Fluid Or Fluid Source Handling Means Patents (Class 347/84)
  • Patent number: 8109618
    Abstract: An ink cartridge carrier device includes a casing, having an opening and an inner chamber communicated with each other, for carrying an ink cartridge; a locking/unlocking mechanism, pivoted on the casing, such that the locking/unlocking mechanism is made to be rotatable and applies a restraining force to fix the ink cartridge into the inner chamber; a first elastic member, connected to the locking/unlocking mechanism, for providing the restraining force to actuate the locking/unlocking mechanism, so as to fix the ink cartridge into the inner chamber; a pushing mechanism, for pushing a part of the ink cartridge carried within the inner chamber out of the casing, so as to unload the ink cartridge. The device makes the ink cartridge well fixed, and enables the ink cartridge to be horizontally loaded or unloaded, which does not have the problems of unsmooth loading or unloading or getting stuck during unloading or loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignees: Silitek Electronic (GZ) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Gui-Hong Zhou, Hai-Bo Shang
  • Patent number: 8109616
    Abstract: A cover assembly for a cradle unit of an inkjet printer having a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead and an ink supply and a controller for controlling the operation of the printhead to facilitate printing. The cover assembly has at least one port formed therein through which a refill unit is received for refilling the ink supply of the cartridge; and an actuator member arranged within the cover assembly which operates said refill unit to facilitate refilling of the ink supply of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 8104880
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge mountable in a recording device includes a liquid accommodating chamber that accommodates liquid therein, a float movably disposed in the liquid accommodating chamber, and a detection section to be detected by an external light detector for determining remaining amounts of the liquid in the liquid accommodating chamber. The detection section is movably disposed in the liquid accommodating chamber to move along a predetermined path in conjunction with movements of the float. The light detector includes a light emitting section that emits light and a light receiving section that receives the light. The detection section includes a first section and a second section; the first section transmits the light when the first section is in a detection point, while the second section blocks the light, the first section and the second section being arranged alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8104883
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting head including a plurality of pressure generating chambers, a first substrate having a reservoir unit, and a second substrate having a compliance unit, the second substrate being combined with one surface of the first substrate via an adhesive layer. The reservoir unit has a first area and a second area whose width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the pressure generating chambers is smaller than a width of the first area, the compliance unit is provided to seal the reservoir unit and the surrounding of the compliance unit is fixed by the adhesive layer, and a width of the compliance unit corresponding to the second area of the reservoir unit is formed so as to be larger than the width of the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 8100495
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal inkjet printhead including at least one volume-changing body that can be used to maintain a flow resistance of ink that flows into an ink chamber substantially constant over an operating temperature range for the thermal inkjet printhead. The volume-changing body can be disposed in the ink flow path through which ink flows into the ink chamber and can be configured to adjust its volume to change the cross-sectional area of the ink flow path when the operating temperature of the thermal inkjet printhead, and thus the viscosity of the ink, changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20120013678
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a porphyrazine coloring matter or a salt thereof represented by the following formula (1) [wherein, the rings of A to D are each independently a benzene ring or a 6-membered nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic ring, E is alkylene, X is a sulfo-substituted anilino group or the like which may further have a substituent, R1 is a C1-C6 alkyl group, b is 0.00 or more and less than 3.90 as an average value, c is 0.10 or more and less than 4.00 as an average value, and the sum of b and c is 1.00 or more and less than 4.00 as an average value]. The ink composition containing the porphyrazine coloring matter of the present invention has a good hue as a cyan ink, is excellent in various fastness properties, particularly in ozone fastness, allows a high print density, has properties hardly causing bronze phenomenon, and can provide a porphyrazine coloring matter suitable for inkjet recording and an ink composition containing this.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: NIPPON KAYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Yoneda, Kenji Ooshima, Akira Kawaguchi, Yuka Shishikura, Tomoki Fujita
  • Patent number: 8096645
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit; a main chassis case; a fluid-containing pack; a container case; and a plurality of holders. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The main chassis case houses the fluid ejection unit. The fluid-containing pack contains a fluid for ejection. The container case houses the fluid-containing pack. The plurality of holders is disposed inside the container case. Each of a plurality of holders includes an incline panel that inclines toward the inside base plane, and the fluid-containing pack rests on the incline panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuro Osawa, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Etsuo Tsuji, Masayuki Horikawa, Tsutomu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8098401
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a printing method that can utilize a lightly pigmented toner along with a darkly pigmented toner to improve the image quality. The method can include receiving a dataset corresponding to a printing of a printing system using a darkly pigmented toner. The printing system may have an undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner. Further, the method can include converting the dataset to a first dataset corresponding to a first printing of the printing system using the darkly pigmented toner, and a second dataset corresponding to a second printing of the printing system using a lightly pigmented toner. The first dataset can avoid the undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner, and a combination of the first printing and the second printing providing a substantially same printed optical density corresponding to the received dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. N. Veregin, Karen A. Moffat, Dale R. Mashtare, Daryl W. Vanbesien, Jordan H. Wosnick, Cuong Vong, Robert P. Loce
  • Patent number: 8091994
    Abstract: A printer includes a first head in which first nozzles are formed, a second head in which second nozzles located at a higher position than the first nozzle are formed, and an ink cartridge positioned at a lower position than the first and second nozzles. Moreover, the first head is connected to the ink cartridge via a tube, and the second head is connected to the first head via a tube. Accordingly, the second head is connected to the ink cartridge via the first head. It is possible to shorten the tubes by connecting serially the ink cartridge and the two heads, and to prevent from breaking simultaneously a meniscus in the nozzles of both the heads located at different height positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kubo, Takaichiro Umeda, Ryuji Kato, Hisaki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8092001
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a head; an ink storage chamber communicating with the head; a gas distributing chamber in which a gas introducing hole is formed; a buffer chamber in which a communicating hole for communicating with the gas distributing chamber, and an atmosphere opening hole for opening to the atmosphere are formed; a combination valve which is capable of opening and closing the gas introducing hole and the communicating hole; a gas introducing mechanism which introduces the compressed air through the gas introducing hole to the head to jet the ink forcibly, and a positive-pressure control valve which opens the atmosphere opening hole when a pressure in the buffer chamber exceeds a predetermined value. It is possible to operate a positive-pressure purge while suppressing an excessive increase in the pressure inside the liquid storage chamber, without increasing a size and a cost of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamada, Naoya Okazaki, Yoichiro Shimizu, Masaru Someya
  • Patent number: 8091972
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit; a main chassis case; a fluid-containing pack; a container case; and a plurality of holders. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The main chassis case houses the fluid ejection unit. The fluid-containing pack contains a fluid for ejection. The container case houses the fluid-containing pack. The plurality of holders is disposed inside the container case. Each of a plurality of holders includes an incline panel that inclines toward the inside base plane, and the fluid-containing pack rests on the incline panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuro Osawa, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Etsuo Tsuji, Masayuki Horikawa, Tsutomu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8091993
    Abstract: An ink containment system for an inkjet cartridge, for storing ink for printing, comprises a housing having a plurality of walls. A rigid basin member and a rigid moveable plate are disposed within the housing. A flexible membrane is affixed to a surface of the basin member and to a surface of the plate forming an ink reservoir within the basin member, plate and flexible membrane. A spring-biased mechanism is disposed between the basin member and plate, for biasing the plate apart from the basin member, generating a negative pressure within the ink reservoir and the basin member remaining stationary relative to the movement of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Gilson, Thomas E. Kimerling, Mark R. Thackray, Kenneth E. Trueba, Scott T. Benigni, John P. Folkers
  • Patent number: 8083335
    Abstract: A second sealing film is thermally bonded onto a leading end portion of an ink lead-out member of an ink pack and an annular projecting portion provided on an ink casing. Thereby, a gap produced between the ink lead-out member and the ink casing can be closed from outside the ink casing. Accordingly, the air tightness of a space in the ink casing is kept, thus making it possible to raise the pressure in the space and generate such a force as to crush the ink pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Takeo Seino, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8083332
    Abstract: A valve includes a stem, a cap, and a deformable lip. The stem includes a first sealing portion and has a longitudinal axis. The cap is connected to the stem and includes a passageway. The deformable lip extends from a periphery of the cap and includes a second sealing portion. The stem is displaceable relative to the deformable lip along the longitudinal axis of the stem to open the first sealing portion and close the second sealing portion to allow fluid to move through the passageway in the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Brian G. Price, David R. Scott
  • Patent number: 8079686
    Abstract: A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus, wherein the recording apparatus includes a feeding passage for feeding a recording material, a carriage for scanningly moving a recording head in a direction crossing with a feeding direction of the recording material, and a mounting portion to which the liquid container is mountable, the liquid container includes light reflection means capable of reflecting light from a light emitting portion of the recording apparatus to a first light receiving portion provided in the carriage and to a second light receiving portion provided in a feeding passage of recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junji Shimoda
  • Patent number: 8079691
    Abstract: A reservoir assembly for use in an imaging device, the reservoir assembly includes an ink input port configured to receive liquid ink from an ink source and an ink tank configured to receive ink from the input port. A filter is positioned between the input port and the ink tank configured to filter ink received via the input port prior to reaching the ink tank. The reservoir assembly includes a foam reducing path configured to guide ink that passes through the filter to the ink tank, the foam reducing path having a varying cross-sectional size and/or shape configured to collapse, compress, stretch, and/or shear air bubbles in foam that passes through the filter prior to reaching the ink tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David Roland Koehler, David Paul Platt, Edward F. Burress
  • Patent number: 8079684
    Abstract: Provided is an ink storage module for a pagewidth printer cartridge. The module includes upper and lower plate members that are displaceable towards and away from each other. An ink bag is located between the plate members to define an ink volume. A bag constrictor assembly is engaged with said plate members, and is configured to act on the bag when the plate members are displaced towards each other to reduce the ink volume. A biasing mechanism is engaged with the plate members to bias the plate members away from each other such that a negative pressure is maintained in the ink volume. A lid is engaged with the plate members and bag constrictor assembly. The lid has at least one port in fluid communication with the bag, to deliver ink to a printhead or to facilitate refilling said bag with ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 8079693
    Abstract: Ink is supplied to a supply tank from a second buffer tank, and ink is pressure-fed from the supply tank to a head. Further, ink is supplied from the second buffer tank to a recovery tank, and ink is pressure-fed from the recovery tank to the head. In both pressure-feedings, ink containing air bubbles within the head is recovered at a first buffer tank. The ink, that contains the air bubbles and is recovered at the first buffer tank, is sent to the second buffer tank via an ink flow path. A degassing section is provided on the ink flow path, and a degassing process is carried out while ink is being fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Shuhei Hoshino
  • Patent number: 8079685
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a frame, and a film connected to the frame. The frame and the film define an ink chamber therein, and the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein. The ink cartridge also includes a movable member configured to selectively move within the ink chamber based on an amount of ink within the ink chamber, and a spring positioned within the ink chamber. The spring is configured to urge the film away from the movable member in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8079678
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead has an elongate chassis, an ink distribution unit for connection to an ink supply, and a plurality of printhead modules supported along the elongate chassis. The printhead modules each define an elongate array of ink ejection nozzles. During use, the printhead modules are each supplied with ink from apertures in the elongate chassis which are in turn supplied by the ink distribution unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8079660
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor storage devices, each of which includes an access determination unit that determines whether the semiconductor storage device is accessed, an input terminal and an output terminal used for connection checking, a normally-closed switching element that electrically disconnects the input terminal from the output terminal when the access determination unit determined that the semiconductor storage device is accessed, and a bypass circuit that electrically connects the input terminal to a reference point through predetermined impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Kosugi
  • Publication number: 20110304674
    Abstract: Release layers, and particularly low surface tension aqueous solutions, such as fountain solutions, which function as release layers. These release layers are integrated into copying and printing machines, such as xerographic machines, multifunctional devices, color systems, and the like, wherein the release layers are specifically incorporated onto a hydrophilic roll material for contact leveling of UV curable gel inks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Varun SAMBHY, Bryan J. Roof, Kock-Yee Law, Peter G. Odell, Michelle N. Chr+e,acu e+ee tien, Jennifer L. Belelie, Gordon Sisler, Christopher Wagner
  • Patent number: 8075111
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an elongate chassis, first groups of apertures spaced along the elongate chassis, an ink distribution unit defining a plurality of ink distribution passages and second groups of apertures in fluid communication with respective ink distribution passages, the ink distribution unit being mounted to the elongate chassis so that the first group of apertures and the second group of apertures coincide and, a plurality of printhead modules for ejecting ink supplied through the ink distribution passages and the aligned first and second groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Angus John North, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Patent number: 8075109
    Abstract: An inkjet printer, comprises a plurality of recording heads to jet ink onto a recording medium; an ink distributing device to distribute ink to the plurality of recording heads and having a damping action to the ink, the ink distributing device including, an ink chamber to store ink therein, an inlet section having an ink inlet port through which ink is fed from an outside into the ink chamber, and an outlet section having a plurality of ink outlet ports through which ink is discharged from the ink chamber; and a plurality of supplying pipes to distribute ink from the plurality of outlet ports to the plurality of recording heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta IJ Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Matsui, Takeshi Urakami
  • Patent number: 8075113
    Abstract: When a second cylindrical unit 38 of a second connection unit 11 is pushed into a first cylindrical unit 16 of a first connection unit 15, a sliding member 23 moves along an axis member. With the timing, the position of a moving aperture 22 formed on the sliding member 23 moves from the first position not opposite a first aperture 19 and a second aperture 51 to the second position opposite the first aperture 19 and the second aperture 51.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignees: Ortek Corporation, Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Shibano
  • Patent number: 8075108
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit, a main chassis case, a fluid-containing pack, and a container case. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The main chassis case houses the fluid ejection unit. The fluid-containing pack contains a fluid for ejection. The container case houses the fluid-containing pack. The container case is pivotably attached to the main chassis case and openable by rotation about a rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuro Osawa, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Etsuo Tsuji, Masayuki Horikawa, Tsutomu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8076392
    Abstract: An ink composition containing at least a polymerizable composition, a pigment, and a polymer represented by General Formula (1): where R1 represents an (m+n)-valent organic linking group, R2 represents a single bond or divalent organic linking group; A1 represents a monovalent organic group having a pigment adsorption structure that contains at least one selected from organic pigment structure, heterocyclic structure, acidic group, group having a basic nitrogen atom, urea group, urethane group, group having a coordinating oxygen atom, hydrocarbon group having 4 or more carbon atoms, alkoxysilyl group, epoxy group, isocyanate group, and hydroxyl group; the n groups A1 and bonds or groups R2 may independently be the same or different; “m” is 1 to 8, “n” is 2 to 9, and m+n is 3 to 10; P1 represents a polymer skeleton; and the m skeletons P1 may be the same or different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Norihide Shimohara, Hisato Nagase, Hidenori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8075114
    Abstract: A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable, wherein the recording apparatus includes an apparatus antenna and photoreceptor means, the liquid container includes a container antenna communicatable with the apparatus antenna without physical contact therebetween; an information storing portion capable of storing at least individual information of the liquid container; a light emitting portion; and a controller for controlling light emission of the light emitting portion in response to a correspondence between a signal indicative individual information supplied through the container antenna and the information stored in the information storing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenjiro Watanabe, Haruyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8075110
    Abstract: A refill unit for refilling an ink storage compartment for a printhead assembly. The ink storage compartment is fluidically connected to the printhead assembly via an outlet valve. The refill unit a variable volume container for holding a quantity of ink and a valve actuator for closing the outlet valve as the refill unit engages the ink storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 8075117
    Abstract: A printing-fluid container includes a reservoir having a leading surface with an outer perimeter. Redundant interface elements are recessed from the leading surface interior the outer perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Charlie Steinmetz, Daniel W. Petersen, Curt Gonzales, Peter G. Hwang, Lisa M. Hanson
  • Patent number: 8070248
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs an image forming operation by driving a ejecting element of a recording head with an ink ejecting drive voltage for ejecting ink, detects a temperature of ink to be flown into the recording head and a temperature of ink to be discharged respectively with a first temperature detection section and a second temperature detection section, and corrects the ink ejecting drive voltage on the basis of a temperature of ink being heat-transferred with the ejecting element, which is estimated with a predetermined conversion formula on the basis of the detected ink temperatures, for controlling an ink amount to be ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: Ortek Corporation, Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Takeo Ogama
  • Patent number: 8070276
    Abstract: A cartridge is constituted by a plurality of absorbing materials for retaining liquid, an interface formed by press-contact between opposing surfaces of the absorbing materials, an introducing portion for supplying the liquid out of the absorbing materials, and a filter provided at an end portion of the introducing portion. The absorbing materials press against the filter so that an end portion of the interface reaches the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromasa Amma
  • Patent number: 8070279
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head including a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressurizing liquid chambers, a liquid supply portion, and a filter portion. The plurality of nozzles ejects liquid droplets. The plurality of pressurizing liquid chambers are in fluid communication respectively with the nozzles. The liquid supply portion includes a plurality of individual supply channels and a fluid-communicating portion. The plurality of individual supply channels are in fluid communication respectively with the pressurizing liquid chambers to supply a liquid to the pressurizing liquid chambers. The fluid-communicating portion keeps the plurality of individual supply channels in fluid communication with one another. The filter portion is positioned to face the individual supply channels of the liquid supply portion and filters the liquid supplied to the pressurizing liquid chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiro Miura
  • Patent number: 8070268
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a flow channel unit including a flow-channel-formed substrate that defines liquid flow channels including pressure chambers communicating with nozzle openings and a sealing plate formed with a diaphragm that varies the capacities of the pressure chambers and a liquid introduction hole, the sealing plate being joined to the flow-channel-formed substrate and defining lines of liquid flow channels including pressure chambers; and a head case including a storage chamber that accommodates a pressure generator for displacing the diaphragm and a case flow channel for supplying liquid to the liquid flow channel of the flow channel unit, the diaphragm being arranged at an opening of the storage chamber on the bottom surface side and the flow channel unit being joined to the head case in a state in which the case flow channel and the liquid flow channel are communicated with each other via the liquid introduction hole, and the sealing plate is formed of a composite plate member formed b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Okazawa, Fujio Akahane
  • Patent number: 8070274
    Abstract: A printing-fluid container includes a printing-fluid reservoir configured to hold printing fluid. A printing-fluid interface is configured to output printing fluid from the printing-fluid reservoir and an air-interface is configured to regulate an operating pressure within the printing-fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Charlie Steinmetz, Curt Gonzales
  • Patent number: 8066358
    Abstract: A fluid interconnect for a fluid enclosure includes an overmolded sealing surface of a thermoplastic elastomeric material, the sealing surface having an opening, the sealing surface overmolded upon a thermoplastic surface of a fluid enclosure; and a wall of the thermoplastic elastomeric material connected to the sealing surface, the wall enclosing a pathway, the pathway communicating with the opening at a first end; and a layer connected to the wall, the layer closing the pathway at a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Holli C. Ogle, Ralph L. Stathem, Steven Lunceford, Garry P. Liddell
  • Patent number: 8066359
    Abstract: An ink supply system for supplying ink to an inkjet printhead at a predetermined hydrostatic pressure, the ink supply system comprising: a pressure-regulating chamber having an outlet port connected to an ink inlet of the printhead, the chamber comprising a float valve configured for maintaining a predetermined level of ink in the chamber, the level of ink controlling the hydrostatic pressure; and an ink reservoir connected to an inlet port of the pressure-regulating chamber, the ink reservoir being positioned above the predetermined level of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, David Jeremy Low
  • Patent number: 8061825
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge mountable on a liquid droplet ejection device, includes a liquid chamber configured to store a liquid therein, and a pump unit configured to generate a pressure for the liquid stored in the liquid chamber to be supplied to the liquid droplet ejection device. The pump unit includes a cylinder; a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder and configured to define a pressure chamber with the cylinder; a force transfer member coupled to the piston and including an engagement portion and a support portion; and a support member configured to contact the support portion to support the force transfer member to be movable. The engagement portion is configured to engage a drive member of the liquid droplet ejection device and to receive a drive force from the drive member to displace the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaichiro Umeda
  • Patent number: 8061916
    Abstract: A printing device having a nib configured to retract into the device when pressed upon a surface, an ink supply, and ink ejection nozzles in fluid communication with the ink supply and configured to print ink upon the surface responsive to the retraction of the nib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110279555
    Abstract: A fluid distribution system having a first fluid container having a fluid outlet, a second fluid container having a fluid inlet, a fluid line interconnecting the outlet of the first container and the inlet of the second container, an inverted umbrella valve between the fluid line and the inlet, the valve arranged to allow fluid flow from the first container to the second container via the fluid line and a restrictor for restricting the allowed fluid flow through the fluid line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher Hibbard, Kent Benjamen Kwan, Edward Ellis Esdaile-Watts, Geoffrey Philip Dyer, Jeff Borra, Ryan Root, Jon Lucas, Tom Alesi, Neal Cekalski, Ray Guichard
  • Publication number: 20110279556
    Abstract: A coupling for distributing fluid to a printhead, the coupling having a housing, a port plate movably mounted on the housing by a shaft, the port plate having a plurality of ports for receiving respective fluid spouts of the printhead, a seal member mounted on the housing between the housing and the port plate, the seal member having a plurality of seals which align with respective ones of the ports of the port plate and a compression spring mounted on the shaft by a washer so as to be compressed between the washer and the port plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Bob Mallory, Robert Rosati, Mike Eckard, Geoffrey Philip Dyer
  • Patent number: 8057022
    Abstract: An ink jet printer includes an image forming unit. The image forming unit includes a main tank configured to receive ink via a supply port and to store the ink therein, a subtank configured to receive the ink from the main tank and to store the ink therein, and a recording head configured receive the ink from the subtank and to dispense the ink onto a recording medium to form an image thereon. The printer also includes an image reading unit positioned above the image forming unit. The image reading unit is configured selectively move between a first position in which the image reading unit covers the supply port, and a second position in which the image reading unit is separated from the supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaichiro Umeda
  • Patent number: 8057020
    Abstract: A printer comprising: an inkjet printhead having an ink inlet, an ink outlet and a plurality of nozzles; an ink supply system for supplying ink to the inkjet printhead at a predetermined hydrostatic pressure, the ink supply system comprising: a pressure-regulating chamber having an outlet port connected to the ink inlet of the printhead, the chamber comprising a float valve configured for maintaining a predetermined level of ink in the chamber, the level of ink controlling the hydrostatic pressure; and an ink reservoir connected to an inlet port of the pressure-regulating chamber, the ink reservoir being positioned above the predetermined level of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, David Jeremy Low
  • Patent number: 8057019
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus including an ejection head having a nozzle in which liquid is ejected through the nozzle, a plurality of cartridges that retain the liquid and supplies the liquid to the ejection head, and a switching mechanism that switches liquid to be supplied to the ejection head from a plurality of types of liquid supplied from the cartridges. The switching mechanism includes a body having a communication passage in communication with the ejection head, a first diaphragm chamber and a second diaphragm chamber that communicate with each other through the communication passage and located to facing each other, a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm arranged in the first diaphragm chamber and the second diaphragm chamber, respectively, and capable of opening and closing the communication passage, and an operation mechanism provided in the communication passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8052254
    Abstract: A printhead assembly is described including multiple printheads, a manifold and multiple inlet tubes. The printheads each include: a fluid inlet to receive fluid into the printhead; and a set of one or more nozzles to deposit fluid on a substrate. The manifold is connected to the printheads and includes: a fluid inlet duct configured to receive fluid for delivery to the printheads; multiple fluid inlet channels for connecting the fluid inlet duct to the printheads; and multiple fluid inlet valves configured to control a flow of fluid from the fluid inlet duct to each of the fluid inlet channels. The inlet tubes each have a proximal end integral to either the manifold or one of the printheads, and a distal end connected to either the manifold or said printhead with a single fluid-tight connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Von Essen
  • Patent number: 8052275
    Abstract: A printer includes a body defining an internal cartridge docking space. A static pagewidth printhead extends across an end of the body and is configured to print upon print media. A removable printer cartridge stores a stack of print media and defines an ink supply reservoir. The printer cartridge is configured to be removed from and inserted into the docking space at the end of the body so that the printhead can be engaged in fluid communication with the ink supply reservoir. A feed mechanism is configured to feed print media from the stack and in line with the printhead during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8052267
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a fluid ejector assembly includes: an inlet structure having an opening therein through which fluid may enter the assembly, the inlet structure having a rim generally defining an outer perimeter of the inlet structure around the opening; a conduit through which fluid may pass from the opening in the inlet structure to an ejector structure; and a filter supported on the inlet structure and spanning the opening such that fluid passing through the opening in the inlet structure to the conduit passes through the filter, a peripheral edge of the filter surrounded by the rim of the inlet structure and the peripheral edge of the filter encapsulated by the inlet structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Marjan Amesbury
  • Patent number: 8052256
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device may be provided with a transferring device, a discharge head, a tank, a liquid replenishment device, and a member. The transferring device transfers a recording medium along a feeding path. The discharge head is capable of moving along a movement path. The movement path is disposed above the feeding path. The discharge head comprises a nozzle for discharging liquid toward the recording medium transferred by the transferring device. The tank is capable of moving along the movement path with the discharge head. The tank comprises a liquid inlet hole and a liquid outlet hole. The tank is capable of storing liquid replenished from the liquid inlet hole. The liquid within the tank is to be supplied to the discharge head via the liquid outlet hole. The liquid replenishment device is capable of being connected to and disconnected from the tank. The liquid is supplied to the tank when the liquid replenishment device is in a connected state with the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabsuhiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotake Nakamura, Takaichiro Umeda
  • Patent number: 8047642
    Abstract: An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in the cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Fujikawa, Tomoji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8047639
    Abstract: A refill unit for a fluid container is providing. The refill unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject between 6 ml and 50 ml per increment of fluid from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson