Patents Issued in September 19, 2019
  • Publication number: 20190283404
    Abstract: A device for imaging and/or varnishing the surfaces of objects or vehicles, etc. includes adapting a time lag between an application of fluid and further treatment thereof, such as drying ink or varnish, to a spreading behavior of the fluid during the application thereof. The fluid may be applied to the surface of the object in sections, firstly drying the fluid in individual sections before applying it to the next section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: HEINER PITZ, ALEXANDER MATERN
  • Publication number: 20190283405
    Abstract: Each of a first image processing unit and a second image processing unit is configured to generate print data to be used by a printing unit based on image data generated by a controller. The controller comprises a transmission control unit configured to select, based on a sheet size which is a print setting corresponding to a print job as a condition, one of first transmission control of controlling a transmission unit to alternately transmit band data included in first image data and band data included in second image data and second transmission control of controlling the transmission unit so that the band data included in the second image data will be transmitted after the band data included in the first image data has been transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shioiri, Kazuhiro Ueda
  • Publication number: 20190283406
    Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a carriage carrying a head configured to discharge a liquid onto a target, the liquid comprising an ink, the ink comprising water, an organic solvent, a coloring material, and a plurality of polysiloxane compounds, a driving unit configured to move the carriage and the target relatively to each other, a measuring unit configured to measure the distance between the carriage and the target, an image-capturing unit configured to capture a target image, and a setting unit configured to set a liquid discharging performance of the head based on a measurement result obtained by the measuring unit and the target image obtained by the image-capturing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Takuya FUJITA, Hiromi Sakaguchi, Yuta Nakamura, Naoto Shimura, Yoshiaki Masuda, Tetsuto Ueda, Yoshimi Nemoto, Kenichi Taguma, Naohiro Toda, Shinya Seno, Nobuyuki Satoh
  • Publication number: 20190283407
    Abstract: A print head assembly for printing an ink on a substrate having a printing pin member having a tip; a wetting system having an ink reservoir, the wetting system being configured to transfer ink from the ink reservoir to the tip of the printing pin member; and a charging system operably coupled to the printing pin member, the charging system configured to apply a high voltage charge to the printing pin member resulting in the ink on the tip of the printing pin member to be deposited upon the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Lai Yu Leo TSE, Kira BARTON
  • Publication number: 20190283408
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a head configured to discharge liquid to print an image on a recording medium according to image data while the liquid discharge apparatus is moved; a sensor configured to detect movement of the liquid discharge apparatus in a predetermined period and output movement information including at least one of a movement amount and an angular velocity of the liquid discharge apparatus; a heater configured to heat the head; a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the head; and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to instruct liquid discharge from the head based on the image data and the movement information from the sensor, detect floating of the liquid discharge apparatus based on a detection result generated by the sensor, and control heating of the head based on a result of detection of the floating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki TANAKA, Ryosuke TAKEUCHI, Takeshi SHIKAMA
  • Publication number: 20190283409
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a liquid discharge head to discharge liquid and circuitry configured to generate a drive waveform to drive the liquid discharge head. The circuitry converts, to an analog signal, drive waveform voltage data being a source of the drive waveform; amplifies in voltage the analog signal to generate a drive waveform voltage signal; amplifies in current the drive waveform voltage signal to generate the drive waveform; monitors the drive waveform to detect an abnormality of the drive waveform; controls an operation of the liquid discharge device based on a result of detection of the abnormality of the drive waveform; compares an output of the voltage amplifier and an output of the current amplifier to output a difference between the output of the voltage amplifier and the output of the current amplifier; and outputs a binarized signal based on the difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohtaroh IKEGAMI
  • Publication number: 20190283410
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head configured to discharge liquid onto an object in accordance with a discharge cycle signal, image data, and a drive waveform; and a carriage on which the liquid discharge head is mounted. The carriage is configured to scan the object in a predetermined direction. The liquid discharge apparatus further includes circuitry configured to output pattern data for decimating the discharge cycle signal, the image data, and the drive waveform in accordance with a number of scans performed by the carriage to form a line of an image. The circuitry is configured to decimate the discharge cycle signal in accordance with the pattern data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20190283411
    Abstract: A drive waveform generating device includes circuitry configured to generate a drive waveform to be applied to a pressure generation element of a liquid discharge head. The drive waveform including a first waveform and a second waveform continuous in time series with the first waveform. The first waveform includes a falling element to lower a potential from an intermediate potential to a lower potential lower than the intermediate potential, a raising element to raise the potential from the lower potential to a higher potential higher than the intermediate potential, and a potential holding element to hold the higher potential. The second waveform includes a raising element to raise the potential from the intermediate potential to a raised potential higher than the intermediate potential, a potential holding element to hold the raised potential, and a falling element to lower the potential from the raised potential to the intermediate potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Norimasa SOHGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190283412
    Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes: a recording head that has nozzles discharging liquid, and forms an image on a target surface with the liquid while performing scanning of the target surface for multiple times; a moving unit that moves the recording head in main-scanning direction while making the head discharge liquid, and moves the head in sub-scanning direction after the head has discharged liquid; a drive waveform applying unit that applies a drive waveform to the respective nozzles; a temperature detecting unit that detects temperature about the head; a correcting unit that corrects drive waveform based on detected temperature; and a control unit that, when temperature about the head changes from first temperature to second temperature, performs control in such a way that, during the multiple scans, use of second-type drive waveform corresponding to the second temperature gradually increases against use of first-type drive waveform corresponding to the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nonoyama, Yoshiyuki Ishiyama, Masanori Hirano, Shinichi Hatanaka
  • Publication number: 20190283413
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head and a pattern printer. The liquid discharge head includes a plurality of nozzles to discharge liquid. The pattern printer drives the liquid discharge head to print a plurality of adjacent rectangular patterns under different drive conditions. The adjacent rectangular patterns are a reference pattern and an adjustment pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Ryuuta KATOH, Norimasa SOHGAWA, Hiroki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20190283414
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a liquid discharge head including a plurality of liquid chambers respectively communicating with a plurality of nozzles and circulating liquid therethrough. Each liquid chamber is provided with a pressure generator for discharging the liquid from a corresponding nozzle. The liquid discharge device further includes a waveform data memory to store drive waveform data including discharge drive waveform data for discharging the liquid according to image data and micro-vibration drive waveform data for causing a micro vibration of a meniscus of the liquid discharge head. The liquid discharge device further includes circuitry configured to generate a drive waveform based on the drive waveform data; apply, to the pressure generator, a discharge drive waveform based on the discharge drive waveform data, in a printing area; and apply, to the pressure generator, a micro-vibration drive waveform based on the micro-vibration drive waveform data, in a non-print area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20190283415
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a head array, a support body, a moving assembly, and a head array fixing device. The head array fixing device fixes the head array at an approach position. The head array fixing device includes a gripping target member and a gripping member. The gripping target member is disposed on one of the head array and the support body and extending in a direction in which the head array approaches or retracts from a recording region of a recording medium. The gripping member is disposed on another of the head array and the support body, to grip the gripping target member to position the gripping target member in a conveyance direction and a width direction of the recording member. A gripping position at which the gripping member grips the gripping target member is adjustable in at least one of the conveyance direction and the width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki MIYAGAWA, Yuichiro MAEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20190283416
    Abstract: A head module includes a base including a plurality of openings, and a plurality of heads inserted into the plurality of openings, respectively, to be mounted on the base. The plurality of heads includes a nozzle plate including a nozzle, an individual channel member disposed on the nozzle plate and including an individual chamber communicating with the nozzle, and a frame fixed to the individual channel member. Coefficients of linear expansion of the nozzle plate and the individual channel member are substantially identical to a coefficient of linear expansion of the base, and one of the nozzle plate and the individual channel member is bonded to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi KINOKUNI
  • Publication number: 20190283417
    Abstract: A nozzle for ink-jet printers, comprising a main body (2) and a through hole (3), arranged through the main body (2), which has a surface (4). At least the surface (4) of the through hole (3) is made of an elastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: FRANCO STEFANI, MOHAMED OUASSIF
  • Publication number: 20190283418
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head including: a communication plate formed with a descender connected to a nozzle, a pressure chamber plate including a plurality of pressure chambers aligning in an array direction, a piezoelectric element, and a discharge common channel. The discharge common channel extends in the array direction, is connected to the plurality of pressure chambers, and has a first discharge portion and a second discharge portion. The discharge common channel is configured to discharge liquid toward one side in the array direction. The second discharge portion includes an expansion portion to expand beyond the first discharge portion in a width direction orthogonal to the stacking direction and to the array direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Yasuo Kato
  • Publication number: 20190283419
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head of the present invention includes a first pressure chamber row having a plurality of first pressure chambers respectively communicating with a plurality of ejection orifices that eject liquid and arranged along a predetermined direction, a second pressure chamber row having a plurality of second pressure chambers respectively communicating with a plurality of ejection orifices that eject liquid and arranged along the predetermined direction, a first flow path for supplying the liquid to the plurality of first pressure chambers, and a second flow path for recovering the liquid from the plurality of second pressure chambers, part of the first pressure chamber row is disposed to overlap the first flow path, and part of the second pressure chamber row is disposed to overlap the second flow path, as viewed from an ejection direction of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Hiroshi Netsu
  • Publication number: 20190283420
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a switching element, a first common-electrode wiring, at least a part of the first common-electrode wiring being covered with the switching element, a plurality of second common-electrode wirings branched from the part of the first common-electrode wiring covered with the switching element, a plurality of individual power-output terminals arranged in a row in the switching element, and a plurality of individual-electrode wirings arranged in a row, the plurality of individual-electrode wirings being connected to the plurality of individual power-output terminals, respectively. Each of the plurality of second common-electrode wirings is disposed between the plurality of individual-electrode wirings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi KIDA
  • Publication number: 20190283421
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a nozzle from which a liquid is ejected; a communication passage that is in communication with the nozzle; a first pressure compartment that is connected to the communication passage through a first passage; a second pressure compartment that is connected to the communication passage through a second passage; a first drive element that changes pressure of the first pressure compartment; and a second drive element that changes pressure of the second pressure compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Hiromu MIYAZAWA, Toshihiro SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20190283422
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a nozzle plate including nozzles to discharge liquid; individual liquid chambers communicating with nozzles; a common liquid chamber to supply the liquid to the individual liquid chambers; a circulation channel; a common circulation chamber; a pressure generator to apply pressure to the liquid; and circuitry to apply, to the pressure generator, a predetermined drive waveform in which an electric potential is changed, from a first potential to apply an initial pressure to the liquid, to a second potential, and the second potential is kept to a predetermined timing for liquid discharging. At the predetermined timing, a discharge speed difference, caused when the initial pressure is changed in a case where the predetermined drive waveform is applied with the initial pressure applied to the liquid, is a local minimum. The initial pressure is applied to the liquid in a state without the predetermined drive waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Taniyama
  • Publication number: 20190283423
    Abstract: A metal member includes a first layer and a second layer. The second layer has an average crystal grain size different from an average crystal grain size of the first layer. An intermediate layer having an average crystal grain size smaller than the average crystal grain sizes of the first layer and the second layer is interposed between the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Kohei TSUZUKI, Takashi MORI, Ryoji OKAMOTO, Yuta HIRATSUKA, Kaname MORITA, Yohsuke KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20190283424
    Abstract: A droplet ejector for a printhead comprises: a substrate having a mounting surface and an opposite nozzle surface; at least one electronic component integrated with the substrate; a nozzle-forming layer formed on at least a portion of the nozzle surface of the substrate; a fluid chamber defined at least in part by the substrate and at least in part by the nozzle-forming layer, the fluid chamber having a fluid chamber outlet defined at least in part by a nozzle portion of the said nozzle-forming layer; a piezoelectric actuator formed on at least a portion of the nozzle portion of the nozzle-forming layer; and a protective layer covering the piezoelectric actuator and the in nozzle forming layer. The piezoelectric actuator comprises a piezoelectric body provided between first and second electrodes. At least one of the said first and second electrodes is electrically connected to the at least one electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Gregory John MCAVOY
  • Publication number: 20190283425
    Abstract: An actuator includes an actuator substrate and a diaphragm forming an inner wall defining a space in the actuator substrate. The diaphragm includes a first layer made of material that does not transmit light of a specific wavelength; a second layer made of material that transmits the light of a specific wavelength; an active region covering a central area of the diaphragm, the active region including the first layer and the second layer; and at least two transmissive regions formed at a circumference of the diaphragm, each of the at least two transmissive regions including the second layer without the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Takahiko KURODA
  • Publication number: 20190283426
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a pressure chamber communicating with a nozzle through which liquid is discharged; a piezoelectric element having a lamination structure in which a first electrode, a piezoelectric body layer, and a second electrode are laminated in this order; a vibration plate installed between the first electrode of the piezoelectric element and the pressure chamber; a protective substrate in which an internal space for housing the piezoelectric element is formed; and a lead-out wiring connected to the second electrode, in which a column portion is provided at a position overlapping with the piezoelectric element in the internal space of the protective substrate when viewed in a plan view, and the lead-out wiring is provided on a wall surface of the column portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Osamu TONOMURA, Masao NAKAYAMA, Eiju HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20190283427
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head including: a flow path formation part in which pressure generation chambers are arranged; and a pressure generation unit configured to apply pressure to the pressure generation chambers, wherein the pressure generation unit is formed by joining a vibration unit to the flow path formation part with a resin layer, and wherein the resin layer includes a curable resin composition including (A) an epoxy resin, (B) a polythiol compound, (C) at least one adhesiveness-imparting agent selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by General Formula (1), a titanium compound represented by General Formula (2-1), and a titanium compound represented by General Formula (2-2), and (D) a curing accelerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Tatsuya SAMESHIMA, Hisashi HABASHI, Ryota CHIBA
  • Publication number: 20190283428
    Abstract: A liquid absorbing apparatus for absorbing a liquid component from an ink image formed on a transfer member before transferring the ink image to a print medium, includes a liquid absorbing member configured to absorb the liquid component, a support unit configured to support the liquid absorbing member to be movable cyclically; and at least one recovery unit arranged in a moving path of the liquid absorbing member and configured to recover liquid absorption performance of the liquid absorbing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Masahiro Sugimoto, Yuichiro Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20190283429
    Abstract: A liquid jetting head, includes: a nozzle plate having a nozzle surface in which nozzles are open, the nozzles being aligned on the nozzle surface in a first direction to form nozzle rows; a cover which is in thermal contact with ends in the first direction of the nozzle plate; and at least one heater which is in thermal contact with the cover and which is configured to heat the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Taiki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20190283430
    Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a liquid discharging head including a nozzle surface and multiple nozzles, the liquid discharging head to discharge liquid through the nozzles, a wiping member to wipe the nozzle surface of the liquid discharging head, and a pressing member to press the wiping member against the nozzle surface when the wiping member wipes the nozzle surface, wherein the wiping member satisfies the following conditions 1 and 2 when the wiping member is pressed against the nozzle surface by the pressing member during wiping: the contact ratio of the wiping member with the nozzle surface is from 60 to 95 percent Condition 1, the porous volume per unit area represented by V×T/100 is from 0.1 to 0.7 (mm3/mm2), where V (percent) represents a porosity and T (mm) represents a thickness of the wiping member Condition 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Takumi ATAKE
  • Publication number: 20190283431
    Abstract: A head cleaning device includes a first wiping member, a first drive mechanism, a second wiping member, a second drive mechanism, a common drive source, and control circuitry. The first wiping member wipes a nozzle face of each of a plurality of liquid discharge heads. The first drive mechanism moves the first wiping member to a first wiping position at which the first wiping member wipes the nozzle face and a first retraction position spaced apart from the nozzle face. The second wiping member wipes the nozzle face. The second drive mechanism moves the second wiping member to a second wiping position at which the second wiping member wipes the nozzle face and a second retraction position spaced apart from the nozzle face. The common drive source drives the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism. The control circuitry controls the common drive source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Atsushi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20190283432
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a detection section, and a determination section. The recording head includes nozzles that eject ink onto a recording medium. The detection section detects ejection failure in a nozzle among the nozzles. The determination section determines a direction of the recording medium to be fed to the recording head based on a result of detection by the detection section and an image formed on the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinya MATSUI
  • Publication number: 20190283433
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a conveyer; a platen configured to support the a medium; a head; a carriage; a sensor configured to detect the medium supported by the platen; a liquid receiver; and a controller. The controller is configured to execute flushing, in which liquid is discharged from nozzles to the liquid receiver, after executing printing in a certain printing pass, which is executed before a last printing pass for printing on a certain medium and during which the carriage moves in a first direction. The controller is configured not to execute the flushing at timing between the last printing pass for the printing on the certain medium and a first printing pass for printing on the next medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Satoru ARAKANE, Takashi SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20190283434
    Abstract: The printing apparatus of the present invention includes: an openable cover that covers a head holder that mounts a print head detachably and an ink tank, detachable from the apparatus, configured to store ink to be supplied to the print head; a lock unit capable of switching between a lock state where the cover is fixed to a closed position and an unlocked state where the cover is not fixed to the closed position; and a control unit configured to control, in a case of receiving instructions to detach the ink tank, the lock unit to switch to the unlocked state after controlling a holder moving unit to move the head holder to a position at which the print head is undetachable, as well as controlling a pressurizing supply unit to stop pressurization and supply ink from the ink tank to the print head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Akira Kida, Tetsuji Kurata, Atsushi Kohnotoh, Toshihide Wada, Noboru Shimoyama
  • Publication number: 20190283435
    Abstract: Ahead module includes: an inkjet head that ejects ink; and a mounting member on which the inkjet head is mounted, wherein the inkjet head is mounted on the mounting member by being pressed against the mounting member by a presser, and a mounting position to the mounting member is adjusted by a position adjuster in a direction intersecting with a pressing direction of the presser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Takeshi URAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20190283436
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a channel section, and a driving section. The channel section supplies a liquid to a plurality of nozzles to discharge the liquid. The driving section causes the nozzles to discharge the liquid. The channel section includes an individual chamber to supply the liquid to the nozzles and a common chamber to supply the liquid to the individual chamber. A laminated portion of each of a plurality of plate-shaped components which are constituent components of the individual chamber does not have a cut-out portion in a portion corresponding to a bonding position of a damper member disposed between the individual chamber and the common chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Tomohiko Kohda
  • Publication number: 20190283437
    Abstract: An ink tank that enables to check whether a cover of an ink tank is normally bonded to the ink tank includes a first chamber having a supply port for supplying ink to a printing head that ejects ink, a second chamber having an external air introduction port capable of introducing external air, a partition wall configured to separate the first chamber and the second chamber, a communication path provided in the partition wall and configured to place the first chamber and the second chamber in communication with each other, a first cover member configured to cover an opening of the first chamber without extending over an opening of the second chamber, and a second cover member configured to cover the opening of the second chamber without extending over the opening of the first chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Koki Shimada, Hideaki Matsumura, Masaya Shimmachi, Yukimichi Kimura, Junichi Kubokawa, Takahiro Kiuchi, Yusuke Tanaka, Kyohei Sato
  • Publication number: 20190283438
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of adding solvent or make-up fluid into the gutter line of a continuous ink printer. During the addition of solvent, the vacuum level in the gutter line is monitored and maintained at a level sufficient to ensure that vacuum is maintained at the gutter. Vacuum level in the gutter line is preferably controlled by controlling the speed of a variable speed gutter pump. Noise in the gutter line is preferably used as a control over pump speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Stuart Mark Walkington, Richard Thomas Calhoun Bridges, Colin Jon Partridge, Justin Chase
  • Publication number: 20190283439
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a print unit that performs printing using a consumable, a determiner that determines that a remaining amount of the consumable in a container housing the consumable is lower than an amount, and a controller that, upon a condition where it is determined that the remaining amount of the consumable is less than the amount and it is determined that order information for the consumable is yet to be transmitted, causes the order information of the consumable to be transmitted, and causes a memory provided in the container to store information indicating that the order information has been sent, wherein, if the information indicating that the order information has been sent is not stored in the memory, the controller determines that the order information is yet to be transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Isao Komine
  • Publication number: 20190283440
    Abstract: An image data processing method for estimating an ink consumption amount includes: an image data compression step of compressing image data after RIP processing by run-length encoding; and an ink consumption amount estimation step of calculating a predicted ink consumption amount when printing based on image data is performed by an inkjet printing device based on information on the number of occurrences for each gradation value obtained when run-length encoding is applied to image data and information on an ink consumption amount for each gradation value held in an ink consumption amount table prepared in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Kenichi Yokouchi, Rui YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20190283441
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid through a nozzle, a supply flow path that supplies liquid from a liquid container containing liquid to the liquid ejecting head, a liquid chamber provided in a buffer chamber disposed in the supply flow path, the liquid chamber being configured to change in volume, a liquid feeding unit of a reversible type disposed in the supply flow path between the liquid container and the liquid chamber, a control portion that controls driving of the liquid feeding unit, and a suction unit that suctions liquid through the nozzle. The control portion controls the liquid feeding unit to perform reverse feeding of the liquid from the liquid chamber to the liquid container before the suction unit suctions the liquid through the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Eiichiro WATANABE, Masaru KUMAGAI, Yukihiro HANAOKA, Izumi NOZAWA
  • Publication number: 20190283442
    Abstract: An ink supply device includes a first tank, a second tank, a first calculator, and a second calculator. The first tank stores an ink. The second tank stores the ink supplied from the first tank. The first calculator calculates an amount of the ink in the second tank. The second calculator calculates an amount of the ink in the first tank based on the amount of the ink in the second tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Kenichi Satake
  • Publication number: 20190283443
    Abstract: In a color inkjet printing apparatus using an ink circulation system, there is provided an inkjet printing apparatus capable of making appropriate circulation control for individual inks without resulting in cost increase. To achieve this, an inkjet printing apparatus includes a plurality of diaphragm pumps for circulating ink within a print head, a sub-tank, a supply flow path, and a collection flow path. The plurality of diaphragm pumps are configured by mounting control members of different types which can press against diaphragm units of a same type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Yumi Mukoyama, Junya Kosuge, Kyoshiro Okude, Tsuyoshi Saeki, Ryoma Arai
  • Publication number: 20190283444
    Abstract: Provided is discharging device including liquid droplet discharging unit configured to discharge liquid droplet containing a light-emitting particle that undergoes luminescence in response to irradiation of light, light irradiating unit configured to irradiate liquid droplet discharged by liquid droplet discharging unit with the light, light detecting unit configured to detect luminescence by light-emitting particle contained in liquid droplet in response to irradiation of the light emitted by light irradiating unit, and average particle number calculating unit configured to determine presence/absence of light-emitting particle in liquid droplet based on whether light detecting unit has detected luminescence by light-emitting particle, and calculate average particle number, which is average, among all liquid droplets discharged, in number of light-emitting particles contained per liquid droplet, based on ratio of liquid droplets containing no light-emitting particle relative to all the liquid droplets dischar
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Shusaku SHIOMOTO, Manabu Seo, Ikuo Katoh, Waka Lin
  • Publication number: 20190283445
    Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to an automated light field illumination container inspection and manufacture system. The system includes a plurality of cameras that capture images of a container when the container is illuminated by way of light field illumination. Bands in images that include reflections in the exterior surface of the sidewall are identified, and a determination is made as to whether the container is defective based upon the identified bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Richard A. Sones, Michael Leo Kress, Amir Novini
  • Publication number: 20190283446
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head, a conveyance device, an imaging device, and processing circuitry. The liquid discharge head is configured to discharge liquid to an object to form a liquid application surface. The conveyance device is configured to convey the object. The imaging device is configured to capture a plurality of positions of the object on which the liquid application surface is formed. The processing circuitry is configured to control discharge of the liquid by the liquid discharge head according to a plurality of pieces of different pattern data for forming the liquid application surface, control conveyance of the object by the conveyance device to form the liquid application surface corresponding to the pattern data, and determine a processing method of forming the liquid application surface according to captured images of the plurality of positions captured by the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Masaaki TSUDA
  • Publication number: 20190283447
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head having at least one nozzle array including a plurality of nozzles lined in a nozzle array direction; a two-dimensional image sensor to capture an image formed by the liquid discharge head; and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to divide the nozzles into a plurality of nozzle units; form a pattern including a plurality of unit patterns with liquid discharged from the nozzle units, respectively; and detect a defective nozzle based on a captured image of each of the unit patterns. The unit patterns are arranged in a staggered manner. Each unit pattern is smaller in size than an image capture range of the two-dimensional image sensor. Each unit pattern includes a number of columns of lines extending in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle array direction, and the number of columns is not smaller than twice the number of nozzle arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Suguru Yokozawa, Takayuki Ito, Nobuyuki Satoh, Kohtaroh Ikegami, Kenta Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20190283448
    Abstract: In order to prevent degradation in print quality which can come from matter generated from an ink ribbon and adhering to a thermal head, the thermal transfer printer transports an ink ribbon which has characteristics such that the amount of matter generated from the ink ribbon by transfer and adhering to the thermal head has a peak at predetermined transfer energy and reduces in an energy range higher than the predetermined transfer energy with increase in transfer energy, transfers ink and protective material onto paper in this order from the ink ribbon on which the ink and the protective material are repeatedly arranged in a longitudinal direction thereof, and adjusts transfer energy for the protective material to a value within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Takeshi YAMAZAKI, Yutaka INOKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20190283449
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device including a plurality of primitives each having a same set of addresses and including a plurality of fluid chambers, each fluid chamber corresponding to a different address of the set of addresses and including a firing mechanism. Input logic receives a series of fire pulse groups, each fire pulse group corresponding to an address of the set of addresses and including warming data having an enable value or a disable value and a series of firing bits, each firing bit corresponding to a different primitive and having a firing value or a non-firing value. For each firing bit of each fire pulse group, when the warming data has the enable value, activation logic provides a warming pulse to the firing mechanism of the fluid chamber corresponding to the firing bit when the firing bit has the non-firing value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric Martin, Vincent C Korthuis
  • Publication number: 20190283450
    Abstract: Provided herein is a printing apparatus including a printhead movable between a first position and a second position. The printhead includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate define at least a first burn line and a second burn line, respectively, of heating elements disposed adjacent to a first edge and a second edge, respectively of the printhead. A printhead bracket receives the printhead in one of the first position or the second position. In the first position, the heating elements of the first burn line perform a printing operation and the printhead bracket is configured to preclude operation of the heating elements of the second burn line. In the second position, the heating elements of the second burn line perform a printing operation, and the printhead bracket is configured to preclude operation of the heating elements of the first burn line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Yong Chiap CHENG, Chin Young WONG, Dionne LIM
  • Publication number: 20190283451
    Abstract: A laser marker device (11) includes: a free running counter (16) configured to output a free count value (Cf) obtained by counting the number of pulses of a pulse signal; a FIFO memory (15) configured to sequentially store the free count value as a trigger timing count value every time a trigger signal (tr) is output from a trigger sensor (13); a printing control unit (17, 18) configured to sequentially read out the trigger timing count value from the memory in order of storage, recognize a position of a workpiece to be printed next, and perform printing processing with respect to the workpiece if the workpiece is conveyed to the printing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Takahiro OTA, Tomoyuki NAKATSUKA, Keita NAGATOSHI
  • Publication number: 20190283452
    Abstract: A mobile image forming apparatus includes a body, a recording device supported by the body and configured to form an image on a recording medium, a roller provided to the body and configured to rotate on the recording medium while the body is moved in a scanning direction for image formation. The mobile image forming apparatus further includes a switching device configured to switch a state of the mobile image forming apparatus during image formation between a roller contact state in which the roller is in contact with the recording medium and a roller contactless state in which the roller is contactless with the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikane NISHII, Hiroshi Ishii, Kunihiko Nishioka, Mitsutaka Nakamura, Akiyoshi Tanaka, Yasunari Harada
  • Publication number: 20190283453
    Abstract: A mobile image forming apparatus includes a body; a recording device supported by the body and configured to form an image on a recording medium, and at least one roller provided to the body and configured to rotate on the recording medium while the body is moved in a scanning direction for image formation. The mobile image forming apparatus further includes at least one pressing member disposed in contact with the at least one roller and configured to press the at least one roller in a roller axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikane Nishii, Hiroshi Ishii, Kunihiko Nishioka, Akiyoshi Tanaka, Yasunari Harada, Mitsutaka Nakamura