Controller Patents (Class 347/5)
  • Patent number: 8864275
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printhead module having an ink leakage detector to detect a leaked phase change ink. The ink leakage detector includes a plurality of resistance temperature detectors or resistive thermal devices to detect the leaked phase change ink. A horizontally mounted overdriven thermistor can also be used to detect leaked ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn D. Batchelor, Chad E. LaBarge, Ali R. Dergham, Randall E. Kaufman
  • Publication number: 20140307014
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink cartridge, an ink cartridge assembly and a method for detecting the installation of the ink cartridge. A plurality of ink cartridges are detachably mounted on an inkjet printer including a light receiver and a plurality of apparatus electrical contacts which are commonly connected with a line, the ink cartridge comprises a container electrical contact electrically connected with corresponding apparatus electrical contact an information storage device, a light-emitting portion configured to emit light towards the light receiver, and a control portion configured to control the light-emitting portion to emit light, wherein, the control portion of the ink cartridge controls the light-emitting portion to emit light when receiving an emission instruction sent by the inkjet printer. Therefore, the stability of the ink cartridge installation detection can be fully guaranteed and the phenomenon of installation detection error can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: BING NIE, ZHIZHENG JIA, YUEDAN LIANG
  • Publication number: 20140307015
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink cartridge, an ink cartridge assembly, an inkjet recording apparatus, an ink cartridge installation detection module and a method. The module comprises a light emitter, a controller, a processing unit and a control unit, wherein the light emitter is configured to provide a light source; the controller includes a receiving unit configured to receive a plurality of ink cartridge installation detection instructions sent by the inkjet recording apparatus via a bus; the processing unit is configured to analyze the ink cartridge installation detection instruction; and the control unit is configured to turn on or off the light emitter according to the analytic result of the processing unit. The present invention improves the universality of the ink cartridges and achieves ink cartridge installation detection with lower cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: BING NIE, Zhizheng Jia, Yuedan Liang
  • Publication number: 20140307013
    Abstract: An apparatus including: a control unit configured to control a switch that performs switching between a charging path for charging a first power storage unit provided in a carriage having a printhead mounted thereon by power supplied from a power source and a charging path for charging the first power storage unit by power supplied from a second power storage unit that is provided in a main body of the printing apparatus equipped with the carriage and has a capacity higher than the first power storage unit; and a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the second power storage unit has a power storage capacity less than a threshold value, wherein the control unit controls the switch such that the first power storage unit can be charged by the power supplied from the power source if it is determined by the determining unit that the power storage capacity of the second power storage unit is less than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takamitsu Tokuda, Masao Mori, Kimiyuki Hayasaki
  • Patent number: 8851603
    Abstract: A driving device, and a liquid discharge head and a recording apparatus using the driving device are provided which permit precise printing under various conditions. The driving device includes a latch signal generation circuit for generating a latch signal every Tc seconds; a delay time retention circuit for retaining data of delay times of less than Tc seconds; a plurality of first latch circuits which are capable of retaining one-line pixel data, and latch pixel data from outside by the latch signal; a plurality of second latch circuits which are divided into a plurality of second latch circuit groups, and latch pixel data retained in the plurality of first latch circuits after the delay time of data retained in the delay time retention circuit for each of the second latch circuit groups is passed after the latch signal is transmitted; and a driving signal transmission circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Takuji Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 8851660
    Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing an ink jet recording head in which a plurality of recording element substrates used for discharging ink are appropriately arranged onto a support substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8851606
    Abstract: A chart 50 is formed of a density detecting pattern 51 and position detecting marks 52. The density detecting pattern 51 includes five different density areas A, B, C, D and E in form of belts arranged sequentially in Y-direction. The position detecting marks 52 are formed at intervals in X-direction which is a direction of arrangement of nozzles, at an end of the density area A of the density detecting pattern 51. These position detecting marks 52 are formed by suspending, for a fixed period of time, discharge from particular nozzles selected from a plurality of nozzles which discharge ink for forming the density detecting pattern 51, thereby producing ink-free portions (void portions) in the density area A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuya Takeda
  • Patent number: 8851613
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print unit, an acquisition unit, and a setting unit. The print unit performs printing on a sheet by repeating reciprocating scans of a print head. The acquisition unit acquires information on a temperature of the print head. The setting unit sets a wait time to start a next scan after one scan. The setting unit increases the wait time by a predetermined additional time for each subsequent scan once a value acquired by the acquisition unit exceeds a first threshold, unless the value falls below a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taku Yokozawa, Satoshi Hayashi, Masaki Nitta, Yosuke Ishii, Hiroaki Shirakawa, Yuhei Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8851653
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a liquid discharging section which performs a liquid discharging operation for discharging liquid; and a controller which forms a plurality of images on a medium and also forms coating of the images, by executing a pass which makes the liquid discharging section perform the liquid discharging operation while moving the liquid discharging section in a movement direction, wherein the controller forms a common image portion that is an image site common to each of the plurality of images by a predetermined number of passes and forms respectively a variable image portion that is an image site which differs in each of the plurality of images and the coating of the images by a number of passes smaller than the predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hayato Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8851593
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a memory, a receiving unit, a detector, a generation unit, a determination unit, and an alert unit. The memory stores output characteristic information, information on image output characteristics of a printer, which is specified for output. The receiving unit receives a print command. The detector detects a one-dimensional code in accordance with a received print command. The generation unit generates print data in accordance with a received print command. The determination unit determines, in a case where a one-dimensional code has been detected, whether or not a printer, which is specified for output, is capable of printing the one-dimensional code with a predetermined print quality or higher by referring to the stored output characteristic information. The alert unit issues an alert in a case where the printer is incapable of printing the one-dimensional code with the predetermined print quality or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Ko Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8851611
    Abstract: A correction information determination method may be used to control a recording apparatus. The recording apparatus includes a first conveyance unit, a second conveyance unit, and a recording unit arranged between the first and second conveyance units. The first conveyance unit is caused to rotate and record patterns for measuring a conveyance distance when a conveyance state changes from both the first and second conveyance units being utilized to the second conveyance unit being utilized. A conveyance start rotation phase of the first conveyance unit is acquired. Based on the conveyance distance measured based on the patterns, correction information about a rotation amount of the first conveyance unit is determined, the rotation amount used when the conveyance state is changed during recording by the recording apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisashi Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20140292842
    Abstract: Operation of a carriage is controlled to actuate a mechanism. The carriage is controlled according to a feed forward term and a feedback term, to compensate interaction of the carriage with the mechanism. Thus, the carriage is to engage the mechanism at a reduced velocity for quiet operation, and fully and reliably actuate the mechanism without stalling the carriage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Robert D. Davis
  • Patent number: 8845056
    Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus which communicates with a plurality of cartridges without increasing its circuit dimension. To accomplish this, the apparatus includes a control circuit having an output terminal for outputting a clock signal and data signal used to generate a transmission signal to the cartridge, and an input terminal for receiving a transmission signal from the cartridge. The apparatus includes N connectors each having the first electrode which is connected to the first electrode surface of each cartridge, and the second electrode which is connected to the second electrode surface. The apparatus includes a 1-to-N first signal line for connecting the input terminal to the N first electrodes, and a 1-to-N second signal line for connecting the output terminal to the N second electrodes. The apparatus includes N switching units which are interposed between 1-to-N branch points and the second electrodes on the second signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Karino, Yuuji Takayama, Hiroyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8845048
    Abstract: A power supply section includes a switching regulator. A plurality of linear regulators is provided for respective ones of a plurality of driving sections. The linear regulators step down a source voltage to respective driving voltages of the driving sections and supply the respective driving sections with the driving voltages. A head-temperature sensor measures temperature of a liquid ejecting head. A controller determines the source voltage and the driving voltages based on the temperature, and controls the power supply section, the linear regulators, and the driving sections to stop at least one of outputting of the source voltage by the power supply section, supplying of the driving voltages by the linear regulators, and driving of the driving sections, when a voltage difference is larger than or equal to an acceptable value. The voltage difference is a difference between the source voltage and a minimum voltage of the driving voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keita Koyama
  • Patent number: 8844784
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling drive settings in a press for printing on a web of media. A drive is provided to receive the web from an upstream location and to transport the received web downstream of the drive at a controllable speed. The speed of the drive is sampled plural times while operating the drive in a tension control mode that varies the speed to maintain a desired tension in the web adjacent the drive. An optimal speed of the drive is calculated from the sampled speeds. The drive is operated in a constant velocity mode at the optimal speed during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Timothy Jay Bouma, Whitney Elaine Loper, George Joseph Shrum
  • Patent number: 8845057
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of nozzles to discharge liquid droplets; a recording head including a pressure generator to generate a pressure to cause the nozzles to discharge liquid droplets; a droplet discharge status sensor unit to detect a droplet discharging status from each nozzle; and a maintenance controller to control a maintenance operation by a dummy discharge of liquid droplets not contributing to image formation. In such an image forming apparatus, the droplet discharge status sensor unit compares a detection result of the droplet discharge status and a preset reference threshold and determines whether the nozzle discharges normally or defectively; and the maintenance controller outputs a dummy discharge drive waveform corresponding to a difference between the detected droplet discharge status and the reference threshold to the pressure generator of the nozzle determined to be defective to cause the nozzle to discharge droplets for dummy discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sawase
  • Patent number: 8845049
    Abstract: In a case where a forcible detection execution flag is set to ON, the end position of the CR movement is changed and the acquiring range of the detection value “Is” is changed such that the movable range of the carriage is enlarged to a range that makes detection of an ink remaining amount by the ink sensor possible. Then, a print process for forcible detection is conducted in which the printing head and the carriage motor are controlled such that the printing head ejects ink while the carriage is moving in the enlarged movable range. Consequently, in a case where the forcible detection is requested, the ink remaining amount in the ink cartridge installed in the carriage can be detected regardless of the printing area based on the print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takumi Chiba
  • Publication number: 20140267476
    Abstract: One example discloses a system comprising a computer comprising a memory to store machine readable instructions. The system can also comprise a processing unit to execute the machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructions comprising a data collector. The data collector can receive a plurality of verification records from a printer. Each verification record can characterize a usage of a given replaceable supply at the printer. The data collector can also evaluate a verification history of the printer based on the plurality of verification records to determine a usage credit for the printer. The usage credit can correspond to a number of authentic replaceable supplies consumed at the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPEMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Shell S. Simpson, Paul L. Jeran, Stephen D. Panshin, Jefferson P. Ward
  • Publication number: 20140267475
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a memory, a receiving unit, a detector, a generation unit, a determination unit, and an alert unit. The memory stores output characteristic information, information on image output characteristics of a printer, which is specified for output. The receiving unit receives a print command. The detector detects a one-dimensional code in accordance with a received print command. The generation unit generates print data in accordance with a received print command. The determination unit determines, in a case where a one-dimensional code has been detected, whether or not a printer, which is specified for output, is capable of printing the one-dimensional code with a predetermined print quality or higher by referring to the stored output characteristic information. The alert unit issues an alert in a case where the printer is incapable of printing the one-dimensional code with the predetermined print quality or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD
    Inventor: Ko TANABE
  • Patent number: 8833884
    Abstract: The operation accuracy of a printing unit is improved in a printing apparatus. To accomplish this, a motor driving apparatus includes a brushless motor having coils of a plurality of phases, and a plurality of detection units that output voltages in accordance with rotation of a rotor, a driving unit that drives the brushless motor by switching a current supply destination between the coils of the plurality of phases based on a control signal, and a generation unit that generates the control signal based on addition results of detection signals output from the plurality of detection units, and correction signals based on differences between a predetermined voltage corresponding to a rotation angle of the rotor and voltages corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotor that are obtained from the plurality of detection units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitsugu Sohara
  • Patent number: 8833883
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a signal processing circuit which operates with a first voltage, and generates a discharge control signal, a liquid driving circuit including an electrothermal transducer, a driving element which drives the electrothermal transducer, and a control circuit which receives the discharge control signal and outputs, to the driving element, a driving signal having a second voltage higher than the first voltage, and a monitoring circuit which monitors the first voltage and outputs a stop signal upon a drop of the first voltage. The control circuit stops driving the electrothermal transducer by the driving element in accordance with the stop signal. The monitoring circuit includes a transistor including a drain connected to power supply voltage node through a step-down circuit, a source connected to ground side, and a gate receiving the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanobu Oomura
  • Patent number: 8833890
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a reference drive signal generation section that generates an analog reference drive signal, a signal modulation section that modulates the reference drive signal to generate a digital modulation reference drive signal, a signal amplification section that amplifies the modulation reference drive signal to generate a modulation drive signal, a signal conversion section that converts the modulation drive signal to an analog drive signal, and a liquid ejecting section that ejects a liquid in response to the drive signal. A sum of a resistance value of a reference drive signal transfer line and a resistance value of a drive signal transfer line is smaller than a sum of a resistance value of a modulation reference drive signal transfer line and a resistance value of a modulation drive signal transfer line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Endo, Toshihisa Saruta, Toru Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 8827399
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet recording apparatus includes a head body, electrodes, a nozzle plate and a control section. The control section is electrically connected to the electrodes and applies an ejection pulse or a non-ejection pulse to the electrodes. The ejection pulse includes a first voltage change process for increasing the volume of a pressure chamber and a second voltage change process for reducing the volume of the pressure chamber, has width equal to or larger than 0.95 times and equal to or smaller than 1.05 times of a pressure propagation time in the pressure chamber, and ejects the ink from a nozzle. The non-ejection pulse has width equal to or larger than 0.2 times and equal to or smaller than 0.34 times of the width of the ejection pulse and stops the ink in the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8827413
    Abstract: A recording apparatus or a method for recording a pattern according to the present invention can record patterns for adjusting a recording position deviation between a forward direction and a backward direction of a scanning direction at a position in the scanning direction through which both of a first recording medium and a second recording medium smaller than the first recording medium in the scanning direction pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kanda, Wakako Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8827397
    Abstract: A web press, in particular a variable format book web press, variable format newspaper web press, or variable format periodical web press, has printing units having printing devices or groups of printing devices for applying ink to a paper web. The printing devices or groups of printing devices are constructed without rotating impression cylinders and are designed to apply ink to the paper web in a noncontacting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: manroland web systems GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Knauer
  • Patent number: 8820867
    Abstract: A control circuit for a light emitting diode for indicating power-on in a normal operating mode, power-on in a sleep mode, and power-off, the control circuit includes: a first voltage source having a DC voltage that is greater than a nominal forward voltage drop of the light emitting diode, the first voltage source connected to a first resistor in series with an anode of the light emitting diode; a second voltage source having a DC voltage that is greater than the DC voltage of the first voltage source; a first transistor connected between a cathode of the light emitting diode and ground; a control signal connected to an input of the first transistor; a second transistor connected between the first voltage source and the second voltage source, wherein an output of the first transistor is connected to an input of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Pan Honglin
  • Patent number: 8820877
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a replaceable set tray on which a target printing material is set, an ink discharge unit which prints by discharging ink according to printing data onto the target printing material, a storage unit which stores the type of set tray specified in the printing data when printing is performed, a detection unit which detects the type of set tray, and a control unit which controls the tray detection operation. The tray detection operation is performed by the detection unit before printing starts and detects the type of set tray when necessary. The control unit compares the type of set tray specified in newly acquired printing data and the type of set tray stored in the storage unit. When the types are different, the tray detection operation is performed. When the types are the same, the tray detection operation is omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Yanagishita
  • Patent number: 8820868
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a kind of inkjet printer's ink protection method including: the developer generates a rechargeable code in accordance with the print head's nPL, total ink volume G0 and user's identifying information provided by the user; the user purchases ink and its corresponding rechargeable code, inputs the rechargeable code into the printer's control system, and fills ink cartridge in the ink supply system with ink; the printer's control system verifies the effectiveness of the rechargeable code; if the rechargeable code is effective, total ink volume G0 will be added into the ink counter; if not, the rechargeable code is output as ineffective. This ink protection method in the present invention can increase ink utilization rate, reduce the waste of resources and cost, protect the environment, avoid equipment breakdowns caused by using unqualified ink, and improve printer's operating stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Yuan Chang
  • Publication number: 20140240381
    Abstract: A controller is configured to: when printing of a plurality of print units each including a plurality of categories of sheets having different sizes is performed on a unit-by-unit basis, control a feed timing of each sheet by a paper feed unit and a transport of the sheets by a transport unit according to a transport control pattern corresponding to a printing pattern including a combination of one-side/double-side printing settings for the respective categories of sheets in each of the print units; and when the printing of the plurality of print units is consecutively performed and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, arrange an order of printing of the plurality of print units such that the print units having a same printing pattern among the plurality of print units are successively printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masatoshi FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8814292
    Abstract: Inkjet printers are provided, in one aspect, an inkjet printer has an inkjet print engine that prints an image by jetting drops of hydrophilic liquid to form an inkjet image on a surface of at least one of a semi-absorbent recording medium or a non-absorbent recording medium; a transport system to transport the printed surface to a toner printer having a toner print engine to generate a liquid management toner image with toner particles that are at least in part hydrophilic and to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium where an unabsorbed volume of the inkjet ink will be present on the recording medium. A control system causes the inkjet printer to generate the inkjet image on the surface and causes the toner printer to generate a liquid management toner image that provides toner particles to manage an unabsorbed volume of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Donald Saul Rimai
  • Patent number: 8814301
    Abstract: A controller for printing a single region in which a background image is formed by the upstream background color nozzle row and the downstream background color nozzle row or in which a color image is formed by the upstream color nozzle row and the downstream color nozzle row is printed, among regions in the transporting direction, and an overlapping region in which a background image is formed by the upstream background color nozzle row and a color image is formed by the downstream color nozzle row or in which a color image is formed by the upstream color nozzle row and a background image is formed by the downstream background color nozzle row, among regions in the transporting direction, is provided. Here, the single region and the overlapping region are switched when one medium is printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Sano
  • Patent number: 8814289
    Abstract: A print apparatus includes a selection unit, a print unit and control unit. The selection unit categorizes a curve-shape of a print target surface into one specific shape pattern among a plurality of shape patterns having shapes whose degrees of curving are different from each other. The print unit has a recording head that applies ink on the print target surface. The control unit controls the print unit to set an ink amount to be applied at the edge parts of the print target surface to predetermined amount which is set corresponding to the specific shape pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 8814291
    Abstract: A nail printing device includes a printing unit including a printing head which applies ink on a print target surface, and a control unit which controls the printing unit and sets a printing mode to a nail printing mode or a printing medium printing mode. In the nail printing mode, the control unit sets a surface of a nail portion as the print target surface and creates a nail printing image data for printing the surface of the nail portion corresponding to a curve-shape of the nail portion. In the printing medium printing mode, the control unit sets a planar surface of a printing medium as the print target surface and performs thinning correction to a nail printing image data formed corresponding to the curve-shape of the nail portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Bitoh
  • Patent number: 8810851
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, the generating unit generates print data indicating whether a dot having one of a plurality of sizes is formed or not, by performing a halftone process on original image data. The correcting unit generates corrected print data by correcting the print data. The dividing unit divides the edge part data of the print data into a plurality of block data. The index value determining unit determines, for each block data, an index value relating to an amount of ink to be used based on the plurality of dot data included in the each block data. The changing unit changes, for each block data, the size information of at least one dot data among the plurality of dot data included in the each block data based on the index value such that the amount of ink to be used becomes reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Kuno
  • Patent number: 8810850
    Abstract: A controlling device may perform an image process on specific image data so as to generate processed image data, select a process mode from a plurality of process modes, including a first process mode and a second process mode, and perform the image process according to the selected process mode. The first process mode may be for performing the image process by performing, in order to compensate variability of discharging amounts of the liquid droplets discharged from the plurality of nozzles, a specific process on a target pixel within target image data using correction data for a target nozzle. The target nozzle may be to form a dot at a position on a print medium corresponding to the target pixel. The second process mode may be for performing the image process by performing the specific process on the target pixel within target image data without using the correction data for the target nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8807674
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes a droplet ejection head, an absorber, a moving mechanism, and a controller. The droplet ejection head includes liquid passages having at their leading ends ejection openings which eject droplets, an ejection face which faces a recording medium onto which droplets ejected from the ejection openings are placed, and an actuator which applies energy to liquid inside the liquid passages. The absorber includes a liquid-absorbent facing portion which faces the ejection openings when the absorber faces the ejection face. The moving mechanism moves the droplet ejection head and the absorber relatively to each other such that the droplet ejection head and the absorber are positioned in an absorbing position where the ejection openings and the facing portion face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Okawa
  • Publication number: 20140225944
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a dynamic user interface capable of adaption for dynamically providing printing information for various types of printing technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: MARKEM-IMAJE
    Inventor: Mattias Larsson
  • Patent number: 8801172
    Abstract: A printing system includes one or more lineheads that jet ink onto a first side of a print media. At least one roller supports a second side of the print media as the print media is transported through the printing system. A roller deformation adjustment mechanism abuts at least one roller and is configured to apply a force to the roller to deform the roller. The deformation of the roller compensates for web skew by changing the relative timing of ink flight times from the linehead to the first side of the print media. The linehead can be disposed on a movable support. The printing system can also include one or more linehead skew adjustment mechanisms configured to move the movable support to adjust a skew of the linehead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Carolyn Carlisle
  • Patent number: 8801125
    Abstract: A printing device includes a discharge head, an irradiation unit and a controller. The discharge head is configured and arranged to discharge droplets of a liquid curable by active rays onto a substrate while the discharge head and the substrate move relative to each other. The irradiation unit is configured and arranged to radiate the active rays to the droplets on the substrate. The irradiation unit is provided behind the discharge head with respect to a direction of a relative movement. The controller is configured to turn off the irradiation unit when a predetermined time has elapsed since start of lighting of the irradiation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8801127
    Abstract: A wet on wet garment printing device for printing on a textile surface comprises: an ink holder; a printing head mounted for printing onto the textile surface using ink from the ink holder; a wetting applicator for wetting the locations prior to printing using a wetting composition; and an ink regulator configured to identify compatibility of ink in the holding unit with the wetting composition and to operate the wetting applicator only upon successful identification of compatibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Kornit Digital Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Ofer Ben-Zur
  • Patent number: 8801141
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a sensor including a light emitting element for emitting light to a recording medium, and a light receiving element for receiving the emitted light and reflected by the recording medium, configured to, via the light emitting and light receiving elements, measure a patch recorded on the recording medium by a recording head; a calibration member configured to reflect the emitted light and to be used to calibrate the sensor based on a result of optical measurement of the calibration member performed by receiving, via the light receiving element, reflected light reflected by the calibration member; and a detection unit configured to detect dirtiness of the calibration member based on the result of the optical measurement of the calibration member by the sensor and a result of optical measurement of the calibration member performed before the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Eiyama
  • Patent number: 8794724
    Abstract: A method of surface marking an article, especially a building product, is provided. One described method includes the steps of laser marking a first graphic design element on a surface of an article and ink-jet printing a second graphic design element in registry with the first graphic design element on the surface of the article to create a high quality overall graphic design. Also provided are articles made according to this method, and systems for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl J. Costin, Sr., Darryl J. Costin, Jr., Scott Fellin, Chase Carter
  • Publication number: 20140210880
    Abstract: Examples are provided of plural light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged as vectors within an array. The vectors are individually drivable by way of a controller. A sensor scans the array and individual energy output values are correlated to electrical drive currents for each vector. The correlated data is recorded and used to control the vectors such that an equalized or uniform photonic energy profile is incident upon a media positioned as a target with respect to the LED system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Ltd.
    Inventors: Yochai EDLITZ, Ran Vilk, Alexander Markman
  • Patent number: 8789913
    Abstract: A color inkjet printing apparatus in which an image capturing part captures an image of a page identifier printed on each page of a printing medium, and an inspection part compares a page identification result acquired from an output of the image capturing part with page identification information included in print data. The page identifier includes single-color parts that are each printed with only one of a plurality of colors used in the printing apparatus. Thus, a printing defect can be quickly detected during inspection of the first page in which the printing defect has occurred, irrespective of the ink color in which the printing defect has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Maeda
  • Patent number: 8789904
    Abstract: Printing of spatially-compressed digital image data using a single line of nozzles of a printhead having plural spaced-apart lines of nozzles to form a printed image without the spatial compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bernard Jzexoia Avery, Grant K Garner
  • Patent number: 8789905
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus, which discharges liquid from at least one nozzle on the basis of data, which includes a controller. When the controller is in a standby state and no liquid is being discharged from the at least one nozzle on the basis of the data, the controller performs a drawing operation wherein the liquid is drawn into the nozzle in a direction that is opposite to the direction that the ink is discharged from the at least one nozzle in order to form a space at a distal end portion of the at least one nozzle where no liquid is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shimazaki, Eiichiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8786905
    Abstract: A problem that setting (setting the kind of a paper or a printout method) for achieving the print effect (gloss effect or matte effect) at a maximum is very complicated and therefore, a manual setting thereof by a user is very difficult. When image data which a user desires to print and a desire for a print effect to transparent form image data are input, the paper type, conversion of the transparent form image data and a printout method for realizing the print effect are automatically set and printed out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Iinuma
  • Patent number: 8783816
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printhead incorporating a temperature sensor, a control unit which controls the printhead, and a flexible cable which connects the printhead and the control unit. The flexible cable includes a first signal line and second signal line which generate voltages corresponding to the temperature of the printhead, and are connected to the temperature sensor. A differential amplifier circuit which is incorporated in the control unit amplifies the voltage difference between the first signal line and the second signal line to output the amplified voltage difference as temperature information of the printhead. A matching circuit makes the wiring resistances of the first signal line and second signal line match each other by grounding either the first signal line or the second signal line via a resistor in the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Masuda
  • Patent number: 8783805
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, actuator units with actuators, a power supply that output a main voltage, and linear regulators that reduce the main voltage to drive voltages to be supplied to the relevant actuator units. When a voltage difference between the main voltage and drive voltage is greater than an allowable value for any of the actuator units, the apparatus controls a linear regulator so that the drive voltage supplied to at least one actuator unit is adjusted to a high drive voltage. A small ejection driving waveform is created as the driving waveform to be output to the actuators in the actuator unit to which the high drive voltage is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shunji Uchino
  • Patent number: 8783807
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first nozzle group forming a main image; a second nozzle group ejecting auxiliary ink and lined up with the first nozzle group in a moving direction of the nozzle group; and a third nozzle group ejecting the auxiliary ink and positioned on a downstream side of a medium transport direction relative to the first nozzle group, in which ink is ejected from the first nozzle group on a region where the main image is formed in the image forming region on the medium in a first ejection operation, and auxiliary ink is ejected from the second nozzle group on a region where the main image is not formed in the image forming region, and, in an ejection operation after the first ejection operation, the auxiliary ink is ejected from the third nozzle group over the entire image forming region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Shimada