With Additional Feature Patents (Class 347/67)
  • Patent number: 9481169
    Abstract: A liquid jet head includes a head portion having a supply flow path configured to allow liquid supplied from the outside to flow therethrough, a pressure chamber that communicates with the supply flow path, a driver element that drives the pressure chamber, and a nozzle that communicates with the pressure chamber for ejecting liquid droplets. A circuit portion supplies a drive waveform to the driver element. A cooling portion has a cooling flow path configured to allow the liquid to flow therethrough, and the cooling portion is coupled and fixed to the circuit portion to absorb heat energy dissipated by the circuit portion. The supply flow path and the cooling flow path communicate with each other so that the same liquid flows through both paths thereby eliminating the need for a dedicated cooling liquid system and achieving size and cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SII PRINTEK INC.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Domae
  • Patent number: 9067427
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes nozzles that discharge liquid droplets, individual channels in communication with the nozzles, a liquid introducing part in communication with the individual channels, a common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to the individual channels, and a filter part arranged between the common liquid chamber and the liquid introducing part. The filter part has filter holes for filtering the liquid over a range of the individual channels in a nozzle array direction. The filter part has at least one reinforcement rib arranged in the nozzle array direction. The reinforcement rib is partially arranged over the range of the individual channels in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle array direction. Filter regions divided by the reinforcement rib are arranged to be in communication via a communication region where the reinforcement rib is not arranged, and the filter holes are arranged at the communication region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9061500
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a printhead substrate, including forming a metal pattern, including a portion forming a pair of electrodes, on an insulating member, forming a conductive film which covers the insulating member and the metal pattern, including a first portion forming a temperature detection element and a second portion except for the first portion, etching the second portion so as to form the pair of electrodes, and etching the first portion so as to form the temperature detection element which is connected to the pair of electrodes, wherein an etching amount in the etching the second portion is larger than a thickness of the conductive film, and an etching amount in the etching the first portion is smaller than the etching amount in the etching the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ershad Ali Chowdhury, Takayuki Kimura, Kenji Makino
  • Patent number: 8974040
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection head including a common liquid chamber, multiple individual liquid chambers communicating with the common liquid chamber, to which a liquid is supplied via the common liquid chamber, a nozzle plate containing multiple nozzles communicating with the multiple individual liquid chambers to eject the liquid, a filter disposed within a passageway between the common liquid chamber and the multiple individual liquid chambers to remove foreign substances from the liquid, and a through-hole provided adjacent to the filter to communicate with the multiple individual liquid chambers, and sealed by a frame member in which the common liquid chamber is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Kamito, Hiroya Ishida
  • Patent number: 8939551
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing system includes a liquid dispenser array structure that includes a functional liquid transfer region located between a liquid dispensing channel and a liquid return channel. A first liquid supply provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through the dispensing channel, functional liquid transfer region, and return channel during a drop dispensing operation. Liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, include a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, to the dispensing channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the supply channel and the dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form discrete functional liquid drops in the flowing carrier liquid. A receiver conveyance mechanism and the functional liquid transfer region are positioned relative to each other such that functional liquid drops are applied to a receiver while the carrier liquid flows through the functional liquid transfer region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 8936353
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser array structure includes a liquid dispensing channel. A first liquid supply provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through an outlet of the liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation. A plurality of liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, includes a liquid supply channel and a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, to the liquid dispensing channel through the liquid supply channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form a discrete drop of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone, Jeremy M. Grace, Michael A. Marcus, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Kathleen M. Vaeth
  • Patent number: 8936354
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing system includes a liquid dispenser array structure. A first liquid supply provides a carrier liquid that flows continuously through an outlet of a liquid dispensing channel during a drop dispensing operation. A plurality of liquid dispensers, located on a common substrate, includes a second liquid supply that provides a functional liquid, immiscible in the carrier liquid, to the liquid dispensing channel through a liquid supply channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form discrete drops of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel. A receiver conveyance mechanism and the liquid dispenser array structure are positioned relative to each other such that the discrete drops of the functional liquid are applied to a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Thomas W. Palone, Jeremy M. Grace, Michael A. Marcus, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Kathleen M. Vaeth
  • Patent number: 8926848
    Abstract: Provided are a method of forming a through hole, which can inhibit misalignment between central axes of holes in both surfaces of a substrate, which is free from metal contamination, and which inhibits notching so as to improve the dimensional accuracy, the method including: preparing a silicon substrate; preparing a supporting substrate for supporting the silicon substrate; fixing the silicon substrate and the supporting substrate to form a composite substrate; and carrying out dry etching to the composite substrate from a silicon substrate side of the composite substrate toward a supporting substrate side of the composite substrate to form a through hole in the silicon substrate, in which the supporting substrate in the preparing a supporting substrate has a hole formed at a region corresponding to a region of the through hole to be formed in the silicon substrate, on a surface of the supporting substrate facing the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Ikarashi
  • Patent number: 8919938
    Abstract: A droplet generator (100, 600, 700) having a bubble purging fluidic architecture comprises a firing chamber (110, 610, 710); an inlet (155, 655) fluidically connecting the firing chamber (110, 610, 710) to a fluid reservoir (140, 640, 740); and an outlet (120, 400, 620, 720) configured to pass fluid droplets being ejected from the firing chamber (110, 610, 710). The geometry of the outlet (120, 400, 620, 720) and the geometry of the inlet (155, 655) are configured such that the outlet (120, 400, 620, 720) geometry has a substantially lower barrier to expansion or motion of a bubble (300, 310, 410) than the inlet (155, 655) geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Garrett E. Clark, Angela Bakkom
  • Patent number: 8888250
    Abstract: A thermal bubble jetting device including a substrate. A superoleophobic, textured surface is positioned on the substrate. The textured surface comprises one or more gaps configured for holding a gas. A receptacle is positioned in fluid communication with the textured surface. Both an inlet and nozzle are in fluid communication with the receptacle. The device includes a heater mechanism configured to expand a gas in the one or more gaps so as to sufficiently increase pressure in the receptacle to force liquid through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kock-Yee Law, Jun Ma, Hong Zhao, Peter M. Gulvin
  • Patent number: 8770722
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid supply that provides a carrier liquid under pressure that flows from the first liquid supply through a first liquid supply channel through a liquid dispensing channel through a liquid return channel and back to the first liquid supply continuously during a drop dispensing operation. A second liquid supply provides a functional liquid to the liquid dispensing channel through a second liquid supply channel. A drop formation device, associated with an interface of the second liquid supply channel and the liquid dispensing channel, is selectively actuated to form a discrete drop of the functional liquid in the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel. The functional liquid is immiscible in the carrier liquid. A drop ejection device is selectively actuated to divert the discrete drop of the functional liquid and a portion of the carrier liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel toward the outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh, Yonglin Xie, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Michael A. Marcus, Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 8757780
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. The first liquid chamber includes a nozzle. A heater is associated with the second liquid chamber. A flexible corrugated membrane is positioned to separate and fluidically seal the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang, James A. Katerberg
  • Patent number: 8757783
    Abstract: A fluid ejection assembly includes a fluid slot formed in a first substrate and a channel formed in a chamber layer disposed on top of a second substrate. The bottom surface of the second substrate is adhered to the top surface of the first substrate and fluid feed holes are formed between the fluid slot and the channel. A fluid ejection element is at a first end of the channel and a pump element is at a second end of the channel to circulate fluid horizontally through the channel and vertically through the fluid feed holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Erik D. Torniainen, Robert Messenger
  • Patent number: 8733903
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes first and second liquid chambers. The second liquid chamber is in fluid communication with liquid supply and liquid return channels. A flexible membrane separates and fluidically seals the first and second liquid chambers from each other. The flexible membrane, residing in a first position, includes a residual compressive stress that exceeds an onset buckling stress of the flexible membrane. A heater, associated with the second liquid chamber, is selectively actuated to create a pressure pulse in a liquid that causes the flexible membrane to move from the first position to a second position to eject liquid through a nozzle of the first liquid chamber. In one embodiment, a liquid supply provides liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply during a drop dispensing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Zhanjun Gao, Yonglin Xie
  • Patent number: 8727501
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. The first liquid chamber includes a nozzle. A liquid supply channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber. A liquid return channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber. A heater is associated with the second liquid chamber. A flexible membrane is positioned to separate and fluidically seal the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber relative to each other. A liquid supply provides a liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang
  • Patent number: 8696092
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. The first liquid chamber includes a nozzle. The second chamber is in fluid communication with a liquid supply channel and a liquid return channel. A flexible membrane is positioned to separate and fluidically seal the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber from each other. The flexible membrane includes a bimorph actuator that causes the flexible membrane to move from a first position to a second position to eject liquid through the nozzle of the first liquid chamber. In one example embodiment, a liquid supply provides a liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply during a drop dispensing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Zhanjun Gao, Yonglin Xie
  • Patent number: 8668306
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head including: a head unit having a nozzle forming surface on which a plurality of rows of nozzles ejecting a liquid are arranged and of which the nozzle forming surface is wiped by a wiping member along an arrangement direction of the nozzle rows; and a fixing member, wherein the fixing member has a fixing plate section on which an exposure opening section exposing the nozzles of the nozzle forming surface is formed and of which an upper surface is joined to the nozzle forming surface as a fixing reference surface in a state where the nozzle is exposed into the exposure opening section, and a cutout section, which opens the exposure opening section in the wiping direction and exposes an edge portion of the nozzle forming surface, is formed downstream of the wiping member in the wiping direction in the exposure opening section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Eguchi, Shigeki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8636337
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a head having an ejection surface; a head holder; a capping mechanism for capping the ejection surface, having: a facing member with a facing surface to face the ejection surface; and a protrusion provided on the head holder for isolating, from an external space, an ejection space formed between the ejection surface and the facing surface when a tip of the protrusion contacts the facing surface; and a humidifying mechanism having: a circulation passage whose first and second ends are open to the ejection space through openings thereof provided in one of the head and the head holder; and a humidifier for humidifying an air in the passage, the humidifying mechanism being configured to collect an air in the ejection space from the opening of the first end and to supply an air humidified by the humidifier into the ejection space from the opening of the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Shinoda
  • Patent number: 8616689
    Abstract: A fluid droplet ejection apparatus includes a printhead having a fluid supply and a fluid return. A substrate is attached to the printhead, and the substrate includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet on a surface of the substrate proximate to the fluid supply and fluid return. Nozzles are in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. The fluid inlet of the substrate is in fluid communication with the fluid supply, and the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid return. A first circulation path through the substrate is between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The fluid supply is in fluid communication with the fluid return through a second circulation path that is through the printhead and not through the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin von Essen, Paul A. Hoisington, Andreas Bibl
  • Patent number: 8608287
    Abstract: A printhead including a body; an actuator attached to the body, and an enclosed space between the actuator and the body forms a chamber; an opening defined by the body for releasing pressure in the chamber; and a seal attached to the opening to seal the chamber while permitting pressure to be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Duby, Robert L. Wells, Todd Severance, Carl Tracy
  • Patent number: 8602531
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a substrate. A first portion of the substrate defines a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening. A second portion of the substrate defines an outer boundary of a cavity. Other portions of the substrate define a liquid supply channel and a liquid return channel. A liquid supply provides a continuous flow of liquid from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply. A diverter member is selectively actuatable to divert a portion of the liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel through outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel. The diverter member includes a MEMS transducing member anchored to the substrate. A compliant membrane is positioned in contact with the MEMS transducing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Carolyn R. Ellinger, James A. Katerberg, James D. Huffman
  • Patent number: 8573749
    Abstract: A printhead (10) for use in an inkjet printing process includes a substrate (12) having at least one ink feed opening (14) defined therein, an ink chamber (16) in operative and fluid communication with the ink feed opening(s) (14), and a nozzle plate (18) disposed on a portion (P1) of the substrate (12). The nozzle plate (18) has a plurality of orifices (20) defined therein. The printhead (10) further includes a firing resistor (22) disposed on another portion (P2) of the substrate (12) and proximate to the ink feed opening(s) (14) and a barrier structure (24) disposed on the other portion (P2) of the substrate (12) and positioned adjacent to the firing resistor (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alfred I-Tsung Pan, Erik D. Torniainen
  • Patent number: 8550599
    Abstract: A process for producing a liquid ejection head including a recording element substrate, an electrical wiring substrate provided with plural lead terminals, a support member provided with a concavity and a joining surface, and a sealant control wall arranged between a side surface of the recording element substrate and a side surface of the support member, the process including preparing a liquid ejection head in which the concavity and recording element substrate are mutually fixed, the joining surface and electrical wiring substrate are mutually fixed, and the lead terminals and connection terminal are mutually connected, and filling the sealant between the side surface of the recording element substrate and the side surface of the sealant control wall on the side of the recording element substrate followed by filling the sealant between a side surface of the sealant control wall on the side of the lead terminals and the lead terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Miyazaki, Toshiaki Kaneko, Satoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 8500233
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a member having ejection ports and dummy ejection ports. The ejection ports are provided in correspondence with energy-generating elements used in ejecting liquid. The dummy ejection ports are provided in correspondence with a light-receiving element outputting current whose level changes in accordance with the intensity of light applied thereto. By detecting the level of current that is output from the light-receiving element, the shapes of the ejection ports are estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Nagai, Yoshinori Tagawa, Satoshi Ibe, Kazuhiro Asai, Hiroyuki Murayama, Mitsuru Chida
  • Patent number: 8454115
    Abstract: A chip used for dispensing a fluid such as ink provides ink-dispensing ejectors having an ink cavity over a supporting substrate, and further provides a heater for heating the ink in the cavity. The heater can be interposed between the substrate and the ink cavity to provide direct heating of ink as it is being dispensed. Various embodiments further comprise the use of the heater structure as a temperature probe to measure the temperature of the ink in the ink cavity. Other embodiments provide a chip having both a temperature probe and a heater as separate structures interposed between the ink cavity and the substrate. Further described is a temperature probe and/or heater which traverses a majority of a width of a substrate, and surrounds each drop ejector on at least two sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Peter M. Gulvin, Andrew W. Hays
  • Patent number: 8430481
    Abstract: A plurality of liquid ejection heads is attached to a head attachment member with respect to a support drum for supporting an ejection-receiving medium and rotating about a rotation shaft. The head attachment member includes a plurality of attachment surfaces to which a plurality of head groups each including a plurality of liquid ejection heads is attached. Each of the attachment surfaces is arranged so as to be parallel to a tangent line which is tangent to a peripheral surface of the support drum at an intersection point of a line segment which connects the center of the support drum and the center on the first attachment surface between the head groups attached to the first attachment surface. The attachment surfaces are integrally and continuously formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishii, Hiroyuki Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 8414109
    Abstract: A head array unit includes plural heads that discharge liquid droplets; a head supporting member on which the plural heads are disposed; and intermediate members, fixed to the head supporting member, having positioning reference parts configured to position the heads, wherein the heads are mounted on the intermediate members detachably from an opposite side of the intermediate members with respect to the head supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Saito
  • Patent number: 8414117
    Abstract: According to the present invention, the size of a droplet ejected to a target area is minimized to obtain high printing resolution, and effects of attraction and adhesive forces acting between a nozzle and air resistance can be minimized so that the target area is finely controlled to obtain high printing precision. An inkjet printing apparatus according to the present invention includes an ejecting device ejecting a droplet of a solution to a target area; and a light irradiating device irradiating light onto the droplet at an acute angle with respect to a line going through the ejecting device and the target area to heat and evaporate a part of the droplet before the ejected droplet reaches the target area, so that the droplet is accelerated along the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Medikan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 8408682
    Abstract: An insulation container has an insulation material, a filter arranged to encase the insulation material, the filter of a material that prevents escape of the insulation material while allowing air to pass through, and a container arranged to encase the filter, the container being heat sealable. A printer has an ink supply, a print head arranged to receive ink from the ink supply and configured to receive electrical signals from a controller and to dispense ink in accordance with the electrical signals onto a print substrate, and an insulator to absorb heat from the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David Paul Platt, Joseph Andrew Broderick
  • Patent number: 8403460
    Abstract: A printhead including a body; an actuator attached to the body, and an enclosed space between the actuator and the body forms a chamber; an opening defined by the body for releasing pressure in the chamber; and a seal attached to the opening to seal the chamber while permitting pressure to be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Duby, Robert L. Wells, Jr., Todd Severance, Carl Tracy
  • Patent number: 8382231
    Abstract: A print head having high printing reliability, in which temperature unevenness is suppressed even when printing is performed using a print head having an increased length and density of an ejection opening array, can be provided. Specifically, a temperature equalizing member such as a heat pipe and a cooling liquid passage is disposed between a first support substrate and each of second support substrates or is disposed inside the first support substrate. This makes it possible to equalize temperature among the plurality of second support substrates and further equalize temperature among the printing element substrates bonded to these support substrates. In addition, the temperature equalizing member is made close to the printing element substrate, thus making it possible to efficiently equalize temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Takano, Manabu Sueoka, Junji Yasuda, Shigeo Takenaka, Katsumasa Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8382255
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a substrate having a recessed cavity formed therein. The cavity has a continuous sidewall around the perimeter of the cavity. The printhead includes a heating element formed onto the sidewall of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Mardilovich, Lawrence H. White
  • Patent number: 8356885
    Abstract: A fluid sensor for detecting fluid in a chamber, has a MEMS sensing element of conductive material with a resistance that is a function of temperature, and electrical contacts for connection to an electrical power source for heating the sensing element with an electrical signal, so that control circuitry can measure the current passing through the sensing element during heating of the sensing element; and determine the temperature of the sensing element from the known applied voltage, the measured current and the known relationship between the current, resistance and temperature. As the temperature of the element will be greater if it is in the presence of gas rather than liquid, the sensor determines if there is liquid or gas in the chamber. This is particularly useful to detect if the chambers of an inkjet printhead are primed with ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Zamtec Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy, Angus John North, Samuel George Mallinson, Mehdi Azimi
  • Patent number: 8342659
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a substrate and a flow path wall member provided on the substrate and having a wall defining a flow path connected to a discharge port for discharging liquid. The flow path wall member is provided with a cavity not connected to the flow path, when viewed in a direction from the discharge port toward the substrate, the cavity has a shape of a character, and the character corresponds to information regarding the liquid discharge head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Fujii, Kazuhiro Asai, Makoto Watanabe, Yoshinori Tagawa, Yoshiyuki Imanaka, Yuuji Tamaru, Kousuke Kubo
  • Patent number: 8336996
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of ink chambers arranged to remove air bubbles entrained in the ink supply flow. Each of the ink chambers has a nozzle and a thermal actuator respectively, the array of ink chambers defined by sidewalls extending between a nozzle plate and an underlying wafer substrate. The printhead also has ink inlets extending through the underlying wafer substrate. Each of the ink inlets has an ink permeable trap and a vent sized such that the surface tension of an ink meniscus across the vent prevents ink leakage. The ink permeable trap has columns extending from the underlying wafer substrate to the vent to direct gas bubbles entrained in a flow of ink through the ink inlet towards the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Zamtec Limited
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8336993
    Abstract: A print head includes a nozzle plate, a fixing plate fixed to the nozzle plate, an oscillation sheet, and a security assembly. The fixing plate defines a receiving groove. The oscillation sheet is fixed between the fixing plate and the nozzle plate and covers the receiving groove. The security assembly includes a fixing component, an elastic component, a fixing element, an anti-detachable component, and a pointed tip extending from a distal end of the anti-detachable component. The security assembly is fixed to the fixing plate, the elastic component and the anti-detachable component are received in the receiving groove with the pointed tip pointed towards the oscillation sheet. A first end of the compressed elastic component resists against the fixing component and a second end of the elastic component resists the anti-detachable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Hsing Chen, Chang-Lun Tai, Hsing-Yi Hu
  • Patent number: 8313168
    Abstract: A micro-fluid ejection device defines a print gap from an ejection head to a print media. An ejection zone of the head ejects fluid across the print gap during use. At least one wind baffle adjacent the ejection zone modifies airflow in the print gap as the head scans. In various designs, multiple wind baffles reside on either sides of the ejection zone to provide a cascading airflow effect from one wind baffle to the next. Baffle shapes, spacing and locations define multiple embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Norasak, Adam Neal Chalin, David Weatherly, Eric Spenser Hall, Shirish Mulay
  • Patent number: 8287089
    Abstract: A print head is provided in which influence on ink to be ejected from an ejection port by an air flow generated by ink previously ejected from the ejection port is suppressed evenly for respective ejection ports in the print head. A print head has an ejection port for ejecting ink. On an ejection port forming face formed with the ejection port, a projection projecting from the ejection port forming face is formed. The projection is arranged at a position where the distance from a center of the ejection port is within the maximum of a diameter of a vortex core of a vortex that is formed when liquid droplets are ejected in the case without a projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yumi Kimura, Ken Tsuchii, Hiroshi Arimizu, Shinji Kishikawa, Arihito Miyakoshi, Nobuhito Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8287104
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a die having a heating element formed thereon. The inkjet printhead also includes a graded die carrier. The graded die carrier is coupled to the die. The graded die carrier has lands that are separated by an ink slot. Each of the lands is graded such that its proximity to the die varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alok Sharan, Robert N K Browning
  • Patent number: 8277044
    Abstract: A mobile telephone includes an optical sensing arrangement enabling the telephone to decode tags of coded data printed on media fed through the telephone via internal and external media pathway defined by a body of the telephone; a beam splitter deflecting incoming light onto an image sensor of the telephone; a first infrared LED directing light onto media present in the external pathway; a filter and lens arrangement receiving and directing light reflected from the external media onto the beam splitter; a second infrared LED directing light onto media present in the internal pathway; and a mirror arrangement directing light reflected from the internal media into the beam splitter. The coded data contains printing instructions for the printhead, and the filter and lens arrangement includes an infrared filter for removing non-infrared ambient light, whereby a signal to noise ratio of the reflected light is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory Michael Tow
  • Patent number: 8262197
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes liquid ejecting heads, each having a row of nozzles that eject liquid. The liquid ejecting heads are anchored to a base plate. An anchoring plate is anchored to the base plate and positions the liquid ejecting heads relative to the base plate. A reference mark is formed in the anchoring plate and a positioning mark is formed in the base plate for positioning the anchoring plate relative to the base plate. The positioning marks are formed along the direction in which the nozzles are arranged in a row. A related manufacturing method includes selecting the positioning mark in accordance with a predetermined resolution and anchoring the anchoring plate to the base plate so that the reference mark and the selected positioning mark are in the same relative positional relationship. The liquid ejecting heads are anchored to the base plate using the anchoring plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hagiwara, Shunsuke Watanabe
  • 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: 8226201
    Abstract: The ejection positions of a plurality of pre-processing agent ejection nozzles and the ejection positions of a plurality of ink ejection nozzles as seen in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of a recording medium are in a one-to-one correspondence with each other. A controller causes the process of ejecting ink of a first color from the ink ejection nozzles onto the recording medium subjected to the ejection from the plurality of pre-processing agent ejection nozzles so as to form a failure detection printing pattern which is a printing pattern formed by providing a time lag between the processes of ejecting the ink from adjacent ones of the plurality of ink ejection nozzles. An ejection failure in the pre-processing agent ejection nozzles is detected by judging that a pre-processing agent ejection nozzle corresponding to a region where bleeding results suffers the ejection failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen MFG Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuhei Sumida, Masanori Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8215747
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes an elongate support structure; a series of wall sections extending a length of a first surface of the elongate support structure, the series of wall sections delineating ink supply channels therebetween; a plurality of carriers positioned end-to-end in the gap and supported by said edges of the walls, the carriers defining therethrough ink supply passages in fluid communication with the ink supply channels; a printhead integrated circuit mounted on each carrier to receive ink from respective ink supply channels; and a serrated channel extending a length of a second surface of the elongate support structure, the serrated channel for receiving fastening means therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Zamtec Limited
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8110611
    Abstract: A composition for image recording includes a curable material that is curable by an external stimulus, and an oil absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Yamashita, Ken Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8109584
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes an energy-generating element arranged on a semiconductor substrate, a barrier layer deposited on the semiconductor substrate for forming a liquid chamber in the periphery of the energy-generating element, and a nozzle sheet bonded on the barrier layer and having a nozzle formed at a position opposing the energy-generating element, in which the liquid ejection head ejects liquid contained in the liquid chamber from the nozzle as liquid droplets by the energy-generating element, and the barrier layer is provided with a plurality of depressions, each having an independent contour, arranged within a range, which is separated from the border of the barrier layer, on an adhesive region adhering to the nozzle sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Eguchi, Shogo Ono, Kazuyasu Takenaka, Atsushi Nakamura, Yuichiro Ikemoto, Shigeyoshi Hirashima, Atsushi Nakayama, Shota Nishi, Yuji Yakura, Shigeyoshi Fujiki, Manabu Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8100510
    Abstract: An inkjet nozzle array includes a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle includes a chamber having an input aperture adapted to receive ink into the chamber and an output aperture through which ink is ejected from the chamber. Each chamber further includes a window adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation and operable to heat ink in the chamber responsive to the electromagnetic radiation and eject an ink droplet through the output aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory Frank Carlson, Ronald Gregory Paul, Steven Michael Goss, Todd Alan McClelland
  • Publication number: 20120013685
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a substrate having a recessed cavity formed therein. The cavity has a continuous sidewall around the perimeter of the cavity. The printhead includes a heating element formed onto the sidewall of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Peter Mardilovich, Lawrence H. White
  • Patent number: 8087741
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper, and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 8087742
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus that is capable of setting a proper deflection amount for deflecting an ink discharge direction even when the distance between the ink discharge surface and the ink landing surface of print paper varies and method of using same. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a head in which a plurality of nozzle-incorporated ink discharge sections are arrayed, discharge direction deflection means for deflecting the discharge direction of an ink discharged from a nozzle of each ink discharge section in the direction of ink discharge section arrangement, distance detection means for detecting the distance between the ink discharge surface of the head and the ink landing surface of print paper and discharge deflection amount determination means for determining the ink discharge deflection amount (discharge angle) to be provided by the discharge direction deflection means in accordance with the results of detection by the distance detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kuwahara, Iwao Ushinohama, Manabu Tomita, Yuichiro Ikemoto