With Cleaning Or Protector Patents (Class 347/22)
  • Patent number: 9340026
    Abstract: There is provided an ink jet recording apparatus including a recording head in which nozzle arrays are configured by lining up a plurality of nozzles which discharge identical inks and the nozzle arrays are arranged in a plurality of lines, and which discharges a plurality of types of ink, and a cap member which covers the plurality of the nozzle arrays in which out of a plurality of nozzle arrays which are accommodated in one cap member in a capping operation, a nozzle array in an end side region of the cap member discharges ink with the lowest solid content concentration and a nozzle array in a central region of the cap member discharges ink with highest solid content concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shiki Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9296211
    Abstract: An inkjet head cleaning device for an inkjet head having a nozzle surface on which nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged, includes a wiping member traveling unit allowing a wiping member of elongated shape having absorbency to travel along a conveying path in a longitudinal direction, a cleaning liquid supply unit supplying a cleaning liquid to the wiping member, a pressing unit pressing and bringing the wiping member supplied with the cleaning liquid to and into contact with the nozzle surface, and a sliding unit relatively sliding the wiping member and the nozzle surface, in which the nozzle surface is cleaned by putting a state of a mixed liquid of the ink and the cleaning liquid at a contacting portion between the wiping member and the nozzle surface into a state satisfying a predetermined relationship represented by a relationship between a surface tension and viscosity of the mixed liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9296206
    Abstract: In a print group for an ink printing apparatus, a housing is provided with print bars comprising print heads. The print bars are moveable independently of one another in a vertical direction from a printing position adjacent to a printing substrate into a park position and back. A protective flap bar for each print bar is provided which is pivotable and which is open to one side. The protective flap bar is arranged in a vertical position next to the print bar in the printing position such that the open side is facing away from the print bar. The protective flap bar is arranged in a horizontal position with the open side upward in the park position such that the print bar is engaged with its print head side in the protective flap bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Augustinus Achatz, Lucian Petrut, Robert Sigismund, Sebastian Wachter
  • Patent number: 9242468
    Abstract: In an inkjet printer, a cap part for receiving ink from a head unit during maintenance includes a liquid receiving part and an exhaust part disposed laterally to the liquid receiving part. In the liquid receiving part, a second liquid receiving chamber is disposed further from the exhaust part than is a first liquid receiving part. A second flow path is disposed below the first liquid receiving chamber without passing through the first liquid receiving chamber. In the exhaust part, a first fan part is connected to the first liquid receiving chamber, and a second fan part is connected to the second liquid receiving chamber through the second flow path. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately exhaust a gas contained within the second liquid receiving chamber, independently of the first liquid receiving chamber. Consequently, a mist in the liquid receiving part can be discharged efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kuroda, Tamio Fukui
  • Patent number: 9221261
    Abstract: A printer includes: an inkjet printhead assembly; a sled slidably arranged with respect to the printhead assembly, the sled supporting a platen module, a capper module and a wiper module; a sliding mechanism for sliding the sled relative to printhead assembly so as to selectively align one of the platen, capper and wiper modules with the printhead assembly; and a lift mechanism for lifting an aligned module linearly away from the sled and towards the printhead assembly. The platen module is positioned between the capper and wiper modules on the sled, such that the capper and wiper modules are positioned at opposite sides of the printhead assembly during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: John Christian Love, Biagio Agostinelli, Javier Escobedo, Antoni Murcia, David Tyvoll
  • Patent number: 9205656
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a carriage configured to hold a recording head having a plurality of discharge ports from each of which ink is discharged, and to move in a first direction, and a platen configured to support a sheet moving downstream in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The platen has a receiver configured to receive ink discharged towards an outside of the sheet, and a hole provided in an inside of the receiver to suction air therefrom. The hole is provided at a position at which an airflow is generated in a vicinity of a sheet edge so that each record band formed on a sheet with ink discharged from the plurality of discharge ports by movement of the carriage is expanded to at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Itaru Wada
  • Patent number: 9193195
    Abstract: A printer includes a feeding portion for feeding a print medium in a first direction, an ejection portion for ejecting liquid, a carriage, a guide shaft, a rail member, a first pressing portion, an eccentric member, a regulating portion, and a prohibition portion. The carriage includes the ejection portion and reciprocates in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction. The guide shaft extends in the second direction and supports the carriage. The rail member is disposed facing the guide shaft. The first pressing portion presses a first surface of the rail member. The eccentric member has a rotating shaft portion and an eccentric shaft portion that is eccentric with respect to the rotating shaft portion. The regulating portion comes into contact with a second surface of the rail member, and regulates movement of the carriage. The prohibition portion prohibits rotation of the rotating shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Kondo
  • Patent number: 9153752
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light-emitting device including a light-emitting element which emits light with a predetermined wavelength and a wavelength conversion portion including a fluorescent substance which is excited by the light emitted from the light-emitting element to emit fluorescence with a wavelength different from the predetermined wavelength, includes the followings. First, spraying so as to apply a liquid mixture containing a layered silicate mineral and a translucent ceramic precursor on the light-emitting element from a nozzle is performed while the nozzle is moved relative to the light-emitting element. Subsequently, forming of the wavelength conversion portion by heating the sprayed and applied liquid mixture is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA ADVANCED LAYERS, INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kojima
  • Patent number: 9144985
    Abstract: A liquid storage container includes a liquid storage section configured to store a liquid, a liquid injection section connected to the liquid storage section and configured to inject the liquid into the liquid storage section, a liquid injection port defined as an intersection at which the liquid injection section and the liquid storage section intersect each other, an air chamber communicated with air, an air introduction section communicated to the air chamber and configured to introduce the air to the air chamber, a communicating passage through which the liquid storage section and the air chamber are communicated to each other, and a collection section configured to collect the liquid and provided in a route of the communicating passage, the route being configured to send the air from the air chamber toward the liquid storage section and being a portion through which the air goes downward from above of the route in a posture where the liquid injection port is oriented upward in a direction intersecting wi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Koike, Tokujiro Okuno, Takashi Mano
  • Patent number: 9120318
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a print head that moves in a main scanning direction for ejecting ink from a nozzle, and a wiper blade that moves in a direction intersecting with the main scanning direction for wiping a nozzle surface of the print head on which the nozzle is formed. The wiper blade includes a wiping portion for effectively wiping the print head, and the nozzle surface has a wiping area divided into plural sections each having a width of the effective wiping portion and being partially overlapped with one another in the main scanning direction. When the print head is wiped by the wiper blade, the print head moves in the main scanning direction and the effective wiping portion is arranged at a wiping position corresponding to any one of the plural sections, and the print head is wiped at least twice while the wiping position is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO I INFOTECH INC.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kambe
  • Patent number: 9085163
    Abstract: The method of this invention for discharging a shipping ink from a newly installed print head filled with that ink minimizes the amount of shipping ink that may remain in the print head after the ink discharging process is performed. The shipping ink discharging method according to this invention comprises: a print head; an ink tank; a first pump; a second pump; a switch valve; and a cleaning mechanism; wherein the switch valve is closed and the first pump is operated to discharge the shipping ink from the ink ejection nozzles and the cleaning mechanism is operated to clean the print head, after which the switch valve is opened and the second pump is operated to supply ink from the ink tank to the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya Sunouchi, Seiji Suzuki, Takaya Sato
  • Patent number: 9079429
    Abstract: The invention provides, as an aspect thereof, an inkjet printer that connects a vacuum fan on the printer case side and a vacuum platen on the cover side through a short vacuum path. The platen moves in conjunction with the cover of the roll paper compartment. The platen is a vacuum platen having vacuum regions, suction holes, and a platen-side air path on the platen side, and a vacuum fan and a vacuum duct that connects the vacuum fan to the suction unit of the platen on the printer case side. The vacuum duct is disconnected from the suction unit of the platen when the platen moves in conjunction with the cover, and the length of the vacuum duct can therefore be short, corresponding to the distance between the intake opening of the vacuum fan and the suction unit of the platen when the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shun Oya, Hironori Maekawa
  • Patent number: 9079408
    Abstract: Even when a pressurizing operation is performed, degradation of the quality of a printing head due to wiping of a nozzle surface is suppressed. In an ink jet printing apparatus including a printing head, an ink tank, a first pump arranged in an ink supplying path for supplying ink from the ink tank to the printing head, a second pump arranged in an ink collecting path for collecting ink from the printing head to the ink tank, a switch valve arranged between the printing head and the second pump, and a cleaning mechanism, by driving the first pump in a state where the switch valve is closed, the ink is discharged from the nozzle row, and after driving of the second pump in a state where the switch valve is opened, the cleaning mechanism is caused to clean the printing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Suzuki, Shunya Sunouchi, Takaya Sato
  • Patent number: 9067415
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a recording head having a plurality of nozzles through which an ink composition containing an inorganic pigment is ejected, a nozzle surface having nozzle orifices, and a liquid-repellent film disposed on the nozzle surface; an absorbing member that absorbs the ink composition from the nozzle orifices and the nozzle surface; and an actuating mechanism including a pressing member that presses the absorbing member and the nozzle surface relative to each other with a force of 50 to 500 gf. The actuating mechanism moves at least one of the absorbing member and the recording head relative to the other to perform a cleaning operation in which the ink composition is removed from the nozzle surface with the absorbing member. The absorbing member contains an impregnation liquid during the cleaning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masako Fukuda, Keiji Matsumoto, Masato Murayama, Hiroshi Mukai, Keiichiro Yoshino, Hiroki Nakane, Akira Shinoto, Toshihiko Wakabayashi, Shoki Kasahara
  • Patent number: 9050839
    Abstract: A small, compactly configured reference position detection device 170 for a rotary transfer mechanism includes a rotary member 130 that can rotate through a rotational angle less than one revolution from a first rotational position past a second rotational position and reference position to a third rotational position; a detection flag disc 151 that can move in a range from a first position past a detection position to a second position; a detector 162 that detects the detection flag passing the detection position, and a flag moving mechanism. The flag moving mechanism can move the detection flag disc 151 tracking the rotary member 130. The position of detection flag disc 151 movement when passing the reference position of the rotary member 130 is the detection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Aruga, Toshihiro Imae
  • Publication number: 20150130872
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting section in which a nozzle capable of ejecting liquid is provided; a supply flow path that supplies the liquid to the nozzle; a pressurizing mechanism that discharges the liquid from the nozzle by pressurizing the liquid inside the supply flow path; and a pressure reducing mechanism that discharges the liquid from the nozzle by reducing a pressure of a space communicating with a side opposite to a side of the supply flow path of the nozzle. In a maintenance operation discharging the liquid from the nozzle by driving at least one of the pressurizing mechanism and the pressure reducing mechanism, the last discharging operation of the maintenance operation is performed by driving the pressurizing mechanism from a state where the negative pressure is caused to act on the inside of the nozzle by driving the pressure reducing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Takuya OKINA
  • Patent number: 9028039
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, an ejection detector, a cleaner and cleaning ejection controller. The ejection detector has a droplet landing member disposed in an area in which the droplet landing member faces the head. The ejection detector detects ejection or non-ejection by detecting electric change caused by landing of the droplets on the droplet landing member. The cleaner cleans a droplet landing surface of the droplet landing member. The cleaning ejection controller controls the recording head to eject droplets on the droplet landing surface for cleaning the droplet landing surface before cleaning the droplet landing surface by the cleaner. A quantity of the droplets for cleaning the droplet landing surface is greater than a quantity of the droplets for detecting ejection or non-ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Masaoka, Shotaro Takeuchi, Masahiko Hisada
  • Patent number: 9022523
    Abstract: Among a plurality of recording heads in a non-recording area, a leading end of a second recording head closer to a recording area is situated further forward than the that of another recording head, and a second cover which is provided in a position close to the leading end of the second recording head houses a second cleaning unit which is in contact with the second recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeaki Shima
  • Patent number: 9022522
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a transportation section that transports a medium in a transportation direction; a head that ejects the liquid on the medium; a support member that supports the medium which is in a position facing the head while abutting a surface of one side of the medium; a heat source that is disposed in a position facing the support member; an abutting member that abuts the surface of the one side of the medium on an upstream side from the support member in the transportation direction; and a detection section that detects presence or absence of the foreign matter on a surface of the other side of the medium in an area of the medium which abuts the abutting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Hori
  • Patent number: 9016832
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a head having an ejection surface; a head holder; a capping mechanism for capping the ejection surface, having: a facing member with a facing surface to face the ejection surface; and a protrusion provided on the head holder for isolating, from an external space, an ejection space formed between the ejection surface and the facing surface when a tip of the protrusion contacts the facing surface; and a humidifying mechanism having: a circulation passage whose first and second ends are open to the ejection space through openings thereof provided in one of the head and the head holder; and a humidifier for humidifying an air in the passage, the humidifying mechanism being configured to collect an air in the ejection space from the opening of the first end and to supply an air humidified by the humidifier into the ejection space from the opening of the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Shinoda
  • Patent number: 9013968
    Abstract: A data storage system, having a data processor operable to convert digital data signals into ink dot patterns, and a data processor operable to receive the ink dot patterns and convert them into digital signals, the system having at least one print media receiving carrier or panel, a printing member operable to deposit ink dot patterns in a print medium on the carrier panel, and a print media reader operable to read the ink dot patterns and create data signals there from, and a method of storing and retrieving data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Nanometer Storage Corporation (California)
    Inventor: Gregory R. Monzar
  • Patent number: 9004643
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head including an ejection face inclining an ejection opening region having ejection openings; a capping unit for selectively establishing a sealing state or an open state; an air supply opening and an air discharge opening; a humidification unit for performing a humidifying maintenance; a recording control unit for performing image recording; and a flushing control unit for performing flushing. The flushing control unit controls the head to perform the flushing such that an amount of the liquid discharged from each of a discharge-side ejection-opening group and a supply-side ejection-opening group is greater than that of the liquid discharged from the other ejection-opening group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ito
  • Publication number: 20150097894
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, an ejection detector, a cleaner and cleaning ejection controller. The ejection detector has a droplet landing member disposed in an area in which the droplet landing member faces the head. The ejection detector detects ejection or non-ejection by detecting electric change caused by landing of the droplets on the droplet landing member. The cleaner cleans a droplet landing surface of the droplet landing member. The cleaning ejection controller controls the recording head to eject droplets on the droplet landing surface for cleaning the droplet landing surface before cleaning the droplet landing surface by the cleaner. A quantity of the droplets for cleaning the droplet landing surface is greater than a quantity of the droplets for detecting ejection or non-ejection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Masaoka, Shotaro Takeuchi, Masahiko Hisada
  • Publication number: 20150085011
    Abstract: An image recording device includes a support member, a print head, a guide mechanism and a maintenance unit. The print head is configured to eject a liquid from a nozzle at a first position facing the support member. The guide mechanism is configured to guide movement of the print head among the first position, a second position, and a third position. The maintenance unit is configured to carry out maintenance on the print head which is located at the second position, the maintenance unit being arranged at a position facing the print head which is located at the second position. The third position is a position farther than the second position with respect to the first position in a direction going from the support member toward the maintenance unit in the orthogonal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Akihisa WANIBE, Naoyuki OKUMURA
  • Patent number: 8985731
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes feeding mechanism that feeds a recording medium in a first direction, a head including nozzles that eject liquid; and a humidifying mechanism. The humidifying mechanism includes a humidified air generating device that generates humidified air, an output portion that outputs the humidified air generated by the humidified air generating device, and a receiving portion that receives the humidified air output from the output portion. The output portion includes a first opening and a second opening. An area of the second opening is greater than an area of the first opening, and the first opening is separated from the second opening in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The head is disposed between the output portion and the receiving portion in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Shimizu, Yoshihumi Suzuki, Atsushi Hirota
  • Patent number: 8985736
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an ink jet head, having a pressure chamber, a flow path and a nozzle, which ejects ink in the pressure chamber through the nozzle, a first tank connected to the flow path, a supply unit which supplies ink in the first tank to the pressure chamber through the flow path, a second tank connected to the flow path, a discharge unit which moves ink in the pressure chamber to the second tank through the flow path, and a control section which activates the supply unit and the discharge unit so that ink in the pressure chamber is discharged to the second tank by the discharge unit, ink in the first tank is charged to the pressure chamber by the supply unit and the liquid surface of ink supplied to the pressure chamber is projected from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Akaba, Hideaki Nishida
  • Patent number: 8985737
    Abstract: There is provided an adhesive belt which is configured to support and transport a recording medium, a recording head which is configured to record by discharging ink onto the recording medium which is supported by the adhesive belt, and a cleaning mechanism which is configured to clean the adhesive belt. The cleaning mechanism has a cleaning liquid tank which is configured to have a cleaning liquid, a contact section which is configured to come into contact with the adhesive belt to apply the cleaning liquid and clean off ink which is attached to the adhesive belt, and an anti-foaming agent supply section which is configured to supply an anti-foaming agent for ink to the adhesive belt directly or via another member, and the anti-foaming agent remains on the adhesive belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seigo Momose
  • Patent number: 8964225
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a printing control method, a printing control device and a printing device with printing data printed according to height of another blank space. The printing control method comprises the following steps: receiving printing data; acquiring first printing format information of the printing data, wherein the first printing format information includes a first blank space height; acquiring paper-saving parameter information; obtaining second printing format information according to the first printing format information and the paper-saving parameter information, wherein the second printing format information includes a second blank space height; and printing the printing data according to the second blank space height. With the disclosure, a significant paper-saving effect can be achieved during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Shandong New Beiyang Information Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinfeng Ding, Yuguo Wang, Xuejun Zhang, Lei Che
  • Patent number: 8955943
    Abstract: A seal member includes a communication hole that makes a holder flow path communicate with a connection flow path in a state of the seal member being nipped between a holder projection and a connection projection, a holder-side fitting recess that fits onto the outer circumferential surface of the holder projection and also fits to a leading end portion of the holder projection, a connection member-side fitting recess that fits onto the outer circumferential surface of the connection projection and also fits to a leading end portion of the connection projection, and a recessed groove that is hollowed in the bottom of the holder-side fitting recess or the bottom of the connection member-side fitting recess along the inner circumferential surface of the holder-side fitting recess or the connection member-side fitting recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8926062
    Abstract: Printers and duplexers are described herein. An example duplexer for a printer includes a waste ink roller movable between a concealed region and a receiving region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel Fredrickson, Russell Yearout
  • Patent number: 8919919
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device characterized in that it comprises a base (3) including a cleaning plate (4), provided with cleaning elements (5), which can be moved along said base (3) and which defines three positions: an injection position which allows the passage of the ink through holes (6) in said base complementary to holes or recesses (7); a cleaning position in which said cleaning elements (5) contact the cartridges (2); and a resting position; and a resting plate (8), provided with closing elements (9), which can be moved along said base (3) by means of the movement of the print head (1) between a position of use of the print cartridges (2) and a resting position in which said closing elements (9) contact the cartridges (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: TKT Brainpower, S.L.
    Inventors: Antoni Guimerá Predola, Francesc Masgrau Lagresa, Antoni Balsells Mercadé
  • Patent number: 8919917
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus provided with N (N?2) liquid ejecting heads which eject liquid, the liquid ejecting apparatus including a supply path through which liquid is supplied from a tank to the N liquid ejecting heads, a circulation path through which liquid is returned from the liquid ejecting heads to the tank, N opening and closing valves that are installed for each liquid ejecting head on at least one of the supply path and the circulation path, and a liquid sending unit that applies a force sending the liquid from the tank toward the liquid ejecting heads. M opening and closing valves corresponding to M (M<N) liquid ejecting heads selected as cleaning targets are selected to be opened among the N opening and closing valves and the liquid sending unit is driven, to selectively send liquid to the M liquid ejecting heads of the cleaning targets among the N liquid ejecting heads, thereby performing cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kaoru Koike, Toshio Kumagai, Tadayuki Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 8915571
    Abstract: A color ink printing system includes a plurality of print head cartridges each including a modular printhead made up of a plurality of print head tiles; a print head chassis for supporting the plurality of print head cartridges; and a maintenance chassis for supporting a plurality of maintenance cradles, the maintenance chassis is actuable between a storage position and an operational position. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is held stationary with respect to a platen on which print media is propagated. Each print head cartridge is a monochrome print head cartridge ejecting a fluid different to the remaining print head cartridges. One or more of the plurality of print head cartridges includes a plurality of ventilation slits defined in the vicinity of the print head tiles, having applied thereto a suction force for sucking ink aerosol particles away from the print head tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Profaca, Julian Paul Kolodko, William John Stacey, Stephen John Sleijpen, Craig Donald Strudwicke, Neil Fyfe Edwards, Lance Thomas Brown, Toby Desmond Oste, Eric Patrick O'Donnell, Peter John Morley Sobey, David Bernardi, James Andrew
  • Patent number: 8915573
    Abstract: An inkjet printing device includes at least one ink cartridge, at least one ink pipe, at least one print head, an ink refill mechanism, and a pump module. The ink refill mechanism includes at least one transfer channel. After the ink refill mechanism is enabled and the at least one transfer channel is in an open status, in response to a suction generated by the pump module, the air within the at least one print head is ejected out through the at least one transfer channel, and the ink within the at least one ink cartridge is transferred to the at least one print head through the at least one ink pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Wen Tu, Yan-Hua Li
  • Patent number: 8905513
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a recording head having a nozzle to discharge droplets; a reciprocally moving carriage on which the recording head is mounted; a rotary conveyance body disposed opposite the recording head and configured to convey a recording medium; a maintenance unit to maintain an optimal state of the recording head; and a drive transmission unit to transmit rotation of the rotary conveyance body to the maintenance unit. The drive transmission unit includes a drive transmission gear to drive the maintenance unit; and a gear moving unit. The gear moving unit includes moving means to move the drive transmission gear at the connection position; and a retainer to retain a state in which the drive transmission gear is moved to the connection position, even though the carriage is moved toward a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Ichinowatari
  • Patent number: 8905516
    Abstract: According to the present invention, firstly, since the cleaning liquid is deposited onto the nozzle surface by the nozzle surface cleaning liquid deposition device, then it is possible to raise the dissolving effect, which is a chemical effect of dissolving adhering material which is adhering to the nozzle surface. Consequently, it is possible to remove the adhering material readily by subsequently wiping the nozzle surface with the wiping member, and hence the physical effects can also be improved. Furthermore, since the cleaning liquid is deposited so as to wet the wiping member, then it is possible to suppress the drawing out of liquid from the nozzles due to the absorbing characteristics of the wiping member, and therefore ejection defects due to solidification of drawn out liquid can be prevented. Consequently, it is possible to improve ejection stability of the droplet ejection head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8899722
    Abstract: A wiping assembly includes an endless belt and a plurality of rollers about which the belt is mounted. A first roller mounts a first end of the belt adjacent a first end of a belt zone while a second roller is adjacent at an opposite, second end of the belt zone. A third roller mounts a second end of the belt and is located at an intermediate position along a first orientation between the respective first and second ends of the belt zone. The third roller is translatable along the first orientation while the first roller and the second roller are non-translatable along the first orientation. The third roller is biased toward the first end of the belt zone to apply tension on the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steve A. O'Hara, Gene D. Jones, Scott Martin, Sierra Lynn Triebe
  • Publication number: 20140349071
    Abstract: A device and method for preparing a device having a superoleophobic surface are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate; coating a lift-off resist layer on the substrate; baking the lift-off resist layer; layering a photoresist layer on the lift-off resist layer; performing photolithography to create a textured pattern in the photoresist layer and the lift-off resist layer, and chemically modifying the textured pattern to create a superoleophobic surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Yuanjia Zhang, Kyoo-Chul Park, Hong Zhao, Kock-Yee Law
  • Patent number: 8894180
    Abstract: A wiping assembly includes a pair of guide elements located at opposite ends of a headland region of a fluid ejection assembly to extend in a second orientation generally perpendicular to a first orientation through which the opposite ends extend. Each guide element includes at least one first portion and a second portion. The at least one first portion selectively receives biased releasable engagement from a non-wiping portion of a wiping element extending along the first orientation to cause a wiping portion of the wiping element to be in generally parallel relation to, and spaced apart from, the headland region. The second portion causes the non-wiping portion to no longer be in biased releasable engagement against the guide element and causes the wiping portion to be biased in wiping relation against the headland region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steve A. O'Hara, Steven P. Downing, Teressa L. Roth, Sierra Lynn Triebe, Brian Mar
  • Patent number: 8888220
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising: a first transport unit that transports a printing medium; a line head, having a nozzle row in which the plurality of nozzles are arranged, that ejects the liquid from the nozzles onto the printing medium; a second transport unit, disposed at a distance from the first transport unit downstream from the first transport unit, that further transports the printing medium transported by the first transport unit; and a control unit that causes the line head to execute a flushing operation for ejecting the liquid from the nozzles at a predetermined frequency, wherein when causing the line head to execute the flushing operation, the control unit provides a margin, where the liquid does not land, in a region corresponding to a predetermined distance from a leading end of the printing medium that is an end of the printing medium located toward the second transport unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akito Sato
  • Patent number: 8888230
    Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus includes: a fluid ejecting head which includes nozzle rows each having a plurality of nozzles and ejects a fluid onto a medium, the fluid ejecting apparatus being capable of performing a flushing operation in which the fluid is ejected to an absorbing member used to absorb the fluid ejected from the nozzles, wherein the absorbing member is a linear member which extends along the nozzle row and is capable of relatively moving to a position retracted from a flying path of the fluid ejected from the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Seshimo
  • Patent number: 8889764
    Abstract: A water-based ink for inkjet recording is provided with color material, binder resin, surfactant, and water-based solvent, wherein when the ink is heated, 1) a viscosity of the ink is more than 10 mPa·s and 30 mPa·s or less, the viscosity being measured over the ink weight change rate range of 0% to 10%; 2) a viscosity of the ink is 200 mPa·s at any one of the ink weight change rate within 35% or more and 55% or less, the viscosity being measured by the E-type viscometer at 25° C. and 1 rpm; and 3) a surface tension at 25° C. of the ink at the ink weight change rate of 5% is lower than a surface tension at 25° C. of the ink at the ink weight change rate of 0%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta IJ Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Naoko Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20140333697
    Abstract: A recording device includes a platen, a recording head, a carriage and a cleaning unit. The platen supports a roll paper. The recording head ejects liquid onto the roll paper on the platen. The carriage supports the recording head. The cleaning unit is installed apart from the platen in a transport direction of the roller paper. The carriage transports the recording head in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the roll paper supported on the platen when the cleaning unit cleaning the recording head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Akihiro TOYA
  • Patent number: 8882239
    Abstract: In a method for determining a maintenance performance of a maintenance unit of an inkjet printing system, the inkjet system comprises an inkjet print head having an orifice surface, the orifice surface comprising an orifice, which orifice is in fluid communication with an ink chamber. The method comprises operating the maintenance unit to perform a maintenance operation on the orifice surface of the inkjet print head and detecting the presence of a wiper element or amount of ink over the orifice by detecting a pressure wave in the ink chamber and analyzing the detected pressure wave to determine the maintenance performance of the maintenance unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Miedema, Bastiaan J. H. Middelbos
  • Patent number: 8882240
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus and a print head recovery method are provided according to which, in an environment in which dust (e.g., paper dust) is easily attached to the periphery of an ejection port of a print head, the print head is subjected to a recovery operation depending on the level of the attached dust. The inkjet printing apparatus has a cutter unit for cutting a print medium and a recovery unit for performing the recovery operation by wiping the ejection port formation portion at which the ejection port is formed of the print head while sucking the ejection port formation portion. When the passing number showing how many times the cut part of the print medium cut by the cutter passes the printing position is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the recovery means subjects the print head to the recovery operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Hirosawa, Hidehiko Kanda, Yutaka Kano, Kentarou Muro
  • Patent number: 8876269
    Abstract: An inkjet printer (100) has an ink tank (113), an ink head (110), an ink supply tube (112) configured to supply ink from the ink tank (113) to the ink head (110), an ink return tube (115) one end of which is connected to an upstream side portion of the ink supply tube (112) and the other end of which is connected to a downstream side portion of the ink supply tube (112), and a pump (116) configured to circulate the ink in the ink supply tube (112) and the ink return tube (115).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Roland DG Corporation
    Inventor: Taeko Hirano
  • Patent number: 8876251
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a supply unit having a humidifying portion that supplies humidified gas near a nozzle array of a line-type recording head. In correspondence to displacement of the recording head in a direction of the nozzle array, at least one of an introducing direction and an introducing position of the supplied humidified gas can be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Sugimoto, Akira Kida, Susumu Hirosawa, Takeaki Nakano, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Seiji Suzuki, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Yuji Kanome
  • Patent number: 8870343
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a carriage, a wiping unit, and a control unit. The recording head includes a discharging port surface provided with a first discharging port row group having at least one discharge port row formed by arraying a plurality of discharging ports in a predetermined direction and a second discharging port row group having at least one discharge port row formed by arraying a plurality of discharging ports in a predetermined direction. The carriage causes the recording head to scan reciprocally in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. The wiping unit includes a sheet member for wiping the discharge port surface and a winding device to wind the sheet member. The control unit controls the winding device so that the first discharge port row group and the second discharge port row group are wiped with different areas of the sheet member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Komatsu, Masaya Uetsuki, Kazuo Suzuki, Toshimitsu Danzuka, Masataka Kato, Tsuyoshi Ibe, Asako Tomida
  • Patent number: 8864285
    Abstract: A system and a method for cleaning a printhead by providing from a first slit a laminar flow of cleaning fluid that flows through a pretensioned brush for brushing the nozzle plate and collecting debris. The cleaning fluid with the debris is drained by a first slit having a first under pressure and next by a second slit that has a second under pressure that is greater than the first under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Agfa Graphics NV
    Inventor: Luc De Roeck
  • Patent number: 8857972
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a platen holding a recording medium at a position opposed to a recording head, a suction generating member for suctioning the recording medium to the platen, a first recessed portion provided at a region on the platen and connected with the suction generating member, where the region faces a scanning area of the recording head, and a second recessed portion provided at a position on the platen and connected with the suction generating member, where the second recessed portion is provided on the downstream side of a region opposed to the scanning area and provided at a position corresponding to an end portion of the recording medium to be conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Toyoshima