Measuring And Testing (e.g., Diagnostics) Patents (Class 347/19)
  • Patent number: 9600749
    Abstract: A method for printing at least one carrier element, in particular at least one pack, in at least one printing operation includes sensing a position of the at least one carrier element, orienting at least one piece of information on the basis of the sensed position of the at least one carrier element, storing the at least one piece of information in at least one file, and printing the at least one piece of information onto the carrier element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Asmus Mueller, Gerhard Bolli
  • Patent number: 9602583
    Abstract: One example discloses a peripheral supply component. The peripheral supply component includes a supply item (130) to provide resources on an installed peripheral component (110), wherein the supply item (130) is a consumable, upgradable, or replacement component on the installed peripheral component (110). An encoded component (140) is installed with the supply item (130), wherein the encoded component (140) is employed to generate a message event related to the peripheral component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David B. Novak, Brian Woods, Erik D. Ness, Huston W. Rice, Amy Shipman
  • Patent number: 9592690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a print head for printing optical structures on a substrate comprising an ejection device for ejecting at least one droplet of a printing ink towards the substrate in order to build up the optical structure, wherein the print head comprises a measurement means for contactless measuring at least one physical parameter of the at least one deposited droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: LUXEXCEL HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Kurt Blessing, Richard van de Vrie
  • Patent number: 9592671
    Abstract: An example method for managing a service cartridge for an inkjet printhead in accordance with the present disclosure is provided. The service cartridge comprises a printing fluid storage container for receiving printing fluid discharged from the printhead and a web wipe intended to be advanced a predetermined length for performing a wiping operation on the printhead. The method comprises monitoring the amount of discharged printing fluid into the container, monitoring the amount of consumed web wipe, and causing that in a subsequent wiping operation the web wipe is advanced a length that is higher than the predetermined length, if the ratio of the amount of discharged printing fluid to the capacity of the printing fluid storage container is higher than the ratio of the amount of consumed web wipe to the total length of the web wipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Xavier Gros, Gloria Hernandez Ballester
  • Patent number: 9591186
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image output device, a measurement sensor, a tone correction value generation unit, and a tone correction unit. The image output device outputs an image on a recording medium with a mixture of a plurality of basic colors based on an image data array combining the basic colors. The measurement sensor measures a reflection characteristic of at least a part of the image output by the image output device. The tone correction value generation unit generates, for each of the basic colors, a tone correction value for correcting a tone characteristic of the basic color by synthesizing a correction array forming a regular matrix based on the reflection characteristic measured by the measurement sensor and the image data array. The tone correction unit corrects an image output by the image output device with the tone correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Shibuya
  • Patent number: 9591163
    Abstract: A marking apparatus for applying a message to an article, the apparatus comprising: a processor arranged to generate a message for application to an article and to control the operation of the marking apparatus by, at least in part, executing an operational behavior script formed using a scripting language; and a printing arrangement for applying a generated message to an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Domino Printing Sciences PLC
    Inventors: Cameron Robert Edgar, Steven Geoffrey Luke
  • Patent number: 9573383
    Abstract: The test image is formed in accordance with input data in which a plurality of recording elements selected every N (an integer of 1 or more) pieces in a projected recording element group is indicated as a first recording element and a recording element that is not selected as the first recording element is indicated as a second recording element, the input data allowing: a first-stage pattern to be formed in a recording area of the second recording element in accordance with a second input gradation value; a recording position in the second direction to be sequentially changed; and the first recording element and the second recording element to be sequentially switched to form a second-stage pattern to an (N+1)-th-stage pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Ukishima
  • Patent number: 9571670
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus which inspects an image determines a type of a printing error based on characteristics of a place where the printing error has occurred, and controls a printing apparatus according to the determined type of printing error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Maho Ooyanagi
  • Patent number: 9569631
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring an electronics device. The method includes receiving, by the electronics device, a request for a command to perform a predetermined operation by the electronics device and sending the command in response to receiving the request. The electronics device then receives a signature based upon the command, whereupon the electronics device verifies the signature by the electronics device and, following an affirmative verification, executes the command for performing the predetermined operation. In this way, the electronics device may be reconfigured remotely without knowledge of the particular command for performing the predetermined operation by the electronics device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Adkins, Stephen Porter Bush, Mark Walter Fagan, Duane Edward Norris, Douglas Keith Perterson, Jr., Thomas James Wack, Gregory Scott Woods
  • Patent number: 9568881
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a transport section that transports a recording medium; and a floating detection section that detects floating of the recording medium. The floating detection section has a plurality of light emitting elements capable of emitting light to positions different from each other in the recording medium and one light receiving element capable of sequentially receiving reflected light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements. The floating in the different positions is capable of being detected from received light intensity of the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9566784
    Abstract: An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes a reversible thermal substrate that changes optical density in areas where material drops are ejected onto the substrate. An optical sensor generates image data of the substrate after material drops are ejected onto the substrate and these image data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Victoria L. Warner, James L. Giacobbi, Matthew R. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 9563162
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a controller configured to provide a page countdown for a replaceable toner cartridge of the image forming device on a display screen. The controller, upon detecting an installation of an imaging unit previously mated with a first toner cartridge that was out of usable toner and detecting a presence of a second toner cartridge, is configured to determine whether the second toner cartridge is out of usable toner. The controller is configured to determine a number of pages remaining for a page countdown associated with the life of the second toner cartridge and whether the toner sump of the imaging unit contains sufficient toner to print the number of pages remaining for the page countdown associated with the life of the second toner cartridge if the second toner cartridge is out of usable toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thad Carlton Switzer, Jason Carl True
  • Patent number: 9557940
    Abstract: Provided is image forming system wherein an image forming apparatus (IFA) being able to print a document even when a battery exhaustion attacks on a mobile communication terminal (MCT). A battery residual electric charge detection part of the MCT is configured to detect a residual electric charge of the battery. A print operation process part of the MCT is configured to transmit, prior to transmitting print setting data, a document priority transmission signal and the document data to the IFA, in a case where, based on the detected residual electric charge of the battery and a data size of the document data, the residual electric charge of the battery is recognized insufficient. A remote control operation receiving part of the IFA is configured to, when receives the document priority transmission request, receive the document data prior to receiving an unreceived data based on another transmission request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Shintani
  • Patent number: 9555651
    Abstract: A method of controlling discharge of printed sheets, which makes it possible to acquire a desired number of printed sheets as a sheet bundle. A controller determines whether or not printed sheets are stored in the stacker. The controller detects the number of printed sheets stored in the stacker. A controller causes the stored printed sheets to be discharged from the stacker as a sheet bundle when the number of printed sheets stored in the stacker is equal to a desired sheet count set by a user. In a case where the set desired sheet count has been changed, if it is determined that the printed sheets are stored in the stacker, the controller causes the printed sheets stored in the sheet discharge unit to be discharged from the stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Wakana
  • Patent number: 9555634
    Abstract: A printing material receptacle fitted on a folder of a printing apparatus that includes a writing unit. The printing material receptacle includes a housing to accommodate ink; a first recording portion formed on a face of the housing and for recording updatable first information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable and visible using a non-electronic method, the face being exposed from the folder when the printing material receptacle is fitted on the folder; and a second recording portion formed on the face of the housing and for recording updatable second information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable, invisible, and mechanically readable using a non-electronic method. The first and second recording portions are configured to be written with the first and second information respectively by the writing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihito Matsumoto, Yoshihiro Koizumi, Takeshi Iwamuro, Masaru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9544472
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading device including an irradiation section that irradiates a reading position with light, a color chart that includes plural color patches, and that is provided on a curved surface of a rotatable roller, an image capturing section that captures an image of the color chart at the reading position, and that outputs image signals which express the captured image, a correction section that corrects the image signals using a correction coefficient corresponding to the curved surface, and a calibration section that performs calibration using the image signals, which are corrected by the correction section, and representative color values of the plural color patches, the representative color values being stored in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Fukunaga, Kiyofumi Aikawa, Takashi Hiramatsu, Masaki Hachisuga, Michio Kikuchi, Hideki Moriya
  • Patent number: 9539823
    Abstract: An ink jet recording method uses an ink jet recording apparatus including a plurality of heads arranged in parallel in a first direction, each of which ejects droplets of a different radiation-curable ink composition onto a recording medium, and first light sources provided for corresponding heads so as to be disposed at a predetermined side of the corresponding heads. The first light sources emit active radiation to irradiate the droplets on the recording medium. The method includes ejecting droplets of the ink compositions from the heads onto the recording medium, and performing a first irradiation by irradiating the droplets of each ink composition with the active radiation from the corresponding first light source at an irradiation energy within 500 ms after the droplets have landed. The irradiation energy is in the range of 5% to 10% of the energy E90 at which the ink composition is 90% cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taketoshi Kagose, Satoru Miura
  • Patent number: 9533509
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting system includes a liquid ejecting device, a liquid storing container, a tube, and a rotation section. The liquid ejecting device is configured and arranged to eject liquid. The liquid storing container is configured and arranged to store the liquid that is supplied to the liquid ejecting device. The tube has flexibility, is provided between the liquid storing container and the liquid ejecting device, and is configured and arranged to supply the liquid, which is in the liquid storing container, to a side of the liquid ejecting device. The rotation section rotatably supports the liquid storing container with respect to the liquid ejecting device. The tube extends toward the side of the liquid ejecting device from a side of the liquid storing container through a passage provided in the rotation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tokujiro Okuno, Munehide Kanaya
  • Patent number: 9533491
    Abstract: A print strategy periodically inserts sacrificial print media, such as a small number of sacrificial sheets of paper into a print job to exercise underused print head jets and prevent nozzle dry-up and/or degraded jetting integrity. This can be implemented with sacrificial sheets out of a tray used by a current print job or from another paper tray housing, for example, the widest stock currently installed in the image forming device. Jets that need to be exercised can be determined by using Feed-Forward image content from the Image Path, and those jets are exercised to print ink on the sacrificial sheet(s). The sacrificial sheet may be diverted to a bypass tray as scrap. Without the need for a purge cycle, or a cycle-down, the image forming device can continue seamlessly to the next print job without performance loss from using the previously under-used print head jets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jason M. LeFevre, Michael J. Levy, David A. Mantell
  • Patent number: 9527325
    Abstract: A media alignment method includes printing a calibration pattern on a media in a print one by a printhead including forming a first corner identification marker at a first corner of a reference edge of the media, a second corner identification marker at a second corner of the reference edge, and a linear identification marker. The method also includes capturing the calibration pattern by an image capturing unit. The method also includes determining a printhead axis based on the linear identification marker, determining a default printhead origin based on the printhead axis and the linear identification marker, and determining a media origin based on the printhead axis, the first corner identification marker, and the second corner identification marker. The method also includes determining an offset compensation parameter by the determination module corresponding to a distance between the default printhead origin and the media origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Bo Yuan Sun
  • Patent number: 9527324
    Abstract: A control unit includes a moving unit that causes a recording unit to move in a reciprocating manner, a detection unit that detects a movement error of the moving unit, a control unit that controls the moving unit such that the recording unit is caused to move in a second direction if the movement error is detected while the recording unit is caused to move in a first direction, a notification unit that issues error notification according to a result of movement of the moving unit, and an execution unit that executes an operation for identifying a cause of the movement error of the moving unit in a case where the moving unit has been able to move in the second direction by the controlling of the control unit, wherein the notification unit issues error notification according to an execution result of the operation by the execution unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Aoyama, Koya Iwakura, Tetsuya Saito
  • Patent number: 9527276
    Abstract: A system and method for testing printheads is disclosed. The system comprises an optical sensor mounted on a movable carriage. The optical sensor is moved past a nozzle to be tested on the printhead while the nozzle ejects ink. The output signal of the optical sensor can be used to determine when the trajectory of the ejected ink is improper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Laura Portela Mala, David Soriano Fosas
  • Patent number: 9527312
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a discharge unit that is capable of discharging a liquid, a medium support unit in which an opening portion is provided, and which supports a medium onto which the liquid is discharged, a heater that is capable of applying heat to the medium, a sensor that detects an energy in a detectable region, a control unit that is capable of changing an output of the heater on the basis of the energy, and a detectable portion whose energy is detected by the sensor, and which is provided in a position that is within the opening portion and is within the detectable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Hara, Shuichiro Nakano, Eiji Kumai
  • Patent number: 9522527
    Abstract: A sensor images drops ejected from a printhead nozzle. The sensor has two parallel spaced-apart rows of imaging pixels. In one example, a lens projects an image of a drop ejected from a printhead onto the rows sequentially as the drop travels along a trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephan R. Clark, Alexander Govyadinov, Jonathan James Mott, Lorraine Theresa Widmann
  • Patent number: 9517619
    Abstract: A method and printing controller for industrial printing with the use of a plurality of print-heads for a single printing assignment are described. Printing instructions for a single printing assignment are obtained. Different portions of the single printing assignment, and associated portions of the printing instructions, are assigned among respective print-heads of a plurality of print-heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Markem-Imaje Holding
    Inventors: Mikael Palmen, Isak Styf
  • Patent number: 9511589
    Abstract: An ink jet printer is provided with an ink jet head in which a nozzle for discharging an ink droplet toward a print medium is formed, a light emitting section that emits light for detecting the flying ink droplet that was discharged from the nozzle, and a light receiving section that receives the light emitted by the light emitting section are provided; detects the ink droplet in a case where an amount of the light received by the light receiving section among the light emitted by the light emitting section is equal to or less than a predetermined amount; and determines that a nozzle is defective (S167) in a case where the ink droplet discharged from the nozzle based on print data in the printing by the ink jet head is not detected at a scheduled timing of passing through a detection region (YES in S163 and YES in S164).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 9511606
    Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided, which is configured to acquire gap information related to a gap between an ink discharging surface and a recording sheet in each individual position of top-formed positions and bottom-formed positions within a predetermined wave-shape generating range, identify, when the predetermined wave-shape generating range includes a partial range in which the recording sheet is not placed, a top-formed position where the gap information has not been acquired and a bottom-formed position where the gap information has not been acquired, within the partial range, complement the unacquired gap information in the identified top-formed position with a value determined based on the respective pieces of gap information acquired in other top-formed positions, and complement the unacquired gap information in the identified bottom-formed position with a value determined based on the respective pieces of gap information acquired in other bottom-formed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Arakane
  • Patent number: 9505175
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing device including a main body having a reference side and a support side, a plurality of driving units disposed on the main body connecting the reference side with the support side along an axis, a carrying unit including a plurality of axial connection portions, a plurality of sensing units disposed on the reference side and respectively corresponding to the axial connection portions and a control unit coupled to the driving units and the sensing units is provided. The carrying unit is assembled on the driving units and driven by the driving units to move between the reference side and the support side. Each sensing unit detects that each corresponding axial connection portion arrives at the reference side and accordingly produces a termination signal, and the control unit synchronizes operations of the driving units according to the termination signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: XYZprinting, Inc., Kinpo Electronics, Inc., Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventors: Chung-Yuan Cheng, Shih-Nan Lu, Shih-Jer Din, Jui-Feng Chang
  • Patent number: 9505252
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head having nozzles ejecting ink onto a recording medium, a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium, and a carriage. A sensor is mounted on the carriage for detecting image density. A detection controller that performs control to record test patterns on the recording medium and read densities of the test patterns using the sensor to thereby detect a non-ejection nozzle of the recording head. The test patterns are formed by recording a line including a predetermined number of dots in predetermined areas for respective nozzles every plurality of times of conveyance of the recording medium. The detection controller reads the test patterns using the sensor, calculates a position of a non-recorded portion in the test patterns, and specifies a position of the non-ejection nozzle based on the calculated position of the non-recorded portion and positions of the nozzles that record the test patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: OKI Data Infotech Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Aoi
  • Patent number: 9506805
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a discharging unit configured to discharge liquid onto a medium: a color measuring unit configured to measure a color of the medium on which the liquid has been discharged; a carriage on which the discharging unit and the color measuring unit are mounted; and a relative transporting unit configured to transport the medium and the carriage with respect to each other. The color measuring unit includes a variable wavelength interference filter configured to change a gap between reflecting films on substrates that face each other with the gap therebetween and shock-absorbing members are provided between the carriage and the color measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryohei Kuri, Teruyuki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9498972
    Abstract: In a system of a data processing apparatus coupled to a printer, the apparatus sends a status information transmission request to the printer and, in response, receives status information from the printer. The status information includes ink storage identification information written in a memory contained in an ink storage, device identification information identifying the printer in which the ink storage is installed, and ink usage amount information for use by the printer in calculating a remaining ink amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Keigo Ejiri, Toshiaki Koike
  • Patent number: 9498953
    Abstract: A printhead die includes a SiO2 layer grown into a surface of a silicon substrate, and a dielectric layer deposited onto an interior surface area of a substrate. Multiple termination rings are formed around the interior surface area. Each ring is defined by an absence of the dielectric layer. A berm is located in between each termination ring. Each berm is defined by the presence of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Fuller, Rio Rivas, Kellie Susanne Jensen
  • Patent number: 9492999
    Abstract: Drop detection are disclosed. An example liquid dispensing device includes a controller to control dispensing of a first drop from a first orifice and a second drop from a second orifice, a sensor to monitor the first orifice to detect at least one of a presence or an absence of a drop from the first orifice and, in response to the sensor detecting an absence of the first drop, the controller is to classify the first orifice as at least one of occluded or non-functioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kenneth Ward, Alexander Govyadinov
  • Patent number: 9495671
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for printing a receipt. Receipt data may be generated at a point-of-sale terminal. At least one value adding message including a graphical image may be automatically selected and dynamic content for the value adding message may be automatically generated. A receipt may be printed by a point-of-sale printer, the receipt including the receipt data, the graphical image, and the dynamic content, wherein the dynamic content is printed in a window embedded within the graphic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Mobivity, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Ferro, Bradley G. Bennett, Roberto C. Aguilar, Nicholas Matthew Bolton
  • Patent number: 9487037
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a transport unit that has a transport roller which transports a medium; a detection unit that has an image acquiring section which acquires an image of the medium and that detects a transport amount of the medium based on the image acquired by the image acquiring section; and a control unit that controls the transport unit based on a detection amount which is the transport amount detected by the detection unit. The control unit calculates a correction amount with which the transport amount of the medium is corrected, based on the detection amount. When the detection amount is an abnormal value, the transport unit is controlled based on the correction amount obtained before the detection amount becomes the abnormal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Shiode, Akio Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9486997
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a first piezoelectric element; a first cavity; a first nozzle; a second piezoelectric element; a second cavity; a second nozzle; a drive signal generating unit that generates a drive signal; a residual vibration detecting unit that detects the first residual vibration signal and the second residual vibration signal; a discharge state determining unit that determines the state of discharge from the first nozzle from the first residual vibration signal and determines the state of discharge from the second nozzle from the second residual vibration signal; and a setting unit that sets the frequency of detection of the first residual vibration signal to be higher than the frequency of detection of the second residual vibration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Kamiyanagi
  • Patent number: 9481181
    Abstract: Disclosed are an ink cartridge chip (200), an ink cartridge (400), and a structural body (700). The ink cartridge chip comprises a circuit board (201) and at least two container side terminals (202) for contacting apparatus side terminals (500). The circuit board comprises a first plane (203) and a second plane (204) perpendicularly intersecting with the first plane. The second plane has a surface area smaller than the first plane. The container side terminals are disposed on the second plane with the smaller surface area, with one ends intersecting with the first plane, and the other ends intersecting with a third plane opposite to the first plane. The container side terminals extend through the second plane and are arranged into a row, so that it may easily contact the apparatus side terminals, thereby improving the stability of an electrical connection between an ink cartridge and a printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ZHUHAI NINESTAR MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lei Qin
  • Patent number: 9484309
    Abstract: A light emitting device (10) includes light emitting elements (12), conductor wirings (14), and alignment marks (18) formed on a substrate (11). The alignment marks (18) and the conductor wirings (14) are formed by printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Hata, Makoto Agatani, Shinya Ishizaki, Makoto Matsuda, Tomokazu Nada, Toyonori Uemura
  • Patent number: 9481168
    Abstract: A device for detecting a state of a discharged liquid droplet includes a plurality of nozzles which is arranged in a width direction of a recording medium orthogonal to a feeding direction of the recording medium to discharge a liquid droplet toward the recording medium, a light emitter which is provided on one side of the recording medium in the width direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the recording medium, and a light receiver which is provided on the other side of the recording medium in the width direction, wherein the light emitter includes a light-emitting element, a condenser lens which condenses light from the light-emitting element to emit as a light beam, and an aperture stop member including an aperture opening through which the light beam passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ando
  • Patent number: 9475298
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid consuming apparatus including: a liquid consuming section; a tank having a liquid storage chamber and an inlet port; a cap; and a casing having a cover movable with respect to the tank between a closed position and an open position. The cover has an inner surface and a projection projected from the inner surface toward the tank. The projection of the cover is provided with a pressing portion facing the outer surface of the cap at a predetermined spacing distance, under a condition that the liquid consuming apparatus is in a normal state in which the cover is in the closed position and that the cap is installed in the inlet port, and the pressing portion abuts firstly against the outer surface, under a condition that the cap is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap to be removed from the inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 9475279
    Abstract: A method for forming a color image on a recording medium includes detecting an ejection failure of a group of color ink recording elements for ejecting color ink drops, storing recording data originally expected to be processed by at least one color recording element exhibiting the ejection failure of the color recording elements of the group in a case where the ejection failure is detected in the detecting step, and compensating the ejection failure by recording an achromatic dot at a pixel position to which at least one color dot is originally expected to be recorded on the recording medium based on recording data stored in a data storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shinichi Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 9469100
    Abstract: A printing control device includes a nozzle information obtainment unit that obtains the position of a discharge-failing nozzle which fails to discharge ink in a printing head which includes a plurality of nozzles discharging ink, a data generation unit that generates printing data in which a dot position which is the position of a dot constituting an image printed on a printing medium is associated with the amount of ink discharged to the dot position, and a data correction unit that specifies a second position which is adjacent to a first position where ink is discharged by the discharge-failing nozzle in the printing data on the basis of the position of the discharge-failing nozzle obtained and corrects the printing data so that the amount of ink which is greater than the amount of ink associated with the second position in the printing data generated is associated with the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Tamai
  • Patent number: 9471021
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a multi-color misalignment calculator that calculates an amount of multi-color misalignment of multiple color misalignment detection test pattern images based on position readings outputted by multiple test pattern image detectors, an image formation condition adjusting unit that adjusts an image formation condition of the image forming apparatus in accordance with the amount of multi-color misalignment of the multiple color misalignment detection test pattern images calculated by the multi-color misalignment calculator, and a process control unit that initiates a first multi-color misalignment correction control mode including a skew misalignment correction process and a second multi-color misalignment correction control mode excluding the skew misalignment correction process to correct multi-color misalignment of the multiple color misalignment detection test pattern images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Tosaka, Toshiyuki Uchida, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Murakami
  • Patent number: 9469138
    Abstract: A liquid is ejected which has a volume exceeding a volume for forming a dot of a maximum size used in regular liquid ejection to output a high load pattern, an ejection abnormality detection pattern is output for detecting an ejection element abnormality within a specific period of time from outputting the high load pattern, read data of the output ejection abnormality detection pattern is acquired, and the acquired read data is analyzed to detect an abnormal ejection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Ueshima
  • Patent number: 9463622
    Abstract: A method for determining an issue in an inkjet nozzle with impedance measurements, includes taking a first impedance measurement to detect a drive bubble with an impedance sensor; and taking a second impedance measurement to detect said drive bubble with said impedance sensor after said first impedance measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Van Brocklin, Eric T. Martin, Alexander Govyadinov, David Maxfield
  • Patent number: 9465000
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring at least one property of a fluid includes a housing for receiving the fluid, a first and second spaced electrodes positioned in the housing, and an impedance modifier positioned between the first and second electrodes that changes an electrical impedance of the fluid between the electrodes. Electronic circuitry generates different waveform voltages across the electrodes and the fluid, monitors an output thereof to thereby obtain data related to impedance of the fluid for each waveform voltage; and combines data related to the outputs to create a unique identification signature for the fluid. Once signatures for known fluids have been created, they can be compared to a generated signature of an unknown fluid to identify the unknown fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Intellectual Reserves, LLC
    Inventors: Leon Brown, Alvin R Wirthlin
  • Patent number: 9463651
    Abstract: A inkjet printer calculates a print percentage indicative of a load on a pressurizing mechanism for each block, based on print data, and then factors in the print percentage for each block to determine the upper limit of a transport speed so that the upper limit becomes slower as the print percentage increases and becomes slower as a printing distance in a transport direction corresponding to the print data increases. This provides the upper limit of the transport speed in consideration for not only a spontaneous temperature increase in each block but also a temperature increase due to the influence of its surrounding blocks. This allows the blocks in a head to operate at temperatures within a permissible range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Screen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamio Fukui, Hideyuki Eto
  • Patent number: 9457588
    Abstract: A thermal head capable of efficiently radiating heat transferred to a protective member is provided. A thermal head includes a substrate; a plurality of heat generating portions disposed on the substrate; an electrode which is disposed on the substrate and is electrically connected to the heat generating portions; a conductive member electrically connected to the electrode; a protective member which is in contact with the conductive member and protects the conductive member; and a heatsink on an upper surface of which the substrate is disposed, wherein the protective member is also in contact with the heatsink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Yoneta
  • Patent number: 9457563
    Abstract: An ink jet printer is provided with a driving signal generating section which generates a driving signal for driving a piezoelectric element, a residual vibration detecting section, a control IC which includes the residual vibration detecting section, and a connection terminal which connects the piezoelectric element, an input terminal to which the driving signal is supplied and an output terminal from which an output signal of the residual vibration detecting section is supplied, a first external wiring which is connected to the input terminal and through which the driving signal is supplied, and a second external wiring which is connected to the output terminal and through which the output signal of the residual vibration detecting section is supplied. A resistance value per unit length of the second external wiring is larger than a resistance value per unit length of the first external wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Nakazawa, Masahiko Yoshida, Kazuhito Fujisawa, Atsushi Akiyama, Osamu Shinkawa
  • Patent number: RE46201
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide a method and controller for performing a sequence of commands. In one embodiment, a controller receives a command from a host to perform a memory operation in a flash memory device, wherein the command comprises at least one bit that indicates whether the command is a stand-alone command or is part of a sequence of commands. The controller analyzes the at least one bit to determine whether the at least one bit indicates that the command is a stand-alone command or is part of a sequence of commands. If the at least one bit indicates that the command is a stand-alone command, the controller performs the command. If the at least one bit indicates that the command is part of a sequence of commands, the controller performs the command as part of the sequence of commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Robert D Selinger, Gary Lin, Chaoyang Wang