Patents Issued in January 2, 2018
  • Patent number: 9855717
    Abstract: Provided is a vacuum thermal insulation material which is capable of maintaining a vacuum for a long period of time in a high temperature range. The present invention relates to a vacuum thermal insulation material which comprises a core material and an envelope in which the core material is sealed. The envelope comprises thermal fusion bonding layers, and the thermal fusion bonding layers that face each other at an end portion of the envelope are thermally fused to each other, thereby forming a sealed portion. The core material has a first main flat surface that is exposed to the relatively high temperature side when in use and a second main flat surface that faces the first main flat surface and is exposed to the relatively low temperature side when in use. At least a part of the sealed portion is arranged on the second main flat surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MAG-ISOVER K.K.
    Inventor: Seiichi Kuboniwa
  • Patent number: 9855718
    Abstract: A multi-layer laminate may include a substrate, a printed build layer adjacent the substrate and defining a texture having elevated areas and areas of relief, a printed image layer adjacent the build layer, and a coating layer having a mineral loading and a method for creating a textured laminate may include steps to cause the printed image to be in registration with the texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: WILSONART LLC
    Inventors: Michael Riebel, Milton Riebel
  • Patent number: 9855719
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shim for insertion between the facing surfaces of two parts, in which the separation between the parts is variable with position along the facing surfaces. The shim includes sections that are juxtaposed in a direction transverse to the separation, at least some of the sections are strippable shim sections that include a stack of sheets which are adhered to one another by an adhesive. Slits between individual strippable shim sections allow selective removal of sheets from respective sections, altering shim thickness with position along the facing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Daniel Andre Gastel
  • Patent number: 9855720
    Abstract: A laminar assembly including a first optically opaque layer defining a plurality of through-holes, a second optically opaque layer, an optically transparent inner layer between the inner surface of the first optically opaque layer and the inner surface of the second optically opaque layer, and a preprinted layer proximate the outer surface of at least one of the first and second optically opaque layers. The plurality of through-holes is at least partially filled with material from the optically transparent inner layer, and light is visibly transmitted in a single direction through the plurality of through-holes. Unidirectional opacity watermarks defined by the plurality of through-holes in the laminar assembly provide advantageous anti-counterfeiting measures, and are easy to view and authenticate, yet difficult to simulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MorphoTrust USA, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jones, Joseph Picardi, Dennis Mailloux
  • Patent number: 9855721
    Abstract: A decorative laminate for application to a structural component is provided. The decorative laminate has a substrate layer of a nonwoven fabric material with or without a flame retardant material. The decorative laminate further has an embossable layer disposed upon the substrate layer. The embossable layer includes an embossing resin material and the flame retardant material. The decorative laminate further has a protective layer disposed upon the embossable layer. The protective layer includes a polyvinyl fluoride-based material and has a decorative material printed on a first side of the protective layer facing the embossable layer. An adhesive layer is applied to the substrate layer of the decorative laminate. The decorative laminate is applied to the structural component with the substrate layer facing a bonding surface of the structural component and with an adhesive layer applied between the decorative laminate and the bonding surface of the structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jason W. Drexler, Samantha L. Bronner
  • Patent number: 9855722
    Abstract: A composite article includes a ceramic part, a plastic part, and an adhesive layer connecting the ceramic part to the plastic part. The adhesive layer includes polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, dibutyl phthalate, and sec-butyl acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Li-Hong Na, Xu Liu
  • Patent number: 9855723
    Abstract: An apparatus, composition, and method for affixment of dissimilar materials, that includes a ceramic longwise member having a distal portion and a proximal portion that has a pilot, also included is a steel receptacle including primary and secondary voids that are co-axial and in communication with one another. The longwise member pilot is received in the primary void with the remainder of the proximal portion having an open gap within the secondary void, wherein adhesive is disposed within the open gap and the distal portion projects beyond the receptacle. Operationally, resulting in the longwise member and the receptacle resisting a separating force apart from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Wong, Howard Steven Rosen
  • Patent number: 9855724
    Abstract: A splice tape is provided. The splice tape includes two internal support layers bonded at interface between opposing inner surfaces of the internal support layers. The support layers are formed utilizing a process and/or materials that ensure that the two internal support layers separate cleanly and consistently along the interface of the two internal support layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Custom Adhesive Products LLC
    Inventors: Todd Lyal Manteufel, Stephen Christopher Blackowicz, Jasmina M. Kecinska
  • Patent number: 9855725
    Abstract: Vacuum insulator includes core member and jacket which covers core member. Jacket is decompressed its interior and core member includes a glass-fiber laminated unit. The glass fiber is formed of toughened glass-fiber which is low brittle and its fiber strength is toughened. This structure allows improving the heat insulating performance as well as lowering the material cost of vacuum insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohisa Tenra, Masamichi Hashida
  • Patent number: 9855726
    Abstract: A transparent pane having at least one transparent substrate and at least one an electrically conductive coating on at least one surface of the transparent substrate. The electrically conductive coating has at least two functional layers arranged one on top of another. Each functional layer contains: a layer of optically highly refractive material; a smoothing layer above the layer of optically highly refractive material; a lower adapting (matching) layer above the smoothing layer; an electrically conductive layer above the lower adapting layer; and an upper adapting (matching) layer above the electrically conductive layer. The lower adapting layer and/or the upper adapting layer contain a homogeneously distributed getter material. At least one lower adapting layer and/or upper adapting layer containing the getter material is in direct contact with the electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Klaus Fischer, Sebastian Janzyk, Ariane Weissler
  • Patent number: 9855727
    Abstract: A glass pane is described. The glass pane has at least one pane, and one adhesive layer on the pane. The adhesive layer has at least one thermoplastic film with a luminescent pigment and a barrier film with an anti-scratch coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michael Labrot
  • Patent number: 9855728
    Abstract: A protective drainage wrap comprises a cross-woven material portion, cross-laminate material portion or mesh material portion in first and second directions and a breathable solid layer portion. The material in the first and second directions comprises a polyolefin, polyester, nylon or combinations thereof. The first direction being roughly perpendicular to the second direction. The cross-woven, cross-laminate or mesh material portions being adapted to facilitate a drainage path. The breathable solid layer portion is attached to the cross-woven material portion, cross-laminate material portion or mesh material portion. The breathable solid layer portion is adapted to allow water vapor to flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Kingspan Insulation LLC
    Inventor: John W. Lubker, II
  • Patent number: 9855729
    Abstract: Multi-layer composite materials comprising a plastic or metal foil, corresponding method of production and use thereof Multilayered composite materials comprising as components: (A) a plastics or metal foil, (B) optionally at least one bonding layer and (C) a polyurethane layer with capillaries passing through the entire thickness of the polyurethane layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Carl Jokisch, Juergen Weiser
  • Patent number: 9855730
    Abstract: Methods of making articles using structured tapes are disclosed. The structured tapes may include a structured template layer having a structured surface and an opposed second surface and an uncured backfill layer, the uncured backfill layer has a lower refractive index than the structured template layer, and the uncured backfill layer has a structured surface conforming to the structured surface of the structured template layer and an opposed second surface. The structured tapes may include a structured template layer having a structured surface and an opposed second surface and an uncured backfill layer, the uncured backfill layer has a higher refractive index than the structured template layer, and the uncured backfill layer has a structured surface conforming to the structured surface of the structured template layer and an opposed second surface. The structure tapes may be laminated via the uncured backfill layer to a receptor substrate to form an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Martin B. Wolk, Michael Benton Free, Margaret M. Vogel-Martin, Evan L. Schwartz, Mieczyslaw H. Mazurek, Terry O. Collier
  • Patent number: 9855731
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for manufacturing aesthetically pleasing, decorative architectural resin panels having high-resolution image layers. In particular, at least one implementation includes a laminated resin panel having a decorative image layer formed from layered or cross-linked ink free from cracks, splits, or other deformation. Additional implementations relate to curved or otherwise non-planar decorative architectural resin panels having high-resolution image layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: 3FORM, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew T. Sutton, John E. C. Willham
  • Patent number: 9855732
    Abstract: An adhesive-applying method is disclosed herein. The method comprises: providing a film comprising pressure sensitive adhesive coated on a major surface thereof; heating the film to a softening point of the film; and pressing the film against a substrate with an application device, the application device comprising a film-contacting portion, the film-contacting portion comprising a foam material and having a thermal conductivity of less than 1.8 BTU in/(hr ft2° F.); wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive on the major surface of the film adheres to the substrate. Application devices and kits that may be used in conjunction with the method are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald S. Steelman, John R. David
  • Patent number: 9855733
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite laminate may include laying up bands of composite material in layers to form a composite layup. At least one layer may have at least one gap between an adjacent pair of bands. The gap may extend continuously along a lengthwise direction of the band. The gap in two or more of the layers may be fluidly interconnected and may form at least one breather path that opens to an exterior of the composite layup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Butler
  • Patent number: 9855734
    Abstract: Provided is a method of treating a wafer in the state where the wafer is fixed on a support plate with an adhesive composition. Although the wafer is treated by a chemical, heating, or exothermic treatment, the method achieves sufficient adhesiveness during the step of treating a surface of the wafer and allows detachment of the support plate from the wafer without damaging the wafer or leaving the adhesive on the wafer after the wafer treating step. The method of treating a wafer of the present invention includes the steps of: fixing a wafer on a support plate via an adhesive composition containing a curable adhesive component to be crosslinked and cured by light irradiation or heating; crosslinking and curing the curable adhesive component by light irradiation or heating of the adhesive composition; treating a surface of the wafer fixed on the support plate by a chemical, heating, or exothermic treatment; and detaching the support plate from the treated wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Asao, Toru Tonegawa, Kozo Ueda, Hirohide Yabuguchi
  • Patent number: 9855735
    Abstract: A method of forming a pneumatically controlled microfluidic device containing a micro-fluidic network that includes micro-elements in the form of micro-particles or micro-length hollow flow elements, and a pneumatic network that includes pneumatic micro-channels and micro-valve features enabling membrane valves to operate to control fluid conditions in the microfluidic network, including the steps (a) forming two portions, denominated fluidic layer, in which microfluidic channels are formed, and pneumatic layer, in which pneumatic micro-channels and micro-valve features are formed, each having a backing that is rigid in the plane of extent of the layers, (b) providing an intervening elastic membrane, and (c) permanently bonding both layers to opposite sides of the membrane, the permanent bonding of the membrane to the fluidic layer being effective to permanently enclose a set of inserted micro-elements in the fluidic network and relate the two layers to enable pneumatic control of fluid conditions in the micr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CyVek, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin A. Putnam
  • Patent number: 9855736
    Abstract: Provided are a modular processing unit that is standardizable, capable of enhancing production efficiency, and is also flexibly customizable, and a fully automatic gravure cylinder manufacturing system using the modular processing unit. The modular processing unit includes a pair of frame members provided upright so as to face each other, a first processing module including a first processing bath module, a first beam module provided horizontal to a floor, and a first chuck module, and a second processing module including a second processing bath module, a second beam module provided horizontal to the floor, and a second chuck module. The modular processing unit has multi-stage structure with at least the first processing module and the second processing module being assembled onto the frame members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: THINK LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Shigeta
  • Patent number: 9855737
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing nanocomposite-ink, the apparatus comprising, a nanoparticle reservoir, an organic-matrix reservoir, a homogenizer, and a dispenser. The homogenizer combines the nanoparticles and the organic-matrix, dispersing the nanoparticles within the organic-matrix, thereby producing a nanocomposite-ink for dispensement by the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Vadient Optics, LLC
    Inventor: George Williams
  • Patent number: 9855738
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a printing press and a flexographic printing press for implementing said method, wherein the method comprises performing the following steps: a) capturing information from at least one image printed by said printing press; and b) comparing said information captured from said printed image with at least some digital-format information predetermined in prepress, or digital prepress information, including at least one part of the image to be printed. The method comprises adjusting the pressure and/or register setting of one or more printing units of the printing press, using at least the result of the comparison in said step b). The press is designed in order to implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: COMEXI GROUP INDUSTRIES, S.A.U.
    Inventors: Jordi Puig Vilá, Alfonso Corgacho Tejada, Sebastià Bota Oliveras
  • Patent number: 9855739
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring element for flexo printing elements (11) for controlling an application pressure with respect to a printing material support (2), having several printing planes (7, 8, 9) which reduce in the upward direction and do not cover in the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CONPRINTA GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Guntmar-Michael Ludin
  • Patent number: 9855740
    Abstract: A printing apparatus including a printing head that discharges a liquid onto a paper sheet, a drying section into which it is possible to the paper sheet, a transport roller that is provided further on an upstream side than the drying section, a nip roller that is provided further on a downstream side than the drying section, and a control section that regulates movement of the paper sheet by controlling the nip roller, in which the control section performs a first transport control that transports paper sheet in the transport direction by driving the transport roller, and stops driving of the nip roller, and a second transport control that stops driving of the transport roller, and transports the paper sheet in the transport direction by driving the nip roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 9855741
    Abstract: In a capacitive load drive circuit, a first driving signal generator generates a first driving signal from a first control signal according to a characteristic of a first capacitive load, and a second driving signal generator generates a second driving signal from a second control signal according to a characteristic of a second capacitive load. A control signal supply portion supplies a common control signal to the first driving signal generator and the second driving signal generator. The first driving signal generator corrects the common control signal to generate the first control signal, and the second driving signal generator corrects the common control signal to generate the second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Otsuka, Tadashi Kiyuna, Toshifumi Asanuma
  • Patent number: 9855742
    Abstract: An ink composition has a viscosity of 25 mPa·s to 35 mPa·s at 20° C., wherein a, b, and c are 800 or more, 7.4 to 14, and 0.16 to 0.22, respectively, when a cylindrical portion is formed by expanding the ink composition so as to have a free surface parallel to the expanding direction of the ink composition, the rate of change in width of the cylindrical portion with time is measured in the expanding direction thereof, and the rate of change in width of the cylindrical portion with time is fit to a quadratic function given by the following equation: S=?at2?bt+c??(1) where S is the rate of change in width of the cylindrical portion and t is the time in seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Miura, Taketoshi Kagose
  • Patent number: 9855743
    Abstract: Recording elements are driven by changing a driving pulse applied thereto in accordance with information regarding a total number of times the recording elements have been driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Taira, Kazuhiko Sato, Taku Yokozawa, Hiroaki Shirakawa, Mitsutoshi Nagamura, Yuhei Oikawa, Yosuke Ishii, Satoshi Azuma, Hiroaki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9855744
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head for ejecting a liquid includes a substrate provided with an energy generating element and a liquid supply port; a flow path forming member including an ejection opening for ejecting a liquid; and a pressure chamber communicating with the ejection opening and including the energy generating element therein and a flow path through which the pressure chamber and the liquid supply port communicate with each other, the pressure chamber and the flow path being provided between the substrate and the flow path forming member. A portion of the flow path forming member which extends from an area facing the liquid supply port to an area facing a part of the flow path extending from the liquid supply port to the pressure chamber has a thickness greater than that of a portion of the flow path forming member which faces the pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Yabe
  • Patent number: 9855745
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejection unit including a liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid, a housing accommodating the liquid ejection unit, and a sealing section provided between the liquid ejection unit and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Morikoshi, Haruki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9855746
    Abstract: A piezoelectric printhead assembly can include a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) die including a plurality of nozzles and a first application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) die coupled to the MEMS die by a first plurality of wire bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter J Fricke, Andrew L Van Brocklin, Scott A Linn
  • Patent number: 9855747
    Abstract: An inkjet head, includes: a pressure chamber communicating with an ink flow channel; a diaphragm linked to the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric element linked to the diaphragm; a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber; and a vibrating mechanism placed in the ink flow channel and vibrates a supplied ink. Further provided is an inkjet device, including: the above inkjet head; a holding unit that holds a coating object; a moving mechanism that causes relative movement between the inkjet head and the holding unit; and a control unit that controls the inkjet head, the holding unit, and the moving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Yoshida, Kazuki Fukada, Kenichi Yamamoto, Takeshi Kita
  • Patent number: 9855748
    Abstract: A liquid jet head includes a nozzle plate having a first nozzle row and a second nozzle row each formed of a plurality of nozzles; and a piezoelectric plate having a plurality of first ejection grooves communicating with respective ones of the plurality of nozzles of the first nozzle row, and a plurality of second ejection grooves communicating with respective ones of the plurality of nozzles of the second nozzle row. The plurality of first ejection grooves and the plurality of second ejection grooves are longitudinally separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the grooves by a partition wall located between the plurality of first ejection grooves and the plurality of second ejection grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SII PRINTEK INC.
    Inventor: Satoshi Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 9855749
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a head body, a cover, a wiring member, and a grounding pattern. The head body has a liquid discharge face in which a nozzle to discharge liquid is disposed. The cover is disposed on the liquid discharge face of the head body. The wiring member has a wiring pattern connected to the head body. The wiring member includes a portion disposed on a side wall of the head body. The grounding pattern on the wiring member is electrically conducted to the cover with the wiring member interposed between the side wall of the head body and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9855750
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a plurality of liquid ejecting modules each of which includes a plurality of unit heads each configured to eject liquid from a plurality of nozzles, and a first fixing plate having a first surface where the plurality of unit heads are fixed; and a second fixing plate having a base portion fixed to a second surface of the first fixing plate of the plurality of liquid ejecting modules, the second surface located on the side opposite to the first surface, and the base portion overlapping a gap between the adjacent liquid ejecting modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Fujio Akahane
  • Patent number: 9855751
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a recording head having a head chip that ejects ink, an upstream flow path member, a downstream flow path member where an accommodating portion and a downstream flow path are disposed, a wiring member that is connected to a piezoelectric actuator in the head chip, a wiring substrate, a first insertion hole into which the wiring member and a tool are inserted, and a second insertion hole where a wiring member insertion portion into which the wiring member is inserted and a tool insertion portion into which the tool can be inserted are integrally formed, the method including inserting the tool into the tool insertion portion, holding the wiring member with the tool, withdrawing the tool from the tool insertion portion by moving the downstream flow path member to the head chip side, and inserting the wiring member into the wiring member insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Sakai, Yasuo Inaoka, Minoru Yajima
  • Patent number: 9855752
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a volumetric continuous gradient complex dielectric element with drop-on-demand techniques, such as inkjet printing, by calculating spatial placement of nanocomposite-ink droplets are disclosed. The methods comprise determining or having a multi-dimensional gradient profile representing a volumetric gradient complex dielectric element. Providing or having a plurality of nanocomposite-inks, at least one of the nanocomposite-inks having a curable organic-matrix and a concentration of nanoparticles dispersed within to print the volumetric continuous gradient complex dielectric device. A print mask is determined in one-, two-, or three-dimensions that reconstructs the multi-dimensional gradient profile as a discretized pattern based on the material properties of the plurality of nanocomposite-inks and properties of a printing apparatus with a plurality of printheads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Vadient Optics, LLC
    Inventors: George Williams, John Paul Harmon, Charles G. Dupuy, Ngoc Thanh Nguyen, Sang-ki Park, Bradley J. Hermens
  • Patent number: 9855753
    Abstract: A waste liquid absorber is adapted to absorb waste liquid discharged from an outlet configured to eject ink in an accommodated state when the waste liquid absorber is accommodated in an accommodation portion. The waste liquid absorber includes a first portion and a second portion having different densities in a thickness direction of a single piece of the waste liquid absorber, and the first portion has higher density than the second portion. Each of the first portion and the second portion includes a fiber and solid flame retardant powders. The fiber of the first portion is formed of material that is the same as material of which the fiber of the second portion is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Takano, Shunichi Seki, Yoshiyuki Nagai
  • Patent number: 9855754
    Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a liquid discharging portion that discharges liquid supplied from a liquid container; a container mounting portion in which the liquid container is detachably mounted; a connection portion in which a flow path for supplying liquid within the liquid container mounted in the container mounting portion to the liquid discharging portion is formed; a sealing body that surrounds the connection portion in a plan view, and includes a contact surface in contact with the liquid container mounted in the container mounting portion; and a holding portion that suppresses movement of the sealing body by being installed to overlap the contact surface in a plan view, in which the holding portion is not in contact with the liquid container mounted in the container mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Okazawa, Koji Morikoshi
  • Patent number: 9855755
    Abstract: Provided is an ink supply set configured to detach from a liquid supply apparatus and includes an ink containing portion, a connection unit, an ink guiding portion having an engaging portion, a flow path unit that guides the ink in the ink containing portion to the ink guiding portion, a circuit board, and a substrate installation portion. The liquid supply apparatus includes a liquid introduction portion into which ink is introduced via the ink guiding portion, and a movable support portion that supports the connection unit. In a state in which the engaging portion is engaged with a first engaged portion formed in the movable support portion, the circuit board comes into contact with an electrical connection portion provided in the liquid supply apparatus, and in the removed position, the circuit board is separated from the electrical connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kawate
  • Patent number: 9855756
    Abstract: During attachment or detachment of an article to or from an attaching portion, a coded vibration pattern is generated by contact between the attaching portion and the article. Information about attachment or detachment of an article is acquired by detection of a vibration pattern using a vibration sensor and analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Ueki
  • Patent number: 9855757
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a storage element; an adhesive agent; and a cartridge body. The storage element includes: a substrate having a first surface; and a protrusion protruding from the first surface. The cartridge body includes a support portion supporting the storage element. The support portion has: a first support surface in contact with the first surface and supporting the first surface; a second support surface in contact with the first surface and supporting the first surface; and a recessed surface positioned between the first support surface and the second support surface in a first direction. The recessed surface defines a chamber configured to store the adhesive agent to fix the protrusion of the storage element to the recessed surface. The chamber is exposed to an outside through an opening in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the first support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Naoya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 9855758
    Abstract: There is provided a print device including a wet liquid supply unit corresponding to a wider environmental range, with a simple and inexpensive configuration. Therefore, a valve that can change the volume is provided in a flow passage between an intermediate tank and a storing unit that stores liquid and that supplies the liquid to the intermediate tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsutomu Obata, Noriyuki Aoki, Shigeru Watanabe, Toshiro Sugiyama, Naoaki Wada, Ryohei Maruyama, Ryuichi Kato, Kouhei Tokuda
  • Patent number: 9855759
    Abstract: A liquid container includes a first chamber and a second chamber to contain liquid to be supplied to a head and a liquid path to connect the first chamber and the second chamber so that liquid communicates between the first chamber and the second chamber. Each of the first chamber and the second chamber has a flexible wall. The first chamber includes a first spring inside the first chamber to press the flexible wall of the first chamber outward. The second chamber includes a second spring inside the second chamber to press the flexible wall of the second chamber outward. A pressing force of the first spring is greater than a pressing force of the second spring. A first feeler disposed outside the first chamber and in contact with the flexible wall of the first chamber, and the first feeler is displaced according to a movement of the flexible wall of the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyuki Kobayashi, Tomomi Katoh, Ryoh Idehara, Yoichi Ito, Yoshinori Uchino
  • Patent number: 9855760
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid inflow unit provided in the liquid supply path which supplies a liquid to a liquid ejecting unit and into which the liquid flows, a liquid accommodation unit having a diaphragm section, a communication path through which the liquid inflow part and the liquid accommodation part communicate, and a pressure-regulating mechanism having an on-off valve which opens and closes the communication path in response to displacement of the diaphragm portion, and a pressing mechanism which puts the on-off valve in an open state regardless of the pressure in the liquid inflow unit by pressing the diaphragm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Sato, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9855761
    Abstract: An ink tank includes a tank main body that is able to contain ink, an ink filling unit that is provided in the tank main body and has an opening which enables the tank main body to be filled with the ink, and a plurality of ribs that are provided around the ink filling unit of the tank main body and protrude from the tank main body. A clearance in which the ink is held due to a capillary force between the ribs is provided between two adjacent ribs among the plurality of ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenao Suzuki, Shoma Kudo, Naomi Kimura, Keigo Iizawa, Masayuki Kanazawa, Naofumi Mimura, Keisuke Akimoto, Ryusuke Takakura, Soshi Okawa, Munehide Kanaya, Nobuyuki Nishi, Satoshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9855762
    Abstract: A damper and an ink circulation method capable of suppressing deposition of color materials of ink are provided. A damper is a hydraulic head difference type damper for supplying ink supplied from an ink tank of an inkjet printer by a hydraulic head difference, into a head. The damper has a supply chamber for temporarily storing ink, an ink chamber connected to the supply chamber through a connection passage and configured to supply the ink into the head, and an on-off valve. The on-off valve opens the connection passage if the ink contained in the ink chamber decreases, and blocks the connection passage if the ink contained in the ink chamber increases. A guide port for guiding the ink contained in the ink chamber to a circulation tube for circulating the ink between the ink chamber and the ink tank is formed in the ink chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Miyashita, Akira Takeuchi, Tomoya Sato
  • Patent number: 9855763
    Abstract: An ink for inkjet includes water; two or more hydrosoluble organic solvents; a pigment; and a resin particle more than the pigment by weight. A hydrosoluble organic solvent A having the smallest SP value and a hydrosoluble organic solvent B having the largest SP among the two or more hydrosoluble organic solvents satisfy the following relations (1) and (2): SP value of hydrosoluble organic solvent B?SP value of hydrosoluble organic solvent A?3??(1) boiling point of hydrosoluble organic solvent B>boiling point of hydrosoluble organic solvent A??(2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro Toda, Tomohiro Nakagawa, Hidefumi Nagashima, Juichi Furukawa, Masahiro Kido, Hikaru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9855764
    Abstract: To apply color ink to a region in which application of a glossiness adjusting liquid is completed, a recording apparatus includes a first application unit provided with a nozzle for ejecting color ink and configured to eject the color ink from the nozzle to apply to a recording medium to record an image on the recording medium, and a second application unit configured to apply a substantially transparent adjusting liquid to the recording medium to adjust a degree of surface roughness of the image formed on the recording medium, wherein after the adjusting liquid is applied to a first region of the recording medium by a predetermined times of relative movement between the second application unit and the recording medium, a relative movement between the first application unit and the recording medium for applying the color ink to the first region is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naomi Yamamoto, Masashi Oya, Makoto Torigoe
  • Patent number: 9855765
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording method including: formation of an achromatic color recording area in a recording medium by using an achromatic color-ink; formation of a chromatic color recording area in the recording medium by using at least one chromatic color-ink; and formation of a boundary area including a first achromatic color boundary area formed by the achromatic color-ink and the chromatic color-inks, and a second achromatic color boundary area formed by the chromatic color-inks, wherein the first achromatic color boundary area is located to be adjacent to the achromatic color recording area, and the second achromatic color boundary area is located to be adjacent to the chromatic color recording area; and the boundary area is formed to have a width of not more than 340 ?m, and the second achromatic color boundary area is formed to have a width of not more than 170 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenta Hayashida
  • Patent number: 9855766
    Abstract: Provided is a rod lens array that includes: a plurality of lenses; and a pair of side plate sections interposing side surfaces of the respective lenses in between to hold the lenses, and each including a first side plate provided adjacent to the lenses, and a second side plate provided on outer side of the first side plate, and having machinability lower than machinability of the first side plate, and a linear expansion coefficient smaller than linear expansion coefficient of the first side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takahito Suzuki