Of Medium Patents (Class 347/16)
  • Patent number: 11376872
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium, a transporting belt that transports the printing medium and has an endless shape, and a belt-driving roller that causes the transporting belt to circulate and has a cylindrical shape. In the transporting belt, a magnetic scale having a magnetic pole changing at a predetermined pitch is arranged along a transport direction of the printing medium. The belt-driving roller includes an outer circumferential surface constituted of a magnet body, and is in contact with the transporting belt at the outer circumferential surface. The circumferential length of the outer circumferential surface of the belt-driving roller is an integer multiple of the pitch of the magnetic scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11358401
    Abstract: A post-processing device includes a transport path along which a medium printed with liquid ejected by a liquid ejecting portion is transported, an intermediate tray on which the medium is stacked, a first transporting member starting a first transporting operation of transporting the medium upstream in a transport direction after a rear end of the medium passes through the transport path, a rear-end alignment portion that comes into contact with the rear end of the medium transported by the first transporting member and that aligns the medium, a control portion controlling an operation of the first transporting member, and a detection portion detecting a transporting state of the medium in the intermediate tray, in which when the control portion determines, from an output of the detection portion, that the medium reaches the rear-end alignment portion, the control portion regulates the first transporting operation of the first transporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusaku Amano, Shota Sakagami, Yu Tsumuraya
  • Patent number: 11305955
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet being conveyed on a horizontal path and a double feed sensor configured to execute double feed detection processing of detecting a state in which a plurality of sheets being conveyed on the horizontal path are conveyed in a duplicate manner. The image forming apparatus includes a double feed detection function table, in which whether to enable or disable the double feed detection processing is set according to a type of a sheet. The image forming apparatus determines whether to execute the double feed detection processing at a time of image formation in accordance with sheet setting information including information on a characteristic of a sheet to be used for the image formation and setting information on whether to execute the double feed detection processing, and the double feed detection function table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yokoya, Koji Yumoto, Riki Fukuhara, Akihiro Kawakita, Yutaka Ando
  • Patent number: 11294605
    Abstract: In one example, an inkjet web printer includes a print engine and a controller programmed to determine that a second print job following a first print job may be printed without stopping the web and, without stopping the web, cause the print engine to print the second print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Albright, Timothy Jay Bouma, Shane Shivji
  • Patent number: 11285744
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is to detect an artefact on a printable surface. The apparatus comprises a detection element to engage the printable surface as the printable surface moves relative to the detection element, and to move away from the printable surface when an artefact passes between the detection element and the printable surface. The apparatus also comprises an actuator to be actuated in response to the detection element moving beyond a defined distance from the printable surface. A method and a print apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Marc Clotet Marti, Cesar Serpa Rosa, Xavier Gomez Travesset
  • Patent number: 11279137
    Abstract: An example device includes a first substrate including a first array of droplet ejectors to eject droplets of a first fluid. The example device further includes a first target medium immovably positioned relative to the first substrate to receive droplets of the first fluid from a first subset of droplet ejectors of the first array of droplet ejectors. A second subset of droplet ejectors of the first array of droplet ejectors is positioned to eject droplets of the first fluid to miss the first target medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Pavel Kornilovich, Diane R Hammerstad
  • Patent number: 11267258
    Abstract: Techniques for operating a printer are provided. In an example, the printer can include a print head a cure light and a controller. The controller can be configured to move the print head relative to a print media to print a given image, to move the cure light relative to the print media at a cure speed in response to the cure light passing over a printed portion of the given image to cure the ink of the given image, and to move the cure light at an index speed in response to the cure light passing over a non-printed portion of the given image, wherein the index speed is greater than the cure speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY AB
    Inventors: Brent D. Lien, Tanya Jergeris Snyder, Evan Pastor
  • Patent number: 11254123
    Abstract: A print medium is conveyed in a first direction and a print head is provided with a reference side nozzle array and a plurality of nonreference side nozzle arrays. A relative position displacement amount between a reference printing position of a reference pattern printed by the reference side nozzle array and a nonreference printing position of each of nonreference patterns printed by each of the nonreference side nozzle arrays is detected. Based on a maximum value of a displacement amount of the reference printing position with respect to each of the nonreference printing positions in a direction opposite to the first direction, a first correction value for correcting displacement of the reference printing position is calculated. With reference to the reference printing position after corrected based on the first correction value, a second correction value for correcting displacement is calculated for each of the nonreference printing positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiro Kawatoko, Kentaro Muro, Masashi Hayashi, Eiji Komamiya
  • Patent number: 11254143
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a recording medium by discharging liquid droplets onto the medium; and a media heater to heat the medium by contacting a rear surface of the medium opposite a surface of the medium on which the image is formed, in which the media heater includes a contact member with a contact surface having a predetermined curvature that the medium contacts, the contact member is a roller member, and the medium closely contacts the contact surface of the contact member across an entire width of the medium in a direction perpendicular to the media conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hoshino, Kenji Sato, Hirokazu Ikenoue, Satoshi Kitaoka, Hideaki Nishimura, Yoko Ishii
  • Patent number: 11241893
    Abstract: A heating device includes a first member having a first sheet holding face, and a second member having a second sheet holding face and disposed facing the first sheet holding face of the first member. The first and second sheet holding faces are configured to hold a sheet between the first and second sheet holding faces. The sheet has a resin surface on at least one face of the sheet. The heating device is configured to heat the sheet while the first and second sheet holding faces hold the sheet on which liquid is applied. At least one of the first and second sheet holding faces is configured to contact the resin surface of the sheet. The at least one of the first and second sheet holding faces has an uneven surface with a plurality of convex or concave portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11235594
    Abstract: An intermediate unit includes a transportation path along which a medium, on which printing has been performed by a printing unit that performs printing on the medium by using liquid, is transported to a post processing unit that performs post processing on the medium. The transportation path is provided with a drying unit that accelerates the drying of the medium. The drying unit is driven according to the printing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaro Harada, Kohei Ueno, Akinori Muromachi, Hidetoshi Kodama, Kazuyoshi Ohashi, Tsuyoshi Furumido, Hirohisa Adachi
  • Patent number: 11235568
    Abstract: An indirect printing system is disclosed having an intermediate transfer member (ITM) in the form of an endless belt that circulates during operation to transport ink images from an image forming station. Ink images are deposited on an outer surface of the ITM by one or a plurality of print bars. At an impression station, the ink images are transferred from the outer surface of the ITM onto a printing substrate. In some embodiments, the outer surface of the ITM 20 is maintained within the image forming station at a predetermined distance from the one or each of the print bars 10, 12, 14 and 16 by means of a plurality of support rollers 11, 13, 15, 17 that have a common flat tangential plane and contact the inner surface of the ITM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: LANDA CORPORATION LTD.
    Inventors: Benzion Landa, Aharon Shmaiser, Alon Siman-Tov, Alon Levy
  • Patent number: 11225094
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus is provided capable of preventing liquid from being discharged onto a medium to which any foreign substances adhere. A printing apparatus (10) (liquid discharging apparatus) includes a holding member (21) configured to hold a roll body (R1) on which a medium (M) is wound, a transport unit (40) configured to transport the medium (M) fed from the roll body (R1) held by the holding member (21) along a transport path (FP), a discharging unit (61) configured to discharge liquid onto the medium (M) transported by the transport unit (40), and a vibration unit (34) configured to apply vibration to the medium (M) being transported from the holding member (21) to the transport unit (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11220121
    Abstract: A transport device includes a first driving roller configured to contact an outer circumferential surface of a roll body on which a medium is wound, and apply rotational torque to the roll body, a second driving roller configured to unwind the medium from the roll body, a first drive unit configured to drive the first driving roller, a second drive unit configured to drive the second driving roller, and a control unit configured to control the first drive unit and the second drive unit. The control unit controls the first drive unit, based on a magnitude of a load current flowing in the second drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11218613
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveyance roller to convey a medium, an imaging sensor to sequentially generate a line image acquired by imaging the medium conveyed by the conveyance roller, a processor to detect an inclination of the conveyed medium based on at least two first pixels in the line image, determine whether a part of the conveyed medium has passed through a position corresponding to a second pixel located outside the first pixels based on the line image, and stop conveyance of the medium by the conveyance roller when the detected inclination is equal to or greater than a threshold value and the processor determines that a part of the medium has passed through the position corresponding to the second pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Takumi Ito
  • Patent number: 11214083
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a printing system is described. The printing system includes a media sensor to detect a presence of media at a particular point within the printing system. A stepper motor moves media through the printing system. A controller 1) monitors, for at least one pass of the media, a number of steps of the stepper motor to pass the media between the media sensor and a print position, 2) stores the number of steps of the stepper motor in a memory device, and 3) adjusts operation of subsequent passes of the media based on stored number of steps. A memory device of the printing system stores the number of steps of the stepper motor, for at least one pass of the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Angel Astorgano-Ballesteros, Ranjit Bhaskar, Praveen Boppana, Stuart Douglas Spencer
  • Patent number: 11214081
    Abstract: A print engine performs printing on a print medium conveyed by a conveyor. The cutter cuts the print medium conveyed by the conveyor. The first sensor is provided upstream of the cutter in the conveyance direction and detects a leading end and a trailing end of the print medium. The second sensor detects a conveyance amount of the print medium conveyed by the conveyor. The controller determines a print medium length that is a length of the print medium in the conveyance direction, based on the conveyance amount detected by the second sensor from when the first sensor detects the leading end of the print medium until when the first sensor detects the trailing end of the print medium, determines a cutting position of the print medium based on the determined print medium length, and controls the cutter to cut the print medium at the determined cutting positon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuro Miura
  • Patent number: 11216707
    Abstract: In some examples, a fluidic die includes a plurality of fluid actuators, an actuation data register to store actuation data that indicates each fluid actuator of the plurality of fluid actuators to actuate, and a plurality of mask registers to store respective different mask data patterns, each mask data pattern of the different mask data patterns indicating a respective set of fluid actuators of the plurality of fluid actuators enabled for actuation for a respective actuation event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daryl E Anderson, Eric Martin
  • Patent number: 11214057
    Abstract: An ejection apparatus includes: a first ejection unit configured to eject droplets on a recording medium conveyed in a conveyance direction to form an image for detection; a first detection unit disposed downstream of the first ejection unit and configured to detect the image for detection; a second ejection unit disposed downstream of the detection unit and configured to eject droplets on the recording medium; and a control unit configured to: predict a first elongation amount of the recording medium based on a first difference between a first set time period and a first detection time period from a reference time point to a first detection time point when the image for detection is detected by the first detection unit; and perform delay control on the second ejection unit for delaying an ejection timing of the second ejection unit based on the predicted elongation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: FUIFIIM Business Imovation Corp.
    Inventors: Masato Matsuzuki, Yoshiyuki Taguchi, Chikara Manabe, Kunio Miyakoshi, Maki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11212404
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a reception part that receives specification of a print mode and specification of a sheet type to be used for printing; a sheet supply part that sends a sheet to a sheet conveyance path; a detection part that detects a type of a sheet sent to the sheet conveyance path; and a hardware processor that controls a printing operation, wherein when a sheet type received by the reception part is a type for which printing in the print mode received by the reception part is allowed, the sheet supply part sends a sheet to the sheet conveyance path, the hardware processor determines whether or not the print mode received by the reception part is a prohibition mode, when it is determined that the print mode is the prohibition mode, the detection part detects a type of a sheet sent to the sheet conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Matsuda, Akira Murakawa, Atsushi Kawai
  • Patent number: 11203215
    Abstract: A tablet printing apparatus 1 includes an inspection unit 53 determining whether or not the printed tablet T is good product, a good product collecting device 43 collecting the tablet T of the good product from the carrying belt 31a, a defective product collecting device 41 collecting the tablet other than the good product from the carrying belt 31a, a discharge confirming sensor 41c detecting whether or not the tablet other than the good tablet is collected by the defective product collecting device 41, and a re-inspection product collecting device 42 collecting the tablet T other than the good product from the carrying belt 31 a when a collecting operation for collecting the tablet T other than the good product is performed by the defective product collecting device 41, and the discharge confirming sensor 41c detects that the tablet T other than the good tablet is not collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SHIBAURA MECHATRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Azusa Hirano, Hironori Haijima, Junpei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11173710
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotational conveying unit for conveying a recording medium by rotating about a rotational axis. A head unit includes n nozzle rows in a conveying direction perpendicular to an axial direction parallel to the rotational axis. Each of the n nozzle rows includes nozzles aligned as a nozzle row in the axial direction. Each n nozzle row is arranged at a distance of d1 to d(n?1) from a predetermined reference nozzle row. A circuit outputs a rotational amount detection signal, and a conveying amount detection signal, and generates a discharge synchronization signal based on the detected rotational amount detection signal and the detected conveying amount detection signal, then generates a nozzle row timing signal based on the distance of the d1 to d(n?1) and the discharge synchronization signal, and generates discharge data based on the discharge synchronization signal and the nozzle row timing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsutaka Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 11173734
    Abstract: In an example, a space adjuster may comprise a cam shaft, a first fin disposed on a first end of the cam shaft, a second fin disposed on a second end of the cam shaft, opposite from the first end, and a cam lug disposed on the cam shaft in between the first end and the second end. The first fin may have a first profile to transfer a first longitudinal force into a first rotation of the cam shaft, and the second fin may have a second profile to transfer a second longitudinal force into a second rotation of the cam shaft, opposite to the first rotation. A cam surface of the cam lug may be spaced increasingly farther away from a longitudinal axis of the cam shaft throughout the first rotation of the cam shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Deyang Wang, Adnil San Dela Pena Sazon, Bryan Delima Yrogirog, Clint Carl Sensano, Chern Fong Chong, Chin Siang Chua
  • Patent number: 11167574
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique that enables a carriage printer to reduce precision in a media conveyor by improving mobility of the carriage. The carriage includes a mobile jetplate that adjusts the position of the printheads within the carriage. The mobile jetplate includes multiple motors that enable shifts in an axis matching the axis of the media. Operating the motors of the jetplate at different locations or at different intensities causes the jetplate to skew and achieve mobility of multiple axes. A set of sensors monitor media skew and shifts of the mobile jetplate are able to compensate for that skew. An additional set of motors shift the carriage to compensate for deformation of the beam that the carriage shuttles along.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Heath, Paul Duncanson
  • Patent number: 11172072
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a loading unit, a feeding unit, a cover, a detection unit, and a determination unit. The feeding unit feeds a recording medium loaded on the loading unit to a recording position where the recording head performs the recording. The cover moves between an opening state and a closing state. The determination unit determines a size of the loaded recording medium based on a result of a width detection operation. The recording head records an image per a determination result. If the cover closing is detected before the recording is performed, the determination unit performs the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit. If the cover opening is detected and the recording apparatus receives a recording instruction, the determination unit performs the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Izumi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11161348
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a conveying unit, a drive roller controller and a discharge timing controller. The drive roller controller controls a rotation speed of a drive roller based on pulse signals output by an encoder and corresponding to an angular velocity of a driven roller and an actual outer diameter of the driven roller. The discharge timing controller controls an ink discharge timing based on signals obtained by attenuating multiple frequency components of a target frequency corresponding to a pulse number of the pulse signals output from the encoder during one turn of the driven roller in the pulse signals and an actual outer diameter of the driven roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventor: Naohiro Anan
  • Patent number: 11155108
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a casing having an internal space; a conveying passage formed inside the casing; a first roller pair positioned in the conveying passage, having a driving roller and a driven roller, and configured to pinch a sheet and to convey the sheet in a conveying orientation; a platen positioned on a downstream side in the conveying orientation of the first roller pair, and having a supporting surface supporting the sheet; a recording part positioned above the platen and configured to record an image on the sheet supported by the platen; a second roller pair which is located on the downstream side in the conveying orientation of the supporting surface of the platen, and which is configured to pinch the sheet and to convey the sheet; and a moving mechanism configured to move the platen to a printing position and to a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuta Arakawa
  • Patent number: 11155101
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a tablet printing apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a tablet while sucking and holding the tablet by the discharge of air; an inkjet head configured to perform printing on the tablet conveyed by the conveyor; an exhaust pipe which the air discharged from the conveyor passes through; an exhaust blower as a heat source that generates heat; a heat conductive member that is in contact with the exhaust pipe and the exhaust blower; and a housing configured to house the conveyor, the inkjet head, the exhaust pipe, the exhaust blower, and the heat conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: SHIBAURA MECHATRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Azusa Hirano, Yasutsugu Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 11151429
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a conveying part configured to convey a printing medium in a conveying direction; a printing part configured to print on the printing medium at a print timing; a cutting part provided downstream of the printing part in the conveying direction and configured to cut the printing medium, which has been conveyed by the conveying part, at a cut timing after the printing part prints on the printing medium; and the controller configured to print, by controlling the printing part, a first scale and a second scale on the printing medium. At least a portion of the printed first scale and at least a portion of the printed second scale are arranged at the same position in the conveying direction. The printed first scale and the printed second scale are arranged at different positions in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 11142003
    Abstract: In methods and systems for reducing the undulation of a recording medium that has been printed to in an inkjet printer, operating parameters—such as the applied drying energy and/or the web tension of the recording medium during the drying of the recording medium—are set or adapted for or during the printing operation in order to reduce the undulation of the printed and dried recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Production Printing Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Michael Pohlt
  • Patent number: 11142000
    Abstract: A printing apparatus provided with a transportation mechanism for a printing medium includes: a storage configured to store a machine-learned model that outputs a setting value of the transportation mechanism for causing, based on state variables including a print length as a length of a print product printed on the printing medium, the print length to be close to a reference; and a processor configured to perform printing by controlling the transportation mechanism in accordance with the setting value acquired based on the machine-learned model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Gunji
  • Patent number: 11142005
    Abstract: A printer can comprise a supporting wall that extends in a primary scanning direction, a table that is positioned lower than the supporting wall and that is structured so as to be able to move in a secondary scanning direction, a guide rail equipped on the supporting wall that extends in the primary scanning direction, a head carriage that is provided slidably on the guide rail and that can move in the primary scanning direction, an ink head mounted on the head carriage, and a partitioning wall that is positioned lower than the supporting wall and to a side of the table in the primary scanning direction and that extends in the secondary scanning direction and the vertical direction. When the table is positioned at the maximally downstream position along the secondary scanning direction, the upstream end portion of the table is positioned further downstream of the supporting wall and further upstream than the downstream end portion of the partitioning wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Kobayashi, Masanori Ishihara, Akihiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11110710
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting device including an ejecting unit configured to eject a liquid onto a medium, a detector configured to emit light toward an object opposing the ejecting unit and receive reflected light generated by reflection of the light thereby detecting information, and a cover portion including a cover that transmits the light and is disposed at a position to cover the detector. The cover portion is configured to move the cover so as to change a portion of the cover that covers the detector while the detector remains covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 11104162
    Abstract: Methods, Apparatus, Devices and Systems herein load a firing distance into a distance counter of a printing device. The firing distance is the distance from the current position of a printhead of the printing device to a marking location on a substrate and the distance is calculated based on an angular encoder operatively associated with a roller used to transport a marking media to the printhead for marking. These devices and methods count the firing distance in angular distance increments as a function of the encoder angular position to correct for encoder roller runout using the distance counter, based on relative movement of the substrate and printhead. When the distance counter reaches the last discrete distance increment corrected for encoder roller runout of the firing distance, these devices and methods load the fractional remaining distance of the firing distance into a time counter of the printing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Patricia Joanne Donaldson
  • Patent number: 11102362
    Abstract: An example system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions that are executable to cause the system to perform various functions. The functions include, for each sample print of a plurality of sample prints, receiving respective color-measurement data indicative of color measurement patches printed on the sample print. The functions also include determining, using the respective color-measurement data for the sample prints, a respective color gamut volume for each sample print. Further, the functions include ordering the sample prints in order of increasing color gamut volume using the respective color gamut volumes for the sample prints. Still further, the functions include providing for display a presentation order for the sample prints, with the sample prints of the plurality of sample prints being arranged in order of increasing color gamut volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Michael M. Chang
  • Patent number: 11034164
    Abstract: In an example, an apparatus is described that includes a first print section, a second print section, a dryer, and a printing path. The first print section includes a first fluid ejection array, while the second print section includes a second fluid ejection array. The dryer is positioned adjacent to the first print section and the second print section. The printing path that travels in a first direction through the dryer after exiting the first print section and travels in a second direction through the dryer after exiting the second print section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mike Steed, James Kearns, Heather L. Stokes, Ronald R. Anderson, Joe Santich
  • Patent number: 11034147
    Abstract: A fluidic die may include a substrate supporting a fluid actuator address line and first and second groups of fluid actuators connected to the fluid actuator address line. The first group of fluid actuators may include first and second types of fluid actuators having different operating characteristics. The second group of fluid actuators may include the first and the second types of fluid actuators. The fluid actuators of the first and second groups have addresses such that a fluid actuator of the first type in the first group and a fluid actuator of the second type in the second group are both enabled in response to a single enabling event on the fluid actuator address line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sean P McClelland, Donald J Milligan, Eric T Martin
  • Patent number: 11027564
    Abstract: In a printing apparatus, a controller is configured to control a printing unit such that printing is started after a transport distance of the substrate reaches a pre-discharge transport distance, in which the pre-discharge transport distance is set to a value not less than a first longest distance, provided that a transport distance in a condition in which the transport distance is a longest distance among conditions 1, 2, and 3 provided below is the first longest distance. Condition 1: a transport distance until a region of the substrate that was nipped between a front driving roller and a nip roller passes through a printing head disposed most downstream in a transport path of the substrate, Condition 2: a transport distance until a transport speed of the substrate becomes constant, and Condition 3: a transport distance until tension of the substrate being transported becomes stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Imamura, Jun Yamada, Masashi Kitahara
  • Patent number: 11020988
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that enables proper sorting of discharged print media by suppressing curling of each of the print media sufficiently. A determining unit determines a curling suppressing operation to be executed such that in a case where sorting operation is executed, the suppressing operation having a higher effect of suppressing curling is executed than in a case where the sorting operation is executed. Then, a print control unit controls a print head to perform printing on print media while executing the suppressing operation determined by the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Somano, Kosuke Yamamoto, Norio Sakurai, Yuki Emoto, Kentaro Muro
  • Patent number: 11014387
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for avoiding contamination of a printing plate given surface-covering coating of a dust-forming recording medium (e.g. an uncoated paper) with a coating substance (e.g. a primer) in an inkjet printing operation. The method can include feeding the recording medium at a feed velocity that is greater than 20 meters per minute; continuously printing of the coating substance onto the recording medium by at least one print head including a plurality of print nozzles, the coating substance being printed at a constant, predetermined applied quantity per area. A nip between the print head and the recording medium is provided such that a fluid-dynamic eddy is created between the recording medium and the print head and/or the printing plate. The disclosure also related to a printing system that is configured to implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Production Printing Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Oliver Greger, Walter Brenner, Michael Pohlt, Anna-Karin Eriksson, Rainer Jaeger
  • Patent number: 11014380
    Abstract: A heating device includes a pre-heater configured to pre-heat a medium, onto which a liquid is discharged from a liquid discharger, at a first position upstream of the liquid discharger in a conveyance direction of the medium, a print-heater configured to heat the medium at a second position opposite the liquid discharger, a post-heater configured to post-heat the medium at a third position downstream of the second position in the conveyance direction, and circuitry configured to control a temperature of each of the pre-heater, the print-heater, and the post-heater. The pre-heater includes a first pre-heater and a second pre-heater disposed closer to the print-heater than the first pre-heater, and the circuitry controls a temperature of the second pre-heater to be between a temperature of the first pre-heater and the temperature of the print-heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masafumi Yamada, Osamu Kizaki, Shizuho Katahira, Junji Nakai
  • Patent number: 10976970
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print engine, a sheet transportation unit, a line sensor, and a control unit. The print engine is configured to physically print an image to be printed on a print sheet. The sheet transportation unit is configured to transport the print sheet. The line sensor is arranged along a direction perpendicular to a transportation direction of the print sheet, and configured to detect positions of both end edges of the print sheet. The control unit is configured to (a) determine as a sheet center actual position a center position of the print sheet on the basis of the detected positions of both end edges of the print sheet, and (b) adjust a center position of the image to be printed so as to cause the center position of the image to be printed to agree with the sheet center actual position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Takenori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10968063
    Abstract: A medium feeding device includes: a placement unit on which a medium is placed; a pair of edge guides that is provided at the placement unit such that the edge guides are movable in a medium width direction to guide edges of the medium in the medium width direction that is a direction intersecting a medium feeding direction; feeding rollers that feed the medium placed on the placement unit; a path state detection section that detects a detection value in accordance with a state of the medium feeding path; a guide position detection section that detects positions of the edge guides; and a control section that determines whether or not the detection value detected by the path state detection section has exceeded a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Shiota
  • Patent number: 10967659
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a feeding-side motor, an inkjet recording unit, a winding-side motor, a feeding-side roll-diameter measuring unit, a winding-side roll-diameter measuring unit, and a motor drive controller. Based on a relationship between motor rotating speeds and roll diameters under conveyance of the recording medium at a specified conveyance speed, the motor drive controller determines a first rotating speed corresponding to a feeding-side roll diameter measured by the feeding-side roll-diameter measuring unit and moreover determines a second rotating speed corresponding to a winding-side roll diameter measured by the winding-side roll-diameter measuring unit to drive the feeding-side motor at the first rotating speed and moreover drive the winding-side motor at the second rotating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Junichi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 10960685
    Abstract: A controller checks ink quantity to be ejected to a specific area on a first side (specific area ink quantity) and determines an ink quantity ratio. The specific area is a strip-shaped area including a side edge on upstream side in a conveying direction of a paper sheet on the first side. When the ink quantity ratio is larger than a reference ink quantity ratio, the controller performs a black conversion process on pixels in a conversion target range. The conversion target range is a range corresponding to the specific area in the image data of the first side. The black conversion process is a process of converting a pixel to which three color inks, i.e. cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are to be ejected into a pixel to which only black ink is to be ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Toyotsune Inoue, Hiroatsu Tamai, Takeshi Watanabe, Hiroyuki Ueda, Yasuhiro Michishita, Naoto Miyakoshi, Yusuke Takano, Noriaki Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10953677
    Abstract: A described example includes a ribbon cartridge having a first spool housing configured to receive a first spool. The ribbon cartridge having a second spool housing that is configured to receive a second spool. The ribbon cartridge having a first frame member that extends between the first spool housing and the second spool housing. The ribbon cartridge having a first locking feature defining a locked position and an unlocked position, the first locking feature adapted to lock the ribbon cartridge within a ribbon positioning assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Petrica Dorinel Balcan, Randal Wong Mun Hon, Kuan-Ying Lu
  • Patent number: 10953650
    Abstract: An applicator device includes a print head that applies droplets to a target, and a processor. The processor is configured to acquire a value relating to a contact of the applicator device against the target, detect movement of the applicator device on the target, and control, when the value is within a set range, the print head to apply droplets on the target based on the detected movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD
    Inventor: Itaru Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10946676
    Abstract: A displacement amount calculation part in a base material processing apparatus calculates the degree of matching between an upstream data section and a downstream data section included in an upstream and a downstream detection results, which indicate time-varying changes in the positions of an edge of the base material in the width direction at an upstream and a downstream detection positions. This calculation uses the results of comparison between signals in a predetermined frequency band extracted from the upstream detection result and signals in the predetermined frequency band extracted from the downstream detection result. Accordingly, a downstream data section that is highly matched with the upstream data section can be identified with high accuracy, and the amount of displacement of the base material in the transport direction can be detected with high accuracy on the basis of an identification result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10919325
    Abstract: In a cutting apparatus, a controller is configured to: start energization of an actuator to move a cutter relative to a receiving stage from a wait position toward a cutting position; determine whether a position detector has detected that the cutter has reached the cutting position; when the position detector does not detect that the cutter has reached the cutting position, determine whether a value of a current detected by a current detector has reached a first set value; when the value of the current detected by the current detector has reached the first set value, change a current to be passed through the actuator to a second set value that is less than the first set value; and when the position detector has detected that the cutter has reached the cutting position, finish the energization of the actuator and stops movement of the cutter relative to the receiving stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidenobu Kondo
  • Patent number: 10882327
    Abstract: A control device controls an image printing by a printing execution unit. The control device performs: determination processing of determining whether a first condition indicating that a supply of ink from an ink supply unit to a printing head is possibly delayed at a partial printing is satisfied, for each of a plurality of band images included in an image to be printed and aligned in a sub-scanning direction; first printing processing of, in a case where the first condition is not satisfied, causing the printing execution unit to print the band image by single time partial printing; and second printing processing of, in a case where the first condition is satisfied, causing the printing execution unit to print each of N partial images included in the band image and aligned in the sub-scanning direction by single time partial printing, to print the band image by N times partial printings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Masashi Kuno, Shota Morikawa, Shin Hasegawa, Yoshiharu Furuhata