Fluid Supply System Patents (Class 347/85)
  • Patent number: 11660865
    Abstract: An Inkjet printer includes a substrate on a stage. A print head unit is positioned above the stage and discharges an ink on the substrate. The print head unit includes a manifold for guiding movement of the ink in a first direction therein. A head block is under the manifold and includes a plurality of channels connected to the manifold and piezoelectric elements adjacent to the channels to discharge the ink through the channels. A nozzle unit is under the head block and includes nozzles corresponding to the channels. A dispersion plate is between the manifold and the head block and disperses the ink in a second direction intersecting the first direction to supply the ink to the head block. Resistance plates are between the dispersion plate and the head block, are formed parallel substantially to the second direction, and prevent the ink from flowing in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyong Sub Kim, Geun Tak Kim, Jae Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11665298
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a time measurement stored on an imaging device. The method comprises: receiving, by the imaging device, a supply item manufacturing time stamp from a supply item connected to the imaging device, comparing the supply item manufacturing time stamp with the time measurement of the imaging device, and updating, by the imaging device, the time measurement of the imaging device, based on the supply item manufacturing time stamp. An imaging device comprising a memory, the memory storing a time measurement, wherein the imaging device is configured to maintain the time measurement by: receiving a supply item manufacturing time stamp from a supply item connected to the imaging device, and updating the time measurement of the imaging device, based on the supply item manufacturing time stamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Lexmark International Inc.
    Inventor: Jennifer Topmiller Williams
  • Patent number: 11665952
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a display device includes: a stage unit; and a suction unit located above the stage unit, wherein the suction unit includes: a main body including an outer box with top and bottom openings and an inner cup disposed in the outer box; a first air blower disposed above the main body and including a first main pipe extending in a first direction and a second air blower including a second main pipe extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a lower plate coupled to a lower end of the outer box and including a through hole; and a suction inlet defined by an inner end of the lower plate defining the through hole and a lower end of the inner cup, wherein the suction inlet is opened downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Hee Lim, Jae Il Kim, Jong Hyup Kim, Kang Hyuk Lee, Jin Pyung Lee, Il Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 11654681
    Abstract: Wall surfaces of the nozzle channel include a first wall surface which extends in the first direction and in which the nozzle is provided and a second wall surface which extends in the first direction and is opposite to the first wall surface, wall surfaces of the first communication channel include a third wall surface which extends in the second direction and a distance from which to the nozzle in the first direction is longest and a fourth wall surface which extends in the second direction and is opposite to the third wall surface, and a fifth wall surface which extends in a third direction set between the first direction and the second direction is provided between the second wall surface and the fourth wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Naganuma, Yuma Fukuzawa, Shotaro Tamai
  • Patent number: 11654691
    Abstract: An ink storage unit capable of stirring ink by ink circulation is proposed. The ink storage unit, which is configured to store ink for supplying the ink to an inkjet head including a plurality of nozzles to discharge the ink, includes an ink storage container having an inside space configured to store the ink therein, a head supply tube configured to supply the ink stored in the ink storage container to the inkjet head, a head recovery tube configured to recover remaining ink remained in the inkjet head to the ink storage container, a circulation tube configured to drain the ink through a first end thereof connected to the ink storage container and to receive the ink through a second end thereof connected to the ink storage container, and a circulation pump provided in the circulation tube to transfer the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: GOSANTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sohyeon Park
  • Patent number: 11654675
    Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes: a head including a nozzle configured to eject ink toward a recording medium; a storage portion storing therein ink and formed with an air communication opening allowing an interior of the storage portion to be communicated with an outside thereof; a valve movable between an opening position opening the air communication opening and a closing position closing the air communication opening; an actuator configured to move the valve; a state sensor configured to output a detection signal based on the state of the inkjet recording device; and a controller configured to perform: (a) determining, on the basis of the detection signal, whether the inkjet recording device has an abnormality; and (b) controlling, in a case where determination is made in (a) that the inkjet recording device has an abnormality, the actuator to move the valve to the closing position from the opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Fumio Nakazawa, Taichi Shirono, Sosuke Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 11642891
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes an ejection opening; a passage in which an energy generation element is disposed; an ejection opening portion that allows communication between the ejection opening and the passage; a supply passage for allowing the liquid to flow into the passage; and an outflow passage for allowing the liquid to flow out to the outside. An expression of H?0.34×P?0.66×W>1.7 is satisfied when a height of the passage is set to H [?m], a length of the ejection opening portion is set to P [?m], and a length of the ejection opening portion is set to W [?m].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Okushima, Seiichiro Karita, Takatsuna Aoki, Noriyasu Nagai, Eisuke Nishitani, Yoshiyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11633954
    Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium in a first direction toward a recording head for ejecting a liquid, a tank including a containing chamber containing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head, and an injection port through which the liquid is injected into the containing chamber, the tank being disposed downstream of the conveyance unit in the first direction, a rotatable lever that holds a tank cap for closing the injection port, and a cover that rotates about a rotation shaft between an open position for exposing the lever and a closed position for covering the lever, the rotation shaft being disposed upstream of the conveyance unit in the first direction. The cover includes a sliding portion that is provided on a surface facing the lever and comes into contact with the lever while the cover is rotating toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taiji Maruyama, Koya Iwakura, Hideaki Matsumura, Tetsu Hamano, Nobuhiro Toki, Daiju Takeda, Fumie Kameyama, Koki Shimada, Shota Asada, Ken Takenaga, Yusuke Tanaka, Yuta Araki, Atsushi Matsuyama, Yusuke Naratani, Kousuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11623446
    Abstract: An ink supply device includes a plurality of ink containers, a plurality of heater units, a frame, a lower fixing member and an upper fixing member. In the ink container, ink is stored. The heater units are arranged in a horizontal arrangement direction. The heater unit includes a tube in which the ink fed from the ink container is passed, a hearer heating the ink passing through the tube and a casing by which the tube and the heater are supported. In the frame, the ink containers and the heater units are stored. The lower fixing member is fixedly mounted to the frame and holds all lower portions of the heater units. The upper fixing member is detachably mounted to the frame and holds all upper portions of the heater units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Fukunaga, Yuzo Onishi
  • Patent number: 11625202
    Abstract: A printing device includes a mount portion, a printer, a display, and a controller. In the mount portion, a consumable is capable of being mounted. The printer is configured to print an image on a printing medium by using the consumable mounted on the mount portion. The controller performs a first display process to display on the display first type-identification information identifying a first consumable. The controller performs, in a case that a prescribed agreement for a subscription is established, a second display process to display on the display second type-identification information identifying a second consumable supported under the prescribed agreement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuka Hattori
  • Patent number: 11618260
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that has a supply port, a second discharge port, a plurality of nozzles, and a nozzle surface on which a plurality of the nozzles are open, and that discharges the liquid from the nozzles, a liquid supply flow path coupled to the supply port so that the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting portion, and a liquid return flow path coupled to the second discharge port so that the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting portion is returned to the liquid supply flow path, in which a pressure lowering operation of lowering a pressure in the liquid ejecting portion is performed in a state where a flow of the liquid in the liquid return flow path is blocked after performing a pressurization discharge operation of pressurizing the liquid in the liquid ejecting portion and discharging the liquid from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Shinoda, Takeshi Iwamuro, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11618265
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head including a plurality of nozzles, a row of individual flow paths that includes a plurality of individual flow paths arranged in parallel along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis when viewed in a direction of the first axis, and a common liquid chamber that is commonly in communication with the plurality of individual flow paths. In the liquid ejecting head, the plurality of individual flow paths include a first individual flow path and a second individual flow path that are adjacent to each other in the row of individual flow paths, and the level of a first opening that is a connection port between the common liquid chamber and the first individual flow path and the level of a second opening that is a connection port between the common liquid chamber and the second individual flow path are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Uchida, Yuma Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 11613127
    Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge includes a front face oriented toward a first direction, a printing fluid supply portion positioned at the front face, a rear face positioned opposite the front face and oriented toward a second direction opposite the first direction, at least one electrical interface positioned between the front face and the rear face, and an engagement surface facing in the second direction. The at least one electrical interface is offset from the printing supply portion with respect to a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The at least one electrical interface is positioned closer to the front face than the engagement surface is, and the at least one electrical interface and the engagement surface intersect a plane which is parallel with the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kanbe, Hirotake Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11597207
    Abstract: Convenience of an ink bottle and a bottle set is improved. An ink bottle includes: a container portion that contains ink; a guiding portion that is formed in one end portion of the container portion, and includes an outflow port from which the ink in the container portion flow out; and a cover that covers at least an end portion of the container portion on the opposite side of the guiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Ryoichi Tanaka, Manabu Akahane, Koichi Toba, Takumi Nagashima, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Tadashi Watanabe, Noriyuki Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11597208
    Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure provides an image recording apparatus including a liquid supplying device. The liquid supplying device includes a tank, a cartridge, an atmospheric communication portion, and a recording portion. The tank has a second storage chamber configured to store liquid, a liquid passage in communication with the second storage chamber, and a gas passage in communication with the second storage chamber. The atmospheric communication portion includes a buffer tank defining a buffer chamber configured to store gas, a single communication flow passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicate with the second storage chamber, and an air communication passage allowing the buffer chamber to communicate with an atmosphere. When the cartridge is attached to the tank, the buffer chamber is positioned below the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber is positioned below the buffer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayashi, Yoshinori Osakabe, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11597212
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid storing unit capable of storing liquid, a liquid ejection unit including an ejection port that is capable of ejecting the liquid, and a pressure control unit that receives the liquid from the liquid storing unit and allows the liquid having a pressure controlled to be within a predetermined pressure range to be supplied to the liquid ejection unit. Additionally, the liquid ejection apparatus includes a first circulation unit that supplies the liquid having the pressure controlled by the pressure control unit to the ejection port while circulating the liquid between the liquid ejection unit and the pressure control unit, and a second circulation unit that circulates the liquid between the liquid storing unit and the pressure control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamada, Yohei Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11599315
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a holder configured to hold an expendable supply attached thereto, a print engine configured to perform printing using the supply, a display configured to display information regarding the supply, and a controller configured to determine whether a supply-consumed status amount of the supply attached to the holder has reached a first threshold, the supply-consumed status amount representing how much the supply is consumed, and when determining that the supply-consumed status amount of the supply attached to the holder has reached the first threshold, cause the display to show supply-related information related to a contract concluded on the supply used for the printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuka Hattori
  • Patent number: 11590759
    Abstract: A liquid container is removably mountable into the apparatus body of a liquid ejection apparatus. The liquid container comprises a liquid storage chamber equipped with an air intake hole and a liquid supply port, for storing liquid and a valve unit having a sealing member and an urging member. The urging member is arranged so as to be at least partly rotationally movable and the urging member has urging force for urging the sealing member in the direction of making the sealing member abut the air intake hole. The sealing member is rotationally movable between a position of abutting and closing the air intake hole and a position separated from the air intake hole so as to open the air intake hole in response to a rotary motion of the urging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nanjo, Hiroki Hayashi, Keisuke Kouno
  • Patent number: 11590760
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes a tank and a cartridge attachable to and detachable from the tank along an attachment and detachment direction crossing a vertical direction. The cartridge includes a first storing chamber configured to store liquid therein. The tank includes a second storing chamber configured to store liquid therein, a liquid channel and an air channel that communicate with the second storing chamber, and an air communication port allowing the second storing chamber to communicate with an outside thereof. When the cartridge is attached to the tank with the first storing chamber of the cartridge communicating with the liquid channel and the air channel of the tank, the first storing chamber has a portion located above the liquid channel and the air channel in the vertical direction, and the tank is located below a secondary-lower surface and faces a secondary-front surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinari Ishibe, Yoshinori Osakabe, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tatsuya Shindo
  • Patent number: 11584131
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an inkjet assembly, an inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method for use in preparation of a display component. The inkjet assembly is for use in an inkjet printing apparatus, including a jet printing member having a first surface. A main inkjet channel, a liquid-phase channel in communication with the main inkjet channel, and a gas-phase channel in communication with the main inkjet channel are formed in the jet printing member. An axial direction of the liquid-phase channel intersects an axial direction of the main inkjet channel, and an axial direction of the gas-phase channel intersects the axial direction of the main inkjet channel. An end opening of the main inkjet channel is formed as a nozzle on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., Shanghai University
    Inventors: Jin Cao, Jinsong Zhang, Limin Yan, Chunming Ren, Xinguo Li, Xiao Wu
  • Patent number: 11584134
    Abstract: A print head can suppress contamination due to ink at the time of being mounted on a printing apparatus and/or after being detached from the printing apparatus. For this purpose, a positioning pin longer than a needle is provided in a joint unit of the print head, and the joint unit includes a shutter which closes an opening on a supply side and an opening on a collection side when the print head is detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Shimoyama, Soji Kondo, Akira Kida, Tetsuji Kurata, Atsushi Kohnotoh
  • Patent number: 11577522
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, an inkjet printing apparatus includes a print head having an ejection opening surface on which ejection openings for ejecting ink are formed, a tank storing ink to be supplied to the print head, a supply flow path for supplying the ink from the tank to the print head, a collection flow path for collecting the ink from the print head to the tank, a supply pump provided in the supply flow path to supply the ink from the tank to the print head, a tank decompression pump which decompresses the inside of the tank, and a control unit which controls to drive the supply pump and the tank decompression pump to fill the collection flow path with ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Tokisawa, Yumi Mukoyama, Kyoshiro Okude, Takashi Abe, Takahiro Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 11577519
    Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a first liquid container, a liquid discharger, a second liquid container, a first liquid flow passage, and a second liquid flow passage. The first liquid container is configured to contain liquid. The liquid discharger is configured to discharge the liquid supplied from the first liquid container in a liquid supply direction. The second liquid container is configured to contain the liquid supplied from the first liquid container. The first liquid flow passage is a passage through which the liquid is supplied from the first liquid container to the liquid discharger via the second liquid container. The second liquid flow passage is a passage through which the liquid is supplied from the first liquid container to the liquid discharger without passing through the second liquid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jumpei Aoyama, Hiroaki Maeda
  • Patent number: 11577250
    Abstract: A pipette-fillable fluid reservoir body. The fluid reservoir body includes two or more discrete fluid chambers therein. At least one of the fluid chambers contains a pressure compensation device and at least another one of the fluid chambers is devoid of a pressure compensation device. Each of the fluid chambers is in fluid flow communication with a fluid supply via, and each of the fluid chambers have sidewalls and a bottom wall attached to the side walls, wherein the bottom wall slopes toward the fluid supply via. The fluid reservoir body also includes an ejection head support face in fluid flow communication with the fluid chambers for attachment of a fluid ejection device to the ejection head support face for ejecting fluid from the fluid chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Adam D. Carrithers, Bruce A. DeBoard, Michael A. Marra, III, Sam Norasak
  • Patent number: 11559993
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to a printer system that includes a first primary ink tank holding a dark-colored ink, a second primary ink tank holding a light-colored ink, a first selector valve configured to change a state, a first secondary ink tank connected to the first primary ink tank via the first selector valve, a second secondary ink tank connected to the first and second primary ink tanks via the first selector valve, a second selector valve connected to the first primary ink tank configured to return the dark-colored ink from the print heads to the first primary ink tank, and a third selector valve connected to the second selector valve and the second primary ink tank configured to either return the light-colored ink from the print heads to the second primary ink tank or to direct the dark-colored ink to the second selector valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Andrew Porter
  • Patent number: 11541661
    Abstract: In some examples an imaging device can include a fill port to receive a colorant container including an alignment circuit, a controller including a processing resource and memory resource including a non-transitory computer-readable instructions executable by the processing resource to detect a presence of a colorant container in a fill port of an imaging device, responsive to detection of the colorant container in the fill port, detect if the colorant container is properly inserted in the fill port, and cause a fill process to initiate responsive to detection that the colorant container is properly inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Duane A Koehler
  • Patent number: 11535039
    Abstract: An ejection-material ejection apparatus and an imprinting apparatus are provided which are capable of quickly detecting damage of a flexible membrane and avoiding contact between an ejection material and an operating liquid even if part of the flexible membrane is damaged. The flexible membrane includes a first film (1) covering a first storing space (5) for the ejection material, a second film (2) covering a second storing space (6) for the operating liquid, and an inter-film space 4 situated between the first film (1) and the second film (2). A change in state of the inter-film space (4) resulting from communication between at least one of the first storing space (5) and the second storing space (6) and the inter-film space (4) is detected with a liquid sensor (41), a flow speed sensor (77), and a liquid leakage sensor (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuto Kawahara, Yoshimasa Araki, Yuichi Iwasaki, Noriyasu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11537806
    Abstract: A container includes a surface and a first resonance portion. The surface defines a volume of the container, and the first resonance portion includes an assembly of three-dimensional (3D) carbon-containing structures printed on the surface of the container using one or more first carbon-based inks. The first resonance portion is configured to indicate a presence of an item within the container by resonating at one or more predetermined frequencies in response to an electromagnetic radiation ping associated with a user device located a distance from the container. In some implementations, the container may include a second resonance portion including an assembly of 3D carbon-containing structures printed on the surface of the container using one or more second carbon-based inks, the one or more second carbon-based inks being different than the one or more first carbon-based inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Lyten, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Stowell, Bruce Lanning
  • Patent number: 11535036
    Abstract: A method for filling a reservoir of a printing device that includes conducting an unattended refill process of an internal reservoir in response to a detection of a fluid supply unit. In an example, the supply dock fluidically, electrically, and mechanically couples to the fluid supply unit to the printing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steve A. O'Hara, Howard G. Wong, Wesley R. Schalk, Roger J. Kolodziej, Christopher J. Arnold, Ki Jung Han, Lynn A. Collie
  • Patent number: 11518115
    Abstract: A thermoplastic forming tool includes a wand that includes a handle, a tip, and a conduit coupling the handle to the tip. The tip includes a heating element, a forming shoe, and a forming shoe support. During use, heat from the heating element heats the forming shoe to a temperature at or above the glass transition temperature of a thermoplastic polymer. The thermoplastic forming tool may be used to apply a thermoplastic material to a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: THERMALOOP
    Inventor: Charlie Falconer
  • Patent number: 11511544
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes an ejection opening; a passage in which an energy generation element is disposed; an ejection opening portion that allows communication between the ejection opening and the passage; a supply passage for allowing the liquid to flow into the passage; and an outflow passage for allowing the liquid to flow out to the outside. An expression of H?0.34×P?0.66×W>1.7 is satisfied when a height of the passage is set to H [?m], a length of the ejection opening portion is set to P [?m], and a length of the ejection opening portion is set to W [?m].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Okushima, Seiichiro Karita, Takatsuna Aoki, Noriyasu Nagai, Eisuke Nishitani, Yoshiyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11504970
    Abstract: A printing fluid collector is described. In one example, the collector comprises a conveying mechanism for collecting printing fluid ejected from a printing fluid dispenser, and a connecting means for connecting the conveying mechanism to a printing system in an orientation such that the conveying mechanism is to collect printing fluid ejected from the printing fluid dispenser and convey the printing fluid in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to a direction of movement of a print medium along a print medium path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ignasi Bonjoch Roma, Oscar Moya Rojo, Josep Maria Bel Calavia
  • Patent number: 11504982
    Abstract: A method of removing a printhead cartridge from a print module includes the steps of: rotating a first wing lever to effect linear sliding movement of a first ink coupling of the print module away from the printhead cartridge; rotating a second wing lever to effect linear sliding movement of a second ink coupling of the print module away from the printhead cartridge; and removing the printhead cartridge from the print module. The first and second wing levers each has an axis of rotation perpendicular to a direction of linear sliding movement of the first and second ink couplings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Profaca
  • Patent number: 11491796
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes an ink tank that contains an ink to be supplied to a printing head that ejects the ink, the ink being injected from an ink bottle. The inkjet printing apparatus further includes an injection assistance member including a first passage and a second passage. The first passage is defined by a first upper end portion opening toward the outside of the ink tank and a first lower end portion opening toward the inside of the ink tank. The second passage is defined by a second upper end portion opening toward the outside of the ink tank and projecting upward less than the first upper end portion and a second lower end portion opening toward the inside of the ink tank and larger than the first lower end portion in terms of a distance from the bottom surface of the ink tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuta Araki, Kosuke Umehara, Koki Shimada
  • Patent number: 11491789
    Abstract: A head comprises multiple nozzles on an ejection surface. The number n of nozzle rows each comprising a plurality m of nozzles arranged in a direction intersecting a first direction are disposed parallel to each other, where n and m are integers 2 or greater. Between the nozzles of each nozzle row, the nozzles of other of the nozzle rows are located as viewed in the first direction and the plurality of nozzles are located at the number m×n of dot positions. An interval defined by the number of dot positions from a dot position where one nozzle is arranged to a dot position just before a dot position where a next one of the nozzles is arranged in each row is referred to as nozzle pitch. At least one of the rows comprises two or more types of the nozzle pitches varying in the number of the dot positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11479056
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink composition, an ink encasement in which the ink composition is encased, a recording head that ejects the ink composition, and a carriage configured to move the recording head back and forth. The carriage carries the ink encasement, with the ink encasement integrated with the carriage. The ink encasement has an ink fill port that opens and shuts as a port through which the ink composition is loaded and also has a detector that detects the amount of ink composition encased. The ink composition contains a surfactant with an HLB of 6 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventors: Tomohiro Aruga, Jun Ito, Kiyomi Kumamoto, Tomoki Maruyama, Yusuke Mizutaki
  • Patent number: 11472189
    Abstract: A mounting unit includes a mounting portion to which a liquid container that accommodates a liquid is mounted, in which the mounting portion has a liquid introduction portion that is inserted into the liquid container that is mounted to the mounting portion, and a first receiving portion that is provided below the liquid introduction portion, the first receiving portion has a first recess portion and a second recess portion, the liquid introduction portion extends in a direction opposite to a mounting direction that is a direction in which the liquid container moves when the liquid container is mounted to the mounting portion, and the second recess portion is provided at a position closer to a tip of the liquid introduction portion than the first recess portion is in the mounting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Haga, Taro Takekoshi, Nanami Sakai, Akihiko Shiho, Tomoyuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 11474448
    Abstract: An image forming device and a method of operating an image forming device are provided. The method includes detecting a coupling of a first toner refill kit to an image forming device, obtaining, based on a first electrical signal generated in the first toner refill kit, first authentication data corresponding to the first electrical signal, obtaining a first authentication key used to authenticate the first toner refill kit from the first authentication data, applying the first authentication key to a predetermined criterion used to determine validity of an authentication key of a toner refill kit to confirm whether the first toner refill kit is genuine, and controlling a toner refilling operation of the first toner refill kit based on whether the first toner refill kit is genuine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Sang Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 11472191
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes a liquid storage tank in communication with a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid and a cartridge configured to be detachably provided to the liquid storage tank. The liquid storage tank includes an atmosphere communication portion in communication with the atmosphere and a first connecting portion that, in a state where the cartridge is attached to the liquid storage tank, enables the cartridge to be in liquid communication with the liquid storage tank. The liquid storage tank also includes a second connecting portion that, in the state where the cartridge is attached to the liquid storage tank, is connected to the cartridge so as to be liquid-tight with the cartridge and enables the cartridge to be in gaseous communication with the atmosphere communication portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunori Takei, Hiroki Hayashi, Hiroshi Koshikawa
  • Patent number: 11459150
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid replenishment container that replenishes a liquid tank including a liquid supply portion protruding in a first direction with a liquid. The container includes: a container main body capable of storing a liquid; a liquid replenishment nozzle including a first side wall and mountable on the liquid supply portion, the first side wall defining an internal space communicating with the container main body; and a valve body provided in the internal space and causing the liquid supply portion to communicate with the internal space when the liquid replenishment nozzle is mounted. The internal space has a first liquid replenishment flow path formed between the valve body and the first side wall and being constant in cross-section in the first direction, and a second liquid replenishment flow path formed inside the first liquid replenishment flow path and being continuous in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Masukawa, Manabu Otsuka
  • Patent number: 11446932
    Abstract: A primer apparatus for a print head structure of an inkjet printer, in which the primer apparatus comprises a pump to supply a flow of air to the print head structure, an outlet valve and a control valve in fluid communication with and disposed between the pump and the outlet valve, the outlet valve comprising a venting structure to reduce the pressure of a flow of air supplied to the print head structure when the control valve is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: David Butinya
  • Patent number: 11440324
    Abstract: An ink discharge device includes one or more recording heads discharging an ink and a damper. The recording head includes a head side coupling. The damper includes a damper side coupling which is connected to the head side coupling along a connecting direction. The damper side coupling is provided so as to be movable along the connecting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kikunosuke Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11440326
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes at least one ink tank which is ink-refillable from outside, a liquid ejection head that ejects an ink supplied from the ink tank, and a housing that contains the ink tank and the liquid ejection head inside. The at least one ink tank is fixed to a housing wall of at least one surface out of surfaces forming the housing. Moreover, one surface out of surfaces forming the ink tank, which is attached to the housing wall, is either a surface having the largest area of the ink tank or a surface opposed to the surface having the largest area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Fukumoto, Hiroshi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11442380
    Abstract: An example image forming apparatus includes a main body, a toner refilling portion, and a controller. On the main body, a development cartridge is mounted. The toner refilling portion is connected to the development cartridge and a toner refill cartridge inserted through a communicating portion of the main body and thus receives, from the toner refill cartridge, authentication information obtained from the toner refill cartridge, thereby adjusting a toner inflow from the toner refill cartridge to the development cartridge. A controller determines whether to allow a toner refill using the toner refill cartridge based on the authentication information obtained from the toner refill cartridge and authentication information obtained from the image forming apparatus and controls the toner refilling portion according to a determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jea Hong Park, Jang-Geun Kim
  • Patent number: 11433680
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid-sealed cartridge that includes: a liquid storage portion configured to store liquid; a flow path in which the liquid stored in the liquid storage portion flows; and a liquid sealing portion configured to seal the liquid in the liquid storage portion, in which the liquid sealing portion has an outer circumferential portion and a center-side low strength portion disposed closer to a center than the outer circumferential portion, and the center-side low strength portion is broken when pressed, to allow the liquid in the liquid storage portion to flow in the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignees: SYSMEX CORPORATION, ASTI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Horii, Shun Nakamoto, Noriyuki Ogai, Yasuhiro Toda, Kimiaki Iwahori
  • Patent number: 11413863
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes first and second individual flow paths arranged side by side along a first direction; a first nozzle communicating with the first individual flow path; a second nozzle communicating with the second individual flow path; and a common liquid chamber coupled to the first and second individual flow paths. The first and second nozzles have openings in a nozzle surface having a second direction as a normal direction. The first individual flow path has a first upstream communication path extending between the first nozzle and the common liquid chamber along the second direction. The second individual flow path has a second upstream communication path extending between the second nozzle and the common liquid chamber along the second direction. The first upstream communication path and the second upstream communication path have parts which do not overlap each other when seen along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuma Fukuzawa, Kazuaki Uchida, Shunya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11414557
    Abstract: An active-energy-ray-polymerizable initiator having a structure represented by the following general formula (1) is provided. In general formula (1), L1 represents —C(?O)—O— (binding to L2 side) or —O—, L2 represents —O(CH2)p-(binding to L1 side), —(OC2H4)n-(binding to L1 side), or —(OC3H6)m-(binding to L1 side), where p represents an integer of 2 to 16, n represents an integer of 2 to 12, and m represents 2 or 3, L3 represents a direct binding or —NH—, L4 represents —OC2H4-(binding to L3 side) or —(OC2H4)2-(binding to L3 side), and R represents —H or —CH3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Harada, Hidetoshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11370222
    Abstract: A liquid supply device for use in a printer is provided, which includes a mounting base on which a storing body filled with liquid is mountable, a tube capable of supplying the liquid from the storing body to the printer, a connector coupled to the tube and configured to be detached from the storing body, and moreover provided with a grip portion, and a cover configured to move to a first position for covering the grip portion and a second position for not covering the grip portion, in a state in which the connector is attached to the storing body mounted on the mounting base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Seiya Hayashi, Akira Mashima
  • Patent number: 11370225
    Abstract: An example of a device (100) may include a valve body (108). The device (100) may include a printing substance transfer aperture (122) through the valve body (108). The device (100) may include a hood (138), fixed to the valve body (108), encompassing the printing substance transfer aperture (122) within a cavity between an external face (137) of the valve body (108) and the hood (138). The device (100) may include a printing substance dispensing nozzle (110) movable between a first position with an orifice (126) of the printing substance dispensing nozzle (110) facing an internal face of the valve body (108) and a second position with the orifice (126) of the printing substance dispensing nozzle (110) facing the printing substance transfer aperture (122). The device (100) may include a dispensing-side gasket material (132) slide-able through the printing substance transfer aperture (122) when moving the printing substance dispensing nozzle (110) between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Luke, Mathew Lavigne
  • Patent number: 11364722
    Abstract: Example implementations relate to print substance donor containers. For example, a system comprising a receiving container with a receiving receptacle port and a donor container comprising a outlet probe to transport print substance material from the donor container to the receiving container in response to the outlet probe coupling with the receiving receptacle port of the receiving container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeff Luke, Dean Richtsmeier, Mathew Lavigne