Patents Issued in July 6, 2021
  • Patent number: 11052640
    Abstract: A laminated glass pane having a sensor assembly is presented. According to one aspect, the laminated glass pane has a first and a second glass layer that are connected via a combination film, and the sensor assembly is at least partially situated between the first and the second glass layers. According to another aspect, the sensor assembly includes a receiver antenna for supplying electromagnetic power to the sensor assembly and a transmitter antenna for transmitting information of the sensor assembly to a receiver unit situated outside the laminated glass pane. The sensor assembly includes a sensor and an evaluation unit that evaluates information from the sensor for transmission by the transmitter antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Klaus Schmalbuch, Stefan Droste, Christian Effertz, Patrick Weber
  • Patent number: 11052641
    Abstract: A multi-layer card comprising a polymeric inlay layer having a first surface and a second surface, further comprising a first multi-layer film which is disposed on the first surface of the polymeric inlay layer, and further comprising a first polymeric overlay layer which is disposed on said first multi-layer film, such that the layer order is polymeric inlay layer, first multi-layer film and first polymeric overlay layer, wherein said first multi-layer film comprises: (i) a polyester base layer (B) comprising a crystallisable polyester (PB), and further comprising titanium dioxide in an amount of from about 1 to about 30 wt % by total weight of the base layer; (ii) a first heat-sealable copolyester layer (A1) disposed on a first surface of said polyester base layer; and (iii) optionally a second heat-sealable copolyester layer (A2) disposed on a second surface of said polyester base layer, wherein the copolyester (CPA) of each of the first and optional second heat-sealable copolyester layers is independently
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: DuPont Teijin Films U.S. Limited Partnership
    Inventors: William J. Brennan, Felicity Child
  • Patent number: 11052642
    Abstract: A gas barrier film has, in sequence, a support, an inorganic layer, and a resin film, the inorganic layer and the resin film being supported on the support. The resin film has a hydroxy group. The inorganic layer and the resin film are directly joined to each other with separate portions that are partially present at an interface between the inorganic layer and the resin film. The gas barrier film has one or more sets of a combination of the inorganic layer and the resin film. A method for producing the gas barrier film includes forming an inorganic layer by a gas-phase deposition method, subsequently laminating a resin film having a hydroxy group with the inorganic layer, and heating the resulting film laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Eijiro Iwase
  • Patent number: 11052643
    Abstract: Disclosed is an element for gripping an item of sports equipment, including a core made of composite material having a fibrous framework included in a polymer matrix. The gripping element has an external layer enveloping the core and having an interwoven textile material, separate from the framework, that is partially embedded in the matrix and emerges from the matrix onto an outer surface of the gripping element. Also disclosed is a handrail of a gymnastics apparatus and to an item of sports equipment having such a gripping element, as well as a method for manufacturing such a gripping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: GYMNOVA
    Inventor: Olivier Esteves
  • Patent number: 11052644
    Abstract: An electrical conductor includes: a first conductive layer including a plurality of ruthenium oxide nanosheets, wherein at least one ruthenium oxide nanosheet of the plurality of ruthenium oxide nanosheets includes a halogen, a chalcogen, a Group 15 element, or a combination thereof on a surface of the ruthenium oxide nanosheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sungwoo Hwang, Se Yun Kim, Jong Wook Roh, Woojin Lee, Jongmin Lee, Doh Won Jung, Chan Kwak
  • Patent number: 11052645
    Abstract: Provided is a thermoplastic resin film having at least one of film surfaces being excellent in printability, having sufficiently low internal haze, and exhibiting a favorable matte appearance. A thermoplastic resin film according to the present invention composed of a thermoplastic resin composition (C) including at least one kind of a thermoplastic resin (R) and fine particles (P) having a volume average particle diameter of 0.5 to 15 ?m and a refractive index different from that of the thermoplastic resin (R) by 0.02 or more. At least one of film surfaces satisfies formulas (1) and (2). GL?60??(1), GL?35?GH?GL?10??(2) (In the formulas (1) and (2), GL is 60° gloss (%) at 20° C., GH is 60° gloss (%) when the thermoplastic resin film is heated at a temperature 10° C. higher than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin composition (C) for 30 minutes, then cooled to 20° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Tsuji, Takao Hoshiba, Nariaki Fujii, Masaaki Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 11052646
    Abstract: In a lining material peeling method of peeling a lining material, which is fixedly formed on a surface of a base material, from the base material, a liquefied fluid which evaporates after injection is injected to a boundary between the base material and the lining material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Sadaki, Jun Maeno, Akito Yamasaki, Tomoko Ebata, Yuichi Takahama
  • Patent number: 11052647
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a three-dimensional (3D) printer, a neutral feedstock, a p-doped feedstock, an n-doped feedstock, and a laser. The 3D printer includes a platen and an enclosure. The platen includes an inert metal. The enclosure includes an inert atmosphere. The neutral feedstock is configured to be deposited onto the platen. The neutral feedstock includes a halogenated solution and a nanoparticle having a negative electron affinity. The p-doped feedstock is configured to be deposited onto the platen. The p-doped feedstock includes a boronated compound introduced to the neutral feedstock. The n-doped feedstock is configured to be deposited onto the platen. The n-doped feedstock includes a phosphorous compound introduced to the neutral feedstock. The laser is configured to induce the nanoparticle to emit solvated electrons into the halogenated solution to form, by reduction, layers of a ceramic comprising a neutral layer, a p-doped layer, and an n-doped layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: David Glen Findley
  • Patent number: 11052648
    Abstract: A printer is configured with an actuator to rotate a platen about an axis perpendicular to the surface of the platen and an encoder that generates angular data corresponding to the rotation of the platen. A controller operates the actuator to rotate the platen while monitoring the angular data generated by the encoder to ensure accurate rotation of the platen after each layer of an object is printed. By forming successive layers at different angles to one another, the structural integrity of the object is improved over previously known printed objects and the effects of defective ejectors are mitigated without having to substitute operational ejectors for the defective ejectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ferrara, Jr., Mark A. Atwood
  • Patent number: 11052649
    Abstract: A resin powder for solid freeform fabrication, having a melting point of 100 degrees C. or higher as measured according to ISO 3146 regulation and a ratio of melt mass-flow rate B to melt mass-flow rate A of greater than 0.80 to 1.20, wherein the melt mass-flow rate A and the melt mass-flow rate B are respectively measured at 15 degrees C. higher than the melting point under a load of 2.16 kg according to JIS K7210 format before and after the resin powder is maintained at a temperature 15 degrees C. lower than the melting point under a pressure of 0.1 kPa for four hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Saito, Shigenori Yaguchi, Yasuo Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Shinzo Higuchi, Hitoshi Iwatsuki
  • Patent number: 11052651
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile window apparatus and a hot foil stamping device including the apparatus. The mobile window apparatus comprises at least one first window portion, the first window portion movable in a first direction; at least one second window portion movable in a second direction different from the first direction; and an actuating means configured to move the first window and the second window, respectively; wherein said actuating means moves said first window portion and said second window portion between a closed position and an open position, in said open position, said first window portion and said second window portion being spaced apart from each other to form an access opening, and in said closed position, the first window portion and the second window portion are close to each other so as to substantially shield the access opening and to keep a gap between the first window portion and the second window portion for passing through a sheet material for processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Bobst (Shanghai) Ltd.
    Inventor: Roy Yan
  • Patent number: 11052652
    Abstract: The invention is about a valve system to grip a sleeve over a mandrel in a press, in particular on how the gripper is brought toward and away from the mandrel and sleeve assembly. The gripper is disengaged from the sleeve, following first a straight path and then a helicoidal path, thanks to an ad-hoc slot machined on an axle. This allows to disengage the gripper and set it out of the way for handling the sleeve, with a single motor and a single instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: BOBST BIELEFELD GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Boje, Lorenz Landenberger
  • Patent number: 11052653
    Abstract: A system for processing water washable flexo photopolymer printing plates, the system comprises a washing line including one or more brushes and a surface essentially facing said brushes, and a guiding means adapted to guide a water washable photopolymer printing plate through the washing line by pulling it from a vicinity of a downstream edge thereof and automatically dragging such water washable photopolymer printing plate on said surface. Said brushes are adapted to contact onto a side of such water washable photopolymer printing plate in a washing direction from the downstream edge towards an upstream edge thereof. The system further comprises one or more attachments adapted to be annexed to the vicinity of the upstream edge of a water washable photopolymer printing plate, the attachments being further adapted to exert friction onto the surface, said friction being greater than that between such water washable photopolymer printing plate and said surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: MEGA ELEKTROMEKANIK MAKiNA IMALAT ITHALAT IHRACAT SANAYI VE TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI
    Inventor: Erhan Sari
  • Patent number: 11052654
    Abstract: A droplet jetting apparatus includes: a nozzle that ejects a jet of liquid droplets; a detector that detects a hand or an object in a flight path of liquid droplets from the nozzle; a pump including a suction portion for suction of liquid, and a discharge portion which is connected to the nozzle and discharges the liquid which has been sucked into the suction portion; a driver which by rotation of a cam, sucks liquid into the pump and discharges the liquid in a compressed state; and controller which actuates the driver. When the detector detects the hand or object, the controller actuates the pump by rotation of the cam, and ejects a jet of liquid in droplet form from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignees: Watanabe Mfg. Co., Ltd., Risetec Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Watanabe, Yasuo Watanabe, Susumu Shoji
  • Patent number: 11052655
    Abstract: A die controller to control a fluidic die having a plurality of primitives each including a plurality of nozzles addressed by a same set of addresses. The die controller provides operational data including a series of actuation data groups to the fluidic die to actuate the nozzles to eject fluid to form an article, each actuation data group including a series of fire pulse groups, with each fire pulse group corresponding to a different address of the set of addresses and including a set of actuation data for each primitive and a set of start bits to initiate actuation of the nozzles based on the actuation data of the immediately preceding fire pulse group. The die controller to provide a blank fire pulse group immediately following a last fire pulse group of the series of fire pulse groups of each actuation data group when operating in an edge sharpness mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric Martin, James Gardner, Jordi Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11052656
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a fluidic die is described. The fluidic die includes an array of fluid actuators grouped into primitives. The fluidic die also includes a fluid actuator controller to selectively activate fluid actuators via activation data. The fluidic die also includes an array of actuator evaluators, wherein each actuator evaluator of the fluidic die is coupled to a subset of the array of fluid actuators. The actuator evaluators selectively evaluate an actuator characteristic of a selected fluid actuator based on: an output of an actuator sensor paired with the selected fluid actuator, the activation data, and an evaluation control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daryl E Anderson, Eric Martin, James Michael Gardner
  • Patent number: 11052657
    Abstract: Provided is a droplet discharging device that can efficiently couple a droplet discharging head and a head driving circuit by a cable. A droplet discharging device includes a droplet discharging head, a head driving circuit configured to drive the droplet discharging head, a carriage configured to move while supporting the droplet discharging head and the head driving circuit, and a cable configured to electrically couple a head connector of the droplet discharging head and a circuit connector of the head driving circuit, the cable being detachably coupled to the head connector and to the circuit connector. The droplet discharging head and the head driving circuit are disposed such that the head connector and the head driving circuit do not overlap in a direction of pull-out of the cable from the head connector and the circuit connector and the droplet discharging head do not overlap in a direction of pull-out of the cable from the circuit connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Yoshimura, Katsuya Asamoto
  • Patent number: 11052658
    Abstract: A head module includes a pressure chamber, a piezoelectric member, a supply manifold, a return manifold, and a damper portion. The pressure chamber is configured to hold liquid therein and in fluid communication with a nozzle orifice. The piezoelectric member is configured to apply pressure to liquid held in the pressure chamber. The supply manifold is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber and configured to allow liquid to flow into the pressure chamber therefrom. The return manifold is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber and configured to allow liquid not ejected from the nozzle orifice to flow thereinto. The damper portion is positioned between the supply manifold and the return manifold when viewed in plan from a nozzle surface of the head module. The nozzle surface has the nozzle orifice defined therein. The damper portion includes a particular plate having a particular recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Hirai, Shohei Koide, Keita Sugiura, Hiroshi Katayama
  • Patent number: 11052659
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a discharging member including a plurality of individual electrodes arranged side by side in a first direction, a plurality of individual channels arranged side by side in the first direction, a plurality of nozzles arranged side by side in the first direction, a common channel communicating with the plurality of individual channels, and an opening communicating with the common channel; and a heating member at least a part of which makes contact with the discharging member. An individual electrode, included in the plurality of individual electrodes and located at an end in the first direction, and the opening are apart from each other in the first direction. At least the part of the heating member is a part making contact with the discharging member, at a location between the opening and the individual electrode located at the end in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Nishii
  • Patent number: 11052660
    Abstract: A liquid absorber includes a liquid absorption member and a case. The liquid absorption member absorbs liquid. The liquid absorption member includes materials that include a fiber and a liquid-absorbent resin. The liquid absorption member is stored in the case. The case has an opening portion. The materials of the liquid absorption member are bonded together in at least a portion of a surface of the liquid absorption member. The surface is a surface adjacent to the opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakazawa, Shogo Nakada, Yoichi Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 11052661
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle that is disposed on a nozzle surface, a first wiping portion which is able to wipe away the liquid that is adhered to the nozzle surface, and a second wiping portion which is able to hold the liquid that is adhered to the nozzle surface by contacting the nozzle surface, wherein it is possible to perform a first maintenance operation in which the nozzle surface is wiped using the first wiping portion and a second maintenance operation in which the second wiping portion is caused to contact the nozzle surface due to the second wiping portion being biased by the first wiping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigenori Nakagawa, Keiji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11052662
    Abstract: Inkjet printhead cleaning methods and systems control an articulation structure (that is connected to a wiper blade) to move the wiper blade to contact an inkjet printhead to wipe the inkjet printhead. These methods/systems further control the articulation structure to move the wiper blade to contact a blade cleaning structure to clean the wiper blade. The blade cleaning structure comprises a fluid manifold and bundles of fibers mounted in brush openings of the fluid manifold, and cleaning fluid is in the fluid manifold. The mounting ends of the bundles of fibers are mounted in the brush openings of the fluid manifold and the cleaning ends of the bundles of fibers are positioned to contact the wiper blade. The blade cleaning structure is positioned so as to gravity feed the cleaning fluid from the mounting ends of the fibers to the cleaning ends of the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Ficarra, Victoria L. Warner, Richard A. Kalb, Douglas A. Gutberlet
  • Patent number: 11052663
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a transport belt that transports a medium by attracting the medium onto an outer peripheral surface of the transport belt and circulating, a recording portion that performs recording on the medium transported by the transport belt, a cleaning portion that cleans the outer peripheral surface, and a controller that controls a driving of components. The controller perform a cleaning operation that cleans the outer peripheral surface by moving both the cleaning portion and the transport belt in a state in which the cleaning portion is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transport belt, and a dew condensation suppressing operation that increases a temperature of the outer peripheral surface by stopping the cleaning portion and moving the transport belt in a state in which the cleaning portion is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transport belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Muromachi, Takamasa Ikagawa
  • Patent number: 11052664
    Abstract: A liquid absorbing device includes: a liquid absorber containing fibers and an anionic absorbent resin designed to absorb a liquid; a container having a feed port to which the liquid is supplied, a storage section that is connected with the feed port and that stores the liquid absorber, an inflow section configured such that part of the liquid flows into when the liquid is supplied to the storage section, and a communicating portion that connects the storage section with the inflow section; and a detection unit that is provided in the inflow section and that is configured to detect a surface of the liquid in the inflow section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 11052665
    Abstract: A liquid discharging head, having a plurality of individual flow paths, a common flow path, a damper, a heater pattern, a heat source, and a connecting pattern, is provided. The individual flow paths are arrayed in a first direction. The common flow path extends in the first direction throughout the individual flow paths and is connected with the individual flow paths. The damper extends in the first direction throughout the individual flow paths. A part of the damper forms an inner face that defines an end of the common flow path in a second direction. The heater pattern is provided to the damper. The connecting pattern connects the heater pattern with the heat source. In a range, in which in the first direction the individual flow paths are arranged, the heater pattern extends in the first direction without inclining with respect to the first direction at 45 degrees or larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taisuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11052666
    Abstract: In an example, a printhead carriage to be used in a printing system is disclosed herewith wherein the carriage includes a pocket defined by a first wall and a second wall opposite to the first wall; a set of electrical connectors provided on the first wall; and a mechanical protector. In an example, the mechanical protector may be a sheet with a determined length that extends from the first wall into the pocket and a width that extends along the width of the first wall over the electrical connectors. In an example, the mechanical protector includes an elastic member biased towards the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jose Antonio Alvarez, Jonathan de la Rubia, Diego Lopez Ubieto
  • Patent number: 11052667
    Abstract: A gas-absorbing apparatus disposed in a liquid housing that has a supply port portion for supplying the liquid to an external, includes a space retaining member that forms an internal space of the gas-absorbing apparatus, and a gas-permeable film that partitions off an inside of the internal space from an outside in a state where the internal space is depressurized to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, the gas-absorbing apparatus being separate from the supply port portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Karasawa, Kazuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 11052668
    Abstract: The liquid container includes a housing member including an external circumferential wall surrounding a liquid storing chamber, an opening surrounded by an end portion of the external circumferential wall, and a closing wall opposing the liquid storing chamber at a position deep inside with respect to the opening, an external edge portion of the closing wall coupled to an end portion of the external circumferential wall, in which the liquid outlet portion is provided in the external circumferential wall; a valve provided in the liquid outlet portion, the valve being opened by having both a first pipe through which atmospheric air flows and a second pipe through which the liquid flows inserted therein when the liquid is made to flow out from the liquid storing chamber; a flexible wall sealing the opening portion; and an inner wall that extends from the closing wall towards an opening portion side in an area surrounded by the external circumferential wall and that is in contact with the flexible wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seigo Miyazawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Taku Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 11052669
    Abstract: In one example, an article for a replaceable printer component includes an integrated circuit device having a device controller, a conductor to supply power to the device controller and to carry a signal to and from the device controller, and a sensor operatively connected to the device controller to sense a voltage and/or a frequency on the conductor. The device controller to send an indication of a sensed voltage and/or a sensed frequency to the printer controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Jeran, Bartley Mark Hirst, Jefferson P Ward, Dee Chou
  • Patent number: 11052670
    Abstract: A liquid circulation device includes a circulation path, a liquid feeding device, and circuitry. The circulation path is configured to circulate a liquid to be supplied to a liquid discharge head of a circulatory type and collected from the liquid discharge head. The liquid feeding device is configured to feed the liquid to circulate the liquid in the circulation path. The circuitry is configured to control an amount of the liquid to be fed by the liquid feeding device, on a basis of discharge information about the liquid to be discharged from the liquid discharge head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Mori
  • Patent number: 11052671
    Abstract: For a multi-pass printing, an image of a unit area is printed by M printing scans of M print regions of first and second nozzle arrays. Each of N pieces of column data is printed by a different printing scan. Ejection data for the first nozzle array is generated using a first mask pattern and ejection data for the second nozzle array is generated using a second mask pattern different from the first mask pattern, for each of the N pieces of column data. On that basis, the first mask pattern and the second mask pattern have a complementary relationship in each of the M print regions. Further, in each of the first mask pattern and the second mask pattern, a combination of print regions, of the M print regions, for printing dots at the same position on the print medium has a mutually complementary relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawafuji
  • Patent number: 11052672
    Abstract: A printing system includes: a printing device including a thermal head, a supplier, a winder and a ribbon transport mechanism; a moving mechanism moving the printing device in a width direction of an ink ribbon; and a controller configured to: move the printing device in the width direction; when the printing device is moved for printing of a second row, rewind the ink ribbon; store the longest length of use of the ink ribbon by the printing in a first column of the ink ribbon; when printing with the thermal head proceeds to a second column, determine a transport amount of the ink ribbon based on the stored length; and after the first column of the ink ribbon is used by the printing, transport the ink ribbon based on the determined transport amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Fujita
  • Patent number: 11052673
    Abstract: A printing system includes: a printing device including a thermal head, a supplier, a winder, and a ribbon transport mechanism; and a controller configured to: transport an ink ribbon in a first direction from the supplier to the winder and heat the ink ribbon to perform printing; rewind the ink ribbon subjected to the printing in a second direction opposite to the first direction; after again receiving a print command, rewind the ink ribbon in the second direction by a first length corresponding to a length required to reach a printable speed; after the rewindings, store a second length corresponding to a length of the ink ribbon subjected to the printing upstream of the thermal head in the first direction; and feed the ink ribbon in the first direction by the stored second length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Fujita
  • Patent number: 11052674
    Abstract: To reduce an influence of a flow of ambient atmosphere and the like on flying of a droplet ejected from a nozzle of an inkjet head. To exhaust vapor of a solvent contained in a coated film while reducing an influence on flying of the droplet. An exhaust device for inkjet coating includes: a cover that covers at least a target range on an object to be coated, the target range being a range in which a droplet lands that is ejected from an ejection nozzle of an inkjet head to a surface of the object to be coated; a closing member that closes a gap between the cover and the object to be coated around the target range; an external communication portion through which a compartment surrounded by the cover, the object to be coated, and the closing member communicates with an outside; and an exhaust mechanism configured to exhaust air from the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshikatsu Nohara, Masaki Kimura, Kosuke Ikeda, Yoshinao Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11052675
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer including a controller. The controller performs a width acquisition process, a width determination process, a first printing determination process, and a first print formation process. In the width acquisition process, a first width direction dimension of the print-receiving tape is acquired. In the width determination process, a magnitude relation between the first width direction dimension and a second width direction dimension correlated with a template. In the first printing determination process, it is determined whether or not printing using N or less of the extraction print zones is performable, in the case that the first width direction dimension is smaller than the second width direction dimension. In the first print formation process, the printing head and the feeder form a print using a print object arranged in the extraction print zone in the case that the printing using the extraction print zones is performable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keigo Kako, Koichi Kondo
  • Patent number: 11052676
    Abstract: A printing device 1 includes a platen roller 7 which feeds a thermal tape 42, a thermal head 8 which performs printing on the thermal tape 42, and a control circuit 12. The control circuit 12 rotates the platen roller 7 backward to feed the thermal tape 42 backward in order to make a printing start area PT of the thermal tape 42 reach a backward feed position more away from an outlet 2b than a normal position NP of the thermal head 8. After that, the control circuit 12 rotates the platen roller 7 forward to perform printing using the thermal head 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeo Ozawa
  • Patent number: 11052677
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique that improves material efficiency in generating garments and textiles that include graphics. A given product is sorted into cut patterns used to assemble the product. Graphics are digitally applied to each cut pattern in order to generate abstract cut patterns including aligned graphics. Blank cut patterns are nested across a virtual sheet of fabric in a 2D space without any consideration to the graphics. The nested cut patterns implement the abstract cut patterns that include graphics. The graphics are aligned to the positions of the cut patterns according to the nesting scheme. Print instructions including nested cut patterns with aligned graphics are delivered to a printer that executes the print job. The cut patterns are cut away from the fabric sheet including graphic designs that are aligned with the cut patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.
    Inventor: Ghilad Dziesietnik
  • Patent number: 11052678
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a dryer configured to attenuate cockle in the substrates under the heater of the dryer and reduce ink transfer from ink images during duplex printing without adversely affecting the cooling of the substrates exiting the dryer. The dryer has at least two plenums with at least one plenum opposite a heater and at least one plenum opposite an air vent. A platen covers the plenum opposite the air vent and the platen has a plurality of protuberances arranged in a non-linear arrangement so the protuberances contact substrates being carried by a plurality of endless belts over the plenum to prevent the substrates from contacting a surface of the platen. Another platen covers the plenum opposite the heater and this platen has non-linear members on its surface to support the substrates and reduce cockle while the ink is dried by the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John Baker, Paul J. McConville, Linn C. Hoover, David S. Derleth, Michael J. Linder
  • Patent number: 11052679
    Abstract: An apparatus for discharging liquid includes a rotary member, a liquid applier, a conveyance belt, a first heater, and a second heater. The rotary member is configured to convey a sheet material. The liquid applier is configured to apply liquid to the sheet material conveyed by the rotary member. The conveyance belt is configured to convey the sheet material fed from the rotary member. The first heater is configured to heat the sheet material between the rotary member and the conveyance belt. The second heater is configured to heat the sheet material conveyed by the conveyance belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Masato Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11052680
    Abstract: A printing apparatus including: a printing apparatus main body, a main body of a cutter unit, an attachment position thereof with respect to the printing apparatus main body being changeable, a fixed blade, a movable blade configured to mesh with the fixed blade to cut a printing medium, and a pickup sensor configured to detect a printing medium, in which the movable blade and the pickup sensor are supported on the main body, and with a change of an attachment position of the cutter support, an amount of a remaining portion of the printing medium after being cut by the movable blade changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Tokuda
  • Patent number: 11052681
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes: a conveyance unit configured to convey a printing medium in a conveyance direction; a print head configured to print an image on the printing medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; and a slitter disposed on a downstream relative to the print head in the conveyance direction and configured to cut the printing medium in the conveyance direction in accordance with the conveyance by the conveyance unit, wherein the slitter is configured to cut the printing medium from a leading edge of the printing medium up to a predetermined position in accordance with the conveyance of the printing medium by the conveyance unit, and wherein the print head is configured to print the image in between the leading edge of the printing medium and the predetermined position in the conveyance direction after the printing medium is cut by the slitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Yamaguchi, Daigo Kuronuma, Ryutaro Takahashi, Naoaki Wada, Tomohito Abe, Noriyuki Aoki, Ryohei Maruyama, Masakazu Nagashima
  • Patent number: 11052682
    Abstract: Devices and methods for identifying categories or types of print media in image forming apparatuses are disclosed. In an example method print media are advanced in a feeding direction to reach a cutting position, a cutter is advanced in a cutting direction, perpendicular to the feeding direction to cut the print media, friction between the cutter and the print medium is measured, and the print media are identified based on the measured friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Francisco Javier Roses Conesa, Jorge Solanas Lerida
  • Patent number: 11052683
    Abstract: A single nip de-skew, lateral registration, and process direction registration device removes skew, laterally registers, and registers in the process direction substrates moving along a media transport path. The single nip de-skew, lateral registration, and process direction registration device includes a fixed roller that is longer than a rotating wheel that forms a nip with the fixed roller. The wheel has a coefficient of friction that is higher than a coefficient of friction of the roller so an actuator translating the wheel along the fixed roller laterally registers and de-skews substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Fromm, Erwin Ruiz, Frank B. TamarezGomez, Rachel Bierasinski
  • Patent number: 11052684
    Abstract: A media registration system includes a puller clamp, and a puller track to support the puller clamp. The puller track is to open and close the puller clamp with movement of the puller clamp along the puller track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce G Johnson, Elliott Downing, Steve O Rasmussen, Al Olson
  • Patent number: 11052685
    Abstract: A tape cassette includes a box-like housing, a tape mounted within the housing, a hole and a first indicator portion. The housing includes a top wall having a top surface, a bottom wall having a bottom surface and opposing the top wall, and a front wall having a specified height and being formed along peripheries of the top wall and the bottom wall. The hole is provided in the front wall. The first indicator portion includes at least one first aperture and indicates a first element among a plurality of elements of a type of the tape. The first indicator portion is provided in a portion, spaced from the front wall, of the bottom wall. The hole and the one first aperture is located to intersect a virtual line orthogonal to the front wall when viewing along a vertical direction orthogonal to the top wall and the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Akira Sago, Takashi Horiuchi, Yasuhiro Iriyama, Yasuhiro Shibata, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Masato Kato, Teruo Imamaki
  • Patent number: 11052686
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to discharge droplets onto a web to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes a conveyor, a web position detector, and control circuitry. The conveyor is configured to convey the web while applying a tension to the web. The web position detector is configured to detect a position of the web during conveyance. The control circuitry is configured to adjust landing positions of the droplets onto the web in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction in accordance with the position of the web detected by the web position detector and control the tension applied to the web by the conveyor. The web position detector is configured to detect the position of the web in a cycle that is at least twice a tension control cycle in which the control circuitry controls a magnitude of the tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11052687
    Abstract: An object printer is configured to generate a three-dimensional map of a surface of an object to be printed and determine which areas in the three-dimensional map can be printed by a printhead movable in three-dimensional space. Areas can be printed when the printhead is positioned opposite an area where no inkjet in the printhead is closer than a minimum distance for accurate ink drop placement and all of the features in the area are within a maximum distance for accurate ink drop placement from the printhead. The areas that cannot be printed are deleted from the map and the map is displayed so a user can select where an ink image is to be formed on the object. The printer then operates an articulated arm to move the printhead opposite the surface at positions corresponding the selected area and operates the printhead to form the ink image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Marc D. Daniels, Husein Naser Rashed, Jonathan R. Ireland
  • Patent number: 11052688
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording section that performs a recording operation on a medium; a housing that contains the recording section; a storage section that stores the medium; and a reading unit disposed in an upper portion of the housing. The reading unit includes: a reading section that reads an original sheet; a guide member that guides the original sheet; and an aperture through which the original sheet that has been read by the reading section passes. By being rotated relative to the housing, the guide member is switched between a first position in which the aperture is exposed and the original sheet is to be guided and a second position in which the aperture is covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keisuke Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11052689
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a rotary drum that is provided with a cylindrical body, a rotary shaft, and arm portions, an ejecting unit, a first cooling fan that uses a section formed in the circumferential direction between the arm portions as a passageway of air and that supplies the air, and a first air guide member that is retrofitted to the passageway of the air. The first air guide member is provided with a number a of first guides, a being an integer of 2 or more. The number a of the first guides are configured to guide the air from the first cooling fan to regions that are different positions of the inner surface of the cylindrical body and that are obtained by dividing up the inner surface of the cylindrical body by the number a in the direction along the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Asawa
  • Patent number: 11052690
    Abstract: A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rolf Silbert, Robert J. Rosati, David Buse, Olev Tammer, Matthias Merten