Thermal Marking Apparatus Or Processes Patents (Class 347/171)
  • Patent number: 9440254
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for laminating a sheet to a substrate in a stress free and distortion-less manner. The method comprises providing the sheet and substrate such that an attractive force between them exists that is capable of bringing the sheet and surface together at least when their distance is shorter than a critical distance. The method creates these conditions by locally making an initial contact between the sheet and substrate such that at a contact front, being the boundary between areas where the substrate and sheet are in contact and those where they are not in contact, these conditions exist. In a further step the sheet and substrate are allowed to gradually make contact such that the contact front advances along either of the substrate or sheet surface therewith increasing the contacting area between the substrate and the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Marcus Antonius Verschuuren, Mischa Megens
  • Patent number: 9424496
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for easily setting a parameter for avoiding an occurrence of defective image by the sector deformation is provided. The image forming apparatus forms a test image. The test image having a first line drawing and a second line drawing, each of which is extending in a first direction, and the first line drawing and the second line drawing are provided at different positions in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. Further, the image forming apparatus obtains the length information of the first and the second line drawings. Based on the length information of the first and the second line drawings, a correction condition is set. Then, the image forming apparatus corrects the image data based on the correction condition according to a position of the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuzuru Yano
  • Patent number: 9416495
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a smooth or ultra-smooth printable sheet, the method comprising the steps consisting in: preparing a multilayer structure (12) having at least one bottom plastics film (14), one anti-adhesive intermediate layer (16), and one printable top layer (18), pasting one face (30) of a substrate (24) or the top face (28) of the printable layer, and applying the substrate onto the printable layer in order to laminate them together, then withdrawing the plastics film from the printable layer, the printable layer (18) defining a smooth or ultra-smooth face (22) on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ARJO WIGGINS FINE PAPERS LIMITED
    Inventors: Gael Depres, Jean-Marie Vau
  • Patent number: 9403392
    Abstract: Linerless labels are presented. A label includes a specific pattern or set of patterns of adhesive applied to one side of the label. The adhesive pattern(s) reduces contact between a cutter blade of a printer and the adhesive on the one side of the label. Moreover, the adhesive patterns reduce buildup of adhesive on the cutter blade and reduce buildup at specific locations on the cutter blade. That is, the adhesive patterns more evenly distribute adhesive buildup across the cutter blade. Consequently, the cutter blade can be used for a longer period of time before the cutter blade needs to be cleaned of the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Iconex LLC
    Inventors: Joseph D. Roth, Jody L. Brookshire
  • Patent number: 9403357
    Abstract: An ultraviolet (UV) radiation resistance enhanced printing process uses a thermally migratable ultraviolet radiation absorber applied to a substrate to form a surface protection layer for images within the substrate. A hydrophobic thermally migratable ultraviolet radiation absorber may be applied to a transfer media prior to image transfer or as part of imaging the substrate. The application of the radiation absorber to the transfer media may be delivered digitally, either by inks comprising both sublimable colorants and the radiation absorber, or by inks comprising the radiation absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Inventors: Philip Robinson, Randy Seabrook, Timothy L. Presnell
  • Patent number: 9393804
    Abstract: A device for the selective carbonization of at least a part of a surface of a paper object, including receiving means for receiving the paper object, at least one laser for selectively heating one or more parts of the surface of said paper object to a level wherein the heated part of said surface at least partly carbonizes and thereby changes color, and control means for controlling the laser. A method for the selective carbonization of at least a part of a surface of a paper object, including the steps of: receiving the object in receiving means, and controlling heating means with control means in order to selectively heat one or more parts the surface of said paper object to a level wherein the heated part of said surface at least partly carbonizes and thereby changes color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Tocano Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Venkatesh Seshaiya Doraiswamy Chandrasekar
  • Patent number: 9354670
    Abstract: A modular device and method are disclosed. The modular device includes individual modular units. A first modular unit includes a pivot member and a connector and a second modular unit includes a matching connector and a first mating point. The first mating point is configured to fit a portion of the pivot member. A third modular unit may also be included, where the third modular unit has a second mating point which is configured to fit another portion of the pivot member. The matched connectors align and connect when the second modular unit is rotated about the pivot member into contact with the first modular unit. The third modular unit can also be rotated about the same pivot member with or without the second modular unit connected. The second and third modular units can be rotated independently and/or removed independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Paul David DeRosa, Richard A. Monroe, Gerard Frederick Beckhusen, Nicholas Anthony Stancato, Clark Alexander Bendall
  • Patent number: 9346306
    Abstract: Fanfold and/or perforated media comprising a substrate including one or more friable coatings and an overcoat covering at least a portion of the one or more friable coatings proximate to one or more associated fanfolds and/or perforations is provided, wherein the overcoat mitigates spallation of the one or more friable coatings. Methods and apparatus for making the same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy W. Rawlings, Paul C. Blank, Mary Ann Wehr, Richard D. Puckett
  • Patent number: 9322792
    Abstract: There is provided an X-ray diffraction apparatus configured to irradiate a sample S on a sample stage with X-rays generated from an X-ray source and detect the X-rays diffracted by a sample using a detector, including a virtual mask setting section and a signal processing section. The detector outputs detection signals according to intensity of the X-rays received by detection elements, for each of the plurality of detection elements forming a detection surface. The virtual mask setting section is capable of setting a virtual mask on the detection surface of the detector, and setting at least an opening dimension of the virtual mask as an opening condition of the virtual mask independently in an X direction and a Y direction. The signal processing section processes the detection signals outputted from the detector according to the opening condition of the virtual mask set in the virtual mask setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: RIGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro Kobayashi, Toru Mitsunaga, Koichi Kajiyoshi, Kazuyoshi Arai
  • Patent number: 9315040
    Abstract: An inkjet printer 1 has an ink path 35 communicating with a printhead 12, and a choke unit 46 for closing the ink path 35. The choke unit 46 includes a diaphragm valve 75 that is part of the wall of the ink path 35, a disc moving mechanism 76, and a drive motor 47 as the drive source. The disc moving mechanism 76 moves the diaphragm valve 75 between a closed-channel position 75A in contact with an opposite wall part (bottom 67a of the cavity 67) of the wall opposite the diaphragm valve 75, and an open-channel position 75B separated from this opposite wall part. The disc moving mechanism 76 is located outside the ink path 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ken Inoue
  • Patent number: 9278533
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit which ejects a liquid onto a medium being transported in a state in which an edge portion thereof is aligned with a second end side of a first end and the second end in a width direction intersecting a transport direction of a transport path, a first reception section which receives the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting unit as a waste liquid, a second reception section which receives the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting unit toward the edge portion and is not received by the medium as the waste liquid, and a waste liquid holding section which holds the waste liquid, the waste liquid holding section including an inlet to guide the waste liquid received by the first reception section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masamitsu Shimazu
  • Patent number: 9281705
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette case and a method for charging an electronic cigarette through it are provided. The electronic cigarette case comprises a case body having a charging interface, it further comprises a controller, a trigger switch, a charging detection module and an electronic cigarette charging output module, the trigger switch is set close to the charging interface and will be triggered when the electronic cigarette has been inserted into the charging interface, in case the controller has found out that the trigger switch has been triggered, it will control the electronic cigarette charging output module to enter a charging mode; in case the charging detection module has found out that the electronic cigarette has been fully charged, the controller will control the electronic cigarette charging output module to enter an ultra low standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Zhiyong Xiang
  • Patent number: 9250597
    Abstract: A foreign matter removing apparatus includes: a removing plate disposed above a recording medium carriage path, a first sensor and a second sensor which interpose the removing plate therebetween at equal distances in a carriage direction of the recording medium and are disposed on both sides of the recording medium carriage direction, a first plate and a second plate which come in contact with each other at a position below the removing plate, and are disposed at positions opposed to the first sensor and the second sensor while interposing the recording medium carriage path therebetween so as to be opened and closed in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium carriage direction, a first driving roller disposed between the first sensor and the removing plate, and a second driving roller disposed between the second sensor and the removing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Ken Iguchi, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 9205674
    Abstract: A compact simplex and duplex printer which can be produced easily at a low cost. The simplex and duplex printer includes: a thermal head for performing printing on a substrate; a rolled substrate supply section for supplying a continuous substrate, which is to be printed on one side, to the thermal head; and a sheet-like substrate supply section, provided below the rolled substrate supply section, for sequentially supplying sheet-like substrates, which are to be printed on both sides, to the thermal head. A guide transport path for guiding a sheet-like substrate from the sheet-like substrate supply section to the thermal head is provided between the thermal head and the sheet-like substrate supply section. To the guide transport path is connected a reversing mechanism for reversing the sheet-like substrate which has been returned from the thermal head to the guide transport path. The reversing mechanism includes a rotatable housing shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kamitani, Katsuhisa Ono
  • Patent number: 9079428
    Abstract: A printing system for printing on a print medium is disclosed. A linehead is disposed opposite a first side of the print medium, the linehead defining one or more print zones where a liquid is jetted onto the print medium. One or more vacuum transport rollers having a porous sleeve rotatable around a non-rotating core are disposed adjacent to a second side of the print medium and opposite the linehead. At least one of the vacuum transport rollers is aligned with one of the print zones of the linehead. The rotatable porous sleeve is engaged by the moving print medium that exerts a force on the porous sleeve, causing it to rotate. The core includes a vacuum manifold that outputs a vacuum force that operates on the print medium through the porous sleeve to deflect the print medium and causes the print medium to wrap around the vacuum transport roller(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Piatt, James A. Katerberg, Randy D. Vandagriff
  • Patent number: 9073363
    Abstract: An additional conveyance mechanism of a printer, a first printing section, and a second printing section, wherein the additional conveyance mechanism of the printer apparatus comprises: a second paper conveyance path configured to convey papers having only one printing surface in which side it is merged with the first paper conveyance path between the first printing section and the second printing section, and a separation mechanism configured to separate the thermal printing head carrying out no printing from the platen roller in the contacted thermal printing heads and platen rollers when the papers loaded in the printer apparatus and the additional conveyance mechanism of the printer apparatus are printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Tsuyoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 9061530
    Abstract: A printer apparatus includes a frame, a printer head, a platen roller that is supported by the frame, a biasing member that is provided between the frame and the printer head and configured to exert force toward the platen roller, and an opening/closing arm supported by the frame to rotate and move about an arm rotation shaft. A contact part between the opening/closing arm and a platen bearing of the platen roller is positioned opposite from a side in which the printer head is provided with respect to a line that connects a center of the arm rotation shaft and a center of the platen bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchiya, Yukihiro Mori, Sumio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9050835
    Abstract: A method for printing on a print medium is disclosed. The method includes providing a linehead defining one or more print zones and adapted to jet liquid onto the print medium. One or more vacuum transport rollers having a porous sleeve rotatable around a non-rotating core are also provided. At least one vacuum transport roller is disposed adjacent to the second side of the movable print medium, opposite the first linehead, and aligned with a print zone. The core includes a vacuum manifold that outputs a vacuum force that operates on the print medium through the porous sleeve. The print medium is moved through the printing system and a vacuum force deflects the print medium, causing an increase in a wrap angle of the print medium around the vacuum transport roller. Liquid is jetted from the linehead onto the print medium to form a print.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Piatt, James A. Katerberg, Randy D. Vandagriff
  • Patent number: 9044985
    Abstract: A printing device may include a medium conveying passage along which the printing medium is conveyed; a printing thermal head structured to heat an ink ribbon; a ribbon supplying part; a ribbon winding part; an erasing thermal head disposed between the printing thermal head and the ribbon winding part in a feed direction of the ink ribbon, the erasing thermal head heating the ink ribbon after ink is transferred by the printing thermal head; a transferred roller oppositely disposed to the erasing thermal head and is transferred with ink of the ink ribbon heated by the erasing thermal head; and a roller holding part which holds the transferred roller. The transferred roller may be capable of being attached to and detached from the roller holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiji Ohta
  • Patent number: 9041752
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer performing printing processing that forms desired print on a print-receiving medium. The printer includes a cartridge holder, a drive device, a thermal head, an energization device, an attribute detecting device, a first determination portion, and a processing portion. The cartridge holder removably mounts a cartridge. The drive device drives a feeding roller to feed the print-receiving medium. The thermal head performs printing on the print-receiving medium fed. The energization device controls energization of the thermal head. The attribute detecting device detects an attribute of the print-receiving medium. The first determination portion determines whether or not a tube cartridge capable of supplying a tubular print-receiving medium is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Murata, Kiyoichi Ohta, Hisako Tonishi
  • Patent number: 9035984
    Abstract: A printing system and printing apparatus are provided with improvements in the image quality of an image formed on a printing medium, a peel off region (PO) wherein a transfer layer of a transfer film is not transferred is set corresponding to a card, modified printing data is generated by modifying a gray-scale value of printing data inside a region that is larger than the PO region by predetermined dimensions and including the PO region in the printing data of Y, M, C and Bk into a gray-scale value of 0, an image is formed on the transfer film by heating a thermal head for an image formation panel of an ink ribbon according to the modified printing data. The transfer layer is peeled off by heating the thermal head for a peel off panel of the ink ribbon according to position information of the PO region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Aihara, Naoki Shimizu, Tomohisa Koike
  • Patent number: 9024987
    Abstract: A receipt issuing apparatus includes a conveying unit conveys a receipt paper which consists of a strip-shaped thermal recording paper and on which pieces of promotion-related information are pre-printed at predetermined positions which are arranged at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the receipt paper, a thermal printing unit prints the detail data of a commodity transaction on the receipt paper conveyed by the conveying unit by thermal printing, a mask printing control unit overprints a mask data for hiding the information over the information printed on the receipt paper by the thermal printing unit and an issuing control unit issues a receipt by cutting off the receipt paper on which mask data is printed by the mask printing control unit at a position more upstream than the printing position of the mask data in the conveying direction of the conveying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9024986
    Abstract: There is provided a method for imaging a dual-sided thermal media. The method includes detecting one or more sense marks disposed on the thermal media and controlling activation of one or more of a first print head and a second print head to image a respective one or more of a first side and a second side of the thermal media based on the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph D. Roth, Wendell B. Halbrook, Maryann Wehr, Michael J. VanDemark
  • Patent number: 9024991
    Abstract: A laser marker includes a laser irradiation device that irradiates a card with a laser beam; a base unit that supports the card; a drive roller that is provided in the base unit and that is in contact with a lower surface of the card; a rotation member that rotates between a holding position and a withdrawn position, the holding position being a position in which the rotation member holds the card in cooperation with the base unit, the withdrawn position being outside of an optical path of the laser beam; a pinch roller that is provided in the rotation member, that is in contact with an upper surface of the card, and that transports the card in cooperation with the drive roller; and a prism that is fixed to the rotation member and that transmits and refracts the laser beam when the rotation member is in the holding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohisa Ugajin, Ryoichi Umezawa
  • Patent number: 9013528
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses a handheld printer comprising a battery power supply, a platen roller configured to feed the print-receiving paper, a thermal line head configured to perform desired printing on the print-receiving paper fed by the platen roller, a device main body comprising a battery storage chamber configured to store the battery power supply, and a battery chamber cover detachably configured to be mounted on the battery storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Takahashi, Keiji Seo, Hidenori Jo, Toshiyuki Furuyama, Shuhei Nohara, Masato Nagura, Takehiko Inaba, Toshiyuki Ohmori
  • Patent number: 8967756
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printer includes an image forming unit, a coloring conversion unit, and a deterring unit. The image forming unit forms an image from a temperature-sensitive ink whose color is changed depending on a temperature on a medium. The coloring conversion unit converts a coloring state of the image of the temperature-sensitive ink by heating or cooling the image of the temperature-sensitive ink. The deterring unit provided between the coloring conversion unit and the image forming unit deters an air heated or cooled by the coloring conversion unit from flowing toward the image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Ishii, Kiyoshi Morino, Sadayoshi Mochida, Chikahiro Saegusa
  • Publication number: 20150054903
    Abstract: Methods and systems for high speed surface blackening and/or coloring are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation from an ultrashort pulse laser (UPL); coupling the electromagnetic radiation from the UPL to a scanner comprising a scanning and focus range, wherein the scanner is configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the UPL and to scan and focus the electromagnetic radiation onto a sample; using a computer to adjust the pulse repetition rate and the energy of the UPL; using a five degree of freedom motorized stage to position the sample; using a dichroic filter positioned between the scanner and the sample; focusing an imager through the dichroic filter and onto the surface of the sample; using a processor to acquire and process images to monitor the surface blackening and/or coloring of the sample within the scanning and focus range of the electromagnetic radiation. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Jian Liu
  • Publication number: 20150054904
    Abstract: A substrate mounting structure includes a substrate, a substrate support portion, a protruding portion, and a screw. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface that is a surface on an opposite side to the first surface. The substrate support portion includes a screw hole and is a section of an outer peripheral portion of the screw hole. The section comes into contact with the first surface of the substrate. The protruding portion is provided on at least a part of a section of the outer peripheral portion apart from the substrate support portion, and protrudes further in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface than the substrate support portion. The screw is screwed into the screw hole and clamps the substrate together with the substrate support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Ryoya Takahashi, Takashi Goto, Minoru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8960121
    Abstract: A relief print master is created by a printhead that moves in a slow scan direction. The nozzles of the printhead jet droplets of a polymerisable liquid on a rotating drum. The different nozzles jet droplets simultaneously on different layers that have different diameters. As a result, the droplets jetted by different nozzles travel over different distances before landing. The effect of this is that the droplets undergo different position lag as they land on the different layers. By rotating the printhead in a plane that is orthogonal to the jetting direction this effect can be compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventor: Chris Gullentops
  • Patent number: 8953005
    Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge includes an ink ribbon onto which decolorizable ink is applied, a transfer unit configured to thermally transfer the decolorizable ink on the ink ribbon to a recording medium such that an image is formed on the recording medium as the ink ribbon is conveyed, and a heating unit configured to heat a portion of the ink ribbon that has passed the transfer unit when the image was formed on the recording medium, at a temperature at which the decolorizable ink is decolorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshifumi Mimura
  • Publication number: 20150037520
    Abstract: A thermal transfer donor element has a polymeric support having at least a portion thereof coated with a thermal transferable protective transparent film. This film comprises: (1) a poly(vinyl acetal) in an amount of at least 50-70 weight %, (2) a second polymer, and (3) colloidal silica. In addition, (a) the molecular weight of the second polymer is greater than the molecular weight of the poly(vinyl acetal), (b) the weight ratio of the poly(vinyl acetal) to the second polymer is at least 5:1 and up to and including 12:1, (c) the weight ratio of colloidal silica to the second polymer is at least 1.5:1 and up to and including 3:1, and (d) the amount of colloidal silica is at least 10 weight % and up to and including 20 weight %, based on total thermal transferable protective transparent film dry weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: KODAK ALARIS INC.
    Inventors: David George Foster, Robert W Wagner
  • Patent number: 8947485
    Abstract: A drawing control device includes: a fill-stroke generating unit that generates a fill stroke that includes a plurality of strokes that fill a drawing area; a shape-stroke generating unit that generates a shape stroke which is a stroke of a shape to be formed on the drawing area; a first detecting unit that detects an overlap portion where the fill stroke and the shape stroke overlap with each other; a modifying unit that removes the overlap portion from the fill stroke to modify the fill stroke to obtain a drawing stroke; a drawing-instruction generating unit that generates a drawing instruction for drawing each stroke in the drawing stroke; and a drawing control unit that controls a drawing device by using the drawing instruction to cause the drawing device to draw the drawing stroke on an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Fumihiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8947484
    Abstract: A printer comprising: a housing having an accommodating portion that accommodates recording paper and opens in a direction crossing the direction of gravity; a cover coupled to the housing in an openable and closable manner, and closing the accommodating portion; a control unit provided on the cover and having a circuit board; an lever provided in the housing at a position above the control unit in the direction of gravity and opening the cover; and a discharge path provided on the cover outside the control unit and leading liquid having entered through between the lever and the control unit toward an area below the control unit in the direction of gravity, wherein the discharge path including an upstream side end disposed on the cover below the lever in the direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Aizawa, Hiroyuki Kohira
  • Patent number: 8947481
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer comprises a print object receiving portion, a first, a second, and a third increment mode receiving portion, a first and a second image generating portion. The print object receiving portion receives an input operation of the print object comprising a print identifier. The first increment mode receiving portion receives a setup operation of the print identifier, an increment interval, and an increment execution count. The first image generating portion generates first printed matter images using a plurality of different types of increment patterns. The second increment mode receiving portion receives a selection operation of the plurality of types of increment patterns. The second image generating portion generates second printed matter images using a plurality of different types of assignment patterns. The third increment mode receiving portion receives a selection operation of any one of the plurality of types of assignment patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Ishii, Takahiro Miwa
  • Publication number: 20150022581
    Abstract: A multipurpose printer and techniques for operating the printer are presented. A printer includes first and second print elements. During a first mode of operation for the printer, both the first and second print elements are configured to image both first and second sides of print media passing through the printer. During a second mode of operation, the first print element is prevented from interfacing with at least portions of the first side of the media that include adhesive materials affixed thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Michael J. VanDemark, Mark E. Keeton, Timothy W. Rawlings
  • Patent number: 8933978
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a substrate processing device, such as a printing device. In some embodiments, the device includes a substrate supply, a reusable card, an operative unit, at least one transport mechanism, and a controller. The substrate supply is configured to support a plurality of operative substrates. The reusable card is stored in a dedicated storage area, which does not receive the operative substrates. The controller is configured to control the at least one transport mechanism and the operative unit to deliver the reusable card from the storage area to the operative unit, to process the reusable card with the operative unit, and return the reusable card to the storage area, multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
    Inventors: Daniel J. Fowell, Jeffrey L. Stangler
  • Patent number: 8932677
    Abstract: Liquid dispensing includes providing a downwardly inclined slide surface and a carrier liquid dispensing channel that includes an outlet opening on the slide surface. A carrier liquid source is pressurized causing carrier liquid to flow continuously through the outlet opening of the carrier liquid dispensing channel and down the slide surface. A liquid dispenser array structure is provided and includes functional liquid dispensers located on a substrate that is common to the functional liquid dispensers. The functional liquid dispensers include a functional liquid supply channel, a functional liquid source that provides functional liquid, and a drop formation device associated with an interface of the functional liquid supply channel and the slide surface. The drop formation device is selectively actuated to form discrete functional liquid drops in the carrier liquid flowing down the slide surface. The functional liquid is immiscible in the carrier liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Marcus, Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh
  • Patent number: 8922607
    Abstract: A method for printing a label having a first side, a second side, and a border comprises the step of providing a printing apparatus. The border is coated with an adhesive at the second side and a release liner is releasably secured thereto. The apparatus comprises a direct thermal printer having a first print head and a thermal transfer printer adjacent thereto and having a second print head. The method includes the step of coating the second side with a direct thermal coating, and the step of situating the label underneath the printing apparatus such that each of the first print head and the second print head face the first side. A controller is used to cause the direct thermal printer to print a second indicia on the second side, and to cause the thermal transfer printer to print a first indicia on the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ward Kraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnny Bellmyer
  • Patent number: 8917297
    Abstract: A heat transferring device for a workpiece such as a pen barrel includes a pneumatic mechanism, a roller mechanism, a heating mechanism, and a rolling mechanism. The pneumatic mechanism is connected with the roller mechanism. The rolling mechanism rotates the pen barrel, and the roller mechanism includes an elastic force applying mechanism that applies an elastic force on the pen barrel during rotation. As the rolling mechanism rotates the pen barrel, the elastic force applying mechanism applies an elastic force to the pen barrel that keeps a roller wheel in contact with respective faces of the pen barrel during rotation. Thus, the force that the elastic force applying mechanism applies to the pen barrel is uniform and the respective faces of the pen barrel receive a uniform force. Therefore, the device can heat transfer designs on pen barrels having non-circular as well as circular shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Beifa Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cailiang Dong, Xianghong Wang
  • Patent number: 8917298
    Abstract: An apparatus for drawing an image on a thermal medium includes a stroke group generating unit configured to group continuous strokes forming the image of a desired character to be drawn to generate one or more stroke groups of the continuous strokes, a first overlapped part removing unit configured to detect a first overlapped part between a first combination of the strokes associated with the same stroke group to remove the first overlapped part in an arranged order of the strokes within the same stroke group, and a second overlapped part removing unit configured to detect a second overlapped part between a second combination of the strokes associated with plural of the stroke groups to remove the second overlapped part from the stroke groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumihiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8916018
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an organic light emitting display panel is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes i) a first roll around which a film is wound to be continuously drawn, ii) a second roll arranged to face the first roll and around which the film is continuously wound, iii) a plurality of chambers disposed between the first and second rolls and through which the film passes, and in which laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) is performed on a substrate by forming a transfer layer on the film, and iv) a gate unit installed at least one of the chambers and disposed at at least one of a film inlet and a film output of the chambers that are installed, to maintain a substantially vacuum state in the chambers during passing of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Chul Lee, Jae-Seok Park, Jae-Ha Lim, Jin-Han Park, Dong-Sul Kim
  • Patent number: 8905660
    Abstract: A printer and a method of controlling a printer in order to print out a report relating to data recorded by a tachograph are disclosed, the printer having a supply of printing medium and being equipped with a medium transport device. In the disclosed printer, rest state transport of the printing medium is carried out at periodically repeating intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Harry Kiemele, Andreas Lindinger
  • Patent number: 8907994
    Abstract: A printer has a heat source disposed adjacent a temperature sensor to transfer heat upon activation across a portion of an introduced print media to the temperature sensor and a controller to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and to obtain a temperature signature generally identifying attributes of the introduced print media and to adjust print head settings in response to the identified attributes. The printer may further comprise a sensor to detect access to a print media storage compartment and to initiate examination of the heat transfer properties of the introduced print media upon detecting that the print storage compartment has been accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stacy L. Arrington, Hye S. Makley, Dean F. Herring, Jason A. Matteson
  • Publication number: 20140340458
    Abstract: A method for printing a label having a first side, a second side, and a border comprises the step of providing a printing apparatus. The border is coated with an adhesive at the second side and a release liner is releasably secured thereto. The apparatus comprises a direct thermal printer having a first print head and a thermal transfer printer adjacent thereto and having a second print head. The method includes the step of coating the second side with a direct thermal coating, and the step of situating the label underneath the printing apparatus such that each of the first print head and the second print head face the first side. A controller is used to cause the direct thermal printer to print a second indicia on the second side, and to cause the thermal transfer printer to print a first indicia on the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Ward Kraft, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnny Bellmyer
  • Publication number: 20140340459
    Abstract: The heat-sensitive transfer recording medium of the invention is such that an equilibrium moisture absorption rate at 23° C./50% of an undercoating layer containing a water-soluble polymer as a main component is about 15% or less, preferably 13% or less, and more preferably, a mean value (?) of the surface roughness (root mean square deviation Sq) of the heat-resistant lubricating layer is about 0.05-0.40 ?m, a mean value (?) of the surface roughness (root mean square deviation Sq) of the heat-resistant lubricating layer after being allowed to stand for 10 minutes at 150° C. is about 0.00-0.70 ?m, and a difference between the mean value (?) and the mean value (?) is about 0.00-0.30 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Godai FUKUNAGA, Takehito Yamato, Yasuo Sugishita, Yoko Hirai
  • Patent number: 8890914
    Abstract: A thermal printer includes a casing, a thermal head module and a guiding component. The thermal head module is detachably installed inside the casing, and the thermal head module includes a bracket, a thermal head and a pivoting component. The thermal head is installed on the bracket, and the pivoting component is disposed on an end of the bracket. The pivoting component is pivotally engaged with the casing. The guiding component is rotatably installed inside the casing and for guiding a printing medium. The guiding component includes a holding portion for holding the pivoting component of the thermal head module as the guiding component rotates in a first rotating direction relative to the casing, so as to drive the pivoting component to separate from the casing, so that the thermal head module is detached from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: IEI Integration Corp., Armorlink SH Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Tsung Chang
  • Patent number: 8885002
    Abstract: A printing system or a printer with a pair of printheads detects a position of receiver media in the printer and directs either second page data or first page data to be printed first depending at which printhead the receiver media is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: John Emmanuel Wright, Alex David Horvath, Robert Fredric Mindler
  • Patent number: 8857933
    Abstract: A reservoir of an ink supply system is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Campion, Aaron Barclay, Chad Beery, Randy Johnston
  • Patent number: 8854685
    Abstract: Provided is an image determination device including a sheet detecting unit that detects a sheet on which a code image is printed, a first acquiring unit that acquires information on the code image and an absorption wavelength of the code image, a second acquiring unit that acquires a reading unit necessary for decoding a code portion of the code image, a third acquiring unit that acquires a document image of an electronic document, a dividing unit that divides the document image into plural blocks corresponding to the reading unit, a detecting unit that detects a block in which an image portion of the document image that uses a color having an absorption band at the absorption wavelength of the code image overlaps with the code portion of the code image as an undecodable block, and an output unit that outputs a warning indicating the generation of an undecodable area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Suguru Nakaso
  • Patent number: 8848010
    Abstract: Thermal printers and methods of operating thereof are provided. In one embodiment, a thermal printer comprising a thermal print head, thermal media including a direct thermal thermally sensitive coating on at least a first side thereof, and a thermal transfer ribbon installed between the thermal print head and the first side of the thermal media is provided, wherein the thermal print head is adapted to apply heat at a first temperature to image the direct thermal thermally sensitive coating without transferring a thermal transfer coating associated with the thermal transfer ribbon and a second temperature to image the direct thermal thermally sensitive coating and transfer the thermal transfer coating associated with the thermal transfer ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Mark E. Keeton, Yaoping Tan