerei GmbH
    Inventors: Franziska Peinze, Olga Kulikovska
  • Patent number: 9346305
    Abstract: An ink-jet printing device is described, said device comprising a first reservoir designed to contain a first volume of printing fluid at a first height with respect to a reference plane, a supply system for forcing the printing fluid towards the first reservoir and a second reservoir designed to contain a second volume of printing fluid at a second height with respect to the reference plane. The second height is less than the first height by a value. The device also comprises a conduit designed to receive the printing fluid from the first reservoir and convey it towards the second reservoir and an ejection plane in which ejector units lie. The ejection plane is arranged in a position higher than the average of the first height and the second height, so as to generate a back pressure in the ejector units. The flowrate of the printing fluid is between about 5 and about 10 times the maximum flowrate which can be ejected from said ejector units. The printing fluid may be a ceramic ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: SICPA HOLDING SA
    Inventors: Alberto Albertin, Guido Belforte, Tazio Sandri, Duccio Spartaco Sassano, Vladimir Viktorov, Carmen Visconte, Francesco Benedetto, Charles-Henri Delacretaz, Rinaldo Ferrarotti, Matteo Martinelli, Terenziano Raparelli
  • Patent number: 9346306
    Abstract: Fanfold and/or perforated media comprising a substrate including one or more friable coatings and an overcoat covering at least a portion of the one or more friable coatings proximate to one or more associated fanfolds and/or perforations is provided, wherein the overcoat mitigates spallation of the one or more friable coatings. Methods and apparatus for making the same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy W. Rawlings, Paul C. Blank, Mary Ann Wehr, Richard D. Puckett
  • Patent number: 9346307
    Abstract: Printable magnetic receptive composite sheets are made by calendering a thin layer of a magnetic composition and bonding it to a top printable layer on one or both sides of the magnetic layer wherein the calendered layer has a thickness up to 10 mils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Ultraflex Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Schleicher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9346308
    Abstract: A booklet processing mechanism is described that includes a booklet guide and clamp system that is configured to act as the guide during entry and exit of the booklet into and from the mechanism, as well as clamp and hold the booklet in its proper position during a processing operation, for example by a laser or during vision verification. The booklet guide and clamp system is moveable between a first position for guiding an upper, free edge of an opened booklet and a second position where the upper, free edge is clamped against a backing plate. At the second, clamping position, the mechanism is out of the way so that it does not interfere with the processing operation. Because the guiding and clamping functions are combined into one mechanism, only one actuator and one sensor are needed for the guiding and clamping functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ENTRUST DATACARD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Lind, Gary Schultze, Dennis J. Warwick
  • Patent number: 9346309
    Abstract: A component including a generally flat, planar base panel and a stand movably coupled to the base panel, wherein the stand is movable to an extended position wherein the stand is generally not positioned on or above/below the base panel. The stand includes first and second portions pivotally connected together. When the stand is in the extended position the stand is movable to a propped configuration wherein the first and second portions form an angle therebetween to define a display surface at least part of which is positioned at an angle relative to the base panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard H. Harris
  • Patent number: 9346310
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for marking collectible items to increase their collectible uniqueness includes creating a multiplicity of unique date codes, each of the multiplicity of unique date codes including a representation of a calendar month and a representation of a day in the calendar month, randomly selecting one of the multiplicity of unique date codes, and affixing the randomly selected one of the multiplicity of unique date codes to a collectible item. According to other embodiments, a system with a computer and a marking device may apply a date code to a collectible item. According to yet other embodiments, a method for marking collectibles includes creating at least three hundred sixty-five collectibles in a time period shorter than a year, and marking each with a unique date code combination such that no two visually identical collectibles share the same date code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Crystalier, Limited
    Inventor: Andre Alan Yerkes
  • Patent number: 9346311
    Abstract: A pocket folder with increased document capacity and method of manufacturing same is disclosed. The folder has two cover panels 14-16, joined along a longitudinal joint or score line, a pair of pocket flaps 40a-40b and a top flap 70. Top flap 70 folds along a score line 72a-72b and a midline score 74 and a plurality of parallel scores 78 to accommodate expansion. At the pockets, a v-shaped notch 52 between the pockets prevents bunching and a circular cut away 90a-90b provides greater access to the documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Leonard, Scott Leonard
  • Patent number: 9346312
    Abstract: A bound component including a first panel and a second panel pivotally coupled together along a hinge. Each panel includes an outer covering and a substrate positioned in the outer covering, wherein the outer covering of the first panel is directly coupled to the outer covering of the second panel to form the hinge. The substrates of the first and second panels are not directly coupled together. The bound component further includes a reinforcement extending over or forming at least part of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Michael D. Rowe, James C. Matchett, Keith D. McGoldrick, Jason M. Kramer
  • Patent number: 9346313
    Abstract: A ballpoint pen tip is provided in which a curved contact surface, which has a curvature different from a curvature of the ball, is provided on the bottom wall of the ball holding chamber, and the ball is in contact with a contact part which is a part of the contact surface; and between the ball and the contact surface, a first gap is formed to extend from a side of the ink circulation hole up to the contact part such that the first gap gradually narrows from the side of the ink circulation hole, and a second gap is formed to extend from a distal side of an ink circulation groove up to the contact part such that the second gap gradually narrows from the distal side of the ink circulation groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA PILOT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Takayama, Takumi Kajiwara
  • Patent number: 9346314
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to efficiently dispose a good coloring layer without any pigment bleeding/irregularity on the surface of the food product during cooking a meat product. The present invention provides a pigment transfer sheet for foods having a heat-resistant and water-resistant substrate and a transferable transfer coloring layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the transfer coloring layer contains a water-soluble pigment and at least one binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: OCI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chieko Yokohara, Katsuhiko Yamada
  • Patent number: 9346315
    Abstract: A game bird display device is provided that is configured to display multiple portions of a game bird from a single assembly. The display device is particularly suited for turkey birds, and comprises a rear mounting portion and a front mounting portion in parallel and spaced relation. The rear mounting portion is configured to be supported by a wall surface, while the offset between the portions accommodates the base of a turkey tail fan therein. Fasteners secure the base of the tail fan between the portions. Along the base of one of the portions is a game bird spur support member. The member supports a pair of turkey spurs in opposing relationship. Below or behind the game bird spur support member is supported the beard of the turkey. The display device therefore supports the tail fan, beard, and spurs of a game bird in one assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Jeff Powell
  • Patent number: 9346316
    Abstract: An positionally stable wheel cover for displaying a design while a wheel is rotating. The wheel cover is mounted on the rim of a wheel through a mounting wire and a support bracket is mounted on the mounting wire. The support bracket is equipped with an internal base with a hollow hub into which another hub of an external base with a bearing mounted is inserted. The external base is able to rotating independently from the internal base and from the support bracket. A display cover is mounted on the external base and a design can then be placed on the display cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Rigidisc Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Hsiao, Godfried C. M. de Jong