Movement Patents (Class 347/32)
  • Patent number: 8172361
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting heads that ejects a liquid onto a target, a transport unit that transports the target, cap units that include caps which are provided opposite to the liquid ejecting heads with a transport path of the target interposed therebetween, and cover units that include cover members. The cap units are movable between a capping position where the caps come into contact with the liquid ejecting heads and a retreated position where the caps are separated from the liquid ejecting heads. The cover units are driven to move the cover members in association with the transport unit such that the cover members are disposed at a closing position where the caps are covered by the cover members when the target is being transported and the cover members are disposed at an opening position that does not cover the caps during a capping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhito Takahashi
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120092414
    Abstract: A colour ink printing system includes a plurality of print head cartridges, each extending across a direction of print media propagation and spaced apart along the direction of print media propagation; a print head chassis for supporting the plurality of print head cartridges, the print head chassis actuable between a printing position, a transition position, and a maintenance position; and a maintenance chassis for supporting a plurality of maintenance cradles, the maintenance chassis actuable between a storage position and an operational position, each maintenance cradle including a capper and a cleaner. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is held stationary with respect to a platen on which print media is propagated to effect printing on the print media. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is a monochrome print head cartridge ejecting a fluid different to the remaining plurality of print head cartridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    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: 8152269
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a carriage carrying a recording head and being movably supported, the recording head being configured to eject liquid onto a recording medium, a plurality of driven units to be driven by a drive source that generates a driving force, a transmission-switching mechanism configured to switch between the driven units, a carriage locker configured to prevent and allow movement of the carriage, and a transmission-switching locker configured to prevent and allow switching between the driven units. Movement prevention by the carriage locker and switching prevention by the transmission-switching locker are in synchronicity, and movement allowance by the carriage locker and switching allowance by the transmission-switching locker are in synchronicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiki Takeuchi, Nobuhiro Toki, Haruo Uchida
  • Patent number: 8152270
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a carriage on which first and second heads are mounted, a first cap configured to cap the first head, and a second cap configured to cap the second head. A distance from the first cap to the first head is shorter than a distance from the second cap to the second head. The carriage stops at a first capping position where capping is performed only with the first cap and a second capping position where capping is performed with both the first cap and the second cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • 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: 8147031
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a plurality of recording heads each of which includes an ejection surface; a head frame; at least one annular protrusion; a support tray; and a moving device. One or more positioning pins are provided in an inner area of the support tray that is enclosed with the annular protrusion, the positioning pins extending in a direction perpendicular to a flat surface which includes a contact portion of the annular protrusion that is come into contact with the head frame, and the head frame has one or more positioning holes into which the positioning pins are insertable in the contact state of the annular protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Shinoda
  • Publication number: 20120069088
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes: a liquid discharging head having liquid discharging faces; a cleaner unit having a cleaner that is separated from or brought into contact with the liquid discharging faces; a platen that is disposed to face the liquid discharging faces and retains the recording sheet; a unit driving mechanism that moves the cleaner unit along the liquid discharging faces; and a platen driving mechanism that moves the platen in a direction away from or toward the liquid discharging faces, wherein a movement pathway of the cleaner unit is formed between the liquid discharging head and the platen by moving the platen in a direction away from the liquid discharging faces, and when the cleaner unit has been located between the liquid discharging head and the platen, the cleaner is separated from or brought into contact with the liquid discharging faces by movement of the platen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Morimoto, Hitoshi Kamoda
  • Patent number: 8128197
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes an ejection defect test unit for inspecting an ejection defect of the functional liquid droplet ejection head. The ejection defect test unit includes a drawn unit on which a predetermined test pattern is drawn by test ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head and ejection-defect determination means for determining the ejection defect by capturing an image of the test pattern drawn on the ejection-defect test unit and recognizing the image. The drawn unit is disposed on a scan moving axis offset from the set table towards the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Kojima
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8123333
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a head unit which has, on a bottom wall of the head unit, a jetting head having a plurality of nozzles for jetting the liquid droplets, and which jets the liquid droplets from the nozzles onto the recording medium while moving in a scanning direction; a gas inlet port which is open through a side wall, the side wall being orthogonal to the scanning direction of the head unit, and via which a gas is taken into the head unit when the head unit moves in the scanning direction; and a pair of gas discharge ports which is open through the bottom wall of the head unit, at positions on both sides in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, to interpose the nozzles therebetween, and via which the gas, taken from the gas inlet port, is discharged toward the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaharu Ito
  • Patent number: 8118394
    Abstract: A droplet ejecting device including: plural droplet ejecting heads that eject droplets; a transporting body, disposed to face nozzle surfaces of the droplet ejecting heads, that transports a recording medium; and a head holding member that holds the droplet ejecting heads movably along droplet ejecting directions respectively is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Suzuki, Masaki Kataoka, Atsumichi Imazeki, Yoshihira Rai, Yujiro Fukuda, Takaaki Sekiyama
  • Patent number: 8113619
    Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising a printhead mounted on a substrate, an elastically deformable pad and an ink removal system mounted on the substrate. The pad has a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead. The pad being linearly moveable between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. In order to provide a cleaning action, the contact surface is configured to progressively contact the face during sealing engagement and peel away from the face during disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: John Douglas Peter Morgan, Kia Silverbrook, Christopher Hibbard, Bruce Gordon Holyoake
  • Patent number: 8113622
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a nozzle for ejecting liquid and a sealing unit that seals the nozzle. The sealing unit moves between a sealing position for sealing the nozzle in a direction of movement and an off position. A slider guides the sealing unit to the sealing position by moving rectilinearly in one of two opposite directions. The slider guides the sealing unit to the off position by moving in the other of the two directions. A drive mechanism performs first and second movements for moving the slider in the one and the other directions, respectively by a drive force from a motor. A drive force transmitting unit transmits the drive force to the drive mechanism by rotating while engaging the drive mechanism. The drive force transmitting unit rotates in the same direction while transmitting the drive force as the drive mechanism performs the first and second movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Taisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8113621
    Abstract: An inkjet printer has a body mounting first and second gear assemblies. The first assembly cooperating with a motor gear and having a code feature. The second assembly rotatably cooperating with the first assembly and a capper for capping a printhead. The code feature cooperates with a holding feature of a mounting arrangement used to mount the second assembly so that the cooperation maintains the first assembly at a predetermined position during the mounting of the second assembly. The first assembly has first and second gears connected by a common shaft. The first gear meshes with the motor gear and the second gear meshes with the second assembly. The second assembly has a third gear mounted to the body by a pin which meshes with the second gear. The third gear is an eccentric gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Tobin Allen King, Gregory Michael Tow, Attila Bertok, Geoffrey Philip Dyer, Robert John Brice, Paul Ian Mackey, Christopher Hibbard, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8109598
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording device, comprising first and second motors; first and second switch gears supported coaxially; first and second transmission gears, and wherein the first and second switch gears are provided to engage with corresponding ones of the first and second transmission gears in accordance with movement of the first and second switch gears in an axial direction, and the image recording device further comprises a control unit configured such that when the first switch gear and the second switch gear are moved in the axial direction, the control unit rotates one of the first and second motors by a first predetermined rotation amount, and starts the other of the first and second motors while the one of the first and second motors is rotated. The control unit rotates the other of the first and second motors by a second predetermined rotation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Samoto, Yuji Koga
  • Patent number: 8109601
    Abstract: A printer including a medium supporting member that supports a print medium in a state placed thereon, a print head that has nozzles for ejecting ink droplets downward and freely reciprocates above the medium supporting member, and a maintenance device. The maintenance device is disposed to face the lower surface of the print head when the print head is in a standby position and receives residual ink in the nozzles which is ejected from the nozzles when the print head is in the standby position. The maintenance device has an ink receiving chamber that opens upward for receiving the residual ink ejected from the nozzles and a liquid injection member that injects liquid into the ink receiving chamber when the print head is away from a position where the print head faces the ink receiving chamber in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Takada
  • Patent number: 8104888
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a conveyor which has one or more holes penetrating from a first surface to a second surface thereof, and which conveys, in a conveyance direction, a recording medium supported on the first surface; and a recording unit which is at such a position as to face the first surface, and records an image on a recording medium while the recording medium is conveyed by the conveyor. The recording apparatus further includes an exhauster capable of causing air exhaust through the one or more holes so that airstream in the one or more holes is directed from the second surface to the first surface; and a controller which controls the exhauster so as to cause air exhaust through at least one medium-facing hole out of the one or more holes, the medium facing hole being a hole facing a recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Yuji Sakano
  • Patent number: 8104867
    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: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kubo
  • Patent number: 8100503
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a printhead assembly for a printer. The printhead assembly includes a mounting plate assembly for mounting to a chassis of the printer. An ink ejection printhead is mounted to the mounting plate assembly. A capping mechanism is mounted to the mounting plate assembly. The capping mechanism includes a capping member configured to cap the printhead. A carrier supports the capping member. An actuating mechanism is arranged to effect movement of the carrier back and forth between a first position at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the printhead and a second position at which the capping member contacts the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Norman Micheal Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20120013681
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: (a) a head assembly including (a-1) recording heads having respective nozzle opening surfaces and (a-2) a head frame supporting the recording heads; (b) annular protrusions each of which is to be brought into contact with the head assembly, so as to surround the plurality of nozzles opening in the corresponding nozzle opening surface; (c) a supporting tray elongated in a supporting-tray longitudinal direction and supporting the annular protrusions; (d) a movement mechanism configured to move the head assembly and/or the supporting tray, and (e) a positioning pin projecting from a pin-located portion of the supporting tray. The pin-located portion is outside the annular protrusions, and is located in a center of the supporting tray in the supporting-tray longitudinal direction. The head frame has a positioning hole, into which the positioning pin is to be introduced upon contact of each annular protrusion with the head assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi TAIRA, Tadanobu CHIKAMOTO, Shuichi TAMAKI, Akira SHINODA
  • Patent number: 8096635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a duplex printer. The printer includes a support assembly and a pair of printheads mounted for movement with respect to the support assembly and configured to each eject ink upon print media. A print media feed mechanism is configured to feed the print media between the printheads during printing. A pair of movably mounted capping members is configured to cap respective printheads. A printhead movement actuating mechanism is configured to move the printheads into position for capping. A capping member actuating mechanism is configured to move the capping members into position for engagement with the moved printheads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Norman Micheal Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20120007915
    Abstract: It is sought to have a cap member sized to cover the entire lower surface of an ink jet head having numbers of nozzle heads, to improve intimacy of contact of the cap member with a carriage of the ink jet head, to obtain an enhanced airtightness between them and to enable the cap member to be manufactured roughly and at low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Miyakoshi Printing Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo IZAWA, Takao Namiki, Wataru Itabashi
  • Patent number: 8083312
    Abstract: A maintenance station of an inkjet printer mounted in a housing of the inkjet printer includes an ink cup rotationally and slidably coupled to the housing about/along an axis of rotation. The ink cup has a basic plate and a columnar rim around the basic plate. The columnar rim respectively defines a plurality of stopping ratchets and driving ratchets with the same gradient direction at a bottom and top thereof. A moving body is slidably disposed in the housing of the inkjet printer. An actuator movably disposed in the moving body moves together with the moving body, a tail of the actuator stretches out from the moving body for matching with the driving ratchets to rotate the ink cup. A plurality of housing ratchets are disposed in the housing of the inkjet printer and arranged into a ring for matching with the stopping ratchets to prevent the ink cup reversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Hsi Liu, Wei-Yuan Peng, Wei-Fong Lin, Jui-Yi Yu
  • Patent number: 8079661
    Abstract: Provided is a print cradle assembly for a printhead cartridge. The cradle assembly includes a docking bay molding and a media feed drive assembly positioned on the docking bay molding and configured to feed media through the assembly. The cradle assembly also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with a printer controller for controlling the media feed drive assembly and operation of the cartridge, as well as a heatshield mounted to the PCB for shielding the printer controller from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and user contact with the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Paul Ian Mackey, Bruce Gordon Holyoake, Garry Raymond Jackson, John Douglas Peter Morgan
  • Patent number: 8075089
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gear arrangement for a capper of an inkjet printer includes the steps of: mounting a first gear assembly to the printer to cooperate with a motor gear for driving rotation of the first gear assembly, the first gear assembly including a driving gear from which a code feature protrudes, the driving gear meshed with the motor gear; engaging the printer with a jig; and mounting a second gear assembly to the printer using the jig, the second gear assembly mounted to cooperate with the first gear assembly to be rotatable therewith and to further cooperate with a capper for capping a printhead so that the rotation of the second gear assembly moves the capper out of and into capping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Gregory Michael Tow, Attila Bertok, Geoffrey Philip Dyer, Robert John Brice, Paul Ian Mackey, Christopher Hibbard
  • Publication number: 20110298861
    Abstract: An elongate hand-held printer device includes an upper and a lower moulding configured to receive each other in a complementary fashion to define a housing, said housing defining an ink ejection slot; a printhead module housed in the housing, the module having a plurality of micro-electromechanical ejection devices configured to eject ink via the ink ejection slot; media slides protruding from each of the upper and lower mouldings, the media slides configured to elevate the printer device from a medium and prevent interference between the printhead module and ink ejected from the micro-electromechanical ejection devices; and a capping device coupled externally to a major face of the upper molding. The capping device includes a finger pad provided on an actuation arm of the capping device, the finger pad for facilitating pivoting of the capping device away from a print face of the printhead module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8061803
    Abstract: A document processor for capturing data and images from checks and other financial and payment-related documents includes a document track and a plurality of processing devices located along the document track. The plurality of processing devices includes an ink jet rear endorser. A manual ink jet cleaning and capping station is built into the track wall directly in front of the ink jet rear endorser. The station includes a movable track wall portion that is movable between first and second positions and includes an opening and a cap. When the track wall portion is in the first position, the cap engages the endorser to prevent any liquid ink on the endorser from drying. When the track wall portion is in the second position, the opening aligns with the endorser to allow the endorser to print on passing documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Burroughs Payment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Klug, Michael J. Moore
  • Patent number: 8061804
    Abstract: A method of moving a cap apart from a printhead within a short period of time without damaging a printing apparatus when the cap sticks to the printhead. A cap moving unit is driven to try to move the cap apart from the printhead. When a detection unit for detecting that the cap has moved apart from the printhead detects that the cap has not moved apart from the printhead, it is controlled to slightly reciprocate the carriage while driving the cap moving unit. When the detection unit detects that the cap has moved apart from the printhead under this control, the slight reciprocation of the carriage is forcibly stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Shimizu, Masaaki Matsuura, Tsuyoshi Otani, Ken Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20110279529
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead, the method having, when printing with the printhead, translating a modular sled relative to the printhead so as to align a media platen module supported by the sled with the printhead; after printing with the printing, translating the sled relative to the printhead so as to align a wiper module supported by the sled with the printhead and operating a wiper roller of the wiper module so as to wipe a printing face of the printhead; and after the wiping and prior to commencement of printing with the printhead, translating the sled relative to the printhead so as to align a capper module supported by the sled with the printhead so as to cap the printing face of the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: John Christian Love, Biagio Agostinelli, Javier Escobedo, Antoni Murcia, David Tyvoll
  • Publication number: 20110267400
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: (a) a recording head; (b) a cap movable along a movement path between an extracted position and a retracted position, such that the cap covers a nozzle-opening surface of the recording head, when being positioned in the extracted position, and such that cap is located in an adjacent space adjacent to the recording head without covering the nozzle-opening surface, when being positioned in the retracted position; (c) a guide movable between a closing position and an opening position. The guide guides the recording sheet to be conveyed through a sheet conveyance space, and closes the movement path of the cap, when being positioned in the closing position. The guide opens the movement path of the cap, when being positioned in the opening position. The guide is positioned in the opening position when the cap is moved between the extracted and retracted positions, and is positioned in the closing position when the cap is positioned in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji SAKANO
  • Patent number: 8042907
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device with a plurality of liquid ejection heads each having a liquid ejection surface that is elongated in a main scanning direction and is formed with a plurality of liquid ejection ports. Additionally, the device may have a maintenance unit, including a first maintenance tray, a second maintenance tray and a maintenance tray moving mechanism configured to move the first maintenance tray and the second maintenance tray in a predetermined direction. The device may also include a maintenance tray movement control portion configured to control the maintenance tray movement mechanism to move the first maintenance tray and the second maintenance tray wherein the first maintenance tray located at the first non-maintenance position and the second maintenance tray located at the second non-maintenance position at least partially overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsuo Sakaida
  • Patent number: 8042934
    Abstract: An inkjet printer that includes a printhead configured to eject ink. The printhead is housed in a housing. A capping device is pivotally fastened with respect to the housing to be pivotal into and out of capping engagement with the printhead. The mechanism includes an arm pivotally mounted with respect to the housing and a capping leg extending transversely from the arm to cap the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8020962
    Abstract: A printer is provided which has two pagewidth printheads arranged to eject ink from ink ejection nozzles disposed along the respective pagewidth onto opposite surfaces of print media being transported therepast, and a capping/purging mechanism. The capping/purging mechanism has two rotatable turrets arranged so that each turret is associated with a respective one of the printheads and an actuating mechanism for selectively rotating and moving each turret. Each turret has located on respective faces thereof, a capping member, platen and purging chamber connected in fluid passage communication with a suction device. The actuating mechanism selectively rotates each turret to align the respective capping member, platen and purging chamber with the respective printhead and selectively moves each turret to engage the respectively aligned capping member or purging chamber with the respective printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Norman Micheal Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8007073
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes two liquid discharge heads, a wiper unit, and an actuating mechanism. Each of the two liquid discharge heads has a nozzle face on which at least one nozzle opening for discharging liquid is formed. The two liquid discharge heads are located so that the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads face each other. The wiper unit is pressed against each of the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads at a position at which the wiper unit is placed between the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads. The actuating mechanism reciprocally moves the wiper unit relatively along the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Murayama
  • Patent number: 7997683
    Abstract: A hand-held printer that includes an inkjet array having a plurality of inkjets is disclosed. The hand-held printer may include an inkjet cap sized to cooperatively engage the inkjet array, wherein the inkjet cap is movable between and open position and a closed position, and a plurality of wipers carried by the inkjet cap, wherein each of the plurality of wipers is configured to engage one of the plurality of inkjets as the inkjet cap moves from the open position to the closed position; and wherein each of the plurality of wipers includes a gasket configured to form a seal adjacent to one of the plurality of inkjets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: James Mealy, Jonathan Neal Andrews, Asher Simmons
  • Patent number: 7997682
    Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device is provided having a printhead for printing on print media, a capper moveable between a capped position in which the printhead is capped and an uncapped position in which the printhead is uncapped, and a mechanism for maintaining the capper in the uncapped position. The mechanism has actuation arms configured to grip and retain the print media suspended from the device once printing is complete until removal of the print media from the device by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7988255
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of operating a maintenance station in a printer are provided. The method includes providing a feed roller shaft including an end, the feed roller shaft being connected to a motor; providing a maintenance station disposed near the end of the feed roller shaft, the maintenance station comprising a first pinion; a second pinion; and a maintenance sled including a rack with the rack including teeth positioned along a length dimension of the rack to provide a travel path for the maintenance sled; and using the motor that is connected to the feed roller shaft to cause the maintenance sled to travel back and forth along the travel path by separately engaging the first and second pinions, respectively, with the rack teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Petrica D. Balcan, Wayne E. Stiehler
  • Patent number: 7984962
    Abstract: A method of capping a printhead is provided in which a carrier is moved from a non-capping position, through a transition position, to a capping position at which a capping member carried by the carrier caps the printhead, and pivoting of the capping member is effected relative to the carrier during transitional movement of the carrier between the transition and capping positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Norman Micheal Berry, Akira Nakazawa, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7980659
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes a liquid droplet ejecting head that includes nozzles that eject liquid droplets in accordance with image information, a nozzle surface thereof being inclined so as to correspond to a peripheral surface of a rotating member; and a wiping member that wipes and cleans the nozzle surface that has been moistened by liquid that has been exuded from the nozzles of the liquid droplet ejecting head, and whose wiping direction is a direction from a downstream side to an upstream side of a direction in which the liquid that has been exuded from the nozzles flows along the nozzle surface due to the force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Sekiyama
  • Patent number: 7967410
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a conveying mechanism that is provided in this apparatus body and conveys a sheet, a recording head that moves along a moving path orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet, ejects an ink to the sheet to print an image on the sheet, and, after the printing is finished, stands by in a first standby position on one end side of the moving path, and a CPU that moves the recording head that is on standby in the first standby position to an arbitrary position of the moving path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Hiroki, Satoshi Kaiho
  • Patent number: 7963632
    Abstract: A channel member formed with a liquid storing chamber and a communication channel is configured to be tilted together with a droplet ejecting head. A cap member is configured to be movable between: a standby position spaced away from a droplet ejecting surface; and a capping position at which the cap member is in close contact with the droplet ejecting surface and covers droplet ejecting openings. A cap drive section drives the cap member to move between the standby position and the capping position. When the cap drive section drives the cap member to move to the capping position, the cap member presses the droplet ejecting head, and the channel member is tilted together with the droplet ejecting head in such a manner that a connection section between the liquid storing chamber and the communication channel is located at a position higher than the liquid storing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaichiro Umeda
  • Patent number: 7959255
    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 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kubo
  • Publication number: 20110128322
    Abstract: A capping device including: (a) a cap structure that is to be movable, relative to a body, in a contact direction toward a surface of the object so as to be brought into contact with the surface, for thereby covering the surface of the object; (b) a transmission mechanism configured to transmit, to the cap structure, a pressing force that causes the cap structure to be brought into the surface; and (c) a support member that supports the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism being configured to restrain increase and reduction of the pressing force, such that the pressing force transmitted to the cap structure is held in a given amount range at least when a distance between the cap structure and the support member in the contact direction is in a given distance range while the cap structure is in contact with the surface. Also disclosed is a liquid ejection apparatus including the above-described capping device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shuichi TAMAKI
  • Patent number: 7952745
    Abstract: A handheld mobile communications device includes a chassis; mobile communications circuitry and components mounted on the chassis; a printer apparatus mounted on the chassis, the printer apparatus having a pagewidth printhead and an ink supply module arranged on the printhead; and a print media feed mechanism mounted on the chassis to feed print media through the printer apparatus. The ink supply module is a molded multi-part structure defining a plurality of converging ink flow paths. The printer apparatus is detachable from the chassis for replacement after a predetermined amount of usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7946676
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection device for ejecting a liquid from a nozzle of a head to a workpiece, the liquid droplet ejection device including: a table for loading the workpiece; a first shifting section capable of shifting the table in a first direction and in a second direction approximately intersecting the first direction at a right angle; a plurality of carriages having the head; and a second shifting section capable of positioning each of the carriages by mutually shifting each of the carriages along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eishoku An, Yoshiaki Murayama
  • Patent number: 7942491
    Abstract: Provided is a serial recording apparatus including: a feed unit which feeds a recording medium; a recording unit which performs recording with respect to the fed recording medium; a movement unit which moves the recording unit in order to performing recording; a transporting unit which transports the recording medium in a direction crossing the movement direction of the recording unit; a controller which controls the recording unit, the movement unit, the transporting unit and the feed unit; and a determination unit which determines whether a target stop position of the recording unit satisfies a target position condition, during the movement of the recording unit, wherein the controller starts a feed operation of the subsequent medium using the feed unit at a timing before the movement of the recording unit is stopped, if the target stop position satisfies the target position condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fukasawa, Yoshiyuki Kimoto
  • Patent number: 7944582
    Abstract: A carriage drive control method capable of detecting the acceleration of a carriage at low cost, improving external disturbance suppression of the carriage, and thus improving image quality. This method is applied to a printing apparatus which prints by relatively moving on a printing medium a carriage to which a printhead is mounted. In the printing apparatus, the moving velocity of the carriage is detected, the acceleration of the carriage is detected on the basis of outputs from first and second strain gauges which are respectively attached on the two sides of a fixing portion for fixing the carriage on a belt for transmitting a drive force from a carriage motor to the carriage, the carriage velocity is compensated on the basis of the carriage acceleration detected for the detected moving velocity of the carriage, and driving of the carriage motor is feedback-controlled on the basis of the compensated carriage velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kato
  • Patent number: 7938504
    Abstract: Embodiments of a biodegradable absorbent material in a permeable membrane are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Shirley Lee, Diane Armstrong
  • Patent number: 7938503
    Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing contact with nozzles in an ink ejection face of the printhead. The contact surface has a sloping profile. The maintenance station has a motor and cam arrangement for moving the pad substantially perpendicularly with respect to the ink ejection face. The pad moves from a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly contacted with the nozzles to a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The movement and the sloping profile of the pad causes the contact surface to be peeled away from the face during disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: John Douglas Peter Morgan, Kia Silverbrook, Christopher Hibbard, Bruce Gordon Holyoake