Patents Issued in January 24, 2017
  • Patent number: 9550344
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of polyolefins modified with one or more silanes as adhesion promoters for the production of flat glass/glass, glass/plastic, or plastic/plastic laminates, to corresponding laminates, and to displays containing the laminates according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Hinnerk Gordon Becker, Hans-Dieter Zagefka, Hans Guenther Wey, Friedrich Georg Schmidt, Dirk Hoppe, Martin Kothe
  • Patent number: 9550345
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of an object, supporting a lipid bilayer, for use in tissue engineering including the steps of providing an object having a surface, treating the surface of the object with a plasma containing active oxygen to provide the surface of the object with reactive groups A, to provide the surface of the object with reactive groups A, covalently attaching a sterol group to the reactive groups A and contacting the object activated with sterol groups with a lipid solution to form a lipid bilayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE
    Inventors: Jasper Van Weerd, Hermanus Bernardus Johannes Karperien, Pascal Jonkheijm
  • Patent number: 9550346
    Abstract: A process for fixing an article to a substrate with a mounting set including two receptacles storing an aerobic adhesive and a hydrophilic substance, respectively. The aerobic adhesive and the hydrophilic substance are removed from the two receptacles and then mixed together to prepare the fastening. A layer of the fastening composition is applied to the article. The article is fixed to the substrate by pressing the layer of the fastening composition against the substrate. The aerobic adhesive in the layer hardens because of the moisture contained in the hydrophilic substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: GLABETE GMBH
    Inventor: Christian Ronner
  • Patent number: 9550347
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a core stiffened structure includes orienting the plurality of core wafers in a non-uniform pattern onto a first face sheet, the non-uniform pattern producing non-uniform spacing between adjacent core wafers; assembling a second face sheet onto the plurality of wafers; and curing an adhesive to create a bond between the plurality of wafers, the first face sheet, and the second face sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Kendrick, Paul K. Oldroyd, David G. Carlson
  • Patent number: 9550348
    Abstract: A frictional weld joint couples first and second body portions of an article together. The frictional weld joint comprises a first bead extending from the first body portion of the article and a second bead extending from the second body portion of the article. The second bead has an interior stem and an exterior stem space from the interior stem defining a cavity therebetween. The first and second beads are placed in contact with each other with the centerline of the second bead offset from the centerline of the first bead. A force is applied to either the first or second body portions to generate friction between the first and second beads to plastically displace the first and second beads. The force is removed for fusing the first and second beads together to couple together the first and the second body portions of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Ankur M. Bhosale, Prasanna Kondapalli, William J. McMaster
  • Patent number: 9550349
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a part includes sectionalizing a computer-generated representation of a part into strata having an order, forming layers corresponding to the strata from sheet material, stacking at least two of the layers in the order, and joining the layers together. The method is suitable for producing a phase-change material container for a thermal energy harvesting device, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Ty A Larsen, Emma Romig, Bradley J Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9550350
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an optical display panel. The method includes a feeding step including feeding an optical cell with a thickness of 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm by means of a feed roller unit arranged perpendicular to a direction in which the optical cell is fed; a bonding step including feeding a long carrier film from a continuous roll and bonding a sheet piece of the optical film to a lower surface of the optical cell with the pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed therebetween, wherein the lower surface is on a side in contact with the feed roller unit; and a rotation step including rotating the optical cell by 90° with respect to the direction in which the optical cell is fed which is bonded in the bonding step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirata, Seiji Kondo, Seiji Umemoto
  • Patent number: 9550351
    Abstract: This invention discloses a corner peeling device, a film peeling apparatus, and a film peeling method, and relates to the technical field of liquid crystal panel manufacture, for the purpose of solving the problem concerning low efficiency in film peeling. The corner peeling device comprises: a movable rack; a roller pivoted on the upper part of the rack; an evacuating device in communication with the air channel; and an automatic revolving device, which is connected to the roller so that at the beginning of corner peeling and after corner peeling, the opening of the same sucking hole at one end of the plurality of the sucking holes arranged at intervals is upward. The corner peeling device is used for peeling a corner of a release film adhered to a plate-like substrate. The film peeling apparatus comprises the corner peeling device mentioned in the technical solution described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuang Ni, Shichu Zhang, Ziran Wang, Bin Chang, Zhenshan Lu
  • Patent number: 9550352
    Abstract: Improvements in a rotary screen printer that operates with a stepper motor for indexing the screen printer. The stepper motor provides a positive rotation and locating of the printing arms. The stepper motor can also have a controlled acceleration and deceleration speed while it indexes. The stepper motor further drives a spur gear to improve the drive ratio from the stepper motor to the indexing arms. The rotary screen printer uses pneumatic cylinders to operate the screening arms. Pneumatic cylinders are controllable for the downward force by adjusting pressure regulator(s) and the stroke by adjusting either limit switches or mechanical stops. Each station is interchangeable to accommodate the printing requirements of each job. Each station can be operated as a screen printing station, a drying station, a pad printer, and the number of stations can be changed by reprogramming the number of steps between each station stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Alexander Szyszko
  • Patent number: 9550353
    Abstract: In an aspect, a system and method for assembling a semiconductor device on a receiving surface of a destination substrate is disclosed. In another aspect, a system and method for assembling a semiconductor device on a destination substrate with topographic features is disclosed. In another aspect, a gravity-assisted separation system and method for printing semiconductor device is disclosed. In another aspect, various features of a transfer device for printing semiconductor devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: X-Celeprint Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Bower, Matthew Meitl, David Gomez, Salvatore Bonafede, David Kneeburg
  • Patent number: 9550354
    Abstract: A system and a method for cleaning a printing cylinder or other printing equipment such as printing plates, ink pans or floors of printing units, the method comprising applying a detergent to the surface to be cleaned, after a period to allow action of the detergent, removing the detergent by rinsing, using a vapor and high velocity air stream, i.e. atomized water fog; or steam; or a combination of steam and air, which allows dislodging particles encrusted within cells of the surface of the piece of equipment to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Pad Peripheral Advanced Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Poissant, Anton Chernyshov, Martin Gingras, Eric Thibeault
  • Patent number: 9550355
    Abstract: A liquid jet printing apparatus is provided having a nozzle for emitting a stream of liquid droplets toward a substrate, a charging section for providing an electrical charge to liquid droplets and a pair of electrically conductive deflection plates for creating an electrical field capable of deflecting the liquid droplets to a desired location on the substrate, wherein a resistor is provided between a power source and the electrical field to limit current from the power source during electrical arcing between the deflection plates, thereby minimizing disruption to the electrical field and minimizing electromagnetic pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Franklin S. Love, III, David M. Hyslop, Frank M. Pitman, Rajib Mondal, Jeffrey J. Lillie
  • Patent number: 9550356
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: an integrated circuit device that includes a modulation portion which generates a modulation signal by pulse-modulating a source signal; a feedback circuit; a transistor that generates an amplified modulation signal which is obtained by amplifying the modulation signal; a low-pass filter that generates a drive signal by demodulating the amplified modulation signal; and a piezoelectric element that is displaced by applying the drive signal, wherein the feedback circuit generates a feedback signal on the basis of the drive signal, and feeds back the feedback signal to the modulation portion through a feedback terminal, the modulation portion includes a first circuit block and a second circuit block, and the integrated circuit device is configured to separate the first circuit block from the second circuit block by a triple-well structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunichi Shima
  • Patent number: 9550357
    Abstract: An image processor of a printing apparatus including a first printing head having recording units spaced at a given interval orthogonal to a transportation direction of a print medium and spaced along the transportation direction of the print medium, a second printing head disposed downstream of the first printing head, a device for obtaining recording positions of first and second images printed with the first and second printing heads, a device for calculating a positional shift amount between the recording positions of the first and second images, and a positional shift interpolating image converter performing weighting, if a remainder is generated through division of the positional shift amount by the given interval, to the first or second image depending on the remainder to convert the first or second image into a positional shift interpolating image having been shifted in accordance with skew of the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd., RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Hisaoka, Kazuki Fukui, Kunio Muraji
  • Patent number: 9550358
    Abstract: A printhead includes an aperture plate having an array of nozzles therethrough. The printhead further includes an array of jets fluidly connected to an ink supply chamber, each jet comprising a body chamber having a length:width ratio of at least 3:1. The body chamber comprises a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, the first end and the second end defining a height. Ink flows into body chamber through an inlet, and an outlet on the first end is fluidly connected to a nozzle. A diaphragm is present adjacent the second end of each body chamber in the array of jets. The body chambers are angled relative to a row of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Peter Johan Nystrom
  • Patent number: 9550359
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead integrated circuit includes: a substrate having a silicon layer; a nozzle plate disposed on the silicon layer; and embedded inkjet nozzle devices. Each inkjet nozzle device includes a nozzle chamber having a roof actuator; drive circuitry laterally disposed relative to the nozzle chamber; a connection arm extending parallel with the nozzle plate from the actuator towards the drive circuitry; and a metal via interconnecting each connection arm and the drive circuitry, the metal via extending perpendicularly to the nozzle plate. The drive circuitry is positioned proximal the nozzle plate relative to a plane of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Limited
    Inventors: Ronan Padraig Sean O'Reilly, Gregory John McAvoy, Emma Rose Kerr, Vincent Patrick Lawlor, Misty Bagnat, Brian Kevin Donohoe, Eimear Ryan
  • Patent number: 9550360
    Abstract: Provided are a manufacturing method of an inkjet print head, the inkjet print head and a drawing apparatus equipped with the inkjet print head. The manufacturing method includes: forming a separation assisting layer on a substrate; forming heating resistors, thin-film transistors and nozzles for ejecting liquid, on the separation assisting layer; separating the separation assisting layer from the substrate; forming a first heat-conductive layer on the opposite surface of the separation assisting layer from the nozzles; and forming an ink supply port for supplying ink to the nozzles from a first heat-conductive layer side of the inkjet print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: NLT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Mori, Setsuo Kaneko, Hideki Asada
  • Patent number: 9550361
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head and that includes nozzle openings through which liquid is ejected. A positioning abutting unit is arranged on an outer side of a region in which a plurality of the nozzle openings are formed. A cap main body is arranged so as to relatively move with respect to the liquid ejecting head. The cap main body has a side wall. A sealing member is accommodated inside the cap main body, comes into contact with the positioning abutting unit in a state of surrounding the region due to the relative movement of the liquid ejecting head and the cap main body, and forms a sealed space inside of the cap main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Miyajima
  • Patent number: 9550362
    Abstract: A mist collection device capable of suctioning and recovering mist generated at the time of ejecting a liquid is disclosed. The mist collection device includes an exhaust duct having a suction portion which is installed to extend downwardly to suction external air. The suction portion is provided with a suction port extending in a vertical direction, and an upper end portion, which communicates with the exhaust duct, of the suction portion is installed to protrude in an annular shape from an inner bottom portion of the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9550363
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a plurality of recording heads including a first recording head for ejecting black ink and a second recording head for ejecting a color ink; a rubber wipe blade; and a drive mechanism that moves the wipe blade along an ink ejecting surface and is able to move-up/down the wiper blade to approach or leave the ink ejecting surface. The wipe blade has: a first wipe blade that wipes purged ink on the ink ejecting surface of the first recording head; and a second wipe blade that wipes purged ink on the ink ejecting surface of the second recording head; wherein the first wipe blade is lower than the second wipe blade in rubber hardness, and the rubber hardness of the first wipe blade is 30° or higher to 45° or lower in ASKER C hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masato Usui
  • Patent number: 9550364
    Abstract: Disclosed is a priming system for inkjet printheads that includes at least one inkjet printhead. Each inkjet printhead includes one or more single color inkjet chips. Further, the priming system includes at least one ink supply unit. Each ink supply unit is fluidly coupled to a corresponding single color inkjet chip for supplying ink to the corresponding single color inkjet chip. Furthermore, the priming system includes a pumping member that includes at least one pumping head. A pumping head is fluidly coupled to the corresponding single color inkjet chip to receive the ink from the corresponding single color inkjet chip, and to a corresponding ink supply unit to pump the ink back into the corresponding ink supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Justin Paul Bryant, Sam Norasak
  • Patent number: 9550365
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a tank, a recording head, a cover, a monitor, a cover sensor, an operation panel, and a controller. The cover is movable to cover a plurality of injection inlets associated with a plurality of ink chambers and to expose the plurality of injection inlets. The cover sensor outputs signal depending on position of the cover. The controller controls the monitor to display one of inquiry information and notification on the monitor depending on receipt of the signal from the cover sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Horade, Mana Honoki
  • Patent number: 9550366
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayshi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Akihito Ono, Mikio Hirano, Suguru Tomoguchi, Yutao Wang, Tomohiro Kanbe
  • Patent number: 9550367
    Abstract: A liquid consuming apparatus includes a liquid container, a detector, and a controller. The liquid container includes a movable member, and the movable member includes a detection portion. The detector is configured to output a detection signal based on the presence or absence of the detection portion in a detection position. The controller is configured to measure, based on the detection signal output from the detector, a physical quantity, based on which a velocity of the detection portion can be specified, and is configured to determine whether the physical quantity is within a threshold range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Kenta Hayashida, Taro Nagano, Ayako Ohishi, Hirofumi Kondo, Suguru Tomoguchi
  • Patent number: 9550368
    Abstract: A mount portion mounts a container containing liquid. A fluid passages connects the mount portion to a head portion provided to inject liquid. A reservoir portion reserves liquid and is provided on the fluid passage. An open-close valve is provided on a connection path which is a part of the fluid passage and connects the mount portion to the reservoir portion. The control unit controls opening and closing of the open-close valves such that a first valve open time period for the open-close valve provided on a first connection path is shorter than a second valve open time period for the open-close valve provided on a second connection path. The pressure of the liquid that flows in the reservoir portion from the first connection path is higher than the pressure of the liquid that flows in the reservoir portion from the second connection path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Takagiwa
  • Patent number: 9550369
    Abstract: A recording device includes a base body, an air current generator that is disposed in the base body, and a duct that has an opening and configures an air current flow path formed from the opening to the air current generator. The duct is attachable to and detachable from the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Nakata
  • Patent number: 9550370
    Abstract: A print device includes a tape mounting portion, a tape print portion, a tape discharge portion, a tube mounting portion, a ribbon mounting portion, a tube print portion, and a tube discharge portion. The tape mounting portion is configured such that a tape is detachably mounted in the tape mounting portion. The tube mounting portion is configured such that a tube is detachably mounted in the tube mounting portion along a predetermined direction. The ribbon mounting portion is configured such that an ink ribbon is detachably mounted in the ribbon mounting portion. The tape mounting portion and the ribbon mounting portion are disposed on a same side with respect to the tube mounting portion, and are disposed side by side along the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Suzuki, Yasutoshi Kano, Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tomoyasu Fukui
  • Patent number: 9550371
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for a portable printer are provided. An example disclosed printer includes a housing defining a ribbon receiving area, wherein the ribbon receiving area is configured to receive a ribbon cartridge comprising a cartridge frame structured to support a supply spool, a take-up spool, and a ribbon extending between the supply spool and the take-up spool; and a printhead support extending from the housing for receiving a printhead, wherein the printhead support defines first and second channels disposed on opposite sides of the printhead, and wherein each of the first and second channels is structured to receive at least part of the cartridge frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Richard J. Preliasco, Roy P. Lyman
  • Patent number: 9550372
    Abstract: A decorator assembly is provided. The decorator assembly includes a mandrel turret assembly. The mandrel turret assembly includes a rotatable turret, a number of mandrels, and a number of independent ink stations. Each mandrel is rotatably coupled to the turret. Each mandrel extends generally radially from the turret and is disposed generally in a plane about an axis of rotation. The turret is structured to rotate about an axis of rotation thereby moving each mandrel over a generally circular path of travel. Each independent ink station is disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the mandrels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony J. Vella
  • Patent number: 9550373
    Abstract: A field for which a first priority level that has been set is the same as a second priority level that is stored in a priority level storage portion is specified as an update field from among a plurality of fields that have been defined in a content that is stored in a data storage portion. At least one character that is contained in the update field is updated in the specified order. A level of the second priority level is lowering by one level in a case where a character rollover has occurred during the updating of the at least one character. Printable data for the content in which the at least one character has been updated is created in a case where the character rollover has not occurred during the updating of the at least one character. The update field is specified every time the second priority level that is stored in the priority level storage portion is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junya Kawai
  • Patent number: 9550374
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for printing directly onto textiles including pre-treating a textile with a liquid solution to improve the quality of the printed image. The systems and methods prevent over saturation of the fibers of the textile by the ink thereby reducing undesirable mixing of the ink and blurring of the printed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: CafePress Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Marino, Fred Edward Durham, III, Christopher Allen Freeman, Daniel L. Dilamarter
  • Patent number: 9550375
    Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus is provided. The inkjet image forming apparatus includes a recording unit, a selection heater, a heater, and a processor. The recording unit forms an ink image on a recording medium being conveyed. The selection heater is disposed downstream from the recording unit relative to a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, and selectively heats the ink image formed on the recording medium. The heater is disposed downstream from the selection heater relative to the direction of conveyance of the recording medium, and heats the recording medium on which the ink image has been selectively heated. The processor controls the recording unit, the selection heater, and the heater, and sets an output of the selection heater in view of an occurrence of cockling on the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masafumi Yamada, Takuma Nakamura, Tetsurou Sasamoto
  • Patent number: 9550376
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a dryer that heats and dries a print base material on which a print image is formed in a printing unit. The dryer includes a rotational drum that supports and transports the print base material, and a blower unit that blows hot air to the print base material supported by the rotational drum. The dryer includes a movement unit that displaces the blower unit to a first position which allows the print base material to be heated and to a second position which is away from the print base material while maintaining the blower unit in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Yamada, Akihiro Toya
  • Patent number: 9550377
    Abstract: A method includes advancing, by a controller device comprising a processing resource, a media from a roll into a printer via rollers before a printing process begins, wherein a leading edge of the media comprises a curl due to the roll. The method also includes guiding, by the controller device, the media through the printer to engage a substrate in a predetermined zone spaced downstream a predetermined distance from a roller pinch point. The method also includes holding, by the controller device, the media against the substrate in the predetermined zone to force the leading edge of the media to bend in a direction opposite the curl of the leading edge to counteract the curl of the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Hugo S. Ortiz, Bruce G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9550378
    Abstract: A conveyor device is installed opposite to a recording head in a recording apparatus. The conveyor device includes a conveyor belt and a suction section. The conveyor belt conveys a recording medium. The suction section includes a guide member having first through holes within a first region and second through holes outside of the first region. The guide member has a surface that is located opposite to the recording head with the conveyor belt therebetween and that has first grooves and second grooves therein. The first region includes at least a head facing region located directly opposite to the recording head. The first through holes are located inside of the first grooves. Each of the first grooves is shorter than the recording head. The second through holes are located inside of the second grooves. The suction section sucks on the recording medium through the conveyor belt and the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Soda, Takeshi Watanabe, Hidenori Takenaka, Jumpei Hobo, Masami Fujihara
  • Patent number: 9550379
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a mechanism for forming a corrugated shape in a sheet to be conveyed. The mechanism may include various components include one or more pressing portions, one or more ribs, one or more discharge rollers, a switching mechanism and the like. In one arrangement, ribs and pressing portions configured to create the corrugated shape may be disposed at various locations upstream or downstream of the platen, recording portion and/or nozzles thereof. In one example, pressing portions may be disposed both upstream and downstream of the nozzles of the recording portion to maintain a corrugated shape in the conveyed sheet. Various other configurations may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Yuji Koga, Wataru Sugiyama, Kenji Samoto
  • Patent number: 9550380
    Abstract: A device for processing media may include a system and method for loading and unloading consumable supplies of a media processing device, and more particularly, a system and method for providing a compact form factor media processing device which provides convenient access to the replaceable components of the media processing device. A media processing device may include a base and a lid hingedly attached to the base, moveable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position. A cavity may be defined between the lid and the base, where the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position. The media processing device may include a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Petrica Dorinel Balcan, Randal Wong Mun Hon, Kuan-Ying Lu
  • Patent number: 9550381
    Abstract: A tape cassette includes a cassette case, a tape containment area, a first wall portion, a guide portion, a second wall portion, a third wall portion, and a fourth wall portion. The cassette case includes a top face, a bottom face, a front face, and a pair of side faces. The tape containment area is an area in which a tape roll is accommodated. The first wall portion is provided along a portion of an outer perimeter of the tape containment area. The guide portion is provided downstream from the first wall portion on a feed path. The second wall portion is provided between the first wall portion and the guide portion. The third wall portion is provided on an opposite side of a tape from the second wall portion. The fourth wall portion is provided between the second wall portion and the guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mariko Niizeki, Tsutomu Kato, Hisako Tonishi, Khairul Fatasha Mohd, Masashi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9550382
    Abstract: A tape cartridge has a print tape accommodated in a cartridge case, a slit-like reel-off port through which the print tape is sent out, and first and second sub display sections which are provided on the wall surface of a forward peripheral wall of the cartridge case where the reel-off port is formed, and in which the type of the print tape is displayed in letters. In the first and second sub display sections, the type of the print tape is displayed in the form of at least one of normal letters formed according to the reel-off port as a horizontal reference and inverted letters formed by inverting the normal letters upside down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsu Nakayama, Haruki Sugawara, Tomoyuki Kubota, Daisuke Sato, Saeko Inoue
  • Patent number: 9550383
    Abstract: Gas bearing systems, print gap control systems, and methods of print gap control are provided. The gas bearing systems can accommodate one or more print module packages. The systems and methods can be used for inkjet and/or thermal printing applications such as manufacturing organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). Gas bearing systems can employ one or more of pressurized gas and vacuum. For oxygen-sensitive applications, an inert gas, such as nitrogen gas, can be employed as the pressurized gas. Fluid channels and apertures of the gas bearing systems can be varied in terms of size and relative position to one another. Fluid channels and apertures can be grouped and paired with one or more manifolds and ultimately a pressurized gas and/or vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Lowrance, Michael Miller, Sass Somekh, Conor Madigan, Eliyahu Vronsky, Manoocher Birang
  • Patent number: 9550384
    Abstract: Provided is a printer which includes a carriage which includes a recording head performing recording on a paper sheet, a transport driving roller which transports the paper sheet to the recording head side and is driven by a driving source, and a transport driven roller which is pressed to the transport driving roller, is rotationally driven in contact with the paper sheet, and has a diameter larger than that of the transport driving roller. The transport driving roller is located below a guide frame as a support member supporting the carriage and is located in an area of the guide frame in a paper transport direction (in other words, a y direction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Sakamoto, Ryoichi Shuto
  • Patent number: 9550385
    Abstract: In the case where, by driving nozzles, test images are formed on paper so that the area of a width predetermined from an end portion in an intersecting direction that intersects with a transporting direction of the paper of a reading area of image reading units is not included in the test images, and the nozzles in an abnormal state are detected by using reading data obtained by reading by the image reading units, the application scope of the reading data applied for detection of an abnormal state is determined so that reading data of each of the test images formed by the nozzles as a detection target of an abnormal state is not repeatedly included with regard to each nozzle, and the nozzles in an abnormal state are detected by using the reading data in the determined application scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Furuya, Takeshi Zengo
  • Patent number: 9550386
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a discharging unit that includes a nozzle row that discharges a liquid, and that is able to reciprocate in a first direction that intersects the nozzle row; a transport unit that transports a medium in a second direction that intersects the first direction; and a reading unit that reads the liquid discharged from the discharging unit to the medium. The liquid discharging apparatus is configured to execute an adjustment pattern forming operation for forming a first adjustment pattern for adjusting a landing position of the liquid discharged from the discharging unit in the first direction and a second adjustment pattern for adjusting the landing position of the liquid discharged from the discharging unit in the second direction on the medium, and an adjustment pattern reading operation for reading the first and second adjustment pattern with the reading unit according to a single command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Coporation
    Inventor: So Yokota
  • Patent number: 9550387
    Abstract: A tape cartridge that is to be mounted on a tape printing device including a detecting portion for reading various types of information of the tape cartridge from a detected portion of the tape cartridge by applying detection light to the detected portion and capable of being attached to and detached from the tape printing device along a mounting direction, includes the detected portion disposed on a first wall which is formed along the mounting direction, and an engaging portion disposed on a second wall which is formed at a deep side of the mounting direction. The engaging portion is engaged with an engaged portion provided in a holder in which the detecting portion is disposed and performs positioning between the detecting portion and the detected portion via the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sakano
  • Patent number: 9550388
    Abstract: An example ink cartridge for a stamp may comprise an image-forming component, a first ink-storage component made of an ink-absorbent material, a second ink-storage component made of an ink-absorbent material having one or more channels in it, and a frame made of a rigid, non-ink-absorbent material. The frame may comprise a floor having one or more holes in it. The frame may comprise an outer wall along its perimeter. The outer wall may extend up from the floor such that the outer wall is capable of retaining ink while the ink is being absorbed by the first ink-storage component and the second ink-storage component, thereby increasing the effective volume of the channel(s). The one or more holes may align with the one or more channels such that ink is enabled to flow through the hole(s) into the channel(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Trodat GmbH
    Inventor: Craig J. Petersen
  • Patent number: 9550389
    Abstract: An image erasing method includes reading a sheet having an image printed thereon with decolorable colorant and an owner information image printed thereon with decolorable colorant. The method further includes identifying a first owner information based on the owner information image, and receiving a second owner information. The method further includes determining a correlation between a user corresponding to the first owner information and a user corresponding to the second owner information. The method further includes selectively controlling a decoloring unit to decolor the image and the owner information image based on the correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shoh Konagaya
  • Patent number: 9550390
    Abstract: An optical security component intended to be checked in reflection in a checking spectral band includes a layer that is reflective in the checking spectral band. The layer exhibits a structured zone that includes microstructures distributed spatially in a uniform manner over a whole of the structured zone so as to form an optical structure that is at least partially scattering in the checking spectral band. The microstructures have heights that are distributed according to a random function, modulated over the structured zone by a modulation function so as to form, after illumination of the optical security component at a given angle, an image identifiable by observation in reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hologram.Industries
    Inventors: Hugues Souparis, Valéry Petiton, Vincent Tollet
  • Patent number: 9550391
    Abstract: A retractable ink pen including an elongate ink cartridge having a writing end and an exposed ink opening, wherein the writing end moves from a retracted position to an extended position for writing. The retractable ink pen includes a cap including a recess with an inner surface having one of: i) a position structure, and ii) both a first locator and a second locator spaced a distance from the first locator along a first longitudinal axis. The retractable ink pen further includes an elongate barrel including an outer surface having the other of the position structure and both the first locator and the second locator, wherein the position structure is located at the first locator when the writing end is in the retracted position and wherein the locating structure is located at the second locator when the writing end is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Rosato, Christopher K. Nelson, Stephen Wegzyn, Derek Diaz
  • Patent number: 9550392
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a coating apparatus that has been coated with a coating such as an oil-based paint using bio-diesel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Donald O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9550393
    Abstract: A connecting member (15) includes connecting plates (21, 22) configured to connect an attachment body and a ring-shaped body (13), a plurality of curved sections (21d to 21j, 22d to 22j) curved in a tire circumferential direction are formed at the connecting plates (21, 22) in a direction in which the connecting plates (21, 22) extend in a side view of a tire when seen from a tire width direction, and in the plurality of curved sections (21d to 21j, 22d to 22j) of one of the connecting plates (21, 22), the thickness of a maximum curved section having largest central angles (?d to ?j) about a center of curvature of the curved section (21d to 21j, 22d to 22j) is maximized, and the thickness of a minimum curved section having the smallest central angles (?d to ?j) is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Abe, Masashi Nishida