Mist Or Dust Removal Patents (Class 347/34)
  • Patent number: 11850842
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a carrier plate and a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid through an opening of the carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system comprises an air supply unit comprising air flow guide structure extending into the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead to flow air through the opening. The air flow control system controls the air supply unit to selectively flow the air based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Jun Howe, John Patrick Baker, Brian M. Balthasar, Glenn Batchelor, Anthony Salvatore Condello, Ali R. Dergham, Timothy P. Foley, Douglas K. Herrmann, Richard A. Kalb, Peter John Knausdorf, Jason M. LeFevre, Jack T. Lestrange, Chu-Heng Liu, Paul J. McConville, Seemit Praharaj, Palghat S. Ramesh, Joseph C. Sheflin, Emmett James Spence, Robert Jian Zhang, Megan Zielenski
  • Patent number: 11850863
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, having a discharging head, a fan, and a controller, is provided. The discharging head includes a discharging surface and a plurality of nozzles arranged along a sub-scanning direction, which intersects orthogonally with a main scanning direction. The discharging head is configured to move in the main scanning direction. The fan is configured to generate an airflow for collecting mist of ink discharged through the nozzles. The controller is configured to obtain a droplet size of the ink to be discharged through the nozzles from one of a print job and a printing mode set in advance, obtain a distance between the discharging surface and a printable medium, and control a rotation speed of the fan based on the droplet size and the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Nishimoto, Akihiro Kobayashi, Kenta Hasebe, Kengo Takeda, Yumiko Oshika
  • Patent number: 11766867
    Abstract: Provided is a recording head cleaning device, a recording head cleaning method, and a recording device, with which a cleaning liquid from a nozzle is prevented from being mixed and a nozzle surface is cleaned. The problem is solved with a recording head cleaning device including a cleaning liquid holding unit that has a cleaning liquid holding surface, a cleaning liquid applying portion that applies a cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid holding surface, a cleaning unit that cleans a nozzle surface of a recording head, in which a nozzle jetting an ink is disposed, with the cleaning liquid held by the cleaning liquid holding surface by making the cleaning liquid holding surface and the nozzle surface face each other, the nozzle surface with the cleaning liquid held by the cleaning liquid holding surface, and a back pressure control unit that sets a back pressure of the nozzle in a case of cleaning the nozzle surface to ?800 pascals to ?200 pascals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Hattori
  • Patent number: 11718107
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid to a deposition region. A movable support surface, such as a belt, is used to transport print media through the deposition region, with the print media being held against the movable support surface by vacuum suction through holes in the movable support surface. A media registration device loads print media onto the movable support surface and registers the print media to a location of the movable support surface. The movable support surface comprises no-suction-regions in which the vacuum suction through the movable support surface is prevented. The no-suction regions extend across the width of the movable support surface in a cross-process direction and are arranged at predetermined intervals along the process direction. The control system causes the media registration device to register each of the print media relative to a respective one of the no-suction-regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Chu-Heng Liu, Douglas K. Herrmann, Jason M. LeFevre, Paul J. McConville, Seemit Praharaj
  • Patent number: 11648784
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid through an opening of a carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system comprises an air supply unit to selectively flow air through the opening based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead. The air supply unit comprises an air guide structure comprising an air outlet portion extending into the opening of the carrier plate between the printhead and the carrier plate, the air outlet portion terminating in an end wall that is angled obliquely relative to the movable support surface towards a reverse-process direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K. Herrmann, Jason M. LeFevre, Chu-Heng Liu, Paul J. McConville, Seemit Praharaj
  • Patent number: 11613124
    Abstract: A printer includes: a printhead and a platen positioned below the printhead for supporting print media conveyed along a media feed direction through a print zone. The platen has a particle-collection slot upstream of the print zone relative to the media feed direction and a dam wall at a downstream side of the particle-collection slot. The particle-collection slot and the dam wall extend transversely relative to the media feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventors: Rommel Balala, Dan Baterna
  • Patent number: 11485144
    Abstract: A printer includes a transport unit, a first head, a second head disposed downstream of the first head, a first suction unit configured to suction ink mist discharged from the first head, a second suction unit configured to suction ink mist discharged from the second head, and a suction device coupled to the first suction unit and the second suction unit, and configured to generate an airflow for suctioning the ink mist, and a first suction device disposed either one of on a first path from the first suction unit to the suction device, and at the suction device, and configured to adjust a flow rate at the first suction unit, and a second suction device disposed either one of on a second path from the second suction unit to the suction device, and at the suction device, and configured to adjust the flow rate at the second suction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Otokita, Norihiro Masuda
  • Patent number: 11420442
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge device configured to discharge a liquid onto a discharge target from nozzles on a discharge surface of the liquid discharge device in a liquid discharge direction, an adhesion part including an adhesion surface to which mist of the liquid discharged by the liquid discharge device adheres, and a detector including a detection surface facing the adhesion surface of the adhesion part, the detector configured to detect a surface state of the adhesion surface of the adhesion part. The detection surface of the detector is above the discharge surface of the liquid discharge device in the liquid discharge direction, and the adhesion part is configured to move to change the adhesion surface facing the detection surface of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuta Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 11383536
    Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printing apparatus that can reduce smears on a back surface of a print result medium by reducing accumulation of ink in a platen while reducing generation of mist. To achieve this, an ink receiving portion of a platen is provided away from a support surface by a predetermined distance, is formed in a mesh shape by laying multiple linear members, and is formed as a guide member that guides the ink received in the ink receiving portion to an ink guide holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Genta, Kazuhiko Sato, Kazuo Suzuki, Yoshinori Nakajima, Masataka Kato, Mitsutoshi Nagamura, Satoshi Azuma, Shingo Nishioka, Sae Mogi
  • Patent number: 11247459
    Abstract: An apparatus and method configured to eject an electrically charged liquid. The apparatus and method include a liquid-ejecting apparatus including a reservoir for storing a liquid, an electrically conductive faceplate for ejecting the liquid, a plurality of channels connecting the reservoir to the electrically conductive faceplate, and a voltage source to change and maintain an electric potential difference between the liquid and the electrically conductive faceplate during ejection from the electrically conductive faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Niyaz Khusnatdinov, Zhengmao Ye
  • Patent number: 11104071
    Abstract: A printing head assembly with integrated purge mechanism is disclosed. The printing head assembly comprises: (a) a liquid dispensing head comprising one or more dispensing nozzles enclosed in a nozzle plate, driven by at least first and second pressures, and (b) a shielding mask including an opening in front of the one or more nozzles, wherein the opening being configured such that when printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the first pressure, the liquid being dispensed in pulses through the opening in the shielding mask, and (ii) when purge printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the second pressure, the liquid being drawn to a capillary gap formed between the shielding mask and the nozzle plate thereby removing the purge printing liquid from the nearby nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: XJET LTD.
    Inventors: Eliahu M. Kritchman, Ronen Mimon, Hanan Gothait
  • Patent number: 11046072
    Abstract: A circuit unit includes a circuit board, a cover being configured to house the circuit board inside, a first airflow inlet formed in a first surface of the cover, and a first duct formed in the first surface wherein the first duct is in communication with the first airflow inlet, and a sliding mechanism that supports the circuit unit such that the circuit unit is movable, the sliding mechanism includes a fixed frame, a second airflow inlet formed in the fixed frame, and a second duct that is formed in the fixed frame and in communication with the second airflow inlet, and, when the circuit unit is located at the first position, the first duct and the second duct are engaged with each other such that a third duct is formed to cause the first airflow inlet and the second airflow inlet communicate each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Hori
  • Patent number: 11040540
    Abstract: A printer includes: an inkjet printhead having first and second rows of printhead chips; a platen having first and second spittoon slots corresponding to the first and second rows of printhead chips, each spittoon slot having a length corresponding to a length of the printhead and a width extending between a respective upstream sidewall and a respective downstream sidewall of the platen; first and second rollers positioned in the respective first and second spittoon slots for receiving ink spitted from the first and second rows of printhead chips; a rotation mechanism for rotating the first and second rollers; and first and second scrapers engaged with respective first and second rollers. A diameter of each roller is less than the width of its respective spittoon slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventors: Dan Baterna, Rommel Balala
  • Patent number: 10987933
    Abstract: A printer includes: a platen having an ink-collection slot extending across its width; a wick bar received in the ink-collection slot, wherein an upstream gap and a downstream gap are defined at either side of the wick bar relative to a media feed direction; a printhead positioned over the wick bar; and a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the ink-collection slot. The wick bar is absent from a mid-portion of the platen and the mid-portion of the platen is aligned, in the media feed direction, with an upstream media picker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Dan Baterna, Rommel Balala
  • Patent number: 10960673
    Abstract: An inkjet printer collects ink mist, and eliminates the necessity of frequent filter cleaning and replacement. Vents are on an upstream side in a conveying direction of a printing medium of the print heads of a printing part, blowout air volume of the respective vents can be adjusted, collection ports are on a downstream side in the conveying direction of the printing medium of the respective print heads, suction air volume of the collection ports can be adjusted, and an ink mist collecting parts are each provided which liquefies and collects ink mist contained in air sucked from any one of the collection ports while the air passes through filters. The blowout air volumes of the respective print heads and the suction air volumes are set to air volumes according to amounts of generated ink mist, and ink mist is collected according to differences in amounts of generated ink mist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: MIYAKOSHI PRINTING MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Izawa, Kouichi Ooyama, Kazushige Sato, Masaru Kusanagi, Masatoshi Mutoh
  • Patent number: 10940603
    Abstract: A label processing apparatus including a head configured to cause a wire pin to move toward and away from a label medium for performing processing on the label medium, a first wall member located at a position in a first direction from the transport path surface including a first communication hole communicating with outside, and a fan configured to blow air onto a ventilation region including a region located at the head side of the first surface in the transport direction, and to then cause the air to be discharged to the outside through the first communication hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Masubuchi
  • Patent number: 10926560
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a printing unit configured to perform printing on a medium; a flow path including a blowout port and an intake port, the blowout port being configured to send gas toward the medium from an upper side of the printing unit in a vertical direction, the intake port being configured to take in outside air; a blower unit arranged in the flow path and configured to generate a gas flow passing from the intake port toward the blowout port; and a housing configured to contain the printing unit and the blower unit and form the flow path. The flow path includes a vertical portion between the intake port and the blower unit where the gas flows in a direction against the gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuya Asamoto
  • Patent number: 10926544
    Abstract: A printer includes: a printhead; a platen positioned below the printhead for supporting print media conveyed along a media feed direction through a print zone, the platen defining at least one particle-collection slot upstream of the print zone relative to the media feed direction and an ink-collection slot positioned in the print zone downstream of the particle-collection slot. A dam wall is positioned between the particle-collection slot and the ink-collection slot, with the dam wall extending transversely relative to the media feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: Rommel Balala, Dan Baterna
  • Patent number: 10807393
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a platen that supports a printing medium; a head-portion that discharges droplets toward the printing medium while reciprocating on the printing medium; an interval-adjusting-mechanism that adjusts an interval between the platen and the head-portion; and a controller that controls the head-portion and the interval-adjusting-mechanism, in which the controller has a first printing mode in which printing is performed while the interval is set to a first interval and a second printing mode in which the printing is performed while the interval is set to a second interval that is larger than the first interval, as a printing mode in which the printing is performed on the printing medium. The controller controls movement of the head-portion such that a movement stop time of the head-portion when a movement direction of the head-portion is reversed is longer in the second printing mode than in the first printing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Ota, Eiichi Ohara
  • Patent number: 10766268
    Abstract: A filter unit is a filter unit disposed in a printer including a control unit, and includes a filter configured to trap a foreign material, a frame configured to hold the filter, and a storage element provided on the frame and capable of transmitting/receiving information about the filter to and from the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Hiruma
  • Patent number: 10759171
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes an apparatus body, a holder, a stage, an exhaust fan, a suction port, and a partition. The holder holds a target object. The stage reciprocates while holding the holder that holds the target object. The exhaust fan generates an airflow. The suction port is disposed on a side portion of the holder to suck the airflow generated by the exhaust fan. The partition partitions an interior of the apparatus body into a space including the suction port and a space not including the suction port. The partition and the holder are arranged to form an airflow path toward the suction port between the partition and the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Tachibana, Tadayasu Enomoto
  • Patent number: 10350902
    Abstract: A collection unit configured to collect ink mist generated due to a discharge of ink from a head configured to discharge the ink includes a filter for capturing the ink mist and a liquid supply portion configured to supply a liquid to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihito Miyakoshi, Masahiko Kubota, Yusuke Imahashi, Hiroshi Arimizu, Yoshinori Itoh, Hideo Sugimura, Takashi Horiba, Akira Fujikake
  • Patent number: 10315427
    Abstract: A printing head assembly with integrated purge mechanism is disclosed. The printing head assembly comprises: (a) a liquid dispensing head comprising one or more dispensing nozzles enclosed in a nozzle plate, driven by at least first and second pressures, and (b) a shielding mask including an opening in front of the one or more nozzles, wherein the opening being configured such that when printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the first pressure, the liquid being dispensed in pulses through the opening in the shielding mask, and (ii) when purge printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the second pressure, the liquid being drawn to a capillary gap formed between the shielding mask and the nozzle plate thereby removing the purge printing liquid from the nearby nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: XJET LTD.
    Inventors: Eliahu M. Kritchman, Ronen Mimon, Hanan Gothait
  • Patent number: 10195856
    Abstract: In one example, a wedge shaped carriage to carry a printhead back and forth over a print substrate during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xavier Quintero Ruiz, Luis Garcia-Maurino, Mireia Garcia, Carmen Blasco
  • Patent number: 10016982
    Abstract: An inkjet apparatus includes, a carriage, mounting a head that discharges ink, configured to reciprocally move with respect to a sheet that receives the ink, a sensor unit, attached to the carriage, configured to read information from the sheet, and a rectifying skirt, attached to the carriage, having a rectifying surface that faces the sheet. The sensor unit is disposed above the rectifying skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daigo Kuronuma, Tomoyuki Nagase, Tomohito Abe, Hiroshi Arimizu, Yusuke Imahashi, Nobuhito Yamaguchi, Yoshihiro Koyama
  • Patent number: 9981474
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a medium, an ejecting unit that ejects a liquid onto the medium in an ejection area, a mist-collecting unit that collects mist that occurs with the ejection of the liquid from the ejecting unit, and a contaminant-collecting unit that is formed upstream of the ejection area in a transport direction of the medium and that collects contaminants that have attached to the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Goto
  • Patent number: 9821556
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus which includes a carriage including an ejecting unit which ejects liquid onto a medium, and can move in a reciprocating direction, in which the carriage includes catching units which catch mist which occurs along with ejecting of the liquid from the ejecting unit on at least one side of the ejecting unit in the reciprocating direction, and the catching units include a fan which moves the mist from the catching units by generating an air current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Suzuki, Tsutomu Sasaki, Satoru Katagami, Kazutoshi Fujishima, Takahiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9649858
    Abstract: In a printer in which an inkjet head is mounted in a carriage, which is movable in a direction intersecting with a conveyance direction of a recording medium, and ink is ejected from the inkjet head to record an image onto the recording medium, there has been a problem in that the recording medium is charged due to friction and separation at the time of conveyance of the recording medium, and ink mist is attracted to a portion charged to have an unexpected pattern to be recorded. In view of this problem, static electricity generated on the recording medium is removed by providing the carriage with an ionizer for generating a positive ion and an ionizer for generating a negative ion and generating the ions at the time of scanning of the carriage. The static electricity can be removed efficiently by arranging on the carriage the ionizers for generating the ions of both polarities, namely, the positive ions and the negative ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: OKI Data Infotech Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9592679
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a medium; an ejecting portion that is provided to a mobile portion that is movable in a crossing direction intersecting a transport direction in which the medium is transported by the transport unit, and ejects liquid onto the medium transported by the transport unit; a first neutralizer that is provided to the mobile portion and neutralizes the liquid; and a second neutralizer that is provided to the mobile portion and neutralizes the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takehito Washizawa, Yoshiyuki Konishi
  • Patent number: 9579896
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus and a liquid ejecting head in which mist does not close an ejection port so as to prevent any degradation of the reliability of ejection. In view of this, a ceiling surface is formed between a mist recovering unit and a gas blowing unit in a mist recovering mechanism, thus forming a recess. Inside of the recess are formed a suction port of the mist recovering unit and a gas blowing port of the gas blowing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Imahashi, Hiroshi Arimizu, Nobuhito Yamaguchi, Arihito Miyakoshi, Yoshinori Itoh, Masahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 9550369
    Abstract: A recording device includes a base body, an air current generator that is disposed in the base body, and a duct that has an opening and configures an air current flow path formed from the opening to the air current generator. The duct is attachable to and detachable from the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Nakata
  • Patent number: 9545805
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printer head with an airflow management system. The airflow management system includes an air splitter on the leading edge of the printer head and side members that extend the length of the printer head. The air splitter and members are positioned so that a gap is formed between the printer head and the air splitter and members. A vacuum fan positioned within a duct on top of the printer head can draw air through the gap at the leading edge of the printer head and return the air on the trailing side of the printer head. The airflow management system can permit increased printing distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd W. Miller
  • Patent number: 9498962
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a head that ejects an ink on a medium to perform printing; and a mist collection mechanism having: a suction port facing the medium and sucking air near the head; an exhaust port discharging the sucked air; and an airflow path between the suction port and the exhaust port, wherein the airflow path includes a first spatial region located on a side of the suction port, and a second spatial region located on a side of the exhaust port and adjacent to the first spatial region through a communicating port having an opening area smaller than that of the suction port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Ishida, Masahiko Kubota, Nobuhito Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Arimizu, Yusuke Imahashi, Arihito Miyakoshi, Yoshinori Itoh
  • Patent number: 9446596
    Abstract: In an inkjet printer, there has been a problem in that a recording medium is charged with electricity due to friction and separation at the time of conveyance of the recording medium, and ink mist is attracted to a portion charged with electricity to have an unexpected pattern to be recorded. In view of this problem, static electricity generated on the recording medium is removed by providing a carriage with an ionizer for generating a positive ion and an ionizer for generating a negative ion and generating the ions at the time of scan of the carriage. Through the arrangement of the ionizers for generating the ions of both polarities, namely, the positive ion and the negative ion, on the carriage, and on/off control on the ions to be generated in each scan, an amount of ions to be supplied per unit area of the recording medium can be made uniform, with the result that the static electricity can be removed efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Oki Data Infotech Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9409420
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a substrate receiving member, a fluid applicator unit, and an air recirculator assembly. The substrate receiving member may selectively receive a substrate. The fluid applicator unit may selectively eject a first set of drops to the substrate received by the substrate receiving member in a print mode and a second set of drops in a maintenance mode. The air recirculater assembly may direct air to form an air barrier across the print zone to redirect at least one of aerosol and particulates from crossing through the air barrier and onto the substrate, to filter the at least one of the aerosol and particulates to form filtered air, and to form the air barrier with the filtered air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Steve A. O'Hara, Christie Dyan Larson, Kevin Lo
  • Patent number: 9376731
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for magneto-thermal processing of substrates comprises a work surface for supporting a substrate for processing, a source of electromagnetic radiation that delivers an intense electromagnetic field to an area of a substrate disposed on the work surface, and a magnetic assembly that delivers a magnetic field to the area of the substrate. The intense electromagnetic field typically has an energy density of at least about 0.2 J/cm2 and a cross-sectional area typically not more than about 10 cm2. The magnetic field typically has a strength at least about 0.5 T and an area not more than about 10 cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Moffatt
  • Patent number: 9315037
    Abstract: An ink aerosol filtration system includes an inlet, a filtration chamber communicated with the inlet and including at least one filter member, and an airflow source communicated with the filtration chamber to generate flow into the inlet, through the filtration chamber and through the at least one filter member, wherein the airflow source is controlled to maintain substantially constant pressure at the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Xavier Gasso Puchal, Francesc Tarrida Tirado, Xavier Gros Gras
  • Patent number: 9278537
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a support stage; a liquid ejecting unit that ejects an ink; an ultraviolet irradiation unit that has an intake port, an exhaust port and a filter; a guide axis that supports the liquid ejecting unit and the ultraviolet irradiation unit; an X-axis driving mechanism that moves the liquid ejecting unit and the ultraviolet irradiation unit; a liquid ejecting portion that has the guide axis and the X-axis driving mechanism; and a ventilation fan that causes a gas to flow between the liquid ejecting portion and the support surface. The ultraviolet irradiation unit is supported by the X-axis driving mechanism on a rear side. The exhaust port is arranged on a front side, and the intake port is arranged thereabove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9211732
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects a liquid onto a medium which is transported in a transport direction; a suction mechanism for sucking the medium; and a medium supporting portion that supports the medium. The medium supporting portion includes a first suction pore, a second suction pore and a third suction pore for actuating a suction force of the suction mechanism, the first suction pore, the second suction pore and the third suction pore are disposed in order along the transport direction of the medium from an upstream side to a downstream side, the first suction pore is disposed at a position which opposes the liquid ejecting unit, and the first suction pore has a larger hole diameter than that of the second suction pore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ishikawa, Kenichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9199471
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid discharge apparatus including a recording unit that discharges an ink, an UV irradiation unit that has an intake port, an exhaust port, an internal flow path which is communicated with the intake port and the exhaust port, and a filter which catches the ink, and an X axis movement section that supports the recording unit and the UV irradiation unit, and moves the recording unit and the UV irradiation unit in an X axis direction, in which the UV irradiation unit is supported by the X axis movement section on a rear side, and the exhaust port faces a front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei Shibata, Kazutoshi Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 9145018
    Abstract: A printer feeds a print medium in a first direction. A carriage reciprocates an ejection portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A side wall portion of a frame body has a first surface which is an external surface on a first side of the frame body, extending toward a third direction along liquid ejection. An upper wall of the frame body has a second surface which is an external surface on the first side of the frame body, extending toward the first side from an end portion of the side wall portion on a side of fourth direction opposite to the third direction. An object member having a pattern indicating a position of the carriage in the second direction extends further to the first side than the first surface and further to the third direction side than an opening portion formed on the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Kondo
  • Patent number: 9132676
    Abstract: In one example, a printhead assembly datum includes stationary first and second points and a movable third point that define a datum plane for the printhead assembly. The stationary first and second points define a line in the datum plane and the third point is movable so that the datum plane pivots on the line in response to movement of the third point. In another example, a printhead assembly includes a body, a printhead attached to the body, and a datum for adjusting a position of the printhead relative to a component external to the printhead assembly. The datum is formed by first, second, and third datum points on the body that define a triangle representing a datum plane that is tiltable on the base of the triangle by moving the vertex opposite the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Rosanna L. Bigford, Kelly B. Smith, Daniel D. Dowell
  • Patent number: 9132643
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects a liquid onto an ejection target medium, a housing that houses the liquid ejecting unit, and a wall that is disposed at a position above the liquid ejecting unit and extends from the housing in the vertical direction so that the liquid adheres thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Utsugi, Hiromi Shishiuchi
  • Patent number: 9067416
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes first and second ejection heads, first and second suction containers, and a suction fan. The first and second ejection heads are configured and arranged to eject liquid from a plurality of nozzles onto a recording medium. The first suction container is disposed on a downstream side of the first ejection head with respect to a direction of feeding the recording medium. The second ejection head is disposed on a downstream side of the first suction container. The second suction container is disposed on a downstream side of the second ejection head. The suction fan is configured and arranged to generate an air flow. The first suction container and the second suction container are connected to the suction fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norihiro Masuda
  • Patent number: 9067437
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a first head, a second head on a downstream side in the transport direction from the first head, a first irradiation section between the first head and the second head, a second irradiation section arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction, a first mist recovery section that is arranged between the first head and the first irradiation section, a second mist recovery section that is arranged between the second head and the second irradiation section, and an air flow adjustment member that is arranged between the second mist recovery section and the second irradiation section, adjusts an amount of air which is absorbed into the second mist recovery section, and decreases the air which is absorbed from the downstream side in the transport direction than the second mist recovery section in the air which is absorbed into the second mist recovery section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norihiro Masuda
  • Publication number: 20150145922
    Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes first and second ejection heads, first and second suction containers, and a suction fan. The first and second ejection heads are configured and arranged to eject liquid from a plurality of nozzles onto a recording medium. The first suction container is disposed on a downstream side of the first ejection head with respect to a direction of feeding the recording medium. The second ejection head is disposed on a downstream side of the first suction container. The second suction container is disposed on a downstream side of the second ejection head. The suction fan is configured and arranged to generate an air flow. The first suction container and the second suction container are connected to the suction fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Norihiro MASUDA
  • Patent number: 9039138
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a conveyer configured to convey a recording medium along a conveying path in a conveying direction, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium being conveyed, a supporting member arranged in a position to face the image forming unit and configured to support the recording medium, and an aspirator configured to aspirate dust through an aspiration inlet, which is formed in a downstream position along the conveying direction with respect to the image forming unit and in proximity to a downstream end of the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Itogawa
  • Publication number: 20150097895
    Abstract: A mist collection device capable of suctioning and recovering mist generated at the time of ejecting a liquid is disclosed. The mist collection device includes an exhaust duct having a suction portion which is installed to extend downwardly to suction external air. The suction portion is provided with a suction port extending in a vertical direction, and an upper end portion, which communicates with the exhaust duct, of the suction portion is installed to protrude in an annular shape from an inner bottom portion of the exhaust duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Toshio KUMAGAI
  • Patent number: 8998377
    Abstract: A head cleaning apparatus is configured to move relatively along a nozzle surface of a droplet ejection head to clean the nozzle surface. The head cleaning apparatus includes: a web configured to wipe the nozzle surface; a web driving unit configured to cause the web to travel; a pair of rigid body pressing members configured to press both end portions of the web in a width direction to the nozzle surface; an elastic body pressing member provided between the pair of rigid body pressing members and provided to further protrude to a nozzle surface side than the pair of rigid body pressing members, the elastic body pressing member being configured to press a center portion of the web in the width direction to the nozzle surface; and a support member configured to support the pair of rigid body pressing members and the elastic body pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Ozaki, Takehisa Ono, Noboru Kinomoto
  • Publication number: 20150085014
    Abstract: There are provided a mist collecting mechanism capable of efficiently sucking and collecting an air blown out from a blow-out unit and a liquid ejection apparatus including the mist collecting mechanism. The mist collecting mechanism includes a suction port configured to suck an air containing mists. Moreover, the mist collecting mechanism includes a first blow-out port that blows out an air in order to guide the air containing mists to the suction port. Moreover, the mist collecting mechanism includes a second blow-out port that blows out an air in order to adjust a position, toward which the air blown out from the first blow-out port flows, so that the air blown out from the first blow-out port is appropriately sucked by the suction port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Koichi Ishida, Hiroshi Arimizu, Arihito Miyakoshi, Yoshinori Itoh, Nobuhito Yamaguchi, Masahiko Kubota