Fluid Or Fluid Source Handling Means Patents (Class 347/84)
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Patent number: 7883191Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masashi Fujikawa, Tomoji Suzuki
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Patent number: 7878632Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus has: a head which ejects liquid; a carriage which conveys the head; a sub tank which is mounted on the carriage, accommodates the liquid to be supplied to the head, and has an elastic film deforming elastically in accordance with supply of the liquid to the head; a liquid flow channel opening and closing valve which opens and closes a first liquid flow channel between the head and the sub tank; a main tank which stores the liquid to be supplied to the sub tank; a liquid supply coupling section which couples a second liquid flow channel connected to the main tank, to the sub tank, in a state where the carriage is located in a predetermined home position; and an elastic film movement device which moves the elastic film in a direction which causes the elastic film to recover from elastic deformation to assist deformation recovery of the elastic film of the sub tank, in a state where the first liquid flow channel is closed by means of the liquid flow channel opening and closing valveType: GrantFiled: September 28, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventor: Yasuhiko Kachi
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Patent number: 7878645Abstract: A mobile device is provided which has first and second body sections movable relative to each other between operative and inoperative configurations of the device, a printhead for printing onto a media substrate, and a media feed path for feeding the media substrate past the printhead. The media feed path extends from the first body section into the second body section when in the operative configuration.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2005Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Gregory Michael Tow
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Patent number: 7874659Abstract: A cartridge for use in a mobile device including: (a) an inkjet printhead; (b) a print media feed path for directing print media past the printhead in a feed direction during printing; and (c) a drive mechanism for driving the print media past the inkjet printhead for printing.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2005Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
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Patent number: 7874639Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes at least three nozzle array groups, each including at least two nozzle arrays with an ink supply port interposed therebetween and each ejecting a different ink. Opening areas of the ejection outlets of the nozzle arrays in each array group are of different sizes. Two adjacent nozzle array groups each include three nozzle arrays. The nozzle array group not identified as one of the two adjacent nozzle array groups is supplied with ink having a highest lightness among the three kinds of inks.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2006Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shingo Nagata, Keiichiro Tsukuda
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Publication number: 20110012956Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes an ink-jet recording head having a nozzle from which ink is ejected on the basis of print data, an ink-receiving unit that receives the ink ejected from the nozzle, and a surface-tension-depressant-solution supplying unit that supplies a liquid composition containing a surface tension depressant to the ink-receiving unit when the ink is ejected from the nozzle into the ink-receiving unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Takayoshi Kagata, Tsuyoshi Sano, Hidenori Usuda
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Patent number: 7868060Abstract: Provided is an aqueous ink with high storage stability and scratch resistance at such a high level that the coloring material of an image is not scraped off even when lightly touched with a sharp product. The aqueous ink includes a water-insoluble coloring material and plural polymers. The plural polymers include a polymer A which relatively contributes to dispersion of the water-insoluble coloring material and a polymer B which does not relatively contribute to the dispersion of the water-insoluble coloring material compared to the polymer A. The polymer A includes a block copolymer having an acid value of 120 mgKOH/g to 180 mgKOH/g and having an ethylene oxide group as a nonionic group. The polymer B has an acid value of 150 mgKOH/g or less and a hydrogen bond parameter (?h) of the polymer obtained by solubility parameters of monomers constituting the polymer of 1.0 cal0.5/cm1.5 or more and 3.2 cal0.5/cm1.5 or less.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Junichi Sakai, Kousuke Yamasaki, Katsuhiko Suzuki, Itaru Tsuji, Aki Takano, Hideki Takayama, Shin-ichi Sato
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Patent number: 7866805Abstract: An introducing liquid for an ink jet head in the invention is used to fill the ink jet head before introducing ink into the ink jet head. The introducing liquid has a surface tension satisfying the following equation (1), and a contact angle of not more than 25 degrees with respect to an ink passage member of the ink jet head to be applied. An ink jet head of the invention is to be filled with the introducing liquid. 6mN/m<(St10?St1000)<16mN/m??(1) where St10 is a surface tension in a lifetime of 10 msec, and St1000 is a surface tension in a lifetime of 1000 msec.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Noriaki Furukawa
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Patent number: 7862161Abstract: An ink cartridge configured to hold an ink includes a substantially hollow body including an inner space and a substantially continuous inner wall. The cartridge further includes an optical prism in the inner space, disposed at a predetermined distance from the continuous inner wall such that an ink pocket is defined by a prism wall and the continuous inner wall. The prism includes at least one reflection site formed at an angle configured to reflect light from a light source through the prism at a predetermined height relative to a bottom of the body. If ink is present in the ink pocket at a level below at least a portion of the reflection site, the ink does not block the light reflected off of the portion of the reflection site from traveling across the ink pocket at the predetermined height, such that the reflected light is externally viewable.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Holli C. Ogle, Ralph L. Stathem, Marc A. Baldwin
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Patent number: 7862162Abstract: A fluid coupling for establishing a sealed connection between a first conduit and a second conduit that has a seal seat and a compression member. The compression member is movable relative to the seal seat in which an annular seal is positioned. An engagement mechanism moves the second conduit from a disengaged position where there is no sealed fluid connection between the first and second conduits, to an engaged position where the compression member moves toward the seal seat to compress the annular seal to form a sealed fluid connection.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Christopher Hibbard, Geoffrey Philip Dyer, Paul Ian Mackey, Makomo Tsubono, Attila Bertok
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Patent number: 7862148Abstract: A method of priming an inkjet printhead having ink ejection nozzles. The method includes: providing an ink bag containing ink for distribution to the nozzles via a fluid path between the ink bag and the nozzles; applying inwardly directed force on at least one exterior wall of the ink bag so as to reduce an available fluid volume of the ink bag, thereby causing ink to flow from the ink bag to the nozzles along the fluid path; and arranging a biasing member in the ink bag so that the biasing member applies outwardly directed force on at least one interior wall of the ink bag to restrain the reduction of available fluid volume of the ink bag only once the available fluid volume has been reduced to a predetermined volume. Each nozzle is configured to eject an ink drop having a volume of about 1.2 picolitres.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Christopher Hibbard, Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Garry Raymond Jackson, John Douglas Peter Morgan
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Patent number: 7857435Abstract: A method of purging ink from an inkjet printhead is provided. The printhead is in fluid communication with an ink reservoir via an ink conduit. The method comprises compressing part of the ink conduit using a hammer mechanism, thereby purging ink from the printhead and flooding an ink ejection face of the printhead.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Vesa Karppinen, David William Jensen, David John Worboys, Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7854499Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid housing container that enables an increase in the channel cross section of a connection portion of a liquid channel that allows a liquid housing chamber to communicate with an exterior, allowing pressure loss to be minimized. A supply needle 107 is pushed into a liquid housing container to move, to an open position, a valve 102A. With the valve 102A remaining in the open position, the supply needle 107 is pushed back and held separate from the valve 102A. Subsequently, the supply needle 107 is pushed into the liquid container again to move the valve 102A to a closed position. Even when the supply needle 107 is removed from the liquid housing container, the valve 102A is held in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2007Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenta Udagawa
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Patent number: 7850297Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge which ejects an ink, a chamber having an inlet unit which inhales a fog generated when the ink is ejected from the cartridge and an outlet unit which exhales the inhaled fog, an air pressure generating unit which is connected to the chamber to generate an air pressure to inhale and exhale the fog from the chamber, and a valve unit which selectively opens and closes the inlet unit and the outlet unit by the air pressure which is generated in the air pressure generating unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventor: Youn-gun Jung
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Patent number: 7850292Abstract: A flow path connecting device includes a first flow path having a first connector and configured to channel fluids, a second flow path having a second connector and configured to channel fluids, a moving unit configured to move at least one of the first and second connectors, to interconnect the first and second connectors so that the first and second flow paths are communicated with each other, and to separate the first and second connectors from each other, and a control unit configured to control the moving unit, when the first and second connectors separate from each other, to set a relative speed of the first and second connectors to a first speed or less in a period from a start of the separation till a lapse of predetermined time, and set the relative speed to a second speed that is higher than the first speed after the lapse of the predetermined time.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshihide Wada
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Patent number: 7845774Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising an ink distribution assembly that includes an ink distribution molding having a plurality of ducts and at least one printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink distribution assembly. The at least one printhead integrated circuit receives ink via at least some of the plurality of ducts of the distribution molding, and a gas is introduced in the vicinity of a printing surface region of the at least one printhead integrated circuit via at least one of the plurality of ducts. Preferably the gas is an inert gas distributed via a gas duct, and the gas duct includes a gas valve molding formed as a channel with a series of apertures in the base of the channel, and the gas valve molding is longitudinally movable within the gas duct.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventor: Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7845775Abstract: An ink tank which includes a plurality of ink chambers and a plurality of supply ports is provided. The plurality of supply ports are provided for the respective ink chambers. Each of the supply ports communicates an outside with each of the ink chambers. Ink stored in the each of the ink chambers is supplied through the each of the supply ports to the outside.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shohei Koide
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Patent number: 7845779Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink cartridge with a handle for inkjet printers. The ink cartridge includes a cartridge housing (1) having hook-avoidance grooves (2) with a proper depth and corresponding to the pulling hooks (11) of the locking cover (10) of the printhead, and a handle (3) disposed on an upper surface of the ink cartridge body (1). The structure of the handle (3) is in a form of double-folding type. Alternatively, the handle can also be in a form of single straight flip-down type construction. Because of the handle structure, the present invention is not only able to relieve the installation and removal of the ink cartridge from excessive reliance on the locking cover of the print head, but also to make the ink cartridge installation and removal more natural, positive and user controlled.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Powerful Way LimitedInventor: Shui Kuen Nip
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Patent number: 7845776Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes: a casing; an inkjet head which is arranged in the casing and ejects ink from nozzles toward a recording medium; a scanning device which is arranged in the casing and moves the inkjet head to scan the recording medium in a scanning direction parallel with a breadthways direction of the recording medium; a recording medium supply device which accommodates the recording medium and is removably installed into the casing via a front face side of the casing and disposed on a lower side of the inkjet head in a vertical direction of the casing; a conveyance device which conveys the recording medium from the recording medium supply device to a recording region where the recording medium receives deposition of the ink ejected from the inkjet head, and conveys the recording medium within the recording region in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction; an ink cartridge which accommodates the ink to be supplied to the inkjet head and is removably installedType: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventor: Yasuhiko Kachi
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Patent number: 7845778Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead cartridge with a pagewidth printhead defining an array of nozzles for ejecting ink onto a media substrate. The printhead cartridge has a fluid coupling in fluid communication with the array of nozzles. The printer also has a cradle for supporting the printhead cartridge such that the array of nozzles is adjacent a media feed path extending through the printer, the cradle having a latch mechanism for retaining the printhead cartridge, an ink reservoir for containing supply of ink and a complementary coupling for fluid communication with the ink reservoir. The fluid coupling and the complementary coupling are configured to establish a sealed fluid connection using mechanical advantage provided by user actuation of the latch mechanism to retain the printhead cartridge in the cradle.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Geoffrey Philip Dyer, Attila Bertok, Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7841712Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining the appropriate printhead/ink tank installation position to move a carrier transporting the printhead/ink tanks for a printing device is presented. The carrier transporting the printhead/ink tank moves along a carrier frame and is covered by a protective cover. Once the protective cover is raised on the printing device, the status of the ink tank is sensed. Based on the ink tank status, the printing device carrier is moved to the appropriate printhead/ink tank installation position. In one embodiment, the status of the ink tank is determined by using the ink presence sensor. In another embodiment, the status of the ink tank is determined by using near field wireless communication with the memory of the ink tank.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2007Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Robert Muyskens, Gregory S Woods
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Patent number: 7841706Abstract: Variations in the negative pressure in the print head is minimized by positively controlling the ink supply pressure. For this purpose, the pump (36) and the valve (35) are installed in the ink communication path between the ink tank (40) and the print head (811), and are controlled to adjust the negative pressure applied to the print head (811).Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2005Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Canon Finetech, Inc.Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishinaga, Yoichi Sonobe, Kazuo Haida, Yuichi Takahashi
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Patent number: 7841707Abstract: A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer is provided which has a body portion having ink storage compartments, a pagewidth printhead configured to receive ink from the compartments and distribute the ink to nozzles arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media, and a capping assembly for capping the printhead. The capping assembly has a body which extends the printhead length, a capping element housed within the body and having a rim portion which caps at least a portion of the printhead and a displacement assembly housed within the body for moving the capping element between a first position where the rim portion extends from the body and a second position where the rim portion is contained within the body. The displacement assembly is controlled by an electromagnet which determines the position. The ink storage compartments comprise absorption material which stores the ink under capillary action.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
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Patent number: 7837312Abstract: A liquid cartridge has a container main body detachably mounted to a cartridge mounting section of a liquid consuming apparatus. The container main body includes a case main body having a liquid reservoir and a cover that covers one side of the case main body; a board mounting section provided on an outer side of the container main body, for mounting a circuit board having an information storage element, the board mounting section having a pair of board fixing bosses to be fitted in the mounting holes of the circuit board to locate the circuit board, and four guide walls provided on the peripheral four sides of the circuit board located by the pair of board fixing bosses. The three guide walls of the four guide walls that constitute the board mounting section form a substantially U-shaped opening that is open to the cover on the outer side of the case main body, and the other guide wall is at a rim of the cover.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Akihisa Wanibe
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Patent number: 7837308Abstract: A protector for an ink cartridge container including a containing case body, an ink inlet for a recording head, a cartridge containing part into which an ink cartridge is removably insertable, and a door body capable of opening and closing an opening opposed to the ink inlet with the cartridge containing part sandwiched therebetween, the protector includes a protective cap unit including: a main body; a supporting rod protruded toward the ink inlet from the main body; a guiding funnel formed at a front edge of the supporting rod; and an elastic cap provided at an inner diametrical portion of the guiding funnel and capable of coming into close contact with the ink inlet, wherein the main body, the guiding funnel and the elastic cap has a symmetrical shape with respect to an axis of the ink inlet.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroyasu Yano
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Patent number: 7832848Abstract: An ink cartridge mounting device is presented including (1) a housing that forms a mounting space for mounting an ink cartridge, (2) a hollow ink drawing member that protrudes from an inner surface of the housing toward the mounting space, the ink drawing member being inserted into the ink cartridge to draw out an ink stored in the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting space, and (3) an ink flow path forming portion that forms an ink flow path from the interior of the mounting space to the outside of the mounting space, along which ink from the ink drawing member flows when the ink cartridge is removed from the mounting space.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shota Iijima
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Patent number: 7828425Abstract: An ink circulation system, an inkjet recording apparatus having the ink circulation system, and an ink circulating method thereof. The ink circulation system includes an ink tank including an ink outlet and an ink inlet, a head assembly including a head chip through which an ink is discharged, and a filter, a supply path which supplies the ink of the ink tank to the head assembly, a first feed line through which ink of the head assembly at the upstream of the filter is conveyed into the ink tank, a second feed line through which the ink of the head assembly at the downstream of the filter is conveyed to the ink tank, and a pump which is provided at the ink inlet of the ink tank to provide the first and the second feed lines with a negative pressure to circulate the ink.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Sung-wook Kang, Kazuo Haida
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Patent number: 7824022Abstract: Disclosed is an ink-jet printer ejecting an ink comprising a cationic-polymerizable compound onto a recording medium, wherein the ink-jet printer comprises ink-contact members which constitute an ink tank retaining the ink and an ink jet supply passage of from the ink tank to a recording head ejecting the ink and the ink-contact members are each comprised of a material which does substantially not undergo electron transfer with the ink.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Masumi, Ai Kondo
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Patent number: 7824020Abstract: A liquid feed tube for feeding a liquid from a liquid tank disposed on a liquid jetting device body side to a jetting head mounted on a reciprocating carriage, including: a long elastic member and a film member connected in an airtight state to the elastic member along a longitudinal direction of the elastic member; and a space part formed by the elastic member and the film member and used as a liquid feed passage, wherein the elastic member is made of a specific resin composition. Thus, the bending rigidity of the liquid feed tube can be lowered, and the resistance to moisture permeability and the gas barrier property thereof can be realized at low cost.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2005Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignees: Bridgestone Corporation, Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Youkou Saito, Tadashi Utsunomiya, Toshio Kumagai, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Masanori Takemura, Kazuyuki Saito, Yasushi Soya
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Patent number: 7824028Abstract: Disclosed is a combination of a water-based ink and a wetting solution for ink-jet recording, which enables smooth introduction of the water-based ink into an ink-jet head. One end of a capillary having an inner diameter of from about 0.1 to about 1 mm is dipped in the water-based ink so that the water-based ink rises inside the capillary. A combination of a water-based ink and a wetting solution that satisfy the following formula (1) is selected: Vi/Vs?about 2??(1) wherein Vs indicates a rising speed of the water-based ink at an intermediate position before and after the water-based ink rising when an inner wall of the capillary is in a dry state, and Vi indicates a rising speed of the water-based ink when an inner wall of the capillary is wetted with the wetting solution.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hideto Yamazaki
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Patent number: 7815288Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus capable of improving reliability of an electrical connecting portion between a carriage side and head cartridge side. When an ink tank is mounted on a head cartridge, a hook of a set lever is obstructed to be operated in a lock releasing direction by a restricting surface of the ink tank. This prevents the head cartridge from being removed from the carriage, and maintains an electrical connecting condition between the carriage and the head cartridge. Therefore, for removing the head cartridge, it is necessary to remove the ink tank.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shusuke Inamura, Takashi Horiba
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Patent number: 7815295Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a casing, a carriage, a discharge head, a sub tank, an energy supply device, and a controller. The casing has a space for housing a main tank. The carriage is capable of moving. The discharge head is arranged on the carriage. The sub tank is arranged on the carriage. The sub tank communicates with the discharge head. The sub tank is connected with the main tank when the carriage is located at a predetermined position. The sub tank is disconnected with the main tank when the carriage is located at positions other than the predetermined position. The energy supply device supplies energy to liquid within the main tank such that the liquid within the main tank is discharged. The controller controls the energy supply device such that the ink within the main tank is supplied to the sub tank when the carriage is located at the predetermined position.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takatoshi Takemoto
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Patent number: 7806519Abstract: The invention provides for a refill unit for a printer cartridge having an operatively, negatively pressurized ink reservoir. The refill unit includes an ink bag housed within a docking assembly for docking with the printer cartridge. Also included is a valve actuator shaped and configured to actuate an outlet valve of the ink reservoir into a closed position and thereafter to actuate an inlet valve of the ink reservoir into an open position when the docking assembly docks with the cartridge. The refill unit also includes constrictor actuators engageable with the cartridge and configured to increase pressure in the ink bag during ink flow from the ink bag to the ink reservoir, and to permit a re-establishment of negative pressure in the ink reservoir upon disengagement of the refill unit from the cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
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Patent number: 7802879Abstract: Provided is an ink refill unit for a print engine. The unit includes a body assembly defining an ink ejection port at one end thereof, a compressible tank located inside said body assembly, and a compression arrangement for compressing the bellows tank. The compression arrangement includes actuation means selectively operable by a controller of the print engine, a threaded wall and circular plunger assembly, and an elongate drive gear mounted within the body assembly and engaging with the plunger assembly. The drive gear is actuated by the actuation means. The threaded wall and circular plunger assembly includes an internal lead screw provided in a substantially cylindrical internal wall of the body assembly and a helical geared thread provided about the circumference of a substantially circular plunger threaded to the internal lead screw thread and extending along a length thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
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Patent number: 7802861Abstract: A liquid detector includes: a case; a sensor base; a sensor chip; and a partition wall, dividing a part of a flow channel in the case into an upstream and downstream buffer chambers. The sensor chip includes a sensor cavity adapted to receive a liquid to be detected. The sensor base has: a first hole through which the liquid is introduced from the upstream buffer chamber to the sensor cavity; and a second hole through which the liquid is introduced from the sensor cavity to the downstream buffer chamber. The first and second holes are arranged in parallel at the same height, the partition wall is arranged between the first and second holes so as to extend along the sensor base, and a bottom bypass is formed at a lowermost position of the upstream and downstream buffer chambers to communicate the upstream and downstream buffer chambers with each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Akihisa Wanibe
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Patent number: 7798619Abstract: In a printing device (10) of the piezoelectric DOD type for printing a substrate (12) with a printing medium, comprising a print head (16), which is arranged in such a manner that it can be moved to and fro substantially transversely with respect to the direction in which the substrate to be printed is conveyed, the working container (30) for degassed printing medium is coupled to a flexible reservoir (32). This results in increased productivity.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2004Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Stork Digital Imaging B.V.Inventor: Jacobus Henricus Diederen
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Patent number: 7798605Abstract: A printer assembly for a pagewidth printer includes a support frame having a fluid channel member and a clipping arrangement configured so that a printed circuit board can be clipped to the support frame. A printhead arrangement has printhead tiles arranged in the fluid channel member. The support frame is configured so that a positional relationship between individual tile members is substantially retained during environmental changes.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Norman Micheal Berry, Paul Charles Knight
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Patent number: 7794065Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes an elongate ink feed structure defining a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply passages and a plurality of spaced apart sets of outlet holes with the holes of each set being in fluid communication with respective ink supply passages. A plurality of printhead modules is serially arranged along the ink feed structure in fluid communication with respective sets of outlet holes. Each printhead module includes an elongate printhead configured to eject ink supplied from the ink feed structure and angled with respect to the ink feed structure so that the printheads are oriented obliquely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ink feed structure. A capping arrangement is configured to cap the printheads when not in use.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
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Publication number: 20100220158Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
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Patent number: 7781343Abstract: By forming a protection layer on the back side of a substrate prior to any process sequences, which may deposit material or material residues on the back side, the respective back side uniformity may be significantly enhanced, thereby also increasing process efficiency of subsequent back side critical processes, such as lithography, back end of line processes and the like. In one illustrative embodiment, silicon carbide may be used as a material for forming a respective protection layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2007Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Globalfoundries Inc.Inventors: Tobias Letz, Holger Schuehrer, Markus Nopper
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Patent number: 7780276Abstract: Systems and methods for refilling inkjet printer cartridges are described. The system includes at least one rotary valve that contains a plurality of ports and a common port. The system further includes at least one pump in liquid communication with the common port of the rotary valve. At least one ink source is in liquid communication with at least one of the ports of the rotary valve, and at least one dispensing line is connected to at least one of the ports, where the dispensing line is configured to provide ink to an inkjet printer cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Retail Inkjet Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Jason Guhse, Herb Sarnoff, Thaddeus H. Walkowicz, Steve Szabo
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Patent number: 7775641Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting head which can introduce a liquid in a liquid storage member to a pressure chamber side via a liquid flow path from a liquid introducing needle and which can eject a liquid in the pressure chamber from a nozzle opening as a liquid drop by operation of a pressure generator. The liquid introducing needle constructed in a hollow needle shape includes an introducing needle portion in which a liquid introducing through hole for introducing a liquid in the liquid storage member is opened, and a cylindrical enlarged diameter straight portion formed at the downstream side of the introducing needle portion and whose inner diameter is enlarged than the inner diameter of the introducing needle portion. The inner space of the enlarged diameter straight portion is to be a bubble chamber which can store a bubble and the enlarged diameter straight portion includes a groove portion extending from the upstream side toward the down stream side on the inner circumference surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Noriaki Okazawa, Takeshi Fujishiro
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Patent number: 7775640Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink delivery system for a printhead. The ink delivery system includes an ink delivery extrusion defining a plurality of ink flow passages. The ink delivery extrusion also defines a series of patterned holes in fluid communication with the passages and through which ink can be provided to printhead modules. At least one endcap has a spine from which a pair of plates is integrally hinged so that the extrusion can be clamped between the plates. The spine includes a row of plugs that can be received within respective flow passages of the extrusion.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King
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Patent number: 7775642Abstract: This invention relates to a cover assembly for a cradle unit of a pagewidth print engine. The cover assembly defines a docking port for a refill unit configured to refill a cartridge unit of the print engine. The cartridge unit is housed in the cradle. The docking port includes a rim portion, engagement means and a push rod. The rim portion is for receiving a base portion of the refill unit so that the refill unit is able to pass through the cover assembly, in use, to dock with the cartridge unit. The engagement means is located within the rim portion, the engagement means being configured to engage the refill unit to retain the refill unit securely in position to facilitate refilling of the cartridge unit. The push rod extends through a hole in the rim portion for operatively actuating the refill unit to incrementally dispense ink.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2009Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
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Patent number: 7775629Abstract: An image recording apparatus that includes: a conductive cable and an ink supply tube each of which is fixed to a carriage at one end thereof and to an apparatus body at the other end thereof and is routed to form a curved portion; and a turn supporting member including an arm, a carrying portion provided on the arm, and a holding portion provided on the arm. The holding portion slidably holds a predetermined part of the ink tube. The flat cable is slidably supported on the carrying portion. The arm is supported on a turn supporting point on the apparatus body located at an inner part of the curved portion of each of the flat cable and the ink tube and is led from the turn supporting point in a substantially horizontal direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kosuke Nukui, Takatoshi Takemoto
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Patent number: 7771035Abstract: The invention relates to a reservoir assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge. The cartridge has a fluid distribution molding with priming inlets in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying printing fluid to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits. The reservoir assembly includes a reservoir compartment arranged in fluid communication with the fluid channels via a fluid outlet. The reservoir includes a porous absorbent material located inside the compartment to absorb printing fluid delivered via the priming inlets. The reservoir assembly also includes a bypass fluid path arranging the fluid outlet and a well region of the compartment in fluid communication, said bypass fluid path having a bypass valve to facilitate priming the reservoir compartment with printing fluid.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2008Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Micheal Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
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Patent number: 7762651Abstract: A fluid reservoir for use in a printing device includes a housing that, at least partially, forms at least one chamber therein. The chamber is configured to hold a fluid. A bubble port leads through housing into a first region of chamber and fluidically couples chamber to atmospheric gas external to housing. A bubble director arranged within chamber is configured to direct at least one bubble of gas from first region to a second region of chamber. The bubble is formed within fluid within first region upon gas entering chamber through bubble port.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2005Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Ralph L. Stathem, David N. Olsen, Mark A. Smith, Marjan S. Amesbury, Greg K. Justice
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Patent number: 7762652Abstract: A print engine is provided for an inkjet printer unit. The print engine includes a cradle unit and a replaceable cartridge unit to be releasably received within the cradle unit. The cartridge unit includes an elongate body defining a row of cavities. An ink storage module assembly includes a plurality of ink storage modules received within the cavities. Each ink storage module includes a collapsible ink storage bag extending between a pair of plates. A printhead assembly is mounted to the body and includes an ink ejection integrated circuit (IC) connected to receive ink from the ink storage modules.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2008Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Akira Nakazawa, Christopher Hibbard, Paul Ian Mackey, Norman Michael Berry, Garry Raymond Jackson
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Patent number: 7763668Abstract: A curable printing fluid composition for a thermal fluid ejection device is disclosed, wherein the printing fluid composition comprises a curable liquid-phase monomer, a volatile driver fluid capable of being vaporized by a thermal fluid ejection printhead, and a resistor protectant.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: ImTech, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth E. Trueba, William Allen Buskirk
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Patent number: 7758174Abstract: An ink supply system for an inkjet printhead is provided. The system comprises: (a) an ink reservoir for storing ink, the ink reservoir being contained in a pressurizable chamber; (b) an ink conduit providing fluid communication between the ink reservoir and the printhead; (c) a pressure device for positively pressurizing the chamber, the pressure device comprising an air compressor in fluid communication with the chamber; and (d) a valve in the ink conduit for controlling a supply of ink to the printhead.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Vesa Karppinen, Kia Silverbrook