Housing Patents (Class 347/108)
  • Publication number: 20110001786
    Abstract: An inkjet printing device printhead assembly includes a housing. The housing has a surface. A well is defined within the surface of the housing and is adapted to disposal of a printhead die therewithin. The surface of the housing has one or more grooves. The grooves have ends. Some of the ends are adjacent to the wall. The grooves externally expose the printhead die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: John Doran, Joseph R. Elliot
  • Patent number: 7857536
    Abstract: A printer includes a housing. The housing surrounds a frame and defines a first set of locking formations. A print engine is housed within the housing. The print engine includes a pair of opposed print head assemblies for enabling double-sided printing to be effected upon print media passing there-between. A roller assembly is mounted within the housing. The roller assembly includes a drive roller and a driven roller to transport the print media between the opposed print head assemblies. A second set of locking formations extends from the housing and is configured to engage with the first set of locking formations of another printer so that the printers can be locked together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7845792
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet guide that guides a sheet carried by a carrier mechanism in a first casing, a second casing that is mounted rotatably via a support shaft on the first casing and that is opened and closed about the support shaft, and a recording head that is provided in this second casing and that ejects ink to the sheet guided by the sheet guide while moving along a moving path orthogonal to a direction of carrying the sheet and thus records an image thereon, and that, after the end of this recording operation, moves to a standby position on one end side of the moving path and waits there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Hiroki, Satoshi Kaiho
  • Patent number: 7845789
    Abstract: The invention relates to a print engine for a compact recess-mountable pagewidth printer. The printer includes a paper tray inside a housing. The print engine includes a chassis mountable within the housing next to the paper tray to define a media path co-planar with sheets of media within said paper tray. The print engine also includes a transfer roller protruding from the chassis and configured to contact the sheets of media as they are moved along the media path. A media moving mechanism moves a sheet of media through the media path. A printhead assembly having a micro-electromechanical inkjet printhead is mounted within the chassis and is configured to transfer print onto the transfer roller. The printhead assembly has a wiper and sponge arrangement for cleaning print from the transfer roller during rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7837308
    Abstract: A protector for an ink cartridge container including a containing case body, an ink inlet for a recording head, a cartridge containing part into which an ink cartridge is removably insertable, and a door body capable of opening and closing an opening opposed to the ink inlet with the cartridge containing part sandwiched therebetween, the protector includes a protective cap unit including: a main body; a supporting rod protruded toward the ink inlet from the main body; a guiding funnel formed at a front edge of the supporting rod; and an elastic cap provided at an inner diametrical portion of the guiding funnel and capable of coming into close contact with the ink inlet, wherein the main body, the guiding funnel and the elastic cap has a symmetrical shape with respect to an axis of the ink inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Yano
  • Patent number: 7832827
    Abstract: An inkjet head has a flow path unit having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The flow path unit ejects ink in an ink ejection direction. The flow path unit has wall plates positioned on the second surface, extending away from the flow path unit. The inkjet head has a cover contacting at least one of the wall plates. The cover covers a portion of the second surface, and the cover has sidewalls. A first portion of at least one of the sidewalls contacts a first portion of corresponding wall plates, and a second portion of at least one of the sidewalls and a second portion of the corresponding wall plates defines a gap between them. The inkjet head has a seal positioned in the gap, and the seal prevents fluid from entering the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taira
  • Patent number: 7825944
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a main body for recording on a recording medium, a protective cover which has an opening, for covering the main body with a portion other than the opening of the protective cover, and a waterproof cover which is connected to the protective cover via first and second connecting portions. When the first and second connecting portions are respectively in connected states, the waterproof cover is positioned so that the waterproof cover is opposed to the opening of the protective cover, and there is a gap for passing the recording medium between the protective cover and the waterproof cover. When the first connecting portion is in the connected state and the second connecting portion is in a disconnected state, the waterproof cover is moved to a position so that a part of the main body can be exposed to an outside through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Kaiya
  • Patent number: 7819521
    Abstract: A hand-held modular printer system for printing a stored image. The printer system includes a memory module in which the image is stored; a printer module releasably interconnected with the memory module; and a print media dispenser module defining a print media outlet at one end thereof. The printer module has an elongate body defining an entry slot along one longitudinal side thereof and an exit slot along an opposite longitudinal side thereof. The printer module further includes a print media passage extending transversely through the elongate body, and a printer arranged across the print media passage. The print media dispenser is adapted to be releasably interconnected with the printer module along a longitudinal side thereof so that the print media outlet is in register with the entry slot, the dispenser module being configured to store a stack of sheets of print media and including a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a sheet of print media through the outlet and into the passage for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 7819520
    Abstract: A printer is provided with a first storage capable of storing a print medium, and a second storage capable of storing a print medium. The first and second storage are aligned along a first direction in a plan view of the printer. The printer is provided with a first transferring device that transfers the print medium stored in the first storage to the second storage. The printer is provided with a printing device. The second storage and the printing device are aligned in a second direction in the plan view of the printer, and the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The printer is provided with a feeding device that feeds the print medium stored in the second storage to the printing device. The printing device prints on the print medium fed from the second storage by the feeding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 7815304
    Abstract: A paper stacking unit and an image forming apparatus having the same, the paper stacking unit including: a base frame supporting a print media, a cover pivotally connected to the base frame and supporting the print media together with the base frame, and a plate connected to the cover for auxiliarily supporting the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-sun Ahn
  • Patent number: 7794079
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for a printhead assembly is described that can allow dynamic nozzle and drop placement adjustment in one or more directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Von Essen, John A. Higginson, Andreas Bibl, Deane A. Gardner, Micheal Rocchio, Stephen R. Deming, Daniel Alan West
  • Publication number: 20100225701
    Abstract: A printer unit is provided comprising a print engine for printing on print media, a print media supply for supplying print media to the print engine and a body arranged to house the print engine and to be mountable to a substantially vertical surface so as to suspend the printer unit. The print engine and print media supply are contained in the body so as to be substantially hidden. Such a wall mountable printer is capable of blending into the design of a home or a work space within office environment whilst providing high-speed, e.g., more than 30 pages per minute, and high-quality, e.g., images of about 1200 dots per inch or more, printing capabilities and ease of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20100225724
    Abstract: A printing unit includes a support structure having a body portion with a tray positioned at one end of the body portion and a power and data connector positioned at an opposite end of the body portion; a media supply cartridge located between the connector and the tray, the media supply cartridge storing a stack of print media; a feed arrangement including a primary feed roller on an in-feed side of the tray for feeding a sheet of print media from the stack of print media towards the tray, and a secondary feed roller on an out-feed side of the tray for feeding the sheet of print media out of the tray; and a print head assembly mounted on the tray, the print head assembly for printing on the sheet of print media fed by the feed arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20100225726
    Abstract: A printer accessory module for coupling to a printer to increase its printing capacity. The printer accessory module includes an auxiliary media module for storing and supplying printer media; and an auxiliary ink supply station for storing and supplying ink to the printer. The auxiliary ink supply station is connected to the printer by a ink delivery conduit system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Kok Weng Chan, Tong Nam Samuel Low, Chiok Liang Tay, Chuan Sing Beh
  • Publication number: 20100220126
    Abstract: A printer having a substantially vertical form factor includes a base for supporting the printer; a substantially vertically extending body extending from the base; a print engine for printing an image onto print media, the print engine supported at a top of the substantially vertically extending body and overhanging a front surface of the substantially vertically extending body; a source tray assembly for holding a supply of print media, the source tray assembly provided against a back surface of the substantially vertically extending body; and a media collector arranged beneath the overhanging print engine, the media collector having a media collection surface defined from the front surface of the substantially vertically extending body, and one or more guide ribs provided on the media collection surface each terminating in a foot portion projecting from the front surface to catch sheets falling from an outlet of the overhanging print engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Tobin Allen King, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7784933
    Abstract: An improved handheld printer includes projectors to project images of the various page content that remains to be printed on the page. By providing this visual indication of locations of the page that remain to be printed, the projectors assist the user in achieving full coverage of the page when moving the handheld printer across the page. The projectors emit a narrow beam of light that can be rapidly scanned, with the assistance of micromirror-based optics, over points composing an area on the page to create a visual image to guide the user along the page. The projectors can be used to project an actual image of the page content to be printed. Alternatively, the projectors can project signals or other meaningful information onto the page that provide instructions to the user or point the user towards void areas that have been missed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Lee Noe, William Henry Reed
  • Publication number: 20100214386
    Abstract: A print engine for in an inkjet printer includes a chassis; a print cartridge mounted to the chassis, the print cartridge including a wound length of print media and defining therewithin a plurality of ink reservoirs; a first motor assembly mounted to the chassis, the first motor assembly driving a roller of the print cartridge to transport the print media; a printhead assembly engaged with the print cartridge, the printhead assembly ejecting ink from the reservoirs onto the transported print media; a cutter assembly for cutting a printed length of print media from the remaining wound length; a second motor assembly mounted to the chassis, the second motor assembly driving the cutter assembly; and a capping mechanism displaceable towards and away from the printhead by a displacement mechanism, the capping mechanism including a carrier having an elongate rib positioned to abut with the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7780288
    Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device comprising: a printhead for printing on a media substrate; a drive shaft for feeding the media substrate past the printhead; a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead; and, an ink reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead, the reservoir having: a housing defining an ink storage volume; one or more baffles dividing the ink storage volume into sections, each of the sections having at least one ink outlet for sealed connection to the printhead; and at least one conduit establishing fluid communication between the ink outlets of adjacent sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7778572
    Abstract: An opening and closing assembly includes: (a) a first casing body; (b) a second casing body pivotable to be selectively placed in open and closed positions relative to the first casing body; and (c) a support stand for supporting the second casing body to maintain the open position. The support stand includes (c-1) a proximal end portion pivotably connected to one of the first and second casing bodies and (c-2) a distal end portion slidably connected to the other of the first and second casing bodies. The other of the first and second casing bodies includes (i) a guide portion for guiding the distal end portion of the support stand, and (ii) first and second wall portions cooperating with each other for gripping the distal end portion of the support stand. The distal end portion of the support stand includes a gripped portion having a thickness that is increased in a direction away from the distal end portion of the support stand toward the proximal end portion of the support stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shota Iijima
  • Patent number: 7775646
    Abstract: A liquid jet recording apparatus including a recording head configured to record with droplets, a carriage supporting the recording head and configured to scan a recording medium with the recording head in a direction crossing a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, the carriage being movable to a maintenance position, a holder provided in one of the recording head and the carriage, a recording liquid cartridge adapted to contain liquid for recording, the recording liquid cartridge being attachable to and detachable from the holder, and a guiding unit adapted to guide at least two different sides of the recording liquid cartridge, with respect to the carriage that moves to the maintenance position, to the inner wall surface in a vertical direction when the carriage moves and stops the recording liquid cartridge at the maintenance position where the recording liquid cartridge can be attached to or detached from the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukuo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7768798
    Abstract: A component accommodating case for accommodating an electronic component that is connected to a wire includes a cutout portion that passes the wire therethrough, an external case that covers at least a surface where the cutout portion is disposed, and a plate member that covers the cutout portion and that is mounted to the external case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Munetoyo Aono, Naoyuki Fujimori
  • Patent number: 7766476
    Abstract: A photographic printing device includes an ink-jet printer with recording paper magazine. The recording paper magazine includes a housing and a humectant. The housing is configured to receive a recording paper. The humectant is provided in order to moisturize the inside of the housing of the magazine. The humectant is preferably placed at an upper portion of the magazine in order to allow efficient moisture transfer by way of natural convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Omori, Eiji Motooka
  • Patent number: 7766468
    Abstract: A print media and printing fluid cartridge is provided which is removably mounted to a support structure of a digital photofinishing system in juxtaposition with a printer mounted to the support structure together with a digital processor and print media drive mechanism for the printer. The cartridge has a roll of print media, a print media delivery arrangement arranged to couple with the print media drive mechanism so as to feed the print media from the roll to the printer on demand, and at least one removable printing fluid first cartridge for feeding printing fluid to the printer on demand. A slitting device is located in series with the printer so as to receive printed media therefrom. The slitting device has a printed media guide for transporting the printed media in a longitudinal direction away from the printer, and a slitter for slitting the printed media in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7764406
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet discharge unit, a reading unit disposed above the sheet discharge unit, an operating panel, and an opening portion formed between the reading unit and the sheet mount unit such that the sheet can be taken out from the front side of the apparatus. The operating panel extends to the front side of the apparatus in the reading unit so that the tip thereof is located at the same position as the front end portion side of the sheet mount unit or projects from the front end portion side. There is provided an area where the projection amount from the reading unit is set to be smaller than the maximum projection amount of the operating panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumikazu Sato
  • Patent number: 7758182
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes a main unit, a first door, and a second door. The main unit includes an image forming mechanism to form an image and a replaceable component to be ordinarily replaced by a user. The first door is arranged at a first part of a front side of the main unit. The first door is openable and closable. The second door is arranged at a second part of the front side of the main unit to vertically divide the front side of the main unit such that the first door and the second door do not overlap in a vertical direction. The second door is difficult to attach and detach to and from the main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Yonekawa
  • Patent number: 7758181
    Abstract: A print engine assembly includes an elongate chassis. The chassis defines a print media exit slot. An elongate printhead assembly is mounted relative to the chassis and is configured to eject ink onto print media. A paper feed mechanism is configured to transport the print media in register with the printhead assembly and out through the exit slot. The paper feed mechanism includes a pair of bearing moldings received within and mounted to opposite ends of the chassis. The paper feed mechanism further includes at least one roller mounted between the bearing moldings and a motor mounted to one of said bearing moldings to drive said at least one roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7758183
    Abstract: An automatic image processing apparatus includes a sheet feeding device and an image processing device. The sheet feeding device supports a plurality of sheets and feeds the sheets one by one. The image processing device receives the sheets coming from the sheet feeding device one by one, and feeds and processes the sheets one by one. The sheet feeding device is removably connected to the image processing device, and receives mechanical power from the image processing device and thus feeds the sheets one by one. The sheet feeding device for the automatic image processing apparatus is also disclosed. The mechanical power for feeding the sheets is disconnected from the sheet feeding device when the sheet feeding device is removed from the image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Jung Tu
  • Patent number: 7753500
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an engine unit formed by unitizing an engine part configured to scan a carriage having a recording head jetting a liquid drop of recording liquid in a main scanning direction and conveying a recording medium in a sub-scanning direction, so that an image is formed, and a keeping and recovering mechanism configured to keep an operating state of the recording head forming the engine unit, the keeping and recovering mechanism being provided at a rear side of an apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Nishida
  • Patent number: 7753503
    Abstract: A print engine includes a print roll cartridge. The print roll cartridge includes a former, in turn, defining ink reservoirs for storing respective types of ink and bears a wound length of print media upon which the stored ink can be printed. The print roll cartridge defines a print media exit slot and includes a feed arrangement arranged to feed the print media through the exit slot. A printhead assembly includes an ink feed arrangement, in turn, defining ink feed galleries which can be connected in fluid communication with respective ink reservoirs. An elongate printhead is arranged relative to the ink feed arrangement to print ink fed from the ink feed galleries onto the print media fed through the exit slot. A motor assembly is coupled to the former and the feed arrangement to feed the print media through the exit slot. A cutter assembly is arranged to cut printed print media from the remaining print media wound upon the former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 7744208
    Abstract: A printer has a chassis with a pair of guide rails. A retractable print media tray assembly is arranged on the guide rails in a displaceable manner. At least one print engine is arranged on the chassis and has an ink ejecting printhead assembly configured to eject ink onto an associated ink transfer roller. At least one cleaning station is engaged with a respective ink transfer roller and configured to clean residual ink from the transfer roller, subsequent to transfer of ink from the transfer roller onto the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7740348
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is adapted to eject liquid toward a target medium, A transporter is adapted to transport a tray on which the target medium is mounted toward a region facing the liquid ejecting head via a transporting path. A tray guide is disposed in a front side of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and having a supporting face adapted to support the tray thereon. The tray guide is movable between a first position connecting the supporting face with the transporting path to allow the transporter to transport the tray to the transporting path and a second position escaping the supporting face from the transporting path. The supporting face is kept being parallel to the transporting path when the tray guide is moved between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Miyashita, Takashi Akahane, Hiroki Nakashima, Satoshi Noda
  • Patent number: 7735994
    Abstract: A printer unit is provided comprising a print engine incorporating a removable pagewidth printhead for printing on print media and a body arranged to house the print engine and to be mountable to a substantially vertical surface so as to suspend the printer unit. Such a wall mountable printer is capable of blending into the design of a home or a work space within office environment whilst providing high-speed, e.g., more than 30 pages per minute, and high-quality, e.g., images of about 1200 dots per inch or more, printing capabilities and ease of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7735951
    Abstract: A method of printing multiple swaths with a hand-operated printer having a target sight includes printing at least one alignment mark for a subsequent print swath during a printing of a current print swath; and aligning the target sight with the alignment mark prior to beginning printing of the subsequent print swath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Jude Ahne, Edmund Hulin James, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 7731353
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit configured to form an image on a recording medium, and a guide device configured to guide the printing unit to be drawn in a direction perpendicular to a recording medium conveying direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. Thus, because the printing unit can be drawn out from the main body of the apparatus, maintenance work to the printing unit can be easily performed in a state that the printing unit has been drawn out from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd
    Inventors: Taku Kudoh, Manabu Nonaka, Yasuhiro Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7733540
    Abstract: A multifunction apparatus is provided with a printer unit having a discharge tray disposed on a top face thereof and a scanner unit disposed on the image recording unit with a space being defined between the image reading unit and the discharge tray. The scanner unit has a casing. The casing is provided in the printer unit rotatably about a rear side of the apparatus in such a fashion as to open a front side of the apparatus. The casing has a recessed part formed at a position of a bottom plate thereof and corresponding to the discharge tray. Thus, a recording sheet removal opening opened on a front side of the apparatus is formed. A reinforcing portion recessed in such a fashion as to be swollen toward an internal space of the casing is formed on the bottom plate having the recessed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Moribe
  • Patent number: 7731352
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a door which is disposed on a rear surface of the image forming apparatus that allows a portion of the rear side thereof to open. The image forming apparatus further includes an image forming unit. The door is disposed at a position accessible to the image forming unit. The door includes a swelling portion which outwardly swells and receives parts and devices therein, for example, cables and tubes of the image forming apparatus. The swelling portion has an arc shape. The door on the rear surface of the image forming apparatus serves as a door for maintenance. The image forming unit includes an inkjet type image forming unit. The image forming unit includes a gel-inkjet type image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Yonekawa
  • Patent number: 7726805
    Abstract: A printing unit includes a support structure. The support structure includes a body portion with a tray positioned at one end of the body portion and a connector positioned at an opposing end of the body portion. A media supply cartridge is mounted on the body portion and is suitable for storing a stack of print media. A feed arrangement is mounted on the body portion and is configured to feed print media from the stack for printing. A print head assembly is mounted on the tray and is configured to print upon the fed print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20100128098
    Abstract: The inkjet printer of the present invention includes: a transportation unit for transporting a recording medium; a recording unit including a recording head that jets ink to the recording medium transported by the transportation unit; an ink path for supplying ink to the recording head; a first housing accommodating the transportation unit and the recording unit; and a second housing attached to the first housing and accommodating a portion of the ink path, wherein the second housing is attached to the first housing in such a way that it can be moved to a first position and to a second position that is different from the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi HASHI, Hidehiko IDA
  • Patent number: 7722186
    Abstract: Provided is a personal digital assistant. A printer is arranged in a body section. The printer includes a printhead, a motor driver and a media transport device arrangement for transporting print media from a roll of print media past the printhead. A motor driver and guillotine motor arrangement sever the printed print media from the roll of media. A microcontroller controls the printhead and respective motor driver arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7722184
    Abstract: An indicator structure for mounting an indicator representative of desired information to the body of an apparatus, wherein the indicator is made up of a sheet marked with the information in such a manner as to be visible from the outside of the indicator and a single transparent cover covering at least the information such that the information is visible from the outside. The sheet and cover are removably mounted to the body of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Yamada, Tamaki Someya, Shigeru Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 7722185
    Abstract: A cradle unit for a printhead cartridge, the cradle unit comprising: an interface at which the cradle unit is removably engageable with a printhead cartridge, the interface comprising connections for connecting the printhead cartridge with a power supply which is remote from the interface; and a power storage circuit incorporated in the interface for storing at least some of the power being supplied to the printhead cartridge from the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Charles Knight, Kia Silverbrook, Bruce Mervyn Horsburgh, Saminda Jayatileke, Brian Robert Brown
  • Patent number: 7712866
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assembling a modular printhead assembly. The printhead assembly includes a flexible elongate ink-delivery member and a plurality of modules for being received in fluid communication with the ink-delivery member. The ink delivery member and the modules are received in a metal channel. The method includes the step of flexing the metal channel apart at a plurality of locations there-along to enable receipt of respective printhead modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
  • Patent number: 7708399
    Abstract: A print engine is provided for in an inkjet printer. The print engine includes a chassis. A print cartridge is mounted to the chassis, and includes a print roll defining a plurality of ink reservoirs and carrying a wound length of print media. A first motor assembly is mounted on the chassis and is configured to drive a roller of the print cartridge to transport the print media. A printhead assembly is engaged with the print cartridge to eject ink from the reservoirs upon the transported print media. A cutter assembly is configured to cut a printed length of print media from the remaining wound length. A second motor assembly is mounted to the chassis and is configured to drive the cutter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7703910
    Abstract: A print roll unit is provided for dispensing print media. The print roll unit includes an elongate core, in turn, including a plurality of ink supply containers. Each container contains a respective type of ink. A roll of print media includes a tubular former in which the core can be received and a length of print media which is wound upon the former. A casing includes a pair of molded covers which can be fastened together in a releasable manner to encase the roll of print media. The casing defines a print media exit slot. A pair of pinch rollers is rotationally mounted to the casing, and is configured to feed print media from the former and out through the exit slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7704001
    Abstract: A door main body of a door unit is swingably supported at a casing main body by a hinge mechanism. A conveying guide part is configured to guide conveying of a recording medium. A positioning contact part is configured to be in contact with a main-body-side contact part when the door unit is closed, thereby positioning the conveying guide part with respect to the casing main body. A locking mechanism is provided on a first side with respect to the positioning contact part. The hinge mechanism is provided on a second side that is opposite to the first side. The urging member is configured to apply an urging force to a predetermined part of the door main body. The predetermined part is located on the second side, thereby increasing contact pressure between the positioning contact part and the main-body-side contact part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 7692815
    Abstract: A display device for use as a computer monitor, the display device comprising: a flat panel display; a printer, including a printhead for printing onto paper; and a sheet feeder for feeding print media to the printhead, the device being configured such that standard print media to be printed is supported, immediately prior to commencement of printing, such that at least an edge of the print media is visible above an upper edge of a the flat panel display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7690785
    Abstract: A digital pager has a built-in printer to enable the printing of a text message and/or a graphic image upon a page as the pager housing traverses the page. The pager can be maintained compact and lightweight as no paper storage or paper feed mechanism need be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7686446
    Abstract: A desktop printer having a relatively small “footprint” on a desktop is provided. It has a base and a print engine connected together by a substantially vertically extending body of the printer. A media supply and collector are provided on surfaces of the body so as to be substantially vertically disposed, where the media is supplied to the print engine for printing from the supply and is delivered to the collector after printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventors: Tobin Allen King, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7682014
    Abstract: An ink jet imaging system comprises a heated imaging drum that rotates in at least one direction, a print head for ejecting ink onto the heated imaging drum as it rotates past the print head to form an image, a media sheet transport for synchronizing movement of a media sheet with rotation of the heated imaging drum, a transfixing roller that forms a transfixing nip with the heated imaging drum to transfix the image on the rotating heated image drum onto the media sheet synchronized by the media sheet transport, and a media director located between the media sheet transport and the heated imaging drum to direct the media sheet into close proximity with the heated imaging drum at a position sufficiently prior to the transfixing nip that the heated imaging drum heats the media sheet before the media sheet enters the transfixing nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor James Snyder, James Edward Williams, Jeffrey J. Folkins, Barry Paul Mandel
  • Patent number: 7682017
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus include a handheld printer manipulated back and forth by an operator during use to print an image. An inkjet printhead of the printer has a plurality of fluid firing actuators arranged in a substantial column. A controller communicates with the printhead to identify active actuators given to fire at a particular time during use to print the image. However, to prevent unsightly print quality from occurring during overlapping adjacent print swaths, for example, certain of the identified actuators are prevented from firing. Especially, actuators in the column further from a center of the column fire less frequently than those closer to the center. A position sensor is also used to locate the printhead relative to the image. The controller correlates the position to the printhead and actuators and fires the active actuators or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Reed, Barry B. Stout, Douglas Robertson