Absorber Patents (Class 347/31)
  • Patent number: 8517505
    Abstract: Provided is a fluid ejecting apparatus including: a fluid ejecting head; a receiving member which is linear; a support member which supports the receiving member; a support member movement unit which moves the support member between a first position and a second position so that the receiving member is located at a receiving position capable of receiving the fluid ejected from the nozzles at the first position, and the receiving member is located at a retreat position deviating from the receiving position at the second position; and a tensile force changing unit which is capable of changing tensile force changing unit changes the tensile force applied to the receiving member from a first tensile force to a second tensile force smaller than the first tensile force when the support member movement unit moves the support member from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8517507
    Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus that has a nozzle row provided with a plurality of nozzles and a fluid ejection head ejecting a fluid from the nozzle row is provided. The fluid ejecting apparatus includes a linear absorption member that is provided movable and is extended along the nozzle row, and a traveling mechanism that causes the absorption member to move. The traveling mechanism includes a delivery rotating body that drives out the absorption member, a winding-rotating body that winds up the absorption member, a tension regulating member that applies a predetermined tension to the absorption member and is displaced according to the tension of the absorption member, and a sensor portion that detects the displacement of the tension regulating member and controls rotations of the delivery rotating body and the winding-rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takato Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8511808
    Abstract: A recording head includes a plurality of nozzle arrays separately provided so as to correspond to kinds of recording liquids to be discharged, a plurality of common liquid chambers from which the recording liquids are supplied to the nozzle arrays, a plurality of recording-liquid introducing passages communicating with the common liquid chambers, and a plurality of filters provided in the recording-liquid introducing passages. Upstream aperture areas of the filters are equal to each other, and downstream aperture areas of the filters are different according to the kinds of recording liquids passing through the filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukuo Yamaguchi, Yutaka Koizumi, Mikiya Umeyama, Kiyomitsu Kudo, Masaru Iketani, Yuichiro Akama, Satoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8469486
    Abstract: A media support device usable with an image forming apparatus is disclosed. The media support device includes a support surface having at least one media support area. The media support area is configured to receive and support media to receive ink ejected from an image forming apparatus thereto. The media support device also includes a plurality of cavities configured to store ink ejected from the image forming apparatus thereto. Each one of the cavities includes a cavity opening configured to receive the ink ejected from the image forming apparatus thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L. P.
    Inventors: Donald Sutton, Erick B Kinas
  • Patent number: 8454121
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid through nozzles, a liquid container with a sloped bottom surface which receives the liquid ejected from the nozzles, an absorber disposed in the liquid container which absorbs and stores the liquid ejected from the nozzles, and a suction unit which sucks the liquid held by the absorber and discharges the liquid from the liquid container. The liquid container includes a restriction portion which restricts the flow of the liquid in the absorber due to gravity, forming collection portions in the absorber where the liquid may be collected at a plurality of positions with different elevations when the liquid container is rotated so that the bottom surface is sloped away from the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taisuke Yamamoto, Kentaro Tatsumi
  • Publication number: 20130100202
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head configured to discharge ink, a first waste ink retaining member configured to absorb ink discharged from the recording head, a second waste ink retaining member arranged below the first waste ink retaining member, a first inclined surface configured to flow waste ink overflowing the first waste ink retaining member downward, a waste ink receiving surface connected with a bottom end of the first inclined surface and including a porous body sheet for absorbing waste ink, and a second inclined surface configured to flow waste ink overflowing the porous body sheet to the second waste ink retaining member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8419173
    Abstract: An ink cartridge adopts a construction in which an air seal and an ink seal are arranged on the cartridge side and in which sealing between the ink cartridge and the recording apparatus is performed with a radial seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Hayashi, Keisuke Matsuo, Kenta Udagawa
  • Patent number: 8403455
    Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a fluid ejecting head having nozzle rows formed by a plurality of nozzles, in which a fluid is ejected from the nozzle rows. The fluid ejecting apparatus includes an absorbing member which extends along the nozzle rows in a movable manner, a moving mechanism which moves the absorbing member in a direction intersecting the nozzle rows, and a running mechanism which runs the absorbing member. The moving mechanism includes a moving member movably provided, a positioning member movably provided on the moving member and having the absorbing member in a movable manner, and a first biasing member for biasing the positioning member in a predetermined direction. A tension applying mechanism apply a tension to the absorbing member is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takato Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20130057612
    Abstract: A large-format printing apparatus includes multiple printing head units. Each of the printing head units can intermittently and steppingly move in a first direction and has a printing nozzle which can move reciprocatingly in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction for printing sub-images. Before printing starts, the printing head units are disposed at one end of a printing medium, and arranged to seamlessly splice the sub-images printed by the printing head units into a complete large-format printing image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: BEIJING ZHONGKE NANO-THINK PRINT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanlin Song, Jianguo Yang, Ke Xiao
  • Publication number: 20130044158
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a carriage, a first recording head, a second recording head, and a maintenance assembly. The carriage is movable in a main scanning direction. The first recording head has nozzles in a nozzle face thereof to eject liquid droplets. The second recording head has nozzles in a nozzle face thereof to eject liquid droplets. The second recording head is displaced from the first recording head in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The maintenance assembly maintains and recovers the first recording head and the second recording head. The maintenance assembly includes a first maintenance device and a second maintenance device. The first maintenance device is held by the apparatus body. The second maintenance device is reciprocally movable between a first position to oppose the first recording head and a second position to oppose the second recording head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8376508
    Abstract: Provided is a fluid ejecting apparatus including: a fluid ejecting head which has nozzle rows formed by a plurality of nozzles and ejects a fluid to a medium; an absorbing member absorbs the fluid that is ejected from the nozzles during a flushing process, and is a linear member which extends along a nozzle row; a first movement mechanism which relatively moves the absorbing member in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the nozzle rows between a retreat position where the absorbing member retreats from the ejection direction of the fluid ejected from the nozzles and a flushing position where the absorbing member overlaps with the ejection direction; and an accommodating portion which is formed on the fluid ejecting head and accommodates the absorbing member at the retreat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Ito
  • Publication number: 20130038661
    Abstract: An inkjet printer 1 has a cap 31 that covers the ink nozzle surface 18 in which ink nozzles 17 are formed when the inkjet head 6 is at a inkjet head standby position 6B; an ink absorber 37 that is held inside the cap 31 and absorbs ink ejected from the ink nozzles 17 into the cap 31; a water discharge head 12 that seals the cap 31 with a water nozzle surface 22 in which water nozzles 20 are formed when the inkjet head 6 is at the printing position 6A; and a suction pump 38 for discharging water from the water discharge head 12 when the water discharge head 12 seals the cap 31.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8366236
    Abstract: A print cartridge that has a printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements, a rotor element rotatable between a blot position where the rotor element blots the printhead integrated circuit, a seal position where the rotor element seals the nozzle arrangements, and a platen position in which the rotor element positions a printing medium proximate the printhead integrated circuit, an air distribution channel configured to deliver air along the printhead, communicable with an air supply, a plurality of reservoirs for printing fluids for the printhead integrated circuit and, a refill port arranged in fluid communication with printing fluid conduits each leading to one of the reservoir respectively, the port facilitating refilling of the reservoirs from a refill cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Zamtec Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20130021408
    Abstract: A method of minimizing ink consumption during printhead priming in an inkjet printer. The printhead has a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles for ejecting ink on to a media substrate. The method includes the steps of: providing a porous pad having a contact face dimensioned so that it can encompass all the nozzles in the array; moving the porous pad such that the contact face engages the nozzle face to cover the array of nozzles; forcing ink into the printhead under pressure until ink flows out the nozzles in the array and into the porous pad engaged with the nozzle face; and withdrawing the porous pad such that the contact face disengages the nozzle face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: ZAMTEC LIMITED
    Inventors: John Douglas Peter Morgan, Patrick John McAuliffe, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8348364
    Abstract: A fluid supply device, a printing device, and a method of cleaning a printing device are disclosed. A fluid supply device includes a main tank, a fluid chamber, a fluid-discharging head, a movable carriage, an expansion mechanism that expands the fluid chamber to draw fluid from the main tank, a suction mechanism, a remaining fluid detection unit, a comparison unit that compares the remaining fluid volume in the main tank with a specified value, and a setting unit that sets a cleaning mode. The expansion mechanism is actuated via a movement of the movable carriage. The setting unit sets a first cleaning mode in which a first amount of fluid is vacuumed from the nozzle or a second cleaning mode in which a second amount of fluid is vacuumed from the nozzle that is less than the first amount. The cleaning mode is selected in response to the amount of fluid remaining in the main tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Taga
  • Publication number: 20120327158
    Abstract: There is provided a fluid ejection apparatus for ejecting a fluid including a head for ejecting the fluid and a moisture retention head cap device for retaining moisture of the head. The moisture retention head cap device is disposed so as to surround a periphery of the head to cover the whole of the head when retaining moisture of the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun SHIMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 8336989
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can keep an adequate absorptivity of an ink absorbing member for a long period of time, even when such inks which react with each other are sucked through the same cap in a sucking recovery operation, by preventing a mixed ink collected by the ink absorbing member from thickening or being solidified. The ink jet recording apparatus has: a recovery unit 8 and 62 for draining ink from a black-ink discharge portion 13 for discharging black ink and a color-ink discharge portion 14 for discharging color ink which reacts with the black ink; an ink absorbing member 31 for collecting the ink which is drained by the recovery unit and separating the ink into a solid part 41 and a liquid part 42; and an ink introduction unit 7 for introducing the ink which is drained by the recovery unit, into the ink absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michinari Mizutani, Takuma Kodoi
  • Patent number: 8336988
    Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus which ejects fluid from ejection nozzles provided on an ejection head includes a rotation body which is provided so as to be opposed to a nozzle face on which the ejection nozzles are formed and rotates about an rotation axis parallel with the nozzle face, a fluid reception portion which is provided on the rotation body at a surface opposed to the nozzle face and has a recess at which the fluid is received from the ejection nozzles, and a lid member which closes a lid on the recess by abutting against the fluid reception portion in conjunction with rotation of the rotation body when the rotation body rotates in the direction in which the fluid reception portion is separated from the position opposed to the nozzle face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichiro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120320126
    Abstract: Low-profile service stations for use with printers are described herein. One example service station includes a shuttle to support a cap sled. The shuttle has a shuttle drive and a pump drive positioned such that at least one of the shuttle drive and the pump drive does not extend between a first side and a second side of the shuttle. The shuttle drive is coupled to a printer drive to move the shuttle between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Scott Martin, Lynn A. Collie, Eric Berner Strom
  • Patent number: 8328322
    Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes an ink cartridge receiving unit configured to receive an ink cartridge, an inkjet head configured to eject ink, an ink passage configured to transport the ink from the ink cartridge to the inkjet head, a detecting unit configured to detect a type of ink cartridge received in the ink cartridge receiving unit, a waste ink collection unit including an absorber configured to absorb the ink, a discharging unit configured to discharge the ink remaining in the ink passage at one of a first discharging rate and a second discharging rate, and a controller configured to control the discharging unit to discharge an amount of ink. The controller is configured to control the discharging unit to discharge ink at one of the first discharging rate and the second discharging rate corresponding to the type of the ink cartridge detected by the detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Ueda
  • Patent number: 8322816
    Abstract: The hand-held printer includes a print module configured for multidirectional printing, a print head in communication with the print module. The print head includes a plurality of nozzle arrays and wherein the nozzles in each of the plurality of nozzle are disposed substantially equidistant from a reference point. The hand-held printer further includes a circular cap configured to rotatably cooperate with the print head, wherein the circular cap cooperates with the print head to define a seal when the circular cap is disposed in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Asher Simmons
  • Patent number: 8317294
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: an ejection head that ejects a liquid from a nozzle; a cap that can seal an opening of the nozzle; an absorber disposed in the cap; a first ejection unit that allows to perform a first ejection operation toward the cap for maintenance of the nozzle; a suction unit that sucks the liquid from the cap; a second ejection unit that allows to perform a second ejection operation for replenishing the cap with a liquid before the suction, and a capping unit that covers the opening of the nozzle by the cap after the second ejection operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Morikoshi
  • Patent number: 8313162
    Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including a recording head which includes a nozzle plate having conductive property including an opening and for ejecting ink toward a medium to be recorded from the opening, an absorbing member disposed so as to oppose the nozzle plate in the ejecting direction of the ink from the recording head and for absorbing the ink not adhered to the medium to be recorded, an electrode disposed so as to make contact with the absorbing member, and an electric potential difference generator for generating an electric potential difference between the nozzle plate and the electrode and electrically attracting the ink not adhered to the medium to be recorded toward the electrode side. The electric potential difference generator generates an electric potential difference so that the magnitude of the electric potential difference is varied in accordance with a distance between a portion of the absorbing member to which the ink is absorbed and the nozzle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Narihiro Oki, Tsunenobu Endo, Hidetoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 8303061
    Abstract: A fluid supply device, a printing device, and a method of cleaning a printing device are disclosed. A fluid supply device includes a main tank, a fluid chamber, a fluid-discharging head, a movable carriage, an expansion mechanism that expands the fluid chamber to draw fluid from the main tank, a suction mechanism, a remaining fluid detection unit, a comparison unit that compares the remaining fluid volume in the main tank with a specified value, and a setting unit that sets a cleaning mode. The expansion mechanism is actuated via a movement of the movable carriage. The setting unit sets a first cleaning mode in which a first amount of fluid is vacuumed from the nozzle or a second cleaning mode in which a second amount of fluid is vacuumed from the nozzle that is less than the first amount. The cleaning mode is selected in response to the amount of fluid remaining in the main tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Taga
  • Patent number: 8297734
    Abstract: First, second, and third ink absorbing bodies are accommodated in a container of a recovery reservoir in this order from the side corresponding to a bottom surface of the container, so that an introduction chamber is defined in the middle of a recovery space. A lid having a shutter plate and a communication hole is located over the third ink absorbing body. The upper side of the introduction chamber is covered by the shutter plate to suppress volatilization of solvent element of waste ink introduced into the introduction chamber. In addition, the communication hole is located in a portion of the upper surface of the third ink absorbing body, so that solvent element of ink absorbed by the third ink absorption body volatilizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Harada, Keiji Matsumoto, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 8287072
    Abstract: A method for using a processor to process image data received from an image data source in preparation for multipass printing, comprising multitoning the image data to produce a multitoned image, using the multitone level of a pixel in the multitoned image to select a plane of a print mask, using the location of the pixel in the multitoned image to select a cell of output pixels in the selected plane of the print mask, and copying the selected cell of output pixels to corresponding locations within a print buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Christopher Rueby, Douglas W. Couwenhoven
  • Patent number: 8277042
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording head, a platen, and a first hole. The recording head includes a dot formation element array, and the platen holds a recording medium opposite the recording head. The first hole is disposed in an area of the platen opposite a downstream portion of the dot formation element array and guides ink discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin. Alternatively or additionally, a second hole is formed in an area of the platen opposite an upstream portion of the dot formation element array, and the platen guides ink, which is discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin, to the second hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Akahane
  • Patent number: 8277006
    Abstract: A method of controlling in a printer the maintenance of an inkjet printhead supplied with fluid from a plurality of fluid sources, the method includes the steps of (a) monitoring the usage of the plurality of fluid sources; (b) identifying a preferred fluid source for use in a maintenance operation based on the monitored usage of the plurality of fluid sources; and (c) performing the maintenance operation using a first quantity of fluid from the preferred fluid source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Frederick A. Donahue, Donald V. Brumbaugh, Gary A. Kneezel
  • Publication number: 20120242743
    Abstract: A media support device usable with an image forming apparatus is disclosed. The media support device includes a support surface having at least one media support area. The media support area is configured to receive and support media to receive ink ejected from an image forming apparatus thereto. The media support device also includes a plurality of cavities configured to store ink ejected from the image forming apparatus thereto. Each one of the cavities includes a cavity opening configured to receive the ink ejected from the image forming apparatus thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Donald Sutton, Erick B. Kinas
  • Publication number: 20120242744
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a composite ink absorber includes a porous layer and an absorbent layer integrated together into a single part. The porous layer is configured to trap inky sludge while simultaneously allowing ink liquids to pass through to the absorbent layer and the absorbent layer is configured to absorb ink liquids passing through the porous layer. In one embodiment, a printer platen assembly includes a platen and a composite, single part ink absorber covering the floor of the platen for capturing ink overspray in the platen area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Donald Sutton, Lynn Cheney
  • Patent number: 8267512
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording head, a platen, and a first hole. The recording head includes a dot formation element array, and the platen holds a recording medium opposite the recording head. The first hole is disposed in an area of the platen opposite a downstream portion of the dot formation element array and guides ink discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin. Alternatively or additionally, a second hole is formed in an area of the platen opposite an upstream portion of the dot formation element array, and the platen guides ink, which is discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin, to the second hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichiro Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20120218345
    Abstract: To provide a waste ink absorbing tank, capable, even in the case of utilizing an ink of a high coagulating property, of causing a waste ink absorbent member to efficiently absorb such ink. A waste ink absorbent member has a hole portion corresponding to an introducing position of the waste ink, and the hole portion is opened on a lateral face of the absorbent member. The waste ink, introduced into the hole portion moves in one direction toward the waste ink absorbent member and absorbed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Osumi, Sadayuki Sugama, Shinichi Hakamada, Junichi Sakai, Yasuhiro Nito, Katsuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8251486
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head, a platen, an absorption member, an electrode, and a potential difference generating device. The liquid ejecting head has a conductive nozzle plate that ejects liquid toward a front face of a recording object. The platen is arranged at a position opposed to the nozzle plate with the recording object placed between the platen and the nozzle plate. The absorption member is arranged at a position opposed to the nozzle plate and located farther from openings of the nozzle plate than the recording object in a direction in which the liquid is ejected. The potential difference generating device generates a difference in potential between the nozzle plate and the electrode by applying voltage to the electrode so as to form an electric field, whereby liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head is electrically attracted toward the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Narihiro Oki
  • Patent number: 8246142
    Abstract: A maintenance facility for an inkjet printer with a pagewidth printhead and a media path for feeding sheets of media substrate in a media feed direction. The pagewidth printhead has an elongate array of nozzles extending the printing width of the media substrate and the maintenance facility has an elongate chassis for mounting in the printer such that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis and a plurality of maintenance stations mounted to an exterior surface of the elongate chassis. The elongate chassis is symmetrical about at least one plane extending through the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Zamtec Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Makomo Tsubono, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8240809
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: an ink-jet head including a plurality of nozzle openings from which ink is ejected and an ink ejection surface in which the plurality of nozzle openings are formed; a waste-ink receiving mechanism which receives the ink ejected from the plurality of nozzle openings; a set of (a) a wiper configured to wipe the ink adhering to the ink ejection surface and (b) an absorbing member configured to absorb the ink received by the waste-ink receiving mechanism and to be brought into contact with the ink ejection surface such that the absorbing member adheres the ink thereto; and a driving mechanism configured to drive at least one of the ink-jet head and the set of the wiper and the absorbing member, such that the wiper and the absorbing member are, one of together and independently, moved relative to the ink ejection surface while being opposed thereto, and such that the absorbing member adheres the ink to the ink ejection surface and the wiper wipes the ink adhered by the abso
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Goro Okada
  • Patent number: 8210643
    Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a jetting head unit which has a nozzle which jets droplets of a liquid, and a heat generating section, a suction port which is formed in the jetting head unit, and which opens near the nozzle, and a suction device which sucks air around the nozzle from the suction port, and cools down the heat generating section of the jetting head unit by the air which is sucked. Since the heat generating portion is cooled down by the air sucked from the suction port by the suction device, it is possible to reduce a possibility of the heat of the heat generating section being transferred to the jetting head unit, and destabilizing an operation of the jetting head unit. Moreover, since the suction port opens near the nozzle, it is possible to suck fine liquid droplets together with air around the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kubo
  • Patent number: 8205959
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided in which a pad is moved between a first position in which the pad is sealingly engaged with the printhead, a second position in which the pad is disengaged from the printhead and a third position in which the pad is engaged with a pad cleaner. The pad is biased towards the second position relative to the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Zamtec Limited
    Inventors: John Douglas Peter Morgan, Kia Silverbrook, Christopher Hibbard, Bruce Gordon Holyoake
  • Patent number: 8205972
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head having a nozzle surface in which a plurality of nozzles is formed; and a vibration generating mechanism which is arranged at a position away from a recording medium in a moving direction of a recording head, and which intermittently sucks or blows air from and to the nozzle surface of the recording head moved to the position. The vibration generating mechanism vibrates a meniscus of a liquid inside each of the nozzles. Accordingly, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which the liquid is not consumed unnecessarily and thus is economical, and which effectively facilitates maintenance and recovery of the jetting function of the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichiro Hara
  • Publication number: 20120154484
    Abstract: There is provided a capping device having a bottomed box-shaped cap having an opening at one of ends of short side walls and long side walls formed in a ring shape and a bottom portion on the other side, the bottom portion is formed with a waste liquid disposal port configured to discharge liquid flowed therein from the opening and a rib extended so as to connect two opposing wall surfaces of the long side walls at a position overlapping at least partly with the waste liquid disposal port two-dimensionally when viewed from the side of the opening, and the rib including a communication hole configured to penetrate in the width direction intersecting the direction of extension of the rib and communicate with the waste liquid disposal port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyoshi HASHIMOTO, Takeo SEINO, Taisuke YAMAMOTO, Hirokazu ONO
  • Patent number: 8174726
    Abstract: There is provided a printing device including a face detection unit for detecting a face area including a face of a person in an image to be a target for printing, and a print setting determination unit for determining a setting of a size of a print image used for a marginless printing based on a position of the face area detected by the face detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kosuke Shingai
  • Publication number: 20120105541
    Abstract: A layer forming device forms a layer of liquid absorbing particles on a surface of a layer of a hardenable solution capable of being hardened in response to a given stimulus so that the liquid absorbing particles absorb liquid drops supplied to the surface of the layer of the hardenable solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi INOUE, Hiroshi IKEDA, Toshitake YUI, Kentaro AGEISHI
  • Patent number: 8162436
    Abstract: A fluid discharging apparatus including a head that has a nozzle which discharges fluid from the nozzle and a sheet shaped wiping member for wiping a nozzle surface of the head. The wiping member is moved relative to the nozzle surface so that portions of the wiping member are sequentially in contact with the nozzle surface in order to wipe the nozzle surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Takahashi, Eiichiro Watanabe, Jun Shimazaki, Takayuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8152267
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus configured to perform recording by discharging ink from a plurality of discharge ports disposed on a recording head. The apparatus includes a cap adapted to cover the plurality of discharge ports disposed on the recording head, a recessed portion defined on a bottom face inside the cap, a suction hole facilitating introducing a negative pressure to the recessed portion, an atmosphere communication hole located outside a range of the recessed portion and communicating with atmosphere, an ink absorber mounted inside the cap to cover the recessed portion, and a suction pump connected to the suction hole and configured to generate a negative pressure. When the plurality of discharge ports is covered with the cap, a projection image obtained when the plurality of discharge ports is projected onto the bottom face exists within the range of the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukuo Yamaguchi, Yutaka Koizumi, Mikiya Umeyama
  • Patent number: 8147028
    Abstract: A nozzle inspection device includes an inspection electrode placed apart from a discharge unit with a gap therebetween, an inspection unit for inspecting the presence of a defective nozzle by discharging a fluid with respect to the inspection electrode in a state in which the electric field is generated by application of a voltage between the discharge unit and the inspection electrode, a detection unit for detecting whether the inspection unit is in a non-inspectiable state, and a gap adjustment unit for adjusting the gap by transferring either the discharge unit or the inspection electrode in a case in which the inspection unit is in the non-inspectable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keigo Ito
  • Patent number: 8141980
    Abstract: Production printing systems are disclosed. The production printing system comprises a printhead array operable to discharge ink to print on a printable medium, and an ink tray that is affixed in the printing system facing the printhead array. The ink tray has a bottom section that is open. The production printing system further comprises a tray insert adapted to rest in the ink tray and to be lifted from the ink tray, and an ink absorbing element adapted to rest in the tray insert and operable to absorb ink that is discharged from the printhead array when the ink does not contact the printable medium. With the tray insert removed from the ink tray, the printhead array is visible through the bottom of the ink tray so that the printheads may be inspected or cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC
    Inventor: James O'Neal
  • Patent number: 8136909
    Abstract: In an ink jet print head formed with ejection nozzles, which may use a wiping member to wipe ink adhered to the surface of the ink jet print head, it is desired to be able to perform a wiping operation in any environment without requiring a large amount of space to accommodate the liquid used during the wiping operation. To this end, a cooling unit is used which can produce water by cooling the atmosphere. This cooling unit is operated to produce water, which is brought into contact with and transferred onto the wiping member before the wiping member performs wiping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Ogasawara, Mikio Sanada
  • Publication number: 20120062647
    Abstract: A recovery apparatus for recovering an ejection state of an ejection opening is disclosed. The recovery apparatus includes a cap member to seal an ejection surface of a droplet ejection head for ejecting a droplet from the ejection opening, and an absorber mounted in the cap member and to absorb ink attached to the ejection surface, so that the ink within a sealed space is suctioned and discharged. The absorber includes, when the ejection surface is sealed with the cap member, a first absorbing part to face the ejection surface at a first side where the ejection opening is provided through a first gap and a second absorbing part to face the ejection surface at a second side where the ejection opening is not provided through a second gap, wherein the first gap is greater than the second gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke NEMOTO
  • Patent number: 8132890
    Abstract: A recovery apparatus including an absorber, a holder member and a waste liquid foam is provided. The absorber abuts at least one nozzle for discharging ink and absorbs the ink from the nozzle by a capillary force. The holder member includes an open recessed portion and a communication port communicating an inside of the recessed portion with an outside of the recessed portion. The recessed portion houses the absorber. The waste liquid foam is disposed outside the holder member and contacts the absorber through the communication port of the holder member. The waste liquid foam has a capillary force greater than the capillary force of the absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaichiro Umeda
  • Patent number: 8128192
    Abstract: The hand-held printer includes a print module configured for multidirectional printing, a print head in communication with the print module. The print head includes a plurality of nozzle arrays and wherein the nozzles in each of the plurality of nozzle are disposed substantially equidistant from a reference point. The hand-held printer further includes a circular cap configured to rotatably cooperate with the print head, wherein the circular cap cooperates with the print head to define a seal when the circular cap is disposed in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Asher Simmons
  • Publication number: 20120050401
    Abstract: The present invention suppresses deformation of a cap that protects a recording head when a negative pressure is generated, thereby enabling an appropriate capping operation. An ink jet recording apparatus includes a cap having a bottom, the bottom facing an ejection port surface of a recording head, and a side wall surrounding the bottom, the ejection port surface having ejection ports; and a retaining member configured to retain the cap on the inkjet recording apparatus. A restricting member that covers the bottom is provided inside the side wall of the cap, and the restricting member is fixed to the retaining member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Saeki