Flow Path Patents (Class 347/65)
  • Patent number: 8251497
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid ejection assembly that includes an injection-molded mounting substrate that is formed by a two-shot injection molding process, wherein a housing portion of the mounting substrate is formed by a first shot molding, and a die-attach portion of the mounting substrate is formed within the housing portion by a second shot molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Dwight J. Petruchik
  • Publication number: 20120200641
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head including an ejection orifice for ejecting a liquid; a flow path for supplying the liquid from a liquid supply port holding the liquid to the ejection orifice; and a heat generating element of a rectangular form with a long-side to short-side ratio of 2.5 or more for generating thermal energy used to eject the liquid, a longitudinal direction of the heat generating element being arranged along an extending direction of the flow path. An end portion of the heat generating element on a downstream side of a liquid flowing direction within the flow path is located between an end portion of the ejection orifice on the downstream side and an end portion of the ejection orifice on an upstream side when viewed from a direction to which the liquid is ejected from the ejection orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Yamane, Tomoyuki Inoue, Eisuke Nishitani, Kenji Yabe, Atsushi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8235500
    Abstract: A method of forming an enclosed fluid path in a print head includes providing a die member and a truncated nozzle plate spaced from the upper surface of the die member. The die and nozzle plate are formed on a print head substrate having an aperture formed therein. A sacrificial material is seated over the aperture of the print head substrate and joins a terminal end of the truncated nozzle plate. The sacrificial material is encapsulated from the terminal end of the nozzle plate to a surface of the print head substrate. Removal of the sacrificial material defines the fluid path from the aperture of the print head substrate to the nozzle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Nystrom, John P. Meyers
  • Patent number: 8226218
    Abstract: A printer has an inkjet head, which has a passage composite. The passage composite has a main body, having a surface and a projection portion that extends outward from the surface. The projection portion has an opening formed through it, and the projection portion also has an end, and an edge opposite the end. The main body also has at least one rib positioned outside the projection portion. The at least one rib extends away from the surface, and is separated by a predetermined nonzero distance from the edge of the projection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Mizoguchi, Tadanobu Chikamoto
  • Patent number: 8220901
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes, a substrate, a flow path wall member provided with a wall of a liquid flow path connected to a discharge port for discharging liquid, the flow path being formed by the flow path wall member and one surface of the substrate which are in contact with each other, and a coated resin member made of a cured material of a resin composition provided to cover end surfaces of the substrate, wherein a liquid repellent member having a contact angle of the resin composition larger than that of both the flow path wall member and the one surface is provided to cover at least a part of an intersection line between an outer lateral surface of the flow path wall member and the one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Souta Takeuchi, Yoshinori Tagawa, Kazuhiro Asai, Hiroto Komiyama
  • Patent number: 8210655
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid ejection head for which the peeling of an orifice plate from a substrate seldom occurs, even in a structure such that the walls that define each energy application chamber are narrowed toward an ejection port. The walls that define a first pressure chamber are inclined inward within the first pressure chamber, so that the first pressure chamber is narrowed, toward an ejection port, along a direction perpendicular to the heater formation face on which heaters are arranged. Further, the walls that define each ink flow path are inclined in the ink ejection direction. Furthermore, the angle at which the walls that define the ink flow path are inclined relative to the ink ejection direction is smaller than the angle at which the walls that define the first pressure chamber are inclined inward, within the first pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiaki Muraoka, Yukuo Yamaguchi, Mikiya Umeyama, Toru Yamane, Masaki Oikawa, Yuichiro Akama, Keiji Tomizawa, Tomotsugu Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8210654
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a chamber, and first and second electrodes configured to generate an electric field within the chamber. A related method includes, in a firing chamber, separating whole ink into colloidal particles and ink vehicle such that the firing fluid within the chamber comprises primarily ink vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Qingqiao Wei, Michael W. Cumbie
  • Patent number: 8210656
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a plurality of head main bodies in which nozzle openings are arranged and manifolds communicate with the nozzle openings; and a passage member which includes a plurality of passages supplying a liquid supplied from an upstream side to the plurality of manifolds of the head main bodies. The plurality of head main bodies is disposed so that the manifolds are arranged in a first direction. The plurality of passages of the passage member includes a passage group in which an outflow port communicating with the manifold is disposed in the first direction and an inflow port to which the liquid is supplied from the upstream side is disposed in a second direction intersecting the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Suzuki, Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8210649
    Abstract: A fluid ejection module includes a flow-path body, a first oxide layer, a membrane, and a second oxide layer. The flow-path body has a first outer surface and an opposing second outer surface and a plurality of flow paths, each flow path extending at least from the first outer surface to the second outer surface. The first oxide layer coats at least an interior surface of each of the flow paths and the first and second outer surfaces of the flow-path body and has a thickness that varies by less than 5% along {100} planes. The membrane has a first outer surface. The second oxide layer is coated on the first outer surface of the membrane and has a thickness that varies by less than 5% along {100} planes and is bonded to the first oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenfang Chen, Gregory Debrabander
  • Patent number: 8205968
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a discharge port from which a liquid is discharged; a channel that communicates with the discharge port; and an energy generating element that is provided in the channel and generates energy used to discharge the liquid from the discharge port, wherein the channel includes a first inlet path supplying the liquid to the energy generating element; a second inlet path supplying the liquid to the energy generating element from a direction opposite to a direction in which the first inlet path supplies the liquid; and a outlet path allowing the liquid supplied to the energy generating element to run out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Nakagawa, Ken Tsuchii, Masataka Sakurai, Tomoyuki Inoue, Akiko Saito
  • Patent number: 8205979
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes ejection orifices allowing liquid to be ejected therethrough, passages communicating with the ejection orifices and the pressure chambers each accommodating an energy generating element generating energy for ejecting the liquid therein, a supply port supplying the liquid to the passages, and a filter including substantially cylindrical members between the supply port and passages and having openings. Each of the ejection orifices has a substantially circular cross section having larger and smaller diameters substantially perpendicularly to its liquid ejecting direction. Each of the openings has a substantially rectangular cross section having longer and shorter sides substantially perpendicularly to its liquid supplying direction. The relationships D1>L1, D1<D2, and D2>L2?D1 are satisfied where D1 is the smaller diameter, D2 is the larger diameter, L1 is the shorter side, and L2 is the longer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eisuke Nishitani, Toru Yamane, Tomoyuki Inoue, Ken Tsuchii
  • Patent number: 8201924
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening, and a liquid return channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A selectively actuatable diverter member imparts heat energy directly to a first portion of the liquid to divert a second portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Joseph Jech, Jr., Michael J. Piatt
  • Patent number: 8201925
    Abstract: An ink jet print head is provided which has a reduced size and still can prevent an overall temperature increase in a printing element board. To this end, among ink supply port arrays formed on both sides of each nozzle array, the heat resistance of the portion (beams) of the printing element board between the adjoining ink supply ports is lowered in those arrays that are close to the end portions of the common liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiko Saito, Ken Tsuchii
  • Patent number: 8197033
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a curable resin composition comprising a cyclic aliphatic multifunctional epoxy resin, a cyclic aliphatic difunctional epoxy resin having formula B in the specification, and, optionally, a photoinitiator, a process for manufacturing an ink jet printhead comprising a polymeric material layer defining ink passage ways formed by curing said curable resin composition, and ink-jet print head comprising a polymeric material layer defining ink passage ways formed by curing said curable resin composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Ciampini, Fulvio Cominetti, Luigina Gino
  • Patent number: 8197032
    Abstract: A thermal inkjet printhead that includes a substrate, a chamber layer stacked on the substrate, an ink chamber formed in the chamber layer, a heater to heat ink filled in the ink chamber to generate bubbles, and a nozzle layer stacked on the chamber layer, and including a nozzle formed in the nozzle layer, wherein a ratio of the volume of ink ejected through the nozzle with respect to the sum of the volumes of the ink chamber and the nozzle is in the range of approximately 40 to 60%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-kyun Kim, Chang-shin Park, Myung-song Jung
  • Patent number: 8197054
    Abstract: To provide a method for fixing an image, wherein the image has a high fastness even immediately after being recorded, and is free from inconveniences such as thermal influence or unfavorable curing inherent to the conventional fixing device, as well as safety problems. To achieve such an object, in a method for fixing an image recorded on a recording medium with a recording material containing a component curable by a plasma processing, the image is fixed on the recording medium by the plasma processing at a normal pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Taniuchi, Akihiro Mouri
  • Publication number: 20120140000
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head capable of maintaining ink supply capability for a long period of time, including a substrate provided with a plurality of energy generating elements and an ink supply port, and a flow path member which has a plurality of discharge ports, a plurality of ink flow paths in communication with the plurality of discharge ports, and a common liquid chamber in communication with the plurality of ink flow paths, in which the common liquid chamber is divided into a discharge port area and a drainage port area, the ink flows into the discharge port area through a filter, and in the case where a smallest diameter among the diameters of the discharge ports and the diameters of the ink flow paths is denoted by A and a largest diameter of openings of the filter is denoted by B, A?B is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Murayama, Yoshinori Tagawa, Mitsuru Chida, Kazuhiro Asai
  • Patent number: 8186817
    Abstract: A fluid transport apparatus facilitates flow of fluid from a source to a receptacle. The fluid transport apparatus includes a fluid transport conduit for transport of fluid through the conduit, the conduit being coupled between a fluid supply and a fluid receptacle, a compressor conduit proximate the fluid transport conduit along a portion of the fluid transport conduit between the fluid supply and the fluid receptacle, and a pump coupled to the compressor conduit for injecting fluid into the compressor conduit, and a vent that is operated to selectively enable pressurization and venting of the compressor conduit to compress and decompress the portion of the fluid transport conduit proximate the compressor conduit to pump fluid through the fluid transport conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Brent R. Jones, Brian Walter Aznoe, Charles Russell Firkins, Darrell Ray Finneman, James Michael Bonicatto
  • Patent number: 8186810
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a flow path unit including a nozzle forming member with a plurality of nozzle orifices provided in a row, and a flow path forming substrate made of a metal, in which pressure generating chambers in communication with the nozzle orifices are formed; and an actuator unit for giving a pressure fluctuation to the pressure generating chambers, wherein a recess portion is formed in a side of the flow path forming substrate, which faces the nozzle forming member, in a sunken state from a surface of the flow path forming substrate, and a heater is received in the recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Fujio Akahane
  • Patent number: 8182067
    Abstract: A droplet discharge head includes: a liquid reservoir which holds a liquid; a channel through which the liquid is guided to the liquid reservoir; and a driving element which changes the pressure in the liquid reservoir so as to discharge droplets of the liquid contained in the liquid reservoir through a nozzle, in which wall surfaces of the liquid reservoir and of the nozzle are arranged in a continuous line at a side opposite the channel with respect to the center of the nozzle as seen in a cross-sectional view through a central axis of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kamoda, Manabu Tomita, Iwao Ushinohama, Soichi Kuwahara, Shigeyoshi Hirashima
  • Publication number: 20120120158
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a plurality of nozzle arrays. A concave portion is formed on a back side of a head substrate, and all supply ports are formed in the bottom of the concave portion. The head substrate and a supporting member are bonded at the bottom of the concave portion so that the supply port and an introduction port communicate with each other. According to such a configuration, a ground contact area can be sufficiently secured, so that a liquid discharge head that is highly reliable and having high heat dissipation ability, and that can be manufactured with high productivity can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Sakai, Masaya Uyama
  • Patent number: 8177351
    Abstract: In the image-recording of an intermediate transfer system applying an ink jet recording method, reactive liquid reactable with ink is properly formed on the intermediate transfer body. By using the intermediate transfer body having a pattern consisting of lyophilic and lyophobic sections on a surface thereof, the reactive liquid is uniformly applied to the intermediate transfer body to form a layer having a suitable thickness. Thereby, it is possible to form an ink image on the intermediate transfer body while preventing the miss landing of ink droplets and restricting the deformation of an ink dots. By transferring this ink image to a recording medium, it is possible to form a high-quality ink image on various kinds of recording media in a stable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Taniuchi, Akihiro Mouri
  • Patent number: 8174094
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, a substrate carrier comprising a first surface and a second surface, and an inorganic material bonding the second surface of the substrate and the second surface of the substrate carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Chen, Barry C. Snyder, Ronald A. Hellekson
  • Patent number: 8172370
    Abstract: A heater stack includes first strata configured to form a fluid heater element responsive to energy from repetitive electrical activation and deactivation to fire repetitive cycles of heating and ejecting fluid from an ejection chamber above the fluid heater element and second strata overlying the first strata and contiguous with the ejection chamber to provide protection of the fluid heater element. The first strata includes a substrate and a heater substrata overlying the substrate and including a resistive layer having lateral portions spaced apart, a central portion extending between the lateral portions and defining the fluid heater element, and transitional portions interconnecting the central portion and lateral portions and elevating the central portion relative to the lateral portions and above the substrate to form a gap between the lateral portions and between the central portion and substrate insulating the substrate from the fluid heater element and a planar upper surface on the heater substrata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary Justin Reitmeier
  • Patent number: 8167406
    Abstract: A printhead includes a nozzle membrane, a substrate, and a support structure. The nozzle membrane includes an external surface, a length, and a plurality of nozzles located along the length of the nozzle membrane. The nozzle membrane is affixed to the substrate. The substrate includes a liquid feed channel that provides liquid to the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle membrane. The liquid feed channel extends along the length of the nozzle membrane such that the liquid feed channel is common to each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle membrane. The support structure is affixed to the external surface of the nozzle membrane to provide structural support to the nozzle membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, John A. Lebens
  • Patent number: 8167403
    Abstract: The droplet ejector includes: a head unit set composed of four head units arranged in a staggered manner in the arrangement direction; a head supporting member which supports the head unit set; a liquid supplier which supplies liquid to the head unit set; and a conveyor mechanism which conveys an ejection target. Each head unit has a passage structure having a liquid passage. At one edge of the passage structure in the arrangement direction, a liquid supply opening which is connected to the liquid passage and the liquid supplier is provided. Two passage structures neighboring in the arrangement direction are disposed so that the respective edges where the liquid supply openings are provided oppose each other in the arrangement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8162443
    Abstract: A method of ejecting droplets of liquid from a paired drop ejector, the method includes the steps of providing a chamber having a dividing wall that forms a first and second portion and the first portion includes a first nozzle mated with a first heater and the second portion includes a second nozzle mated with a second heater; providing liquid to the first portion and second portions of the chamber through an open end of the enclosure; providing a first electrical pulse to the first heater to provide thermal energy for ejecting a droplet of liquid from the first nozzle; and providing a second electrical pulse to the second heater to provide thermal energy for ejecting a droplet of liquid from the second nozzle; wherein the second electrical pulse is delayed relative to the first electrical pulse by a first predetermined delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Yonglin Xie
  • Patent number: 8162466
    Abstract: Ink jet printheads and printhead components having a body that include a flow path, a piezoelectric actuator having a piezoelectric layer fixed to the body and an impedance feature in the flow path are described. The impedance feature includes a plurality of posts arranged in a first row, at least one post in the first row of posts having a downstream surface that is concave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Bibl, John A. Higginson, Paul A. Hoisington, Deane A. Gardner, Robert A. Hasenbein, Melvin L. Biggs, Edward R. Moynihan
  • Patent number: 8162447
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes liquid cartridges, each of which includes a liquid container and a pressure chamber, the liquid container having a flexible portion and storing liquid therein, and the pressure chamber applying pressure to the flexible portion of the liquid container; a liquid ejection head, which ejects the liquid; liquid flow paths, which communicate the liquid containers with the liquid ejection head; and an air supply member, which supplies pressurized air to the pressure chambers for compressing the flexible portions so as to supply the liquid from the liquid containers to the liquid flow paths. The air supply member includes: a distribution member, which has an air intake portion for introducing the pressurized air, and air outlet portions for distributing the pressurized air to the liquid cartridges, and branch flow paths, which respectively communicate the air outlet portions with the pressure chambers of the liquid cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Kumagai, Atsushi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8162446
    Abstract: The present invention provides a print head that allows the characteristics of ejected ink to be adjusted for each ejection port in spite of a variation in the distance from an ink supply port to the heating element. In the print head according to the present invention, the area of the heating element decreases with increasing distance from the ink supply port and increases with decreasing distance from the ink supply port. The heating element is shaped like a rectangle that is longer in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the plurality of ejection ports are arranged than in the direction in which the plurality of ejection ports are arranged. The aspect ratio of the heating element depends on the length of an ink channel through which ink is introduced into the bubbling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Tomizawa, Mineo Kaneko, Ken Tsuchii, Toru Yamane, Masaki Oikawa, Mitsuhiro Matsumoto, Naozumi Nabeshima, Shuichi Ide, Kansui Takino
  • Patent number: 8152278
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a substrate including, at a surface thereof, an ejection energy generating means for generating ejection energy for ejecting liquid, a flow path forming member provided with an ejection outlet, the substrate further including a liquid supply opening, penetrating therethrough, for supplying the liquid to be ejected by the ejection energy to a flow path of the flow path forming member; a reinforcing member connected to a back side of the substrate; a first penetrating electrode, penetrating the substrate from a front side to the back side thereof, for supplying electric power to the ejection energy generating means; and a second penetrating electrode penetrating the reinforcing member from a front side to a back side thereof, the second penetrating electrode being electrically connected to the first penetrating electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirokazu Komuro
  • Patent number: 8147033
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead having arrays of nozzles wherein each of the arrays has a corresponding ink inlet. A mounting substrate includes a first face with first openings fluidly connected to corresponding ink inlets of the arrays. A second face opposed to the first face includes a plurality of second openings fluidly connected to openings of the first face. The ink outlets of the ink chambers are fluidly connected to corresponding second openings in the second face of the mounting substrate, an outer wall is disposed proximate to the plurality of inlet ports and a second outer wall is disposed opposite the first outer wall and distal to the plurality of inlet ports. Each ink chamber has a portion located proximate to the first outer wall and an outer chamber of the plurality of ink chambers has a portion located proximate to the second outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Murray
  • Publication number: 20120075387
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a flow path unit that has a nozzle line formed by a plurality of nozzles and includes a flow path communicating with the nozzles, a head case that forms a shared liquid flow path for supplying a liquid to the flow path of the flow path unit and is connected with the flow path unit, and a sheet-like heater that is mounted on a side surface of the head case and has a continuous heat-generatable heating element folded multiple times. A portion of the heating element located in a region close to a position opposing the shared liquid flow path is narrower than a portion of the heating element located at a position other than the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshige Owaki, Haruhisa Uezawa
  • Patent number: 8141995
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head comprises a support member that has an opening used for ink supply and that is formed of a resin material, a recording element board that has an ink supply port that communicates with the opening, and a wall that at least partially contacts a peripheral side face of the recording element board that is bonded to the support element. The wall is formed on the support member surrounding the opening, and is used to position the recording element board, relative to the support member, in a direction in which contact is made by the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Kurihara
  • Patent number: 8141987
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a substrate, having a front surface and a back surface opposite from the front surface, provided above the front surface with an energy generating element for generating energy used for ejecting ink; an ink supply port provided so as to penetrate between the front surface and the back surface of the substrate; a first layer provided on or above the front surface of the substrate; a protection layer which is provided so as to coat a wall of the substrate defining the ink supply port and which continuously extends onto the first layer; and a second layer located above the front surface of the substrate and including a portion provided on the protection layer and another portion provided on the first layer by penetrating through the protection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hayakawa, Masaya Uyama
  • Publication number: 20120069097
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes a flow path unit including a flow path communicating with a plurality of nozzles, a head case in which a common liquid flow path for supplying liquid to the flow path of the flow path unit is formed and to which the flow path unit is bonded, a flow path member which is bonded to the head case at the side opposite to the side to which the flow path unit is bonded and includes an upstream-side flow path for supplying liquid to the common liquid flow path, a heater which is mounted on a side face of the head case and is capable of generating heat, and a metal plate a portion of which is bonded to the heater and other portions of which are opposed to a portion of the flow path member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruhisa UEZAWA
  • Publication number: 20120069098
    Abstract: In the heating flow path unit, the entrance-side sealing member has an inflow restriction portion which restricts flow of liquid on a portion corresponding to an individual entrance-side opening of a liquid flow path in which flow rate is relatively high among the liquid flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruhisa Uezawa
  • Patent number: 8132896
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a liquid discharge substrate including a discharge port for discharging liquid, and a flow path member including a transparent member that is transparent to a laser beam, an absorption member capable of absorbing a laser beam, and a flow path for supplying liquid to the liquid discharge substrate, wherein the flow path is formed between the transparent member and the absorption member by emitting a laser beam toward a flow path portion of the absorption member constituting a portion of a wall of the flow path and toward a periphery of the flow path portion through the transparent member and thereby welding the transparent member and the absorption member at the periphery of the flow path portion, and wherein the flow path portion includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to a direction of the laser beam that has passed through the transparent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Oikawa, Osamu Morita
  • Publication number: 20120050412
    Abstract: A liquid-ejecting head includes a recording element substrate that includes an energy generating element generating energy for ejecting a liquid from a discharge port, a supporting member that supports the recording element substrate and has a liquid chamber supplying the liquid to the recording element substrate, a first supply port formed in one surface thereof, communicating with the liquid chamber, and having fluid communication with the recording element substrate, a second supply port being smaller than the first supply port, formed in a surface opposite the one surface at a position corresponding to a longitudinal end side of the first supply port, and communicating with the liquid chamber, and a flow passage forming member that supplies the liquid to the second supply port. The cross-section of the liquid chamber in a direction extending from the opposite toward one surfaces gradually increases in part of the extending direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaru Iketani, Kiyomitsu Kudo, Yasushi Iijima, Tomotsugu Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8123336
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangement for a printhead integrated circuit the nozzle arrangement includes a nozzle chamber bounded by a distal sidewall and a proximal sidewall, and capped by a roof defining an ink ejection port; a paddle located in the nozzle chamber below the ink ejection port; an actuator arm positioned outside of the nozzle chamber in the vicinity of the proximal sidewall, the actuator arm having a fixed end fixed to a substrate of the nozzle arrangement and a working end displaceable towards and away from the substrate; and a motion transmitting structure interconnecting the working end of the actuator arm and the paddle. The motion transmitting structure defines part of the proximal sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8123335
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting head of an aspect of the invention includes: a nozzle ejecting a liquid-droplet; a liquid flow path member in which a liquid is supplied toward the nozzle; a back-pressure generating unit applying back-pressure to the liquid in a liquid-flow-path toward the nozzle; a beam member joined together with or including the liquid flow path member, deforming to become concave in a liquid-droplet ejection direction, thereafter undergoing buckling reverse deformation to become convex in the ejection direction, and applying inertia to the liquid near the nozzle in the ejection direction, to cause the liquid near the nozzle to be ejected; an opening disposed on an opposite side of the liquid flow path member in the ejection direction and communicated with the atmosphere; a suction path whose suction opening is directed toward near the nozzle; and a negative-pressure generating unit generating negative-pressure in the suction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Torahiko Kanda, Kenichi Ohno
  • Patent number: 8118408
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel including an exit having a cross sectional area, a liquid return channel, and a liquid dispensing channel including a cross sectional area and an outlet opening. The outlet opening includes an end that is adjacent to the liquid return channel. The cross sectional area of a portion of the liquid dispensing channel that is located at the end of the outlet opening is greater than the cross sectional area of the exit of the liquid supply channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A diverter member is selectively actuatable to divert a portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Joseph Jech, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8113634
    Abstract: A recording head includes a stacked body including: a liquid flow path; a plurality of plates stacked on each other; and two communicating holes. Each of the plurality of plates includes: a cross-sectional portion of the liquid flow path; a positioning hole; and a reference hole. Locations of the positioning hole and the reference hole of a plate of the plurality of plates correspond to locations of the reference hole and the positioning hole, respectively, of a plate adjacent to the one plate such that, when the plates are stacked, the positioning holes and the reference holes of adjacent plates alternate to communicate with each other so as to form the two communicating holes, the diameters of the positioning holes of the plurality of plates being successively smaller in order from one side to another side of the stacked body relative to a stack direction of the plurality of plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 8113628
    Abstract: A printer includes (a) an ink reservoir containing ink and having an outlet through which the ink passes for ejection onto a print medium; (b) a micro-fluidic actuator having (i) an inlet channel through which fluid enters; (ii) a chamber through which the fluid is received from the inlet channel; (iii) an outlet channel that receives the fluid from the chamber and passes the fluid through the outlet channel so that a conduit pathway for the fluid is formed from the inlet channel, chamber and outlet channel; (iv) a flexible membrane that forms a portion of a shared wall between the chamber and the ink reservoir and that displaces in response to fluidic pressure; (v) at least a first valve in the conduit pathway which, when the valve is activated, causes flow of the fluid through the conduit pathway to be altered so that pressure of the fluid passing through the chamber changes which, in turn, causes the flexible membrane to displace which, in turn, causes the ink to be ejected or not ejected from the ink rese
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Yonglin Xie
  • Patent number: 8114289
    Abstract: A microfiltration apparatus and method for separating cells, such as circulating tumor cells, from a sample using a microfiltration device having a top porous membrane and a bottom porous membrane. The porous membranes are formed from parylene and assembled using microfabrication techniques. The porous membranes are arranged so that the pores in the top membrane are offset from the pores in the bottom membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, University of Southern California
    Inventors: Siyang Zheng, Richard Cote, Henry Lin, Bo Lu, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Patent number: 8113629
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead integrated circuit includes a substrate; a drive circuitry layer positioned on the substrate, the substrate and the drive circuitry layer defining a plurality of ink inlet channels; nozzle chamber walls positioned on the substrate, the nozzle chamber walls supporting roof structures to define nozzle chambers in fluid communication with the ink inlet channels; ink ejection ports defined in the roof structures; ink ejection members positioned in respective nozzle chambers and displaceable with respect to the roof structures to eject ink from the ink ejection ports; fulcrum formations fast with the substrate, each fulcrum formation having an effort formation on one side and a load formation on an opposite side; and thermal actuators outside of and associated with respective nozzle chambers and connected to the drive circuitry layer to move with respect to the substrate on receipt of electrical signals from the drive circuitry layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8113627
    Abstract: An inkjet printing device includes an ink reservoir containing ink and having an outlet through which the ink passes for ejection onto a print medium; a micro-fluidic actuator having at least (i) an inlet channel through which fluid enters; (ii) a chamber through which the fluid is received from the inlet channel; (iii) an outlet channel that receives the fluid from the chamber and passes the fluid through the outlet channel so that a conduit pathway for the fluid is formed from the inlet channel, chamber and outlet channel; (iv) a flexible member that forms a portion of a wall of the chamber and that displaces in response to fluidic pressure; (v) at least a first valve in the conduit pathway which, when the valve is activated, causes flow of the fluid through the conduit pathway to be altered so that pressure of the fluid passing through the chamber changes which, in turn, causes the flexible member to displace which, in turn, causes the ink to be ejected or not ejected from the ink reservoir according to th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Yonglin Xie
  • Patent number: 8109614
    Abstract: An ink jet printhead, made of a silicon substrate and a plurality of metallic and dielectric layers deposited on said substrate. A plurality of chambers for ejection of ink droplets and a plurality of corresponding feeding ducts, connected to the chambers, are produced in a structural layer made of non-photosensitive epoxy or polyamide resin. The chambers and said ducts are delimited by at least one upper wall, the upper wall communicating with at least one nozzle for ejection of the ink droplets. The upper wall and an inner wall of the nozzle are coated with at least one metallic coating layer, suitable for increasing the resistance of the walls to chemically aggressive liquids, in contact with the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Lucia Giovanola, Renato Conta
  • Patent number: 8104858
    Abstract: An inkjet head may comprise an ejection port which ejects ink and an ink flow path which supplies the ink to the ejection port. The inkjet head may also comprise an ejection actuator which supplies ejection energy to the ink in the ink flow path. The ejection energy may cause the ink to be ejected from the ejection port. The inkjet head may also comprise a wall portion. The wall portion may be located at a position farther from the ejection port along the ink flow path with respect to a position at which the ejection energy is supplied. The wall portion may define an inner wall surface of the ink flow path. The wall portion may deform to decrease a cross section of the ink flow path in a direction orthogonal to an ink-flow direction as a temperature of the ink in the ink flow path increases. The wall portion may deform to increase a cross section of the ink flow path in a direction orthogonal to an ink-flow direction as the temperature of the ink in the ink flow path decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahito Kato, Manabu Hibi
  • Patent number: 8096644
    Abstract: A print head, which ejects ink by using a method whereby a bubble generated by a heat generating element communicates with the air, and for which the occurrence of cavitation is deterred and the durability is improved, is provided. According to the print head, a bubble grows until the maximum volume is attained, and then, at a volume reduction step, communicates with the air. As a result, a liquid in a bubble generation chamber is ejected. An ejection port and the heat generating element are arranged so that the center of the ejection port is shifted away from the center of the heat generating element in a direction leading from an ink supply port to the ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Murakami, Akihiro Yamanaka, Yasunori Takei, Ryoji Oohashi