Having Driving Circuitry For Recording Means Patents (Class 347/211)
  • Patent number: 11951735
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a printing unit printing on a recording paper; a feeder unit having a roller that rotates about a shaft and feeds the recording paper and a motor that rotates the shaft; a detection unit detecting the rotation of the shaft; and a control unit controlling the printing unit. The control unit calculates an electrifying time during which the printing unit is electrified and a non-electrifying time during which the printing unit is not electrified following the electrifying time, based on a detection signal from the detection unit. When the calculated non-electrifying time is less than a predetermined time, the control unit corrects the non-electrifying time in such a way that the non-electrifying time becomes equal to or longer than the predetermined time, and causes the printing unit to print.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishino, Takehiro Kobayashi, Masanori Yumoto
  • Patent number: 11934239
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a circuit includes: an error amplifier; a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is coupled to the error amplifier; a discrete time controller coupled to the error amplifier, wherein the discrete time controller comprises digital circuitry; a multiple bits quantizer coupled to the discrete time controller, wherein the multiple bits quantizer produces a digital code output; and a heating array coupled to the multiple bits quantizer, wherein the heating array is configured to generate heat based on the digital code output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jui-Cheng Huang, Yi-Hsing Hsiao, Yu-Jie Huang, Tsung-Tsun Chen, Allen Timothy Chang
  • Patent number: 11848126
    Abstract: A cable stopper structure and an image forming apparatus includes a cable disposed throughout a first passage and a second passage, the second passage having a ceiling height higher than a ceiling height of the first passage, a first component disposed in the first passage and connected to one end portion of the cable, and a second component disposed near an exit of the first passage and connected to the other end portion of the cable, the second component being removable in a direction away from the first component. The cable includes a folded-back portion folded back in the second passage and a rigid portion disposed between the folded-back portion and the first component. The rigid portion has a rigidity greater than that of the cable and has a length in a pulling-out direction of the cable longer than the ceiling height of the first passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN SYSTEMS JAPAN CO.
    Inventors: Gen Matsushima, Takeo Komiyama, Hiroyuki Yasuda, Katsunori Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11787172
    Abstract: A communicating print component a print head comprising a number of memory bits and a single lane analog bus conductively coupling the number of memory bits to a pad located on the exterior of the print head. The pad is to transmit an electrical signal from the number of memory bits, wherein the electrical signal indicates a combination of all selected bits of the number of memory bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James Michael Gardner, Scott A. Linn, John Rossi, Erik D. Ness
  • Patent number: 10832301
    Abstract: A host computer, a plurality of thermal carving machines, and a user terminal are connected to a network. The host computer includes seal image creation means that permits edition of a seal image using the user terminal, site selection means that allows a user to specify one site from a site candidates list, ID issuing means that issues an order ID for identifying the contents of an order, and order information registration means that registers the issued order ID and order information in a database. A control device of the thermal carving machine includes order acceptance means that accepts an order ID input when information on the input order ID is registered in the database, and carving control means that performs seal carving of a stamp based on seal image data associated with the order ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: SHACHIHATA INC.
    Inventors: Eiji Abe, Masayoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 10796209
    Abstract: A print head, has a standardized computer interface to allow the print head to connect directly to a standard computer, an array of jets to deposit ink on a substrate in accordance with image data from the standard computer, a processing element to receive image data through the standardized computer interface, a buffer to store the image data received through the standardized computer interface and to transmit the image data to the array of jets when triggered by a dot clock, the buffer under control of the processing element and having a flexible depth of storage, and a driver to trigger individual ones of the array of jets in accordance with the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: David L. Knierim
  • Patent number: 10646892
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a microfluidic die that includes a plurality of heaters above a substrate, a plurality of chambers and nozzles above the heaters, a plurality of first contacts coupled to the heaters, and a plurality of second contacts coupled to the heaters. The plurality of second contacts are coupled to each other and coupled to ground. The die includes a plurality of contact pads, a first signal line coupled to the plurality of second contacts and to a first one of the plurality of contact pads, and a plurality of second signal lines, each second signal line being coupled to one of the plurality of first contacts, groups of the second signal lines being coupled together to drive a group of the plurality of heaters with a single signal, each group of the second signal lines being coupled to a remaining one of the plurality of contact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics, Inc., STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Simon Dodd, Joe Scheffelin, Dave Hunt, Matt Giere, Dana Gruenbacher, Faiz Sherman
  • Patent number: 10639907
    Abstract: A thermal printer has an identification information holding circuit that has identification information, a line thermal head in which the identification information holding circuit is mounted, a control signal line through which a signal that controls the line thermal head is transmitted, a memory that stores specification information about the line thermal head corresponding to the identification information, and a controller that acquires the identification information that has been output from the identification information holding circuit through the control signal line and also acquires the specification information about the line thermal head from the memory according to the acquired identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsuyuki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 10429970
    Abstract: A display device includes an array substrate and a counter substrate. The array substrate includes an outgoing line for connecting a first electrode for capacitive touch detection to a detection circuit. The outgoing line includes: a first wiring portion extended from the first electrode side to the detection circuit side; and a first capacitance adjusting wiring portion connected to the first wiring portion on the same layer and serving to adjust the total capacitance of the first electrode and the outgoing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Masanari Saitou
  • Patent number: 10336096
    Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus which includes a thermal head having a plurality of heat generation elements whose temperatures are controlled by applying a voltage and performing printing on a printing medium and a head drive circuit being supplied periodically with a control signal and print data to control application of a voltage to each of the plurality of heat generation elements. One period of the control signal includes first and second voltage application control periods which are separated from each other. The first voltage application control period is a period in which the printing is performed by controlling the application of a voltage, and the second voltage application control period is a period in which the printing is not performed and a temperature of the thermal head is adjusted by controlling the application of a voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Ito, Takeo Ozawa, Naoki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9561646
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for providing a high speed adaptive thermal printhead interface. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program instructions, the computer program instructions being configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to determine identifier information for a connected printhead; retrieve printhead interface configuration data for a configurable printhead interface based at least in part on the identifier information; configure printhead interface circuitry in accordance with the printhead interface configuration data; and enable communication with the printhead through the configurable printhead interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Dwight D. Dipert, Ashok K. Charles, Daniel Donato, Robert Ehrhardt, David Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9415584
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head substrate is provided. The liquid discharge head substrate includes a discharge unit including a discharge element configured to generate energy for discharging a liquid from an orifice and a discharge control circuit configured to control the discharge element, and a first voltage generation circuit configured to supply, to the discharge control circuit, a first driving voltage for driving the discharge control circuit. The discharge unit includes a first node having a voltage correlated with a voltage to be supplied to the discharge element. The first voltage generation circuit controls the first driving voltage based on a comparison result of the voltage of the first node and a first reference voltage supplied from outside of the liquid discharge head substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Shibata, Tatsuhito Goden, Kazunari Fujii
  • Patent number: 9403376
    Abstract: A thermal head capable of decreasing the possibility of causing wrinkles in a recording medium is provided. A thermal head includes: a substrate; a heat generating portion disposed on the substrate; a driving IC disposed on the substrate and controlling actuation of the heat generating portion; a covering member covering the driving IC; and a projection portion disposed on the substrate and making contact with a recording medium. The substrate includes a first region and a second region in a plan view, the first region being defined by extending an area where the driving IC is disposed in a sub scanning direction and the second region being an area other than the first region. The projection portion is disposed on the second region closer to the heat generating portion than the area where the driving IC is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Ayumi Noda, Tadashi Mitsuoka, Yasumitsu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9340036
    Abstract: The present invention is and includes an apparatus, system and method for providing an automated detection of thermal history control signal scheme and an automated switching circuit to select a converter circuit that changes one type of thermal history control signals from a thermal printer to another type for receipt by the driver ICs on a thermal printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventors: James Caporossi, Scott Margo
  • Patent number: 9174458
    Abstract: In a heating device, a heater has first and second terminals. The first terminal is connectable to an alternating current source. The adjustment portion selectively establishes and disconnects a first connection between the second terminal and the alternating current source. The switching portion selectively establishes and disconnects a second connection between the heater and the alternating current source. The generating circuit has a third terminal connected to the alternating current source and a fourth terminal connected between the second terminal and the adjustment portion. The generating circuit generates a zero-cross signal of the alternating current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsumi Inukai
  • Patent number: 9145020
    Abstract: A method of printing including testing the status of a printhead (12) having a plurality of printing elements (14) each of which is operable to transfer a marking medium from a web (16) to a substrate (18), wherein the method includes testing the status of each printing element (14), and providing a preview of an image (30) to be printed and, in the event that the print quality of the image is inadequate owing to the position of one or more damaged printing elements (14a, 14b) relative to the image (30) to be printed, adjusting the position of a component (30a, 30b) of the image (30) relative to the printhead (12) to improve the print quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Markem-Imaje Industries Limited
    Inventor: James Cupit
  • Patent number: 9096072
    Abstract: Generally, in accordance with embodiments, a thermal printer comprises heating elements, a storage section, a drive circuit and a controller. A plurality of heating elements are linearly arranged. The storage section stores a one-line amount of image data. The drive circuit energizes each heating element according to the one-line amount of image data. An acquisition section acquires an A/D value corresponding to the voltage applied to each heating element every time each heating element is energized. The controller outputs a one-line amount of empty data to the storage section to acquire a first A/D value with the acquisition section, reduces, based on the first A/D value, noises of a second A/D value which is acquired by energizing each heating element and checks the disconnection of each heating element based on the noise-reduced second A/D value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kengo Saga
  • Patent number: 9079423
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of securing and maintaining the integrity of desired information on a ribbon and media subsequent to a printing operation is provided. The apparatus and method includes a thermal transfer printer having a print station and a printhead operable for performing a printing operation. The printhead is capable of performing an initial print operation and then being raised from the media, thereby allowing the used ribbon to be rewound a predetermined distance about a supply spindle. Thereafter, a second print operation is performed on the space previously printed upon using characters, designs or block-out patterns and the used ribbon is then wound onto a take-up spindle. In exemplary embodiments, the used ribbon can also be reprinted with a waste media several times thus further obscuring the image on the used ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Bouverie, Mark Allen Hitz, Dwayne Steven Tobin
  • Patent number: 9079437
    Abstract: A printer includes a printer body, a lid, a cutter, a fixed blade unit provided in the printer body and including the fixed blade of the cutter, a movable blade unit provided on the lid and including the movable blade of the cutter, and a gimbal plate attached to the lid. The movable blade unit is connected to the gimbal plate. A paper discharge opening is formed between the printer body and an end of the lid. The lid includes a first recording paper guide that projects toward the movable blade and is positioned at the end of the lid. The gimbal plate includes a second recording paper guide that projects toward the movable blade and is positioned at an end of the gimbal plate facing the paper discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshinari Takabatake, Sumio Watanabe, Yukihiro Mori, Masafumi Chiba
  • Patent number: 9073346
    Abstract: First fixed value is set as decreasing variable number C and second fixed value corresponding to measured resistance value of a thermal head is determined as constant K(R). Energization of the thermal head is started immediately after start of printing period and the energization is kept until lapse of pulse application time calculated based on chopping duty ratio determined based on thermal head voltage and the constant K(R). Engergization of the thermal head is stopped at lapse of the pulse application time and withheld until lapse of unit time. Calculation value (C(V)×K(TH)) calculated based on temperature and voltage of the thermal head is decremented from the current decreasing variable number C to obtain renewed decreasing variable number C. When the renewed decreasing variable number C is larger than 0, serial processes of calculating pulse application time, keeping and withholding energization of the thermal head are repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Horiuchi, Mariko Niizeki, Mohd Khairul Fatasha
  • Patent number: 9044968
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a printer apparatus comprises a first paper conveyance path configured to convey a first paper which has printing surfaces on both sides, that is, a first surface and a second surface serving as a back surface of the first surface; a first printing section configured to carry out printing on the first surface; a second printing section configured at the downstream side of the first printing section in a paper conveyance direction to carry out printing on the second surface; and a second paper conveyance path configured to merge with the first paper conveyance path between the first printing section and the second printing section, and convey a second paper which has a printing surface on either of a first surface and a second surface serving as a back surface of the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sanada, Toshiharu Sekino
  • Publication number: 20150138298
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a manufacturing method of a fine wiring pattern is disclosed. The manufacturing method includes preparing a support member, forming a first layer on the support member by thick-film printing, and forming a second layer including Ag on the first layer by the thick-film printing. The method also includes forming a predetermined fine wiring pattern by performing an etching process upon the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Shinobu Obata, Koji Nishi, Takafumi Katsuno, Masumi Okumura, Nobuhito Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8988475
    Abstract: An inkless printing device that comprises a plurality of lasers, a rotating polygonal mirror, and an energy recycling unit. The mirror rotates and reflects a laser beam in a manner that allows the beams to reach any point on the paper. The laser turns ON and OFF while the mirrors are rotating to form a printout. Printing on a sheet of paper is achieved by burning to a certain pre-determined depth of the paper, by using the thermal properties of a laser. The energy recycling unit converts the heat energy generated during the printing process to electrical energy and charges a battery cell. Upon the battery cells being charged to a pre-determined power threshold, the power supply to the printer is changed from the AC supply to the battery supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventors: Mayadah Alhashem, Ahmad Bayonis, Ye Yuan, Charmaine Bennett
  • Patent number: 8947480
    Abstract: The printer (1) includes a control unit (20) including a function reproducing multiple tones by outputting energization data that is dot control data in multiple cycles in line units to a head unit (10) including a plurality of dot generating elements disposed in a line. The control unit (20) includes: a thermal head control circuit (60) supplying the energization data of each cycle and a latch signal for the energization data of each cycle to the head unit (10); and a mask circuit (70) operable when the energization data of the current cycle is the same as the energization data of the previous cycle, to erase the current energization data and the signal for latching to be supplied to the head unit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Naltec Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 8947481
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer comprises a print object receiving portion, a first, a second, and a third increment mode receiving portion, a first and a second image generating portion. The print object receiving portion receives an input operation of the print object comprising a print identifier. The first increment mode receiving portion receives a setup operation of the print identifier, an increment interval, and an increment execution count. The first image generating portion generates first printed matter images using a plurality of different types of increment patterns. The second increment mode receiving portion receives a selection operation of the plurality of types of increment patterns. The second image generating portion generates second printed matter images using a plurality of different types of assignment patterns. The third increment mode receiving portion receives a selection operation of any one of the plurality of types of assignment patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Ishii, Takahiro Miwa
  • Patent number: 8947725
    Abstract: A label printer prints a QR code on print areas (labels) sequentially arranged along a sheet of paper while maintaining the QR code in a state in which its data can be restored. The label printer determines, in the course of separating the printed label and suspending and resuming movement of the paper and while printing on each label of the paper, whether or not both of two finder patterns aligned along one side of the QR code in a following print area are at a position to be printed when a boundary portion between a leading label that has been printed and the following label reaches a cut position. A print operation correcting control controls printing when both of two finder patterns aligned along one side of the QR code are in position to be printed, but not printed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sato Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouji Kirita
  • Patent number: 8941703
    Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus for enabling printing speed to be increased, while enabling the unevenness of concentration to be reduced, a printing apparatus is provided with a thermal head having a plurality of heater elements lined up in the main scanning direction and a CPU for switching current passage timing of the plurality of heater elements, and the CPU switches the current passage timing for the plurality of heater elements so that a second strobe signal STB2 is switched to an ON state after switching a first strobe signal STB1 to an ON state, after switching the STB2 to the ON state the STB1 is switched to an OFF state, the STB2 is switched to an OFF state, then the STB1 is switched to the ON state after switching the STB2 to the ON state, after switching the STB1 to the ON state the STB2 is switched to the OFF state, and that the STB1 is switched to the OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Yasutake Oshiro
  • Publication number: 20150009271
    Abstract: The present invention relates to thermal printers and, more particularly, to direct thermal printers structured, configured, and/or programmed to print security features such as pantographs, watermarks, and microprinting on a thermal media substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: CTPG Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Delaney, Kyle Turner
  • Patent number: 8928711
    Abstract: The present invention is and includes an apparatus, system and method for providing an automated detection of thermal history control signal scheme and an automated switching circuit to select a converter circuit that changes one type of thermal history control signals from a thermal printer to another type for receipt by the driver ICs on a thermal printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventors: James Caporossi, Scott Margo
  • Publication number: 20140354751
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer comprises a print object receiving portion, a first, a second, and a third increment mode receiving portion, a first and a second image generating portion. The print object receiving portion receives an input operation of the print object comprising a print identifier. The first increment mode receiving portion receives a setup operation of the print identifier, an increment interval, and an increment execution count. The first image generating portion generates first printed matter images using a plurality of different types of increment patterns. The second increment mode receiving portion receives a selection operation of the plurality of types of increment patterns. The second image generating portion generates second printed matter images using a plurality of different types of assignment patterns. The third increment mode receiving portion receives a selection operation of any one of the plurality of types of assignment patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidekazu Ishii, Takahiro Miwa
  • Publication number: 20140333707
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus which prints a protective coat, on the basis of input image data, onto a recording sheet on which an image is printed with a dye ink, the printing apparatus comprising: an area dividing unit configured to divide the input image data into a plurality of areas; a conversion unit configured to convert the input image data into print control data by using conversion information provided to convert the input image data into the print control data; and a printing unit configured to print the protective coat on the basis of the print control data acquired by the conversion unit, wherein the conversion unit is configured to include a plurality of pieces of the conversion information and convert the input image data into the print control data by using a piece of the conversion information different for each area divided by the area dividing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Hozumi, Yoshinobu Shiraiwa
  • Publication number: 20140292990
    Abstract: The present invention is and includes a conversion circuit for allowing a printer controller to send a different set of control signals for dot history control to an integrated circuit driver other than those which the integrated circuit driver is designed to receive. The conversion circuit includes a plurality of driver circuits coupled to a plurality of strobe signals from at least one strobe signal generator, wherein each of the plurality of driver circuits comprises a plurality of gating groups respectively coupled to the plurality of strobe signals, wherein each of the plurality of gating groups includes a plurality of gate units respectively coupled to a plurality of heating elements wherein at least one gate unit controls at least one coupled heating element according to a corresponding strobe signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: James Caporossi, Scott A. Margo
  • Publication number: 20140285608
    Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus for enabling printing speed to be increased, while enabling the unevenness of concentration to be reduced, a printing apparatus is provided with a thermal head having a plurality of heater elements lined up in the main scanning direction and a CPU for switching current passage timing of the plurality of heater elements, and the CPU switches the current passage timing for the plurality of heater elements so that a second strobe signal STB2 is switched to an ON state after switching a first strobe signal STB1 to an ON state, after switching the STB2 to the ON state the STB1 is switched to an OFF state, the STB2 is switched to an OFF state, then the STB1 is switched to the ON state after switching the STB2 to the ON state, after switching the STB1 to the ON state the STB2 is switched to the OFF state, and that the STB1 is switched to the OFF state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasutake OSHIRO
  • Patent number: 8842143
    Abstract: A printing system having a chassis for housing a modular print station; a power source in communication with the print station; a controller circuit card assembly encoded with at least one feature module and being in communication with the print station; a display panel in communication with the print station; a media rewind hub; a pair of adjustable media guides connected about a base of the print station; and at least one sensor affixed to the print station base and being operable for detecting the presence and position of media passing through a media feed path of the printing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Bouverie, Richard Hatle, Dwayne Steven Tobin, Roger Keith Owens, Marjorie Hitz
  • Patent number: 8842142
    Abstract: A print station system having a chassis for housing a modular print station; a power source in communication with the print station; a controller circuit card assembly in communication with the print station; a display panel in communication with the print station; a media rewind hub; a pair of adjustable media guides connected about a base of the print station; and at least one sensor affixed to the print station base and being operable for detecting the presence and position of media passing through a media feed path of the print station system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Bouverie, Richard Hatle, Dwayne Steven Tobin, Marjorie Hitz
  • Publication number: 20140267533
    Abstract: An inkless printing device that comprises a plurality of lasers, a rotating polygonal mirror, and an energy recycling unit. The mirror rotates and reflects a laser beam in a manner that allows the beams to reach any point on the paper. The laser turns ON and OFF while the mirrors are rotating to form a printout. Printing on a sheet of paper is achieved by burning to a certain pre-determined depth of the paper, by using the thermal properties of a laser. The energy recycling unit converts the heat energy generated during the printing process to electrical energy and charges a battery cell. Upon the battery cells being charged to a pre-determined power threshold, the power supply to the printer is changed from the AC supply to the battery supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Mayadah ALHASHEM, Ahmad Bayonis, Ye Yuan, Charmaine Bennett
  • Publication number: 20140240436
    Abstract: The present invention is and includes an apparatus, system and method for providing an automated detection of thermal history control signal scheme and an automated switching circuit to select a converter circuit that changes one type of thermal history control signals from a thermal printer to another type for receipt by the driver ICs on a thermal printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: James Caporossi, Scott Margo
  • Patent number: 8803932
    Abstract: A printer includes a thermal head including a line head in which heating elements are arranged in a straight line, a feed device being configured to feed a printing medium in a vertical scanning direction, and a control device being configured to control the feed device and the thermal head, the printer performing printing by forming a print dot by heating on the printing medium. Each iteration of the pulse application cycle is a time period from a main heating starting time to a next main heating starting time. The control device, in a case where the main heating is not performed on a second heating element adjacent in a main scanning direction to a first heating element, is configured to perform printing by using a first mode, in which applying of a first sub-pulse to the second heating element is performed starting from the main heating starting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Megumi Matsutani
  • Publication number: 20140210931
    Abstract: A printing system includes a controller and a ribbon reading device. The controller is configured to control operations of the printing system according to operational parameters. The operational parameters used to control printing of ink from a thermal print ribbon onto one or more target objects by a thermal print head. The ribbon reading device is configured to examine the thermal print ribbon as the thermal print ribbon moves in the printing system. The ribbon reading device examines the thermal print ribbon to determine if the thermal print ribbon is associated with a set of designated operational parameters for the printing system. The controller is configured to use the set of designated operational parameters to control the operations of the printing system when the thermal print ribbon is associated with the set of designated operational parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140210932
    Abstract: A thermal print system includes a case, a thermal print device, an information storage device, an information transmission device and a control device. The thermal print device is detachably installed inside the case and is for performing thermal printing. The information storage device is installed inside the case and is for storing parameter information of the thermal print device. The information transmission device is installed inside the case and is for fetching the parameter information stored in the information storage device. The control device is installed inside the case and is electrically connected to the information transmission device. The control device controls the thermal print device to perform the corresponding thermal printing according to the parameter information transmitted from the information transmission device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: HiTi Digital, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsung-Yueh Chen, Shiu-Sheng Hsu
  • Publication number: 20140184718
    Abstract: A method of printing including testing the status of a printhead (12) having a plurality of printing elements (14) each of which is operable to transfer a marking medium from a web (16) to a substrate (18), wherein the method includes testing the status of each printing element (14), and providing a preview of an image (30) to be printed and, in the event that the print quality of the image is inadequate owing to the position of one or more damaged printing elements (14a, 14b) relative to the image (30) to be printed, adjusting the position of a component (30a, 30b) of the image (30) relative to the printhead (12) to improve the print quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: MARKEM-IMAJE LIMITED
    Inventor: James Cupit
  • Patent number: 8754917
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer. The printer comprises a feeder, a driving device, a printing head, a power feed device configured to supply electric power, a battery accommodating part configured to selectively accommodate either one of a primary battery and a secondary battery, a voltage detecting device, an exhaustion determining part configured to determine whether or not a print load voltage has reached a threshold value for exhaustion determination, a notification part configured to perform predetermined notification processing, a first setting part configured to set the threshold value to a first threshold value, a second setting part configured to store a threshold value for constant load voltage determination, a constant load voltage determining part configured to determine whether or not the constant load voltage has reached the threshold value, and a threshold value changing part configured to change the first threshold value to a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirokazu Miyabayashi
  • Patent number: 8736648
    Abstract: A microcontroller, an integrated circuit memory chip, and a data line connection to a microcontroller are the functional elements of a thermal printer vinyl tape cartridge life validation system. A unique, 64 bit, end user company specific identifier is provided from a vendor along with a write zero once integrated circuit device. The write zero once memory chip guarantees that no re-roll of a vinyl tape roll core used in a thermal label printer incorporating this system is possible. The write zero once integrated circuit memory chip is selected for write protection where bits can only be changed from a one to a zero state. The length of a tape roll is represented as a binary number polynomial vector. A length vector is mapped to a count-down register where it will be decremented based on a thermal label printer signal capable of translating tape consumption events into supply length units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Graphic Products
    Inventor: Robert Martell
  • Patent number: 8736649
    Abstract: The present invention is and includes an apparatus, system and method for providing an automated detection of thermal history control signal scheme and an automated switching circuit to select a converter circuit that changes one type of thermal history control signals from a thermal printer to another type for receipt by the driver ICs on a thermal printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventors: James Caporossi, Scott Margo
  • Publication number: 20140132696
    Abstract: A thermal head and a thermal printer are disclosed. The head includes a substrate, heat generating members, an edge portion, and first and second reinforcing members. The substrate includes: first and second surfaces opposing to each other; and an end face connecting the first and second surfaces. The heat generating members are parallel to the end face and located on the substrate. The edge portion is located on the substrate, crosses an array direction of the heating generating members, and includes first, second and third edge portions on the first main surface, the second main surface and the first end face, respectively. The first reinforcing member is located on the first, second and third edge portions. The second reinforcing member is located on the first edge portion, and separated from the first reinforcing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Youichi Moto, Hidekazu Akamatsu, Daisaku Kato, Naoto Matsukubo, Akihiro Fukami, Kouhei Nakada
  • Patent number: 8687031
    Abstract: A printing control unit for a thermal printer that prints by applying heat energy to a recording medium and is able to operate in multiple print modes, includes a line buffer unit, a shift register unit, and a configuration registration unit. The line buffer unit accumulates current dot printing data supplied from a host. The shift register unit gets and passes the current dot printing data and previous dot history data from the line buffer unit to a logic circuit unit. The configuration registration unit stores configuration data for setting data logic of the logic circuit unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Imai
  • Patent number: 8654160
    Abstract: In a printing control apparatus, there are arranged one pulse application period of which from-start-to-end is series of sub-pulse application time, main-pulse application time and non-heating time and other pulse application periods which follow the one pulse application period and of which from-start-to-end is repeated series of main-pulse application times and non-heating times. As temperature is higher, proportion of applied-for-sub-pulse energy amount to total energy amount in one pulse application period is made larger. As temperature is higher, proportion of applied-for-main-pulse energy amount to total energy amount in other pulse application periods that follow one pulse application period is made smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasutoshi Kano
  • Publication number: 20140028774
    Abstract: The present invention is and includes an apparatus, system and method for providing an automated detection of thermal history control signal scheme and an automated switching circuit to select a converter circuit that changes one type of thermal history control signals from a thermal printer to another type for receipt by the driver ICs on a thermal printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: James Caporossi, Scott Margo
  • Publication number: 20140002567
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer. The printer comprises a feeder, a driving device, a printing head, a power feed device configured to supply electric power, a battery accommodating part configured to selectively accommodate either one of a primary battery and a secondary battery, a voltage detecting device, an exhaustion determining part configured to determine whether or not a print load voltage has reached a threshold value for exhaustion determination, a notification part configured to perform predetermined notification processing, a first setting part configured to set the threshold value to a first threshold value, a second setting part configured to store a threshold value for constant load voltage determination, a constant load voltage determining part configured to determine whether or not the constant load voltage has reached the threshold value, and a threshold value changing part configured to change the first threshold value to a second threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirokazu MIYABAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8619315
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method of printing data is provided, the method comprising identifying whether a single- or a double-sided printer is operatively connected to the computer, identifying whether single- or double sided media is installed in the printer, and selecting a mode of operation for the printer based on whether it is identified as a single- or a double-sided printer and whether single- or double-sided media is identified as being installed therein. Variations are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Colman McGarry, Joseph Jennings