Measuring And Testing (e.g., Diagnostics) Patents (Class 347/19)
  • Patent number: 10154163
    Abstract: A method for providing a dynamic user interface template in an industrial printing environment. The method including automatically determining: a print-head type, a utilized printing technology module, and a peripheral module. The method obtains from said print head information on one or several of technology type and capabilities, setting definition, fault and warning definitions, maintenance features and diagnostic features. The method also obtains from said printing technology module information on one or several of module type and capabilities, setting definition, fault and warning definitions, maintenance features and diagnostic features. The method additionally obtains from said peripheral module information on one or several of module type and capabilities, setting definition, fault and warning definitions, maintenance features and diagnostic features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: MARKEM-IMAJE HOLDING
    Inventor: Mattias Larsson
  • Patent number: 10154168
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an operation unit, a controller unit, and an external device controller, and a management unit. The external device controller is configured to control connection, writing, and reading of an external memory device. The management unit is configured to manage a mount state and unmount state of the external memory device. The mount state is a state in which the external memory device becomes available when the operation unit or the controller unit recognizes the external memory device. The unmount state is a state in which the mount state is released. The management unit is configured to execute an unmount process depending on the mount state when an unmount request of the external memory device is issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhito Nakatani
  • Patent number: 10150289
    Abstract: Provided is a dot recording apparatus in which a first dot group is formed using a first nozzle group, a second dot group is formed using a second nozzle group, a third dot group is formed using a third nozzle group, of which the distance from the first nozzle group in a direction is a first nozzle row distance, a fourth dot group is formed using a fourth nozzle group, of which the distance from the second nozzle group in a direction is a second nozzle row distance, which differs from the first nozzle row distance, and inclination of the main scanning direction and a nozzle row are calculated on the basis of a distance in the main scanning direction from the first dot group up to the third dot group, and a distance in the main scanning direction from the second dot group up to the fourth dot group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eishin Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10149379
    Abstract: A multi-layered circuit board includes a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer, and a sheet capacitor that is located between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. The sheet capacitor includes a pair of electrodes that sandwich a dielectric. Lead wirings continue to the electrodes, respectively. The lead wirings are disposed on an opposite side of the first or the second insulating layer with respect to the sheet capacitor to overlap the electrodes when viewed from a stacking direction of the multi-layered circuit board. Because the lead wirings are arranged to overlap the electrodes in the stacking direction of the multi-layered circuit board, an ESL of the sheet capacitor is maintained low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: NODA SCREEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seisei Oyamada, Masamitsu Yoshizawa, Hirotaka Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10144237
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for printing objects, in particular containers, wherein the containers are transported along a specified transport path, and the outer surface of the containers is printed at least temporarily by means of at least one printing unit, wherein a controller controls the printing of the containers by means of the at least one printing unit on the basis of at least one printing parameter. According to the invention, at least one object to be printed is printed with at least one test marking in order to ascertain the printing parameter, and the object provided with the test marking is then inspected by means of at least one inspection device, wherein the printing parameter is derived from the result of the inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Andreas Sonnauer, Florian Lauterbach, Peter Lindner
  • Patent number: 10143280
    Abstract: A protective case can be used with a mobile device having front and back surfaces and side surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces, including a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the mobile device having a screen on the front surface. The protective case can include a shell configured to engage and substantially surround at least three of the surfaces of the mobile device and preferably all or nearly all surfaces of the mobile device while still capable of allowing the user to functionally interact with biometric sensor (such as a fingerprint sensor) and/or not interfere with the intended functionality of the proximity sensors of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Incipio, LLC
    Inventors: Andy Fathollahi, Timothy Alan Hemesath, Kitty Yu-Ling Yung, Carlos Del Toro
  • Patent number: 10137694
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid supply unit provided with a liquid container that is configured to supply a liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid supply unit includes a unit housing located below the liquid consuming apparatus and configured to be detachably mounted to the liquid consuming apparatus; the liquid container configured to be placed inside of the unit housing and provided with a liquid supply portion that is arranged to flow out the liquid; and a liquid introduction portion configured to be connected with the liquid supply portion and to flow the liquid from the liquid supply portion to the liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid introduction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsutomo Tsukahara
  • Patent number: 10137682
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure chamber; a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric element which generates pressure fluctuations in a liquid in the pressure chamber; and a driving IC which is connected to the piezoelectric element through wiring and which carries out driving control of the piezoelectric element, in which the driving control has a first preliminary heating step of heating the liquid in the pressure chamber, a preliminary ejection step of ejecting a liquid in the pressure chamber from the nozzle after the first preliminary heating step, a second preliminary heating step of heating the liquid in the pressure chamber more weakly than in the first preliminary heating step after the preliminary ejection step, and a main ejection step of starting an operation of ejecting the liquid from the nozzle after the second preliminary heating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10131152
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a printer body, an ink container and a cover member. The cover member is pivotable about a pivot shaft. The ink container includes an ink containing portion, a sealing member, a frame portion and a cover portion. A top portion of the ink containing portion includes a port. The cover portion is pivotable about a first pivot axis between a maximum opened position and a closed position. One of a first opposing surface of the cover member and a second opposing surface of the cover portion is provided with a protrusion, and the other is provided with a recess portion. When the cover portion is in the closed position and the cover member is in the second position, a distance between the protrusion and the pivot shaft is equal to a distance between the recess portion and the pivot shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taichi Shirono
  • Patent number: 10124613
    Abstract: Printing unit comprising at least a printing head, a support plate to which said printing head is associated, and at least one positioning member associated to the support plate and to the printing head to adjust the reciprocal position of the latter two; the support plate defines an adjustment plane with respect to which the printing head is positioned; the positioning member comprises at least an actuation device which can be selectively actuated above the adjustment plane and a kinematic conversion device configured to convert the actuation of said actuation device into an adjustment of the position of the printing head with respect to the support plate in at least one direction lying on the adjustment plane; the actuation device is associable with a cam element able to engage in a suitably shaped seating made in the printing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Jet-Set S.R.L.
    Inventor: Sergio Ferrari
  • Patent number: 10124578
    Abstract: A nozzle-clogging determining device is provided for detecting nozzle clogging without causing an increase in the cost. A nozzle-clogging determining device is configured to detect pass of droplets ejected from a plurality of nozzles of a head of an inkjet printer, and includes a droplet detector and a determination controller. The droplet detector includes a light emitter configured to emit detection light for detecting pass of droplets in a direction intersecting with a traveling direction of droplets, and a light receiver configured to receive the detection light. The determination controller consecutively ejects a plurality of droplets from each nozzle of the head at equal intervals, and has a threshold for performing determination on nozzle clogging on the basis of a light interception rate of the detection light which the light receiver receives when droplets are positioned inside a spot of the detection light which the light receiver receives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazumi Sakurai, Akihiko Mizusaki, Eiji Miyashita, Masaki Kodaira, Naoki Takizawa
  • Patent number: 10124581
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus has a head provided with discharge sections which discharge a liquid, a drive circuit configured to generate driving signals for driving the discharge sections and discharging the liquid, a carriage mounted with the head and the drive circuit, and a carriage support section configured and arranged to support the carriage. A shortest distance between the carriage support section and the drive circuit is shorter than a shortest distance between the carriage support section and the discharge section which is closest to the carriage support section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Tamura, Toru Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 10120333
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of prompting a user to replace a process cartridge. The process cartridge is comprised of a plurality of components. At least CPU executes instructions to obtain life span information indicating life spans of the components of the process cartridge, determine whether or not the process cartridge is a specific process cartridge for which life span information on a part of the components of the process cartridge is obtained whereas life span information on all the components of the cartridge is not obtained, calculate a life span of the process cartridge, and provide notification of the calculated life span of the process cartridge. When the process cartridge is the specific process cartridge, the life span of the process cartridge is calculated based on only the obtained life span information on the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shinagawa
  • Patent number: 10118394
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a flow path member in which a first substrate and a second substrate are joined to each other by an adhesive so that flow paths extending in directions along a junction surface between the first substrate and the second substrate are formed, and an ejection unit. The flow paths include a first flow path through which a first liquid flows and a second flow path through which a second liquid flows. The ratio of presence of a flow path between a demarcation wall that at least partially forms the first flow path and an external contour of the flow path member in the directions along the junction surfaces is greater than the ratio of presence of a flow path between a demarcation wall that at least partially forms the second flow path and the external contour of the flow path member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Munakata, Yuji Tabata
  • Patent number: 10115900
    Abstract: Various materials can be deposited on an OLED substrate at various steps, in which the materials may subsequently require drying, baking and a combination thereof. Given the critical nature of drying and baking steps, the inventors of the present teachings have designed various modules for carrying out drying and baking which can be used as a process development module, and additionally for as a dedicated process module in production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Conor F. Madigan, Eliyahu Vronsky, Alexander Sou-Kang Ko
  • Patent number: 10105956
    Abstract: A printing apparatus 10 calculates an consumed ink amount which is a consumed amount of ink ejected from an ejection unit that ejects ink supplied from an ink cartridge 60, and, in the case where an unused ink cartridge 60 is installed, executes initial maintenance of the ejection unit, determines an initial consumed ink amount which is a consumed amount of liquid consumed by the initial maintenance, writes the consumed ink amount and the initial consumed ink amount to a storage device 70 of the ink cartridge 60 as a consumed ink amount 73 and an initial consumed ink amount 75, and generates and notifies a ratio of the difference between the contained ink amount 71 and the consumed ink amount that is updated relative to the difference between the contained ink amount 71 and the initial consumed ink amount 75 as notification-use information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoo Kubota, Yasuhiko Kosugi, Shinya Yamagata
  • Patent number: 10108887
    Abstract: A print apparatus is provided that executes a print using print data that is stored in the apparatus, and in addition to executing post-processing on output materials after the printing, deletes the corresponding print data when processing of the print job ends. Here, the print apparatus according to the embodiment deletes the corresponding print data only in a case when the post-processing to all the sheets or the like set in one print job successfully ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daiji Kirihata
  • Patent number: 10097731
    Abstract: Provided is a change degree deriving device including a receiving unit that receives an image obtained by capturing an object and a known color body including plural color samples, the plural color samples including deterioration-series colors among colors used for the object, and each of the color samples having a known colorimetric value, a conversion rule generating unit that generates a conversion rule used to convert a color of the image received by the receiving unit into a colorimetric value in a device-independent color space based on the color samples included in the image received by the receiving unit, and a converting unit that converts a color of the object included in the image received by the receiving unit into a colorimetric value in the device-independent color space according to the conversion rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ogatsu, Shinji Sasahara, Junichi Matsunoshita, Ken Ogino
  • Patent number: 10093087
    Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: an imaging unit that captures a test pattern image including a pair of first markers and a second marker that is formed under a condition different from a condition applied to the first markers; a position detecting unit that detects a position of each of the pair of first markers and the second marker in a captured image captured by the imaging unit; a ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a distance between the pair of the first markers in the captured image and an actual distance between the pair of the first markers; and an actual distance calculating unit that calculates an actual distance between one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker by multiplying a distance between the one of the first markers as the pair and the second marker in the captured image by the ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Kawarada, Nobuyuki Satoh, Kenji Morita, Yuichi Sakurada, Tomohiro Sasa, Daisaku Horikawa
  • Patent number: 10086616
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following. A recorder applies a colorant to a recording medium in accordance with a recording operation of a plurality of recording devices. An image-formation controller instructs the recorder to form a combined image including a plurality of normal images and a test image on the recording medium, the normal image being laid out in a recording area on the recording medium. A reader reads the images formed on the recording medium. A failure detector detects a recording operation failure of any of the recording devices based on the test image read by the reader. A determiner determines the quality of each of the normal images based on the detected result of the recording operation failure by the failure detector and positional information on the images in the combined image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toyoaki Sugaya, Toshiyuki Mizutani, Takashi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10079958
    Abstract: A printed material processing device includes: a feature information extracting unit configured to compare read printed-material image information obtained by reading a printed material, and extract a portion equivalent to a difference between the two sets of information as feature information; an image generating unit configured to generate an image of a mark to be additionally printed near a location of the feature information, set first information indicating a positional relationship between the mark and the feature information, set second information indicating a method of extracting the feature information and a feature quantity to be extracted from the feature information, and generate an image of code information to be additionally printed in a position on the printed material, the code information including the first information and the second information; and an image forming unit configured to additionally print the mark and the code information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Shoichi Nomura
  • Patent number: 10079944
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predicting colorant usage by printing devices are provided. A prediction server can receive a request to predict colorant usage for a first printing device. The prediction server can determine first plurality of functions to predict colorant usage for the first printing device. The first plurality of functions can include at least one linear function and at least one non-linear function. The first plurality of functions can be based on colorant-usage rates indicating historical rates of change in colorant used by the first printing device. The prediction server can determine a prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device using the first plurality of functions. The prediction server can provide an output involving the prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device, where the prediction of colorant usage can include a confidence interval related to the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Oleksandr Osadchyy
  • Patent number: 10071558
    Abstract: A system comprises: an obtaining unit that obtains predetermined information relating to amount of printing materials for a tank attached to a printing apparatus; and a determining unit that determines an interchangeable tank to be provided from a plurality of types of interchangeable tanks based on the predetermined information, wherein the plurality of types of interchangeable tanks include a first tank and a second tank, the first tank contains printing materials of at least two colors, with a ratio of amounts of the printing materials of the at least two colors being a first constituent ratio, and the second tank contains printing materials of at least the same two colors as those in the first tank, with a ratio of amounts of the printing materials of at least the two colors being a second constituent ratio different from the first constituent ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeru Sasaki, Yusuke Hashii, Akitoshi Yamada, Kentaro Yano, Takayuki Aizawa
  • Patent number: 10065208
    Abstract: Whether or not a liquid is discharged from a nozzle is determined from an image. An index value larger in a discharge state than in a non-discharge state is calculated from an evaluation area including a path of the liquid. The discharge state or the non-discharge state is determined according to a relationship between the index value and a reference value. The reference value is determined according to a histogram of index values obtained from a plurality of images collected in advance. When an evaluation value indicating a peak position or the sharpness of a peak is smaller than a predetermined threshold value in the histogram, the collected images are assumed to show the non-discharge state. When the evaluation value is larger than the threshold value, the collected images are assumed to show the discharge state. Thus, the reference value is set for the discharge state and the non-discharge state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Okita
  • Patent number: 10063733
    Abstract: An alignment sheet for alignment of an image forming position of a sheet includes a first side and a second side. The first side has a reference image which is formed in a periphery of the first side and which is used for measuring a position of an image on the first side. The second side has a background image with a predetermined area which is formed at a location where the background image does not overlap the reference image. The reference image and the background image are read at the same time by an image reading section while an area with the reference image is folded such that the background image appears as a background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuomi Sakatani
  • Patent number: 10059095
    Abstract: A method for reducing a locally increased viscosity of ink in an ink print head of an ink printer during printing operation includes: a determination of a printing pause with the aid of a pixel preview; an application of a first sequence of pulses for measurement of the activation current of a piezoelement of the ink print head; and an application of a second sequence of pulses for vibration of the ink meniscus at the exit of a nozzle if the ink print head to intermix the ink having locally increased viscosity with ink having the initial viscosity given a threatened failure of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Philippe Koerner, Ulrich Stoeckle
  • Patent number: 10056719
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes a plug connector having a tab adapted to be inserted into a receptacle connector of a second device during a mating event, the tab including first and second opposing surfaces and a contact region formed at the first surface of the tab, the contact region including a plurality of contacts spaced apart along a first row, the plurality of contacts including a first contact, a power contact and a ground contact; a computer-readable memory having identification, configuration and authentication information relevant to the electronic device that can be communicated to the second device during a mating event stored therein; circuitry coupled to the first contact and configured to, after a mating event in which the plug connector is inserted into the receptacle connector, participate in a handshaking algorithm that includes receiving a command over the first contact from the second device and sending a response to the command that includes contact configuration information for the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Albert J. Golko, Eric S. Jol, Mathias W. Schmidt, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Patent number: 10040249
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional object (50) by means of generative construction in a direct constructional sequence from at least one solidifiable material. At least one material component is discharged in a programmable way via a control device in the direct constructional sequence and, as a result of the discharge, produces structurally different regions of the object (50) that are joined together, wherein geometric relationships obtained during the discharge already correspond to the object (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: ARBURG GMBH + CO KG
    Inventors: Herbert Kraibühler, Eberhard Duffner, Oliver Kessling
  • Patent number: 10035351
    Abstract: The present teachings disclose various embodiments of a printing system for printing a substrate, in which the printing system can be housed in a gas enclosure, where the environment within the enclosure can be maintained as a controlled printing environment. A controlled environment of the present teachings can include control of the type of gas environment within the gas enclosure, the size and level particulate matter within the enclosure, control of the temperature within the enclosure and control of lighting. Various embodiments of a printing system of the present teachings can include a bulk ink delivery system that can be external to a gas enclosure. A bulk ink delivery system according to the present teachings can supply ink to a local ink delivery system that is internal to the gas enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Sou-Kang Ko, Stephen Mark Smith, Shandon Alderson
  • Patent number: 10035175
    Abstract: Reflectin proteins are proteins derived from cephalopods (certain species of squid) which have unusual optical properties. Disclosed herein are thin films of reflectin proteins which can be tuned to reflect infrared light. Advantageously, the films can be tuned dynamically over short time scales, to reflect at different wavelengths. Disclosed herein are novel infrared-reflective coatings, methods of making such coatings, and infrared-reflective objects such as textiles, building materials, and camouflage materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Alon Gorodetsky, Long Phan, David Ordinario, Emil Karshalev, Michael Shenk, Ward Gale Walkup, IV
  • Patent number: 10035366
    Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a method of determining an alignment characteristic of a printhead die installed in a printer. The method comprises controlling the printer to print a predetermined pattern using the printhead die and determining, through analysis of the distance between features of the printed predetermined pattern, alignment characteristics of the printhead die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xavier Quintero Ruiz, David Gaston Llado
  • Patent number: 10029458
    Abstract: A method of generating print data for an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink planes. The method includes the steps of: receiving image data for a print job in a printer controller; retrieving keep-wet pattern data for each ink plane of the printhead, the retrieved keep-wet pattern data being determined using one or more input parameters; generating first print data for each ink plane in the printer controller based on the received image data; merging the first print data with the keep-wet pattern data to provide second print data for each ink plane; and sending the second print data from the printer controller to the printhead, thereby causing the printhead to print an image together with a keep-wet pattern. The keep-wet pattern is defined by a plurality of dots printed at a frequency sufficient to maintain hydration of each nozzle in the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Julie Hogan, Angus North, Philip Palma, John Sheahan, Brian Brown, David Keeshan, Rodney Hardy, Peter Allworth, Colin Pickup, Caitriona Forbes, Kieran Roughan, William Jacob
  • Patent number: 10022971
    Abstract: An automatic inkjet head cleaning method for a powder bed and inkjet 3D printer is provided, and the method includes steps: controlling a powder-laying module and a plurality of the inkjet heads of the powder bed and inkjet 3D printer to print a 3D physical model according to 3D printing data; retrieving a status value continuously or intermittently during printing; executing the first cleaning procedure for cleaning all or parts of the inkjet heads when determining the status value satisfies the first cleaning configuration value; and executing the second cleaning procedure for cleaning all or parts of the inkjet heads when determining the status value satisfies the second cleaning configuration value. The method automatically cleans the inkjet heads during the printing process, which effectively improves printing quality and reduces printing failure rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignees: XYZPRINTING, INC., KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Hsueh-Kuan Shih, Chih-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 10016975
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet discharging control device for a liquid droplet discharging apparatus which includes a liquid droplet discharging head in which a plurality of nozzles discharging liquid droplets are formed, discharges liquid droplets while relatively moving the head and a medium in a direction intersecting a direction in which the nozzles are arranged. The liquid droplet discharging control device includes a controller that causes a first nearby nozzle, which discharges a dot adjacent to a dot row corresponding to a predetermined nozzle which is not capable of discharging a liquid droplet, to discharge a liquid droplet for a dot of a large size and that causes a second nearby nozzle, which is separated from the predetermined nozzle and discharges a dot adjacent to a dot row corresponding to the first nearby nozzle, to discharge no liquid droplet for a dot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akito Sato, Naoki Sudo
  • Patent number: 10006854
    Abstract: A spectrometer includes a light source that radiates illumination light, and a measurement unit that measures measurement light in which illumination light is reflected by a medium. In a case where an illumination region that is a region in which the medium is irradiated with illumination light is smaller than a measurement region that is a region of the medium measurable by the measurement unit and in which the movement of the medium in the direction is within a range of an acceptable fluctuation amount, the illumination region is included in the measurement region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsugio Gomi
  • Patent number: 10005286
    Abstract: A liquid supply unit is provided with a liquid supply part, an outer peripheral wall, contact portions and a positioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shun Oya, Taku Ishizawa, Atsushi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10000057
    Abstract: Certain examples described herein relate to printing systems and methods of operating the same. In an example of a printing system, a nozzle diagnostic mechanism obtains information relating to a condition of a first nozzle set of a print head following a first period of an established printing operation, and a nozzle compensator receives information relating to the condition of the first nozzle set from the nozzle diagnostic mechanism. Based on the received information, the nozzle compensator then causes a second nozzle set of the print head to be operated in place of the first nozzle set of the print head during a second period of the established printing operation. In an example of a method of operating a printing system, status information that relates to a condition of a first nozzle set of a print head is determined during a print production operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: HP SCITEX LTD.
    Inventors: Marc Isal Cortes, Yair Shemesh, Oren Perets
  • Patent number: 10000059
    Abstract: A printing apparatus including a voltage signal generation circuit configured to generate a plurality of voltage signals including a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal; and at least one transmission cable configured to transmit the plurality of voltage signals, the transmission cable including a first tubular conductor including a hollow core and configured to transmit the first voltage signal, a second tubular conductor disposed over an outer circumference of the first tubular conductor with a first insulator between the outer circumference of the first tubular conductor and an inner circumference of the second tubular conductor and being in a constant-voltage applied state, and a third tubular conductor disposed over an outer circumference of the second tubular conductor with a second insulator between the outer circumference of the second tubular conductor and an inner circumference of the third tubular conductor and configured to transmit the second voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 10000605
    Abstract: A three-dimensional smart polymer matrix is formed by a first epoxy chemical reaction linking a linear polymer chain and a branched polymer chain, wherein the polymer chains are flexible and one or more reactive molecule species remain unreacted, at a predetermined mathematical ratio of reacted to un-reacted molecules and molecule species, and the un-reacted molecular species are available for further chemical reaction, protonation or deprotonation after the first chemical reaction. The resulting smart polymer matrix is hydrophilic and non-soluble to a solvent or electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignees: MEDIPACS, INC., THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Mark Banister, Yordan Geronov, Dominic McGrath
  • Patent number: 9994040
    Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus includes a circulation unit configured to circulate a liquid along a circulation passage extending from a liquid supply source to the liquid supply source through a liquid ejection head. Further, the liquid ejection apparatus includes a deaeration unit configured to perform a deaeration operation of decreasing a dissolved gas amount of the liquid, a recovery unit configured to recover ejection performance of an ejection opening, and a control unit configured to control an operation of driving the circulation unit and the deaeration unit. The control unit starts the deaeration operation and circulates the liquid having been deaerated by the deaeration operation inside a circulation path after the recovery operation and before an initial printing operation after the recovery operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichiro Karita, Shuzo Iwanaga, Kazuhiro Yamada, Takatsuna Aoki, Shingo Okushima, Akio Saito, Akira Yamamoto, Zentaro Tamenaga, Noriyasu Nagai, Tatsurou Mori
  • Patent number: 9987841
    Abstract: An inkjet print head includes data signal lines configured to supply inkjet control voltages and non-volatile memory cell random access addresses. The inkjet print head includes an inkjet nozzle array wherein each nozzle in the array is configured to communicate with a data signal line. Also a non-volatile attribute memory cell array is included in the inkjet print head wherein each memory cell in the array is accessed through a data signal line shared with the nozzle array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Torgerson, Trudy Benjamin, Kevin Bruce
  • Patent number: 9981463
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid discharging apparatus having a liquid discharging head that is attached to an apparatus main body so as to be capable of being attached or detached and that discharges a liquid from a nozzle includes: identifying an alignment shift of the liquid discharging head attached to the apparatus main body; and identifying correction information that is correlated with the alignment shift identified in the identifying of the alignment shift based on a correction information table in which the correction information related to liquid discharge control and the alignment shift are correlated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoshige Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9975365
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a thermal printer comprises a first thermal head, a first sensor and a control section. The first thermal head prints a first mark on a first surface of an image receiving medium. The first sensor detects a printing density of the first mark. The control section determines whether or not the printing density of the first mark is in a predetermined range, and adjusts the printing density by the first thermal head in the predetermined range in response to determining that the printing density of the first mark is out of the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Lee Men Hwa, Norihisa Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 9975333
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a liquid discharging head that discharges a liquid from a nozzle, a control circuit that controls a discharge operation of the liquid discharging head, a nozzle omission detection mechanism that detects a discharge fault of the nozzle, a maintenance mechanism that performs a maintenance operation, which ejects the liquid from the nozzle of the liquid discharging head, and a display device that displays a setting screen relating to the discharge operation of the liquid discharging head. The control circuit executes the discharge operation of the liquid discharging head on the basis of the operation mode selected by a user using the operation mode selection screen for selecting a plurality of operation modes in which a situation in which a transition to the maintenance operation is performed in a case in which the discharge fault is detected, differs, on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Takano, Satoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9975348
    Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes analyzing an image of a first flushing pattern applied on a medium during production of a print job to detect presence of one or more defective ink jet nozzles and adjusting to a second flushing pattern during the production of the print job upon detecting the presence of one or more defective print head nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kartheek Chandu, Carl Bildstein
  • Patent number: 9977398
    Abstract: An image forming device is provided. The device includes a main body which includes a main controller controlling operations of the image forming device, a consumable unit mounted on the main body to enable communication with the main controller, and a CRUM chip which is provided in the consumable unit and stores usage information of the consumable unit and characteristics information The main controller and the CRUM chip transmit and receive signals which include data and integrity detection data between each other. The integrity detection data is generated by accumulating and reflecting integrity detection data included in a previous signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: S-PRINTING SOLUTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Yoon Lee, Hong-Rok Woo
  • Patent number: 9969165
    Abstract: Multiple recording elements are disposed on one face of a recording element board, and a groove-shaped liquid supply channel is provided on the other face in common for the recording elements. Multiple supply ports passing through the recording element board and communicating the liquid supply channel with pressure chambers, and supply-side openings serving as supply ports of liquid to the liquid supply channel are further provided. When discharging liquid, the sum of pressure drop of the liquid from any supply-side opening to the supply port at a position farthest removed from that supply-side opening, and the pressure drop of the liquid at the supply port, is 5000 Pa or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shintaro Kasai, Yoshiyuki Nakagawa, Akiko Saito, Takatsugu Moriya, Koichi Ishida, Tatsuya Yamada, Shuzo Iwanaga, Ayako Tozuka, Tomoki Ishiwata, Tomohiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9962949
    Abstract: In an implementation, a printhead includes a nozzle and a fluid channel. A sensor plate is located within the fluid channel. An impedance measurement circuit is coupled to the sensor plate to measure impedance of fluid within the channel during a fluid movement event that moves fluid past the sensor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Adam L. Ghozeil, Scott A. Linn, David Maxfield, Andrew Van Brocklin
  • Patent number: 9962931
    Abstract: Examples include estimation of pen to paper spacing (PPS). Examples include an alignment pattern printed on a medium at a target speed, an optical scan procedure performed on the printed alignment pattern to determine values of cross-media misalignment for first and second portions of the alignment pattern, determination of a dynamic swath height error (DSHE) effect value based on the values of cross-media misalignment, and estimation of an amount of PPS based on the determined DSHE effect value and the target print speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jordi Sender Beleta, Montserrat Sorano Pallarol, Marcos Casaldaliga Albisu, M. Isabel Borrell Bayona
  • Patent number: 9956789
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling archival sheet curl formation in image receiving media substrates on which images are formed using aqueous inks as the marking material. Archival curl occurs over time and is based on a partial coverage of the image receiving media substrates by the deposited water-based marking materials. A unique post-processing scheme applies selective aqueous clear fluid onto imaged substrates (cut sheets) to substantially counteract long-term archival curl formation in the individual image receiving media substrates. Both opposing sides of the cut sheet are processed in a manner that causes them to substantially equally undergo the generally irreversible shrinkage phenomenon that leads to archival curl, thus substantially canceling out the archival curl formation mechanism. A clear fluid is applied image-wise to portions of one or both sides of the image receiving media substrates to counterbalance the formed aqueous ink image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R Moore, Paul J McConville, Peter Michael Gulvin, Jason M. LeFevre, David A. VanKouwenberg, Andrew W. Hays