Of Fluid (e.g., Ink Flow Rate, Viscosity, Etc.) Patents (Class 347/6)
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Patent number: 8770687Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a change detection device detecting a change in a relative position between an ink cartridge and a recording head, and when the change in the relative position exceeds a certain threshold value, a printer controller closes a valve mechanism so that the destruction of a meniscus in the nozzle is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Takeshi Ito
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Patent number: 8770686Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming device forming an image on a surface of a recording material; a recording material passage; a treatment liquid applicator including a tray containing a treatment liquid, a first roller applying the treatment liquid to the surface of the recording material, and a second roller drawing the treatment liquid from the tray to supply the treatment liquid to the first roller; a liquid level inclination detector detecting whether the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined; a treatment liquid supplying device supplying the treatment liquid to the tray; and a controller connected with liquid level detector and the treatment liquid supplying device. The controller stops the operation of the treatment liquid supplying device when determining according to the detection result of the liquid level detector that the surface of the treatment liquid is inclined in a predetermined amount or more.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyoshi Komaba, Shinji Imoto, Satoshi Kitaoka, Seiji Hoshino, Shozo Sakura
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Publication number: 20140184673Abstract: A new method for printing raised letters or images has been introduced, which is inexpensive, green and noiseless. The method can be carried out via personal computers (PC) or common ink-jet printers. A standard portable ink-jet printer is controlled by PC and common graphical softwares, that provide raised printing for different purposes such as Braille prints, security, packaging, advertising and printing of warning signs. The 3D ink-jet printing method comprises steps of providing two or more fluids having different formulation as inks. The mixture is cured and raised by jetting two inks in a controlled amount and mixing of inks on the substrate, without using electromagnetic radiation such as ultra violet (UV) or infra red (IR) or heating procedure. The prepared inks are water based, non-toxic, environmental friendly and have different compositions with optimum physical.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Inventor: Atasheh Soleimani-Gorgani
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Patent number: 8764144Abstract: Provided are method of controlling nozzles of an inkjet head and an apparatus for measuring the amounts of ink ejected from the nozzles of the inkjet head. The method includes: preparing a mass measuring device, which measures the mass of ink by using an oscillation change, in a pixel; ejecting ink into the pixel from a nozzle of the inkjet head, and measuring the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle by using the mass measuring device; and adjusting a voltage waveform applied to the nozzle of the inkjet head.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Tae-gyun Kim, Tae-woon Cha, Sang-il Kim
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Patent number: 8764180Abstract: Printing methods are provided. In one method an inkjet image is printed using an ink having a colorant with an electrical charge of a first polarity dispersed in a hydrophilic liquid carrier fluid with an electrical charge of a second polarity that is the opposite polarity of the first polarity. A colorant attracting toner image conforming to the inkjet image is generated using toner particles of the second polarity. The colorant attracting toner image is transferred in registration with an unabsorbed volume of the ink jet image on the receiver. The difference in polarity between the toner particles and the colorant attracts the colorant and the toner particles. The toner particles are fixed to the receiver. After fixing colorant attracted to the toner particles is bound to the toner particles so that removal of the toner from the receiver also removes any colorant attached to the toner from the receiver.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Donald Saul Rimai
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Patent number: 8757745Abstract: The printing apparatus includes: a print unit to print on a medium using a pigment ink and a dye ink; a stir mechanism capable of stirring at least the pigment ink; and a control unit to perform control to make the duration of the stirring operation executed prior to starting the printing operation longer when the pigment ink is included in the ink to be used in the printing operation than when it is not.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2009Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kanto Kurasawa
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Patent number: 8757784Abstract: Ink for ink jet recording includes a coloring material and alkylpolyols, wherein the alkylpolyols include two or more types of first alkylpolyols having a log P value of greater than or equal to ?0.7 and less than or equal to 0.01, and a normal boiling point of greater than or equal to 180° C. and lower than or equal to 250° C., and the content of the alkylpolyols is greater than or equal to 5% by mass and less than or equal to 30% by mass.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Tetsuya Aoyama, Hidehiko Komatsu, Hitoshi Ohta, Takeshi Yano
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Publication number: 20140168296Abstract: When filling a printing head with ink, ink in a sub-tank is circulated through a forward path port, a forward path, the printing head, a return path, a return path port, and the sub-tank by pumping ink from the forward path port side to the printing head side by a circulation pump in a state where a plurality of nozzles is sealed by bringing a contact member of a capping device into contact with a nozzle formation surface. Thereafter, sealing of the plurality of nozzles by the capping device is released while pressurizing the sub-tank by a pressure adjusting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Kaoru KOIKE, Toshio KUMAGAI
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Publication number: 20140168295Abstract: Provided is a liquid supply device that includes a liquid storage portion that stores liquid containing sedimenting components which are sedimented in solvent, a liquid supply path that extends from the liquid storage portion to a liquid ejecting portion and through which the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting portion can flow, a liquid flowing portion that is operated to cause the liquid to flow through at least part of the liquid supply path, a temperature detection portion that can detect the temperature of at least part of the liquid in the liquid supply path, and an operation control portion that controls an operation of the liquid flowing portion in correspondence with a detected temperature of the liquid, which is detected by the temperature detection portion, such that a flow condition of the liquid in the liquid supply path changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Keita Ichihara, Keitaro Nakano, Atsushi Yoshida
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Patent number: 8752923Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a recording head, a sub tank, a carriage, a main tank, and a fluid feeding unit supplying fluid from the main tank to the sub tank, in which the sub tank includes a displacement member displaced depending on a remaining amount, the carriage includes a first detecting unit detecting the displacement member, the apparatus main body includes a second detecting unit detecting the displacement member, the image forming apparatus detects and stores a differential supply amount corresponding to a displacement amount of the displacement member between positions detected by the first detecting unit and the second detecting unit, respectively, and the differential supply amount of liquid is supplied to the sub tank after the first detecting unit detects the displacement member when liquid is supplied without using the second detecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Takeyuki Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8746823Abstract: To reduce the tendency of glossiness to vary according to the ink ejection quantity, a printing device includes a color ink head for ejecting color ink to a medium, a clear ink head for ejecting transparent clear ink to the medium, and a controller for controlling ejection of the clear ink so that the clear ink is ejected to a region in which an ejection quantity of the color ink per unit area of the medium is less than a predetermined quantity, and the clear ink is not ejected to a region in which the ejection quantity of the color ink per unit area of the medium is greater than the predetermined quantity.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takamitsu Kondo, Toru Takahashi, Hiroshi Wada, Toshio Tanaka
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Patent number: 8740323Abstract: A continuous liquid ejector includes a structure including a wall. A portion of the wall defines a nozzle having a first fluidic resistance R1. A first liquid feed channel is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The first liquid feed channel has a second fluidic resistance R2. A first drop forming mechanism is associated with the first liquid feed channel. A second liquid feed channel is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The second liquid feed channel has a third fluidic resistance R3. The first fluidic resistance R1 is less than the second fluidic resistance R2 plus the third fluid resistance R3 (R1<(R2+R3)). A second drop forming mechanism associated with the second liquid feed channel.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Shelby F. Nelson, Andrew D. Thompson
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Patent number: 8740324Abstract: In a stand-by state, when an instruction unit issues the printing instruction, a control unit is switched in a maintenance state, in the maintenance state, the control unit closes an air valve and operates a first pump, and when a sensor detects that the ink of a second tank is reduced by discharging the ink from a nozzle by the pressure of a second tank, the control unit opens the air valve to be switched in a printing state, and when a predetermined time elapses after an operation of the first pump before the sensor detects the reduction of the ink of the second tank, the control unit excludes the solidified ink from the nozzle, and in the printing state, the control unit is switched in the stand-by state when the ink is discharged from the nozzle of the head based on a printing instruction.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noriyuki Kikuchi, Jun Takamura
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Publication number: 20140146100Abstract: A method for recycling ink in an inkjet printer includes combining purged inks having two or more colors with black ink to form a mixed ink. The printer identifies an optical characteristic of the mixed ink and compares it to the optical characteristic for black ink. A controller for the printer adjusts the operation of the printer to form ink images having an optical characteristic that is closer to black ink than ink images formed with the mixed ink alone.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2014Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Susan J. Zoltner, Nicholas C. Hill, Steven Van Cleve Korol, Trevor James Snyder
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Patent number: 8733921Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for improving printed image quality. The image quality improvement is achieved by differentially curing different image elements such as continuous tone elements, uniform tinted and solid elements, color elements, line art and text elements. A delay in the activation, duration and variation in the intensity of the curing radiation or a mix of some or all of them that follows the ink droplet on substrate deposition controls the ink droplet spread and accordingly the image quality.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Ltd.Inventor: Aharon Korem
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Patent number: 8727465Abstract: A method for supplying a liquid from a liquid tank to a head tank fixed to a liquid-jet head utilizing a liquid supply device in a liquid-jet apparatus is disclosed. The method includes jetting the liquid droplets from the liquid-jet head while maintaining a meniscus pressure of the liquid-jet head within a predetermined range; detecting the meniscus pressure of the liquid-jet head; carrying out, when the detected meniscus pressure is lower than the predetermined range, a first liquid supply operation such that the detected meniscus pressure of the liquid-jet head being lower than the predetermined range is restored to the predetermined range; and carrying out, while the first liquid supply operation is not being carried out, a second liquid supply operation such that the liquid is supplied to the head tank in an amount less than a liquid-jetted amount computed based on a liquid-jet signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Toshiroh Tokuno
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Publication number: 20140132653Abstract: A printing device is equipped with a head, a first reservoir unit, a second reservoir unit, a first flow path connected to the head and the first reservoir unit, a second flow path connected to the first flow path and the second reservoir unit, a third flow path connected to the second reservoir unit and the second flow path, a first pressure supply unit provided on the second flow path, a second pressure supply unit, and a control unit for stirring the sedimentary ink by returning the sedimentary ink inside the second reservoir unit to the first reservoir unit using the second pressure supply unit after moving the sedimentary ink inside the first reservoir unit to the second reservoir unit using the first pressure supply unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2013Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Nobuaki KAMIYAMA
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Patent number: 8721028Abstract: A method of controlling a maintenance operation in an inkjet printer, the method includes detecting that ink supply connection to a printhead has been interrupted; detecting that ink supply connection to the printhead has been restored; measuring a time interval between the interruption and the restoration of the ink supply connection to the printhead; and selecting a level of the maintenance operation, depending upon a length of the time interval.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Dwight John Petruchik, Charles Francis Scaglione
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Patent number: 8721015Abstract: A droplet discharge device includes a functional liquid droplet discharge head and a functional liquid tank. The functional liquid tank includes a tank body, a liquid column pipe and a liquid level detection mechanism. The tank body is configured and arranged to retain the functional liquid to be supplied to the functional liquid droplet discharge head. The liquid column pipe communicates with the tank body. The liquid level detection mechanism is configured and arranged to detect a liquid level of the functional liquid retained in the liquid column pipe. The functional liquid tank is configured and arranged to allow supplying and ventilating of gas.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Katsumi Shinkai
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Publication number: 20140125718Abstract: A transparent white ink composition is formulated to brighten, lighten and or dilute full-tone primary inkjet colors: cyan; magenta; yellow and black, eliminating the need for ‘light ink’ primary color inks. The transparent white ink is jetted concurrently with reduced amounts of full-tone inks in lighter tonal areas conventionally supported by ‘light ink’ primary inks. Printing ‘light ink’ primary colors using a transparent white ink composition may reduce the number of print channels needed to print all four primary colors and the four ‘light ink’ primary colors. Embodiments of the transparent white ink composition may be solvent- or water-based, drying by evaporation of the carrier fluid. Other embodiments may be radiation-curable ink compositions. An inkjet printer includes print carriage and print head assemblies configured for jetting a primary color ink and the transparent white ink in the same pass in correct proportions to achieve a desired effect.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2012Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Michael H. MORRISION, Peter HEATH
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Publication number: 20140118431Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of circulating fluid in a fluid ejection device includes generating compressive and expansive fluid displacements of different durations from a first actuator located asymmetrically within a fluidic channel between a first fluid feedhole and a nozzle while generating no fluid displacements from a second actuator located asymmetrically within the channel between the nozzle and a second fluid feedhole.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2011Publication date: May 1, 2014Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Kianoush Naeli, Tony S. Cruz-Uribe
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Publication number: 20140118430Abstract: Fluid ejection systems and methods thereof are disclosed in the present disclosure. The method includes establishing fluid communication between an ejection chamber and a fluid supply chamber of the fluid ejection system such that the ejection chamber includes a nozzle and an ejection member to selectively eject the fluid through the nozzle. The method also includes detecting at feast one impedance in the fluid by a sensor unit haying a sensor plate, and identifying the characteristic of the fluid by a fluid identification module based on the at least one detected impedance value t obtain an identified fluid characteristic.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2011Publication date: May 1, 2014Inventors: Adam L. Ghozeil, Daryl E. Anderson, Andrew L. Van Brocklin
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Publication number: 20140118429Abstract: An ink delivery device, method and non-transitory computer readable medium, the device may include a first closed pathway for a first ink flow through a multi-nozzle printhead in a first direction, and a second closed pathway for a second ink flow through the multi-nozzle printhead, the second pathway configured to move the second ink flow in a second direction. The device may further include a first shunt between the first closed pathway and the second closed pathway at a first end of the multi-nozzle printhead, the first shunt allowing some of the first ink flow to merge with the second ink flow, and a second shunt between the first closed pathway and the second closed pathway at a second end of the multi-nozzle printhead, the second shunt allowing some of the second ink flow to merge with the first ink flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing LTDInventors: Semion Gengrinovich, Ran Vilk, Eldad Manheim
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Patent number: 8708440Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes a printing unit having a printing head that discharges an ink onto a surface of a material to be subjected to printing being transported by a transport device to thereby print a predetermined pattern, and an ink fixing unit that solidifies and fixes the ink applied to the material, the fixing unit being located downstream of the printing unit in a transport direction of the material, and an ink removal unit that removes, in the case where the material has a nap on a surface thereof and a pigment ink is employed for printing, an unsolidified ink stuck to the nap. The ink removal unit is located between the printing unit and the ink fixing unit, and includes an ink removing element that contacts the nap on the surface so as to remove the ink stuck to the nap.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Makoto Nagase
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Patent number: 8708439Abstract: A method of operating a printing press includes transferring ink from an inlet point to a printing substrate, and measuring actual optical values of light, in which the actual optical values are from light of selected wavelength ranges and in which the light has interacted with at least parts of the printed image. The method includes providing a control and evaluation device with measured values from an optical measuring device and with measured values from an ink mass determination device so as to determine an optical deviation of actual optical values from optical reference values, and determining an amount of corrective ink that is to be fed to the printing press in order to approximate the actual optical values to the optical reference values.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignees: Windmoeller & Hoelscher KG, X-Rite Europe AGInventors: Andreas Ihme, Frank Twiehaus, Martin Flaspoehler, Frank Dirksmeier, Hendrik Tepe
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Publication number: 20140111568Abstract: Methods and cassettes for discarding ink are disclosed. An example cassette includes a housing having a form factor to be received in a printer; a container to receive the discarded ink; and a memory to receive usage data from the printer, the usage data being indicative of an amount of the discarded ink received by the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2011Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LPInventors: Luis Garcia Garcia, Sergio Puigardeu Aramendia, Angel Martinez Barambio, Maria Isabella Borrell Bayona
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Publication number: 20140111569Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a recording head, head tanks, main tanks, liquid feed pumps, a first driving source, a drive control unit, and a drive switching assembly. The drive switching assembly includes a second driving source, a cam, a slider member, a switching gear, switching position detected portions, and a detector. The detected portions are disposed at the cam so as to correspond to switching positions of the liquid feed pumps. One of the detected portions has a greater width in a rotation direction of the cam than any other detected portion. When a time from when the detector detects one of the detected portions to when the detector detects another one of the detected portions is shorter than a threshold value, the drive control unit determines, as a home position, a position of the cam on detection of the another one with the detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2013Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Atsushi Miwa
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Patent number: 8702186Abstract: A method for recirculating ink in an inkjet printer includes applying air pressure to an ink supply to expel liquid ink through a plurality of inkjets in the printhead. An ink receptacle that is positioned at a predetermined distance from the inkjets collects the expelled ink. The ink receptacle moves into fluid communication with an ink supply, and the ink collected in the ink receptacle enters the ink supply.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Trevor James Snyder, Nicholas C. Hill, Devin Kyle Byerley, Rodney Bryant Hill, Steven Van Cleve Korol
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Publication number: 20140098145Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a liquid chamber, a first path having a flow resistance R, a second path, a recording head configured such that a predetermined operation of the recording head causes liquid to flow to the recording head at a flow rate greater than or equal to a minimum flow rate I, a pressure responsive portion including a membrane configured to move in response to the internal pressure of the second path and configured to move when a pressure differential between inside and outside of the membrane is greater than or equal to a minimum pressure differential ?P, a detector configured to detect a position of the membrane, and a controller configured to determine presence of the liquid in the liquid chamber based on detection by the detector. The following condition is satisfied: flow resistance R?(minimum pressure differential ?P/minimum flow rate I).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomohiro KANBE
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Publication number: 20140098146Abstract: A printing device includes a first ink reservoir unit configured and arranged to store a first ink having sedimentary properties, a head provided with nozzles, a plurality of first ink supply paths configured and arranged to supply the first ink to the head from the first ink reservoir unit, a stirring unit configured and arranged to stir the first ink existing inside an upstream region in a supply direction of the first ink supply paths, and a control unit configured to execute again an again stirring process after a prescribed time has elapsed from a previous stirring process of the first ink by the stirring unit, and, after execution of that the again stirring process, to eject from the nozzles the first ink that is unstirred existing inside the region further downstream in the supply direction than the upstream region of the first ink supply paths, and inside the head.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Nobuaki KAMIYAMA
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Patent number: 8684512Abstract: An ink drying apparatus is provided with a gas passage through which a printed material to which ink is attached passes. Further, a flow applying unit configured to create a flow of gas in the gas passage in a predetermined direction, a heating unit configured to heat the gas in the gas passage, and a solvent removing unit configured to remove a solvent in the ink from the gas passage are provided. In the ink drying apparatus, the heating unit and the solvent removing unit are associated with each other such that heat can transfer from the solvent removing unit to the heating unit by a heat transmission unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Nakazawa, Yoshimasa Araki
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Patent number: 8687238Abstract: A printing method includes obtaining an initial printer profile corresponding to a printing system having a plurality of ink colors, identifying a remaining ink parameter corresponding to each of the ink colors, and determining whether the remaining ink parameter of each of the ink colors are approximately equal to each other such that: performing a print job using the initial printer profile when the remaining ink parameter determination is that the remaining ink parameter of each of the ink colors are approximately equal to each other, and determining a modified printer profile by selectively changing color saturation for one or more of the ink colors to balance ink usage and performing the print job using the modified printer profile when the remaining ink parameter determination is that the remaining ink parameter of each of the ink colors are not approximately equal to each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jay S Gondek, Jefferson P. Ward, Jason M Quintana
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Patent number: 8668323Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printing device including: a plurality of heads configured to discharge inks cured by light irradiation and arranged in a transport direction of a medium; a plurality of pre-curing light sources provided in correspondence with the plurality of heads and configured to irradiate pre-curing light to dots formed on the medium by the heads; and a completely-curing light source configured to irradiate completely-curing light to the dots to which the light from the plurality of pre-curing light sources is irradiated, wherein a first printing mode in which a background ink is discharged from a head of an upstream side of the transport direction of the heads for discharging color inks and a second printing mode in which the background ink is discharged from a head of a downstream side of the transport direction of the heads for discharging the color inks are present.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Hiroyuki Onishi
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Patent number: 8668293Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid from an ejecting nozzle provided in an ejecting head includes a first container that contains a first liquid and a second container that contains a second liquid. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a channel that selectively communicates with either the first or second container to supply the liquid contained therein to the ejecting head, a switching unit that performs a switching operation of switching between a first communicating state in which the channel communicates with the first container and a second communicating state in which the channel communicates with the second container. In addition, if the remaining amount of the second liquid contained in the second container is less than a predetermined value, prohibits the switching unit from performing the switching operation of switching from the second communicating state to the first communicating state.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Koji Harada
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Patent number: 8668314Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a liquid tank, a first passage, a second passage, a pressure unit, and a control valve. The first passage is connected to the head to supply liquid to the head. The second passage is connected to the tank. The pressure unit is disposed at the second passage to apply pressure to liquid in the second passage. The control valve includes an internal channel to connect the first and second passages, an expandable liquid retaining chamber connected to the internal channel to retain the liquid, and a valve member disposed in the internal channel to open and close the first and second passages and movable by a flow of liquid from the chamber to the first passage created by ejection of liquid from the head to communicate the second passage with the first passage.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Tomomi Katoh
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Publication number: 20140063088Abstract: A maintenance method of a droplet ejection apparatus is provided, which droplet ejection apparatus includes: a droplet ejection head including a plurality of head modules, each head module being configured to be replaced independently; and a liquid circulation and supply unit configured to circulate and supply liquid to be ejected from each head module, to each head module. The maintenance method includes circulating and supplying the liquid to the head modules other than the head module that is a replacement target, when replacing the head module.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATIONInventor: Hiroshi SHIBATA
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Patent number: 8662609Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a recording head, head tanks, main tanks, liquid feed pumps, a first driving source, a drive control unit, and a drive switching assembly. The drive switching assembly includes a second driving source, a cam, a slider member, a switching gear, switching position detected portions, and a detector. The detected portions are disposed at the cam so as to correspond to switching positions of the liquid feed pumps. One of the detected portions has a greater width in a rotation direction of the cam than any other detected portion. When a time from when the detector detects one of the detected portions to when the detector detects another one of the detected portions is shorter than a threshold value, the drive control unit determines, as a home position, a position of the cam on detection of the another one with the detector.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Atsushi Miwa
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Patent number: 8657394Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes a recording head ejecting a liquid droplet; a liquid tank storing ink to be supplied to the recording head; a first flow path communicated with the recording head and the liquid tank; a liquid feeding unit provided in the first flow path; a second flow path provided parallel to the liquid feeding unit of the first flow path; and a fluid resistance control unit provided in the second flow path. The fluid resistance control unit changes fluid resistance in accordance with the flow rate of a flowing liquid and feeds, when the liquid droplet is ejected from the recording head, the liquid from the liquid tank to the recording head with the liquid feeding unit in a state in which the recording head and the liquid tank are communicated with each other via the second flow path.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2009Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tomomi Katoh, Kazuo Haida
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Patent number: 8657395Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body, a recording head, a sub tank, a carriage, a main tank, a liquid feed unit, a displacement member, first and second detectors, first to third calculation units, a determination unit, and a supply control unit. When the first detector detects the displacement member, the determination unit determines a main scanning position of the carriage at which consumption amount of the liquid is equal to an amount corresponding to a difference calculated by the second unit, based on a relation calculated by the third unit. The control unit causes the feed unit to start supply of the liquid from the main tank to the sub tank when the carriage arrives at the main scanning position, and stop the supply when the liquid is supplied at an amount corresponding to a difference detected by the first unit after the first detector detects the displacement member.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Suguru Masunaga, Tetsu Morino, Takeyuki Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8651616Abstract: According to this invention, an inkjet printing apparatus having an arrangement for detecting an amount of remaining ink in an ink tank starts a printing operation in a short time immediately after power-on. If an operation in preceding use is ended without any error at the time of power-off, and no error has occurred even at the time of power-on, the inkjet printing apparatus of this invention starts the printing operation without executing the operation of detecting the amount of remaining ink in the ink tank after power-on.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2013Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akiko Maru, Kiichiro Takahashi, Tetsuya Edamura, Minoru Teshigawara, Yoshiaki Murayama, Takatoshi Nakano, Hiroshi Taira
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Publication number: 20140043381Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus which can make a distribution tank compact and has excellent pressure-control precision is provided. The present invention is provided with an inkjet portion A having a recording head 11 for applying ink to a recording medium 1 and a distribution tank 12 for supplying ink to the recording head 11, an ink supply means B having a main tank 21 for supplying ink to the distribution tank 12, and an air supply means C having an air chamber 31 communicating with a space 12a in the distribution tank 12 and a pressure adjustment mechanism provided on the air chamber 31 via a solenoid valve, where the pressure of the space 12a and the internal pressure of the air chamber 31 are equal to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Inventors: Hideo IZAWA, Takao NAMIKI, Akira ISHIKAWA, Wataru ITABASHI
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Publication number: 20140043382Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a tank for storing a liquid; a liquid ejecting head including an inner passage having an inlet, an outlet and individual liquid channels; a supply passage connecting the tank and inlet; a return passage connecting the tank and outlet; a supply device to forcibly supply the liquid in the tank to the inner passage; a restrictor valve to restrict a liquid amount flowing through the return passage; and a controller to drive the supply device while placing the restrictor valve in an open state, where the liquid in the tank returns back thereto via the supply passage, the inner passage, and the return passage, in order, and to drive the supply device to keep circulation and control the restrictor valve to restrict, during the circulation, the amount of the liquid that flows through the return passage, for discharging the liquid from the ejection opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shuichi TAMAKI
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Patent number: 8646901Abstract: A single pass inkjet printing method includes the steps of: a) providing a radiation curable inkjet ink set containing at least a first and a second radiation curable inkjet ink having a dynamic surface tension of no more than 30 mN/m measured by maximum bubble pressure tensiometry at a surface age of 50 ms and at 25° C.; b) jetting a first radiation curable inkjet ink on an ink-jet ink-receiver moving at a printing speed of at least 35 m/min.; c) at least partially curing the first inkjet ink on the ink receiver within the range of 40 to 500 ms after the first inkjet ink landed on the ink receiver; d) jetting a second radiation curable inkjet ink on the at least partially cured first inkjet ink; and e) at least partially curing the second inkjet ink within the range of 40 to 500 ms after the second inkjet ink landed on the first inkjet ink.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Agfa Graphics NVInventors: Stefaan De Meutter, Peter Bracke, David Tilemans, Joris Van Garsse, Geert Van Dyck
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Publication number: 20140035975Abstract: The object of the invention is the provision of methods and apparatuses for controlled direct printing of continuous films or discreet structures using a two-component liquid jet issuing from an orifice. The two liquids may be miscible or immiscible, and form an annularly propagating flow along the axis of a deposition head. The flow consists of an outer sheath liquid with a boiling point temperature that is approximately 10 to 40 degrees lower than that of an inner sample liquid. The exit channel of the head is heated so that the pressurized outer sheath liquid is raised to a temperature greater than the boiling point of the sheath liquid at the local atmospheric pressure. The outer liquid is evaporated as the jet exits the orifice and falls at atmospheric pressure. Deposited sample line widths are produced in the range from approximately 1 to 1000 microns.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: INTEGRATED DEPOSITION SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Marcelino Essien, David Michael Keicher
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Patent number: 8636353Abstract: An image forming method includes the steps of: depositing an ink containing 10% or more and less than 30% of a water-soluble high-boiling-point organic solvent having an SP value of 28 or lower, onto a recording medium in accordance with an image signal, the ink having a viscosity of 10 cP or lower in a case where a temperature of the ink is 25° C.; removing water contained in the solvent of the ink on the recording medium, by a heating drying device; and heating and pressurizing the ink so as to fix the ink onto the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Hiroaki Houjou
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Patent number: 8632145Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for printing from a rotating source. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure relates to a facetted drum for simultaneously printing multiple pixels. The facetted drum includes a support structure and a plurality of printheads affixed to the support structure, each printhead having at least one microporous structure for receiving a first quantity of liquid ink having dissolved or suspended film material in a carrier fluid and dispensing a second quantity of ink material substantially free of the carrier fluid. The plurality of printheads are positioned proximal to a substrate to simultaneously print a plurality of spatially-discrete and image-resolved pixels on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2011Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.Inventors: Conor Francis Madigan, Eliyahu Vronsky, Alexander Sou-Kang Ko, Robert B. Lowrance, Christopher Buchner
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Publication number: 20140015876Abstract: A method of leveling ink that is printed on a substrate includes establishing a thermal gradient across a thickness of the substrate, the thermal gradient characterized in that it is less than a viscosity threshold temperature of the ink across most of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Ashish V. Pattekar, Lars Erik Swartz, David K. Blegelsen, Armin R. Volkel, Gregory J. Kovacs
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Patent number: 8622498Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a pressure chamber that communicates with a liquid supply section and a nozzle; an element that changes a pressure of liquid within the pressure chamber; and an ejection pulse generation section that generates an ejection pulse for operating the element in order to eject the liquid from the nozzle. In the apparatus, the viscosity of the liquid is not less than 8 millipascal seconds. The nozzle has a first portion in which a liquid ejection side thereof has a smaller opening area than a pressure chamber side thereof, and a second portion which communicates with an ejection side end portion of the first portion. In addition, the ejection pulse has a depressurizing portion for depressurizing the liquid in order to attract a meniscus positioned on the second portion to the first portion, and a pressurizing portion for pressurizing the liquid in order to eject the liquid before the meniscus attracted to the first portion returns to the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Kinya Ozawa
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Patent number: 8622513Abstract: A method of performing maintenance on printheads of an imaging device includes the detection of at least one missing or defective inkjet in a printhead. A first pressure is applied to ink in printheads in which at least one missing or defective inkjet was detected. The first pressure is configured to discharge ink from the plurality of apertures in an aperture plate of the printhead to reestablish fluid continuity through the inkjet. A second pressure is applied to all of the printheads to be wiped. The second pressure is configured to form a convex meniscus at the plurality of apertures in the aperture plate of all of the printheads to be wiped. A single actuator is then operated to move one or more wipers into engagement with the printheads to be wiped. During wiping the convex meniscus is encountered by a wiper to lubricate a printhead and prevent the printhead from being damaged by wiping. The single actuator then retracts the one or more wipers from the printheads.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Christine A. Steurrys, Kaitlin M. Tomeo, Paul A. Hosier, Michael Lu
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Patent number: 8622500Abstract: A recording device forming a printed image by discharging droplets of an image forming solution from a nozzle and attaching the droplets on recording media, which includes a recording head provided with a specific nozzle which is selectively filled with the image forming solution and a solution preventing the nozzle from being clogged, and a controller that controls the performance of switching from a first filled state in which the specific nozzle is filled with the image forming solution to a second filled state in which the specific nozzle is filled with the solution preventing the nozzle from clogging in accordance with a predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takayoshi Kagata, Tsuyoshi Sano