Patents Issued in May 1, 2018
  • Patent number: 9956755
    Abstract: A method includes: a first step of disposing the superposed substrate at a position where the superposed substrate is not in contact with a first holding unit and a second holding unit in a space between the first holding unit and the second holding unit, and supplying an inert gas into the space; a second step of thereafter relatively moving the first holding unit and the second holding unit in the vertical direction, and holding the processing target substrate by the first holding unit and holding the supporting substrate by the second holding unit; and a third step of thereafter relatively moving the first holding unit and the second holding unit in the horizontal direction while heating the processing target substrate held by the first holding unit and the supporting substrate held by the second holding unit, to separate the processing target substrate and the supporting substrate from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Hirakawa, Masaru Honda, Xavier Francois Brun, Charles Wayne Singleton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9956756
    Abstract: A method of preparing a printing form precursor for printing, or a printed circuit board precursor or a semiconductor precursor, the method comprising the step of applying electromagnetic radiation having a pulse duration of not greater than 1×10?6 seconds, in an imagewise manner, to an imagable surface of the precursor. The imaging process may cause ablation of the coating of the precursor or permit its development in a developer. In each case the imaging radiation needs not be tuned to imaging chemistry (if any) present in the coating. Alternatively the imaging process may induce a change of hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity, or other change of state, of an uncoated substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: J P Imaging Limited
    Inventors: John David Adamson, Peter Andrew Reath Bennett, Rodney Martin Potts
  • Patent number: 9956757
    Abstract: Compatible acrylate ink sets include acrylate ink composition having 30% or less by weight pigment, 10% or less dispersant, between 40% and 80% acrylate, 12% or less photoinitiator, a viscosity between 5×105 and 3×107 cps at 35° C., and a 60 second tack between 25 and 50 g-m at 35° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: C. Geoffrey Allen, Mihaela Maria Birau, Carolyn Moorlag, Aurelian Valeriu Magdalinis
  • Patent number: 9956758
    Abstract: This invention relates to a zero alcohol offset printing system, comprises the following parts: Plate cylinder (3), its outer cylindrical surface is covered by printing plate (4); Ink exertion system (1), which comprises ink source (8) and several inking rollers, to exert ink to the printing plate; Dampening liquid exertion system (2), which comprises dampening liquid source (7) and several dampening rollers, to exert dampening liquid to the printing plate; wherein the dampening rollers include a distributor roller (6); wherein the structure of the distributor roller (6) is as follows: it comprises a metal cylinder surrounded by a ceramic layer, and the ceramic layer has texture on its outer surface; wherein the content of alcohol or ether in the dampening liquid is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: YUNNAN JOY PRINTING TECHNOLOGY, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daoming Zhou, Ho Ming Au Yeung, Jin Zhou, Jing Zhang, Fei Jiang
  • Patent number: 9956759
    Abstract: A broadsheet newspaper printing press is provided including an image carrier carrying three images around in broadsheet newspaper format. The image carrier transfers the three images to a web. The broadsheet newspaper printing press also includes a folder for imparting a longitudinal fold to the web and cutting the web into broadsheet newspaper pages. The folder includes a cylinder cross-folding the broadsheet newspaper pages off center. A web offset broadsheet newspaper printing press also is provided. Methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: John Sheridan Richards
  • Patent number: 9956760
    Abstract: A multilayer imaging blanket comprises a seamless belt. A silicone layer is disposed on the belt. The silicone layer comprises silicone rubber and a metal oxide filler. A fluoroelastomer surface layer is disposed on the silicone layer. Printing apparatuses employing the multilayer imaging blanket are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mandakini Kanungo, Santokh S. Badesha, David J. Gervasi, Phillip J. Wantuck, Anton Grigoryev, Kevin H. Taft, Xing Xin Liu
  • Patent number: 9956761
    Abstract: An aqueous ink for ink jet containing a self-dispersible pigment, an aromatic sulfinic acid or a salt thereof and an aromatic sulfonic acid or a salt thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Yamashita, Yuko Negishi, Ryuki Nanamiya, Toshiyuki Umesato
  • Patent number: 9956762
    Abstract: A full-overlap type recording apparatus includes a recording unit and a controller. In the recording unit, n pieces of recording heads are disposed in a main scanning direction, positions of the n pieces of recording heads are shifted from each other in a sub-scanning direction, and the n pieces of recording heads are disposed so as to form m sets in the sub-scanning direction. The controller determines a use head based on the image data, and the use head is a recording head used for forming dots on a recording medium. The controller determines the use head for all raster lines formed on the recording medium, so as to respectively use the n pieces of recording heads when the raster lines are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Washio, Kazuyoshi Tanase
  • Patent number: 9956763
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to evaluating print head nozzle condition of a plurality of nozzle columns. Each of the plurality of nozzle columns comprises a set of nozzles. A plurality of drive bubble detect modules are activated, by a timing circuit coupled to each of the plurality of nozzle columns upon occurrence of at least a first predetermined time instant and a second predetermined time instant. For each of the plurality of nozzle columns, test results for a nozzle of the nozzle column are registered by the corresponding drive bubble detect module. Test results obtained based on impedances measured across a nozzle associated with the nozzle column corresponding to a drive bubble detect module are registered by the drive bubble detect module at the first predetermined time instant and the second predetermined time instant. The print head nozzle condition of the nozzle is evaluated based on the test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daryl E Anderson, Eric T Martin
  • Patent number: 9956764
    Abstract: A pattern formation device, a liquid ejection device, and an electrical fault detection method capable of detecting electrical fault of a liquid ejection head on the basis of an analysis result of an electrical fault detection pattern are provided. An electrical fault detection pattern having an arrangement of dot arrays satisfying an arrangement condition with an arrangement of a plurality of ejection elements in a liquid ejection head is formed by ejecting liquid from a liquid ejection head in which M rows of ejection element groups in which a plurality of ejection elements are arranged in a first direction are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and M is an integer equal to or greater than 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Kyoso
  • Patent number: 9956765
    Abstract: An inkjet printing system, fluid ejection system and method thereof are disclosed. The fluid ejection system includes a fluid ejection device and a determination module to determine a supply condition based on the count value output by the converter module. The fluid ejection device includes a fluid supply chamber to store fluid, an ejection chamber including a nozzle and a corresponding ejection member to selectively eject the fluid through the nozzle, a pressure sensor unit having a sensor plate to output a voltage value corresponding to a cross-sectional area of an amount of fluid in the ejection chamber. The fluid ejection system also includes a converter module to output a count value corresponding to the voltage value output by the pressure sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Van Brocklin, Adam L. Ghozeil, Daryl E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9956766
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting section that ejects liquid in response to a drive signal; a drive signal generation circuit that generates the drive signal by using a second frequency band including at least a part of a first frequency band; a non-contact power transmission circuit that transmits power in a non-contact manner by using the first frequency band; and a control circuit that controls the drive signal generation circuit and the non-contact power transmission circuit, in which the control circuit restricts the power transmission by the non-contact power transmission circuit in a case where the drive signal generation circuit has generated the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Yamada, Toru Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 9956767
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit, a differential amplifier, a pair of transistors, and a selector. The ejecting unit includes a piezoelectric element which is configured to be displaced by a drive signal being applied to the piezoelectric element. The ejecting unit is configured to eject liquid in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The differential amplifier is configured to output a control signal based on a source drive signal which is a source signal of the drive signal and a signal based on the drive signal. The transistors includes a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor which are configured to be controlled based on the control signal and are configured to output the drive signal from an output terminal of the transistors. The selector is configured to select one of the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor and supply the control signal to a selected transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Abe
  • Patent number: 9956768
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a head driving unit that generates a first driving voltage and a second driving voltage in which whether or not there is ejection of liquid from a first ejection element in a case where the first driving voltage alone is applied to the first ejection element that is a detection target of a short circuit between ejection elements is different from whether or not there is ejection of liquid from the first ejection element in a case where the first driving voltage and the second driving voltage are applied to the first ejection element, supplies the first driving voltage to the first ejection element, and supplies the second driving voltage to the second ejection element suspected of a short circuit with the first ejection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Kyoso
  • Patent number: 9956769
    Abstract: A liquid injection device includes a driving circuit supplying, to an actuator, a driving signal including a prior driving pulse and a subsequent driving pulse supplied after the prior driving pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Makinose, Keisuke Misawa, Kenji Kawagoe
  • Patent number: 9956770
    Abstract: A droplet detection device includes a light emitting element that emits a detection light for detecting shielding of at least one part by a microdroplet discharged from a nozzle of a head of an ink jet printer in a direction intersecting an advancing direction of the microdroplet; a light receiving element; and a pair of wall portions facing each other and enabling the microdoplet to pass therebetween; where the wall portions have one part of a light path of the detection light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element and allows at least one part of the detection light to be reflected and to reach the light receiving element, and the detection light has a width in a direction equal to a spacing in the direction of the wall portions in a region sandwiched by ends on the light emitting element side of the wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Kodaira, Akihiko Mizusaki
  • Patent number: 9956771
    Abstract: An example provides a fluid ejection apparatus including a fluid feed slot to supply a fluid to a plurality of drop ejectors, a first rib at a first side of the fluid feed slot and supporting drop ejection circuitry to control ejection of drops of the fluid from the plurality of drop ejectors, and a second rib at a second side, opposite the first side, of the fluid feed slot supporting a thermal sensor to facilitate determination of a temperature of the first rib and the second rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: David Maxfield
  • Patent number: 9956772
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, including a conveyor, a liquid ejection head with nozzles, a carriage, a carriage movement mechanism, and a controller, is provided. The controller executes a printing operation including a parameter determining process and an ejection timing determining process. In the parameter determining process, a value to a correction parameter is determined. In the ejection timing determining process, ejection timing to eject liquid through the nozzles is determined based on the value to the correction parameter. In the ejection timing determining process, the controller determines the ejection timing by shifting the ejection timing to be at least one of later and earlier than a reference timing for a time length corresponding to the value to the correction parameter. In the parameter determining process, the controller provides a different value to the correction parameter for the scan-printing action in the second unit-printing process depending on the nozzle shift amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Kenji Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 9956773
    Abstract: A wall-shaped enclosure that forms a space which can accommodate a head chip is formed in a projecting manner at a lower end of a lower case member. Since a cylindrical thick part is formed at the lower end of the lower case member, the lower case member is unlikely to be bent, particularly around the wall-shaped enclosure and a part where the wall-shaped enclosure is disposed. The head chip that is disposed in the space of the lower case member which is unlikely to be bent is unlikely to be subjected to an external force, and the cover member absorbs torsion generated between the head chip and the lower case member so that the head chip is even more unlikely to be subjected to the external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Watanabe, Katsumi Enomoto, Ryota Kinoshita, Hiroyuki Ishii, Hiroshige Owaki, Takahiro Kanegae, Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 9956774
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer element includes an electromechanical transducer film formed of PZT, wherein Ti/(Zr+Ti) in the electromechanical transducer film is greater than or equal to 45% and less than or equal to 55%, and wherein, when a total of peak intensity values obtained by ?-2? measurement is set to be 1, for an orientation ratio of a (100) plane orientation calculated based on a ratio of the peak intensity value of each orientation, ??(100) is less than or equal to 5%, wherein ??(100) is a gradient with respect to the (100) plane orientation in an array direction, and the ratio of each peak intensity value of each orientation is represented by ?(hkl)=I(hkl)/?I(hkl), where ?(hkl) is a degree of orientation in an (hkl) plane orientation, I(hkl) is the peak intensity value of the orientation, and ?I(hkl) is the total of the peak intensity values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Mizukami
  • Patent number: 9956775
    Abstract: An inkjet head including a flow path unit and a plurality of actuator units, each of the plurality of actuator units has a parallelogram shape defined by two sets of opposing sides, which is substantially parallel to a first direction and a second direction intersecting with each other along a plane, the side of the actuator unit parallel to the second direction is substantially parallel to that of an adjacent actuator unit and is shifted from that of the adjacent actuator unit in the second direction, the plurality of actuator units are inclined with respect to two contour lines of a flow path unit, the two contour lines being parallel with each other and extending in a longitudinal direction of the flow path unit, and centers of gravity of contours of the plurality of actuator units are arranged on substantially one straight line which is parallel to the contour lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsuo Sakaida
  • Patent number: 9956776
    Abstract: A liquid-ejection head including: a substrate on or above which a plurality of actuators are formed, the plurality of actuators generating energy for ejecting a liquid; and a flow-passage-forming member on or above the substrate, the flow-passage-forming member defining ejection ports through which the liquid is ejected and a plurality of liquid chambers each having a corresponding one of the plurality of actuators, the flow-passage-forming member including an orifice plate defining the ejection ports and liquid-chamber side walls defining side walls of the plurality of liquid chambers, the flow-passage-forming member being formed of an inorganic material and having a depressed portion between the liquid chambers, and the depressed portion being filled with a photosensitive resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahisa Watanabe, Toshiyasu Sakai
  • Patent number: 9956777
    Abstract: An orifice surface is provided with a coating. A molecule for forming the coating is bonded to the orifice surface through a silicon-carbon bond. The molecule constituting the coating comprises exactly one fluoro-atom. A print head is provided with such orifice surface. In addition, a methods of manufacturing such orifice surface and a method of printing using a print head provided with such orifice surface are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: OCÉ- TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Zhanhua Wang, Han Zuilhof, Marc Van Den Berg
  • Patent number: 9956778
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes a first flow path member with a first flow path and a second flow path member with a second flow path which is stacked on the first flow path member. A seal member connects the first and second flow paths and has a first seal part and a second seal part. The first flow path member applies a force to the first seal part in a stacking direction of the first and second flow path members. The second flow path member applies a force to the second seal part in a direction from the center of the second flow path to the outside and normal to the stacking direction. A retaining part controls expansion of the seal member in the normal direction with a control part. A drive element ejects liquid supplied through the first and the second flow paths through nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 9956779
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a first ejection opening group in which a plurality of ejection openings that eject a particular kind of liquid onto a print medium are arranged in a predetermined direction, and a second ejection opening group that is provided along the first ejection opening group to eject the particular kind of liquid onto the print medium. The first ejection opening group is provided upstream of the second ejection opening group with respect to a relative moving direction between the print head and the liquid ejection head. The plurality of ejection openings included in the first ejection opening group are disposed in the predetermined direction in a zigzag shape, and the liquid ejected from the ejection openings adjacent to each other in the predetermined direction come in contact with each other on the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Oce Printing Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hidehisa Mabuchi, Yoshitomo Marumoto, Takayuki Ushiyama, Benno Petschik, Andreas Paul
  • Patent number: 9956780
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first substrate including a structure body protruded from one surface; and a second substrate stacked and disposed facing the one surface through a spacer, in which the first substrate and the spacer are bonded to each other by an adhesive, and in which the adhesive is extended up to the structure body along the one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshinari Nanba, Tomoyoshi Saito, Shuichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9956781
    Abstract: A maintenance member includes a plate, an absorption member, and a protection plate. The plate includes a first face and is configured to be mounted in a print device. The absorption member is fixed on the first face and has absorbed a liquid. The edge surface of the absorption member is exposed in an extension direction of the first face. The protection plate is fixed in place such that a gap is provided between the protection plate and the absorption member. The protection plate is configured to protect the absorption member from contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Haruo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9956782
    Abstract: In an example, a print apparatus may include a print head assembly and a maintenance cartridge. An example maintenance cartridge may include a wiper system. An example wiper system may include a web wipe and a plurality of independently biased members adjacent each other with respect to a width of the web wipe. Another example wiper system may include a plurality of bias members, a plurality of carriers coupled to the plurality of bias members, and a plurality of rollers coupled to the plurality of carriers and located along a width of a wiping area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Oscar Moya Rojo, Alejandro Mielgo, Jordi Bas
  • Patent number: 9956783
    Abstract: A fluidic dispensing device includes a first fluid supply containing a primary fluid and a second fluid supply containing a humidification fluid. A plurality of primary nozzles in fluid communication with the first fluid supply eject the primary fluid and a plurality of humidification nozzles in fluid communication with the second fluid supply eject the humidification fluid for controlling a humidity of an environment adjacent the plurality of primary nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucas D. Barkley, Michael A. Marra
  • Patent number: 9956784
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting head through which liquid is ejected. A supply passage connects the ejecting head to a plurality of liquid storage bodies that include a first liquid storage body to be used first and a second liquid storage body to be used following the use of the first liquid storage body. A supply mechanism discharges the liquid contained in the liquid storage bodies to the supply passage. When the supply mechanism discharges the liquid contained in the first liquid storage body to the supply passage on the basis of first energy, if the amount of liquid left in the first liquid storage body is smaller than a threshold amount, the supply mechanism discharges the liquid contained in the second liquid storage body to the supply passage on the basis of second energy, which is lower than the first energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Kumagai, Hirokazu Ono
  • Patent number: 9956785
    Abstract: A device includes a first connector arranged to connect to an ink supply, a second connector arranged to connect to a print head, a first chamber arranged between the first and second connectors, the first chamber forming an ink path from the first connector to the second connector, a second chamber arranged adjacent to the first chamber, and a compliant wall between the first and second chambers. A system includes a print head, an ink tank connected to the print head, and a compliant wall device connected between the print head and the ink tank, the compliant wall device having a first chamber forming an ink path between the print head and the ink tank and a second chamber, the first and second chamber separated by a compliant wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Mark Jacobs, Rodney B. Hill, Terrance L. Stephens, Chad D. Freitag, Blake Terry Weimer
  • Patent number: 9956787
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a laser recording device performs recording by irradiating a recording medium with laser light. The recording medium includes thermal recording layers including thermal materials with different color development threshold temperatures and stacked in an ascending order of the threshold temperatures of the included thermal materials from a surface irradiated with the laser light; and an intermediate layer provided between the thermal recording layers to perform thermal insulation and thermal conduction. The laser recording device includes a controller. The controller sets a power density of the laser light and an irradiation time and performs recording on the thermal recording layers by controlling irradiation with the laser light. The power density is relatively higher at recording of any of the thermal recording layers with a higher threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuki Nemoto, Fumitoshi Morimoto, Takahisa Nakano, Shota Kure, Takashi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9956788
    Abstract: A device of the present disclosure has a board reception plate coupled on a first side to a first side plate and coupled on a second side to a second side plate, and the board reception plate is adapted for supporting a board. The apparatus further has a first spring-loaded sliding bar coupled to the first side plate that has a first channel for receiving a first edge of the board and a second spring-loaded sliding bar coupled to the second side plate that has a second channel for receiving a second edge of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Stitch City Industries
    Inventor: Fernando Padilla
  • Patent number: 9956789
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling archival sheet curl formation in image receiving media substrates on which images are formed using aqueous inks as the marking material. Archival curl occurs over time and is based on a partial coverage of the image receiving media substrates by the deposited water-based marking materials. A unique post-processing scheme applies selective aqueous clear fluid onto imaged substrates (cut sheets) to substantially counteract long-term archival curl formation in the individual image receiving media substrates. Both opposing sides of the cut sheet are processed in a manner that causes them to substantially equally undergo the generally irreversible shrinkage phenomenon that leads to archival curl, thus substantially canceling out the archival curl formation mechanism. A clear fluid is applied image-wise to portions of one or both sides of the image receiving media substrates to counterbalance the formed aqueous ink image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R Moore, Paul J McConville, Peter Michael Gulvin, Jason M. LeFevre, David A. VanKouwenberg, Andrew W. Hays
  • Patent number: 9956790
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a forming section which forms an image on a medium, a transport section which transports the medium in a first direction, and a heating section which heats a transport path on which the medium is transported, in which the forming section includes a first forming section which forms a pre-treatment liquid layer that includes a thermosetting resin on the medium, a liquid ejecting head which forms an image layer on the medium by ejecting liquid, and a second forming section which forms a post-treatment liquid layer that includes a thermosetting resin and is different from the pre-treatment liquid layer on the medium, and B<A and B<C in a case where content of the thermosetting resin in the pre-treatment liquid is A, content of the thermosetting resin in the liquid is B, and content of the thermosetting resin in the post-treatment liquid is C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshinobu Yamazaki, Takayoshi Kagata, Naoki Kayahara, Masashi Kamibayashi, Yohei Shibata, Kazunari Tsukada
  • Patent number: 9956791
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a container; a conveying mechanism configured to convey a recording medium contained in the container; a recording head configured to record an image on the recording medium that has been conveyed through a conveying path by the conveying mechanism; a moving mechanism including a carriage and configured to move the carriage reciprocatingly together with the recording head; a first sensor installed in the carriage and configured to detect the recording medium; a second sensor configured to detect a change of a state of the container; a storage unit configured to store width information of the recording medium that is conveyed by the conveying mechanism; and a controller configured to control the conveying mechanism, the moving mechanism, and the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Samoto, Yusuke Arai
  • Patent number: 9956792
    Abstract: A printer performs a multi-pass printing including: (a) pass process executed with Ka number of nozzles; (c1) pass process executed with Kc1 number of nozzles; (c2) pass process executed with Kc2 number of nozzles; and (b) pass process executed with Kb number of nozzles. Kc1 and Kc2 are greater than or equal to Kb and smaller than Ka. An upstream gradient of dot recording rates of (c1) pass process is greater than a gradient of (a) pass process. A downstream gradient of (c1) pass process is the same as the gradient of (a) pass process. An upstream gradient of (c2)-pass process is the same as a gradient of (b) pass process. A downstream gradient of (c2)-pass process is greater than the gradient of the (a) pass process. Kc1 is greater than Kc2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9956793
    Abstract: A printing device includes a printing unit, a pair of transporting rollers (a pair of rollers) that is disposed right before the printing unit and that transport a medium to the printing unit, and a transportation direction changing mechanism that is disposed on an upstream side of the pair of transporting rollers and that changes a transportation direction of the medium before the medium is nipped by the pair of transporting rollers. The transportation direction changing mechanism changes a transportation direction of a following medium such that a leading end portion of the following medium overlaps a preceding medium when the printing unit performs printing in a state where the preceding medium is nipped by the pair of transporting rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuji Yatsunami, Takashi Matsuki, Kazuhiro Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9956794
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a discharging head which discharges liquid on a printing medium mounted on an endless belt; a medium transport portion as a transport unit which transports the printing medium; an input device as an input unit to which printing condition is input; and a fluff cutter portion which is provided on an upstream side of the discharging head in the transport direction and which cuts fluff of the printing medium in a predetermined height according to the printing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Noritaka Mitsuo
  • Patent number: 9956795
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print unit; a first roller that transport the medium; a plurality of second rollers cooperating with the first roller to nip the medium therebetween at positions that face the first rollers; a third roller that holds the medium which has been transported by the first roller and transport the medium to a print path in which printing is performed by the print unit; a specific second roller located most downstream in the transportation path among the second rollers; and a control unit that controls each of the roller and the print unit, wherein the control unit causes the specific second roller to be displaced to a separated position after the medium is held by the third roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Ogimura
  • Patent number: 9956796
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a medium in a transport direction; a medium support that supports the medium; a medium pressing unit that has a first regulation section that regulates bending of an end portion of the medium from the medium support in a width direction intersecting with the transport direction and a second regulation section that regulates moving of the end portion of the medium to an outer side in the width direction; and a printing unit that performs printing on the medium supported on the medium support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Kitagishi
  • Patent number: 9956797
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a first bearing support for a first media roll of a first print medium and a second bearing support for a second media roll of a second print medium. Said first and second bearing supports are spaced apart from one another. A first print transport path extends from the first bearing support from the first media roll to a main transport path of the printing system. A second print transport path extends from the second bearing support to the main transport path of the printing system. An attachment transport path extends between the first and the second bearing support. The attachment transport path allows both print media to be brought together and attached to one another. Thereby, a relatively stiffer medium may be attached as a leader section to a relatively weaker medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: OCE HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Lodewijk T. Holtman, Wilhelmus J. E. G. Verhofstad
  • Patent number: 9956798
    Abstract: A tape printing device or the like in which the loading of a tape cartridge can be detected and in which the misalignment of the loaded tape cartridge can be restrained at the same time, is provided. A tape printing device includes: a cartridge loading section in which a tape cartridge is loaded in an unloadable manner; a push switch which is provided in the cartridge loading section and detects the loaded tape cartridge. The push switch has a stem which is energized in a protruding direction by a build-in spring, and the stem in an actuated state energizes the loaded tape cartridge in a direction intersecting with a loading direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Sakano, Akihiro Shintani
  • Patent number: 9956799
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for test patterns that detect misalignment. One embodiment is a printer that includes a marking engine having rows of nozzles. The rows are separated along a Y direction, and each row of nozzles extends in an X direction. The printer also includes a controller that directs the marking engine to print multiple bands of a test pattern. Each band is printed by selecting nozzles in a first row, selecting nozzles in a second row that occupy adjacent X positions to the selected nozzles of the first row, and forming a band having multiple marks. Each mark includes a continuous line from a nozzle in the first row and a continuous line from a nozzle in the second row. Each band of the test pattern is printed by ejecting ink from nozzles in a different combination of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: William Edward Manchester, Mikel John Stanich
  • Patent number: 9956800
    Abstract: A main body portion provided with a document stand on which a document is placed and a reading unit; a cover which opens and closes the document stand; and a near field communication unit on the inside of the cover, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okazawa, Shintaro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9956801
    Abstract: An imaging member surface contains a swellable elastomer doped with a release oil. This aids in complete transfer of ink to a receiving substrate when a thin film of release oil forms upon the surface during application of pressure at the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: Xerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Bing Hsieh, Timothy D. Stowe, Santokh S. Badesha, Chu-heng Liu, Mandakini Kanungo, Jorge A. Alvarez, Patrick J. Howe, Matthew M. Kelly, David J. Gervasi, Palghat Srinivas Ramesh
  • Patent number: 9956802
    Abstract: The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention that has in the order mentioned, a substrate, a release layer, a colored layer, and an adhesion layer; and is characterized in that the colored layer contains a colorant and a polyester-based resin; the adhesion layer contains a polyester-based resin; a ratio of the thickness of the release layer to the total thickness of the colored layer and the adhesion layer (the thickness of the release layer/(the thickness of the colored layer+the thickness of the adhesion layer)) is not less than 2/3 and not more than 3/2; and the total thickness of the release layer, the colored layer, and the adhesion layer is not less than 1.0 ?m and not more than 2.0 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuzu Imakura
  • Patent number: 9956803
    Abstract: The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention that has, in the order mentioned, a substrate, a colored layer, and an adhesion layer; and wherein the colored layer contains a colorant, polyester-based resin A, and polyester-based resin B; the number average molecular weight of the polyester-based resin A is not less than 15,000; the number average molecular weight of the polyester-based resin B is not more than 5,000; a content ratio by mass of the polyester-based resin A to the polyester-based resin B (polyester-based resin A/polyester-based resin B) in the colored layer is not less than 2/3 and not more than 9/1; and the adhesion layer includes a polyester-based resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuzu Imakura
  • Patent number: 9956804
    Abstract: A sheet binding processing apparatus includes a binding device which performs a binding process on a sheet bundle stacked on a stacking unit and a sheet bundle set at a manual setting portion, the stacking unit stacking introduced sheets, a sheet bundle being set to the manual setting portion from an outside; a moving portion which moves the binding device to a first binding position for performing the binding process on a sheet bundle stacked on the stacking unit and a second binding position for performing the binding process on a sheet bundle set at the manual setting portion; and a controller which causes the binding device, in a case that the binding process is not performed on a sheet bundle stacked on the stacking unit, to wait due to the moving portion at a position different from the first binding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventors: Eiichi Kubo, Shin Tsugane, Tatsuya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9956805
    Abstract: An anti-counterfeit medium, a method for manufacturing the same and a method for preventing counterfeiting are provided. The anti-counterfeit medium includes a retardation layer having birefringence and a reflection layer, and identification data is recorded in the anti-counterfeit medium. The identification data is divided into a plurality of partial images, and a plurality of transparent areas which correspond to the plurality of partial images are disposed adjacent to each other in the same plane so as to form the retardation layer, the plurality of transparent areas having optical axes which are oriented in different directions from each other in a rotation direction. The identification data includes biometric information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mihoko Ohkawa, Hideki Ochiai, Kota Aono, Yuki Kotegawa