Of Ejector Patents (Class 347/9)
  • Patent number: 10636905
    Abstract: An LDFET is disclosed. A source region is electrically coupled to a source contact. A lightly doped drain (LDD) region has a lower dopant concentration than the source region, and is separated from the source region by a channel. A highly doped drain region forms an electrically conductive path between a drain contact and the LDD region. A gate electrode is located above the channel and separated from the channel by a gate dielectric. A shield plate is located above the gate electrode and the LDD region, and is separated from the LDD region, the gate electrode, and the source contact by a dielectric layer. A control circuit applies a variable voltage to the shield plate that: (1) accumulates a top layer of the LDD region before the transistor is switched on; and (2) depletes the top layer of the LDD region before the transistor is switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: George Imthurn, James Douglas Ballard, Yashodhan Vijay Moghe
  • Patent number: 10625512
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus including a liquid discharge head that discharges a liquid by vibrating a vibration plate by a drive element and changing a pressure in an internal space filled with the liquid, a pressurization supply unit that forcibly feeds the liquid into the liquid discharge head, and a controller that restricts drive of the drive element in accordance with a pressure condition in the liquid discharge head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yukimasa Ishida, Hironori Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10603909
    Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording method by which the decrease of degassing efficiency is suppressed even after images are recorded for a long period of time in a case where the degassing is performed while circulating an ink in an ink circulation system. An ink jet recording method recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting an ink from a recording head by using an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with an ink storage portion for storing the ink, the recording head for ejecting the ink, a unit for circulating the ink in an ink circulation system arranged between the ink storage portion and the recording head and a unit for degassing the ink circulating in the ink circulation system, the ink being an aqueous ink containing a pigment dispersed by an action of an anionic group, a resin particle and a specific water-soluble organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minako Kawabe, Kouhei Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10603900
    Abstract: A method detects defective print nozzles in an inkjet printing machine by a computer. In a first phase within the context of a print job, print nozzle test patterns are printed beside a subject on a printing substrate. These print nozzle test patterns are then digitized by an image sensor and sent to the computer, where they are analyzed by the computer to determine the current state of the print nozzles, including defective print nozzles. After the first phase, the print nozzle test patterns are modified by the computer on the basis of the current state of the print nozzles and, in a second phase, the modified print nozzle test patterns are printed, digitized and evaluated by the computer with regard to the determination of the current state of the print nozzles and defective print nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Fehlner, Thomas Wolf, Andreas Henn, Steffen Neeb, Nicklas Raymond Norrick, Jens Forche
  • Patent number: 10596814
    Abstract: According to an example, a printing apparatus may include two drop ejecting elements, a fluid circulating element, and a logic device. The logic device may determine whether one or both of a first drop ejecting element and a second drop ejecting element have been fired within a predetermined period of time prior to a current time. In response to the determination, the logic device may selectively transmit an output signal that is to cause the fluid circulating element to be selectively fired, in which the fluid circulating element is positioned to circulate fluid adjacent to both the first drop ejecting element and the second drop ejecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Guan-Kwee Goh, Matthew A Shepherd, Mark Mackenzie
  • Patent number: 10576749
    Abstract: A liquid circulation device includes a liquid discharge head, a circulation channel through which a liquid is circulated via the liquid discharge head, a first liquid feed pump to supply the liquid to the liquid discharge head in a circulation direction, a second liquid feed pump to collect the liquid from the liquid discharge head in the circulation direction, a filter disposed in the circulation channel upstream from the first liquid feed pump and downstream from the second liquid feed pump in the circulation direction, and a decompression-side reverse channel to bypass the second liquid feed pump. One end of the decompression-side reverse channel is connected to the circulation channel upstream from the second liquid feed pump, and another end of the decompression-side reverse channel is connected to the circulation channel downstream from the filter in the circulation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuta Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 10562318
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to techniques whereby sufficient compensation is provided to counteract the deleterious effects of a malfunctioning nozzle (i.e. which might create a white streak within the printed ink image) in a manner that is faithful to/harmonious with the underlying AM or FM screening. In this manner, it is possible to minimize the negative impact a failed or malfunctioning nozzle has upon the printed ink image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: LANDA CORPORATION LTD.
    Inventors: Alon Siman-Tov, Shahar Klinger, Mattetyahu Litvak, David Tal
  • Patent number: 10562319
    Abstract: An ink drying device dries ink injected onto a recording medium. The ink drying device includes a main body including a counter plate facing the recording medium and including an inner space, and a heat generator located in the inner space of the main body to generate heat. The counter plate is provided with a plurality of discharge holes. The ink drying device further includes a heat diffusion layer provided on an outer surface of the counter plate that faces the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisaya Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10532564
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of this invention, a print control apparatus which controls a printhead, including a plurality of nozzle arrays each formed from a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, for executing printing on a print medium by discharging inks of a plurality of colors from the plurality of nozzle arrays executes the following data processing. That is, image data is received from an external apparatus. One of a plurality of ASICs executes at least common data processing for generating print data corresponding to the plurality of colors with respect to the received image data, and another ASIC executes specific data processing related to each of the plurality of colors. Thus, print data to be output to the printhead is generated, and then transmitted to the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10532569
    Abstract: A valve jet printer includes a solenoid coil and a plunger rod having a magnetically susceptible shank. A first end of the shank and at least a portion of the shank are received within a bore of the solenoid coil. The printer also includes a nozzle including an orifice extending therethrough and a spring biasing a second end of the shank toward the nozzle. The second end of the plunger rod includes a tip formed of perfluoroelastomer (FFKM). The second end of the shank includes a cup-shaped cavity having a convex bottom and a circular side. The tip includes a concave base and an annular flange. In an assembled state, the concave base of the tip contacts the convex bottom of the cup-shaped cavity, and the end of the circular side opposite the convex bottom is rolled over the annular flange thereby securing the tip in the cup-shaped cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Matthews International Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Wallsten, Nils Johan Fredrik Käck
  • Patent number: 10531189
    Abstract: A method for determining an utterance direction includes: executing a first calculation process that includes determining an utterance direction region based on a phase difference of each given frequency between a first frequency signal and a second frequency signal inputted to a first and second voice input section respectively, and performing a process of calculating a first phase difference deviation degree indicating the degree by which the phase difference of each given frequency is deviated from the utterance direction region; executing a second calculation process for calculating a second phase difference deviation degree from the first phase difference deviation degree of the plurality of frames; and executing an utterance direction determination process for determining that a user is uttering a voice to the first voice input section and the second voice input section when the second phase difference deviation degree is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Chikako Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10525721
    Abstract: A drop ejection system includes a working fluid source containing a working fluid, an ink source containing an ink that is immiscible with the working fluid, and at least one drop ejector array module. Each drop ejector array module includes a substrate and an array of drop ejectors disposed on the substrate. Each drop ejector includes a nozzle; an ink inlet connected to the ink source; a working fluid inlet connected to the working fluid source; a pressure chamber in fluidic communication with the nozzle, the ink inlet, and the working fluid inlet; and a heating element configured to selectively vaporize a portion of the working fluid to pressurize the pressure chamber for ejecting ink drops through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: RF PRINTING TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Richard Mu, Yonglin Xie
  • Patent number: 10507650
    Abstract: An energy recovery circuit in a print head includes at least one waveform rail, an array of piezoelectric actuators selectively electrically connectable to the waveform rail, the piezoelectric actuators creating a capacitive load, at least one pseudo jet capacitive load, selectively coupled to the waveform rail, depending upon how many piezoelectric actuators are connected to the waveform rail, and a first inductor coupled to the waveform rail, wherein the first inductor forms a resonant circuit with a waveform rail capacitance and returns energy to a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: David L. Knierim
  • Patent number: 10471731
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a processor to obtain image data comprising first image data defining a first color plane of the image and comprising second image data defining a second color plane of the image. The processor is to manipulate the image data such that the second color plane is shifted relative to the first color plane in a media axis direction of a printer. The printing system comprises a printer to print the manipulated image data with the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Joan Albert Jorba Closa, Antonio Gracia Verdugo, Marina Cantero Lazaro
  • Patent number: 10442191
    Abstract: Control modes for controlling recovery operation and printing operation of an ejection head in relation to each other include first and second control modes that can be selected according to a viscosity of liquid. In such control modes, different recovery operations are set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Takahashi, Takatoshi Nakano, Takuya Fukasawa, Rinako Kameshima, Minoru Teshigawara
  • Patent number: 10434780
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet printer including: a tank storing a pigment ink; a head; a purge mechanism; and a controller controlling the head and the purge mechanism. The controller executes: obtaining sedimentation information regarding a sedimentation amount of a pigment inside the tank, and judging whether or not the sedimentation amount of the pigment inside the tank is not less than a predetermined amount, based on the obtained sedimentation information. Further, the controller executes a first purge operation as an initial introduction purge processing for initially introducing the pigment ink from the tank to the head. Furthermore, the controller executes, as the initial introduction purge processing, a second purge processing capable of jetting, from the nozzles, the pigment ink in a larger amount than that in the first purge processing, in a case that the controller judges that the sedimentation amount is not less than the predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuya Shindo
  • Patent number: 10406812
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles; a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle; and a pressure generating element, in which each of the nozzles is formed by communicating a first opening portion and a second opening portion, when two nozzles adjacent to each other are represented by a first nozzle and a second nozzle, the second opening portion of the first nozzle and the second opening portion of the second nozzle are disposed along a first direction, each of the second opening portions extends in a second direction, and an inner diameter of the second opening portion in the second direction is larger than an inner diameter of the first opening portion, the first opening portion of the first nozzle and the first opening portion of the second nozzle are disposed so as to be shifted from each other in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Taniuchi, Shunya Fukuda, Akira Miyagishi, Masayuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10394502
    Abstract: A roll-fed printing apparatus and a method for controlling a roll-fed printing apparatus for printing images on at least one recording medium are disclosed. The roll-fed apparatus includes a print engine, a controller including a roll managing system for managing the printing of ripped images on the at least one recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: OCÉ HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Eduardus J. W. Van Vliembergen, Elsemieke P. A. Van Rossum
  • Patent number: 10383939
    Abstract: The invention includes light-activated compositions and methods that are useful for promoting cell death or growth. In certain embodiments, the compositions comprise quantum dots (QD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Prashant Nagpal, Anushree Chatterjee, Colleen Courtney, Samuel Martin Goodman
  • Patent number: 10369786
    Abstract: A drop-on-demand printing method comprising performing the following steps in a printing head: discharging a first primary drop (x21A) of a first liquid to move along a first path; discharging a second primary drop (x21B) of a second liquid to move along a second path; controlling the flight of the first primary drop (x21A) and the second primary drop (x21B) to combine the first primary drop with the second primary drop into a combined drop (x22) at a connection point (x32) within a reaction chamber within the printing head so that a chemical reaction is initiated within a controlled environment of the reaction chamber between the first liquid of the first primary drop and the second liquid of the second primary drop; and controlling the flight of the combined drop (x22) through the reaction chamber along a combined drop path such that the combined drop (x22), during movement along the combined drop path starting from the connection point is distanced from the elements of the printing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Inventor: Piotr Jeuté
  • Patent number: 10350919
    Abstract: A large format printer performs serial printing on a medium which is greater than or equal to A3 short side width. The large format printer includes a print head which performs printing in accordance with variations in a drive voltage signal which is applied to a drive element, a control circuit which generates a drive signal (an example of the drive voltage signal), and a cable which is greater than or equal to 1 m and transmits a power voltage signal (an example of a constant voltage signal) and the drive voltage for driving the print head from the control circuit to the print head. An overshooting prevention circuit which renders a voltage (a drive voltage) of the drive signal which is applied to the drive element less than or equal to a voltage (a power voltage) of the power voltage signal is disposed in the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazushi Kodaira
  • Patent number: 10286655
    Abstract: A drive circuit includes a first transistor pair, a second transistor pair, a feeder line 290g for a ground Gnd, a feeder line 290a to which a voltage VA is applied, a feeder line 290b a voltage VB is applied, and capacitors Cag and Cba, and the first transistor pair amplifies a signal ain within a range from the ground Gnd to the voltage VA, and the second transistor pair amplifies the signal ain within a range from the voltage VA to the voltage VB, and one end of the capacitor Cag is connected to the feeder line 290g, the other end of the capacitor Cag is connected to the feeder line 290a, one end of the capacitor Cba is connected to the feeder line 290a, and the other end of the capacitor Cba is connected to the feeder line 290b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Abe
  • Patent number: 10245826
    Abstract: A method of ink jet printing wherein liquid ink is supplied to a plurality of nozzles via a common ink supply passage, and actuators associated with the nozzles are controlled to cause ink droplets to be expelled from the nozzles in accordance with image information to be printed, characterized by the steps of detecting a situation where a number of the nozzles which are connected to the common ink supply passage and are presently active but stop printing within a given time interval is larger than a given maximum number; if that situation is detected, activating at least one actuator associated with one of the nozzles that stop printing with sub-threshold agitation pulses which cause an agitation of a meniscus in the nozzle without a droplet being expelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: OCÉ HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Robert E. J. Van Den Bercken, Johannes A. T. Gollatz
  • Patent number: 10239328
    Abstract: A printing system facilitates the printing of articles of manufacture. The system includes an array of printheads, a support member positioned to be parallel to a plane formed by the array of printheads, a member movably mounted to the support member, an actuator operatively connected to the movably mounted member, an object holder configured to mount to the movably mounted member, and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of printheads and the actuator. The controller is configured to operate the actuator to move the object holder past the array of printheads and to operate the plurality of printheads to eject marking material onto objects held by the object holder as the object holder passes the array of printheads. The support member and printhead array are oriented vertically to enable the printing system to be installed in a vertical cabinet that provides a small footprint in a non-production environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne A. Buchar, James J. Spence, Jack G. Elliot, Michael F. Leo
  • Patent number: 10232624
    Abstract: An ink-jet printer includes a conveyor, a recording head, a power supply, an ink receiver, a command receiver, and a controller. The controller executes: determining an ink amount to be discharged; determining a voltage value of a drive voltage and the number of ink droplets; raising the drive voltage; executing a flushing process, executing a printing process. The controller determines the voltage value such that the drive voltage becomes higher when the determined ink amount is not less than a first threshold value than when the determined ink amount is less than the first threshold value, and determines the number of ink droplets such that the number of ink droplets becomes larger when the determined ink amount is not less than a second threshold value than when the determined ink amount is less than the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Arakane
  • Patent number: 10232608
    Abstract: Droplet ejection amounts are adjusted during a process of generating raster data, and this process is realized by a control circuit. The sum total of droplet ejection amounts exceeds 100% as for three nozzles while the sum total of droplet ejection amount is below 100% as for one nozzle, which is repeated at some nozzle numbers. The sum total of droplet ejection amounts is 100% in a normal portion. As such, in the case where this sum total is taken as a reference amount, the sum total of droplet ejection amounts for each raster in a region where overlap printing is performed is sequentially changed to be equal to or greater than the reference amount in the normal region where the overlap printing is not performed, and to be equal to or smaller than the above reference amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonaga Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10226954
    Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes a head, a circuit substrate, a cover frame, a heat sink, a fan, and a wall section. The cover frame supports the circuit substrate that has a drive circuit that drives the head inside of the cover frame and has a through hole. The heat sink that dissipates heat generated in the circuit substrate is disposed inside of the cover frame and has a part that is in direct or indirect contact with the circuit substrate. The fan generates air flow and is arranged such that the fan and the heat sink face to each other via the through hole. The wall section is disposed inside of the cover frame such that the air flow is not directly blown against the drive circuit and the air flow having changed a direction after blown against the heat sink is not blown against the drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Kitazawa, Toshio Kumagai
  • Patent number: 10220622
    Abstract: A plate-like detection plate portion that undergoes strain due to contact with an object is used for detecting the presence of an object that can come into contact with a liquid ejecting unit with relative movement between a medium and the liquid ejecting unit, and is provided with a piezoelectric film sensor that outputs an electric signal corresponding to strain of the detection plate portion. The piezoelectric film sensor includes a detection film portion in which a piezoelectric element that causes a voltage change corresponding to the strain is arranged, and an output circuit portion that converts the voltage change of the detection film portion into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. The output circuit portion is provided on a second plate surface, which is a rear surface of a first plate surface facing the medium, of the detection plate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Otokita, Seiji Ihara
  • Patent number: 10223046
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a timing obtaining unit that obtains an interruption timing at which printing is interrupted in a printer that transports a printing medium in a first direction and performs printing on the printing medium, a division computing unit that arranges, at a position corresponding to the timing in a target area in which plural images are to be arranged, a virtual straight line extending through the target area in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, an arrangement computing unit that separates and arranges the plural images in the target area divided by the virtual straight line into a first region downstream and a second region upstream in the first direction, and a data creating unit that creates and outputs, to the printer, first print data specifying the images arranged in the first region and second print data specifying the images arranged in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kanji Kamijima, Shusuke Kibune
  • Patent number: 10220612
    Abstract: A drive signal adjustment method adjusts a drive signal including a drive pulse to be supplied to a drive element of a liquid ejecting head. The liquid ejecting head includes a nozzle, a pressure generation chamber communicating with the nozzle, and the drive element generating a pressure change in a liquid inside the pressure generation chamber. The drive pulse includes an expansion element, an expansion maintenance element, a contraction element, a contraction maintenance element, and an expansion restoration element. A plurality of test patterns are printed by using adjusting drive pulses including modification values in which either one or both of a time of the contraction maintenance element and a period of the drive pulse are modified. The adjusting drive pulse corresponding to a specific test pattern selected from among the plurality of test patterns set as the drive pulse at the time of printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Izuo
  • Patent number: 10214011
    Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a first head chip having first nozzles arranged in a nozzle arrangement direction; a second head chip having second nozzles arranged in the nozzle arrangement direction, and being arranged to overlap at least partially with the first head chip in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction; a controller configured to control the first head chip and the second head chip to jet liquid from the first nozzles and the second nozzles; and power sources having different voltages, respectively. Each of the first nozzles and the second nozzles is driven by voltage supplied from one of the power sources, and the first head chip has a first overlapping portion and the second head chip has a second overlapping portion overlapping with the first overlapping portion in the orthogonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Muto
  • Patent number: 10207518
    Abstract: A method for compensating for failed printing nozzles in an inkjet printing machine uses a computer to provide an increased ink drop volume of adjacent nozzles. All existing printing nozzles are measured regarding print failure and deviation of a printed dot beyond a specific threshold, so that the printing nozzles are marked either as functioning, failed, or printing a dot deviating in a direction transverse to the printing direction, and the results are saved on the computer. The computer hides all functioning printing nozzles and marks all remaining isolated printing nozzles as failed nozzles. The computer groups adjacent remaining printing nozzles by marking nozzles printing a dot deviating in a direction transverse to the printing direction as functioning printing nozzles contributing to the compensation or as failed printing nozzles in accordance with a rule, and the computer compensates for all printing nozzles having been marked as failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans Koehler, Ralf Tita
  • Patent number: 10189261
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a wiper; a wiping surface for wiped with the wiper; a plurality of nozzles provided in the wiping surface; a piezoelectric element for discharging inks from the nozzles; and a carriage unit and a cleaning unit configured to cause the wiper and the wiping surface to relatively move. In a moving direction of the wiper with respect to the wiping surface, a distance between a side of the wiping surface on an upstream side in the moving direction and the nozzle disposed on the most upstream side is shorter than a distance between a side of the wiping surface on a downstream side in the moving direction and the nozzle disposed on the most downstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Muto
  • Patent number: 10173417
    Abstract: In some examples, a print head includes a plurality of nozzles, a test result register to store a drive bubble detect (DBD) test result for a first nozzle of the plurality of nozzles, and a result-ready register to store a status indication set to a predetermined value provided responsive to storing of the DBD test result in the test result register, where the test result register and the result-ready register are accessible by a control unit outside the print head to evaluate a nozzle condition based on the DBD test result in the test result register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Daryl E. Anderson, Eric T. Martin
  • Patent number: 10166782
    Abstract: The positions and widths of a shared printing area and the gradients of printing ratios are made different between front surface printing and back surface printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Yamagata, Junichi Nakagawa, Akitoshi Yamada, Okinori Tsuchiya, Takeru Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10150295
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes an energy generating element configured to generate energy used for ejection of a liquid, a print element board including an electroconductive anti-cavitation film provided to cover the energy generating element, and a connection board electrically connected to the anti-cavitation film and including a connection pad electrically connectable from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tokuji Kudo, Chiaki Muraoka, Shimpei Yoshikawa, Yuichiro Akama, Yuji Tamaru, Yosuke Takagi, Takaaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10144215
    Abstract: An inkjet print head includes an ejection unit having a liquid chamber for holding an amount of liquid, a electromechanical transducer operatively coupled to the liquid chamber for generating a pressure wave in the amount of liquid and a nozzle in fluid communication with the liquid chamber for enabling a droplet of the amount of liquid to be ejected through the nozzle. A method for detecting an operating state of the ejection unit includes the consecutive steps of actuating the electromechanical transducer to generate a pressure wave in the liquid; actuating the electromechanical transducer to suppress a residual pressure wave in the liquid; sensing an amplitude of the residual pressure wave in the liquid; and based on the result of the sensing step determining that the ejection unit is (i) in an operative state if the amplitude of the residual pressure wave is below a threshold or (ii) in a malfunctioning state if the amplitude of the residual pressure wave is above the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Marko Mihailovic, Tjerk E. C. Hummel, Johannes M. M. Simons, Hylke Veenstra, Cornelis W. M. Venner, Amol A. Khalate
  • Patent number: 10137681
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a controller generates print data using target image data. The print data represents dot formation states classified for respective pixels. Each dot formation state is classified into a one of a plurality of dot types. The controller determines a dot type from a plurality of dot types including a first type dot and second type dot. The first type dot is formed by a first process for supplying a pressure applying section with a specific signal. The second type dot is formed by a second process that is not for supplying the pressure applying section with the specific signal. The first type dot is to be formed in an edge printing area. The first type dot is not to be formed but the second type dot is to be formed in an interior printing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunari Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10124579
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead including a plurality of printhead dies, each printhead die including at least one crack sense resistor, at least one analog bus connected to each printhead die, and a controller separate from the plurality of printhead dies. The controller is configured to provide a known current to the at least one crack sense resistor of each printhead die in a selectable pattern via the at least one analog bus and to determine whether the printhead dies are cracked based on resulting voltages produced on the at least one analog bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daryl E Anderson, George H Corrigan, Scott A Linn
  • Patent number: 10118417
    Abstract: A print data generating device generates print data printable by a printing device including a feeding unit which feeds continuous forms paper in a scanning direction, a line head which performs print processing on the continuous forms paper fed in the scanning direction, a cutting unit downstream of the line head in the scanning direction that cuts the continuous forms paper, and a direction change execution which executes direction change processing of changing the direction in which the print image is printed by 180 degrees. The print direction of a print image is changed in such a way that an image arrangement area on the print image of the print data, and a print area where the print processing is carried out by the print head in a paper feed acceleration/deceleration zone at the time of cutting the print tape, do not overlap with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsunenobu Endo, Taisuke Okawa, Kan Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10114309
    Abstract: To reduce a deviation in a scanning start position in the case where image formation is performed by an electrophotographic scheme in which a scanning speed of laser beam is not uniform on a photoconductor surface. An information processing apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate a scanning speed profile, which is information about a scanning speed for each main scanning position in an image forming apparatus in which the scanning speed of laser beam is not uniform on a photoconductor surface; and a derivation unit configured to derive a scanning position adjustment amount specifying a distance from a reference position in a main scanning direction of the laser beam to a write start position of laser beam to the photoconductor surface based on the generated scanning speed profile in the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daiki Ikari
  • Patent number: 10086625
    Abstract: A system for printing on a multi-dimensional object includes a plurality of print heads, a mounting structure configured to receive an integrated object packaging and holder for an object and to movably mount on a support member, an actuator configured to move the mounting structure along the support member, and a processing device. The system also includes a a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions that are configured to cause the processing device to control a movement of the mounting structure relative to the plurality of print heads, and operate the plurality of print heads to eject marking material onto an object mounted on the mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Matthew LeFevre, Douglas K. Herrmann, Paul McConville, Chu-heng Liu
  • Patent number: 10081177
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a recording head including nozzles and driving elements corresponding to the nozzles respectively; a controller; and a head driving circuit connected to the controller by a first signal line, a second signal line, and a third signal line through which a clock signal including edges is transmitted, the head driving circuit connected electrically to the driving elements. Each of the driving elements jets an ink from one of the nozzles corresponding thereto by an amount corresponding to driving voltage applied from the head driving circuit. The controller repeatedly executes output processing in which pattern signals indicating patterns of the driving voltage are continuously outputted to the first signal line while being synchronized with the clock signal and selection signals are continuously outputted to the second signal line while being synchronized with the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Arakane, Shoji Sato
  • Patent number: 10082990
    Abstract: A printhead assembly includes ink ejection devices having nozzles, and processing electronics in communication with the ink ejection devices. The processing electronics implement logic to receive nozzle data for controlling the ink ejection devices, receive error detection data associated with the nozzle data, detect errors associated with the nozzle data using the error detection data, and generate fault data for the detected errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric T Martin, Christopher Hans Bakker
  • Patent number: 10076902
    Abstract: Provided are a printing device and a print element substrate having a detection element row provided in correspondence to an ejection port row and capable of suppressing an increase in a length in an ejection port row direction. For that purpose, a row selection circuit 117 is provided in a detection element circuit 108, and a row of the detection element circuit is selected by row selection signals A0 and A1 transmitted through a common wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Kanno, Ryo Kasai
  • Patent number: 10071556
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus, comprising: a carriage to move in a 1st direction; a recording head; an ink reservoir; an ink receiver; and a waste liquid reservoir configured to be connected to the ink receiver to let the ink move between the ink receiver and the waste liquid reservoir, wherein: the ink reservoir is disposed not to overlap with the carriage in a 2nd direction perpendicularly intersecting with the 1st direction and an up and down direction, and at least a part of the ink reservoir is disposed at a position outside of a moving range of the carriage in the 1st direction; and in the 1st direction, the waste liquid reservoir is disposed to overlap with the ink reservoir and is disposed at a position outside of the moving range of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Osakabe, Tomohiro Wada, Tomohisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 10065430
    Abstract: A print unit prints by ejecting fluid droplets from a plurality of nozzles while moving in a primary scanning direction relative to a print medium. An ejection inspection unit inspects fluid droplet ejection by a group of target nozzles, which are part of an ejection nozzle subset obtained by dividing the nozzles according to the number of nozzles required to form the smallest printing width in the secondary scanning direction. A control unit controls the print unit and the ejection inspection unit, and selects the group of target nozzles in the ejection nozzle subset and performs the ejection inspection each time a specific amount of printing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yosuke Hatao
  • Patent number: 10059097
    Abstract: A method of generating print data includes: generating dot map data in which pieces of ink droplet discharging data for creating dots forming a printed image are arranged, for respective nozzles, at positions corresponding to positions of the dots; performing first correction in which positions of the pieces of ink droplet discharging data in the dot map data are corrected in a scanning direction based on position shift information that indicates an amount of shift of actual dot positions from intended dot positions formed in accordance with the dot map data, and corrected dot map data is generated; and performing second correction in which the positions of the pieces of ink droplet discharging data in the corrected dot map data are corrected in the scanning direction based on the corrected dot map data and information about a combination of nozzles used for forming the printed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eishin Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10046562
    Abstract: A wide array printhead module includes a plurality of printhead die, each of the printhead die includes a number of nozzles. The nozzles form a number of primitives. A nozzle firing heater is coupled to each of the nozzles. An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) controls a number of activation pluses that activate the nozzle firing heaters for each of the nozzles associated with the primitives. The activation pulses are delayed between each of the primitives via internal delays and external delays to reduce peak power demands of the printhead die. The ASIC determines the internal delays within each printhead die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter James Fricke, Michael W Cumbie, Scott A Linn
  • Patent number: 10035360
    Abstract: A printer including a first liquid discharger, a second liquid discharger, a curing unit, and a controller is provided. The first and second liquid dischargers discharge active-energy-ray-curable colored and transparent liquids, respectively. The curing unit emits an active energy ray. The controller causes the first liquid discharger to scan multiple times and discharge the colored liquid on a medium, causes the curing unit to cure the colored liquid on the medium after each scan of the first liquid discharger to print a colored image with the colored liquid on the medium, causes the second liquid discharger to discharge the transparent liquid on the colored image, causes the curing unit to cure the transparent liquid on the colored image to form a transparent layer on the colored image, and controls a thickness of the transparent layer in accordance with the number of scan of the first liquid discharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Mezaki