Platen Or Engaging Means Therefor Patents (Class 347/220)
  • Patent number: 11827042
    Abstract: A tag writing device includes a conveying unit, an antenna, an acquiring unit, a determining unit, a selecting unit, and a deciding unit. The acquiring unit acquires reception intensities about a plurality of wireless tags. The determining unit determines an intermediate position between a start position and an end position as a position where a sum of reception intensities acquired while a mount is conveyed from the start position to the intermediate position and a sum of reception intensities acquired while the mount is conveyed from the intermediate position to the end position are closest. The selecting unit selects, as a target tag, the wireless tag, the intermediate position of which is determined as a position within a prediction range. The deciding unit decides a relative positional relation between the wireless tag and the antenna at a time when writing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11707928
    Abstract: A tube marking device includes a delivery unit having operating rollers for delivering a tube. A thermal press printing unit includes a first heating device and a press printing roller which are actuated by a first lift cylinder to move vertically. A first transmission printing sheet is mounted to a first rotary disc, carries a plurality of marks thereon, and is moved by an operating unit. Two adjacent marks are continuous to each other or have a spacing therebetween smaller than 50 cm. A control unit is electrically connected to the delivery unit, the thermal press printing unit, the first rotary disc, and the operating unit. The delivery unit and the operating unit respectively move the tube and the first transmission printing sheet. The thermal press printing unit transmissions the plurality of marks of the first transmission printing sheet onto an outer periphery of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: Chien-Jieh Sun
  • Patent number: 11660886
    Abstract: The paper cutting device includes: a lower frame configured such that a platen roller and a thermal head are disposed on the top surface thereof and provide a paper movement path and a drive unit is contained therein; an upper frame configured to form the paper movement path in association with the lower frame, and to open the paper movement path; a fixed cutter configured to be disposed on the upper frame, and to cut the roll paper; a movable cutter configured to be disposed on the lower frame, to cut the roll paper, and to allow the roll paper to move; and a jam control unit configured to detect a jam of the roll paper, and to detect the opening of the paper movement path and lower the movable cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: BIXOLON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Gwan Kim, Jin Kook Kim
  • Patent number: 11628678
    Abstract: A tape printing device includes a controller configured to control a feed motor such that, after printing is performed to n pieces of labels, when a label tape is cut between an n-th label and a (n+1)th label counted from a leading edge of the label tape in a first direction and the (n+1)th label is positioned at a print position at which printing is performed by a thermal head, the label tape is fed in a second direction until the (n+1)th label is displaced from the print position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Oida
  • Patent number: 11325405
    Abstract: A printer includes a print head configured to print on a recording sheet, a platen roller attached to a frame in a rotatable manner, a support having a head spring attached thereto that urges the print head toward the platen roller, and a hold unit attached to the frame in a rotatable manner and having an engaging part that engages with a projection situated at a side end of the support, wherein the head spring is configured to urge the print head toward the platen roller when the projection is engaged with the engaging part, and wherein the hold unit is configured to be rotated to cause the engaging part to disengage from the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuji Yada, Masahiro Tsuchiya, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Hiromi Ohtsuka, Tatsuya Oguchi
  • Patent number: 11052681
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes: a conveyance unit configured to convey a printing medium in a conveyance direction; a print head configured to print an image on the printing medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; and a slitter disposed on a downstream relative to the print head in the conveyance direction and configured to cut the printing medium in the conveyance direction in accordance with the conveyance by the conveyance unit, wherein the slitter is configured to cut the printing medium from a leading edge of the printing medium up to a predetermined position in accordance with the conveyance of the printing medium by the conveyance unit, and wherein the print head is configured to print the image in between the leading edge of the printing medium and the predetermined position in the conveyance direction after the printing medium is cut by the slitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Yamaguchi, Daigo Kuronuma, Ryutaro Takahashi, Naoaki Wada, Tomohito Abe, Noriyuki Aoki, Ryohei Maruyama, Masakazu Nagashima
  • Patent number: 10875325
    Abstract: A device (1) for printing labels (2) by means of thermal printing using a thermal head (3), which has a thermal strip (4), having a counter-pressure element carrier (5), which has a counter-pressure element (6), wherein an insertion gap (7) is formed between the thermal strip (4) and the counter-pressure element (6), through which the label (2) to be printed in each case can be guided, wherein the thermal head (3) is fastened in a movable manner on a thermal head carrier (8) and wherein the thermal strip (4) is pressed with a predetermined contact pressure against the counter-pressure element (6). To reduce the operating costs, the counter-pressure element (6) is movable relative to the insertion gap (7). A method for printing labels (2) using the device (1) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Espera-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Vicktorius, Marcus Korthäuer, Peter Wolff
  • Patent number: 10814656
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a printing apparatus includes: a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool and a take-up spool support for supporting a take-up spool, the supply spool support and the take-up spool support being drivable by at least one motor; a housing defining an enclosure; and a device having an input for receiving an input voltage and an output for delivering an output voltage to the at least one motor, the output voltage being lower than the input voltage, wherein the device is located within the enclosure, and the printing apparatus including a heat sink for dissipating heat away from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Dover Europe Sarl
    Inventors: Nicky Bond, Mohammed Jamal Toudmeri
  • Patent number: 10668712
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a platen roller, a pair of bearings, and a holder. The platen roller has a rotational shaft extending in a first direction. The bearings rotatably support respective end portions of the rotational shaft. Each of the bearings includes an abutment portion. The holder includes a pair of fitting portions into which the bearings is respectively fitted. Each of the fitting portions includes: a receiving portion, an opening portion, and an engagement portion extending from the receiving portion. The receiving portion has an inner space configured to receive the corresponding bearing. The abutment portion is configured to abut against the engagement portion. In a case where an external force in a direction toward the opening portion is applied to the bearing, the engagement portion is configured to be deformed so as to reduce an area of the opening portion, thereby immovably engaging the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kita, Yusuke Ikemoto, Hikaru Nagata, Yuichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10661554
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a platen roller having a rotational shaft, a pair of bearings, and a holder. The bearings rotatably support end portions of the rotational shaft. Each of the bearings includes: a support portion, and an engaging portion. The support portion has an outer circumferential surface. The engaging portion is provided at the outer circumferential surface of the support portion. The holder includes a pair of fitting portions. The bearings are fitted into the fitting portions, respectively. Each of the fitting portions includes: a receiving portion configured to receive the support portion, an opening portion, and an engagement portion. The engaging portion is engaged with the engagement portion, whereby an expanding deformation of the opening portion can be restrained in a case where an external force directed in a direction toward the opening portion in the first direction is applied to the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikaru Nagata, Hiroaki Kita, Yuichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10654296
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, including: a head holder; a platen roller; a first support shaft; a roller holder; a moving mechanism configured to move the roller holder; and a biasing member configured to bias the roller holder in an inclined direction inclined with respect to a first direction which is substantially orthogonal to a conveyance direction and in which the roller faces a thermal head toward a second direction side, the second direction opposite to the conveyance direction, wherein, in a state in which the roller holder is located at a pressing position, the roller is held in contact with the head while receiving a biasing force in the first direction from the biasing member, and a first contact portion of the roller holder is held in contact with the head holder in the second direction while receiving a biasing force in the second direction from the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Kentaro Murayama, Takanori Izumi
  • Patent number: 10421297
    Abstract: A printer includes a printer mechanism unit including a frame and a print head, a platen unit including a platen roller, a detection switch configured to detect connecting of the platen unit to the printer mechanism unit, and a switch holder having the detection switch attached thereto and covering part of the detection switch, wherein the switch holder is mounted to one of the frame and the platen unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Tatsuya Oguchi, Sumio Watanabe, Yukihiro Mori, Masahiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 10315440
    Abstract: A platen unit of a printer configured to perform printing while nipping and feeding a linerless label using a thermal head and a platen roller, the platen unit includes the platen roller, a downstream-side wraparound prevention member disposed on a downstream side of a feeding direction of the linerless label with respect to the platen roller, the downstream-side wraparound prevention member being configured to prevent the linerless label from rolling up to the platen roller, and an upstream-side wraparound prevention member disposed on an upstream side of the feeding direction of the linerless label with respect to the platen roller, the upstream-side wraparound prevention member being configured to prevent the linerless label from rolling up to the platen roller, wherein the upstream-side wraparound prevention member and the downstream-side wraparound prevention member are rotatably assembled to a roller shaft of the platen roller independently from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takumi Nakamori
  • Patent number: 10065437
    Abstract: A printer includes a print head; a platen roller; a frame, to which the print head or the platen roller is attached, that includes a frame body, a sidewall that is perpendicularly bent from the frame body with respect to a longitudinal direction of the platen roller, and a back surface member that is bent from the frame body in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the platen roller, the back surface member including an end portion and a support portion provided to support the sidewall from an inner side and an outer side of the sidewall, respectively, the sidewall being supported by the back surface member while being interposed between the end portion the support portion of the back surface member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Tatsuya Oguchi, Sumio Watanabe, Yukihiro Mori, Masahiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 9969585
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a hopper which is provided with a mounting surface on which a medium is set, and which is provided to be capable of swinging between a first posture in which the mounting surface of the medium is in a fallen state, and a second posture in which the mounting surface is in an uplifted state, a first pathway that delivers rolled paper, as the medium, to the hopper from an upstream side thereof, a second pathway that delivers cut form paper, as the medium, to the hopper from an upstream side thereof, and a first sensor that detects the medium in the first pathway, wherein the hopper swings from the first posture in a direction that assumes the second posture on the basis of detection of the medium by the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Narihiro Oki, Shinji Kanemaru, Shintaro Miyamoto, Keisuke Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9902174
    Abstract: A printer includes a body configured to accommodate recording paper, a lid attached to the body to be openable and closable relative to the body, a pressing part on the lid, a platen roller attached to the lid, a movable shaft in the body, a spring that urges the movable shaft, and a lever configured to support bearings of the platen roller with the lid being closed. The movable shaft is provided at a position corresponding to the pressing part to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the movable shaft, and is pressed by the pressing part to generate a spring force in the spring during closure of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Sumio Watanabe, Masahiro Tsuchiya, Tatsuya Oguchi
  • Patent number: 9843700
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus detects that the paper sheet cassette has been drawn out and that the paper sheet cassette has been housed, and upon detecting either that the paper sheet cassette has been drawn out or that the paper sheet cassette has been housed, detects that a reference operation has been performed. When the reference operation has been performed in a time period other than while a printing job is being executed, the control portion performs control so that the screen related to paper sheet setting is displayed, and when the reference operation has been performed while the printing job is being executed, the control portion performs control so that the screen related to paper sheet setting is not displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Documents Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Takushi Dandoko, Tetsuya Maeda
  • Patent number: 9751338
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a dual purpose printer has a housing, a printing medium supporting section, a first printing section, and a second printing section. The housing has a discharge port and an entrance port. The printing medium supporting section is arranged inside the housing, and rotatably supports a rolled printing medium. The first printing section is configured to print on a top surface of a first continuous sheet printing medium drawn from the rolled printing medium supported on the printing medium supporting section, and to print on a second printing medium carried in through the entrance port. The second printing section is arranged inside the housing, and is configured to print on the bottom surface of the first continuous sheet printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kenji Eoka
  • Patent number: 9440456
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a dual purpose printer has a housing, a printing medium supporting section, a first printing section, and a second printing section. The housing has a discharge port and an entrance port. The printing medium supporting section is arranged inside the housing, and rotatably supports a rolled printing medium. The first printing section is configured to print on a top surface of a first continuous sheet printing medium drawn from the rolled printing medium supported on the printing medium supporting section, and to print on a second printing medium carried in through the entrance port. The second printing section is arranged inside the housing, and is configured to print on the bottom surface of the first continuous sheet printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kenji Eoka
  • Patent number: 9415612
    Abstract: A printing apparatus (301) comprising: a housing; a printing mechanism; a receiving bay for receiving a supply of image receiving medium; a cutter module (350) removably attached in said housing for cutting said image receiving medium, said cutter module comprising a movable blade and an actuator for actuating said movable blade; wherein said housing comprises an aperture (370), said cutter module being at least partially received in said aperture, and being removable via said aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: DYMO
    Inventors: Jerry Roctus, Kris Vandermeulen
  • Patent number: 9365057
    Abstract: A printer unit including: a platen roller including a driven gear; a drive source configured to rotate the platen roller about a predetermined axis; a frame, which is configured to rotatably support the platen roller and to which the drive source is assembled; a reduction gear configured to transmit a driving force of the drive source to the driven gear in a decelerated manner; a thermal head to be held in press contact with an outer peripheral surface of the platen roller; a gearbox portion, which is formed on the frame and to which the driven gear and the reduction gear are assembled, the gearbox portion having an opening for assembling the reduction gear; and a gear cover configured to close at least a part of the opening of the gearbox portion, the gearbox portion having a recessed portion recessed in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the predetermined axis, the gear cover including: a hook portion to be engaged with the gearbox portion; and a projecting portion to be fitted to the recessed p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Takumi Seino, Kouhei Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 9296232
    Abstract: A thermal printer has a casing that houses recording paper, a printer cover connected to the casing in a manner turnable with respect to the casing around a first turning shaft for opening/closing the casing, a head unit provided on the casing and including a thermal head, and a platen unit including a platen roller and being provided on the printer cover and connected to the head unit in a manner releasable along with an opening/closing operation of the printer cover. The platen unit is mounted on the printer cover in a manner turnable around a second turning shaft that is parallel to the first turning shaft and slidable along a direction perpendicular to the second turning shaft. A biasing member is provided between the printer cover and the platen unit for biasing the platen unit toward the closing direction of the printer cover around the second turning shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Aizawa
  • Patent number: 9296220
    Abstract: A printer apparatus includes a platen roller, a printer head for performing a printing on a recording paper provided between the printer head and the platen roller, a recording paper guide mounted to a part of a front surface of the printer head to guide the recording paper, and a spring positioned on a rear surface of the printer head to exert force toward the platen roller. The spring causes the printer head and the recording paper guide to move together toward a position in which the platen roller is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshinari Takabatake, Sumio Watanabe, Yukihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 9266365
    Abstract: A printer includes a feeding portion, a guide portion, and a processor. The processor determines whether a roll sheet in the printer is an inward facing roll sheet or an outward facing roll sheet. When the roll sheet is the inward facing roll sheet, the processor controls the feeding portion to move the downstream-side end portion of the print medium from the cutting position to an upstream side in the feed direction than the upstream end portion before the printing. And the processor controls the printing portion to start printing. When the roll sheet is the outward facing roll sheet, the processor controls the printing portion to start printing in a state in which a downstream-side end portion of the print medium in the feed direction is positioned further to a downstream side in the feed direction than an upstream-side end portion of the guide portion in the feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Murata, Yasuhiro Torii
  • Patent number: 9056488
    Abstract: Methods of, and apparatus for, two-sided thermal printing comprising direct and/or thermal transfer print means are provided. In one embodiment, a combined direct thermal and thermal transfer printer and related media are disclosed wherein direct thermal printing is provided for on a first media side, and thermal transfer printing is provided on a second media side. In other embodiments, various two-sided thermal transfer printers and media are disclosed wherein thermal transfer printing is provided for on first and second media sides through use of, inter alia, a one- and/or a two-sided thermal transfer ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy W. Rawlings, Matthew A. McLaughlin, Jeffery S. Denton, Richard D. Puckett, Yaoping A. Tan, Paul C. Blank, Michael J. VanDemark
  • Patent number: 9035985
    Abstract: A printer apparatus includes a printer body including an opening part that has a protruding part, a support part including a rotary shaft and rotatably attached to the printer body to rotate about the rotary shaft, a platen unit provided in the support part, and a shaft bearing including a projecting part and rotatably supports the platen roller. The opening part receives the shaft bearing. In a state where the platen unit is installed in the printer body, the projecting part and the protruding part contact each other. In a case of removing the platen unit from the printer body, the shaft bearing and the support part rotate in a same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Rintaro Kato, Sumio Watanabe, Yukihiro Mori, Masahiro Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20150116443
    Abstract: A sublimation printer includes a casing, a platen roller, a thermal printing head and a paper cassette. The platen roller, the thermal printing head and the paper cassette are disposed inside the casing. The platen roller is configured to support a printing medium when the printing medium moves along a first direction or a second direction, in which the first direction is opposite to the second direction. The thermal printing head faces to the platen roller and is used to transfer dyes of a ribbon onto the printing medium. The paper cassette is located on a side of the platen roller along the second direction and is configured to accommodate the printing medium, in which the orthogonal projections of the paper cassette and the platen roller on the casing at least partially overlap with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Chun-Chang TU, Chien-Lin Lee
  • Patent number: 9013530
    Abstract: A printer 1 has a media orientation detection means 65 that detects displacement of the media after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; and a media processing device control unit 100 that controls cutting the media by an automatic paper cutter 60 when the media orientation detection means 65 detects displacement of the media, and controls processing the media by a processing unit when a communication unit receives control data while in a standby mode waiting for detection of media displacement by the media orientation detection means 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Koike, Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20150092003
    Abstract: A printer includes a platen roller, a print head that performs printing on a recording sheet, and a recording sheet guide provided on the same side as the platen roller relative to the recording sheet. Multiple projections are provided on a surface of the recording sheet guide. The projections are elongated in substantially the same direction as a conveyance direction of the recording sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Yuya Ishii, Sumio Watanabe, Yukihiro Mori, Yoshinari Takabatake
  • Publication number: 20150085055
    Abstract: A stamping plate holder comprises a thick cardboard configured to receive a stamping plate on a surface of the thick cardboard, the stamping plate that comprises a surface configured for plate-making processing to form a stamping face; and a paper strip, to be printed on with information relating to the stamping plate, that is arranged in an area outside of an area that receives stamping plate on the same surface as stamping plate of thick cardboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki KOGANE
  • Publication number: 20150062280
    Abstract: A printer apparatus includes a platen roller, a printer head for performing a printing on a recording paper provided between the printer head and the platen roller, a recording paper guide mounted to a part of a front surface of the printer head to guide the recording paper, and a spring positioned on a rear surface of the printer head to exert force toward the platen roller. The spring causes the printer head and the recording paper guide to move together toward a position in which the platen roller is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshinari Takabatake, Sumio Watanabe, Yukihiro Mori
  • Publication number: 20150054907
    Abstract: Provided is a printer capable of enhancing the cutting efficiency of printing paper. A printer, includes a printing unit; a fixed blade; a movable blade provided to be movable relative to the fixed blade, and cut the printing medium with the fixed blade; and a tension mechanism applying a tensional force to the printing medium. The tension mechanism includes a receiving member disposed on the discharge side of the fixed blade; and a pressing member extending from the movable blade toward the discharge side, moving with the movable blade. The pressing member includes a pressing part configured to press the printing medium against the receiving member and move toward the discharge side while holding the printing medium between the pressing part and the receiving member, as the movable blade moves toward the fixed blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Kohei TAKAHASHI, Masahiro KANEKO, Nobuo YATSU, Takuya UCHIYAMA, Ying LI, Katsuaki KOSHIMURA, Chuqi LIANG, Hongfei ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20150042742
    Abstract: A two-way-openable printer includes a hinge portion for connecting an upper unit and a lower unit, provided at the rear of the printer, and a paper ejection opening of the printer at the front. The hinge portion has a lower hinge bracket connected to the lower unit, an upper hinge bracket connected to the lower hinge bracket with a pivot pin and pivotable about the pivot pin, and a bracket cover for the upper hinge bracket. The upper unit has a portion which allows the upper unit to pivot about the bracket cover. The upper unit has a first opening mode in which it is opened at the front ejection opening side, and a second opening mode in which it is fully opened by pivoting at the hinge portion so that a first side surface of the upper unit faces downward and an opposite side surface faces upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Onodera
  • Patent number: 8950857
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a transporting roller; a driven roller provided opposite the transporting roller to sandwich the recording medium between the driven roller and the transporting roller, while moving in an approaching-departuring direction based on a thickness of the recording medium; a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller; a platen; a recording portion configured to jet ink droplets from nozzles; and a cooperative portion moving along with the movement of the driven roller in the approaching-departuring direction to move the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriyuki Kawamata
  • Patent number: 8947482
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to a system for reducing electrostatic fields underneath print heads in a direct marking printing system. The system includes: one or more print heads for depositing ink onto a media substrate; a media transport for moving the media substrate along a media path past the one or more print heads; a conductive platen contacting the media transport belt; an electrostatic field reducer that includes an alternating current charge device positioned upstream of the one or more print heads; and one or electrically isolated biased electrodes in registration with the ink deposition areas of the one or more print heads. The media transport includes a media transport belt and, when the media is on the transport belt it has an electrostatic field, which can cause printing defects. The electrostatic field reducer and electrodes reduce the electrostatic field on the surface of the media and thereby reduce printing defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Palghat S. Ramesh, Joannes N. M. de Jong, Gerald M. Fletcher
  • Publication number: 20150022615
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a substrate processing device, such as a printing device. In some embodiments, the device includes a substrate supply, a reusable card, an operative unit, at least one transport mechanism, and a controller. The substrate supply is configured to support a plurality of operative substrates. The reusable card is stored in a dedicated storage area, which does not receive the operative substrates. The controller is configured to control the at least one transport mechanism and the operative unit to deliver the reusable card from the storage area to the operative unit, to process the reusable card with the operative unit, and return the reusable card to the storage area, multiple times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel J. Fowell, Jeffrey L. Stangler
  • Patent number: 8933978
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a substrate processing device, such as a printing device. In some embodiments, the device includes a substrate supply, a reusable card, an operative unit, at least one transport mechanism, and a controller. The substrate supply is configured to support a plurality of operative substrates. The reusable card is stored in a dedicated storage area, which does not receive the operative substrates. The controller is configured to control the at least one transport mechanism and the operative unit to deliver the reusable card from the storage area to the operative unit, to process the reusable card with the operative unit, and return the reusable card to the storage area, multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
    Inventors: Daniel J. Fowell, Jeffrey L. Stangler
  • Publication number: 20150002603
    Abstract: A printer 1 has a media orientation detection means 65 that detects displacement of the media after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; and a media processing device control unit 100 that controls cutting the media by an automatic paper cutter 60 when the media orientation detection means 65 detects displacement of the media, and controls processing the media by a processing unit when a communication unit receives control data while in a standby mode waiting for detection of media displacement by the media orientation detection means 65.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Koike, Takako Kasuga, Yuya Iwasa, Kiyomi Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20150002604
    Abstract: A thermal printer comprises: a casing that houses recording paper; a printer cover connected to the casing in a manner turnable around a first shaft; a head unit provided on the casing and including a thermal head; and a platen unit provided on the printer cover, assembled to the head unit in a manner releasable along with open/close operation of the printer cover, and including a platen roller, wherein the platen unit is mounted on the printer cover in a manner turnable around a second shaft that is parallel to the first shaft and slidable along a direction perpendicular to the second turning shaft, and the thermal printer further includes a biasing member that biases the platen unit in a direction away from the printer cover out of turn directions of the platen unit around the second shaft is provided between the printer cover and the platen unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Kazuyuki AIZAWA
  • Patent number: 8911169
    Abstract: A platen roller assembly for a printer includes a platen roller, a retaining clip, a plurality of bearings, and a pulley assembly. The platen roller defines a longitudinal axis. The retaining clip mounts to a support body of the printer and is positioned to retain the platen roller relative to the support body. The plurality of bearings is operably coupled to the platen roller. Each of the bearings permits rotational movement of the platen roller about the longitudinal axis thereof. The pulley assembly is mounted to the support body and is operably associated with one or more of the bearings. The pulley assembly includes a pulley and a belt. The belt is operably coupled to the pulley such that the platen roller rotates in response to rotational movement of the belt. The platen roller may be selectively coupled and uncoupled to/from the support body independent of the pulley assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Colquitt, Chris Christiansen
  • Publication number: 20140347432
    Abstract: A device for processing media may include a front panel, a rear panel, a side panel, a support surface, and an access door assembly. The access door assembly may be pivotally coupled to the support surface and may include a major door pivotally coupled to a minor door. The minor door may be movable from an operational position to a minor support position and the major door may be movable from the operational position to a major support position in which the major door is positioned against and supported by the support surface. The side panel may define an imaginary plane that extends upward beyond the support surface and the access door assembly may be sized to be supported on the support surface without crossing the imaginary plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy T. Anderson, Mark B. Urban
  • Publication number: 20140333708
    Abstract: There are provided a thermal head capable of decreasing the possibility of occurrence of layer separation in a protective layer, and a thermal printer equipped with the same. A thermal head includes a substrate; an electrode disposed on the substrate; an electric resistor connected to the electrode, part of which serves as a heat-generating section; and a protective layer disposed on the electrode and on the heat-generating section. The protective layer includes a first layer containing silicon nitride or silicon oxide; and a second layer disposed on the first layer, containing tantalum oxide and silicon oxynitride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Ochi, Hiroshi Masutani, Youichi Moto, Yoshihiko Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8866864
    Abstract: A printer 1 comprising, a feed section 3 capable of feeding a print paper having a first sheet 50 and a second sheet 51 laminated to the first sheet 50 through a gap 58, and a print section 5 for printing the print paper, wherein the print section 5 comprises a thermal head 18 and a platen roller 17 being opposed to the thermal head 18, wherein the platen roller 17 comprises a shaft 30 being rotatably supported in a direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the print paper, a cylindrical body roller 31 disposed to the shaft 30, and a projecting portion 32 protruding outward in a radial direction of the body roller 31 for filling the gap 58 by pressing the print paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sato Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Otsuka, Mariko Mogi
  • Publication number: 20140292992
    Abstract: A printer apparatus includes a printer body including an opening part that has a protruding part, a support part including a rotary shaft and rotatably attached to the printer body to rotate about the rotary shaft, a platen unit provided in the support part, and a shaft bearing including a projecting part and rotatably supports the platen roller. The opening part receives the shaft bearing. In a state where the platen unit is installed in the printer body, the projecting part and the protruding part contact each other. In a case of removing the platen unit from the printer body, the shaft bearing and the support part rotate in a same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Rintaro Kato, Sumio Watanabe, Yukihiro Mori, Masahiro Tsuchiya
  • 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: 20140240437
    Abstract: An adhesive label issuing apparatus comprising: a cutter unit; an adhesive force expression unit; and a slack unit, the slack unit including: a downstream paper passing portion arranged between the cutter unit and the adhesive force expression unit along the conveyance direction so as to pass a label paper which has passed the cutter unit therethrough; and an upstream paper passing portion arranged on the upstream side of the downstream paper passing portion along the conveyance direction so as to pass the label paper therethrough, the downstream paper passing portion being arranged so as to be offset with respect to the upstream paper passing portion along a normal direction of an upstream paper passing surface in the upstream paper passing portion and so that a downstream paper passing surface in the downstream paper passing portion and the upstream paper passing surface are in parallel to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kouji KAWAGUCHI, Yoshinori SATO
  • Patent number: 8789940
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a transporting roller; a driven roller provided opposite the transporting roller to sandwich the recording medium between the driven roller and the transporting roller, while moving in an approaching-departuring direction based on a thickness of the recording medium; a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller; a platen; a recording portion configured to jet ink droplets from nozzles; and a cooperative portion moving along with the movement of the driven roller in the approaching-departuring direction to move the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriyuki Kawamata
  • Publication number: 20140118457
    Abstract: Thick, compressible, multilayer labels with the appearance and feel of hard plastic identification shields comprise: A. A printable film having first and second opposing facial surfaces; B. A first adhesive having first and second opposing facial surfaces, the first facial surface of the adhesive in intimate contact with the second facial surface of the film; and C. Foam having first and second opposing facial surfaces, the first facial surface of the foam in intimate contact with the second facial surface of the first adhesive. In certain embodiments of the invention, the labels include one or more of a printable coating on the first facial surface of the film, a second adhesive in intimate contact with the second facial surface of the foam, and a release liner in contact with the second adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventor: Filip M. Steyaert
  • Patent number: 8711194
    Abstract: A printer includes a printer main body, a lid part including a lid main body, a block unit, and a first rotation shaft providing a connection between the lid main body and the block unit, the block unit being rotatable around the axis of the first rotation shaft, a print head attached to one of the printer main body and the block unit, a platen roller attached to the other one thereof, and a second rotation shaft situated on one of two opposite side faces of the printer main body and the lid part, the second rotation shaft providing a connection between the printer main body and the lid part, and lid part being rotatable around the axis of the second rotation shaft, wherein the first rotation shaft is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the print head, and the second rotation shaft is perpendicular to the first rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchiya, Yukihiro Mori, Sumio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8672569
    Abstract: A platen roller fixing structure includes a platen roller; a spring; a spring supporting part supporting the spring; a print head; a platen roller receiving part configured to receive the platen roller; and a spring receiving part configured to receive the spring. The platen roller, the spring, and the spring supporting part are provided on one of a body part and a movable part of a printer. The movable part is rotatably connected to the body part. The print head, the platen roller receiving part, and the spring receiving part are provided on the other one of the body part and the movable part. When the movable part is closed relative to the body part, the spring receiving part comes into contact with the spring to cause the spring to press the platen roller against the platen roller receiving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Components Limited
    Inventors: Yuji Yada, Kunihiko Funada, Yukihiro Mori