Mist Or Dust Removal Patents (Class 347/34)
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Publication number: 20150085015Abstract: Air blown out from one blowing-out opening of a pinch roller which is within a predetermined angle range forms an air flow of a flow rate Fc which heads for a region between a suction mechanism and a print medium. This makes it possible to efficiently guide the air blown out from the blowing-out opening into the region, and as a result, ink mist can be collected satisfactorily even in a case where the amount of air blown from the pinch roller is relatively small. Further, in this case, the flow rate Fe of a flow blown from the pinch roller is appropriately determined, whereby the suction mechanism can collect substantially 100% of air and ink mist flowing into the region.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Arihito MIYAKOSHI, Masahiko Kubota, Nobuhito Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Arimizu, Koichi Ishida, Yoshinori Itoh
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Publication number: 20150062243Abstract: A mist collecting apparatus which sucks and collects mist that is generated due to ejection of a liquid includes: an exhaust duct from which a suction unit for sucking outside air extends downward; and a liquid absorbing member which is mounted to the suction unit so that a lower end portion thereof is disposed on an outside of the exhaust duct and an upper end portion thereof is disposed in the exhaust duct, wherein a suction pressure of the liquid absorbing member on a liquid by capillary force is equal to or greater than a difference between hydraulic heads of an upper and a lower end of the liquid absorbing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventor: Toshio KUMAGAI
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Patent number: 8967766Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes an ejection head, a suction section, a space section, a collection part, an outlet section and a suction device. The suction section has a slit shaped opening. The space section is in communication with the suction section and has an internal volume greater than an internal volume of the suction section. The collection part is configured to collect the mist generated by ejecting the liquid by separating the mist from air suctioned by the suction section. The outlet section has a first opening and a second opening, the first opening is in communication with the space section and the second opening is in communication with the collection part. The suction device is configured to generate an air flow flowing from the suction section to the collection part. Opening area of the slit shaped opening is greater than opening area of the first opening.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Norihiro Masuda
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Patent number: 8955948Abstract: The invention concerns a device forming a continuous inkjet printer cabinet including a combined ventilation system for the electronic compartment and consumable fluids compartment (ink and solvent). According to the invention, condensates derived from solvent vapors not condensed by the condenser are extracted through a pipe then retained in order to be evaporated by the ventilation airflow. The solution according to the invention ensures that the increase in solvent concentration around the printer remains below the legal limits for unpleasant smells for persons. One advantageous embodiment consists of using a heat exchanger on the ventilation airflow path, to condensate solvent vapor in the ink reservoir to enable gravity flow of vapors thus condensed and return them to the ink reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Markem-ImajeInventor: Nicolas Rolland
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Patent number: 8931891Abstract: An inkjet printing system, comprising: one or more inkjet printheads for printing drops of ink onto a receiver medium, and an acoustic air impingement drying system positioned in proximity to at least one of the inkjet printheads. The acoustic air impingement drying system includes: an airflow source providing a supply flow rate; an acoustic resonant chamber having an inlet slot that receives air from the airflow source and an outlet slot that directs air onto the receiver medium; an exhaust air channel for removing the air directed onto the receiver medium by the acoustic resonant chamber; a blower for pulling air through the exhaust air channel at an exhaust flow rate; and a blower controller that controls the supply flow rate and the exhaust flow rate, wherein the exhaust flow rate is controlled to match the supply flow rate to within 1%, or to exceed the supply flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2014Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: James Douglas Shifley, Rodney Ray Bucks, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Andrew Ciaschi
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Patent number: 8915571Abstract: A color ink printing system includes a plurality of print head cartridges each including a modular printhead made up of a plurality of print head tiles; a print head chassis for supporting the plurality of print head cartridges; and a maintenance chassis for supporting a plurality of maintenance cradles, the maintenance chassis is actuable between a storage position and an operational position. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is held stationary with respect to a platen on which print media is propagated. Each print head cartridge is a monochrome print head cartridge ejecting a fluid different to the remaining print head cartridges. One or more of the plurality of print head cartridges includes a plurality of ventilation slits defined in the vicinity of the print head tiles, having applied thereto a suction force for sucking ink aerosol particles away from the print head tiles.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.Inventors: Mark Profaca, Julian Paul Kolodko, William John Stacey, Stephen John Sleijpen, Craig Donald Strudwicke, Neil Fyfe Edwards, Lance Thomas Brown, Toby Desmond Oste, Eric Patrick O'Donnell, Peter John Morley Sobey, David Bernardi, James Andrew
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Publication number: 20140354731Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes an ejection head, a suction section, a space section, a collection part, an outlet section and a suction device. The suction section has a slit shaped opening. The space section is in communication with the suction section and has an internal volume greater than an internal volume of the suction section. The collection part is configured to collect the mist generated by ejecting the liquid by separating the mist from air suctioned by the suction section. The outlet section has a first opening and a second opening, the first opening is in communication with the space section and the second opening is in communication with the collection part. The suction device is configured to generate an air flow flowing from the suction section to the collection part. Opening area of the slit shaped opening is greater than opening area of the first opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventor: Norihiro MASUDA
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Patent number: 8888237Abstract: There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a liquid jetting head configured to jet liquid; a liquid discharge unit configured to discharge the liquid from the liquid jetting head; a waste liquid recover unit including a waste liquid absorber configured to absorb a waste liquid discharged from the liquid jetting head by the liquid discharge unit and detection electrodes configured to detect a waste liquid amount absorbed into the waste liquid absorber; and a vibration generating source configured to vibrate the waste liquid absorber in a vibration direction, wherein the detection electrodes are disposed to make contact with an end surface defining the waste liquid absorber, and a normal direction of the end surface intersects with the vibration direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirofumi Kondo, Shuhei Hiwada, Masato Sueyasu, Yasuhiro Kato, Reiko Higashikawa, Tomoyuki Kubo, Toru Yamashita, Shigeru Suzuki, Hiroto Sugahara, Masayoshi Hayashi, Tatsuya Nishikawa
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Patent number: 8888236Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes: a carriage which is movable in a forward direction from one end to the other end; a recording head provided in the carriage and having a plurality of nozzle groups from which the ink is discharged; an ink receiver provided at a side of the one end including a flushing position and configured to receive the ink discharged by a flushing operation; and a controller configured to control operations of the carriage and the recording head. In a case that the carriage is moved in the forward direction, the controller executes: an acceleration process for accelerating the carriage; a selecting process for selecting at least one nozzle group for which the flushing operation is performed; a flushing process for performing the flushing operation for the nozzle group selected in the selecting process during the acceleration process; and a recording process for recording the image.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Isao Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8888253Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an electromechanical transducer layer on a surface of a substrate, including discharging a solution including a source material to form the electromechanical transducer layer from a nozzle of a nozzle plate to coat the solution on the surface of the substrate while applying voltage between the nozzle plate and the substrate to charge the nozzle plate at a first polarity and the substrate at a second polarity opposite to the first polarity such that a split droplet split from a main droplet which is coated on the surface of the substrate becomes charged at the second polarity and is attracted and collected by the nozzle plate; and applying a heat treatment to the substrate on which the solution is coated to crystallize the solution to form the electromechanical transducer layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Osamu Machida, Atsushi Takeuchi, Dongsik Jang, Ryoh Tashiro
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Publication number: 20140333699Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Steve O'Hara, Christie Dyan Larson, Kevin Lo
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Patent number: 8882259Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a support member that supports a recording medium, a heating device that heats the recording medium on the support member, a recording head that ejects fluid onto the recording medium on the support member and that is positioned between the support member and the heating device, a blower that has a blowing port from which gas is blown, and a carriage that moves and has the recording head mounted thereon. The carriage has an enclosing structure inside which at least part of the gas blown from the blowing port is taken and inside which a gas layer in which the gas flows is formed between the recording head and the heating device.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tsuneyuki Sasaki, Yoichi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8882239Abstract: In a method for determining a maintenance performance of a maintenance unit of an inkjet printing system, the inkjet system comprises an inkjet print head having an orifice surface, the orifice surface comprising an orifice, which orifice is in fluid communication with an ink chamber. The method comprises operating the maintenance unit to perform a maintenance operation on the orifice surface of the inkjet print head and detecting the presence of a wiper element or amount of ink over the orifice by detecting a pressure wave in the ink chamber and analyzing the detected pressure wave to determine the maintenance performance of the maintenance unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.Inventors: Mark Miedema, Bastiaan J. H. Middelbos
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Patent number: 8882241Abstract: A liquid-jet head includes nozzles, pressurized chambers to communicate with the nozzles, a common liquid chamber to communicate with each of the pressurized chambers, each of the common liquid chamber and the pressurized liquid chambers having a negative pressure of a predetermined value, first communicating paths to communicate between the common liquid chamber and the pressurized liquid chamber to serve as a filter to prevent air bubbles from intruding into the pressurized liquid chamber, the filter having openings, each opening having an opening area smaller than an opening area of each of the nozzles, and an air bubble discharge chamber including a second communicating path to communicate with the common liquid chamber having an air bubble remaining part in a region downstream in a liquid flow direction, and an opening part from which the air bubbles having entered via the second communicating path are discharged during a maintenance-restoration operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Takafumi Sasaki
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Patent number: 8876245Abstract: Inkjet droplets having a vaporizable carrier fluid are jetted from a printhead according to image data. A heated condensation shield between the printhead and a target area at which the printhead directs drops protects against condensation of vaporized carrier fluid and creates heat. A heat shield between the printhead and a support structure for the printhead protects the printhead and support structure from heat and condensation. A heated zone exists between the heat shield and the condensation shield. The condensation shield is heated to a temperature above a condensation temperature of vaporized carrier fluid in the second region so that ink droplets that pass through the heated zone are heated in a manner that causes ink droplets having a first concentration to spread when printed onto a paper in the target area as if the ink droplets had a higher concentration of at least one percent.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David F. Tunmore, W. Charles Kasiske, Jr., Robert James Simon, Timothy John Young
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Patent number: 8876244Abstract: Methods for operating a printing system are provided. In one method, an inkjet printhead that is positioned by a support structure is caused to emit droplets of an ink including vaporizable carrier fluid toward a target area to emit droplets according to image data and a shield is used to separate the support structure from the target area to form a first region between the support structure and the shield and a second region between the shield and the target area with the shield providing an opening between the first region and the second region to allow the inkjet printhead to jet droplets to the target area. The shield is heated to a temperature that is at least equal to a condensation temperature of the vaporized carrier fluid in the second region.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: W. Charles Kasiske, Jr., John Leonard Hryhorenko, Timothy John Hawryschuk, Alan Earl Rapkin, Andrew Ciaschi
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Publication number: 20140313259Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid ejecting head provided with a suction port capable of avoiding the return of mists, which have once sucked through a suction port, to the suction port. In view of this, the inner diameter L of a suction tube for allowing liquid mists taken in through the suction port to pass is designed such that a meniscus is formed before a liquid droplet adhering to the inside of the suction tube grows enough to move toward the suction port.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi Arimizu, Masahiko Kubota, Nobuhito Yamaguchi, Arihito Miyakoshi, Koichi Ishida, Yoshinori Itoh
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Patent number: 8857945Abstract: Inkjet printing systems are provided. In one aspect an inkjet printing system has a plurality of inkjet printheads, a plurality of caps are provided with each cap has a thermally insulating separator that positions a shield between the face of one of the printheads and the target area for the printhead and creating a printing region between the shield and the target area and a shielded region between the face and the shield. The shield has at least one opening through the shield through which the nozzles of the printhead can jet the ink droplets to the target area. An energy source provides energy that can be applied to cause the shields to be heated.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David F. Tunmore, Timothy John Hawryschuk
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Publication number: 20140292920Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Yohei SHIBATA, Kazutoshi FUJISAWA
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Publication number: 20140292921Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Shinichi TANAKA
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Patent number: 8845075Abstract: A mist collection device is adapted to collect a mist of liquid generated by ejecting the liquid from a plurality of nozzles in an ejection head, the mist collection device includes a suction section, a tube section, a collection part, an outlet section and a suction device. A suction port is formed in the suction section with the suction port being an opening having a length in an arrangement direction of the nozzles greater than a width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. The tube section is in communication with the suction section and having a hollow tube shape whose longitudinal direction is parallel to the arrangement direction. The collection part collects the mist by separating the mist from air suctioned by the suction section. The suction device is configured and arranged to generate an air flow flowing from the suction section to the collection part.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2013Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Norihiro Masuda
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Patent number: 8845072Abstract: Condensation control systems are provided for use with inkjet printing systems that use a combination of higher resistance flow areas and lower resistance flow areas to allow a vaporized carrier fluid reducing airflow to flow between a printing module and a receiver during printing without creating observable artifacts in a print. Removal of the vaporized carrier fluid reduces condensation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Timothy John Hawryschuk, Michael Joseph Piatt, Harsha S. Bulathsinghalage, Randy Dae Vandagriff
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Patent number: 8845073Abstract: Inkjet printing methods are described that create a combination of higher resistance flow areas and lower resistance flow areas to allow a vaporized carrier fluid reducing airflow to flow between a printing module and a receiver without disrupting inkjet drop placements. Removal of the vaporized carrier fluid reduces condensation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Timothy John Hawryschuk, Michael Joseph Piatt, Harsha S. Bulathsinghalage, Randy Dae Vandagriff
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Patent number: 8845074Abstract: Inkjet printing systems are provided that use a combination of higher resistance flow areas and lower resistance flow areas to allow a vaporized carrier reducing airflow to flow between a printing module and a receiver without disrupting inkjet drop placements. Removal of the vaporized carrier fluid reduces condensation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Timothy Hawryschuk, Michael Platt, Harsha S. Bulathsinghalage, Randy Dae Vandagriff
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Patent number: 8840218Abstract: Methods for operating a printing system are provided. In one aspect, the methods can include causing an inkjet printhead that is positioned by a support structure to emit droplets of an ink including vaporizable carrier fluid toward a target area to emit droplets according to image data, using one of a plurality of shields to individually separate each one the plurality of printheads from the target area to form a shielded region between printhead and the shield and a printing region between the shield and the target area with the shield providing an opening between the shielded region and the printing region to allow the inkjet printhead to jet droplets to the target area, and supplying an energy to heat the shields to a temperature that is above a condensation temperature of the vaporized carrier fluid.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David F. Tunmore, Timothy John Hawryschuk
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Patent number: 8833896Abstract: Inkjet droplets having a vaporizable carrier fluid are jetted from a printhead according to image data. A heated condensation shield is used between a printhead and a target area at which the printhead directs drops protects against condensation of vaporized carrier fluid and creates heat. A heat shield is used between the printhead and a support structure for the printhead protects the printhead and support structure from heat and condensation. A heated zone exists between the heat shield and the condensation shield. The condensation shield is heated to a temperature above a condensation temperature of vaporized carrier fluid in the second region so that ink droplets that pass through the heated zone are heated in a manner that causes ink droplets having a first concentration to spread when printed onto a paper in the target area as if the ink droplets had a higher concentration of at least one percent.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David F. Tunmore, W. Charles Kasiske, Jr., Robert James Simon, Timothy John Young
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Patent number: 8820916Abstract: Methods for operating an inkjet printing system are provided. In one method, a cross-module airflow is used to limit concentrations of an evaporated inkjet carrier fluid between barrier that is between inkjet printheads of a printing module and a receiver. In the method, inkjet droplets are printed along a first print line and a second print line as the receiver is moved past the first print line and as the receiver is moved past the second print line. A co-linear airflow that flows along with ink droplets to the receiver is also supplied. Between the first print line and the second print line the receiver is moved to create an integration area in which the cross-module airflow and co-linear airflow can integrate and flow from between the printing module and the receiver without disrupting the travel of ink droplets.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Michael Joseph Piatt, David F. Tunmore, Timothy John Hawryschuk, Harsha S. Bulathsinghalage
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Publication number: 20140240397Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus including a droplet ejection head that ejects droplets onto a recording medium; a mist suction portion that sucks in mist of the droplets from a suction opening, the mist suction portion being provided downstream of the droplet ejection head in a relative movement direction between the recording medium and the droplet ejection head, and a collection portion that collects the mist sucked in from the suction opening. In the droplet ejection apparatus, a narrowing member that narrows a width of a space of the suction opening in a short direction is provided inside the mist suction portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2014Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Norihiro MASUDA
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Patent number: 8807732Abstract: An ultraviolet irradiation unit (100) is provided with an ultraviolet irradiation device (50) and an ink mist sucking and removing device (60). The ink mist sucking and removing device (60) includes a blower fan (62), an air filter (63) and a device cover (61) for forming an air flow passage whose one end is provided with a suction port (64) located in an upper vicinity of a printing object (80) and whose another end is provided with a ventilation port (58a) facing an LED drive circuit board (55). Air in the upper vicinity of a printing object (80) is sucked through the suction port (64) by the blower fan (62), ink mist included in the air is removed by the air filter (63), and cleaned air discharged through the ventilation port (58a) is blown to an LED circuit board (51), an LED drive circuit board (55).Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2009Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiki Onozawa, Akifumi Seki, Nobuyuki Ono
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Publication number: 20140225959Abstract: A printing apparatus which performs printing by ejecting liquid onto a printing medium includes a gas flow generating section that generates a gas flow to collect and exhaust liquid not used for printing, and a gas-liquid separation cyclone that swirls the gas flow so that the liquid is centrifugally separated from a gas which moves along the gas flow, wherein the gas flow generating section exhausts the gas along the gas flow after the liquid is separated from the gas by the gas-liquid separation cyclone.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshihiro KOBAYASHI, Toshio KUMAGAI, Norihiro MASUDA
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Patent number: 8783826Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a nozzle that ejects fluid; a transporting section that transports in a direction of transportation a medium on which the fluid lands; and a mist sucking section that sucks air including a mist portion when the nozzle ejects the fluid, so as to move the mist portion from a route that extends from the nozzle to the spot on the medium where the fluid lands. The mist portion is a portion of mist, which is part of the fluid ejected by the nozzle that does not land on the medium and is floating.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kaoru Koike, Toshio Kumagai, Hiroki Matsuoka
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Patent number: 8777372Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head; a long wiping member configured to come in contact with and wipe a liquid ejection face of the head; a wiping member conveyance device configured to drive the wiping member to be conveyed in a lengthwise direction of the wiping member; a pressing member configured to cause the wiping member to come in contact and pressed against the liquid ejection face when the pressing member is placed at a first position; and a slack elimination mechanism configured to push down the pressing member to a second position lower than the first position before the wiping member is brought into contact with the liquid ejection face, and to stop pushing the pressing member so as to move the pressing member along with the wiping member to the first position to bring the wiping member into contact with the liquid ejection face.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Inoue
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Patent number: 8770714Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 2, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Xjet Ltd.Inventors: Eli Krichtman, Ronen Mimon, Hanan Gothait
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Patent number: 8770738Abstract: An inkjet printing system, comprising: one or more inkjet printheads for printing drops of ink onto a receiver medium, and an acoustic air impingement drying system positioned in proximity to at least one of the inkjet printheads. The acoustic air impingement drying system includes: an airflow source providing a supply flow rate; an acoustic resonant chamber having an inlet slot that receives air from the airflow source and an outlet slot that directs air onto the receiver medium; an exhaust air channel for removing the air directed onto the receiver medium by the acoustic resonant chamber; a blower for pulling air through the exhaust air channel at an exhaust flow rate; and a blower controller that controls the supply flow rate and the exhaust flow rate, wherein the exhaust flow rate is controlled to match the supply flow rate to within 1%, or to exceed the supply flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: James Douglas Shifley, Rodney Ray Bucks, Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Andrew Ciaschi
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Publication number: 20140139589Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a transfer unit transferring a sheet of paper along a transfer path surface, a printer head ejecting ink towards the sheet of paper, and an air blowing unit blowing air towards ink ejected from the printer head. The sheet of paper may be a postal matter (e.g., letter, postcard, parcel) and the printer head may be used to print barcodes or the like on the sheet of paper for purposes of subsequent sorting and routing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventor: Shinichi ITO
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Patent number: 8727466Abstract: An ink jet printer which uses a common air pump to configure an air path system to supply purge air generated by the air pump to an ink tank and then supply the purge air discharged from the ink tank to a print head or an air path system to supply purge air generated by the air pump directly to the pint head. This solves the following problem inherent to a conventional ink jet printer which recovers ink not used for printing: since an air pump for supplying air to air-purge the print head and an air pump for supplying air to air-purge the ink tank are required, the cost and weight of the printer tends to increase.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomohiro Inoue, Toshihide Nagamine
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Patent number: 8727488Abstract: Apparatus for capturing aerosols are disclosed. An example apparatus described herein includes a corona wire, and a nonconductive housing comprising a first cavity to expose a first portion of the corona wire, a second cavity to expose a second portion of the corona wire, and a chamber between the first and second cavities. A third portion of the corona wire is located within the chamber between the first and second portions of the corona wire.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2010Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Michael H. Lee, Napoleon J. Leoni, Henryk Birecki, Omer Gila
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Patent number: 8714703Abstract: Apparatus, articles of manufacture, and image forming apparatus for capturing aerosols are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a corona wire, and an excitation source to provide to the corona wire a composite signal having a direct current component and an alternating current component, the alternating current component having a cycle, a first portion of the cycle being sufficient to cause the composite signal to exceed an inception voltage at which ions are generated by the corona wire and a second portion to cause the composite signal to fall beneath the inception voltage, the excitation source to avoid causing the corona wire to substantially charge a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Napoleon Leoni, Omer Gila
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Patent number: 8708456Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carriage including a recording head that discharges liquid droplets for forming an image on a recording medium; a rail that supports the carriage in such a manner that the carriage reciprocates; a fixing part that fixes the rail; and an air stream creation part that creates an air stream. The fixing part is hollow, has a first inflow opening part and a discharge opening part, and the air stream created by the air stream creation part flows from the first opening part to the discharge opening part.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Tsuyoshi Miyata
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Patent number: 8708457Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a conveyor mechanism conveying a recording medium in a conveying direction; a plurality of liquid ejection heads each having an ejection face from which a liquid is ejected and arranged in the conveying direction; a support member opposed to the ejection face and supporting the recording medium; a first suction mechanism which has a first suction opening located between two of the plurality of liquid ejection heads adjacent to each other in the conveying direction, and which sucks air via the first suction opening; and at least one first contact member located between the two liquid ejection heads in the conveying direction and contactable with a recording face of the recording medium at a position closer to the support member than the first suction opening in a direction perpendicular to the ejection face.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Yamamoto, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Masayuki Okumura, Motohiro Tsuboi
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Patent number: 8702228Abstract: Inkjet printing systems are provided that use a cross-module airflow to limit condensation between a printing module and a receiver and that supply a co-linear flow of air that flows along with ink droplets toward a receiver. An integration area is created between the inkjet printhead heads, the receiver and a barrier to allow co-linear flow and cross-module flow to integrate and flow from between the printing module and the receiver without disrupting travel paths of the ink droplets.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Michael Joseph Piatt, David F. Tunmore, Timothy John Hawryschuk, Harsha S. Bulathsinghalage
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Publication number: 20140104343Abstract: A mist collection device is adapted to collect a mist of liquid generated by ejecting the liquid from a plurality of nozzles in an ejection head, the mist collection device includes a suction section, a tube section, a collection part, an outlet section and a suction device. A suction port is formed in the suction section with the suction port being an opening having a length in an arrangement direction of the nozzles greater than a width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. The tube section is in communication with the suction section and having a hollow tube shape whose longitudinal direction is parallel to the arrangement direction. The collection part collects the mist by separating the mist from air suctioned by the suction section. The suction device is configured and arranged to generate an air flow flowing from the suction section to the collection part.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Norihiro MASUDA
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Patent number: 8690292Abstract: Inkjet printing methods are provided that deflect and guide a condensation reducing airflow between a printing module and a receiver without disrupting inkjet drop placements and that use surface energy differences to manage any condensation that arises.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Donald Saul Rimai, Timothy John Hawryschuk, Michael Joseph Piatt, David F. Tunmore, Harsha S. Bulathsinghalage, Randy Dae Vandagriff
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Patent number: 8690290Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes: an ejection head configured and arranged to eject liquid from a nozzle; a suction container in which a first suction port, a second suction port that is farther away from the nozzle compared to the first suction port, and a discharge port are formed, air sucked from the first suction port and the second suction port passing through the suction container; and a suction device configured and arranged to suck the air from the discharge port to an outside of the suction container.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Norihiro Masuda
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Patent number: 8690291Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a recording head with multiple nozzles on a surface of the recording head to discharge droplets, the surface with the nozzles facing in a horizontal direction or in a direction leaning upward or downward with respect to the horizontal direction, a wiper to wipe the surface with the nozzles of the recording head from top to bottom, a guide member attached to the recording head at the lower end of the surface with the nozzles, to have contact with the wiper, and a cleaning member attached to a main body of the apparatus to clean the guide member.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2013Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Yuta Moriwaki
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Patent number: 8672449Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus including an ink and solvent containers, they are coupled with each other through a first exhaust channel, an exhaust gas and ink mist within the ink container are supplied to the solvent container through the first exhaust channel, and the solvent container has an ink mist removal unit removing the ink mist supplied from the first exhaust channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Arima, Akira Miyao
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Patent number: 8657407Abstract: A liquid ejecting device including a liquid ejecting head having an ejection surface, a liquid receiving member having a liquid receiving surface, an annular member for sealing an ejection surface, a positional relationship adjusting unit for adjusting a positional relationship between the ejection surface and the liquid receiving surface, an air inlet, a humidified air supplying unit, a cleaning unit, a viscosity information obtainment unit, and a control unit is provided. The control unit conducts a liquid receiving surface cleaning action including control of the positional relationship adjusting unit for adjusting the positional relationship between the ejection surface and the liquid receiving surface to form a first positional relationship, the humidified air supplying unit for supplying humidified air to the ejection space, and the cleaning unit for removing the liquid received on the liquid receiving surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadao Kyotani
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Patent number: 8641166Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a printing apparatus including one or more print heads for depositing printing fluid onto a substrate, wherein the apparatus comprises a maintenance unit for the one or more print heads. The present invention further relates to a method for cleaning one or more print heads from adhering printing fluid. The present invention also relates to the use of the apparatus in the automated manufacture of a contact lens, in particular a silicone hydrogel contact lens.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Georg Cramm, Axel Heinrich, Stephan Pirl, Gabriela Cocora
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Patent number: 8641168Abstract: A printing system that has a drive roller for feeding different sizes of media along a media path, an inkjet printhead assembly for printing the media and an ink aerosol collection system for removing ink aerosol from areas adjacent the media path. The ink aerosol collection system is configured to remove aerosol at a greater rate in response to an increase in the media size.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Zamtec LtdInventors: Robert Rosati, David Petch, David Burney, Jim Sykora, Kenneth A Regas, Andy Bound, Neil Doherty, Scott Dennis, Ben Jones, Oksana Buyda, Locson Tonthat, Andrew Buyda, Patrick Kirk, Loren Hunt, Jason Dewey, Jim Trinchera, Bill Cressman, Ron Zech
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Patent number: 8632159Abstract: A mist collection device is adapted to collect a mist of liquid generated by ejecting the liquid from nozzles. A suction section of a suction container includes a suction port having an elongated shape whose length in an arrangement direction of the nozzles is greater than a width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. A tube section of the suction container is in communication with the suction section and having a hollow tube shape whose longitudinal direction is parallel to the arrangement direction. An outlet section of the suction container is in communication with an inside of the tube section through a discharge port formed at a lower part of the tube section. A collection container collects the mist by turning it into liquid droplets. A suction device generates an air flow flowing from the suction container to the collection container.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Norihiro Masuda