Modular Patents (Class 347/49)
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Patent number: 9327508Abstract: A printing apparatus has a cartridge carrier and with a locking-and-ejection mechanism. The cartridge carrier has a cavity for insertion of an ink cartridge, and the locking-and-ejection mechanism is arranged on an outside of a side part of a cartridge carrier. This locking-and-ejection mechanism has a locking mechanism with a locking lever biased by a spring force produced by a first spring. The locking lever can be tilted around a rotation axis situated on the outside of the side part. The locking-and-ejection mechanism also has an ejection mechanism with a lifting plate biased by a spring force produced at least by a second spring. The lifting plate is rotatable on the outside of the side part, and the rotation axis of the lifting plate is stationary on the outside of the side part. The locking lever has a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism to the lock the first locking mechanism, and an actuator is operable to unlock the locking of the second locking mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2015Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Muhl, Stefan Beckmann
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Patent number: 9321272Abstract: A technique of enhancing attachment of a liquid supply unit to a liquid ejection device is provided. A holder structure 200 is provided as a mounting mechanism configured to cause a first ink cartridge 100a and a second ink cartridge 100b to be attachable to and detachable from a carriage 27 of a printing device 10. The holder structure 200 has a lever member 230 provided as a rotation mechanism to be rotated and thereby lock the first and the second ink cartridges 100a and 100b. The lever member 230 includes a first leg section 231a, a second leg section 231b formed away from the first leg section 231a and a bridging section 232 formed between the first and the second leg sections 231a and 231b to engage with a main engagement part 120 of each of the ink cartridges 100a and 100b.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2014Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tadahiro Mizutani, Takayuki Shiota, Atsushi Kobayashi, Shun Oya, Yoshiyuki Okazawa, Kazumasa Harada
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Patent number: 9302514Abstract: A printhead assembly, a printhead alignment tool usable with a printhead assembly, and a method of aligning a misaligned printhead are disclosed. The printhead assembly includes a printhead disposed on a printbar beam member. A position of the printhead may be adjusted relative to a printbar beam member.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing LtdInventors: Adam Goren, Chen Turkenitz
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Patent number: 9272554Abstract: An image processing device includes a storing section configured to store a predetermined dither mask, a defective nozzle detecting section configured to detect a defective nozzle, and an interpolation processing section configured to specify a mask position corresponding to a position of the detected defective nozzle among mask positions included in the dither mask, and alter a threshold of a predetermined mask position so that a dot of the predetermined mask position included in the dither mask becomes ON when a dot of the specified mask position is ON.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2015Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Takuma Hayashi
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Patent number: 9248654Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a fluid ejection unit that ejects a fluid and an ejection control unit that controls the ejection of the fluid. A fluid container accommodates the fluid supplied to the fluid ejection unit. A connection channel connects the fluid ejection unit and the fluid container. An opening and closing unit opens and closes the connection channel. A pressure adjustment unit controls the opening and closing unit and adjusts an inner pressure of the fluid container. The pressure adjustment unit increases the inner pressure higher than a predetermined pressure by instructing the opening and closing unit to close the connection channel and then instructing the opening and closing unit to open the connection channel after the inner pressure of the fluid container exceeds the predetermined pressure. The ejection control unit allows the fluid ejection unit to eject the fluid after the connection channel is opened.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Masaki Gomi, Kazuaki Uchida
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Patent number: 9233545Abstract: An ink ejection device includes a head section having a plurality of nozzles and ejecting a plurality of types of inks through the nozzles, and an ink supply section supplying the plurality of types of inks to the head section. The head section has a plurality of supply ports which are arranged in a scanning direction and to which the plurality of types of inks are supplied. The ink supply section includes a plurality of ink chambers which respectively contain the plurality of types of inks and are disposed to overlap one another in the up-down direction, a plurality of connection passages connecting the plurality of supply ports to the plurality of ink chambers containing the inks to be supplied to the supply ports, and a plurality of air discharge passages respectively connected to the plurality of ink chambers.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masahiko Kamo
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Patent number: 9221276Abstract: A substrate mounting structure includes a substrate, a substrate support portion, a protruding portion, and a screw. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface that is a surface on an opposite side to the first surface. The substrate support portion includes a screw hole and is a section of an outer peripheral portion of the screw hole. The section comes into contact with the first surface of the substrate. The protruding portion is provided on at least a part of a section of the outer peripheral portion apart from the substrate support portion, and protrudes further in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface than the substrate support portion. The screw is screwed into the screw hole and clamps the substrate together with the substrate support portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryoya Takahashi, Takashi Goto, Minoru Yamamoto
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Patent number: 9221258Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a recording element substrate for ejecting liquid, a mounting section to be loaded with a liquid container, and a connector equipped with a contact spring capable of expanding and contracting in an axial direction to be brought into contact with a contact substrate provided on the liquid container. The axial direction of the contact spring is inclined relative to the direction of loading the liquid container in the mounting section.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuichiro Akama, Kiyomitsu Kudo, Satoshi Kimura, Tomotsugu Kuroda, Kyosuke Toda, Naoko Tsujiuchi, Sayaka Seki, Yosuke Takagi
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Patent number: 9211720Abstract: A fluid container usable with an image forming apparatus including a receiving unit having a plurality of receiver slots is disclosed. The fluid container includes a housing unit including a plurality of wall portions and a fluid chamber to store fluid therein. The housing unit is to removably attach to a respective receiver slot of the receiving unit. The fluid container includes a first key set disposed on an exterior surface of one wall portion of the housing unit. The first key set is to form a first key pattern corresponding to a conforming first receiver key pattern of a respective receiver slot. The fluid container includes a second key set disposed on an exterior surface of an other wall portion of the housing unit. The second key set is to form a second key pattern corresponding to a conforming second receiver key pattern of the respective receiver slot.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2010Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Patrick V. Boyd, Melissa S. Gedraitis, Jeffrey A. Mueller, Judson Leiser
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Patent number: 9211712Abstract: A print head includes an aperture plate and a plurality of duplicate, injection molded, jet modules that are coupled to the aperture plate. Each of the jet modules includes a plurality of jets and corresponding ink supply cavity that seals against the aperture plate and provides ink to the jets. Each jet module further includes a registration member and an edge alignment feature. The registration member holds the jet module in place relative to a corresponding registration member of the aperture plate. The edge alignment feature overlaps a corresponding alignment feature on a neighboring one of the jet modules in a z-direction and minimizes misalignment between the jet module and the neighboring jet module.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventor: David M. Johnson
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Patent number: 9139011Abstract: A tank unit includes two or more liquid accommodating containers disposed in a row. Each of the liquid accommodating containers includes a main body having a concave shape defining a side opening and a film that blocks the side opening. The main body and the film at least partially define a liquid accommodating chamber for accommodating a liquid. The main body includes a facing wall that faces the film across the liquid accommodating chamber and has a wall larger than the side opening. The liquid accommodating containers are disposed such that the film of at least one of the liquid accommodating containers is covered by the facing wall of an adjacent one of the liquid accommodating containers.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Taku Ishizawa, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Masaru Takahashi
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Patent number: 9132633Abstract: An ink jet head includes a head body having a plurality of ejection ports disposed in a nozzle disposition direction and a fluid chamber for ink, a base portion having an ink supply channel and an ink discharge channel communicating with the fluid chamber, a drive circuit configured to drive the head body for ejection, a heat sink configured to radiate heat generated by the drive circuit, a reference plate having both end portions thereof in a plate length direction configured to be fixed to a structure member on a printer body, and a plate holder that has a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the reference plate, positions the head body to cause the nozzle disposition direction thereof to be parallel to a main scanning direction with respect to the reference plate, and couples the heat sink and the base portion to each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomomi Iijima
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Patent number: 9132654Abstract: A packaging label for an inkjet printhead including a first label portion adapted for adhesion to a first surface of the inkjet printhead, and a second label portion adapted for adhesion to a second surface of the inkjet printhead. The second label portion has a forked configuration including a first outer portion, a second outer portion and a central portion disposed between the first and second outer portions and adapted for adhesion to a packaging tape adhered to a nozzle plate of the inkjet printhead. The adhesion between the second label portion and the second surface of the inkjet printhead is higher than the adhesion between the first label portion and the first surface of the inkjet printhead.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Paul W. Dryer, Jason Vanderpool, Richard Warner, David Bernard, Andrew Lee McNees
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Patent number: 9126417Abstract: A cover for a liquid container which exposes at least a portion of a detecting member, having a liquid supply portion to a liquid ejecting apparatus through communicating with the liquid containing unit, and a first surface provided with a first container side engagement portion arranged between the liquid supply portion and the detecting member. The cover includes a first cover side engagement portion engaging with the first container side engagement portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Izumi Nozawa, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Ryota Takahashi
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Patent number: 9079402Abstract: A printer includes a global skew adjustment and a print head assembly having an adjustment mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.Inventors: Boris Liberman, Darin Schick
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Patent number: 9067426Abstract: A cartridge assembly includes a plurality of ink cartridges each having a cartridge case that holds ink therein, and at least one connecting member that connects the plurality of ink cartridges together in a connection direction. The ink cartridges connected by the at least one connecting member are movable relative to each other in the connection direction of the ink cartridges.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Yuichi Urabe
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Patent number: 9056482Abstract: The cartridge comprises a plurality of printing material supply ports. The plurality of printing material supply ports are projecting from a first surface in a ?Z axial direction to correspond to each of a plurality of printing material supply pipes provided on the printing device. A groove section is provided to be concave more to a +Z axial direction side than the first surface, and provided between two of the printing material supply ports adjacent to each other. The groove section receives the partition plate when the printing material supply ports are connected to the printing material supply pipes.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Izumi Nozawa, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani
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Patent number: 9039154Abstract: A cartridge comprises an ink supply structure, a terminal bearing structure, and a first restriction portion. The terminal bearing structure has terminals arranged in a terminal plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to a plane defined by a mounting direction leading edge of the ink supply structure, so that the contact portions of the terminals receive a force in a direction opposite from the mounting direction. An engagement portion of the first restriction portion is provided at a position adjacent to the terminal bearing structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hidetoshi Kodama, Izumi Nozawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Kazutoshi Matsuzaki, Kazumasa Harada, Satoshi Nakata, Hidetaka Kawata
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Patent number: 9039142Abstract: An ink-jet printing module is used for a page-width array ink-jet printer. The ink jet printing module includes a page-width array platen and a plurality of ink-jet cartridges. The page-width array platen has a plurality of receiving cavities arranged as an array. Each of the ink-jet cartridges is detachably and independently embedded into one of the receiving cavities, and includes a body for storing ink, an ink-jet chip to be driven for ejecting the ink, a plurality of nozzles disposed on the ink-jet chip, and a control node for receiving signal to drive the ink-jet chip. The ink-jet chip is disposed on a bottom of the page-width array platen and is driven to eject the ink through the nozzles onto a printing medium.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: MICROJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Hao-Jan Mou, Ta-Wei Hsueh, Ying-Lun Chang, Kwo-Yuan Shi, Chin-Tsung Chen, Yung-Lung Han, Chi-Feng Huang
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Patent number: 9010906Abstract: A printer includes discharge control devices, a first ID storage device, a control data output device, a connection device, a connection control device, an assigning device, a processor, and a memory. The processor performs outputting print data, which is data to discharge the liquid by the discharge port group connected to the discharge control device, corresponding to the unique ID from the control data output device, by using a communication ID that corresponds to the unique ID, via a connection device controlled by a connection control device, to each of a plurality of discharge control devices, and controlling discharge of the liquid by the discharge port groups to which the plurality of discharge control devices are respectively connected, in accordance with the print data which corresponds to the unique ID of the individual discharge control device and which has been output from the control data output device.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shumei Mori, Yohei Kuno
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Patent number: 8985743Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge includes a cartridge body, an electric interface, and a support member at which the electric interface is provided. The cartridge body is configured to hold the support member, such that the support member is movable relative to the cartridge body. A cartridge mounting portion includes a sandwiching portion configured to sandwich the support member.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toyonori Sasaki
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Patent number: 8979248Abstract: A plurality of ink-jet heads are displaced over time on a line scan head loaded with the ink-jet heads, leading to lower printing accuracy. A plurality of uneven portions are formed in parallel with a print-scan direction on the faying surfaces of the ink-jet heads and a head plate loaded with the ink-jet heads, allowing a displacement made over time after positioning to be guided in the print-scan direction. This can suppress a displacement in a direction orthogonal to the print-scan direction, achieving an ink-jet apparatus that can keep high printing accuracy using this solution.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2014Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kenichi Yamamoto, Hidehiro Yoshida, Teiichi Kimura
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Patent number: 8974038Abstract: A liquid holding container includes an inlet port to which ink to be supplied to a printer is introduced. The liquid holding container has a first part where at least a portion is positioned to be outside the printer and a second part where at least a portion is inserted into the printer. At least a portion of the bottom section of the first part is lower than at least a portion of the bottom section of the second part.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takeshi Iwamuro, Hidetoshi Kodama
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Patent number: 8974044Abstract: A cartridge comprises an ink supply structure, a terminal bearing structure, and a first restriction portion. The terminal bearing structure has terminals arranged in a terminal plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to a plane defined by a mounting direction leading edge of the ink supply structure, so that the contact portions of the terminals receive a force in a direction opposite (RD) from the mounting direction. An engagement portion of the first restriction portion is provided at a position adjacent to the terminal bearing structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hidetoshi Kodama, Izumi Nozawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Kazutoshi Matsuzaki, Kazumasa Harada, Satoshi Nakata, Hidetaka Kawata
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Patent number: 8967779Abstract: A flow channel member to which an ink cartridge is removably mounted has a sealing member made of an elastic material around the entire periphery of an installation section of a flow channel member main body. The sealing member is integrally formed of: a top plane portion, where an end face of a leg portion abuts the top plane portion so as to define an enclosed space between an inner peripheral surface of the leg portion and an outer peripheral surface of the installation section; and an inner leg portion and an outer leg portion extending from edges of the top plane portion along the longitudinal axis of the installation section, and having end faces, abutting the flow channel member main body. Furthermore, the sealing member has curved thicker portions.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Katsutomo Tsukahara, Keiji Hara
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Patent number: 8960860Abstract: A printhead die is provided that includes a substrate and a slot extending through the substrate, the slot including a first slot segment and a discrete second slot segment, the second slot segment being offset from the first slot segment along a major axis and along an orthogonal minor axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: James P. Axtell, Joseph M. Torgerson, Trudy Benjamin
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Patent number: 8960859Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes a head cartridge; an ink tank having an ink supply portion to be connected to an ink inflow portion of the head cartridge, and a first engagement portion to engage the head cartridge; a carriage on which the head cartridge is detachably mounted; and a tank holding member, which is swingably supported by the carriage to engage a second engagement portion of the ink tank. When the head cartridge and ink tank are mounted on the carriage, the ink tank is pivoted around the first engagement portion by receiving a force exerted against the ink supply portion via the ink inflow portion, and the tank holding member is pushed by the second engagement portion and is moved.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeshi Sekino
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Patent number: 8960858Abstract: A print-head module for a single-pass inkjet printer is specified, which print-head module includes a housing, a hangar part which is fastened to the housing for hanging in a manner which is oriented in the direction of gravity, and a number of print heads which are arranged on the housing along a transverse direction which is perpendicular with respect to a running direction, wherein the print heads are positionally adjusted at least at one reference position. The print-head module can be exchanged simply and rapidly. Complicated re-adjustment on the single-pass inkjet printer can be dispensed with.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2010Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: PadaLuma Ink-Jet-Solutions GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Patrik Lutz
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Patent number: 8950851Abstract: A liquid housing container in which a liquid to be supplied to a head can be stored may be attached to or detached from a holder, which is provided to a liquid ejecting device having the head for ejecting a liquid. The holder has a rotation point where the mounted liquid housing container may be rotated in a predetermined so as to be detached from the holder.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2011Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hidetoshi Kodama, Izumi Nozawa
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Patent number: 8939561Abstract: An ink containing device includes an ink cartridge and an adaptor. The ink cartridge includes a first main body having a first surface facing a first direction and a chamber that stores ink, an ink outlet portion disposed on the first surface of the first main body and that directs the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the first main body; and an ink detecting portion that detects an amount of the ink stored in the chamber. The adapter is attachable to the ink cartridge. The adapter includes a second main body and a movable member that moves with respect to the second main body.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Yuki Takagi, Hirotake Nakamura
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Patent number: 8919925Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus includes an ink container and a container installed part. The ink container is configured to store an ink. To the container installed part, the ink container is attached/detached along an installing direction. The ink container includes a container case and a shutter. The container case has a lower face to which a supplying port discharging the ink is located. The shutter is located to leave a space from the supplying port and switchable between a closing state covering a bottom of the supplying port and an opening state exposing the supplying port.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Masanobu Maeshima, Tatsuya Yamanaka
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Patent number: 8919937Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid cartridge and an apparatus main body. The apparatus main body includes needles that are configured to receive peak loads at predetermined intervals in a predetermined order. A greatest load associated with the predetermined order is less than a greatest load associated with each of all others of a plurality of unique orders, the greatest load associated with each unique order corresponding to a greater of the peak load received by a needle receiving the peak load first in each unique order and a sum load of the peak load received by a needle receiving the peak load after the needle receiving the peak load first in each unique order and the steady load received by a needle receiving the peak load before the needle receiving the peak load after the needle receiving the peak load first in each unique order.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masataka Kamiya
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Patent number: 8915577Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a first head that forms a first dot group and a second head that forms a second dot group. The first head has a first nozzle row for a first chromatic ink and a second nozzle row for a second chromatic ink. The second head has a third nozzle row for the first chromatic ink and a fourth nozzle row for the second chromatic ink. With respect to at least the first chromatic ink or the second chromatic ink, in a case in which the number of dots that configure dot rows that are lined up in the main scanning direction, is 3500 or more, a rational number, which is expressed using a number of dots included in the first dot group and a number of dots included in the second dot group in the dot rows, is a value other than zero.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Shinichi Yamada, Hiroki Hayashi, Ryoichi Tanaka, Noboru Tamura, Akito Sato
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Patent number: 8905519Abstract: A printhead is provided having an elongate support having a plurality of internal webs protruding from a base section to define a plurality of parallel fluid supply channels, a shim supported by the support and defining a plurality of rows of openings through which fluid from respective supply channels is supplied, and a plurality of elongate printhead modules supported serially on the shim. Each module defines a plurality of fluid supply passages through which fluid passes to fluid ejection nozzles from respective rows of the openings. Either end of each module defines complementary formations such that adjacent modules nest together.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd.Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
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Patent number: 8905520Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustment system for adjusting the base of the print head of a plotter with respect to the printing base of the plotter, said base of the head comprising a substantially vertical fixed part (1) and a substantially horizontal adjustable part (2), and it is characterized in that said adjustment means comprise a substantially vertical rotating shaft (4) located between said adjustable part (2) and said fixed part (1); at least one substantially horizontal adjustment element (3) regulating the angular position of said adjustable part (2) with respect to said fixed part (1); and a plurality of substantially vertical adjustment elements (3) regulating the inclination and height of said adjustable part (2) with respect to said fixed part (1). It enables the base of the print head to be regulated easily and precisely, without any play.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: TKT Brainpower, S.L.Inventors: Antoni Balsells Mercadé, Francesc Masgrau Lagresa, Antoni Guimerá Pedrola
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Patent number: 8899725Abstract: A cartridge mounting mechanism includes a chamber that accommodates therein a cartridge introduced through a cartridge inlet formed as an opening directed upward, a biasing mechanism that biases the cartridge set in the chamber in an upward direction corresponding to a removal direction of the cartridge, and a holding mechanism configured to be engaged with the cartridge so as to restrict, against a biasing force of the biasing mechanism, the cartridge from moving in the removal direction when the cartridge is set in the chamber, and disengaged from the cartridge to release the cartridge from the restriction against the biasing force, upon being subjected to an external operating force.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kazutoshi Matsuzaki, Kazumasa Harada, Yoshiyuki Okazawa
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Patent number: 8894192Abstract: The present invention relates to postal evidencing modules that can be recycled in a non-destructive fashion for reuse and remanufacturing. The modules comprise a cartridge-receiving portion and a lid, which can be manually disengaged from one another by the user in order to assist in reuse and remanufacturing. The modules further comprise flex circuits with one or more microprocessors to electrically engage the ink cartridges and a postage evidencing system. The present invention is designed to use commercially available ink cartridges and microprocessors.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Clover Technologies Group, LLCInventors: Randall Ellis Hooker, Eric Tuvesson
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Patent number: 8894184Abstract: A cover for a liquid container. The liquid container comprises a first to third surfaces. The first surface has a wall which surrounds a communication port and a liquid supply portion. The third surface has an air hole communicating with the communication port and has at least one of a protrusion and a recess. The cover comprises a covering portion that covers the wall, and a first cover portion that covers the at least one of the protrusion and the recess.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Izumi Nozawa, Atsushi Kobayashi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Ryota Takahashi
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Patent number: 8894182Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a liquid discharge substrate having a discharge port array, and a channel member having a mounted face on which the liquid discharge substrate is mounted, channels for supplying liquid to the discharge port array, and a low thermal conductivity portion, wherein the channels includes an opening for flowing liquid, which is provided at a part except for both ends of the discharge port array, a first channel for passing the liquid, and a second channel for passing the liquid in a direction opposite to the liquid flowing direction in the first channel, wherein the opening, the first channel, the low thermal conductivity portion, and the second channel are provided in this order to be vertical to the mounted face, and the opening and the low thermal conductivity portion are provided to be at least partially overlapped one above the other.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhiko Osaki, Toshiaki Hirosawa, Hiroki Tajima, Akira Yamamoto, Kyota Miyazaki
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Patent number: 8888247Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a head holder, a carriage, a guide member, a reference member, and a pressing unit. The recording head has a plurality of nozzles to eject liquid droplets. The head holder holds the recording head. The carriage is reciprocally movable in a main scanning direction and holds the head holder. The guide member is disposed along the main scanning direction to guide the carriage along the main scanning direction. The reference member is disposed parallel to the guide member in the carriage to rotatably hold the head holder. The pressing unit presses the head holder toward the carriage. The head holder is pressed against the reference member and the carriage by the pressing unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Takayuki Niihara, Shinichiro Naruse, Kenji Shimizu
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Patent number: 8882249Abstract: An attachment is mounted on a cartridge holder of a printer as a replacement of an ink cartridge. An ink outlet member having a link passage is separably secured to an attachment body. Ink is supplied from the exterior to the ink outlet member through an ink supply tube. When the attachment is mounted on the cartridge holder, a downstream end of the ink outlet member is positioned with respect to and connected to an ink supply needle of the printer. Accordingly, the attachment is easily and quickly installed in a liquid ejection apparatus. This reduces costs and makes it easy to use the attachment.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2013Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Hitotoshi Kimura
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Patent number: 8882244Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head including plural nozzles discharging liquid droplets; a head tank supplying liquid to the recording head; plural head holders each holding one or more recording heads and head tanks; a carriage exchangeably supporting the plural head holders; a main tank storing liquid to be supplied to the head tank; and plural liquid supply tubes supplying the liquid from the main tank to the head tank. Further, the plural liquid supply tubes are branched into plural groups corresponding to the plural head holders at the carriage and are connected to corresponding head tanks.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2014Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Suguru Masunaga
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Patent number: 8870354Abstract: A flow path forming body that includes a liquid supply path, and a mounting section; a filter that is fixedly attached to the mounting section so as to cover an opening of the liquid supply path; and a seal member disposed on a circumference of the mounting section and made of an elastic material are provided, wherein a buffer chamber is provided in the liquid supply path downstream of the filter, and an air bubble discharge section having a wall is provided in a region at least distant from the opening of the liquid supply path downstream of the buffer chamber in a plane direction of the filter such that the wall is closer to the filter than to the buffer chamber and has a width in the plane direction of the filter which is larger than that of the buffer chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Isamu Togashi
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Patent number: 8854652Abstract: A host device and a printing control method of the host device. The host device includes a print data generation unit to generate print data for each page of a document to be printed, a transmission unit to transmit the generated print data to an image forming device, a menu generation unit to generate a print option setting menu if an interrupt occurs while transmitting the print data through the transmission unit, and a controller to control the print data generation unit to convert the print data after occurrence of the interrupt into print data to which the reset print option is applied.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wook-jin Shim
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Patent number: 8845078Abstract: A liquid ejection head module is disclosed. The liquid ejection head module includes first and second head units disposed in a first direction. The first and second head units have first and second rows of liquid ejecting heads that have a plurality of nozzles disposed in the first direction. The first and second rows of liquid ejecting heads are disposed in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first and second head each have a projecting portion. A connector is disposed on each of the first and second head units and each connector is disposed so that the connecting port is open at a side opposite from a liquid ejecting side.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Hiroshige Owaki
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Patent number: 8845080Abstract: A colour ink printing system includes a plurality of print head cartridges, each extending across a direction of print media propagation and spaced apart along the direction of print media propagation; a print head chassis for supporting the plurality of print head cartridges, the print head chassis actuable between a printing position, a transition position, and a maintenance position; and a maintenance chassis for supporting a plurality of maintenance cradles, the maintenance chassis actuable between a storage position and an operational position. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is held stationary with respect to a platen on which print media is propagated to effect printing on the print media. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is a monochrome print head cartridge ejecting a fluid different to the remaining plurality of print head cartridges.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: September 30, 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: 20140285578Abstract: A printing apparatus including a head unit in which a print head is mounted on a head plate, and a small carriage that holds the head unit. The head unit engages with a slide rail formed in the small carriage with an engagement protrusion, and can be attached and detached in a sliding manner when the head unit is attached and detached.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Akihisa WANIBE
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Patent number: 8833905Abstract: An ink containing device includes an ink cartridge and an adaptor. The ink cartridge comprises a first main body comprising a chamber configured to store ink, and an ink outlet portion disposed on a first surface of the first main body configured to direct the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the first main body, and an ink detecting portion configured to detect an amount of the ink stored in the ink chamber. The adaptor is configured to attach to the ink cartridge. The adaptor comprises a second main body comprising a second surface, and an electrical interface disposed on the second surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Yuki Takagi, Hirotake Nakamura
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Patent number: 8827402Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a recording head including first and second head modules, each of the first and second head modules having recording elements arranged to perform a recording operation onto a recording medium, the first head module being arranged in a first orientation on the recording head, the second head module being arranged in a second orientation on the recording head, the second orientation being rotated from the first orientation; a signal processing device configured to select, from print data for one page, print data to be used in one recording operation respectively for the recording elements, and to arrange the selected print data in a prescribed recording element sequence for each of the first and second head modules regardless of the first and second orientations; and a data transfer device configured to transfer the arranged print data for each of the first and second head modules.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Yuta Sumiyoshi
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Patent number: 8827426Abstract: The imaging device has a housing inside which a machine body is installed, a consumables container receiver, and a connector. The machine body has a master control circuit board; the master control circuit board has a communications module which communicates with a consumables chip. The consumables chip stores the information relating to a consumables container. At least one consumables container is detachably installed on the consumables container installer of the consumables container receiver. The connector is installed apart from the consumables container installer; the consumables chip is installed inside the connector and connected with a communications module in a communication manner. The invention also provides a remodeling method and a consumables container for such an imaging device.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Print-Rite Technology Development Co., Ltd. of ZhuhaiInventors: Qingguo Xiao, Qiang Zhang