Fluid Supply System Patents (Class 347/85)
  • Patent number: 10071557
    Abstract: In one example implementation, a printhead assembly includes a fluid intake section, a fluid interconnect integrated with the fluid intake section to receive fluid from an ink supply assembly, and an air-permeable, fluid-resistant, fluid interconnect cover installed over the fluid interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Rhonda L. Wilson, Mark A. Devries
  • Patent number: 10071512
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a liquid-ejecting head whereby in die slide injection molding it is possible to stably inject resin in secondary molding without damaging the shapes of parts that were formed in primary molding. In order for that, in the connecting section in which a convex section of a cover member is inserted into an opening of a liquid-supply member, the closest distance to the opening in the area where secondary resin is injected is made larger than the gap between the opening and the convex section. As a result, the resin is prevented from flowing into a liquid path during the secondary molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kimura, Yukuo Yamaguchi, Mikiya Umeyama, Satoshi Oikawa, Hiromasa Amma, Takuya Iwano, Naoko Tsujiuchi, Yasushi Iijima, Kyosuke Toda
  • Patent number: 10059118
    Abstract: There is provided an ejecting unit for ejecting a first fluid from nozzles, including: a first connection port to flow the first fluid; a second connection port to flow a second fluid; a driving portion configured to eject the first fluid in a flow path which communicates with the first connection port and the nozzles, from the nozzles; a first chamber that communicates with the second connection port; and a second chamber that communicates with the second connection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Sato, Ryoji Fujimori, Kaoru Koike, Shigenori Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10059117
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion that has a nozzle and performs a recording process by ejecting liquid from the nozzle toward a medium, a supply flow path that is provided so as to allow the liquid that is accommodated in a liquid accommodating body to flow toward the liquid ejecting portion, and a pressure feeding mechanism that forcefully causes the liquid to flow from the liquid accommodating body toward the liquid ejecting portion, and an accommodating body holding portion that is capable of having the liquid accommodating body mounted thereon and is disposed at a supply position at which it is possible to supply the liquid to the liquid ejecting portion using a water head with respect to the nozzle of the liquid that is accommodated in the mounted liquid accommodating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ito, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10060811
    Abstract: There is provided a sealing structure in which sealing is performed by covering a fluid passage of a housing using a displacement member that is displaceable according to change in pressure. The displacement member includes a first projecting section which is a sealing section in an outer peripheral section, and a second projecting section which is formed in an inner peripheral section rather than the first projecting section, and the housing is capable of fixing the displacement member in a state in which the first projecting section is compressed, and includes a depression section, in which the second projecting section is placed when the displacement member is fixed, in a position which faces the second projecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seiko Hamamoto
  • Patent number: 10059107
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting head including a fixing plate which includes a first surface and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface, a plurality of head units which are fixed to the second surface such that the head units can eject liquid to the first surface side of the fixing plate, and a case member which includes a wall portion that is formed to surround the head units and fixed to the fixing plate and which has a plurality of protrusion portions formed in a part of the wall portion, which is the portion facing the fixing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Fujio Akahane, Hiroaki Okui, Shunsuke Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10052880
    Abstract: In an example, a valve for a printing fluid supply system is disclosed. In this example, the valve includes two rigid shells to provide connections to a first printing fluid supply cartridge, a second printing fluid supply cartridge and a printhead. Further, the valve includes a diaphragm with sealing elements disposed between the two rigid shells to selectively couple one of the first printing fluid supply cartridge and the second printing fluid supply cartridge to the printhead and seal other printing fluid supply cartridge using the sealing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alfonso Cameno Salinas, Joaquim Brugue Garvi, Jose Antonio Lopez Abancens, Rafael Ulacia Portoles
  • Patent number: 10052879
    Abstract: There is provided a tank including: a wall defining a liquid storage chamber, the wall including: an upper wall defining an upper end of the liquid storage chamber, a lower wall defining a lower end of the liquid storage chamber, and an erected wall between the upper wall and the lower wall and through which the liquid inside the liquid storage chamber is visible from outside of the tank; an inlet penetrating through the upper wall or the erected wall; and an outlet, wherein the lower wall includes an upper stage wall making contact with the erected wall; a lower stage wall located at a position separated and away from the erected wall and below the upper stage wall; and a connecting wall connecting the upper and lower stage walls; and the outlet is disposed below the upper stage wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akinori Igarashi
  • Patent number: 10051156
    Abstract: A method and system create an image-based pattern color space for use in conjunction with rendering a print job. The pattern color space is defined, in a page description language, by a variable portion, a fixed portion, and a bounding shape. A procedure is defined for painting the variable and fixed portions within the bounding shape. The variable portion is based upon variable data associated with the print job and the fixed portion is an image associated with the print job such that a gloss mark is created in rendering the print job by painting a gloss mark font text symbol with the image of the print job, and a correlation mark is created in rendering the print job by painting a correlation mark font text symbol with the image of the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Edward N. Chapman, Reiner Eschbach, William A. Fuss
  • Patent number: 10040295
    Abstract: A liquid supply device that supplies a liquid to a head that ejects the liquid to an object includes a liquid storage chamber, an air introduction port, an atmospheric release flow path where one end is in communication with the air introduction port and another end is open to the atmosphere, and an air storage chamber configured to store air and provided in a portion of the atmospheric release flow path. A liquid supply flow path that supplies the liquid from the liquid storage chamber to the head is formed in a wall defining the air storage chamber. Thus, the size of a liquid ejection system is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoma Kudo, Munehide Kanaya, Naomi Kimura
  • Patent number: 10035352
    Abstract: Fluid couplings examples are disclosed in examples herein. An example printer includes a housing; and a fluid reservoir permanently fixed within the housing, the fluid reservoir having a capacity sufficient to store enough ink to print a number of pages that corresponds to an expected useful life of the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Studer, Bruce A. McFadden, Alan Shibata
  • Patent number: 10035354
    Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a fluid coupling assembly for supplying fluid to a jetting module. The jetting module includes an electrical connector adapted to connect with a corresponding electrical cable, and a jetting module attachment face with a jetting module fluid port. The fluid coupling assembly includes a coupling assembly attachment face with a coupling assembly fluid port in a position corresponding to the jetting module fluid port. A latch mechanism on the fluid coupling assembly includes a latch handle and a latch fastener adapted to engage with a latch keeper on the jetting module. When the latch handle is in a first disengaged position the latch mechanism blocks the electrical connector, and when the latch handle is in a second engaged position the latch fastener engages the latch keeper to secure the fluid coupling assembly to the jetting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Piatt, Scott F. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10016985
    Abstract: A print cartridge including a cartridge body, a fluid reservoir disposed within the cartridge body that receives and contains fluid, a fluid ejector chip comprising a plurality of heating elements that eject the fluid from the print cartridge, and a memory device that stores first data related to information regarding the number of times the print cartridge was remanufactured and second data related to information regarding the print yield of the print cartridge for each instance of cartridge remanufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Marra
  • Patent number: 10010886
    Abstract: A sheeting is provided for use with a fluid processing cassette having a valve station with a plurality of fluid flow ports. The sheeting has a generally flexible layer and a biasing member associated with the layer. The sheeting is attached to the cassette such that the biasing member is received within the valve station. The cassette may be used with a fluid processing system having a valve actuator with a piston that is aligned with the cassette during use. In an extended position, the piston presses the sheeting against the port to prevent fluid flow through the valve station. When the piston moves from the extended position to a retracted position, it allows the sheeting to uncover the port, thereby allowing fluid flow through the valve station. The biasing member assists in displacing the sheeting from the port when the piston moves to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: FENWAL, INC.
    Inventors: Salvatore Manzella, Jr., Gregory G. Pieper, Terry Chung, Benjamin Rockwell
  • Patent number: 10005287
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus using a liquid ejection head and ejecting a liquid from the liquid ejection head includes a liquid supply unit that has a supply passage of the liquid supplied to the liquid ejection head and a collection passage of the liquid collected from the liquid ejection head, and supplies and collects the liquid by generating a difference between a pressure of the liquid in the supply passage and a pressure of the liquid in the collection passage, and a flow resistance adjustment unit provided in the supply passage and/or the collection passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamada, Shuzo Iwanaga, Seiichiro Karita, Takatsuna Aoki, Shingo Okushima, Akira Yamamoto, Zentaro Tamenaga, Noriyasu Nagai, Tatsurou Mori, Akio Saito
  • Patent number: 9994013
    Abstract: A composite apparatus includes a recording device, a reading device that is disposed on the recording device and is able to read an image, a recording portion that is disposed within the recording device and is able to perform printing by ejecting ink on a paper sheet P, and a liquid accommodating portion that is disposed on a side portion of the recording device and which accommodates the ink to be supplied to the recording portion, in which the reading device is disposed such that a part of the reading device protrudes from the recording device to above the liquid accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Nakazawa, Yoshikane Tsuchihashi
  • Patent number: 9994034
    Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber which stores a liquid, an inlet formed in a surface of the tank, and an outlet through which the liquid from the liquid storage chamber flows; a cap which is movable between a first position and a second position; a cover which is movable relative to the tank between a closed position and an open position; and a holding member which is connected to the cap and which holds the cap at the second position. The cap at the second position or the holding member is configured to obstruct a movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9994039
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid, a liquid supply system that supplies a liquid to the liquid ejecting head, and a support member provided with a guide portion that supports and guides at least a part of the liquid supply system. Removable joint portions are provided at both ends of the liquid supply system including the part, and a plurality of types of liquid supply systems can be mounted on the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akiko Sagegami, Izumi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 9994033
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid supply device that supplies liquid to a liquid ejecting portion which ejects liquid from a nozzle, the liquid supply device including a holding portion that holds, so as to be attachable and detachable, a liquid accommodating body that accommodates the liquid, and a rotation mechanism that rotates the holding portion between an attachment and detachment position at which the liquid accommodating body is attached and detached and a supply position at which the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting portion, in which the liquid accommodating body that is held in the holding portion at the supply position is disposed at a higher position than the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Keigo Iizawa, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9994030
    Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus and a liquid container that allow a liquid outlet portion and a liquid inlet portion to be readily connected to each other are provided. An ink supply apparatus for supplying ink to an inkjet printer includes: an ink container that has an ink bag, and an ink outlet portion in communication with the ink bag; a right recess portion and a left recess portion that support the ink container; an ink inlet needle that can be connected to the ink outlet portion; and a connection tube that connects the ink inlet needle and the inkjet printer. The ink container is detachably supported by the right recess portion and the left recess portion such that the ink outlet portion is positioned on the upper side in the gravity direction of the ink bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutomo Tsukahara, Takashi Mano
  • Patent number: 9987851
    Abstract: An ink supply unit is provided and includes an ink container, and a cap fittable to the ink container and having an opening, a valve body, and an elastic body, an ink tank that holds the ink container fitted with the cap at a cap-side part of the container, a pivotable lever disposed on the ink tank pivotably around a pivot axis that is a pivoting center; an anti-rotation mechanism configured to restrict relative rotations of the ink container and of the cap to the ink tank, a conversion mechanism configured to convert the pivoting motion of the pivotable lever into linear motions of the ink container and of the cap in a direction along the pivot axis, and a valve-opening projection that presses the valve body toward an opening position when the cap is drawn nearer to the ink tank by the linear motion of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Kanbara, Toru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9981464
    Abstract: In a printing apparatus including a circulation system circulating a liquid, a volatile component included in the liquid evaporates from an ejection opening and thus characteristics of the liquid involving with concentration or viscosity change. The invention provides a printing apparatus that uses a liquid ejection head including an ejection opening ejecting a liquid, a print element generating energy for ejecting a liquid, and a pressure chamber having the print element provided therein, the printing apparatus including: a circulator configured to circulate the liquid so that the liquid passes through the pressure chamber; and a concentration adjustment unit configured to adjust a concentration of a liquid inside a liquid circulation system by discharging the liquid from the inside of the liquid circulation system and replenishing the liquid into the liquid circulation system from the outside of the liquid circulation system in response to the amount of the discharged liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiichiro Karita, Shuzo Iwanaga, Kazuhiro Yamada, Takatsuna Aoki, Shingo Okushima, Zentaro Tamenaga, Yumi Komamiya, Noriyasu Nagai, Tatsurou Mori, Yoshiyuki Nakagawa, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9981475
    Abstract: An ink supply apparatus includes a first ink tank, a second ink tank, a first flow path configured to connect the first ink tank and the second ink tank, a volume change unit disposed on the first flow path, configured to be able to change an internal volume of its own, and allow ink to flow thereinto from the first flow path when the internal volume is expanded and to flow out to the first flow path when the internal volume is reduced, a first opening and closing unit disposed between the first ink tank and the volume change unit, and a second opening and closing unit disposed between the second ink tank and the volume change unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Watanabe, Kouhei Tokuda, Tsutomu Obata, Hiroyuki Matsunaka, Naoaki Wada, Eiichi Adachi, Noriyuki Aoki, Toshiro Sugiyama, Ryohei Maruyama, Ryuichi Kato
  • Patent number: 9975345
    Abstract: A spill proof, user-friendly dispensing system that protects users from exposure to toxic fluids (e.g., Ethylene Glycol used in MICR ink) includes a bottle loading mechanism for feeding ink or other fluids to a respective supply tank of an image forming device, and a quick connect gravity feed multipurpose bottle apparatus. Ink replenishing bottles can be inserted upright into holder of the bottle loading mechanism, connected to a supply tank, and folded back out-of-the-way in a dispensing position. The bottle may be rotated from a gravity feed position to a rotated position for removal and installation while the bottle remains in the holder. The bottle when empty may be used to collect waste from the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Frank B. Tamarez Gomez, Timothy P. Foley, Mark A. Adiletta
  • Patent number: 9975340
    Abstract: In a printing apparatus including a circulation system circulating a liquid, a volatile component included in the liquid evaporates from an ejection opening and thus characteristics of the liquid involving with concentration, viscosity and the like change. The invention provides a printing apparatus including: a page wide type liquid ejection head that includes an ejection opening ejecting a liquid, a print element generating energy for ejecting a liquid, and a pressure chamber having the print element provided therein; a cap that covers the ejection opening; and a circulator configured to circulate the liquid so that the liquid passes through the pressure chamber, wherein a circulation of the liquid is started after the cap is opened and the circulation of the liquid is stopped in a case where an image forming operation of ejecting the liquid from the ejection opening on the basis of a job is ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiichiro Karita, Shuzo Iwanaga, Kazuhiro Yamada, Akio Saito, Zentaro Tamenaga, Shingo Okushima, Yumi Komamiya, Tatsurou Mori, Takatsuna Aoki, Noriyasu Nagai, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9969174
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejection device including a liquid container tray that can suppress change in orientation and position of a liquid container on a support surface due to the difference in size of the liquid container. The liquid ejection device includes: a casing including a guide wall: a liquid container tray configured to support a liquid container: and a recording head that ejects liquid supplied from the liquid container that is supported by the liquid container tray to a medium. The liquid container tray is configured to be inserted to or removed from a casing along the guide wall, and includes a support surface that supports the liquid container and a movable wall configured to move in at least one direction on the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Yamaguchi, Tadahiro Mizutani, Hiroyuki Kawate, Hiroyoshi Ozeki, Kotoya Aruga
  • Patent number: 9956785
    Abstract: A device includes a first connector arranged to connect to an ink supply, a second connector arranged to connect to a print head, a first chamber arranged between the first and second connectors, the first chamber forming an ink path from the first connector to the second connector, a second chamber arranged adjacent to the first chamber, and a compliant wall between the first and second chambers. A system includes a print head, an ink tank connected to the print head, and a compliant wall device connected between the print head and the ink tank, the compliant wall device having a first chamber forming an ink path between the print head and the ink tank and a second chamber, the first and second chamber separated by a compliant wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Mark Jacobs, Rodney B. Hill, Terrance L. Stephens, Chad D. Freitag, Blake Terry Weimer
  • Patent number: 9950538
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head, including a flow-path unit that includes: first and second nozzle groups disposed alongside each other in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which nozzles are arranged; first and second common liquid chambers respectively communicating with the first and second nozzle groups, the first and second common liquid chambers being disposed alongside each other in the second direction; a liquid supply opening communicating with the first common liquid chamber and a liquid discharge opening communicating with the second common liquid chamber, on one side of the flow-path unit in the first direction; and a connecting path connecting the first and second common liquid chambers on the other side of the flow-path unit in the first direction, wherein the first common liquid chamber is disposed nearer to an outer periphery of the flow-path unit in the second direction than the second common liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Shohei Koide, Taisuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9950523
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a bypass flow path between an ink supply port and a vent port and a primary flow path between the ink supply port and an ink delivery port. A first flow velocity of the bypass flow path is higher than a second flow velocity of the primary flow path. The first flow velocity induces bubbles to travel via the bypass flow path instead of the primary flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventor: Kai Melde
  • Patent number: 9951241
    Abstract: An ink according to an embodiment includes a functional layer forming material, wherein the ejection amount of a droplet ejected from a nozzle of an inkjet head is 9.5 ng or more and 11 ng or less, and the length of the droplet when the droplet is ejected from the nozzle at an ejection velocity of 6 m/sec or more and 9 m/sec or less is 250 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Imamura, Takuya Sonoyama
  • Patent number: 9944100
    Abstract: To optimize an arrangement route for a tube arranged between an ink tank and a carriage, when arranging the ink tank outside an ink jet printer main body. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting apparatus main body 2 ejecting a liquid onto a recording medium from a liquid ejecting head mounted on a carriage; a liquid containing body 110 arranged inside the liquid ejecting apparatus main body 2; and a liquid supply tube 120 arranged between the liquid containing body 110 and the carriage, in which an inner space S is provided which is formed from the liquid ejecting head and a discharge port including a region where the recording medium is discharged, and the liquid containing body 110 is arranged in the inner space S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Yoda, Kenji Oshima, Yoshisada Aoki, Satoshi Shimizu, Kazutoshi Sakamoto, Nobuhisa Nomoto
  • Patent number: 9937723
    Abstract: A printhead assembly for an inkjet printer has a ink filter tower portion that contains filtered ink and includes multiple, substantially parallel extending elements. Settling of ink in an ink filter tower could clog the printhead nozzles and lessen the print quality. Therefore, in order to prevent the settling of the ink in the ink filter tower of the present design, a free-floating weighted slider is installed within the ink filter tower. The weighted slider has a top bridging member and downward-pointing shafts that are movable within trenches formed between the extending elements. During a reciprocating motion of the printhead assembly, the slider moves in a direction opposite to the direction of the printhead assembly and thereby agitates the ink within the tower. In addition to sliding from side to side of the printhead assembly, the slider may also be designed to pivot about an upper axis as it moves to further agitate the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sam Norasak, Shane McKinney, Richard Warner
  • Patent number: 9931859
    Abstract: In one example, a processor readable medium has instructions thereon that when executed cause a printer to: introduce an unsaturated printing fluid into a channel through which fluid may pass to a printhead; dispense unsaturated printing fluid with the printhead to remove air from the channel; and then introduce regular printing fluid into the channel; and dispense printing fluid with the printhead until regular printing fluid is dispensed from the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James W. Ring, Rhonda Lynn Wilson
  • Patent number: 9931858
    Abstract: A self-weight pressure control valve includes a hollow case main body with an opening, a partitioning wall dividing the case main body into first and second pressure chambers in communication with the opening, a communication opening in the partitioning wall and communicating the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber to each other, a valve rod including a rod portion inserted through the communication opening to pass the partitioning wall, and a valve portion located in the first pressure chamber, and a pressure sensitive film covering the opening of the case main body, coupled with a tip of the rod portion of the valve rod, and flexibly deformable toward the rod portion. When the pressure sensitive film is not flexibly deformed toward the rod portion, the communication opening is maintained in a closed state by the valve portion by use of a self-weight of the valve rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Ueda
  • Patent number: 9925782
    Abstract: Examples of a container assembly are disclosed herein. An example of the container assembly includes a first body to supply printing composition and a second body to store reserve printing composition. The example of the container assembly additionally includes an interconnect having a storage position to fluidically isolate the first body from the second body and a use position to fluidically connect the first body to the second body to allow the reserve printing composition to flow from the second body to the first body as needed to replenish the printing composition in the first body and to allow air in the first body displaced by the reserve printing composition to flow from the first body to the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Patrick V. Boyd, Mike M. Morrow, David Olsen, Milo A. Undlin, Steven T. Castle
  • Patent number: 9925791
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus of the invention includes a liquid storage container that stores liquid, a plurality of print element boards including an ejection opening that ejects liquid and a pressure chamber that includes a print element generating energy for ejecting liquid therein, a common supply passage that supplies liquid to the plurality of print element boards, a supply-side filter provided in a passage between the liquid storage container and the common supply passage to remove a foreign substance from liquid, and a supply-side pressure adjustment mechanism provided in a passage at a downstream side of the common supply passage to adjust a pressure in the common supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 9925790
    Abstract: A valve driving device including a primary liquid chamber, a secondary liquid chamber, a valve body that opens and closes a communication flow channel through which the primary liquid chamber and the secondary liquid chamber are in communication, a pressure receiving member that partitions the secondary liquid chamber and atmospheric air in a liquid tight manner, and an operation member that opens and closes the valve body by transmitting the reaction of the pressure receiving member to the valve body, in which the pressure receiving member includes a pressure receiving plate portion that operates the operation member, and a pressure receiving film portion that is provided in the periphery of the pressure receiving plate portion, the valve driving device including a pressing driving portion that removes pressing of the pressure receiving plate portion prior to that of the pressure receiving film portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hori, Toshio Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9914308
    Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus of the invention is a liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid storage container that stores liquid, a circulation mechanism that circulates liquid in a circulation path, and a liquid ejection head fluidly-connected to the liquid storage container, the liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection openings, wherein the liquid ejection head includes at least a pair of common passages and a plurality of individual passages that connect one of the pair of common passages to the other one of the pair of common passages and communicate with the plurality of ejection openings, respectively, and at least a pair of pressure adjustment mechanisms whose pressures are set to different control pressures is connected to respective upstream sides or downstream sides of the pair of common passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamada, Takatsuna Aoki, Seiichiro Karita, Shuzo Iwanaga, Akio Saito, Shingo Okushima, Zentaro Tamenaga, Yumi Komamiya, Noriyasu Nagai, Tatsurou Mori, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9914307
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a pressure adjustment mechanism including a liquid inflow portion, a liquid storage part in which an inner volume is changed depending on displacing of a diaphragm unit, a communication path which brings the liquid inflow portion and the liquid storage part into communication with each other, and an opening/closing valve which opens and closes the communication path; an opening valve mechanism which opens the opening/closing valve; a pressure mechanism which applies the pressure to the liquid; a wiping member which wipes a nozzle forming surface in which the nozzle is formed; and a control unit which is configured to open the opening/closing valve by the opening valve mechanism, applying the pressure to the liquid by the pressure mechanism to discharge the pressed liquid from the nozzle, and cause the wiping member to wipe the nozzle forming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9908335
    Abstract: A fluidic dispensing device includes a housing, and a fluid channel in the housing. The fluid channel has a channel inlet, a channel outlet, and a passage between the channel inlet and the channel outlet. The channel inlet is in fluid communication with an inlet port of a chamber. The channel outlet is in fluid communication with an outlet port of the chamber. The passage is in fluid communication with an opening in an exterior wall. The fluid channel has a first corner structure in the passage. A stir bar is located in the chamber to generate a fluid flow through the fluid channel when rotated. A first flow director member is positioned adjacent the channel inlet. The flow director member has a first surface structure that directs a portion of the fluid flow toward the first corner structure in the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Steven R. Komplin, James D. Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9908352
    Abstract: A liquid ejection system includes a liquid ejection head configured to ejecting liquid, a liquid storage container that includes a liquid storage portion capable of storing the liquid that is to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, and a ventilation unit that constitutes at least a portion of an air introduction portion that is in communication with the liquid storage portion and is configured to introducing air into the liquid storage portion, and is detachable from the liquid storage container. The ventilation unit includes an introduction passage that constitutes at least a portion of a path of air flowing toward the liquid storage portion in the air introduction portion, and an air chamber that constitutes at least a portion of the introduction passage. The ventilation unit is arranged in the periphery of the liquid storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naomi Kimura, Munehide Kanaya, Shoma Kudo
  • Patent number: 9902159
    Abstract: An ink cartridge of an inkjet printer includes a support holding an ink container so that a longitudinal direction of a main body of the ink container extends along a sub-scanning direction of the inkjet printer, and supporting a portion of the main body that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the main body such that the main body is supported horizontally. A central portion of the support is lower in height than a left portion and a right portion thereof with respect to a main scanning direction of the inkjet printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Hatano, Takayoshi Oguri, Hironori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9895884
    Abstract: Nozzle rows that discharge the same liquids are disposed at locations symmetrical about a reference line. The flow path member includes a first flow path member, a second flow path member joined to the first flow path member, a filter retainer member that is joined to the second flow path member and that holds filters, a third flow path member that is joined to the filter retainer member. The liquid flow path includes first horizontal flow paths that are provided between the first flow path member and the second flow path member and that divide the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit and buffer chambers provided on the first horizontal flow paths. Between the second flow path member and the filter retainer member, filter chambers are provided in regions that face the buffer chambers. The buffer chambers communicate with central portions of the filter chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Miyajima
  • Patent number: 9889672
    Abstract: An attachment is mounted on a cartridge holder of a printer as a replacement of an ink cartridge. An ink outlet member having a link passage is separably secured to an attachment body. Ink is supplied from the exterior to the ink outlet member through an ink supply tube. When the attachment is mounted on the cartridge holder, a downstream end of the ink outlet member is positioned with respect to and connected to an ink supply needle of the printer. Accordingly, the attachment is easily and quickly installed in a liquid ejection apparatus. This reduces costs and makes it easy to use the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9889661
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a liquid ejecting unit that has a nozzle surface to which the nozzle is open, a base member to which the liquid ejecting unit is fixed, and a cover member that is attached to the base member and on which a laminated member is laminated, in which the cover member has a fixing portion to which the laminated member is fixed and a fragile portion that has lower rigidity than the fixing portion, and is attached to the base member by fixing the fragile portion to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Kinoshita, Masahisa Nawano
  • Patent number: 9889648
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a plurality of pressure chambers which generate a pressure for ejecting liquid from a nozzle; a common liquid chamber which stores liquid which is supplied to the plurality of pressure chambers; a flexible film which configures a part of a wall face of the common liquid chamber; a damper chamber which is partitioned from the common liquid chamber using the flexible film; and a first pressurizing unit which pressurizes the damper chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukimasa Ishida
  • Patent number: 9889651
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device is disclosed that includes a body defining an interior bore, a fluid reservoir, and a fluid ejection chip. The fluid reservoir includes a wall and one or more fluid control surfaces disposed along an interior surface of the wall. The fluid reservoir defines an interior passage in fluid communication with the interior bore of the body. The fluid ejection chip is disposed on the body and comprises one or more fluid ejection actuators. The fluid ejection chip has one or more interior fluid paths in fluid communication with the interior bore of the body so that the fluid ejection chip ejects the fluid upon activation of the one or more fluid ejection actuators. The interior passage of the fluid reservoir, the interior bore of the body, and the one or more interior fluid paths are axially aligned such that the fluid is gravity fed to the fluid ejection chip upon entry into the interior passage of the fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sam Norasak
  • Patent number: 9884487
    Abstract: An ink jet recording method includes ejecting an ultraviolet-ray curable ink of which a viscosity at 28° C. is 8 mPa·s or more from a head to a recording medium, and curing the ultraviolet-ray curable ink attached to the recording medium, wherein, in the ejecting of the ultraviolet-ray curable ink, the ultraviolet-ray curable ink is heated such that a temperature of the ejected ultraviolet-ray curable ink becomes 28° C. to 40° C., and a viscosity of the ultraviolet-ray curable ink at the temperature is 15 mPa·s or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kobayashi, Yusuke Mizutaki, Toshio Kumagai, Masaaki Ando, Hiroaki Kida, Kaoru Koike, Mitsuaki Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 9878553
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a body defining an interior bore, a fluid reservoir, and a fluid ejection chip. The fluid reservoir defines an interior passage that receives a fluid, the interior passage in fluid communication with the interior bore of the body. The fluid ejection chip is coupled with the body and includes one or more fluid ejection actuators. The fluid ejection chip has one or more interior fluid paths in fluid communication with the interior bore of the body so that the fluid ejection chip ejects the fluid upon activation of the one or more fluid ejection actuators. The interior passage of the fluid reservoir and the one or more interior fluid paths are substantially devoid of obstructions such that the fluid is gravity fed to the fluid ejection chip upon entry into the interior passage of the fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Sam Norasak
  • Patent number: 9878555
    Abstract: In an example implementation, an authentication system includes a printer having a controller and a memory. The authentication system also includes an authentication algorithm stored in the memory and executable on the controller to issue a cryptographic timing challenge, and to authenticate a print supply cartridge when the cartridge provides a challenge response corresponding to an expected response within an expected time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jefferson P. Ward, Stephen D. Panshin