Array Of Ejectors Patents (Class 347/40)
  • Patent number: 8109604
    Abstract: Two arrays of ejection openings which eject relatively large amounts of ink are provided for each of different color inks and are disposed at symmetrical positions in the order of colors in a direction corresponding to a record scan. In addition, a single array of ejection openings which eject relatively small amounts of ink is disposed for at least one color ink. Since the symmetrical disposition in the color order of the ejection opening arrays which eject large amounts of ink prevents color unevenness from appearing even when the bidirectional recording is performed. Since the single array is formed of the ejection openings which eject small amount of ink, and which is used for highly precise recording, it is possible to avoid image deterioration due to the shift of dot formed positions, even when the recording head is mounted in an inclined manner attributable to the variation in manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Iijima
  • Publication number: 20120026245
    Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus, degraded image quality due to ink viscosity increasing is suppressed without forming ink dots unrelated to the print image as in what is called on-sheet preliminary ejection. More specifically, print data is generated for each pass in a multi-pass printing, such that the ratio of dots continuously formed by the same nozzle during the same scan becomes greater in low-duty areas than in high-duty areas. Thus, the lengthening of nozzle nonuse time can be suppressed, even in the case of printing a low-duty area. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress degraded image quality due to ink viscosity increasing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takumi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8107108
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing user feedback for image translation operations in a handheld device are described herein. Progress of the image translation may be displayed to the user of the device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick A. McKinley, James D. Bledsoe, Asher Simmons
  • Publication number: 20120019593
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a print bar structure includes a single part having: a datum; an exterior printhead attach surface a predetermined distance from the datum for attaching multiple printheads to the print bar structure; an interior bay for holding a liquid distribution part; and multiple openings from the interior bay to the exterior printhead attach surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph E. Scheffelin, Dan Dowell, Joe Elliot
  • Publication number: 20120019594
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes: a first and a second common liquid chamber formed in a substrate; a first nozzle array in which short and long nozzles are connected to the first common liquid chamber and alternately arranged on one side of the chamber; a second nozzle array in which short and long nozzles are connected to the first common liquid chamber and alternately arranged on the other side; a third nozzle array in which short and long nozzles are connected to the second common liquid chamber and alternately arranged on one side of the chamber; and a fourth nozzle array in which short and long nozzles are connected to the second common liquid chamber and alternately arranged on the other side; wherein the long and short nozzles formed on the one side and the long and short nozzles formed on the other side are disposed within a pitch P.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Inoue, Ken Tsuchii, Eisuke Nishitani, Toru Yamane
  • Patent number: 8096639
    Abstract: The invention provides for a mounting arrangement for a printhead assembly having a plurality of modular printhead tiles each having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangements for printing on a printing medium. Each tile has a flex PCB with which to provide the tile with electrical energy. The mounting arrangement includes a support defining retaining clips and channels operatively housing electrical busbars, as well as a pressure plate defining holes shaped and dimensioned to complementarily receive the retaining clips to engage the support which urges the flex PCBs against the busbars to provide electrical power to printhead tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Researtch Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8091981
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus having a first flow channel unit which includes a first nozzle plate formed with a first nozzle row of a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction with a pitch and a second flow channel unit which includes a second nozzle plate formed with a second nozzle row of a plurality of nozzles arranged in the first direction with the pitch. The first flow channel unit and the second flow channel unit are fixed to a head casing. The first flow channel unit and the second flow channel unit are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and are displaced in the first direction such that the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are displaced in the first direction by a length of the first nozzle row and the pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Fujio Akahane
  • Patent number: 8087749
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head has an array of ink ejection outlets in an ejection outlet forming surface, to which a protection tape is adhered during transportation. The ejection outlet forming surface has an outside area which is outside of each of opposite ends of the array with respect to a direction of the array, and the outside area has a peel resistance, provided by surface modification, which resistance is higher than in another portion of the ejection outlet forming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Goto, Minoru Nozawa, Yoshiyuki Toge, Tadayoshi Inamoto
  • Publication number: 20110316931
    Abstract: A printing system for forming a three dimensional object is disclosed. The printing system has a semiconductor memory for storing data that defines layers defining the three dimensional object, printhead groups. The printhead groups deposit at least two different materials simultaneously in at least one of the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110316930
    Abstract: A modular micro-fluid ejection device includes a carrier frame supporting pluralities of micro-fluid ejection modules. Each of the modules has a plate of nozzles defining a plane. Adjacent nozzle plates are substantially coplanar and registered with one another across the entirety of the carrier frame. Methods to mount the modules to the frame include, first, temporarily mounting one module and then another, and then permanently mounting both with a durable adhesive. Manufacturing systems include suction devices to hold a first module in place on a fixture while later modules are suctioned and registered to each other. Once set in place, a carrier frame is commonly contacted to the modules and the suction to released. Adhesives between the frame and modules cause the modules to separate from the fixture and transfer to the frame. All remain properly registered upon transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Richard E. Corley, Michael J. Dixon, Jiandong Fang, Jeanne Marie Saldanha Singh
  • Patent number: 8083317
    Abstract: A liquid-discharging recording head includes first and second substrates each having an energy generating element and a supply port, and a support member on which the substrates are arranged. The first substrate is provided on one side in a longitudinal direction of the support member, and the second substrate is provided on an other side in the longitudinal direction of the support member. A driving circuit configured to drive the energy generating element is provided in a larger region between an end of a supply port in the first substrate on the other side in the longitudinal direction and an end of the first substrate on the other side and in a larger region between an end of a supply port in the second substrate on the one side in the longitudinal direction and an end of the second substrate on the one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Omata, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Hideo Tamura, Takaaki Yamaguchi, Kousuke Kubo, Ryoji Oohashi, Yuuji Tamaru
  • Patent number: 8083422
    Abstract: A mobile, handheld and hand-propelled tattoo printer is disclosed for use in printing a tattoo design on a body part. The tattoo design may be any image, graphic, word, phrase, or other tattoo design. The tattoo printer receives or generates image data of the tattoo design. A user moves the tattoo printer on a body part for printing the tattoo design. A position module provides absolute position data so that the tattoo design is accurately printed. The tattoo printer can be used to apply countless tattoo designs based upon image data received from one or more sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Asher Simmons, James Mealy, James D. Bledsoe
  • Patent number: 8083318
    Abstract: A print head that ejects ink supplied through an ink supply port can prevent the size of satellites from being reduced while inhibiting an increase in resistance to an ink flow. In the print head, ink supply ports are arranged on both sides of a plurality of channels. A predetermined number of ink supply ports are arranged at least at one side of the ink channel all over the range of the arrangement of the channels. One side of each of the plurality of channels is connected via the common liquid chamber to the liquid supply port located so as to extend in a direction in which the channels are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Tsuchii, Masataka Sakurai, Tomoyuki Inoue, Akiko Saito
  • Patent number: 8083320
    Abstract: Liquid ejecting apparatuses and image formed methods are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a liquid ejecting apparatus is provided including a head unit, a movement mechanism, and a control section. The head unit has along a first direction a plurality of heads, in which a plurality of nozzles that eject a liquid onto a medium are lined up in the first direction, and the head unit forms a single raster line by ejecting the liquid while performing m number of movements relative to the medium in a second direction, which intersects the first direction. The movement mechanism causes the head unit to perform a plurality of movements relative to the medium alternately in the second direction and the first direction. The control section forms an image having a resolution that is n times a pitch of the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Yoshida, Takeshi Yoshida, Michiaki Tokunaga, Tatsuya Nakano
  • Patent number: 8083331
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes piezoelectric layers. Individual electrodes are formed on an outermost piezoelectric layer and arranged in a row extending along a first direction. Through holes are formed in the outermost piezoelectric layer and arranged substantially in a row extending in the first direction to contact with first end portions of the individual electrodes. The individual electrodes include at least one first individual electrode and at least one second individual electrode. The first individual electrode comprises a first electrode terminal provided at the first end portion, and the second individual electrode comprises a second electrode terminal provided at a second end portion opposite to the first end portion with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second individual electrode has a thickened portion extending from the second electrode terminal towards the first end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Isono
  • Patent number: 8079678
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead has an elongate chassis, an ink distribution unit for connection to an ink supply, and a plurality of printhead modules supported along the elongate chassis. The printhead modules each define an elongate array of ink ejection nozzles. During use, the printhead modules are each supplied with ink from apertures in the elongate chassis which are in turn supplied by the ink distribution unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8079663
    Abstract: A printhead having at least first and second rows of print nozzles. Each nozzle has first circuitry of a first type arranged asymmetrically to second circuitry of a second type. The respective positions of the first and second circuitry of each nozzle of the first row are arranged mirrored with respect to the first and second circuitry of each nozzle of the second row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mark Jackson Pulver, Michael John Webb, John Robert Sheahan, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 8079765
    Abstract: A mobile, handheld and hand-propelled labeling printer is disclosed for use in printing label data on a storage object. The label data may include a description of the preservation item, the data and time that the preservation item was collected, the location from which it was collected, an identification of the person who collected the item, an identification number, and other data. The label data may be printed as text or code. The labeling printer receives image data of the label data. A user moves the labeling printer on a storage object for printing the label data while a position module provides absolute position data so that the label data is accurately printed. Complete consistency between stored label data and printed label is achieved because the image data is based on label data obtained from the stored label data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: James D. Bledsoe, James Mealy, Asher Simmons
  • Patent number: 8079665
    Abstract: For a serial color ink jet printing apparatus that forms an image using a symmetric printing head that ejects large dots and small dots, the configuration of a printing head is provided for suppressing, to the extent possible, a cyclic fluctuation in the main scanning direction. According to the present invention, individual nozzle arrays are arranged so that two nozzle arrays, i.e., a cyan nozzle array c1 and a magenta nozzle array m1, that are located nearer each other, form dots on adjacent scan lines. With this arrangement, a high quality image, having neither an uneven density nor an uneven color, can be formed when a printing head is inclined, or when a cyclic shift in printing positions occurs, depending on the position of the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiichiro Takahashi, Naoiji Otsuka, Osamu Iwasaki, Minoru Teshigawara, Tetsuya Edamura, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Satoshi Seki, Naomi Oshio
  • Patent number: 8075080
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a printer apparatus may include a chuck configured to support a substrate thereon, a rail spaced apart from the chuck, a printhead carriage frame coupled to the rail and containing a printhead carriage housing at least one printhead therein, a first camera assembly configured to capture image data of the printhead and provide the image data to a computer, and a computer receiving the image data from the first camera assembly and configured to determine a deviation between a desired position of the printhead and an actual position of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: David Albertalli, Robert G. Boehm, Jr., Ralph D. Fox, Perry West
  • Publication number: 20110298863
    Abstract: There is provided a method of printing a regular array of rows of subpixels on a workpiece. The subpixels have c different colors and have a subpixel pitch s. A printing head has z nozzles arranged in a row with a spacing p, where z=n1(c) and p=(c?1)(s), the printhead being at a first position relative to the workpiece. There are c different printing inks, one for each of the c colors, and each of the printing inks is supplied to the nozzles in a regular alternating pattern. The method includes steps of printing a first set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d1, where d1=z(s); printing a second set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; repeating the printing steps n2 times for a total of n2+2 sets of z rows of subpixels. Variables include: c, an integer greater than 1; n1, an integer greater than 0, with the proviso that when c is an odd number, then n1 is an odd number; and n2, an integer greater than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Nugent Truong, Matthew Stainer
  • Patent number: 8070244
    Abstract: The invention relates to a printing machine comprising a support plate (42) and a printer unit (44) fastened to the support plate (42) to project ink onto articles for printing. The printer station includes at least one additional printer unit (46, 48, 50), and the printer units (44, 46, 48, 50) are arranged beside one another on a circle centered on the axis of rotation (B-B) of a mandrel (8), when the mandrel (8) is placed in its printing position. The invention also provides a method of printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Machines Dubuit
    Inventor: François Dumenil
  • Patent number: 8071158
    Abstract: A method of discharging droplets includes discharging a liquid material from a droplet discharge head and causing the droplet discharge head and a substrate as a landing target for the liquid material to move relative to each other to thereby deposit the liquid material on the substrate, feeding and removing the substrate to and from a droplet discharge apparatus provided with the droplet discharge head, performing a weight measurement discharge from the droplet discharge head substantially concurrent to the feeding and removing of the substrate to and from the droplet discharge apparatus, and measuring the weight of the liquid material discharged in the weight measurement discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Kojima
  • Patent number: 8070262
    Abstract: This invention is directed to allow efficiently transferring data to each print element (heater) and efficiently laying out circuits in an element substrate including plural heater arrays in which different numbers of heaters are arranged. This substrate includes: a first array having a relatively large number of heaters; and a second array which is equal in length to the first array and has a relatively small number of heaters. These arrays are juxtaposed. The substrate further includes plural shift registers equal in number to the heater arrays of the substrate. The shift registers include a shift register which holds some data for driving the heaters of the first heater array, and data for driving the heaters of the second heater array. The shift registers further include a shift register which holds data other than some data for driving the heaters of the first heater array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Yamaguchi, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Koichi Omata, Souta Takeuchi, Kousuke Kubo
  • Publication number: 20110292122
    Abstract: A micro-fluid ejection head has multiple ejection chips joined adjacently to create a lengthy array across a media to-be-imaged. The chips have fluid firing elements arranged along skewed fluid vias to enable seamless stitching of fluid ejections. The firing elements are energized to eject fluid and ones are spaced according to colors or fluid types. Overlapping firing elements serve redundancy efforts during imaging for reliable print quality. Variable chips sizes and shapes are disclosed as are relationships between differently colored fluid vias. Skew angles range variously each with noted advantages. Singulating chips from larger wafers provide still further embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Frank Edward Anderson, Richard Earl Corley, Jiandong Fang
  • Publication number: 20110292121
    Abstract: A MEMS integrated circuit includes a silicon substrate having a frontside with a drive circuitry layer and a backside. A MEMS layer is disposed on the drive circuitry layer. The MEMS layer includes a plurality of MEMS devices electrically connected to the drive circuitry layer. Connector posts extends from the drive circuitry layer to a contact pad positioned in a roof of the MEMS layer and through-silicon connectors extending linearly from the contact pad, through the drive circuitry layer and the silicon substrate, towards the backside of the silicon substrate. Each through-silicon connector terminates at a backside integrated circuit contact, such that each integrated circuit contact is electrically connected to the drive circuitry layer via the contact pad positioned in the roof of the MEMS layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Rónán Pádraig Seán O'Reilly, David McLeod Johnstone, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110292120
    Abstract: A MEMS integrated circuit includes a silicon substrate having a frontside with a drive circuitry layer and a backside. A MEMS layer is disposed on the drive circuitry layer. The MEMS layer includes a plurality of MEMS devices electrically connected to the drive circuitry layer. Integrated circuit contacts are positioned at a backside of the substrate. The integrated circuit contacts are electrically connected to the drive circuitry layer via respective connector rods extending through the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Rónán Pádraig Seán O'Reilly, David McLeod Johnstone, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8066352
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having at least one printhead module of at least two print nozzle integrated circuits and respective electrical connectors, at least one controller configured to process print data and to communicate the processed print data to microprocessing circuitry of at least one of the print nozzle integrated circuits via the respective electrical connector so as to control the printing operation of the print nozzle integrated circuit to print the processed print data, and a casing in which the printhead module and controller are removably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8066357
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce force acting, when an ink-jet head moves, on a distal end portion of an ink supply pipe connected to a brancher, to thereby prevent damage to the ink supply pipe as much as possible. An ink supplier, which supplies ink to respective ink introduction ports of at least one ink-jet head, has an ink supply pipe connected to an ink cartridge, a brancher to which a distal end portion of the ink supply pipe connected, and branch pipes extending from the brancher to the respective ink introduction ports. The brancher and the branch pipes are adapted to move integrally with the at least on ink-jet head, and in addition the distal end portion of the ink supply pipe and the brancher are connected to each other in a relatively rotatable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsuhisa Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8061816
    Abstract: A printhead assembly for a pagewidth inkjet printer. An elongate ink distribution assembly has at least one ink duct. An ink distribution laminate stack is attached to the elongate ink distribution assembly, the laminate stack including a plurality of layers each provided with an arrangement of holes and channels, the arrangement of holes and channels being different between two adjacent layers. An ink flow pathway directs ink, received from the at least one duct, to a longitudinally extending central region of an exit layer of the laminate stack as the ink passess through the laminate stack. A plurality of printhead integrated circuits is positioned in or adjacent the exit layer of the laminate stack to receive the ink from the exit layer, the plurality of printhead integrated circuits longitudinally extending in a region corresponding to the central region of the exit layer of the laminate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8061806
    Abstract: A inkjet nozzle arrangement that has a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet and a static wall surrounding the ink inlet. A roof structure defining a movable wall arranged to telescopically engage said static wall, the roof structure further defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with said ink inlet. A pair of actuator assemblies is mounted to the substrate assembly and the roof structure for substantially rectilinear movement of the roof structure toward the substrate assembly to eject ink through the ink ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110279544
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of printing lines. A method may include positioning a plurality of print units according to a predefined spacing parameter. A method may include depositing material on a substrate by a plurality of print units to form a respective plurality of parallel lines according to a predefined spacing parameter. A printing unit may be positioned at an angle with respect to a predefined scan direction such that a predefined width of a printed line is achieved. A substrate may be rotated between scans such that a plurality of lines in a respective plurality of directions is printed in a scan direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Dovrat, Ran Asher Peleg, Amir Hadar, Hanan Gothait
  • Patent number: 8057011
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing device and method to wick fluid, to be ejected or expelled by a fluid ejecting device, along a capillary slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Gilbert G. Smith
  • Patent number: 8057017
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a substrate for an ink jet head, including formation of an ink supply port in a silicon substrate, the method includes a step of forming, on one side of the substrate, an etching mask layer having an opening at a position corresponding ink supply port; a step of forming unpenetrated holes through the opening of the etching mask layer in at least two rows in a longitudinal direction of the opening; and a step of forming the ink supply port by crystal anisotropic etching of the substrate in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Sakai, Shuji Koyama, Kenji Ono, Jun Yamamuro
  • Patent number: 8052243
    Abstract: An image processing device including: an acquisition unit that acquires image data for recording with a liquid droplet ejecting head having a plurality of ejection nozzles that eject liquid droplets onto a recording medium, and data relating to a faulty ejection nozzle of the liquid droplet ejecting head; a generation unit that generates recording data in units of pixels corresponding to the ejection nozzles based on the image data; a conversion unit that, based on data relating to the faulty ejection nozzle, converts the recording data in units of rows of pixels to be recorded by each of the ejection nozzles so as to reduce the number of pixels to be recorded by the faulty ejection nozzle; and an output unit that outputs the converted recording data to the liquid droplet-ejecting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tohru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8052247
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of heads each of which discharges liquid droplets, a base member to hold the heads arranged thereon, and a liquid supply member provided on each head to extend in a direction in which the heads are arranged, and to form a common channel for distributing and supplying liquid to the heads. The liquid supply member includes a first supply opening to receive ink in the liquid supply member, a second supply opening to supply ink to the head, and an annular seal member and provided between the liquid supply member and the head to connect the first and second supply openings by sealing a connection portion between the liquid supply member and the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kengo Ouchi
  • Publication number: 20110267402
    Abstract: The printing device (21) is ink jet, parallel or serial-parallel type and comprises a plurality of ejection modules (22) each of which with ejection chambers suitable for containing ink and with associated relative heating elements (24) for ink ejection control. The device includes a support and a nozzle plate (28) common to the modules (22), and in which the support includes a base plate (27) of rigid material that defines through its thickness a feeding duct (33) for the ink which, in use, is substantially parallel to the line of printing (X axis) and the ejection modules (22) are fixed side by side on the base plate (27) and with the ejection chambers arranged in a line in the same direction (X axis), is a hydraulic, tight connection with the feeding duct (33).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Conta, Enrico Manini
  • Publication number: 20110261111
    Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes first to fourth droplet ejection heads for ejecting a first liquid material and fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads for ejecting a second liquid material. The first and second droplet ejection heads, the third and fourth droplet ejection heads, and the fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads are arranged along a first direction so that nozzles of the first and second droplet ejection heads, the third and fourth droplet ejection heads, and the fifth and sixth droplet ejection heads are consecutive with a predetermined pitch via a first seam, a second seam and a third seam, respectively, when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The third seam is arranged between the first seam and the second seam when viewed from the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomomi KAWASE
  • Patent number: 8042269
    Abstract: A nozzle plate component manufactured by forming a layer of photoresist on a substrate and selectively exposing and removing material to define an array of distinct bodies. Nickel is then electroformed around the bodies to form a plate, with nozzles subsequently formed by ablation through the photoresist. The process can essentially be repeated to form a guard structure around each nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: XAAR Technology Limited
    Inventor: Paul R. Drury
  • Patent number: 8037603
    Abstract: An ink jet head producing method includes forming a first flow path forming member in a portion constituting a flow path side wall, which constitutes at least a partitioning portion between flow paths on a substrate; forming a pattern as a mold for the flow path, the pattern being formed over the substrate and a portion of the first flow path forming member; forming a second flow path forming member on the first flow path forming member and the pattern, the second flow path forming member being formed of a material corresponding to the first flow path forming member; forming the discharge port in the second flow path forming member; and forming the flow path by removing the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Fujii, Junichi Kobayashi, Yoshinori Tagawa, Hideo Tamura, Hiroyuki Murayama, Keiji Watanabe, Taichi Yonemoto, Isamu Horiuchi, Aya Yoshihira, Masamichi Yoshinari, Jun Kawai, Tamaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8038259
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus of one aspect of the invention comprises nozzles are arranged on an ink ejection surface in a matrix in a first direction in which a recording medium is conveyed and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The plurality of nozzles are grouped into a plurality of nozzle sets, each of the plurality of nozzle sets includes nozzles arranged along the second direction. The plurality of nozzle sets are spaced from one another in the first direction by first distances, each of the first distances is an integral multiple of a distance that is obtained by multiplying a unit distance by 2n-1. The unit distance corresponds to a highest resolution among first resolutions with respect to the first direction of an image to be formed on the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Sakaida, Atsushi Hirota, Naoto Iwao, Tatsuo Oishi
  • Patent number: 8038244
    Abstract: A printing method etc. capable of suppressing degradation in image quality of border sections between regions respectively printed by a plurality of nozzle rows that eject ink droplets is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toyohiko Mitsuzawa
  • Patent number: 8033624
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for printing continuous web and feeding ink to printing pens (or cartridges) that employs an array of interleaved ink-jet pens that are arranged to receive bulk ink through a manifold. The manifold and pens are mounted on a fixed array suspended over the web feed path. The manifold includes a plurality of self-sealing quick-disconnect couplings that each serve a discrete ink-jet pen. The pens lay down ink in a registered manner across the full width of the web. The pens are organized into two parallel, multi-pen arrays that are each diagonally oriented with respect to the feed direction. The feed path allows for duplex printing with a second web-side's array located on a lower level of the device, generally beneath the first-side's array. Duplex printing is facilitated due to its inherent length of the feed path. The printed part of the web is free of contact over predetermined lengths that ensure sufficient time for the drying of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Lasermax Roll Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Silva, Peter J. Wood, John M. Fiske, Cadman E. Rozea
  • Publication number: 20110242188
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit, a conveying unit disposed below the recording unit, a return path unit configured to return the recording medium from the upstream side of the recording unit to the conveying unit, and a casing. The return path unit is disposed below the conveying unit and includes a horizontal conveying path including an upper portion and a lower portion. Side walls of the casing includes a drawing port through which the conveying unit and at least the upper portion of the horizontal conveying path are drawn out, and an opening facing in a direction perpendicular to the drawing direction thereof. The inner edge of the lower end of the opening is positioned the same or lower in height than the uppermost portion of the horizontal conveying path in the return path unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji SAKANO
  • Publication number: 20110242213
    Abstract: The ink jet recording method includes performing printing by depositing droplets of an ink composition ejected from the ink ejection nozzles on a recording medium transported in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle alignment direction in such a manner that the droplets ejected from at least one ink ejection nozzle located at an end of each of ink jet heads adjacent to each other in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle alignment direction are deposited one on the other. The volume of droplet ejected from the ink ejection nozzle at the end of the ink jet head is smaller than the volume of ink droplet ejected from each of the other ink ejection nozzles of the ink jet head, and the ink composition has a yield value of 0.50 to 2.00 mPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Okada, Masaru Kumagai, Takamasa Ikagawa
  • Patent number: 8029860
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a nozzle plate including a plurality of nozzle holes may include the step of forming a plurality of through-holes extending through a plate member in a thickness direction of the plate member. The manufacturing method may also include the step of forming a water repellant film in a region of one surface of the plate member where apertures of the through-holes are not positioned. The manufacturing method may further include the step of pressing individual regions on the one surface of the plate member, the individual regions respectively including the apertures of the through holes, to separate at least portions of the water repellant film formed in the individual regions from the water repellant film formed on the one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8029127
    Abstract: The inkjet apparatus for double-side recording, comprises: liquid ejection heads which are disposed on either side of a recording medium and face each other across the recording medium, the liquid ejection heads ejecting liquid onto recording surfaces of the recording medium; conveyance devices which hold the recording medium in such a manner that a normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal, and convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction in such a manner that the recording surfaces face ejection surfaces of the liquid ejection heads; and end supporting devices which support an upper end and a lower end of the recording medium, as the conveyance devices convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction while holding the recording medium in such a manner that the normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 8025382
    Abstract: Reliable ink jet print head, ink jet head cartridge, ink container, and the manufacture method thereof are provided. Specifically, an ink supply opening of an ink container includes a beam member crossing the ink supply opening. The beam member is shaped so that filler material included therein is oriented in a direction along which the beam member extends. By providing the beam member in the ink supply opening of the ink container, the deformation of the ink container due to a temperature change is prevented by the beam member having a smaller linear expansion coefficient that extends in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction. Thus, a more reliable ink jet print head can be provided. In addition, higher strength can be achieved in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the ink container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Tajima
  • Patent number: 8025369
    Abstract: An inkjet head comprises a plurality of individual electrodes each of which includes a first part and a second part connected to an end portion B of the first part. The end portion B is one of the end portions of a first part in a longitudinal direction of a pressure chamber. The second part of each of the individual electrodes corresponding to a first pressure chamber line is positioned between two first parts corresponding to two respective pressure chambers neighboring each other in a second pressure chamber line, so that an end portion C of the second part crosses over a line connecting each end portion D of the two first parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Sakaida, Takeshi Asano, Atsushi Hirota
  • Publication number: 20110228001
    Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit includes a substrate having a plurality of inkjet nozzles assemblies formed on a surface of the substrate. The substrate contains drive circuitry for supplying power to the nozzle assemblies. Each nozzle assembly includes a nozzle chamber for containing ink, the nozzle chamber having a roof and sidewalls extending from the roof to the surface of said substrate, the roof having a nozzle opening defined therein; an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening; a pair of electrodes positioned at the surface of the substrate; and a pair of connector posts encapsulated within the sidewalls, each connector post electrically connecting a respective electrode to the actuator. Each connector post extends linearly from a respective electrode to the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook