With Fluid Treatment (e.g., Filtering) Patents (Class 347/93)
  • Patent number: 8820905
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a head body which ejects a liquid supplied from a liquid storing member via a liquid supply path; a first supply member which is provided with a first liquid supply path forming a part of the liquid supply path; a second supply member which is provided with a second liquid supply path communicating with the first liquid supply path and forming a part of the liquid supply path, and which supplies the liquid to the head body; and a filter which is sandwiched between the first and second liquid supply paths, wherein a sandwiching portion including the first and second supply members and sandwiching the filter includes an inclination portion that is inclined to the downstream side so as to face the outside of the liquid supply path. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes the liquid ejecting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Munehide Kanaya, Katsuhiro Okubo, Nobuyoshi Uji, Kazuhide Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140240416
    Abstract: A filter plate has an interior cavity, at least one filter contained in the interior cavity, a first port on a first side of the plate, at least one second port on a second side of the plate, forming a flow path with the first port through the filter, wherein the second port is positioned higher on the plate than the first port. A print head has an ink reservoir having an ink supply port connected to an ink supply, and a filter plate attached to the reservoir and positioned between the ink supply port and the ink reservoir, the filter plate including an interior cavity, at least one filter contained in the interior cavity, a first filter port on a first side of the filter plate in contact with the ink supply port, and at least one second filter port on a second side of the filter plate facing the ink reservoir, wherein the second port is positioned higher on the filter plate than the first port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: DAVID PAUL PLATT, JOSEPH ANDREW BRODERICK
  • Patent number: 8807718
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes: a reservoir for ink; an ink inlet for supplying ink to the reservoir; and an ink outlet disposed proximate a bottom side of the reservoir for supplying ink to a nozzle array; a first valve; a valve opening and closing mechanism for the first valve including: an inflatable bag immersed in ink and having an opening to atmosphere; and a biasing mechanism tending to force air to exit the bag; and a filter disposed in the reservoir of a printhead body, wherein the filter is tilted relative to a nozzle face; a replaceable ink tank including: an ink chamber; a vent to atmosphere; and a tank outlet disposed proximate a bottom side of the ink tank; a second valve disposed at the tank outlet; and an ink conduit for providing ink between the tank outlet and the ink inlet of the printhead body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Murray
  • Publication number: 20140218450
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a plurality of nozzles to eject liquid drops; a plurality of individual liquid chambers communicating with the plurality of nozzles; a plurality of liquid inlet portions leading to the plurality of individual liquid chambers; a common liquid chamber to supply liquid to the plurality of individual liquid chambers; and a plurality of filter portions disposed between the common liquid chamber and the liquid inlet portions, each of the filter portions including filter holes and filtering the liquid, wherein a plurality of reinforcement parts are provided to partition the plurality of filter portions, each of the reinforcement parts includes a part facing some of the filter holes of a corresponding one of the plurality of filter portions in a liquid flow direction, with a gap between the filter holes and the reinforcement part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Ryohta Yoneta
  • Patent number: 8794736
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a head main body having a manifold in which ink is retained, a compliance section absorbing a pressure change inside the manifold and a compliance space provided opposite to the compliance section, and discharging liquid from nozzles communicating with the manifold; an air chamber communicating with the compliance space and outside; and a liquid reservoir communicating with a liquid flow path supplying liquid to the manifold and volume of which is larger than the manifold, wherein the air chamber and the ink reservoir are divided by a resin adhesive where water vapor is capable of penetrating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichiro Watanabe, Taiki Hanagami
  • Publication number: 20140210901
    Abstract: An ink for ink jet textile printing according to the invention which is used for recording on cloth includes a pigment, a resin, and a 2-pyrrolidone-based solvent, in which the pH is in the range of 9.2 to 10.5. Coating elongation of the resin may be in the range of 400% to 1200%, and the resin may be a urethane-based resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Ohashi, Toru Saito, Tomoki Shinoda
  • Patent number: 8777389
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a head tank, an exhaust unit, and a suctioning device. The head tank has liquid chambers with exhaust ports. The exhaust unit includes an exhaust channel connected to the suctioning device to exhaust air from the head tank, an exhaust chamber connected to the ports of the liquid chambers, a valve member to collectively open and close the ports, a valve driving chamber communicating with the exhaust channel and having a flexible member forming a wall face thereof, a valve driving member disposed at the flexible member to open and close the valve member, and a choke channel communicating the exhaust chamber with the valve driving chamber. When the suctioning device suctions air through the exhaust channel with the liquid being in the choke channel, a volume of the valve driving chamber contracts and the valve member opens the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomomi Katoh
  • Patent number: 8757745
    Abstract: The printing apparatus includes: a print unit to print on a medium using a pigment ink and a dye ink; a stir mechanism capable of stirring at least the pigment ink; and a control unit to perform control to make the duration of the stirring operation executed prior to starting the printing operation longer when the pigment ink is included in the ink to be used in the printing operation than when it is not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kanto Kurasawa
  • Publication number: 20140168328
    Abstract: A device is disposed within an ink flow channel of an ink jet printer and is arranged to remove particles from ink. The device includes an alignment region that aligns non-spherical particles along their major dimension in the ink flow channel. A guiding region is arranged to direct the non-spherical particles towards a first streamline region of the ink flow channel and away from a second streamline region of the ink flow channel. During operation of the ink jet printer, particle-rich ink flows in the first streamline region and particle-free ink flows in the second streamline region. A splitting region arranged downstream from the guiding region splits the ink flow channel into first and second branches. The first channel branch is arranged to carry the particle-rich ink and the second channel branch is arranged to carry the particle-free ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventor: John S. Paschkewitz
  • Patent number: 8746860
    Abstract: An ink supply system includes a print head assembly and a print head with one or more nozzles for a color. The print head is connected with the nozzles via a first connection line. A supply tank is connected with an intermediate tank via a filler line under an interconnection of a feed unit and a filter assembly. The pressure difference of the ink flow from a return tank to the supply tank is controlled by the print head. A method cleans the ink supply system, and a method cleans the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Durst Phototechnik Digital Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Verner Delueg
  • Patent number: 8746864
    Abstract: A filter, the alignment of which does not need to be adjusted, and an ink-jet recording apparatus having such a filter are provided, the ink-jet recording apparatus capable of avoiding leakage of residual liquids in filter exchange operation. The filter of the present invention includes an upper capsule member, a lower capsule member, and a filter medium. The upper capsule member has a central connecting port and a peripheral connecting port, and also has a pipe section that extends, within the capsule, from the peripheral connecting port to the vicinity of the bottom surface (the deepest section) of the lower capsule member. A liquid supplied from the peripheral connecting port via the pipe section is filtered through the filter medium, and the filtered liquid is output from the central connecting port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Matsushita, Toshihide Nagamine, Takahiro Arima
  • Publication number: 20140152747
    Abstract: There is provided an inkjet print head having a stable filter structure. The inkjet print head includes a vibration substrate including a first filter formed therein; and a channel forming substrate including a second filter and a pressure chamber formed therein, the second filter being connected to the first filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Chang LEE, Hwa Sun Lee, Tae Kyung Lee, Byung Hun Kim, Sung Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 8740360
    Abstract: A fluid container for a printing system is provided having a body defining a fluid reservoir, a first fluid port for connecting the fluid reservoir to a first fluid path of a printhead of the printing system, a second fluid port for connecting the fluid reservoir to a second fluid path of the printhead, and a third fluid port for connecting the fluid reservoir to a third fluid path to a gas vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Zamtec Ltd
    Inventors: Eric Johnson, Jinsong Gao
  • Publication number: 20140141682
    Abstract: An inkjet apparatus for depositing liquid crystal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an inkjet head configured to discharge liquid crystal; a liquid crystal reservoir configured to provide the liquid crystal to the inkjet head, and the liquid crystal reservoir comprises metal; a storing tank configured to supply the liquid crystal to the liquid crystal reservoir; and a heat supply device configured to supply heat to the liquid crystal reservoir, in which a separation part is disposed inside of the liquid crystal reservoir, and the separation part divides the liquid crystal reservoir into an upper storing space and a lower storing space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TAE GYUN KIM, SEUNG-YEON CHAE, HYOUNG SUB LEE, TAE WOON CHA
  • Patent number: 8727513
    Abstract: A system for automatic cleaning in a liquid ink printing system includes an ink tank, a pump which is configured pump a carrier liquid from the ink tank as a pressurized carrier liquid flow. A filter is configured to remove particulates from the pressurized carrier liquid flow to produce a filtered carrier liquid flow. A sprayer is configured to receive the filtered carrier liquid flow and spray the filtered carrier liquid flow into an interior of the ink tank. The pump recirculates the filtered carrier liquid flow through the filter and the sprayer. A method for automatic cleaning in a printing system is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eyal Bachar, Albert Teishev, Kobi Shkuri
  • Publication number: 20140125745
    Abstract: A sub tank configured to supply ink supplied from a main tank to a print head while suppressing a pressure fluctuation is formed with an ink storage chamber in which the ink is stored, and includes a filter configured to allow passage of the ink while suppressing passage of the fine particles when the fine particles of the ink are precipitated, an ink introducing portion configured to introduce the ink supplied from the outside into the ink storage chamber, and an ink discharging portion configured to discharge the ink in the ink storage chamber to the outside. The filter divides the ink storage chamber into an introducing-side storage chamber communicating with the ink introducing portion, and a discharging-side storage chamber communicating with the ink discharging portion, and the discharging-side storage chamber is arranged on an upper side of the introducing-side storage chamber in the perpendicular direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TOMOMI IGAWA
  • Patent number: 8714722
    Abstract: A structure and method including a filter assembly, wherein the structure can be an ink jet printhead including the filter assembly. The filter assembly can include a first filter layer having a plurality of pores therein, wherein the pores have a first pitch, and a second filter layer having a plurality of pores therein, wherein the pores in the second filter layer have a second pitch which is different than the first pitch. The structure can include a fluid path through the filter assembly. An area of overlap of the pores in the first filter layer with the pores in the second filter layer, in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of the filter assembly, can include a periodicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew W. Hays, Jun Ma, Peter J. Nystrom, Bradley J. Gerner
  • Patent number: 8702216
    Abstract: A printhead for printing ink includes a particulate filter manufactured from a polymer sheet such as a polyimide sheet. Filter openings within the particulate filter can be formed using a mask and a laser beam to ablate exposed portions of the polymer sheet. Embodiments of the present teachings can result in the formation smaller filter openings at a smaller pitch within the polymer sheet than, for example, stainless steel particulate filters, and thus more openings which cover a larger percentage of the filter surface for a given filter size, which can result in a reduction of fluid pressure within the printhead. Thus smaller filter openings for improved filtering of smaller particulates can be formed while maintaining a sufficient ink flow at a sufficiently low pressure within the printhead during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Terrance L Stephens, James D. Padgett, John R. Andrews, Andrew W. Hays
  • Publication number: 20140078225
    Abstract: There is provided an inkjet print head, including: a first pressure chamber connected to a common channel; a second pressure chamber connected to the common channel and disposed in parallel with the first pressure chamber; a connection channel connecting the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber; and a nozzle formed in the first pressure chamber or the second pressure chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoon Sok PARK, Pil Joong Kang, Hwa Sun Lee, Seung Joo Shin
  • Publication number: 20140071215
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes nozzles configured to discharge liquid droplets; individual flow paths to which the nozzles are connected; a liquid injection unit connected to the individual flow paths; a common liquid room configured to supply liquid to the individual flow paths; and a filter unit configured to filter the liquid. The filter unit is provided between the common liquid room and the liquid injection unit. The filter unit includes a reinforcement area for dividing the filter unit into filter areas each corresponding to two or more of the individual flow paths. A partition wall is provided corresponding to the reinforcement area of the filter unit, on the liquid injection unit side. A width in a nozzle arrangement direction of the partition wall is wider than a width in the nozzle arrangement direction of the reinforcement area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Ryohta Yoneta
  • Patent number: 8657421
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a liquid tank, a head tank, a liquid supply passage, a liquid supply passage, a liquid intake port, a valve member, and a lock unit. The lock unit is disposed in the head tank to lock and unlock the valve member in response to a change in pressure within the head tank. In a locked state, the valve member closes the liquid intake port in immovable state to constantly stop flow of the liquid into the head tank. In an unlocked state, the valve member is movable to open and close the liquid intake port in response to a change in pressure within the head tank to regulate the flow of the liquid into the head tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumitaka Kikkawa
  • Patent number: 8657415
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a common liquid chamber which is common to each pressure chamber and stores ink, a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber which communicate with the common liquid chamber, a first nozzle which communicates with the first pressure chamber and a second nozzle which communicates with the second pressure chamber, a first piezoelectric vibrator which causes pressure fluctuation in ink in the first pressure chamber and a second piezoelectric vibrator which causes pressure fluctuation in ink in the second pressure chamber, and a communication flow path which makes the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber communicate with each other, wherein the flow of ink is generated in the communication flow path by driving the first piezoelectric vibrator and the second piezoelectric vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Kumagai
  • Patent number: 8651647
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a recording head that ejects an ink from a plurality of nozzles, a liquid supply passage and a reservoir that supply the ink from an upstream side toward a downstream side, a maintenance pump that is able to suck and discharge the ink from and to the liquid supply passage, a filter that clarify the ink in the reservoir, and a control unit that performs a recovery process of the nozzles by controlling an operation of the pump, wherein the control unit causes the maintenance pump to perform a sucking operation to suck the ink, and then causes the pump to perform a discharging operation to discharge the ink, thereby supplying the ink clarified by the filter to the nozzle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Aruga, Masaru Kobashi
  • Publication number: 20140043415
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid; a tank having a liquid capacity greater than that of the liquid storage unit; a liquid supply unit supplying the liquid in the liquid storage unit to the tank; an agitation device that agitates the liquid accommodated in the tank; and a liquid ejection unit that ejects the liquid from the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Matsumoto, Toshio Kumagai
  • Patent number: 8646894
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid ejecting head in which a liquid introducing portion includes a liquid introducing flow passage which introduces a liquid from a liquid storage member having the liquid stored therein, a bubble chamber which accommodates a bubble entrained into the liquid introducing flow passage and a filter that is provided at a bottom of the bubble chamber, and a liquid ejecting head main body which introduces the liquid from the liquid introducing portion to a pressure chamber through a liquid flow passage and is able to discharge the liquid in the pressure chamber from nozzles as liquid droplets, wherein a lyophobic region having a lyophobic property is provided on a surface of the filter facing the bubble chamber side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140028761
    Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
  • Publication number: 20140022320
    Abstract: A structure and method including a filter assembly, wherein the structure can be an ink jet printhead including the filter assembly. The filter assembly can include a first filter layer having a plurality of pores therein, wherein the pores have a first pitch, and a second filter layer having a plurality of pores therein, wherein the pores in the second filter layer have a second pitch which is different than the first pitch. The structure can include a fluid path through the filter assembly. An area of overlap of the pores in the first filter layer with the pores in the second filter layer, in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of the filter assembly, can include a periodicity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew W. HAYS, Jun MA, Peter J. NYSTROM, Bradley J. GERNER
  • Publication number: 20130342619
    Abstract: Approaches to remove objects from ink in an ink jet printer are described. An object separator for an ink jet printer includes one or more inlets configured to allow passage of ink that includes objects such as bubbles and particles into the object separator. The object separator has a number of stacked plates. Some of the plates have curved channels which are connected through other plates that include vias. The plates are arranged to form at least one cyclonic flow generator, the cyclonic flow generator configured to focus the objects into one or more focused flow streams. The object separator includes one or more object outlets that allow objects to exit the object separator and at least one ink outlet that allows the ink to exit the object separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: John S. Paschkewitz, Eric J. Shrader, Daniel L. Larner
  • Patent number: 8608303
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head capable of maintaining ink supply capability for a long period of time includes a substrate provided with a plurality of energy generating elements and an ink supply port, and a flow path member which has a plurality of discharge ports, a plurality of ink flow paths in communication with the plurality of discharge ports, and a common liquid chamber in communication with the plurality of ink flow paths. The common liquid chamber is divided into a discharge port area and a drainage port area, and the ink flows into the discharge port area through a filter. In the case where a smallest diameter among the diameters of the discharge ports and the diameters of the ink flow paths is denoted by A and a largest diameter of openings of the filter is denoted by B, A?B is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Murayama, Yoshinori Tagawa, Mitsuru Chida, Kazuhiro Asai
  • Patent number: 8596775
    Abstract: A filter unit includes: a space portion, through which a liquid passes, whose outer cross-sectional shape when cut along the direction orthogonal to the axial direction is circular or polygonal; a filter provided at the surface on one end side of the space portion in the axial direction thereof; a protruding member, provided at the surface on the other end side of the space portion in the axial direction thereof, that protrudes toward a center area of the surface on the one end side of the space portion; an inflow channel that allows the liquid to flow into the space portion from a direction tangential to the side circumferential surface of the space portion; and an outflow channel that allows the liquid to pass through the filter and flow out from the space portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kaoru Koike, Toshio Kumagai, Masaaki Ando, Haruhisa Uezawa
  • Patent number: 8596774
    Abstract: A fluid container having a body for containing fluid, a fluid outlet on a first wall of the body at which the contained fluid exits the body and a filter arranged within the body adjoining the first wall so that the contained fluid passes through the filter before exiting the outlet, wherein the filter is inclined relative to the first wall so that filtered fluid is contained in the body between the filter and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Zamtec Ltd
    Inventors: Jeff Borra, Ryan Root, Jon Lucas, Tom Alesi, Neal Cekalski, Ray Guichard
  • Patent number: 8591017
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head having a liquid-flow space through which a liquid flows from a liquid supply source toward liquid-drop ejecting nozzles, a generally planar partition portion extending in a direction intersecting a vertical direction and partially defining the liquid-flow space, and further partially defining first and second chambers such that the two chambers are arranged in a horizontal direction on respective opposite sides of the partition wall, the first and second chambers having a larger dimension in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, in cross section taken in a plane parallel to the vertical direction and a direction of arrangement of the two chambers, and a planar filter fixed to the partition portion so as to extend in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction, along a surface of the partition portion and configured to capture foreign matters contained in the liquid in at least one of the two chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ito
  • Publication number: 20130307910
    Abstract: A filter, the alignment of which does not need to be adjusted, and an ink jetrecording apparatus having such a filter are provided, the ink jetrecording apparatus capable of avoiding leakage of residual liquids in filter exchange operation. The filter of the present invention includes an upper capsule member, a lower capsule member, and a filter medium. The upper capsule member has a central connecting port and a peripheral connecting port, and also has a pipe section that extends, within the capsule, from the peripheral connecting port to the vicinity of the bottom surface (the deepest section) of the lower capsule member. A liquid supplied from the peripheral connecting port via the pipe section is filtered through the filter medium, and the filtered liquid is output from the central connecting port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130307911
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes nozzles that discharge liquid droplets, individual channels in communication with the nozzles, a liquid introducing part in communication with the individual channels, a common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to the individual channels, and a filter part arranged between the common liquid chamber and the liquid introducing part. The filter part has filter holes for filtering the liquid over a range of the individual channels in a nozzle array direction. The filter part has at least one reinforcement rib arranged in the nozzle array direction. The reinforcement rib is partially arranged over the range of the individual channels in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle array direction. Filter regions divided by the reinforcement rib are arranged to be in communication via a communication region where the reinforcement rib is not arranged, and the filter holes are arranged at the communication region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20130293642
    Abstract: Among other things, a device for use in printing is described. The device comprises a first chamber for receiving a liquid and a first filter member in the first chamber. The first filter member separates the first chamber into a first part and a second part laterally adjacent to the first part. The first filter member comprises pores having an average size. The pores are configured to filter the liquid passing from the first part to the second part. The first filter member further comprises an opening adjacent to a top of the first chamber for air to pass from the first part to the second part. The opening has a size at least 10 times larger than the average size of the pores. There is a first inlet in fluid communication with the first part and a first outlet in fluid communication with the second part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Kevin Von Essen, John A. Higginson, Paul A. Hoisington, Don S. Minami
  • Patent number: 8567934
    Abstract: A printhead including a jetstack configured to include a multi-plane filter laminate. The multi-plane filter laminate includes a first rock screen subassembly and a second rock screen subassembly. Each subassembly is configured to include an upstream pocket layer, a downstream pocket layer aligned with the upstream pocket layer, and a rock screen plate sandwiched between the upstream and downstream pocket layers, the rock screen plate configured with through holes over an entire exposed surface area thereof. A portion of the rock screen plate of the first subassembly is configured to overlay the rock screen plate of the second subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew W. Hays
  • Patent number: 8562120
    Abstract: A printhead includes a substrate, a filter membrane structure, and a liquid source. A first portion of the substrate defines a plurality of nozzles. A second portion of the substrate defines a plurality of liquid chambers. Each liquid chamber of the plurality of liquid chambers is in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of nozzles. The filter membrane structure is in contact with the second portion of the substrate. Each liquid chamber of the plurality of liquid chambers is in fluid communication with a distinct portion of the filter membrane structure. The filter membrane structure includes a polymeric material layer. The liquid source provides liquid under pressure through the filter membrane structure. The pressure is sufficient to jet an individual stream of the liquid through each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles after the liquid flows through the filter membrane structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, John A. Lebens, Charles F. Faisst
  • Patent number: 8556399
    Abstract: A fluid interconnect for a fluid ejection system includes a fluid port having a fluid passage formed therethrough, and a filter provided at an end of the fluid port such that fluid passing through the fluid port passes through the filter to the fluid passage, wherein the filter is secured to an end surface and a peripheral surface of the fluid port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Marjan S. Amesbury, Mark A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8556397
    Abstract: An ink container usable with an image forming apparatus having a carriage to transport the ink container in a reciprocating motion across a substrate and an ink ejector to eject the ink onto the substrate is included. The ink container includes a chamber configured to supply ink to the ink ejector of the image forming apparatus. The ink container also includes a separation member disposed within the chamber configured to separate unwanted particles from the ink in response to the reciprocating motion of the carriage and gravity, and to direct the ink downstream to the ink ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L. P.
    Inventors: Jon Rittgers, Odhran Hendley, Mark Laughlin, Eduardo Macias, Michael Mulloy, Bryan Murphy
  • Patent number: 8550613
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head having a forward passage system extending from a liquid inlet opening to liquid-droplet ejecting nozzles, a first filter and a second filter disposed in series with each other in the forward passage system to capture foreign matters in the liquid, such that the first filter is located upstream of the second filer as seen in a direction of flow of the liquid through the forward passage system, a first return passage system extending from one of opposite surfaces of the first filter which is on an upstream side as seen in the direction of flow of the liquid, to a first liquid outlet opening different from the inlet opening, and a second return passage system extending from one of opposite surfaces of the second filter which is on an upstream side as seen in the direction of flow of the liquid, to a second liquid outlet opening different from the first outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: 8550254
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a head body that has a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid supplied via a liquid supply path. A first supply member for the liquid supply path has an introduction port for introducing the liquid. A second supply member is positioned on a downstream side of the first supply member. A filter between the first and second supply members crosses the liquid supply path. An integrated molding portion fixes the first and second supply members by resin in a state where the filter is pinched between the first and second supply members. The first and second supply members have pinching portions for pinching the filter therebetween. A wall surface is positioned on one of the first and second supply members and between the filter and the resin to surround an outer periphery of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8544997
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejection head, including: an ejection orifice forming member having an ejection orifice for ejecting liquid; a substrate having a supply port for supplying the liquid to the ejection orifice; and a filter disposed at a position upstream of the ejection orifice when the liquid is supplied to the ejection orifice, in which the filter includes an opening having a diameter smaller than or equal to a diameter of the ejection orifice, and a tapered shape structure disposed at a position upstream of the opening when the liquid is supplied to the ejection orifice, the tapered shape structure having a distal end directed toward an upstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kurosu, Koji Sasaki, Kouji Hasegawa, Satoshi Ibe, Yoshinori Tagawa
  • Patent number: 8544996
    Abstract: The possibility that narrow, high aspect ratio particles will pass through a rock screen of a print head is reduced by minimizing the number of times the particles interact with the rock screen. Each interaction is an opportunity for the particle to be positioned in an orientation such that it may pass through the rock screen. The reduction in particles passing through the rock screen is achieved by positioning a particle trap adjacent to the rock screen perimeter to collect debris that sloughs off the rock screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew W Hays, Terrance L Stephens
  • Publication number: 20130250002
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink composition having excellent jetting stability, which contains water, a cross-liked polymer-coated pigment in which at least a portion of a surface of the pigment is covered with a cross-liked polymer, a free polymer that is not bound to the cross-liked polymer-coated pigment, and at least one divalent metal ion in an amount of from 30 ppm to 200 ppm with respect to the total mass of the ink composition, and an ink set and an image forming method using the same, which are excellent in jetting stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoko NISHIMURA, Masao IKOSHI
  • Publication number: 20130242012
    Abstract: A liquid-jet head includes nozzles ejecting liquid drops, individual liquid chambers in communication with the corresponding nozzles, a common liquid chamber supplying the liquid to the individual liquid chambers, and a filter member filtering the liquid inside the common liquid chamber. The filter member includes a thin layer having pores and a thick layer on a circumferential part of the thin layer, the thick layer being bonded to the first common liquid chamber member; the thin layer includes a first surface having the thick layer and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a circumferential part of the second surface being bonded to the second common liquid chamber member with an adhesive; and part of or all the pores in the circumferential part of the second surface are exposed in a direction toward the thick layer, and the adhesive overflows into the pores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Hayashi, Tomohiko Koda
  • Patent number: 8534818
    Abstract: A printhead includes a nozzle plate, a filter, and a plurality of walls. Portions of the nozzle plate define a plurality of nozzles. The filter, for example, a filter membrane, includes a plurality of pores grouped in a plurality of pore clusters. Each of the plurality of walls extends from the nozzle plate to the filter membrane to define a plurality of liquid chambers positioned between the nozzle plate and the filter membrane. Each liquid chamber of the plurality of liquid chambers is in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of nozzles. Each liquid chamber of the plurality of liquid chambers is in fluid communication with the plurality of pores of a respective one of the plurality of pore clusters. The respective one of the plurality of pore clusters includes two pore sub-clusters spaced apart from each other by a non-porous portion of the filter membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Rajesh V. Mehta, Ali G. Lopez, Kam C. Ng, Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh
  • Patent number: 8534810
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head unit includes a liquid container tank storing a liquid and a head discharging liquid droplets from its nozzles. The head includes a common channel supplying the liquid to liquid-chambers communicating with the nozzles, and the common channel includes a supply port introducing the liquid and a discharge port discharging the liquid. The liquid container tank includes a container including upstream and downstream chambers separated via a filtering member, a supply path supplying the liquid from the downstream chamber to the supply port of the head, a discharge path discharging the liquid obtained from the discharge port of the head, a communication path via which the downstream chamber communicates with the discharge path, and a communication path via which the upstream chamber communicates with the discharge path, where a fluid resistance of the second communication path is higher than that of the first communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kengo Tsubaki
  • Patent number: 8529041
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head has a flow-path unit having a liquid flow path, and a piezoelectric actuator unit. The liquid flow path has discharge openings and corresponding pressure chambers. The actuator unit has actuators which apply pressure to liquid in the pressure chambers. The method includes positioning the actuator unit to oppose the surface of the flow-path unit while extending on the plurality of pressure chambers, forming a particular film that is impermeable to the liquid on a supporting member. The particular film is secured to the surface of the flow-path unit by placing the supporting member on the flow-path unit, and aligning the supporting member such that a surface of the particular film opposes the surface of the flow-path unit while the openings of the plurality of pressure chambers are covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8523327
    Abstract: A printhead includes a liquid source, a first substrate, a filter, and a liquid chamber. Portions of the first substrate define a nozzle adapted to emit liquid from the liquid source. The liquid chamber includes a port. The liquid chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle and the filter and is positioned between the first substrate and the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kathleen M. Vaeth, John C. Brazas, David L. Jeanmaire
  • Patent number: 8511808
    Abstract: A recording head includes a plurality of nozzle arrays separately provided so as to correspond to kinds of recording liquids to be discharged, a plurality of common liquid chambers from which the recording liquids are supplied to the nozzle arrays, a plurality of recording-liquid introducing passages communicating with the common liquid chambers, and a plurality of filters provided in the recording-liquid introducing passages. Upstream aperture areas of the filters are equal to each other, and downstream aperture areas of the filters are different according to the kinds of recording liquids passing through the filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukuo Yamaguchi, Yutaka Koizumi, Mikiya Umeyama, Kiyomitsu Kudo, Masaru Iketani, Yuichiro Akama, Satoshi Kimura