Array Of Ejectors Patents (Class 347/40)
  • Publication number: 20110228000
    Abstract: A printhead assembly for a pagewidth printer includes a substrate channel; a plurality of printhead modules positioned in the channel to form a pagewidth printhead module assembly; an ink hose positioned within the substrate channel to supply the printhead modules with ink; an extrusion for housing bus bars providing electrical power to the printhead modules; a cover plate securing a flex printed circuit board (PCB) in the assembly, the PCB forming a data bus to the printhead modules; and compressible conductive strips provided between the busbars abutting contacts on an upper side of parts of the flex PCB. The substrate channel defines a series of groups of holes through which the printhead modules are supplied with differently colored inks. The hose defines parallel channels extending a length of the hose, the channels connected to ink containers at one end and sealed with a channel extrusion cap at the other end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Angus John North, Samuel George Mallinson, Mehdi Azimi, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Patent number: 8020976
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reservoir assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge. The cartridge has a fluid distribution molding with priming inlets in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying printing fluid to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits. The assembly includes a reservoir compartment arranged in fluid communication with the fluid channels via a fluid outlet. The compartment includes porous absorbent material located inside the compartment to absorb printing fluid delivered via the priming inlets. A port is arranged in a side wall of the compartment for receiving a needle from a syringe to prime the reservoir compartment with printing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 8020964
    Abstract: A liquid drop ejecting device includes a housing supporting a plurality of head units that are arranged in two rows to be partially overlapping along a main scanning direction in a staggered configuration. The head unit includes a flow path unit having an ink flow path, a piezoelectric actuator ejecting ink from nozzles in the flow path unit, and a reinforcement plate for reinforcing the flow path unit. In the reinforcement plate, a smaller-width portion and a larger-width portion are disposed along the main scanning direction, such that an end face of the smaller-width portion of the reinforcement member in one row contacts an end face of a reinforcement member in the adjacent row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8020969
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a printhead module having at least first and second modular printhead tiles, the first printhead tile having a first set of connection strips, and the second printhead tile having a second set of connection strips; an electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting the first and second printhead tiles, the electrical connector assembly having printed on a surface thereof a plurality of conducting strips; and first and second modular supports arranged end to end for respectively receiving the first and second printhead tiles, the first and second modular supports shaped to complementarily define a first cavity portion therebetween. The first printhead tile is received in the first modular support such that the first set of connection strips extend over the cavity portion. The second printhead tile is received in the second modular support such that the second set of electrical connection strips extend over the cavity portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8020965
    Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer is disclosed. The printhead has one or more a printhead integrated circuits (ICs) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink. A support structure of the printhead supports the printhead ICs. The support structure has ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. Each ink conduit includes cavities distributed along a roof of the ink conduit. An opening to each respective cavity has an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The upstream edge contacts the ink before the downstream edge during initial priming of the ink conduits from an ink supply. The upstream edge has a transition face between the ink conduit and the cavity interior. The transition face is configured to inhibit ink from filling the cavity by capillary action during initial priming of the ink conduit. This causes gas to be trapped within the cavity. The gas acts to compress pressure pulses in the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Brian Robert Brown, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Paul Timothy Sharp, John Douglas Peter Morgan, Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Michael John Hudson, Samuel George Mallinson, Paul Justin Reichl, Christopher Hibbard
  • Patent number: 8016389
    Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising: an array of nozzles arranged into rows, each row of nozzles is divided into a series of groups; and, drive circuitry for sending a drive pulse to each of the nozzles individually such that they eject a drop of printing fluid; wherein, the drive circuitry delays sending the drive pulses to one of the groups relative to at least one of the other groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Brian Christopher Morahan, Alireza Moini, Timothy Peter Gillespie, Michael John Webb, Brian Robert Brown, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8016384
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one recording head module including a plurality of heads, a branch member, and a base member. Each of the heads includes a plurality of nozzle arrays, and discharges liquid droplets onto a sheet. The branch member is provided on the heads to extend in a direction in which the heads are arranged, and forms a common channel for distributing and supplying liquid to the heads. The base member has an L-shaped cross section along a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the heads are arranged, and has a first surface for holding the heads arranged thereon in an array and a second surface. An end portion of the first surface not connected to the second surface does not project more than a corresponding end portion of at least one of the heads and the branch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Saito
  • Patent number: 8016383
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head according to the present invention includes a plurality of ejection openings arranged in a first direction and a plurality of electro-thermal transducers for ejecting liquid from the ejection openings, the liquid ejection head and a printing medium being subjected to the relative movement, wherein an arrangement pitch of the ejection openings forming an end group located in the respective opposite end section along the first direction is longer than an arrangement pitch of the ejection openings forming a central group located in the central section along the first direction. According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate white streaks which may generate in a solid printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michinari Mizutani, Shuichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 8011757
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a plurality of inkjet nozzles arranged in nozzle rows. Each nozzle row has a respective row of drive transistors. Drive transistors corresponding to one nozzle row are interleaved with drive transistors corresponding to an adjacent nozzle row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110205300
    Abstract: A printhead chip for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate (12). A plurality of nozzle arrangements is positioned on the substrate. Each nozzle arrangement includes nozzle chamber walls (18,20,22) and a roof (24) that define a nozzle chamber (26). The roof defines an ink ejection port (28) that is in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. An actuator (36) is displaceable, in a substantially rectilinear manner, with respect to the substrate. An ink-ejecting mechanism is angularly displaceable with respect to the substrate to eject ink from the ink ejection port. A translation to rotation conversion mechanism (44) is interposed between the actuator and the ink-ejecting mechanism (50) to convert rectilinear movement of the actuator into angular displacement of the ink-ejecting mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110199409
    Abstract: A printing method and a printer for implementing the printing method are disclosed. When a printhead including a first end and a second end sequentially prints a first area and a second area which are adjacent to each other, the method comprises performing printing by means of the printer by relatively moving locations of the printhead and a print object in such a way that a surface printed by the second end in the first area and a surface printed by the second end in the second area face each other. The printhead rotates around a rotational axis comprising at least one point on the printhead, one end of the printhead, a center of the printhead, or both ends of the printhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong-Won Lee, Tae-Yong Noh, Sang-Hun Park, Young-Mok Son, Hyea-Weon Shin, Young-Il Kim, Seong-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7996991
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid jet head is provided, which includes: a preparation step of preparing a substrate array which is provided with a first substrate having formed therein a first flow path, a second substrate bonded to one side of the first substrate and having formed therein a second flow path, and a separation layer partitioning the first flow path and the second flow path; a sealing step of sealing the first flow path by adhering a sealing film onto a side of the first substrate opposite to the second substrate using an adhesive layer; and a removal step of removing the separation layer after the sealing step is performed, wherein in the removal step, the separation layer is removed in a state in which an internal pressure of the first flow path is lower than an external pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Oguri
  • Patent number: 7993605
    Abstract: A production apparatus, for producing a probe array, comprises a liquid discharging device for discharging a liquid containing a probe capable of being specifically bonded to a target substance in order to form a spot on the carrier, a detector for detecting whether the spot is formed or not by observing a surface state on the carrier, and a controller for controlling the liquid discharge device to again discharge the liquid to form the spot on the carrier if the detector detects that the spot has not been formed on the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Tsuruoka
  • Publication number: 20110187793
    Abstract: A plurality of liquid ejection heads is attached to a head attachment member. The head attachment member is disposed so as to face a support drum for supporting an ejection-receiving medium and rotating about a shaft. The head attachment member includes a pair of plate-shaped members each having an attachment surface to which a plurality of head groups each including the liquid ejection heads is attached and a back surface extending parallel to the attachment surface. End parts of the plate-shaped members are connected to each other so as to be able to rotate about a hinge part so that an angle formed by the attachment surfaces is adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ISHII, Hiroyuki HAGIWARA
  • Publication number: 20110187794
    Abstract: A plurality of liquid ejection heads is attached to a head attachment member with respect to a support drum for supporting an ejection-receiving medium and rotating about a rotation shaft. The head attachment member includes a plurality of attachment surfaces to which a plurality of head groups each including a plurality of liquid ejection heads is attached. Each of the attachment surfaces is arranged so as to be parallel to a tangent line which is tangent to a peripheral surface of the support drum at an intersection point of a line segment which connects the center of the support drum and the center on the first attachment surface between the head groups attached to the first attachment surface. The attachment surfaces are integrally and continuously formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ISHII, Hiroyuki HAGIWARA
  • Publication number: 20110187773
    Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a printhead having a substrate. The substrate includes a nozzle face having a width direction and a length direction. The nozzle face includes a set of four columns of nozzles oriented in a column direction substantially along the width direction of the nozzle face, and the nozzles in each column are positioned on a straight line along the column. A spacing between two adjacent columns of the four adjacent columns is different than a spacing between another two adjacent columns of the four adjacent columns. In some implementations, a controller can control timing of ejection of fluid droplets from the nozzles to deposit lines of fluid droplets on a medium, and the medium can travel relative to the nozzle face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kusakari, Kevin Von Essen, Paul A. Hoisington
  • Patent number: 7988257
    Abstract: An ink cartridge to prevent image degradation due to a misalignment of nozzles in a transfer direction of a printing medium and a transverse direction includes a print head substrate, a first head unit including at least one first print head chip which is disposed on the print head substrate and includes a plurality of first nozzles arranged in plural lines in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction which is a transfer direction of a printing medium, thereby forming a first line in the second direction, and a second head unit including at least one second print head chip which is disposed on the print head substrate and which has an ink jetting area overlapping a predetermined area of the first line, thereby forming an overlapping area, and which includes a plurality of second nozzles arranged in plural lines in the second direction, thereby forming a second line spaced from the first line, and dots formed by the first and the second nozzles, which neighbor each other in the overlapping area whe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung-song Jung, Chang-shin Park, Tae-kyun Kim, Jae-cheol Lee, Dong-hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 7988260
    Abstract: A recording element substrate includes a recording element array including a plurality of recording elements, a drive circuit configured to drive the recording elements, and a heater located to surround the recording element array as viewed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the recording element substrate and located above or below a capacitive element or a resistive element included in the drive circuit as viewed on a cross section of the recording element substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoko Kudo, Tatsuo Furukawa, Nobuyuki Hirayama, Ryo Kasai
  • Patent number: 7988248
    Abstract: A print engine is provided having printhead modules and a controller. Each printhead module has a plurality of ejection nozzles. The nozzles of at least one of the printhead modules is rotationally displaced relative to the other printhead modules. The controller communicates ejection data to the ejection nozzles in accordance with a cumulative correction factor for each printhead module, including printhead modules having non-rotationally displaced nozzles, to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Mark Jackson Pulver, John Robert Sheahan, Simon Robert Walmsley, Michael John Webb
  • Patent number: 7988254
    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: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 7984967
    Abstract: An ink jet head includes an elongated ink supply port extending in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of head groups arranged in a transverse direction crossing with the longitudinal direction. A first array of ink ejection outlets is disposed along one lateral side of an ink supply port, and second and third arrays of ink ejection outlets are disposed along the other lateral side of the ink supply port, wherein widths L2, measured in the longitudinal direction, of partition walls for the first array of the ink ejection outlets are larger than widths L1, measured in the longitudinal direction, of partition walls of the second and third arrays of the ink ejection outlets. The ink jet head further includes a sealing tape for protecting the ejection outlets, the sealing tape being peelable in a direction from the second or third array toward the first array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Ikegame, Keiichiro Tsukuda
  • Patent number: 7984969
    Abstract: A printer is provided having a pagewidth printhead and a casing having a channel in which the pagewidth printhead is removably clamped so as to constrain movement of the printhead relative to the casing across the longitudinal direction of the channel and to allow movement of the printhead along the longitudinal direction of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 7984549
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an ink-jet recording head including plural recording element substrates having at least one nozzle array comprising nozzles to eject ink, an electric wiring member supplying signals to the recording element substrates, a member supporting the recording element substrates and the electric wiring member, electric connecting portions electrically interconnecting the recording element substrates and the electric wiring member, and a sealant sealing the electric connecting portions, the method comprises the steps of applying sealants to the supporting member including the recording element substrates, the electric wiring member, and the electric connecting portions, and curing the sealants, measuring a distance between reference positions set on each recording element substrate before and after the curing of the sealants, and mounting the recording element substrates to the supporting member depending on a difference in the distance between the reference positions measured before and a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Osaki
  • Patent number: 7980663
    Abstract: A print head can improve an ink refill speed to reduce the time from the end of one ejection of ink droplets until the beginning of a next ejection of ink droplets and maintain the high quality of images obtained by printing. An ink jet print head has an ejection port portion including a first ejection port portion communicating with atmosphere, and a second ejection port portion having a cross-section which extends in a direction orthogonal to an ejecting direction and which is larger than that of the first ejection port portion. The second ejection port portion is formed between a bubbling chamber and the first ejection port portion. In the ink jet print head, an ejection port portion first axis is located away from an ejection port portion second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Matsumoto, Keiji Tomizawa, Shuichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 7976126
    Abstract: A liquid jet head includes: a plurality of unit heads, wherein each of the unit heads has a nozzle forming region and a plurality of nozzle apertures arranged in a first direction in the nozzle forming region, the plurality of unit heads being laminated in a manner that the nozzle forming regions are shifted from one another in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the unit heads are laminated in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and liquid is ejected in a fourth direction between the second direction and the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiju Hirai
  • Patent number: 7976123
    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 a printhead carriage pivotally coupled to the printhead carriage frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Parks, Robert F. Taff, Roy M. Patterson, David Albertalli, Cheuk Lee, Ben J. Sy
  • Publication number: 20110164089
    Abstract: The printing system is a dot matrix-type printer utilizing a liquid ink reservoir. A plurality of pins are disposed within the reservoir, each pin having a lower end and a tapered upper end terminating in a printing tip. In use, the reservoir is held stationary, the liquid ink being contained therein by gravity. A printing substrate, such as a piece of paper, is drawn over an open upper end of the reservoir. A driver selectively vertically translates the plurality of pins, each individual pin being selectively driven independent of the other pins. Each pin is initially positioned so that the lower end thereof is located adjacent a lower wall of the reservoir, and the printing tip is positioned beneath a surface of the ink. A selected pin is translated upwardly so that the printing tip thereof contacts the printing substrate to form an ink dot thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: FAHAD S.A. ALMADHI
  • Patent number: 7971960
    Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit that has a plurality of nozzles formed on a frontside of a monolithic wafer substrate, the nozzles being arranged in rows extending longitudinally along the substrate. Each nozzle has a respective nozzle inlet extending partially through the monolithic wafer substrate. The integrated circuit also has a plurality of ink supply channels defined in a backside surface of the monolithic wafer substrate which extend longitudinally along the backside of the substrate. Each ink supply channel is deep enough to meet the nozzle inlets such that ink fed to the backside surface of the substrate is supplied to the nozzles on the frontside. The nozzles supplied with ink from one of the ink supply channels are different to the nozzles supplied with ink by another of the ink supply channels such that different ink colors are simultaneously printed. Each ink supply channel is separated into channel sections by one or more transverse walls that structurally stiffen the monolithic wafer substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7971989
    Abstract: In a printer, a first section is sized to accommodate a rolled sheet therein. A printing head is horizontally movable along a moving path extending in a first direction and operable to perform printing on a part of the rolled sheet which is drawn out from the first section. A second section is provided on a first side of the first section relative to the first direction. A third section is provided on a second side of the first section relative to the first direction opposite to the first side. A control board on which a circuit operable to control an operation of the printer is mounted is disposed in the first section so as to extend vertically. An ink supplying member is disposed in the third section that supplies ink to the printing head. The moving path is longer than a dimension of the first section in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7971950
    Abstract: A method is provided of controlling a printhead having nozzles which discharge ink by application of a firing pulse to respective actuators. The actuators are connected in groups to a power source which applies the firing pulses. In the method firing pulses are applied to each group of the actuators in turn to discharge ink from the nozzles in each group. The firing pulses are applied to the subsequent groups so that the fired nozzles are physically separated in the printhead as far as possible from the nozzles fired in the immediately prior group and the immediately subsequent group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Simon Robert Walmsley, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7963622
    Abstract: A liquid droplet-discharging device comprises: a droplet-discharging head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged in a predetermined direction and discharge liquid droplets; a scanning unit for relatively moving the droplet-discharging head and a substrate toward a scanning direction: a memory memorizing pattern data corresponding to driving nozzles that are selected from the plurality of nozzles in each of a plurality of discharged regions, by partitioning a drew region of the substrate into the plurality of discharged regions every discharging frequency along a scanning direction of the substrate; a transferring unit for developing the patterned data memorized by the memory into a plurality of data to be divided and transferring the divided data to the liquid droplet-discharging head in order; and an output unit for outputting a driving signal that drives a driving nozzle selected by the divided data to discharge the liquid droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kohei Ishida
  • Patent number: 7958634
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid supplied from a liquid storing member through a liquid supply path. The method includes positioning a filter to a first or second supply member by using positioning pins upon disposing the filter between first and second liquid supply paths. The first supply member has the first liquid supply path. The second supply member has the second liquid supply path on the side of one surface of the first supply member to communicate with the first liquid supply path. At least the first supply member and the second supply member are integrated such that a fixed portion is molded by injecting a resin material from an injection portion of a mold at a position where the first and second liquid supply paths are interposed between the positioning pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hiroshige Owaki
  • Patent number: 7959246
    Abstract: A printing apparatus prints on a printing medium by using a printhead which has a first nozzle array including a plurality of nozzles from which a first nozzle amount of the ink is discharged and a second nozzle array including a plurality of nozzles from which a second nozzle amount of the ink is discharged. This printing apparatus time-divisionally drives a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing each of the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array. The printing apparatus selects, from the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array, a block to be driven by the driving unit within a predetermined period. This printing apparatus controls the selection unit to alternately select a block from the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array and sequentially select a block from each nozzle array in a predetermined order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Hamasaki, Takuji Katsu, Osamu Iwasaki, Norihiro Kawatoko, Atsushi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7959257
    Abstract: Provided is a print engine pipeline subsystem of a printer controller. The subsystem includes a print engine pipeline controller for reading and writing print engine pipeline registers, and a contone decoder unit for expanding JPEG compressed continuous tone (“contone”) layers. Also included are a lossless bi-level decoder for expanding compressed bi-level layers, a line loader unit for expanding page images for a printhead, and a printhead interface for sending dot data to the printhead and for providing line synchronization between multiple printer controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Simon Robert Walmsley, John Robert Sheahan, Mark Jackson Pulver, Kia Silverbrook, Michael John Webb
  • Patent number: 7959258
    Abstract: A printhead assembly comprises at least one printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles; and an ink distribution support mounting the at least one printhead integrated circuit, the ink distribution support being arranged to distribute ink to the nozzles, the printhead assembly being arranged to be mounted to a printer at the ink distribution support. The ink distribution support is provided with a plurality of reference features, the plurality of reference features serving to provide information on the location of the nozzles upon mounting of the printhead assembly to the printer. The plurality of reference features include a flat surface provided at each corner of the ink distribution support, and a slot in a mounting zone of the ink distribution support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Christopher Hibbard, Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Garry Raymond Jackson, John Douglas Peter Morgan
  • Patent number: 7954918
    Abstract: A selection circuit receives heat-enable signals to drive heaters, whereby signals are selected to drive the heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Kasai, Nobuyuki Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20110128323
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a common array base member; and plural head modules each formed of a module base member and plural heads configured to discharge droplets arranged in an array on the module base member. The plural head modules are attached on the common array base member. The heads of at least two of the head modules discharge liquid droplets of the same color. The at least two of the head modules are positioned relative to a same reference point provided by a reference member on the common array base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Saito
  • Patent number: 7950150
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an inkjet head discharging ink. The method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can include: heating the inkjet head to a temperature over a melting point of a filler; filling the inkjet head with the filler such that a gap inside the inkjet head is filled with the filler; and discharging the filler out of the inkjet head such that the filler in the gap of the inkjet head remains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Seuck Yoo, Jae-Woo Joung, Sang-Jin Kim, Won-Chul Sim, Chang-Sung Park
  • Patent number: 7950762
    Abstract: A recording apparatus for effecting recording by scanningly moving a recording head, wherein the apparatus is provided with a group of a plurality of arrays each including a plurality of nozzles, wherein the group is responsive to one-color recording data, includes selecting means for selecting a block of a predetermined number of the nozzles in the nozzle array in synchronism with cyclic signals; driving means for driving the nozzles in the block selected by the selecting means; managing means for managing information of the block selected by the selecting means, for each group of the nozzle arrays; generating means for generating, for each nozzle array, driving data including information indicative of a block to be selected by the selecting means and block data corresponding to the block, on the basis of the information of the block managed by the managing means; and transfer means for transferring the driving data generated by the generating means to the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazushi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7950344
    Abstract: A head unit 103 for use in a droplet ejection apparatus is provided with a plurality of droplet ejection heads for ejecting some kinds of liquid materials each having a predetermined color onto a base in the form of droplets. Each of the droplet ejection heads includes at least one nozzle array constituted from a plurality of nozzles linearly aligned. The some kinds of liquid materials are adapted to be ejected through the plurality of nozzles of the plurality of droplet ejection heads in the form of droplets. The plurality of droplet ejection heads include at least two sets of two adjacent droplet ejection heads which are arranged in a consecutive manner in a first direction parallel to each of the nozzle arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Kawase
  • Patent number: 7942497
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head (100) comprising edge shooter type head units (20) each having a head chip provided with a nozzle ejection surface, a positioning plate (41) for arranging the head units (20) in parallel to each other, inclined against a line arranging direction. The positioning plate (41) arranges the head units (20) in parallel to each other, inclined against the line arranging direction, and the angle of the inclination is set so that a nozzle interval, in the line arranging direction, of two nozzles (21a) corresponds to a predetermined resolution, the two nozzles being adjacent to each other on a straight line on the nozzle ejection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kozo Matsumoto, Toru Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7942498
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid discharging device including: a first head unit which discharges liquid; a second head unit which faces a portion of a medium, in which the liquid is discharged from the first head unit, and discharges liquid; and a support member which faces the first head unit and the second head unit and supports the medium, wherein in the first head unit and the second head unit, a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a crossing direction crossing a transporting direction of the medium over an overall dischargeable range of the liquid, and a distance between the second head unit and the support member is larger than that between the first head unit and the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Tsuzuki, Hirokazu Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 7944580
    Abstract: A handheld printer that provides an appropriate application of ink to a print medium without a bulky and complex mechanical system for positioning a print head with respect to the print medium. A handheld printer according to the present teachings includes a navigation subsystem that tracks a motion of the handheld printer with respect to a printing surface and a print head controller that causes a print head to fire ink drops onto the printing surface in response to the motion and in response to an image contained in an image buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory F. Carlson, Patrick A. McKinley, Todd A. McClelland, James D. Bledsoe, Asher Simmons
  • Patent number: 7938508
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead having a housing having a top face and a bottom face, an ink ejection device and a contact circuit. The contact circuit is affixed to the housing in a substantially horizontal orientation and is in communication with the ink ejection device. The contact circuit is configured to connect the ink ejection device to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E. Anderson, Curtis R. Droege, Sam Norasak
  • Patent number: 7934811
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an ink flow path including a nozzle through which ink is ejected and is formed of a conductive epoxy resin, the conductive epoxy resin is a hardening result of a conductive cross-linked polymer resist composition formed by actinic radiation, and the conductive cross-linked polymer resist composition includes (a) at least one epoxy precursor polymer selected from a phenol novolak precursor polymer and an alicyclic precursor polymer including glycidyl ether group, (b) a metal alkoxide compound represented by the following formula R?M(OR)n, where R? refers to a functional group including an oxirane group or an oxetanyl group, R refers to a C1-10alkyl group, and M is a metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Ti, and Zr, (c) a cationic photoinitiator, and (d) a solvent. The inkjet printhead includes an ink flow path formed of a conductive epoxy resin and a trench formed around a heater of the inkjet printhead to dissipate residual heat generated by the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-ha Park, Young-ung Ha
  • Patent number: 7934785
    Abstract: A coating system comprises a high gloss coating ink supply source, and a low gloss coating ink supply source. The system includes a coating module configured to receive the high gloss coating ink and the low gloss coating ink. The coating module includes a first group of nozzles configured to emit the high gloss coating ink, and a second group of nozzles configured to emit the low gloss coating ink. The coating module includes a mixing reservoir configured to receive the high gloss coating ink and the low gloss coating ink and to commingle the high gloss coating ink and the low gloss coating ink to form an intermediate gloss coating ink. The coating module includes a third group of inkjet nozzles configured to emit the intermediate gloss coating ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Herman Lang
  • Patent number: 7934795
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a substrate including a liquid supply port and a plurality of ejection energy generating elements, disposed along the liquid supply port, and an ejection outlet plate including a plurality of ejection outlets, provided correspondingly to the plurality of ejection energy generating elements, and including a plurality of liquid flow passages, provided correspondingly to the plurality of ejection outlets, for establishing communication between the ejection outlets and the liquid supply port. The ejection outlet plate is provided with a hole portion formed to surround the liquid flow passages. The hole portion includes a plurality of first holes which are arranged in a line and which have opening edges having a shape without an acute angle and further includes a plurality of second holes having opening edges formed in a substantially sawtooth shape, with respect to a direction perpendicular to a surface of the ejection outlet plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Ikegame, Shigeki Fukui
  • Patent number: 7931351
    Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer includes a wafer assembly defining spaced apart groups of ink supply channels; and groups of ink ejection nozzle arrangements extending from the wafer assembly and in fluid communication with respective ink supply channel groups, each group of ink ejection nozzle arrangements including a pair of rows of ink ejection nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes an ink ejection head from which an actuator tail extends. Each pair of rows of ink ejection nozzle arrangements are arranged such that the ink ejection heads of the ink ejection nozzle arrangements in a first row of the pair face toward and are adjacent to the ink ejection heads of the ink ejection nozzle arrangements in a second row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7926908
    Abstract: There is provided an ink jet printing apparatus and a printing method capable of reducing unevenness due to a time lag. An ink jet printing apparatus comprise a printing head including a first and a second eject port array. The second eject port array is shorter than said first eject port array in said conveying direction of the printing medium. The first eject port array has a first a second. The first eject port group is disposed parallel to said second eject port array. The second eject port group is not disposed parallel to the second eject port array. In an identical printing area of the printing medium, a printing ratio of the first eject port group is lower than that of the second eject port group. The second ink contains a component that reduces dispersion stability of the first ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michinari Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7922287
    Abstract: An image having high quality is output, in which density unevenness due to a deflection in an ejecting direction is reduced, in an inkjet printer for forming an image by ejecting small droplets at a high frequency and high density. Thereby, in a mask pattern employed for multi-pass printing, a print permission rate of an ejection port positioned at the end of a ejection port array is set higher than those of ejection ports positioned at the other parts of the ejection port array. Thus, even if extremely small droplets are ejected at a high frequency and high-density, the generated density unevenness is reduced, and an image excellent in uniformity and having high definition can be output at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eri Noguchi